<B> Web Cites</B>
<I>Sites Worth Bookmarking</I>
By Mary Ann McNulty
<B>Terrific Travel Home Page? Tell <I>BTN</I></B>
Is your travel Web site garnering rave reviews from your corporation's travelers? Enhancing customer service? Improving the efficiency of bookings phoned into the agency? Tell us what aspect of your travel home page is the most successful and why, so we can share best practices in this column. Innovative intranet practices will be showcased during BTN's Travel Technology World, October 12-13 at the Chicago Hilton & Towers. Please fax 212-279-3945, print the relevant pages and send to: Web Citation, BTN, One Penn Plaza, 10th floor, New York, N.Y., 10119.
<a name="2"><B>Global Hotspots Listed On Security Site</B>
Launching its Web site earlier this year, Global Support Agency--a Melbourne, Australia-based company that provides security training and evacuations--offers security tips, news stories about terrorism involving travelers and a listing of 60 global hot spots compiled by the U.S. National Defense Council Foundation. The four-year-old company also details the training it offers primarily to executives traveling to some of the world's more volatile political destinations. GSA president Hans Fah said the site, at www.gsasafety.com, also features tales of traveler problems and issues.
<a name="3"><B>Airlines Up Ante In Web Pricing, Bonus Miles</B>
In the latest twists to special Internet price promotions from the airlines, US Airways and Northwest Airlines are enticing users with added frequent flyer miles. To promote its service to and from Washington and Baltimore, US Airways earlier this month began offering low fares and double miles to anyone booking through its site, www.usairways.com. Although the fares were valid only for purchases through April 14, the double miles offer continues through June 30 on tickets purchased to or from the three Washington-area airports. The extra frequent flyer miles are in addition to the 1,000 bonus miles US Airways offers all who purchase via its site.
Northwest was quick to match the double mileage for tickets to the Washington area, as it unveils a series of specials designed to boost traffic on its recently redesigned Web site, www.nwa.com. Last week, the carrier began offering a 1,000-mile discount to its frequent flyers who book their award travel through July 31, via the Frequent Flyer Center area of the site.
Northwest also now displays daily Web specials to a handful of destinations. Through June 11, the carrier is offering a free companion ticket for travel from September through December to all who book tickets of $200 or more via the site. Despite all the promotions, a new study conducted by NPD Group Inc. said less than one-third of the people who visit airline sites actually purchase tickets. Most just check prices, availability or their frequent flier accounts.
<a name="4"><B>Ontheroad.com Adds Concierge Service</B>
Besides checking out the hot restaurants, business events and opening performances at their destinations, members of ontheroad.com now can use the virtual concierge to secure restaurant reservations and event tickets in the latest upgrade of this "tactical destination guide." A $99.95 annual membership fee is being charged to access the site, which currently features 500 restaurants, 6,500 events and hundreds of insider tips for more than 10 North American cities. Service for London is expected to begin mid-May and other destinations will be added by year-end, said Malcolm Kaufman, CEO of the San Francisco-based firm.
Founded three years ago, ontheroad.com also this year began distributing its Snapshots--two-page briefings of a handful of top restaurants, business events, entertainment options, sporting events and museum offerings--through a number of consumer Web sites. A few corporations, including Charles Schwab, are private labeling the offering and including it on their travel home pages. Thirty-day free trial corporate memberships are available.
<a name="5"><B>Quick, Get A Passport</B>
Need that passport renewed or issued by tomorrow? American Passport of Portsmouth, N.H., can provide the forms, pricing, links to photographers and servicing on its site, www.americanpassport.com. Unfortunately, due to federal regulations and security, users still must print the forms out and overnight them to American Passport for processing. In the latest enhancement to this four-year-old site, American Passport has added links to the nearest Mail Boxes Etc., Kinko's and/or Sears that take passport photos. The company also added a lower-cost level of service, with a fee of just $40 for a turnaround time of 10 days or more. One-day turnarounds carry a fee of $100 plus the government's expedited fee of $35, in addition to a $40 renewal or $60 first-time membership charge, said president Greg Bennett.