UTAH BUSINESS | AUG 29, 2017
2017 Fast 50 Awards
Author: redolive
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Travel Agents Help Customers Give Back While On Vacation
GLOBE NEWSWIRE | JULY 17, 2017
Christopherson Business Travel and Domo Harness the Power of Business Data to Transform the Travel Management Industry
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Travel Weekly’s 2017 Power List
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Christopherson Business Travel’s Technology Provides Actionable Intelligence for Proactive Travel Management
Boston.
It’s like a little bit of Florence with flecks of New York, sprinkled with some Seattle and spread out on the pages of a history book.
Aside from the timeless architecture and cobblestone streets lined with window boxes stuffed with flowers of every vibrant color—there is a story to go with all of it.
From Paul Revere to Ironside to the Boston Celtics to the Red Sox, there is history everywhere. (Granted the Celtics and Red Sox fall within the more recent history of Boston. But did you know that Babe Ruth started with the Red Sox before ending his career in New York?)
I would recommend staying downtown in the middle of it all. Don’t rent a car; the streets are impossible to navigate if you aren’t familiar with them. Just take a city bus tour. Then you can circle and listen and learn, and you can easily jump off to explore for a bit and then jump back on to get to the next stop. You can also follow the freedom trail—a two to three mile trail marking 16 historical points. There are also bikes for rent and of course you can simply walk around aimlessly to take it all in.
You must also bring your appetite. The food in Boston is authentically Italian and the streets are filled with the scents of simmering oregano, melted mozzarella, and fresh baked bread. It’s as delicious as the portions are abundant. Oh, and for dessert Mike’s Pastry’s is a MUST. His freshly made cannolis are built as big as everything else in Boston and decorated with several toppings to choose from. But do plan on standing in line; one of the only crowded spots in Boston is Mike’s Pastry’s.
Needless to say, Boston is one of my favorite places and it’s a city everyone should experience.
Synergies can create amazing results. We, at Christopherson Business Travel, know this first hand, having partnered with Concur and leveraging the power of our own internally developed AirPortal® software platform. Fulfillment matters.
As shown in this article, current cost cutting and technology trends are creating a great environment for Concur, providing 35% growth in 2011 and outpacing that number in 2012. CBT ripens that environment by combining Concur with AirPortal® and the expertise of the 12th largest (and fastest growing) TMC in the country. CBT customers must agree, having fueled Concur transaction growth by 157% in 2011 and 169% YTD in 2012, more than quadrupling Concur’s own growth.
The combination of Concur, AirPortal®, and CBT means only one thing: 3… 2… 1… TAKEOFF!
My husband, an inexperienced traveler, recently encountered a situation on his flight to Anchorage that got me thinking about what exactly is allowed in carry-on luggage. Granted, his was an innocent oversight, but the situation nearly caused him to miss his flight.
Did you know that having nine unsecured, improperly packed, and unclaimed bullets/ammunition in your possession is not allowed, and that having ten (a full magazine) will cause a “TSA delay” plus violations that can result in state and local prosecution as well as civil penalties of up to $2,000. Well, luckily my husband only had nine tucked away in the corner of his bag. They were quickly confiscated and he was still able to make it to his gate.
Ten years ago we all probably had the list of what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on luggage memorized, but with time we have a tendency to forget or become careless. The TSA provides a list of prohibited items that I found informative. For example, did you know that you can pack scissors in your carry-on luggage? As long as the blade is shorter than four inches they are allowed. Screwdrivers and other tools are also allowed if they are seven inches or less in length. Even ice-skates are allowed in your carryon luggage.
On the TSA website you can also refresh your memory of the 3-1-1 carry-on rules, which state that each passenger is allowed one 1 quart sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag with liquid containers not to exceed 3.4 ounce bottles.
Reviewing the TSA website to refresh your memory will not only make traveling a much better experience for you, but also for those behind you in the airport security lines.
And don’t forget to check the corners and pockets of all your luggage to eliminate any items that may cause delays at security check points.
My husband, an inexperienced traveler, recently encountered a situation on his flight to Anchorage that got me thinking about what exactly is allowed in carry-on luggage. Granted, his was an innocent oversight, but the situation nearly caused him to miss his flight.
Did you know that having nine unsecured, improperly packed, and unclaimed bullets/ammunition in your possession is not allowed, and that having ten (a full magazine) will cause a “TSA delay” plus violations that can result in state and local prosecution as well as civil penalties of up to $2,000. Well, luckily my husband only had nine tucked away in the corner of his bag. They were quickly confiscated and he was still able to make it to his gate.
