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      CWT to launch car rental and train booking capabilities on myCWT mobile and web channels

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      CWT, the business-to-business-for-employees (B2B4E) travel management platform, has begun adding car rental and train booking capabilities to the mobile and web channels on its myCWT platform. The new features and functionality will progressively be rolled out in markets around the world this year, giving travelers more options to make and manage these reservations independently. To date, travelers have already been able to book car rental and train content by contacting a CWT travel counselor via phone, email, or messaging, or by using third-party online booking tools.
      These enhancements are one of the key outcomes of CWT’s $100 million investment in its myCWT travel management platform.
      “Delivering a truly omni-channel experience is an integral part of CWT’s commitment to simplifying business travel,” said John Pelant, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer. “This means ensuring that travelers get the same content and experience no matter how they engage with CWT – whether it’s by contacting one of our expert travel counselors, or using a self-booking channel such as our app, web portal or a third-party online booking tool. These latest upgrades to our platform are a significant milestone in that direction. At the same time, the expansion of our train and rental car content will play an important role in supporting our customers’ sustainability objectives, which is now a top priority for most corporate travel programs.”
      Pedal to the metal: global roll-out of car rental bookings on myCWT mobile and web
      CWT has begun adding car rental content to myCWT mobile and web in key markets worldwide.ADVERTISEMENTTravelers will be able to book their rental car via the myCWT mobile app (on iOS and Android) and web portal. They will have access to their company’s corporate negotiated rates and preferred suppliers, and can easily search for pick-up and drop-off locations. Loyalty program details from car rental companies are being integrated as well. To help travelers make more sustainable choices at the time of booking, the mobile app and web portal will have indicators highlighting electric and hybrid car options. Carbon emission estimates will be added at a later date.
      On the fast-track: API connection with Trainline Partner Solutions will bring train content to myCWT mobile and web in key markets in Europe
      For over a decade, CWT has worked with Trainline Partner Solutions, the B2B arm of Europe’s leading independent rail and coach platform, to source UK train content. The two companies are broadening their partnership with an API integration into Trainline’s Platform One technology that will enable CWT to offer train booking and ticketing functionalities—including corporate negotiated fares and discounts, seat reservations and seat preferences—via its digital channels, starting with the myCWT mobile app.
      Liz Emmott, Global Distribution Director for Trainline Partner Solutions, commented, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with CWT and to provide a simple and seamless experience for rail travelers across CWT’s full platform. By cutting through the complexity in this way, more business travelers will get access to the rail content they want and will be able to choose a more sustainable way to travel.”
      This functionality will initially become available for travelers in the UK in July, and be expanded to other markets in Europe in the following months. CWT will also introduce point-of-booking carbon emission estimates for train travel later in the year.
      CWT is a Business-to-Business-for-Employees (B2B4E) travel management platform. Companies and governments rely on us to keep their people connected – anywhere, anytime, anyhow. Across six continents, we provide their employees with innovative technology and an efficient, safe and secure travel experience backed by our three core promises: to simplify corporate travel, to connect to unlock possibilities, and to move forward, together.

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      IATA: Premature return to pre-pandemic slot rules risks passenger disruption

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      The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed concern that a premature return to pre-pandemic slot use rules in the EU this winter risks continuing disruption to passengers.
      The European Commission has announced it intends to return to the longstanding 80-20 slot use rule, which requires airlines to operate at least 80% of every planned slot sequence. Global slot rules are an effective system for managing access to and the use of scarce capacity at airports. The system has stood the test of time and while airlines are keen to restart services, the failure of several key airports to accommodate demand, coupled with increasing air traffic control delays, means a premature return to the 80-20 rule could lead to further passenger disruption.
      The evidence so far this summer has not been encouraging. Airports had the 2022 summer season schedules and final slot holdings in January and didn’t evaluate how to manage this in time. Airports declaring that full capacity is available and then requiring airlines to make cuts this summer shows the system is not ready for reviving “normal” slot use this winter season (which begins at end of October).
      “The chaos we have seen at certain airports this summer has occurred with a slot use threshold of 64%. We are worried that airports will not be ready in time to service an 80% threshold by the end of October. It is essential the Member States and Parliament adjust the Commission’s proposal to a realistic level and permit flexibility to the slot use rules. Airports are equal partners in the slot process, let them demonstrate their ability to declare and manage their capacity accurately and competently and then restore the slot use next summer,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

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      marhaba partners with Dubai’s Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital

