The Global Business Travel Community Mourns the Sudden Passing of Ed Gilligan

On Friday, May 29, we at the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) were deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Ed Gilligan.

Ed was the recipient of GBTA’s highest honor, the Icon Award, at our annual Convention in 2013. This prestigious honor has only been given six times in our history. It recognizes exceptional contributions to the business travel industry globally.

Ed’s support of our Association and Foundation was unwavering through the years, both personally and professionally. He was a true industry leader and a guiding hand to us as both the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and then the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Ed was our perennial host for our Monday luncheons during the NBTA International Convention. 

Convention delegates always looked forward to an encouraging message from Ed and were usually more than amused when he showed his lighter side in videos he created with his talented staff.

Ed was also instrumental as one of the founders of NBTA’s Institute of Business Travel Management, the precursor to our GBTA Foundation. Ed’s commitment on behalf of American Express allowed IBTM’s promise to become fulfilled. Today, our GBTA Foundation provides education and research to thousands of industry professionals. It would not have been possible without his early vision and support.

Ed dedicated more than three decades of service to American Express. He is widely credited with leading American Express into the digital age. As president of American Express Company, he was responsible for the company’s global consumer small business services, merchant services and network services businesses.

Ed resided in New York City with his wife Lisa and their four children. We can offer only our sincere condolences to them during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by everyone he knew, but always remembered for the impact he made on so many in our industry.

Last Minute Travel Deals app unveils new features to improve the search for day-of travel bargains

ORLANDO, FLA. – Last Minute Travel, the leader in day-of travel deals on hotels, flights, vacation homes, cruises, car rentals, activities and other travel products, today announced that it has redesigned its Deals app, introducing new shopping features – including a new view that simultaneously shows both a convenient list and map of search results. Users can customize the split view by dragging the map and list to their desired size.

“When travelers are spontaneously looking for the best deal in a specific place, they don’t want to toggle between screens to see a map and a list of deals,” said Omer Chehmer, Head of Mobile Communications for Last Minute Travel. “People want to see where hotels or car rental pick-ups are located, while also accessing a list of offerings that can be sorted based on price, star rating or TripAdvisor reviews. Our newly redesigned app enables this functionality – and more.”

The Last Minute Travel Deals app also features a more dynamic homepage that intelligently steers users directly to statistically relevant search content based on their location. The app instantly displays nearby day-of hotel rooms that are available – decreasing the time it takes users to find a last second room.

“We’ve listened carefully to our users and looked hard at their usage in order to arrive at these enhancements to our app,” Chehmer said. “LMT has always had the best travel deals, but it was taking people too many clicks to find exactly what they wanted.  Now, we’re able to quickly deliver inventory that is more relevant to what the user is looking for – in a single, convenient view.”

Users can also navigate away from the dynamically delivered homepage and shop for deals throughout the app’s entire inventory – which includes more than 120,000 hotels in over 4,500 cities, flights from more than 175 carriers around the world, over 25,000 vacation homes, approximately 10,000 activities and transfers, and 25,000 car rental pick-up locations worldwide. Hotel deals that guarantee a savings of at least 40% off of retail are conveniently marked with the “Deal” icon.

AC Hotel Chicago Downtown opens doors to the public

CHICAGO and BETHESDA, MD. - The AC Hotel Chicago Downtown, owned and managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, opened its doors to guests in the heart of Chicago's thriving River North neighborhood on May 29. Located on the corner of Rush and Ontario, the AC Hotels by Marriott brand's first property in Illinois, is part of a new breed of lifestyle hotels targeting millennial and business travelers.

AC Hotels by Marriott celebrates the beauty of classic modern designs with its European soul and Spanish roots, borne from the signature vision of renowned hotelier Antonio Catalan, who founded the brand in 1998 and grew it into one of the most well respected hotel brands in Spain. Following its success in Spain, Italy and Portugal, a joint venture was formed with Marriott International in 2011 which later launched AC Hotels by Marriott globally into France, Denmark and the US.

