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Volume 7, Issue 8, February 25, 2009 |
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In an economic downturn, it would make sense if leisure travelers chose to postpone expensive vacations, choosing to stay put or finding local alternatives to spend time off. And some theme parks, national parks and major cities throughout the United States have seen dwindling numbers of tourists.
But there’s also been a shift in consumer motivation and expectations regarding travel, perhaps because of our tendency to re-evaluate what’s important in difficult economic times. Recent trend reports show consumers are still searching for life experiences, most notably by travel, even as their appetite for acquiring luxury goods has slowed.
Virtuoso, a leading leisure travel network of 6,000 travel advisors associated with more than 300 agencies in 22 countries, reports that leisure travel is still going strong. In a recent polling of more than 250 Virtuoso member agency owners and managers in six countries, 36 percent said their domestic and international leisure travel is the segment most insulated from the current economic situation. Nearly half of those polled said they saw no increase in cancellations over recent weeks, and 42 percent stated that their 2008 revenues are outpacing 200 7, providing further proof that travel remains on the forefront of consumer spending.
What is changing is the quality and type of leisure travel consumers are seeking. Virtuoso member agencies reported that demand for 10-day-plus vacations is leading requests for three-to-five-day trips by almost double, indicating that travelers continue to seek out more fulfilling experiences from their vacations in lieu of quick getaways and long weekends.
The company’s newly launched “Return on Life” campaign celebrates the idea that, today, a rich life is not measured so much by personal possessions, but by time well spent with friends and family on journeys to new destinations, and the memories created by these unique experiences. In an effort to reconnect with family and friends as well as enrich themselves, travelers are seeking personal fulfillment, quality time with those they love and the opportunity to detach from everyday worries and stress. 
This summer, American Airlines will begin to transition to cashless cabins on flights within the United States and to and from Canada. In an effort to streamline the in-flight sales process for both customers and flight attendants, only major credit cards or debit cards will be accepted for onboard purchases such as headsets, meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages.
Flight attendants will use a hand-held onboard sales recorder to process credit and debit card payments, eliminating the need to search for small bills or change. The airline began using the devices in May 2006. Receipts will be provided to passengers upon request.
The new Kempinski Hotel Aqaba, Red Sea Jordan will open its doors to the public in June. The hotel’s 201 luxury guestrooms and suites all have sea views, made possible by the building’s clever curved contemporary design, shaped in the form of a tear-drop. With six restaurants and bars offering international cuisine, world-class meeting facilities and a stunning spa, this hotel opening will mark the second Kempinski property on the shores of the Red Sea. Aqaba offers year-round sunshine and some of the best diving and coral reefs in the world. It’s an ideal location to switch off and relax, but the hotel also offers plenty of entertainment, including trips on private yachts, windsurfing, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, swimming, the Kids Club and an array of organized tours to popular tourist attractions, such as Petra, Wadi Rum and the Bedouin Camps.
This month, Lufthansa has become the first airline worldwide to use terminals equipped with an integrated radio frequency identification scanner that can read passports and identification cards, making self-service check-in faster, more flexible and more reliable.
The new kiosks are now in use at the carrier’s largest hubs, Frankfurt (FRA) and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). By the end of April, the kiosks will be operational at all Lufthansa check-in terminals throughout Europe. The new technology enables customers with a machine-readable passport or ID card to scan their passport data. In order to receive a boarding pass, they then enter their flight number, flight destination or booking code. Thanks to the RFID technology, customers checking in with a Miles & More credit card with a PayPass function only have to hold their card up against the scanner. To change their seats, passengers who are already checked in can simply scan the barcode printed on their boarding pass and make the change. The scanners can also record the Advance Passenger Information System data required by many immigration authorities.
Major airlines and the city of Chicago are in discussion about a large reshuffling of gates at O'Hare International Airport (ORD) as airline tenants cope with falling demand and growing competition from foreign carriers. If plans go through, passengers of Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines would face the greatest change.
Delta is expected to leave Terminal 3 and move to its merger partner Northwest Airlines' gates in the middle domestic terminal and take over four gates that Continental now subleases from Northwest at Terminal 2. The Atlanta-based carrier is in the midst of combining fleets and airport operations globally after its merger with Northwest.
Continental could be moving into Concourse B at United Airlines' home hub, with plans to sublease gates in the south end of B. The carrier would keep its ticket counter and baggage operations in Terminal 2. Houston-based Continental and Chicago-based United are forming a close marketing partnership, involving a host of cost cuts, including the sharing of airport facilities.
Complete details are still being worked out regarding when the carriers would begin to move operations and whether the shuffle would free up empty gates for new tenants.
A culture of reuse and recycle is gathering pace to reduce waste being turned into landfill at Old Oak Common Depot, the maintenance depot for the Heathrow Express train. The company now recycles 50 percent of its non-hazardous waste at the depot and continues to look for ways to improve the recycling process and reduce its landfill disposal.
Heathrow Express was one of the first train companies to be accredited the ISO 14001 standard, the benchmark for companies looking to administer their environmental management system. The standard requires Heathrow Express to demonstrate continual improvement.
By 2020 Heathrow Express plans to reduce waste to landfill to zero, increase the percentage of contract waste that is recycled to 90 percent, reduce energy waste in its stations and have 100 percent compliance with waste regulations.
