- June 2009
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Supplier News
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American Airlines rolls out cashless cabins
Beginning June 1, American Airlines will no longer accept cash as payment for onboard amenities including headsets, meals, snacks, and alcoholic beverages. Effective for flights within the continental United States, as well as flights to and from Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada, acceptable payment will include major credit and debit cards only.
This change will not apply to American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights, where cash will continue to be the only acceptable form of payment onboard.
Sources: aa.com, The Wall Street Journal
Hotels offering wide array of incentives to attract guests
Today’s economic environment has taken a toll on the lodging industry from big-name hotels to tiny B&Bs. Corporations are scrutinizing meeting budgets and plans with a new eye on perception as well as cost, and some individuals are replacing the summer vacation trips with “ staycations.” Just as last year, when the industry responded to soaring gas prices by offering gas cards ranging from USD $10 to USD $50, this year hotels are making some unprecedented offers in hopes of drawing tourists as well as corporate meetings to their properties to survive the economic slump.
For leisure travelers, the perks include offers of free nights, upgraded rooms, daily breakfast, spa treatments, rental cars, two-for-one deals, and—in some cases—use of luxury automobiles and video game systems, even in combination with discounted rooms.
Corporations and meeting planners have lots of deals to choose from as well; here is some of what is out there:
- Waiver of the fees assessed when fewer guests than booked for a meeting actually end up attending
- Discounts, doubling of reward points, and easing no-shows penalties—for events that meet certain capacity thresholds
- Discounts on total room bills and food and drink
With all of the incentives available, meeting package costs are down 10 to 20 percent from recent years.
Leisure travelers and corporate planners alike could well benefit from some of the various deals currently available.
Sources: Business Travel Executive, Baltimore Sun