Based on a belief that purposeful design improves lives, AC Hotels by Marriott edits away what is unnecessary, in order to provide guests with thoughtfully designed moments of elegance that elevate their stay and help them focus on what's important to them. That's why at AC Hotels by Marriott, guests get only what they need, without paying for what they don't. The result is elegant yet unpretentious style, innovative beverage & food programming and locally inspired experiences for both guests and locals.

"Chicago is such a vibrant city with an active arts scene and energetic urban culture," said Toni Stoekl, Vice President Lifestyle Brands, Marriott International. "Located in the heart of the shopping district and within walking distance to the city's main tourist attractions, AC Hotel Chicago Downtown is situated perfectly for millennial travelers looking to experience everything the city has to offer."

Owned and managed by Marcus Hotels and Resorts, the new hotel is primed to become a popular destination for millennial and business travelers alike. "We're thrilled to be partnering with Marriott to bring a new lifestyle hotel to Chicago," said Joe Khairallah, Chief Operating Officer of Marcus Hotels. "At Marcus, we manage a wide variety of properties ranging from city center meeting hotels to upscale resorts. We're so excited to collaborate with Marriott to bring the AC Hotel to Chicago."

Beverage and Food Programming
At AC Hotels, premium touches are balanced with comfortable service. A signature element of the hotel includes an innovative beverage and food program within its AC Lounge. A twist on the traditional hotel bar, the experience includes local craft beers, specialty wines on tap, expertly made signature cocktails and a selection of tapas-style small bites.

Located adjacent to the AC Lounge, the AC Kitchen serves a European-inspired Continental breakfast selection of flaky croissants, freshly-sliced artisanal LaQuercia Prosciutto, savory egg tarts, and Nespresso coffee.

Signature Design
With its sleek, minimalist room design, the AC Hotels by Marriott brand is tailored to specifically appeal to millennials and those who want a stylish, but unfussy alternative to the one-size-fits-all hotel. Taking influence from its European roots, the AC Hotel Chicago Downtown uses muted colors and a monochromatic scheme throughout, showcasing a timeless design that is modern and sleek. Guest rooms incorporate warm grays and charcoal tones, with clean lines and hardwood floors; furniture is lifted to create a sense of space, and crisp white linens are used to create a look that's both refined and elegant.

Designed by the award-winning, international hospitality consultancy headquartered in Chicago, The Gettys Group, AC Hotel Chicago provides an energetic vibe in the hotel while still encouraging exploration of the city beyond the hotel walls. Decor and furnishings are designed to inspire and add a splash of color to the soothing palette of the hotel.

Additional Amenities
The eight story hotel also offers outdoor terraces with views of the city, a fifth floor outdoor patio and indoor pool, along with a state of the art fitness center. The AC Library is a central work area for guests to use and be both connected and inspired. Additional amenities include secure on-site parking, 3,000 square-feet of meeting space and complimentary Wi-Fi.

The new lifestyle hotel is AC Hotels by Marriott's fourth property in North America (second in the Midwest) following the brand's debut in New Orleans, Kansas City, and Washington D.C, and is part of a growing portfolio of over 50 hotels expected to open in the next few years in the U.S. and Latin America. 

First UFO Hotel in America to land in Baker, California

BAKER, CALIF. - The first UFO Hotel in America is no longer just a fantasy. The $30 million project in Baker, Calif., which is being spearheaded by a charismatic visionary, Luis Ramallo, will feature 31 rooms on two floors designed within a full-scale alien spacecraft where guests can spend the night in alien-themed rooms and dine in an alien-themed restaurant.

"We are tremendously excited about developing the first authentic UFO Hotel in the world, not just in America," Ramallo says. "There are tens of millions of Sci-Fi and UFO fans in the world who have been dreaming of a venue just like this. They will finally have it."

The UFO Hotel, which is in pre-construction development, will have an alien-themed lobby, spa, nightclub and other attractions, such as Sci-Fi fanatics and guests getting married in alien costumes - on their favorite planet.

