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Volume 6, Issue 15, April 16, 2008 |
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You’ve heard the news, announced Monday, that Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines are merging. Should the deal go ahead, United and Continental have reportedly already laid the groundwork for a merger of their own. That would push American Airlines, currently the top carrier, into third place — and might trigger a courtship of its own.
The National Business Travel Association did an early survey of its membership to gauge response to the merger, and only 22 percent saw consolidation in the U.S. airline industry as a positive. However, 80 percent feel that further consolidation is inevitable among U.S. airlines — and 56 percent expect to see consolidation between U.S. and foreign carriers within the next five years.
Areas where respondents felt the Delta-Northwest merger would result in improvement are international route structure, the strength and convenience of the U.S. route structure and the combined airline’s financial stability.
However, NBTA members’ outlook isn’t all rosy. They expect access to smaller U.S. markets and flight schedules/frequency to diminish as a result of the merger. Interestingly, 54 percent expect customer service to be negatively impacted.
When asked about their expectations related to a potential Continental-United merger, respondents had fewer concerns about loss of small-market service and flight frequency, but less confidence in improved financial stability. Tellingly, there was virtually no conviction that either merger could improve on-time performance.
The merger is far from a done deal, with Northwest pilots and other unions who were unable to cut an up-front agreement to protect their jobs or seniority vowing to oppose it. The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee is also concerned that the deal, if approved, could trigger a cascade of mergers. 
Global Traveler’s Silent Auction, to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is entering the home stretch, and new items are still being added. Almost 60 travel prizes are up for bid — from flights and hotels to golf, miles, restaurants, luggage and more. Whether your strategy is to place a pre-emptive bid or to join in the last-minute frenzy, check out the items on the auction block and secure your dream prize before the gavel falls. The auction closes May 30.
Discover is acquiring Diners Club International, creating a new network called Discover Diners Club. Diners members will keep their own cards but have access to Discover’s larger North American acceptance network, while Discover members get access to Diners’ larger European network as well as its loyalty program benefits including airport-lounge access.
No sooner did bad weather start easing up than airplane equipment recalls began making life miserable for airline passengers. Participating Kimpton hotels in seven states and Washington, D.C. have come up with a clever promotion to ease the pain. Their “Stranded in Style” program gives free amenities to guests who show their boarding pass or ticket from a delayed or cancelled flight, ranging from free drinks to free in-room movies to free restaurant appetizers.
Millennium’s newest hotel, the Grand Millennium Beijing, soft-opened last week, with its grand opening scheduled for mid-June. The 5-star, 521-guestroom highrise property will have a three-level spa/fitness center, two lounge bars and three restaurants (one of which is now open). Special soft-opening rates start at $198; the Executive Suite Package costs $755 a night for suite, use of Executive Club amenities including breakfast, butler service, free parking and airport transfers, and if you buy two nights during the opening period, you will get a voucher for a free night in the same category of suite during June, July, September or October 2008.
Here’s some recent airline news that can come in handy. TAM has opened a VIP lounge in Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU) exclusively for the use of its first-class passengers heading to New York (JFK), London (LHR), Paris (ORY) or Milan (MXP). It includes a buffet, a shower area with bathrobes, and full bar service, and is located in Terminal 1, Wing B.
L’Avion, which earlier this month increased the frequency of its flights between New York (EWR) and Paris (CDG) from seven to nine flights a week, will add a 10th flight, on Wednesdays, effective May 18.
The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester
3 Renaissance Square
White Plains , N.Y. 10601
tel 914 946 5500
www.ritzcarlton.com
In mid-December of last year a new Ritz-Carlton hotel opened in the center of downtown White Plains, N.Y. Just five years ago the idea of a new $600 million commercial and residential development choosing to build in the White Plains urban core would have been inconceivable, but dramatic changes have taken place in this once down-at-the-heels city. Today, the new hotel, along with its two 44-story adjoining towers, known as The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, and the hotel’s signature restaurant, BLT Steak, are part of a remarkable downtown renaissance.
The little square where the 118-room Ritz is located is so new that street signs had not been yet installed when I visited recently, but from miles away I could not miss the soaring glass Residences condominium towers that led me to the 10-story hotel shoehorned between them (and physically connected at ground level).
My room, about half the price of the Ritz-Carlton’s Central Park property, contained all the plush accessories the brand is known for — terry bathrobes, Bulgari bath amenities, high thread count Frette linens, 42” LCD flat panel TV, WiFi, work desks with black granite tops, even a master remote screen to control room lights and electric window curtains.
I enjoyed the indoor heated swimming pool, with its rooftop setting enclosed in glass, and the large fitness room, with dozens of new state-of-the-art machines, all part of the 10,000-square foot spa that includes 11 treatment rooms.
BLT Steak, located within the hotel, is the brainchild of Chef Laurent Tourondel, and has received critical acclaim for its four other U.S. locations. The beautifully designed restaurant serves three meals a day to guests, as well as to an adoring public who flock to the venue from the upscale Westchester towns surrounding White Plains. There were a few free tables when I arrived for a Friday dinner at 7 p.m. but an hour later the place was packed.
For luxury accommodations in the center of a now lively and engaging downtown, The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, can’t be beat for a business trip or for a romantic get-away weekend not far from home. It is also within walking distance of Metro North trains to New York (35 minutes), and just seven miles to Westchester County Airport (HPN).
Score: ••••• Ron Bernthal
Austrian Airlines has established a second category of business class fares that offer a substantial savings over the usual (now called “business flexible”) prices and are available from Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK) and Washington (IAD) via Vienna (VIE) to a variety of global destinations. Sample round-trip fares include: Chicago- Bucharest (OTP) $3,453; New York-Tel Aviv (TLV) $4,234; Washington-Mumbai (BOM) $4,854. Minimum stay is three days; advance-purchase requirements range from 14 to 30 days depending on destination.
In the Luxury supplement to Global Traveler’s April issue, GT contributor Ron Bernthal reported on test-drive programs that allow automobile aficionados to experience luxury vehicles. Now here’s a chance to test-drive an Aston Martin while staying at the InterContinental Park Lane in London. A package available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, for approximately $825 a night, includes a deluxe room, two meals, VIP access to the Club InterContinental including afternoon tea and champagne bar, and an Aston Martin test drive. If you bring your own Aston Martin, you get free parking.
Need a new laptop? How about two? Win one of two $1,500 Circuit City gift cards and you can buy a couple of computers, or something really high-tech. Enter by midnight April 19; one entry per person per day is allowed.
From May 1 to Aug. 31, stay in luxury accommodations at The Langham Hong Kong starting at $276 a night with the hotel’s Summer Grand Deal. Add $40 to any room rate to gain full access to The Langham Hotel Club, which includes breakfast, afternoon tea, cocktails, health club access, daily $50 personal laundry allowance, and two hours’ free use of a meeting room.
United Airlines is offering a special sale on fares to airports serving famous American golf courses, valid for travel through June 15, as long as you book by midnight April 18 for a stay over a Sunday night or any two other consecutive nights. Fares start as low as $100 round trip for Chicago (ORD)-Columbus, Ohio (CMH) or Las Vegas (LAS)-Tucson (TUS), and are good from any domestic United gateway to any of 10 famed golf venues (many, sites of PGA tournaments).
