Travel News: Airlines, Tourism and Airfares

EcoRooms & EcoSuites certifies two new hotels - The Comfort Inn & Suites in Boston and Habitat Suites in Austin, TX - as a 2nd sustainability wave crests in the hotel industry

Almost 30 years ago, advertising for Pan American World Airways introduced a slogan, 'You canÂ’t beat the experience,' which was ahead of its time in prefiguring the 21st-century focus by marketers on customer experiences with their brands.

The issue of whether automation is a luxury or a necessity was first put to me a long time ago, even before revenue management really existed for hotels. As I tried to walk into my first computer science class in college, I was confronted by a sign that directed us away from the lab, with its gleaming new cathode ray terminals (which had just replaced the old card punch stations), and instead pointed down the corridor to a regular lecture hall.

Senior finance executives from around the world report growing optimism about economic recovery but are proceeding with caution, investing in categories that will boost growth such as sales and product development while selectively increasing discretionary spending in areas like marketing and technology. At the same time, companies continue to closely manage the bottom line and maintain the strong financial discipline that was prompted by the recession.

Well, not exactly. REVPAR GURU examines the role of historical pricing, and how it should be used.

Update from Restaurantchains.net on growing and emerging restaurant concepts

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, the quick-casual fresh Mexican chain, announced the grand re-opening of its Baja Fresh in Alhambra, CA on May 4, 2010.

GE Capital, Franchise Finance recently co-led the funding of a $36 million debt facility for the acquisition of Wingstop Restaurants, Inc. by an affiliate of Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm specializing in franchising. Funding was provided through GE Capital, Franchise Finance's bank affiliate, GE Capital Financial, Inc.

Wendy’s/Arby’s International, Inc., a subsidiary of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, Inc. (NYSE: WEN), today jointly announced with Al Jammaz Group, the opening of the first international dual-branded Wendy’s® and Arby’s® restaurant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today unveiled the fighter-sized Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system, a test bed for advanced technologies.