Welcome to Edge Intelligence for May/June 2010

Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the technology issue. This month we spotlight the newest technology that will make your life easier when traveling. Download for free TripCase which fundamentally changes the post-booking experience. Check-in for Qantas or Virgin domestic flights using your mobile phone. Create a virtual wallet of all the best perks and bargains through collating all your loyalty programs on Perkler.com and save thousands per year - see Edge Intelligence for details.

And speaking of savings, Executive Edge has launched Sabre Online, a secure corporate booking engine which allows clients to search for and book flights, hotels and car hire online 24/7 while reducing fees. Managing your company’s travel has never been easier, more self-sufficient and cost-effective. For a preview of Sabre Online see Industry News below; however, your Edge Consultant will be contacting you shortly for a live demonstration of how to use the new online booking system.

In Business Hotel News this month, it’s good news for Four Seasons fans - Executive Edge has become a member of the Four Seasons’ Preferred Partner Program enabling added benefits for our clients.

As always, we thank you for your loyalty and we look forward to bringing you the latest travel technology.

Kimberly Rosbe
Editor at Large

TripCase app greatly enhances the post-booking experience

Who says service has to end when booking is complete? TripCase has invented a mobile application that delivers up-to-the-minute advice, alerts and tools relevant to when and where you are. TripCase is free to download to any web-enabled device including any mobile phone, desktop or laptop computer. Stay informed, empowered and connected when traveling. This app is an absolute must-have for every business traveler.

To begin simply automatically import your trip details using a Sabre record locator or manually add flight, hotel and rental car information. Then you’ll be able to receive real-time notifications when anything in your itinerary changes from flight delays, alternative flight schedule information, cancellations and gate changes, hotel and car rental status alerts, even maps and weather information. There is also a sharing service called TripLog which allows you to share your travel experiences by streaming information to and from your trip to family, friends and colleagues including trip updates, posting photos, sending and receiving messages and leaving notes regarding important trip details. TripCase is the ultimate smart mobile toolkit. Traveling made simple. For more detailed features information on all the virtues of TripCase and a tab for each type of phone visit www.tripcase.com

Qantas and Virgin launch mobile phone check-in

Own a Blackberry or iphone with web access? You can now check-in using your phone for a truly efficient and streamlined process. For domestic flights between 24 hours and 45 minutes prior to departure on Qantas, QantasLink and Virgin Blue, check-in via the respective websites and a sms will be sent to your phone with a boarding pass and 2D barcode. If you are traveling without luggage, simply proceed to your departure gate and scan the 2D barcode on your phone at the gate. This will produce a boarding receipt. Your boarding receipt or e-boarding pass will include a barcode, passenger name, seat number and flight details. If you do have luggage, go to the Mobile Check-in Bag Drop counter and scan the 2D barcode on your mobile at the departure gate for a boarding receipt. Check-in has never been easier.

Reduce fees through Sabre Online booking

Executive Edge has devised a secure corporate booking engine that offers an efficient, cost-effective way to manage your travel. It’s called Sabre Online. Sabre is an innovative booking and travel management tool which puts you in control of your itinerary while simultaneously reducing your client fees. For companies seeking to save on fees by adopting an online self-booking strategy, Sabre Online is the answer. Now you (or your PA) can shop domestic and international fares, book flights, hotel and car hire worldwide via this easy-to-use online system. With a single click, you can multi-search air, car and hotels.

Sabre Online has a host of benefits for clients beyond reduced fees. Bookings through Sabre allow you to view current and past itineraries for everyone in your company, view e-ticket receipts for all your company’s flyers, as well as monitor comprehensive reports on staff expenditure 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via internet from anywhere in the world. Automatic authorization ensures policy compliance so data is instantly filled with the correct policy, department and financial information. Rest assured, all airfares are the Executive Edge previously negotiated private corporate fares and membership discounted rates including route deals, market share deals and direct rebates. For further details about Sabre Online or a live demonstration, please contact Executive Edge’s Office Manager Athina Morfis on athinam@executiveedge.com.au

Qantas announces new overnight flights to Hong Kong

In an effort to respond to consumer demand, Qantas has enhanced its flights to Hong Kong. From four of Australia’s main hubs, Qantas will now operate overnight flights to Hong Kong allowing business travelers to arrive in the morning for a full day of productivity. The new operating times will provide greater convenience as well as better connections to London and mainland China including Beijing and Shanghai. From Australia, Qantas flights will depart Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne prior to midnight arriving in Hong Kong at 6:05am. Overnight flight departure schedule from Australia below:

Sydney: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Brisbane: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Perth: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Melbourne: Daily

Air New Zealand new baggage policy

Beginning on May 26th, Air New Zealand is changing its baggage policy from the weight system to a piece system in an effort to create a more simple, consistent policy for all its domestic and international routes.