The recycling campaign arrives on the heels of its existing regenerative braking system, which was one of the first introduced in the country and has regenerated enough energy to have boiled 400 million kettles. The captured energy is either stored for future use or fed back into the power system for use by other vehicles.
2327 Post Oak Blvd.
Houston, TX 77056
tel 713 871 8883
www.kennyandziggys.com
The outside is nothing noteworthy. In fact, it is just another business in a standard mall. However, Kenny and Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen Restaurant is definitely someplace special, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The breakfast menu lists all of the usual options: eggs, waffles, omelets and pancakes. The unusual part is the way they are prepared and served. The portions are huge, the food extremely fresh and delicious. The strawberry pancakes head my list, followed closely by the French toast. The fish (including lake sturgeon and baked salmon) is fresh and flown in daily. When teamed with big bagels, it’s a meal in itself.
The luncheon menu features a wide variety of sandwich fillers and combinations. We selected a bunch of sandwiches for tailgating at the Texans football game. I selected a simple turkey with Swiss cheese. To praise a simple sandwich is to say something extraordinary: I have never eaten such a tasty turkey and cheese, nor as large — not only bursting with flavor, but bursting from the bread.
My friend asked for a taste of beef brisket before he decided. The “taste” could almost fill some sandwiches I have purchased elsewhere. He quickly decided to order it and, much like my sandwich, it was very big and very tasty!
Comfort food is a good way to describe the dinner menu. Hearty meatloaf, tender roast turkey and juicy roasted chicken are just three of the best. Kenny and Ziggy’s serves these and other dinner items with plenty of sides, even though the main portion is quite large (and again, so scrumptious).
Kenny and Ziggy’s claims to have the world’s best cheesecake — in fact, they say it’s the “single greatest cheesecake in the history of cheesecakes” — and I really cannot disagree. The apple strudel, chocolate éclair and banana cream pie might also be able to make that claim.
It seems odd to review a delicatessen restaurant. Looking at the menu, you would never know how wonderful it all is. Once you have tried a dish — or five — you’ll see what I mean, and you’ll be bragging, too.
Kenny and Ziggy’s boasts that “Never has a delicatessen risen to such great heights.” I totally agree.
Score: ••••• John Wroblewski
The latest addition to Air Canada’s flight pass family makes multiple trips to the Continent easier and more affordable from Canada and the United States. Now on sale, the Europe Pass is valid for one year from time of purchase. It is available with six flight credits (three round trips) for a single traveler or eight flight credits for up to two travelers (four round trips for one or two round trips for two). The Europe Pass can be purchased for flights from four zones covering Eastern and Western Canada and the Eastern and Western United States, with destinations in nine major European cities. Until April 17, those purchasing a Europe Pass can take advantage of a bonus offer of two or four flight credits anywhere in their originating North American zone for as little as $425, taxes included (CAD378 plus taxes). For more information, visit the Web site.
Auto Europe, a leader in European car rental services, is guaranteeing free one-car-class upgrades at time of booking in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Valid dates, locations and applicable car categories vary depending upon rental location. For example, in Germany, reserve a compact-class manual transmission Volkswagen Golf (normally $267 per week) and be guaranteed a free upgrade to an intermediate, manual Audi A3 (normally $317 per week). For more information, call 800 223 5555 or visit the Web site.
Have a hot time in the South Pacific with Air Tahiti Nui’s two round-trip Web fares. Book the French Polynesian carrier’s Take Your Lover to Tahiti fare, from $859 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete (PPT), or indulge in a two-for-one vacation and enjoy both Tahiti and New Zealand for just $998 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland (AKL), including a free stopover and overnight at the new Manava Suite Resort Tahiti opening March 1. Bookings for both Moana-class (economy) fares must be made online by February 28 for departures through June 15.
Starting April 1, Flying Blue, the frequent-flyer program of Air France and KLM, introduces the Special Elite Award, created exclusively for Elite and Elite Plus Silver, Gold and Platinum members, giving them privileged access to seats on certain long-haul flights for 115 percent of the amount of award miles for a Classic Award in that class. For example, if you are a Flying Blue Gold member booking a return flight from Paris (CDG) to Beijing (PEK), the basic rate is 80,000 award miles for an economy-class Classic Award ticket. Offered at 115 percent of the Classic Award ticket cost ( 92,000 miles), the Special Elite Award ticket available for this journey gives you access usually reserved for certain elite Award Tickets. Elite members also have access to f irst-class Award Tickets. If there are no Classic Awards or Special Elite Awards available for the journey on that date, you can opt for the Flex Award with which you can take a seat on your desired flight for 200 percent of the Classic Award Miles price in the same class — in other words 160,000 miles in economy class, or 320,000 in business class. For information, visit the Web site.
Korean Air SkyPass members can now earn 500 miles when staying at a Preferred location or any of its brands worldwide, including Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Preferred Boutique, Summit Hotels & Resorts and Sterling Hotels. Preferred Hotel Group has more than 700 luxury hotels and resort in over 75 countries. Through the end of April, Preferred Hotels is offering Korean Air SkyPass members a partnership celebration bonus of 1,000 miles per stay. SkyPass members simply present their membership card at the time of reservation or check-in. For more information, visit the Web site.
