UAL Union To Vote Again Tomorrow
The International Association of Machinists District 141-M, representing 15,000 mechanics and related employees at United Airlines, will vote tomorrow to ratify a tentative agreement reached last month between UAL Corp. and union negotiators. The pact, which averted a potential strike on Feb. 20, was unanimously approved by the union's negotiating committee. Even if approved, the threat of a strike may have cost the carrier more than $100 million in booking revenue for the weeks following the Feb. 20 deadline. Should the latest proposed contract fail to be ratified, the carrier will face a new strike deadline on Thursday. Separately, UAL continued negotiations last week with 30,000 assorted employees represented by IAM District 141.
TRX Unveils EnCoRRe For Smaller Agencies
Citing an opportunity for cost savings within the small and midsize agency market, TRX Inc. last week introduced a more basic line of its EnCoRRe service bureau designed for such agencies. A TRX statement said the new EnCoRRe Xpress and EnCoRRe Xpress Pro services focus on "itinerary improvement," performing automated tests on every travel reservation processed and offering automated ticketing, detailed pre-trip reporting, improved traveler notification via automated e-mail response and online access to itinerary and receipt information. TRX has signed several travel management companies for the new product, including Atlanta-based Age of Travel, which has $13 million in annual corporate bookings. "The lack of a standard on our end prevented us from bringing our formula for working with the megas to the small and midsize market," said TRX CTO Steve Reynolds. "Now, the standard is in Xpress. Using our customer relationship management application, they can make requests and if it's within our standard, there is no charge. This enables these agencies to offer low-cost fulfillment."
ANC Airport Consolidation Inspires Lawsuits
Hertz and Avis Rent a Car both have filed suits against ANC Rental Corp., the parent company of National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car, to stop ANC from consolidating its rental counters. ANC, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November, expects to merge dozens of National and Alamo rental counters across the country as a cost-savings measure. Hertz and Avis, however, argue that bankruptcy should not permit a company to operate outside of contract and in a way not permitted to them. The more favorable counter locations in airports are received through a bidding process. Hertz and Avis already have filed suit in Covington, Ky., and Detroit to protest the consolidation at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky and Detroit International airports, respectively. ANC next plans to combine counters at Hartford International and Jacksonville International airports. Newark International Airport's governing Port Authority of New York and New Jersey prohibited the move, saying ANC's lease disallowed multiple operations at a single counter. Last month, ANC asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to block Hertz and Avis from seeking documents pertaining to the financial or competitive effects of such consolidation.
Rosenbluth To Retool Reporting
Philadelphia-based travel management company Rosenbluth International on Wednesday will announce upgrades to its reporting suite. The mega's reporting tools will undergo a name change and will benefit from new technology powered by Hi-Mark, a spokesperson said.
ACTE Holds Board Elections
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives is holding elections for five vacant seats on its board of directors. Ballots must be mailed to the association's Alexandria, Va., headquarters by March 15, said president-elect Cheryl Hutchinson. Winners will be announced at the end of the month.
Corporate Travel Coming Back To New York
Be among the industry's best and brightest gathering in Manhattan, March 25 through 27. The National Business Travel Association kicks off the networking fest with its fifth annual fundraising gala for its educational foundation, the Institute of Business Travel Management. The 18th annual Corporate Travel World Conference and Exhibition starts the next morning. Sessions focus on security, recovery, technology and negotiating techniques for travel and meetings buyers. All events will be held at the Hilton New York, where the conference room rate is $189. Several hundred buyers and more than 100 supplier companies already have signed up. Join them via btnonline.com or call (646) 654-4458.