"It will be out of this world," Ramallo says with a laugh. "When you enter the hotel, you will feel as if you've been transported to an actual spaceship."

Having already invested major funding into the project, Ramallo is seeking additional fundraising through investors and Kickstarter. He believes Sci-Fi fanatics globally will each kick in contributions to help fund what will be one the world's most unique hotels and may rank among the biggest Kickstarter campaigns in history. The crowdfunding campaign provides backers with a wide choice of UFO Hotel exclusive contribution rewards from $1 to $10,000.

Room rates at the UFO Hotel will be competitively priced, beginning at around $300 a night – "an incredible bargain for a one-of-a-kind experience," Ramallo says.

Alien-uniformed employees will use modern touch-screen technology to check guests in. Monitors will show scenes of activity from all around the spaceship.

As guests walk to their rooms, they will be able to twist various dials and hatch handles. If they turn the wrong one, a warning light and siren will flash, just like on an actual spaceship. There will also be unique photo-ops throughout the spacecraft with alien crew members re-charging themselves in pods.

Ramallo came to America 27 years ago from Argentina with $100 in his pocket. He soon created Alien Fresh Jerky near the infamous Area 51 in Nevada, where the intense secrecy of the U.S. Air Force base made the area a frequent subject of UFO folklore. 

MedCruise promotes cruise in the Med and Black Sea at the 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum

MedCruise had a leading role during the eventful 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum that was held in Athens, Greece in 26 and 27 May 2015, with the signing of the partnership agreement between MedCruise and CLIA Europe being the highlight of the event.

Carla Salvadό, MedCruise President was among the keynote speakers in the high-level panel on "The Cruise industry in Today's Europe and the East Mediterranean" during the first day of the forum. During her intervention, Carla Salvadό stressed the role of collaboration between the key stakeholders, saying that “it is for the industry to collaborate further and identify the best way to apply relevant principles that benefit all” and emphasised that “several cruise ports in the Μed and its adjoining seas have taken initiatives at operational and institutional level to increase the potential of cruise activities”.

The second day of the Forum, MedCruise Secretary General Thanos Pallis intervened at "Ports and Cruise Operators-The infrastructure debate" panel. Thanos Pallis, presented extracts from the MedCruise Fact Finding Survey on the state of the cruise ports industry in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas - to be presented in full during the forthcoming 46th MedCruise GA in Zadar – on private investments in port infrastructure and berthing policy.

With more than 650 participants and 32 exhibitors from 25 countries attending the two-day industry focused dialogue, industry representatives agrees that East Med and Black Sea region could enhance its position as one of the world’s leading sea tourism destinations, but it isn’t plain sailing yet.

The headlines though were at the CLIA Europe – MedCruise partnership announcement. CLIA Europe and MedCruise, the biggest port association of the world, announced on Tuesday a major initiative, the creation of a platform to educate travel agents, in a major step for the interest of the membership of both associations.

Hamburg's LNG-fueled cold ironing barge debuts with AIDAsol test

AIDA Cruises and Becker Marine Systems put Hamburg's new LNG cold ironing barge, Hummel, into successful operation Saturday during a call by AIDAsol at the HafenCity cruise terminal. The ship received power supplied by the barge, and several on-board systems were tested to ensure the external power supply works reliably.

During AIDAsol's next call, on June 9, the ship for the first time will be supplied with LNG-generated 'shore' power for its entire call.

AIDA Cruises president Michael Ungerer described the new system as a globally unique pilot project, adding it had opened a new chapter of environmental protection in the Port of Hamburg. LNG eliminates the emission of sulfur oxides and soot particles in connection with supplying AIDAsol's electrical power needs in port. Nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by up to 80% and carbon dioxide emissions by 30%.

The 76.7-metre barge Hummel contains five gas engines with a total output of 7.5 megawatts. The barge arrived in Hamburg last autumn for an extensive preparation and testing period before operation.