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      marhaba, part of dnata and one of the world‘s fastest growing passenger services providers, is launching new summer experiences across its global network of airport lounges.
      At its lounges at DXB’s Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, marhaba has partnered with Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital to offer an exclusive range of travel products with summer designs created by children aged between 5 and 11, with all profits going to the hospital. The special products include notebooks, bookmarks, and postcards.
      Steve Allen, CEO of dnata Group, commented: “marhaba’s airport services are soaring in popularity this summer as travellers seek a smooth journey to and from their destination of choice. As the brand continues to expand from Dubai, we’ve recently launched meet & greet services at five Australian airports and opened a new lounge in Zurich, Switzerland, in time for the peak travel season.
      “At dnata we are proud to support local community partners and our work with Al Jalila Hospital offers travellers the opportunity to purchase something unique this summer, in support of an important cause.”
      Dr Mohamed Al Awadhi, Chief Operating Officer, Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, added: “Al Jalila Children’s is an inspiring, child-friendly world. We strive to create a stress-free environment where our young patients can participate in a range of activities regardless of their condition. We would like to thank dnata for providing our young patients a platform to express their artistic abilities and create an exclusive merchandise for marhaba which will be seen by people from all over the world.” ADVERTISEMENTPassengers accessing marhaba lounges in Singapore, Manila, Melbourne, Karachi, Geneva and Zürich can also expect a host of additional summer products, all locally-tailored, including new menu items, and unmissable giveaways, throughout a highly-anticipated season for international travel.
      In July marhaba will also launch a summer competition. Its global lounge customers will be provided with materials to design a postcard based on their ‘dream’ summer holiday destination. Completed designs will be displayed within local lounges as travel inspiration, and will also admit a passenger one entry to a travel-themed prize draw, including holidays in Dubai and Switzerland inclusive of five-star hotel stays, flights, and marhaba services.

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      Calls to reform National Park visitor reservation systems

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      Nearly 400 travel industry organisations – including domestic and international organisations have sent a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and National Park Service Director Chuck Sams calling for reforms to the visitor reservation systems in the national parks.
      Specifically, reservation systems with short booking windows and inconsistent procedures are not workable for international travelers and international tour operators, many of whom plan travel a full year in advance. The letter proposes that reservations be allowed 10 to 12 months in advance, and that reservation systems are consistent across parks that implement them.
      While reservation systems are not appropriate at all national park sites, any action by the Interior Department to expand new reservation systems for parks should be preceded by engagement and discussion with national park constituencies, including gateway communities, tour operators, and those that provide transportation to and through parks.
      The reservation systems were largely implemented in the wake of record visitation that occurred at some of the country’s most popular national parks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
      Supporting international visitationOverseas travelers made up more than a third (35%) of the 327 million visitors to national parks in 2019 and are crucial to the economies of national park gateway communities. With international inbound travel spending not expected to recovery until 2025, it is crucial that the sector can continue—and accelerate—its recovery without impediments.ADVERTISEMENT“The national parks are some of the biggest draws for overseas visitors, but the short booking windows make it nearly impossible for visitors to plan their trips,” said U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes. “By extending the booking window to at least 10 months, we can ensure that the parks remain open and welcoming to overseas visitors while protecting our cherished wildlife, landscapes and natural resources.”

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      ITB Asia form SACEOS partnership to host Singapore MICE Forum

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      ITB Asia, ‘Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show,’ is back and on track for a physical event in October and shines light on new collaboration with Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), the national trade association for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and events in Singapore. A corresponding partnership agreement has been signed between the two institutions to host the “Singapore MICE Forum” event, which will be co-located with ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia in Singapore.
      Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) is SACEOS’ premier annual event that brings together global and regional MICE players to foster partnerships and international collaboration. The one-day event will be held on 20 October 2022 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. The event is expected to attract more than 250 meetings and event professionals and 50 expert speakers from the global MICE industry.
      The partnership aims to leverage the extensive networks of business, government, and travel trade contacts to attract even more experts and key industry players, laying the foundation for new initiatives and activities for the MICE segment.
      Through this new agreement, SACEOS will also be ITB Asia’s knowledge partner, curating high quality conference sessions within MICE Show Asia as well as providing insightful content and high-level speakers for the Singapore MICE Forum, which brings together industry players, promotes learning and uncovers trends from forward-thinking MICE leaders.
      Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB Asia, commented: “Hosting Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) at ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia is a significant step in fostering and enabling growth in the MICE and Events sector in the region. We are looking forward to a successful partnership with SACEOS and leverage on its decades of experience in the MICE industry. Its educational approach and content will be a great asset to all ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia’s participants.”ADVERTISEMENTRichard Ireland, President, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), said: “The spirit of connection, collaboration and innovation has always been at the core of the MICE industry’s purpose. As business events in the region come back to life, there is no better platform for the industry to gain new insights and exchange views on new opportunities and trends than the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF). Driven by the partnership with ITB Asia, we are confident that the SMF 2022 will continue to be the choice networking and learning platform for the region’s MICE industry.”
      MICE Show Asia, co-located with ITB Asia, will bring together global and regional meeting planners and event organisers for three days. Together with its partners SACEOS and IAPCO, the event will feature educational training sessions and workshops that caters to the needs of the industry. A dedicated hosted buyers’ program for MICE Show Asia is set to bring international buyers who are in-charge of travel procurement.

