As race week in Melbourne concludes, the Australian dollar has soared to record highs enabling a surge in the travel industry to the Unites States. As of November 4th, the Australian dollar reached US$1.0062 after news that the US Federal Reserve announced plans to stimulate the American economy by investing up to US$600 billion into bonds over the coming months.
Despite Qantas’s 90th anniversary celebrations this week and launch of their world-first Q Bag Tags, engine failures on two of the carrier’s planes have been the overriding focus in their news. (see Industry News) Discounted cities, hotels and rental cars are on offer in certain locations at the moment - check out Business Hotel News and Edge Intelligence for details.
The latest flight specials from around the world are listed on this page, simply reference this newsletter with your Executive Edge consultant. As always, we thank you for your loyalty and we look forward to bringing you the latest news in corporate travel.
Industry News
Q Bag Tags world-first technology
The days of printing temporary baggage tags every time you fly are numbered. Qantas has devised a world technology first with its innovative Q Bag Tag which will eliminate the need for a paper luggage version of bag tags. This groovy little contraption designed by the ingenious Marc Newson is a permanent luggage tag which electronically synchronises the flight details on your boarding pass or Qantas card with your luggage. The Q Bag Tag allows you to check your baggage in easily at a Next Generation airport and saves the time of printing and attaching temporary baggage tags every time you fly.
Q tags can be used now in Perth and from November 10th at Sydney T3 domestic terminal. Platinum, Gold or Silver frequent flyers will receive a kit containing Q Bag Tags by early 2011. Bronze or non-frequent flyers can register online at www.qantas.com and you will be notified when they become available for purchase.
Qantas woes dominate 90th anniversary celebration
Even the celebrity factor presence of brand ambassador John Travolta at Qantas’s 90th anniversary bash couldn’t overshadow a horror week for the airline. Long scheduled celebrations to honour the airline went ahead as planned at Sydney airport but it’s been a disastrous week for Qantas. After two engine failures and three mid-air emergencies have left more than 1200 passengers stranded and thousands more adversely affected, Qantas’s shaky safety record is on spotlight. All airlines have been cutting costs lately and the pilot’s union has universally accused airlines in general of lowering safety and maintenance standards; however, now Qantas has given the union ample ammunition to be targeted. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce defended the company’s safety record and maintenance practices despite the two engine failures in 48 hours on their own
A380 and Boeing 747. Although no one was injured and both aircrafts landed safely, the damage to Qantas’s reputation remains to be seen.
Suspected cause of QF32’s engine failure detected, investigations continue while entire A380 fleet grounded
As Qantas’s A380 fleet continues to be grounded with no announcement about return to service, sources are revealing a possible cause of QF32’s engine failure. According to some sources, preliminary intensive examinations of the Rolls-Royce engines are suggesting the suspected cause of engine failure may be a problem in their Intermediate Pressure Turbine. Not only has a fault been detected in the ill-fated flight, but also has been found in two of the four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines on another of the airline’s giant Airbuses. Qantas CEO Joyce will not confirm these reports but did say none of the Airbuses would return to service until their engines had passed stringent new tests recommended by Rolls-Royce. Full details of the damaged A380 engine in question will not be known until the ATSB lead inquiry releases its preliminary factual report in four weeks time.
For now the entire fleet remains grounded.
Emirates profits soar
The Middle East’s biggest airline operating significant flights from Australia has reported all-time high profits. In fact, its first-half profit for the fiscal year more than quadrupled to $941 million. Increased passengers and cargo into fuller planes at a record 81.2 percent occupancy has been attributed to the rocketing profits. Despite the airline industry’s struggles with weak demand amid the recent worldwide economic downturn, Emirates seems immune. Some of the growth has come from added planes and routes and CEO Maktoum articulated that the airline had the resources to continue to grow. The carrier now ranks as the world’s busiest hauler of international passengers according to passenger traffic, just ahead of German Lufthansa. Emirates’ hub location of Dubai between Europe, Asia and Africa certainly will continue to benefit the airline’s
profitability.
Qantas capacity expections squashed
Qantas had high hopes of increasing its capacities for the first half of 2011, however expectations have lowered on this optimistic goal in recent days. The national carrier was aiming for a 8.4 percent lift in capacity for the first part of 2011 but the latest traffic numbers aren’t adding up. Revenue seat factor was 81.5 percent, 0.8 percent points lower than the prior year. Although some yields for domestic operations were up slightly by 1.3 percent from last year and international services rose 13.6 percent, the latest monthly report did not show significant enough increases overall to justify a general capacity increase across the board for its aircrafts. And in light of recent engine issues and flight groundings, any talk of capacity increases seem extremely premature.
Business Hotel News
Featured Business Hotel: Trump Towers New York
Last week I stayed at this still classic New York property and I can report Trump International Hotel and Tower’s new renovation successfully reinvents the brand once again. All 167 luxury rooms and suites boast 55-inch flat panel HDTVs with Blue-ray DVD players with elegant Schonbek crystal chandeliers and chic brown and grey earthy aesthetics. The suites feature fully equipped European-style kitchens with Sub-Zero appliances, separate living rooms with dining room table and chairs, double-size plush velvet sofa beds and 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows framing the most coveted central park views on the west side. Located at the convenient juncture of Columbus Circle, Central Park West, Central Park South and Broadway, Trump Towers is adjacent to Central Park and only three blocks from Lincoln Center when your work colleagues want to engage in a little opera, symphony or
ballet culture. Leave it to Donald to have a five-star restaurant, Jean Georges, in the hotel serving contemporary French cuisine. Trump Towers has received two top awards for best hotel in New York City and offers comprehensive services to leisure and business guests including in-room computers on request, personalized stationery, fitness center and 6,000-square foot spa with a 55-foot lap pool. Trump Towers remains the choice for serious business travelers in New York - Cokie Roberts herself was discretely checking in as I checked out on Monday and appeared on NBCs coverage of the Congressional elections the next night.
