The Active Network's $57.7 million purchase of meetings technology firm StarCite offers the event marketing company, founded in 1998 as an attendee registration firm focusing on endurance sports and other outdoor events, a foothold in a different aspect of the industry: strategic meetings management programs. Active Network Business Solutions senior vice president and general manager JR Sherman and Active vice president of strategy Anthony Miller last month spoke with BTN's Chris Davis about integration plans and the impact of mobile and social media technology.

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) about a year ago officially claimed the chairman's seat on the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. That made his voice among the most prominent during national transportation debates, notably the political standoff on Federal Aviation Administration funding. On high-speed rail, Mica has criticized the Obama administration's plans and proposed his own, with a particular emphasis on the Northeast Corridor. He also continued to lambaste the Transportation Security Administration for having "strayed from its security mission and mushroomed into a top-heavy bureaucracy." BTN's David Jonas discussed these issues last week with Mica.

The Active Network plans to maintain newly acquired StarCite's platform and integrate its strategic meetings management capabilities with its own attendee registration tools, Active officials said during a recent investor conference call.

Addis Ababa - The Federal Aviation Administration on Nov. 30 issued a single operating certificate to Continental Airlines and United Airlines, now recognized as a single entity. Work remains before the carriers fully act as one. For example, United early next year expects to begin using a common passenger services system, a milestone that would enable the merged carriers to "really look and feel like one airline," according to senior vice president of worldwide sales Dave Hilfman. Meanwhile, United continues to integrate corporate contracts with its A++ transatlantic joint venture partners Air Canada and Lufthansa, and awaits Canadian approvals to launch a transborder JV with Air Canada. United CEO Jeff Smisek last week discussed those efforts with BTN's Jay Boehmer here at an event welcoming Ethiopian Airlines into Star Alliance.

Pegasus Solutions' hotel representation service Utell Hotels & Resorts this summer reported that total revenue for its hotels derived from travel management companies had jumped 30 percent year over year. At that time, it also reported the addition of more than 10,000 rooms to its portfolio. Utell vice president of global demand sales Elaine Kennedy spoke recently with BTN lodging editor Michael B. Baker about the drivers behind that growth and expectations for next year.