Ten years ago we all probably had the list of what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on luggage memorized, but with time we have a tendency to forget or become careless. The TSA provides a list of prohibited items that I found informative. For example, did you know that you can pack scissors in your carry-on luggage? As long as the blade is shorter than four inches they are allowed. Screwdrivers and other tools are also allowed if they are seven inches or less in length. Even ice-skates are allowed in your carryon luggage.
On the TSA website you can also refresh your memory of the 3-1-1 carry-on rules, which state that each passenger is allowed one 1 quart sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag with liquid containers not to exceed 3.4 ounce bottles.
Reviewing the TSA website to refresh your memory will not only make traveling a much better experience for you, but also for those behind you in the airport security lines.
And don’t forget to check the corners and pockets of all your luggage to eliminate any items that may cause delays at security check points.
Families traveling with small children on United Airlines are no longer able to preboard as they have in the past. United recently instituted a new policy wherein families with children, who aren’t flying first or business class, now have to board with their ticketed boarding groups. The airline adopted the policy last month “to simplify the boarding process and to reduce the overall number of boarding groups,” says United spokesman Charles Hobart.
United claims that the boarding process has continued to run smoothly despite the change. This move comes as airlines are now beginning to charge fees to board early and sit in certain areas. US Airways and American Airlines have also adopted this policy.
Categories
Ancillary Travel Fees
The growth of ancillary fees in all categories of travel, especially air travel, has captured the attention of the traveling public as well as policy makers.
Since these fees broadly affect both business and leisure travelers they have received attention in industry publications, business journals, and popular media. Congressional testimony and calls for additional legislation and agency rule-making have ensured that the debate over fees has implications for public policy questions as well as for business operations.
Although airline fees have been the focus of much of the public discussion, the issue is broader than just airlines. The hotel and car rental industries have also seen changes in their pricing structures that have incorporated add-on services and ancillary fees.
For example, I recently received an email from a customer who was frustrated by the fact that the taxes and fees for his car rental exceeded the combined daily rate for a four-day rental–a shocking discovery most of us have experienced throughout our travels.
The president of Christopherson Business Travel and Andavo Travel (the vacation division of CBT), Mike Cameron, was featured in a Salt Lake Tribune article recently, titled:
Salt Lake travel agent talks 2012 trends
By Tom Wharton
Published May 24, 2012
We have great news for Christopherson Business Travel customers in Salt Lake City for 2012!
By showing your Christopherson Business Travel Itinerary, travelers will now receive 50% off all parking services at the Diamond Airport Parking lot located at 50 S. Redwood Road.
Diamond Airport Parking offers the following benefits:
- 4 minutes from the Salt Lake City Airport
- Open 24 Hours a Day 7 Days a Week
- Free 24 Hour Shuttle
- Free Car Wash
- Free Newspaper
- Free Baggage Assistance
- Free Bottled Water
- We Care Program:
- Retrieve Keys locked in Car
- Inflate a flat or install a spare
- Jump start a dead battery
We applaud Delta for their recent decision to sell “Economy Comfort,” their premium Economy product which provides more leg room, through Travelport’s global distribution system (GDS). The agreement will create Economy Comfort booking access later this year for travel agents who use their reservation systems. We, at Christopherson, currently use two of Travelport’s GDSs: Worldspan and Apollo.
This is an important step in the ongoing discussion between airlines and the GDSs, on how to distribute their ancillary products and services. Last year, I wrote a post about this very discussion titled “The Airline Ancillary Fee Conversation
Needs to be Redefined,” wherein I stated that, “Realistically we should only be talking about the GDS technology that is required at the time of booking.” This important announcement to sell Economy Comfort through Travelport supports that view. Thanks Delta!
“Customers today can purchase Economy Comfort directly with Delta at delta.com, through a Reservations agent or at the airport via a kiosk or ticket agent,” said Wayne Aaron, Vice President – Marketing Programs and Distribution Strategy at Delta. “Partnering with Travelport broadens the availability of this popular product to Travelport-affiliated travel agents. We are always willing to work with partners like Travelport who bring value to the distribution chain and can deliver our product on a cost-effective basis.”
Economy Comfort features three to four inches of additional leg room across Delta’s fleet of two-class aircraft. On long-haul international flights, the seats also have up to 50 percent more recline than standard economy class seats.
United Airlines will begin daily nonstop service from Denver International Airport to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport in early spring 2013, after more than a decade of Denver’s efforts to land the route.
Click here for the full story.
Have you been considering an airline credit card? You really can’t get through an airport terminal anymore without seeing the advertisements or being asked by an airline employee if you’d like to sign up for their branded card. “Earn 25,000 miles just by signing up … that’s enough miles for a free ticket!!” Well, I don’t know about you, but I can’t recall the last time I redeemed 25,000 miles for a free ticket.