Trump International Hotel & Tower
One Central Park West,
New York, NY 10023
Phone (212) 299-1000
www.trumpnewyorkhotel.com
Biggest discounted business destinations right now - Los Angeles, Shanghai and Berlin
Los Angeles never gets the winter chill of other American cities which makes it an ideal overseas corporate destination. With several new hotel openings and a resulting proliferation of beds means rates continue to be affordable. Getting there is inexpensive too with Virgin’s operation maintaining competition is hot. Choose from London West Hollywood’s suites which start at 750-square feet and are now $279US, a 43% discount over last year; the Beverly Wilshire or Four Seasons where guests get a fourth night free; or the Philippe Stark-designed SLS Hotel offering 40% off every other night.
The afterglow of Expo 2010 in Shanghai has resulted in an abundance of available hotel rooms with now half-price rates across the city. Rooms at Grand Hyatt Shanghai are going for $369. Four Seasons is even discounting 15 percent off last year’s rates and the St. Regis Shanghai is 50% cheaper than it was in 2009.
Berlin is another greatly discounted city of the moment. Four and five-star hotels are down as much as 50% in capacity due to the declining Euro. Not to mention fares to Europe typically drop by half in the fall and winter so getting there is also a bargain. Savings at the Swissotel Berlin average 25% off right now as well as the iconic Hotel Adlon Kempinski at 55% cheaper than stays in 2009.
Corporate Cultural Etiquette 101 for China
Adhering to protocol in China is critical for anyone serious about conducting business there - being well-briefed prior is paramount. For starters, at the conclusion of business negotiations, it’s wise to present a small token of gratitude to the entire delegation as well as a slightly more impressive gift to the senior boss. Present the gifts to hosts on arrival using both hands and make sure each is wrapped properly. (It’s considered rude to present unwrapped gifts.) Finally, avoid giving anything beyond the receiver’s means to reciprocate which would cause him to lose face - a cardinal blow in Chinese etiquette. A word to the wise, beware of odd numbers which are considered ominous as well as the number four which is associated with death.
Edge Intelligence
Latest Web Travel Tools
Web-based travel.com tools are ubiquitous but sifting through the endless options can be utterly infuriating in an attempt to decipher which version is actually useful. Edge has done its homework and each month we will bring you particularly relevant choices to make your life and travel plans easier and more streamlined. HopStop.com makes worldwide city sightseeing simple. It devises step-by-step plans for you by telling you how to get from point A to point B, on foot or by subway, bus or taxi, and how long it will take. FareCompare.com trip alerts notify you when fares drop on routes you’re interested in several hours before the reduced fares are loaded into the airlines’ reservations systems - so just in time to ring your Executive Edge consultant to nab the discounted seats before others do. You can request alerts for cities, countries, continents, carriers, classes
of service and specific dates. TripIt.com is another nifty little gadget which organizes your electric travel reservations into one master itinerary. Simply forward all your confirmation emails of flights, shows, events, etc to TripIt and the site will consolidate all of your plans into an itinerary which fills in many blanks like adding links to online check-in, flight status updates, seat advice, maps, directions and much more.
Alamo Europe Car Rental Deals
As the low season in Europe ensues and their winter begins, car rental deals are abound. Right now through December 31st, you can save up to 15% with Alamo plus a free additional driver with a minimum 3 day rental agreement. Reserve now with Contract ID # 7013326. The participating countries in Europe for this discount are the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland and Greece. Availability is limited so don’t hesitate to reserve now. Subject to change without notice and blackout dates do apply. Go to www.alamo.com for more details.
Events and Conferences
World’s Largest Expo in history ends in Shanghai
The Shanghai Expo broke all records and officially recorded the largest world’s fair in history. Beginning May 1st the Expo was attended by 72 million people hosted by 240 countries and organisations and closed its doors on Sunday. The Chinese Premier expressed gratitude to everyone who participated and contributed to the first expo held by a developing country. Radio New Zealand reported that the Shanghai government spent an estimated US$60 million on the six month expo - a figure which even exceeds the amount spent on the Beijing 2008 Olympics. A grand success, the site became a global village for visitors to witness a taste of the world’s diverse cultures through more than 20,000 cultural events. Now with the expo leaving town, Shanghai is undergoing a major oversupply of hotel rooms which means rock-bottom pricing opportunities for current visitors - see
Business Hotel News. The next city to host the 2015 World Expo will be Milan.
Meeting and Incentive Forums announce 2011 worldwide event locations
The famed and intensive supplier/meeting planner event organisers, ROI-focused MICE, officially declared their intended worldwide dates and locations for upcoming 2011 events. The events are scheduled to take place in Indonesia in June, USA in May, The Netherlands in July and Spain in October. The Meeting and Incentive Forums run over four days offering highly focused appointment-based events centering on the MICE industries in Europe, USA and Asia. A minimum of 50 pre-scheduled one-to-one appointments between top MICE suppliers and key incentive and meeting buyers with confirmed budgets are on offer. A wide range of suppliers are represented including The Dorchester Collection, Baglioni Hotels, Visit London, etc. Buyers in the past have included American Express, Coca Cola, Siemens and Nike.
Specific dates as follows:
USA Meeting & Incentive Forum
May 31-June 4
The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Asia Meeting & Incentive Forum
June 21-25
Meliá Bali, Bali, Indonesia
European Meeting & Incentive Forum Spring
July 5-9
Grand Hotel Huis Ter Duin, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
European Meeting & Incentive Forum Autumn
October 25-29
Hesperia Tower, Barcelona, Spain
