Christopher Elliott mentions View from the Wing and several other travel blogs — inclusing some that are new to me — in a column in today’s New York Times. If there is such a thing as an established business travel blog, it probably belongs to Gary Leff, the chief financial officer of a university research center in the Washington, D.C. area. Mr. Leff’s “View from the Wing” (blogs.flyertalk.com/viewwing/) focuses on award-related news interspersed with his personal observation about travel. He rips into the Westin Sydney in Australia, for example, for adding a $1.30 fee to his bill as “a donation” to a United Nations charity, and says he is little mollified by the fact it removed the charge after he complained. But unlike political bloggers, who tend to approach their Web journals with a strong…
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Earn Points for Donating Blood
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a blood bank with a loyalty program, but this is always one of the best stories because it seems like such a caricature. The Stewart Regional Blood Center in Tyler, Texas is launching a loyalty program to encourage frequent repeat visits by donors. Club Red allows donors to earn points for each donation that can be redeemed for rewards such as sweatshirts, briefcases, duffel bags, captain’s chairs, desks and radios. Members must promise to make at least three donations per year. The first two donations are worth 50 points each, donations 3 through 7 are worth 100 points each up to 250 points. Throughout the year, Stewart will have promotions offering double or triple points for donating. Donors who donate on Apheresis machines or ALYX will be…
Don’t Throw Away Junk Mail from American Express
I got a nice card from American Express today that really did look like junk mail — bulk mail stamp, etc. — but contained the sweetest little words. It said that I’m entitled to 50% off a single award redemption for free hotel nights (5th night free and reduced-price weekend awards don’t apply). The offer includes category 1 to 4 hotels on awards booked through February 28 for stays through June 30. The redemption code on the card is 50AMX, but you have to be targeted by American Express to be able to use this. You actually can throw away the card. You can find out whether you were targeted for the offer by calling Starwood and asking if you’re registered for the promotion 5AX. Oddly enough, the cover of the note from American Express…
Changes to the Hertz #1 Club Gold Terms & Conditions
This San Francisco Chronicle piece details changes to the Hertz #1 Club Gold contract that took effect on January 1. Customers didn’t used to be responsible for damage to cars in the case of force majeur events, now they are. Hertz also reserves the right to place a hold on a customer’s credit card for $200 above the anticipated rental charges. Not included in the artcile is that Hertz’s ‘grace period’ of an hour for computing rental charges has been scaled back to 30 minutes. This last item is a big deal for me. Hertz has otherwise been the best rental company in my view. I prefer not to do business with Cendant companies like Avis though I find I do rent from them most often, and probably will do so more in the future.
Will Strip for Airfare
Jared Blank reports that a 22-year old Lithuanian woman ran out of cash in Cancun and decided to strip in the airport to get money for a ticket. He says she was high at the time, but I just assume she thought Spring Break came early this year. I’m surprised, though, that she was permitted into the country without a return ticket. I’m not familiar with Mexico’s rules for anyone but U.S. citizens, so I don’t claim to be an expert, but I would have expected she would be required to have return flights booked before being permitted through immigration. Not that I’m generally asked to provide proof even when it is in fact a requirement.
Hooters Hotel Set to Open
Via HotelChatter, the former San Remo set to become Hooters Hotel in Las Vegas will open next month. The hotel even has a blog. As for me, I’ll stick to the Bellagio (which is a huge hotel, please don’t confuse it with luxury).
Bonuses for Paying Taxes by Credit Card Resurface
Once again you can earn double Starwood points for paying your taxes by credit card (up to $5,000). The bonus applies to payments made between March 15 and April 17 and the bonus should post sometime between June 10 and July 8. I fully expect that all of the usual suspect double miles for tax payment offers will resurface again this year. Double miles are necessary to make this a somewhat attractive offer because paying by credit card incurs a 2.49% “convenience fee.” Alas, lucrative offers from the past like 5000 bonus miles for making any tax payment with the United Visa (I paid $5 online in 2003 and paid the rest by check) are probably not in the cards.
New USAToday Hotel Blog
USA Today‘s Megg Mueller who writes the “Hotel Hotsheet” column now has a blog by the same name. She’s generally pretty good, but since it’s part of the McPaper I expect it to remain pretty non-controversial. Still worth checking out, though. I’ve already added the RSS feed to my blogreader.
Underwater Hotel Set to Begin Construction
Dubai’s Hydropolis underwater hotel project is set to begin construction next month. Financing remains a bit of a questionmark with banks “so far .. very reluctant.” The shallow water hotel will be shaped as a bowl and will be positioned on the sea ground, according to Hohmann. The deep water version is floating in the sea with anchors on the ground. The bowl will be constructed externally and then positioned on the location. It will then be emptied of the water and equipped with huge aquariums as an attraction for the guests. “At the shallow water hotel, guests are exposed to big fish tanks that contain controlled water and fish, since shallow water is muddy and not transparent. At the deep water hotel, visitors are looking directly into the sea,” he said. The construction of…
Starwood West Coast Bonus
Starwood is offering a bonus for stays on the West Coast through April 30. Registration is required. Earn up to 6,000 bonus Starpoints® for repeat stays at participating Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Luxury Collection, St. Regis and W Hotels in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Sacramento. Simply register and stay at one of the participating hotels now through April 30, 2006, and you’ll earn 1,000 Starpoints for your first stay, 2,000 for your second and 3,000 for your third stay — up to 6,000 bonus Starpoints.