With a maximum weight of 23 kg per piece, the new checked baggage allowances are the following:

Business: 3 pieces
Premium Economy: 2 pieces
Economy: 1 piece
Flexi Plus fares: 2 pieces
Airpoints Gold Elite, Gold, Star Alliance Gold & Koru members: 1 additional piece up to a maximum of 3 pieces

If you wish to bring additional bags, excess baggage charges are as follows:

Trans-Tasman:
ex SYD, BNE, MEL, OOL, NLK: one additional piece $40, two additional pieces $160, three additional pieces $360
ex PER, CNS, ADL: one additional piece $60, two additional pieces $260, three additional pieces $540

Long Haul International Travel from Australia:
One additional piece $60, two additional pieces $260, three additional pieces $540

Overweight Bags:
Domestic - between 23kg and 32 kgs $75
International - charged additional piece fee as per above

Featured Business Hotel: The Mira Hong Kong

Emerging glittering and hip from a $65 million US dollar transformation, the Mira Hong Kong has been dubbed a modern business traveler’s indulgence and Hong Kong’s hottest address. Located in the heart of Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong’s culinary, cultural, shopping and entertainment locale, the Mira Hong Kong defines the new Hong Kong with technology savvy rooms, modern interior decor, innovative cuisine and passionate service. Best tech feature? Their room phones convert to a mobile phone. Simply click ‘My Mira’ on the mobile device and off you go - the most powerful mobile network keeps you connected anywhere in the city. If someone rings your room, the call goes directly to your mobile. Need concierge advice? Someone from their dedicated team is only a push of a button away, so you are always connected anywhere in Hong Kong. Corporate travelers will find the business centre at The Mira top notch with secretarial services on offer. Need a presentation reformatted or translated into another language? No problem.

Four Seasons Preferred Partner Program for Edge Clients

Given Executive Edge’s special relationship with Four Seasons, our agency has been rewarded with membership in the company’s Preferred Partner Program. The program is only offered to a select few travel agencies worldwide and translates to added benefits for our clients. Now with a Four Seasons hotel booking through Executive Edge, you will automatically receive an upgrade based upon availability, your choice of a full American breakfast for two in the restaurant or room service, and a choice of either a spa treatment, golf fees or lunch for two excluding wine and gratuity. In addition to these already generous bonus amenities, our clients will receive priority waitlist, rooms pre-blocked and pre-registered, a personal welcome by the manager and a welcome amenity. There has never been a better time to stay at the Four Seasons.

Perkler.com collates all perks of loyalty programs for you

Take advantage of this site and save thousands per year - ignore at peril to your bank account. Everyone has multiple memberships in various loyalty programs which provide endless automatically entitled perks. However, it’s hard to keep track of them all without a doctorate degree in problem solving. Perkler.com has done the impossible. The website collates all your loyalty programs on your behalf clearly outlining and presenting which perks are available to you, the consumer. Simply load your various loyalty card numbers into the website and Perkler.com creates a virtual wallet leading clients to the best bargains in a concise, easy to understand manner. Bonus? Search for reward programs that relate to your interests and location which may be most beneficial to your lifestyle. For iphone addicts, a new iphone application with the same functionality is coming soon. www.perkler.com

New iphone app from Small Luxury Hotels of the World

This free app from Small Luxury Hotels of the World literally puts the world at your fingertips. To start, it provides the most up-to-date offers and information about the collections’ 500 plus worldwide hotels in over 70 countries. But it does much more. Not only can you search for a destination or hotel, but the app can recognize where you are once you arrive and generate expert personal recommendations for restaurants, cultural interest or shopping. Learn while you explore. You can also instantly share your experience with friends and family via Small Luxury Hotels’ Facebook, Twitter and email.

Mandarin Oriental offers ‘Business Plus’ for 25 properties

Last week Mandarin Oriental announced it would be offering business travelers a new added value across 25 of its hotels located in key city and resort destinations. Aptly named ‘Business Plus’ is a worldwide effort by Mandarin Oriental’s management to attract the corporate traveler, conferences and events to the hotel’s chain. Among the many benefits of ‘Business Plus’ are automatic upgrades to the next room category when available, continental breakfast for two (perfect for that early morning business meeting), unlimited local phone calls free, and no charge for wireless internet access. A full range of ‘Business Plus’ rates, benefits and conditions are listed on Mandarin Oriental’s website www.mandarinoriental.com

Sydney Convention Centre receives award for high standards

Sydney’s Convention and Exhibition Centre has just become the first venue in Australia to obtain three international certifications for high standards and the only convention venue in the world to achieve these three specific standards. The international certifications relate to its standards for environmental management, occupational health and safety, and food safety. The accomplishment reflects the centre’s efforts to execute the finest standards across all its operations. The venue’s CEO said the convention centre is now focused on achieving certification for its management system. Although the certification process is time-consuming, it is considered necessary to illuminate that the venue is world-class and utilizes leading practices.