<B> InsideTrack</B>
<B>BostonCoach Tries Tech Solutions</B>
BostonCoach is working on a number of cutting-edge technologies for the new millennium, including a smart card program in partnership with the Delta Shuttle, in which the cost of a car would be included in the airfare, and a voice recognition system that it has been testing in-house for the past two years. It also is investigating global positioning satellite in-car navigation systems to help dispatchers better control the fleet. "We want to be the Federal Express of the ground transportation industry," said president and COO Russell Cooke, and "technology is critical" to achieving that goal. Within six months, he said, customers will be able to book and bill cars through corporate extranets.
<a name="2"><B>U.K. Agents Kiss 9 Percent Goodbye</B>
The 9 percent commission is rapidly becoming history for U.K. travel agents, as United Airlines announced it will join American and Qantas in cutting commissions to 7 percent effective Aug. 1. United's Star Alliance partners Lufthansa and SAS did the same last year; Swissair and Sabena shifted to 7 percent on July 1; and industry insiders suggest Air France will follow on Sept. 1.
<a name="3"><B>Patriot Reorganizes As Wyndham Int'l</B>
Following a plan announced earlier this year (<I>BTN,</I> Mar. 8), Wyndham and Patriot American Hospitality shareholders last week approved a restructuring plan that will bring in $1 million in equity financing, convert the company from a REIT to a C corporation, and change its name to Wyndham International. "We're jubilant," president and CEO James Carreker told BTN, to be back to the business of "building a great multi-product hotel company focused on the upper upscale customer." The shift into an operating company instead of a REIT "will allow us much more of an emphasis on building brand equity, franchising, marketing campaigns and growing one hotel at a time versus portfolio acquisitions," Carreker said.
<a name="4"><B>The Red Lion Returns</B>
Promus Hotels is reinstating the Red Lion brand in recognition of its strength in the Northwest, said CEO and president Norman Blake Jr. Nine properties that were converted to Doubletrees are being reflagged back as Red Lions, and changes at five more are being considered. Blake said an international acquisition is next on the company's agenda.
<a name="5"><B>NBTA Elections To Be Announced In Minn.</B>
Elections for National Business Travel Associaton officers will take place at the group's annual conference July 18-21 in Minneapolis. Cynthia Perper, director of corporate travel services for Colgate-Palmolive of New York and Kevin Iwamoto, air and car supplier manager for Hewlett-Packard of Palo Alto, are running unopposed for the positions of president and vice president, respectively. Running for the two board slots available are Ralph Davis, manager of travel services of Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz Co.; N.Y.-based Republic National Bank's vice president of global travel management Andrew Menkes; Jack Reynaert Jr., manager of meeting and travel planning for Kelly Services of Troy, Mich.; and Marie Savoie-Stephens, manager of travel for Chiron Corp. in Emeryville, Calif. Election results will be announced Tuesday, July 20.
<a name="6"><B>Betty Lucero Moves To Capital Group</B>
After five years at the head of the Times Mirror Resource Management Co.'s $16 million travel management program, Betty Lucero last month joined investment management company Capital Group Cos. Inc. as manager of corporate travel. In addition to travel, Lucero's new role will include meeting planning and technology support services for the existing videoconferencing network at Capital Group's Los Angeles facility. Several internal meeting coordinators now will report to Lucero, as will the domestic travel manager.