Inside Track: Boeing Travel Management Converts to CTD

Boeing Travel Management, the in-house wholly owned travel agency subsidiary of aerospace manufacturer Boeing, became an ARC-accredited Corporate Travel Department and will phase out service for its external clients during the year. Eighty percent of the TMC's business was from its parent, its subsidiaries and joint ventures, according to a spokesperson. The remainder was from unaffiliated corporations and leisure travelers. The TMC suspended its leisure services in mid-2009. It notified external clients in November of its decision to become what now is by far the largest CTD. Boeing in 2008 was the second-largest spender on U.S. booked air, with a $325.6 million volume, according to BTN's Corporate Travel 100.

U.S., EU Seeking To Step Up Open Skies Talks
The United States and the European Union are accelerating second-stage Open Skies negotiations in the hopes of finalizing an agreement in the first half of the year, though key issues remain in dispute. "We're hastening the pace of negotiations," U.S. State Department deputy assistant secretary for transportation affairs John Byerly said, adding that the two sides have made progress on a number of issues, including safety, air traffic control, security and the environment, but sticking points remain, including the issue of foreign ownership, on which the first-stage agreement, enacted in 2008, maintained limits. "We haven't said we will not do it ever," Byerly said. "We said we have an open mind to discussing it, but we've also laid out some of the challenges and concerns." While EU negotiators hope it will budge on ownership, Byerly said the United States is seeking changes to rules that restrict night flights in Europe. Byerly said, "Those are a matter of enormous importance to our cargo industry."

Carlson, Choice Pump Up India Investments
Carlson Hotels Worldwide and Choice Hotels International in January each announced that they are upping their stakes in their respective Indian development arms as they seek to grow their presence in the country. Choice on Jan. 13 said that it is buying the 60 percent interest it doesn't own in its partner and franchisor Choice Hospitality India, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of Choice. The move will give franchisees in India more access to company resources for expansion, the company said. Carlson also announced it is upping its stake in RHW Hotel Management Services, which manages its brands in India, from 13 percent to 87 percent. The company plans to add 50 hotels to its current 28 hotels in India by the end of 2012.

Meet Peers, Experts At The Strategic Travel Symposium
Tracking and managing ancillary airline fees will be among the hot topics of discussion Business Travel News and the National Business Travel Association will host at The Strategic Travel Symposium, March 15 and 16, at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan. Discuss managing unbundled airline fees with Robert Buckman, Amadeus IT Group director of airline distribution strategy; Cory Garner, American Airlines director of merchandising strategy; Danny Hood, BCD Travel president of the Americas; Michael Premo, Airlines Reporting Corp. vice president of marketing, sales and customer care; and Katina Tryforos, Deloitte Services LP strategic procurement services manager of airline programs and customer service, led by TRX chairman Trip Davis. For more information, visit www.strategictravelsymposium.org.