Travel News: Airlines, Tourism and Airfares

Aloft(R) Hotels this week announced expansion plans for key global markets from Brussels to Bangalore - and one of Aloft's first New York City properties, in downtown Brooklyn.

Breakout Bands The Soft Pack, Bowerbirds, Avi Buffalo to Appear at Aloft Austin Parties

Pay before you stay, and save. That has been the deal with online travel sites and discount tour operators. Now, an increasing number of hotels are slashing room rates if you ante up in full in advance and forego a refund if you don't show up.

Last week, ASTA along with the Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA) filed comments with the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, requesting that it show restraint in implementing increases in passport fees. The State Dept. recently proposed an increase in the cost of new passports (up from $100 to $135) and passport renewals (up from $75 to $110).

The Grand Luxxe, a Grupo Vidanta hotel, is located in Nuevo Vallarta just 20 minutes north from the Puerto Vallarta airport and will open to guests April 2010. With the opening of the Grand Luxxe, vacationers to Nuevo Vallarta will have the option of an incomparable high luxury vacation experience.

Hotel occupancy rates are forecast to rebound this year in the U.S. and Europe. Room prices may follow in 2011, according to analysts including Patrick Scholes at FBR Capital Markets & Co. Some luxury hotels have already been able to lift rates as demand for $600 rooms, butler service and poolside cabanas recovers in cities such as Miami, New York and London.

Worldwide over 1,515 luxury hotels and 2,150 first class hotels with, in total, more than 1 million guest rooms are under construction.

Net sales increased 11.0% to $38,996,000 from $35,141,000. The extra week in the 2009 quarter included the New Year’s holiday period and contributed $3,337,000 of net sales, which increased net sales for the quarter by 9.5%.

Results from a new survey of unmanaged business travelers in Best Western’s loyalty program, Best Western Rewards®, provide further indication that the effects of the recession are easing and that more people plan to hit the road for business again in 2010.

General and Administrative Costs Decreased $3.3 Million in Fiscal Year 2009 Compared to Fiscal Year 2008; Company-wide EBITDA Increased $1.0 Million in Fourth Quarter 2009 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2008