My advice? Don’t get drawn into the card just for the initial free miles you’ll receive when you sign up. Look into all the benefits and interest rates, and pick the one that is right for you.
For example, the Delta Gold SkyMiles® card by American Express® has a $95 yearly fee, which is waived the first year. This card offers one free checked bag for up to 9 people on your booking. The card will essentially pay for itself if you and a companion were to take just one trip a year and each check a bag. It also offers priority boarding, which means you should be able to find that coveted space in the overhead bin before the majority of passengers board the aircraft.
If United Airlines is your choice, they have similar benefits with their MileagePlus® Explorer Card by Visa®. United also includes two complimentary day passes to the United Club® every year. The airline clubs are a great place to wait for your flight. You can relax a bit, and avoid the crowds at the gate.
Hotels, and even Disney, also offer their own branded credit cards so you can earn points for room nights and travel packages. So be sure to check out all the benefits before signing up.
You can compare most cards by visiting CreditCards.com.
UTAH BUSINESS | JUN 4, 2012
2012 Business Travel Survey
Remember the television series Lost in Space? The one where a robot was always warning the Robinson family when danger was about to happen. Well, if that Robot were our warning source today for travel, repairs would probably be frequent due to the robot’s arms constantly waving!
But these days (in lieu of the robot) you can go the TSA website and immediately find countries where strong travel warnings have been issued.
Travel warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions make a country dangerous or unstable. This leads the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or, at the very least, consider the risk of traveling to that country. A travel warning is also issued when the U.S. Government’s ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.
The countries listed after the jump meet those criteria. Simply click on any country to find out why it’s not a good idea to travel there. Travel warnings will continue to be noted until the US Government feels it is safe to delete them from this list.
Mauritania 05/24/2012
Saudi Arabia 05/18/2012
Lebanon 05/08/2012
Algeria 05/04/2012
Iran 04/27/2012
Cote d’Ivoire 04/23/2012
Burundi 04/18/2012
Eritrea 04/18/2012
Mali 04/09/2012
Niger 04/06/2012
Kenya 04/04/2012
Chad 03/29/2012
Yemen 03/27/2012
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza 03/19/2012
Syria 03/06/2012
Nigeria 02/29/2012
Colombia 02/21/2012
Mexico 02/08/2012
Pakistan 02/02/2012
Iraq 01/19/2012
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 01/12/2012
Sudan 01/11/2012
Philippines 01/05/2012
Central African Republic 01/04/2012
Republic of South Sudan 12/22/2011
Afghanistan 12/01/2011
Guinea 11/04/2011
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of 11/03/2011
Libya 09/22/2011
Somalia 08/19/2011
Haiti 08/08/2011
Categories
Do I make myself Clear? Not!
Back in 2008, a new cool way to pass through security lines for frequent business travelers that do not have as much time as others was introduced at 18 selected airports. Clear, a company founded by Verified Identity Pass just announced this week that they would be closing up shop and would not be able to refund travelers who had prepaid or recently renewed their subsciption. That went over like a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers!
From the article written by Thomas Frank, a statement on Verified’s website said the company “had been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.” There was no information about whether enrollees would get refunds.
TSA’s express security grounded
This was supposed to be the best thing out there for those who were traveling on a constant basis and needing to avoid long lines. The fee was a little steep, (around $200 annually) but heck, I pay $50 a month for the Carpool lane on I-15. Maybe if Clear would have monitored those who enter the carpool lane illegally, then they might still be in business.
We have become a society of quickness and ease. I guess for now our best option out there until someone comes out with a better plan than that of Clear, is to fly enough miles that you can access the medallion lines or travel with someone that does have that elite status…..You could always jump the lines like the car that did in front of me today!
Categories
And the fee is?
The other day when a friend of mine was getting ready to leave on a trip and was flying on three different carriers, he asked me what the baggage fee was going to be for each airline. Now for the most part, one can remember the cost of a candy bar, a can of soda pop or even the price for a gallon of milk. But now days, the ability to remember the cost per baggage is like trying to remember what the price of gas was last year at this time. The Airline that you are a frequent traveler on might be easy to remember, but what about all the other two Airlines that my friend is going to board from one city to another in a 2 week time period.
I told him that I thought that the fee was one cost, when in reality, I was wrong. The next day at work I found the cool grid that BCD travel had sent out. Attached is this link for your reference that should be helpful. It seems like sometimes you can find some great airfare, but by the time you pay all the fees for all your baggage, you might be paying the close to the same amount as your ticket cost you. You never know, you might be like my friend. You will either buck up and pay the baggage fees, take a carry on and figure out a way to wear two to three sets of clothes in a two week period or you will ask your travel agent to ship your clothes to you. The 3rd option might end up to be more cost effective in the long run.
Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell him I charge a fee for the shipping….