In May its operator, Becker Marine Systems, received the 2015 GreenTec Award sponsored by the German Travel Association, DRV, in recognition of this innovative project.

In spring 2016 AIDA Cruises will start operating the new AIDAprima from Hamburg. The ship is equipped to receive external power from the barge Hummel, but has also dual fuel engines that can be operated directly with LNG.

The inauguration of its new flagship will take AIDA another step forward in environmental protection and make it a cruise industry pioneer.

Agoda.com Study Reveals Travelers Prefer Online Sources for Travel Information

Agoda.com, one of Asia’s leading hotel booking sites and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group announced today the results of its most recent Travel Smarts survey, which shows travelers trust online forums and blogs most when making travel plans.

The survey, conducted in April and May 2015, asked over 5,500 Agoda.com customers from all over the world which sources they found most reliable when making travel plans. Online forums were the most popular, with 34% of respondents choosing them.

Blogs and independent websites came in second with 28% of the vote.  Online sources combined, which includes forums, blogs and travel apps, took 71% of the vote.

“It’s no surprise that more and more travelers trust online sources the most. When travelers turn to internet resources, they benefit from the combined knowledge and experience of countless other travelers, and can also target their research to suit their particular needs in a way they never could before,” says John Brown, COO of Agoda.com.

Most Reliable Source of Travel Information

Online forums   34%

Blogs and independent websites   28%

Advice from locals   13%

Printed guidebooks   12%

Travel apps   9%

Other   4%

Only 12% of respondents selected guidebooks.

As for sharing information with others after they’ve traveled, 79% of respondents said they posted reviews, commented on blogs or posted on social media about their travel experiences (respondents were only allowed to select one choice).

Do You Share Your Travel Experiences Online?

No   21%

Yes, I post reviews   38%

Yes, I post on social media   25%

Yes, I comment on blogs or forums   16%

Transaero rebrands to deliver new vision for the future of travel

Transaero, Russia’s largest independent airline, has unveiled a new brand identity that defines their vision to be one of the world’s best airline brands.

Having recently been voted Skytrax’s ‘World’s most improved airline’ in 2013 and with a new fleet entering service, Transaero has taken the opportunity to refresh and modernize its brand and identity to reflect the positive changes being driven within the business.

As part of the process that ran from April to mid summer of 2014, UK strategic design agency, StartJG, worked collaboratively with Transaero to establish a roadmap for change that would enable the brand to become more valued by passengers and more valuable as a business.

Transaero has grown confidently over the past two decades so the brand programme focused on creating a platform for future growth. The StartJG team worked on defining a new proposition and brand promise: ‘To the future together’ establishing this as a creative thread that runs throughout the business. This is an idea about delivering change both in product and in service. The new identity is an expression of this change and the challenge has been to deliver the new look and feel confidently across all touch points, from aircraft livery to digital communications.

On this achievement Mike Curtis, Group CEO of StartJG commented:

“With the relaunch of the brand identity, Transaero has taken this opportunity in time, against a challenging economic environment, to take a confident step towards the future. The craft and style of the identity supports the pride and heritage that this Russian airline encapsulates.”

On the process to deliver the brand Curtis reflected on his personal involvement:

“It has been a real pleasure to work with a brand that has such a commitment to Russia and its people. We were introduced to each other in 2014. There has also been a personal investment as I’m part of a Russian family and I respect the culture. Transaero is a brand born of Russia, but is being built to meet the needs of the world’s travellers”.

In regards to the expected achievement of the project and its effects on the marketplace Curtis believes:

“This is going to be the start of the next chapter for Transaero and an important step for the Russian airline industry. Transaero is a smart and creative brand that is challenging the establishment and this can only be a good thing for all passengers and travellers”.

The travel sector has become increasingly competitive, but has also always enjoyed a warm and magical attachment to both people and the countries they represent.

Olga Pleshakova, CEO of Transaero Airlines commented:

“Our company cares for its traditions and professional values. This attitude contributed to building up the team and family spirit inherent in the company. The family is the key to the future. We want passengers who choose Transaero to feel truly surrounded by a similar care to that you would receive in your family. Whilst retaining our family culture we have modernised the image of the company. That’s why our new brand positioning is “To the future together.”

