Author: News Team

Few travel industry experts could have predicted this season’s hot vacation spot. It’s not Miami, nor is it anywhere in the nation’s travel-friendly south-western region. The biggest surprise in America’s domestic travel industry was in fact Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, which recorded a record number of domestic and international visitors throughout the month of July. Park administrators counted over 950,000 visitors last month – a significant increase over the park’s figures from last year. Thanks to a more comfortable daytime temperature and increased wildlife in the park, July remains the most popular month for Americans to visit the nation’s oldest…

When William Shatner took a free job as Priceline’s corporate face, the acting world turned its head and looked the other way. The former Star Trek actor was as washed up as anyone could be, and his endorsement of what was – at the time – an inexpensive travel startup seemed like the ultimate hint that his career was over. But with almost fifty commercials completed, the situation has changed. Shatner’s contract with Priceline left little in the way of risk for the small company. In exchange for his services as a voice and commercial actor, Shatner would be paid…

For the second time in twelve months, American airline JetBlue is bringing back its unlimited one-month travel program. Dubbed the ‘All You Can Jet’ scheme by the company’s marketers, the deal allows pass holders to book unlimited flights within the contiguous United States for a flat fee of either $699 or $499. The previous deal was a huge success, with tickets sold out in just two days. The tickets will be available to consumers for just three days, with JetBlue offering service between the seventeenth and twentieth of August. Given that last year’s entire promotion sold out within two days,…

Overseas travel operators are tricking tourists into paying unnecessary ‘green travel’ fees, only to pocked their extra spending to increase profits. A series of recent exposes have covered one of the travel industry’s largest and most widespread scams – the addition of environmental service fees, ‘green’ recycling taxes, and other bogus charges to tourists’ hotel bills in an effort to boost income. Service fees and booking charges have attracted criticism from travellers, particularly those that discover the extra charges without being aware that they are being added to their bill. The service charges, however, at least maintain a basis in…

Consumers have taken to online price shopping travel websites in mass numbers. With the industry leader Priceline reporting steady profits and an ever-expanding market cap, it appears that shopping for air tickets by price is a winner for both customers and companies. But one online travel tool has been attracting all the wrong attention, racking up hundreds of consumer complaints last year. The website in question is Orbitz, a fairly popular online booking tool that’s listed on the New York Stock Exchange and advertised nationally. The website is considered a leader in the online tourism field, although a slew of…

Recent release Eat, Pray, Love is a travel movie that’s been capturing attention throughout the USA and bringing international travel back into the spotlight. Based on the New York Times best-seller by Elizabeth Gilbert, the film stars Julia Roberts as a recent divorcee who takes up a life of travel in an effort to put her past behind her and gain a new understanding of life. It’s a film that’s bringing a forgotten subject – long-term international travel – back into the spotlight and into the realm of possibility. But alongside the film’s encouraging tone and realistic portrayal of travel…

Occupancy rates are up, a ‘hotel tax’ is looming on the horizon, and room prices are scheduled to increase once again. It’s a typical scene in Rome, and it’s one that’s becoming a frustrating reality for the thousands of tourists that arrive in the Italian capital daily. Rome is big, beautiful, and all priced outside the reach of many British travellers, particularly those searching for a budget tour. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Tourists to Rome have typically spent their daytime hours soaking in the same tired attractions – viewing the Colosseum, walking the city’s cathedrals, and moving…

It’s been a tough week for President Obama’s public relations team. A series of family holidays have been turned into a political talking point, with opponents of the government claiming that overseas travel is not a major priority during a recession. It’s an interesting event for the travel industry, with the value of a Presidential visit often bringing millions of dollars to the regions involved. Michelle Obama’s holiday in Spain cost the country less than many of its past leaders have spent during their vacation periods, although the perceived ‘luxury’ of travelling outside the country is likely to make the…

It’s been named one of the World’s Best Websites, championed by open source advocated, and feared by the traditional travel publishing industry. The subject matter is, of course, WikiTravel, one of the largest travel websites on the internet and the single largest multi-user publisher of global travel tips online. Available in 21 languages with over 20,000 articles, it’s a true giant of the modern internet. The website’s premise is fairly simple: users can manually create pages for travel destinations and activities that they love, just like Wikipedia. Once a page has been created, anyone with a memory or a guide…

The North American airline industry isn’t one that attracts excess praise. With industry giants and tired monopolies dominating the skies, customer service for most of the continent’s major airlines tends to range from ‘poor’ to ‘abysmal’. But amongst the clutter of size and mediocre service, one independent airline has managed to attract critical acclaim in a way that few can emulate. The airline in question is Southwest Airlines, and its operating territory is the United States. One of several low-cost airlines operating within the country, Southwest has gained praise from consumers for its friendly customer service and value-driven approach to…