ARC To Cut Voiding WindowARC on June 4 will implement a new policy that cuts the time available to agents for voiding tickets to 48 hours following the sale, down from the first day following the conclusion of the sales week. Further, agents will be required to use ARC's Interactive Agency Reporting to void tickets during the second half of the 48-hour period. ARC modified its previous proposal
(BTN, Feb. 10) following an industry dialogue. ARC also said it would "address processing problems that exist with exchange transactions."
Expedia Adds Still More Corp. Services Expedia Corporate Travel this week is unveiling three new services: an international rate desk targeting 22 percent savings, an executive service for a limited number of VIPs with each corporate account and a Custom brand that includes dedicated agents and negotiable fees. "In some cases, the dedicated agents would be on the customer's payroll," said Matt Hulett, Expedia vice president of corporate travel. The offerings add to Expedia's movement toward higher-touch corporate travel service
(BTN, March 10).Amadeus To Invest In Opodo?Heavy rumors are circulating across the Atlantic that Amadeus is preparing to buy Opodo, the European equivalent of Orbitz. Both parties said they never comment on market speculation. A counter-theory has suggested that Amadeus simply will become a 10th partner in the Web site currently owned by nine European airlines. Opodo is doing particularly well in Germany, where it now sells more Lufthansa tickets than any other German-based online travel portal.
New Suitors Emerge For Six ContinentsSix Continents PLC this month successfully averted a hostile takeover bid, but speculation now is rife that rival global hotel companies are about to step into the breach with friendly offers. Attention has focused on Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Rather than acquire any or all of Six Continents brands in their entirety, Marriott or Starwood more likely would cherry pick individual properties that complement their existing portfolios. With 3,300 hotels, Six Continents' brands include InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn.
Effect Of Iraqi War On Hotels AssessedIn anticipation of the war, hotel occupancies and revenues already were down for the week ending March 15th. According to Smith Travel Research, occupancy rates have dropped 3.4 percent, compared with the same period last year, while revenue per available room fell 5 percent. Scrambling to get a handle on how severe the effect of the Iraqi military campaign will be on the hotel industry, consultants have formulated three potential scenarios: brief war, intermediate war and worse case, where Israel gets drawn into the conflict and the fighting persists for three months or longer.
Worldtravel Sees Offshore MovementWorldTravel BTI COO John Snyder earlier this month said the mega agency "in the near future" would "have to go offshore to lower costs further. By the middle to the end of this year, we feel our costs in fulfillment will be about as low as they can go. We've done a lot of investment in technology to automate the daylights out of it, so we'll look at offshore options later." In a recent statement
(BTN, Feb. 10), WorldTravel was reluctant to say it was considering going offshore.