Steve Ridgway CBE, former CEO of Virgin Atlantic and StartJG Chairman reflected on the positive direction of Transaero:

“You cannot underestimate the power of a renewed brand identity for an airline – it sets an expectation across everything it does, from improved passenger experience, to better customer service, to new product innovations and so on, and so on.

The Transaero rebrand signals a powerful statement of intent to be right up there, shoulder to shoulder, amongst the world’s top airlines”.

Following todays launch the brand identity will be introduced across the full fleet of planes and all traveller touch points, from website to check-in and communication collateral.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort to welcome inaugural World Spa Awards

World Spa Awards has revealed InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort will host its inaugural Gala Ceremony.

The hotel, considered one of the finest in Vietnam, will welcome leaders from the global spa industry on September 14th, 2015.

Embedded in the mythical hills of Monkey Mountain in the heart of the Son Tra Peninsula nature reserve, the five-star InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is a work of art as much as a resort.

Itself a winner of the World’s Leading Luxury Resort title at the World Travel Awards in 2014, it is the perfect host for the inaugural World Spa Awards.

The resort is set in 39 hectares of stepped gardens leading down to a private beach.

All 197 rooms have a panoramic view of the sea and cascading hills.

A stunning creation of star architect Bill Bensley, every inch of this magnificent resort exudes harmonic blend of traditional authenticity and modern luxury.

World Spa Awards is the new, annual awards programme designed to drive up standards within the spa industry and will reward the organisations which are leaders in their field.

Gina Reynolds, Managing Director, World Spa Awards, said: “It is a great pleasure to reveal InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort as the host for the very first World Spa Awards.

“This was a very competitive bidding process, with a large number of world-class properties in the running to stage the event. After much consideration we decided InterContinental Danang offered the right blend of luxury, sophistication, and facilities, as well as an envious location, to make the event a success."

She added: “We look forward to welcoming the leaders of the global spa industry in Vietnam later this year.”

The World Spa Awards is being launched into the highly lucrative and rapidly growing spa industry.

Spa tourism constitutes a vital segment in the global travel and tourism marketplace.

From 2007–2014 the spa industry grew 58 per cent, generating in excess of $94 billion in revenue.

There has also been a growth in spa locations by 47 per cent.

The World Spa Awards programme includes categories for the Best Hotel Spa, Best Wellness Spa, and Best Spa Destination.

A number of further categories exist on a world level only such as, Best Airline Lounge Spa, Best Cruise Line Spa, Best Spa Brand, and Best Desert Spa.

The individual country level winner with the most overall votes will not only win the national award but also the world level award in the respective category. 

UNWTO Conference to address quality in Mediterranean destinations

The ability to offer a high-quality experience is a crucial element for tourism competitiveness in Mediterranean destinations. The 2nd UNWTO Conference on Destination Management in the Mediterranean will focus on enhancing the quality of the visitor’s experience through strategic tourism partnerships (Budva, Montenegro, 22-24 June 2015).

The Mediterranean is one of the most visited tourism regions in the world, accounting for one in three international tourist arrivals worldwide, over a quarter of total international tourism receipts, and almost 20% of the global cruise market.

The Conference, organized jointly by UNWTO and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro in the popular coastal destination of Budva, will explore how partnerships can promote quality and product diversification in the Mediterranean.

The Conference will address key issues such as: 1) the positioning of Mediterranean destinations in the global market, 2) product development, diversification and innovation as a means to improve the quality of the visitor experience, capture a wider range of market niches and minimize seasonality, 3) cruise and maritime tourism and 4) effective governance and policy instruments.

Speakers include representatives from the public and private sector from Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Jordan, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

In 2014, 343 million international tourists visited a Mediterranean destination. According to UNWTO’s long-term forecast, this number will reach over 500 million in 2030.