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      La Rioja to host UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism 2023

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      The 7th edition of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in La Rioja in 2023. This new edition was presented at the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, with the participation of Concha Andreu, President of the Government of La Rioja; Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism; and the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili.
      The Conference has become a leading international forum on trends, tools and opportunities to advance wine tourism. It provides an opportunity for experts and professionals, as well as consolidated and emerging destinations in this tourism segment to exchange knowledge and experiences.
      During the official presentation, which was hosted at the Vivanco facilities in Briones, Pololikashvili thanked Spain and La Rioja for hosting the 2023 edition of the Conference, and highlighted the potential of wine tourism as a driver of the growth of local economies and as an engine of social change: “This is a sector that can lead a positive change,  especially in many rural communities, creating jobs and opportunities in the most depopulated areas, boosting economic growth and preserving the natural and cultural environment.”
      The minister stressed that wine tourism “contributes to economic, social, environmental sustainability, adds value, de-seasonalises product offerings and allows us to visit the rural environment”.
      The President of La Rioja, for her part, pointed out the recognition that the holding of the Conference implies for the tourist development of the region: “La Rioja possesses a unique and diverse heritage, both material and intangible, related to wine as food and as a product, and, in turn, that heritage constitutes a leading tourism offering that can and should be further enhanced.”ADVERTISEMENTThe 2022 edition the UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in Alba, Italy, from 19 to 21 September.

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      U.S. Travel launches daily getaways

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      The U.S. Travel Association has unveiled a weeklong preview of its popular Daily Getaways program, the annual initiative to stimulate travel across America. Officially launching on July 18, the sale will feature exclusive deals from 10 major travel brands – including Accor Hotels, BWH Hotel Group, Choice Hotels, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Universal Orlando Resort, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – offering discounts up to 50% off loyalty points, theme park tickets, vacation packages and hotel stays.
      Deals and special offers available through Daily Getaways can help reduce costs for travel experiences.
      According to STR, the national Average Daily Rate (ADR) for the week ending June 25 was 17% higher than 2019 levels, making discounted loyalty points and hotel stays a smart purchase. Deals and reward programs are more important than ever to many travelers. Destination Analysts reports that more than half of American travelers (52%) believe travel reward programs are an important aspect of their leisure travel planning.
      “This year’s Daily Getaways arrives at a time when domestic leisure travel in the U.S. is surpassing pre-pandemic levels. With so many Americans looking to book trips amid rising costs and record inflation, Daily Getaways provides travelers with exclusive offers to make future travel plans more affordable,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association. “U.S. Travel, together with our industry partners, is proud to present this promotion to spur increased travel within the United States and continue to aid the recovery of the travel and tourism industry.”
      Leisure travel continues to be a high budget priority for American travelers. In June, 62% of travelers said leisure travel was a “high” or “extremely high” budgetary item. However, many travelers are holding off on making plans until the last minute. Amadeus reports that the majority of hotel bookings (55%) are still being made less than a week prior to travel. With deals in Daily Getaways carrying at least a year-long expiration and many programs offering points that never expire (with an active account), travelers are able to secure a travel deal now, to use later.ADVERTISEMENTAvailable DealsSince its inception in 2010, Daily Getaways has offered travelers access to deals from top travel brands in a one-stop, once-a-year marketplace, with deep discounts on points from top loyalty programs being among the fastest sellers.
      The following is a breakdown of how travelers can view and buy the deals:
      Deals Preview: Starting July 11, U.S. Travel begins previewing the Daily Getaways deals online, allowing travelers to sign up for reminders when the deals go live.
      Daily Deals: A limited number of offers will be available for online purchase each weekday beginning Monday, July 18, 2022, at 1 p.m. EDT until August 12, or until supplies last.
      Deals Platform: To preview and later purchase the deals, consumers can visit DailyGetaways.com. Travelers can also sign up for daily alerts to be reminded of deals that interest them before limited quantities sell out.
      Travelers can look forward to the following travel opportunities from Daily Getaways: More

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      UNTWO: Advancing safe mobility for stronger recovery

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      UNWTO joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Spain in the recent High-Level Meeting on Safe International Travel held in Ibiza on 7-8 July.
      The High-Level Meeting focused on the lessons learned from the impact of the pandemic on international mobility and tourism, to build resilience to face future crises.
      “The progress during these past two years, alongside increased coordination among governments, have prompted the basis for a strong recovery”, said Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili. Underscoring that “vaccine equity remains a big challenge”, he stressed that “implementing what we have learned is critical for how we deal with future pandemics, as we work to consolidating how we grow back better”.
      Participants recognised that the recovery of cross-border travel requires easing and lifting COVID-related travel restrictions as far as possible, while ensuring public health considerations Chaired by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, Reyes Maroto, the meeting gathered health and the tourism sector representatives of over 30 countries, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other UN agencies such as the International Organizational for Migration (IMO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
      The High-Level Meeting on Safe International Travel was held in support of the G20 Indonesian Presidency of 2022.  Backed by key stakeholders such as OECD, WHO, ICAO and UNWTO, participants encouraged the Indonesian chair to incorporate the main points into the relevant initiatives of the G20 process,, namely the G20 Health Working Group’s priority on Harmonizing global health standards focused on the Harmonization of COVID-19 and other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Certificate Recognition at the Point of Entry. ADVERTISEMENTOn the occasion, UNWTO and OECD released an impact assessment of the pandemic on tourism showcasing how the sector was among the most affected.

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