The nation’s airlines launched another round of fare sales Thursday in hopes of filling seats on the flights that will be added in April and May.
According to an analysis by Travelocity.com, an on-line reservation service, more than 10,000 routes went on sale Thursday–including international destinations–that allow passengers to schedule trips for late May and early June.
Extension of the sales into the early part of the summer travel season is another indication that airlines still are struggling to restore international service, which was cut in the wake of the attacks of Sept. 11.
Yet cutting fares for leisure travelers isn’t sitting too well with some, who say the airlines should not forget about their all-important business traveler.
More Top Picks Best 30 Inch Refrigerators For Small Kitchen
“The major airlines’ golden goose is being choked by more efficient low-fare competitors, good product substitutes and angry business travel customers upon whose backs major airlines are attempting to ride out this current industry financial storm,” said Kevin Mitchell, president of the Business Travel Coalition.
“When an industry is at the bottom of an economic cycle, competition for sales and customers usually heats up and prices fall,” he said.
But rather than cutting business fares, some major airlines are actually seeking 15 percent to 30 percent increases in average fares paid at their so-called fortress hubs, he said.
Mitchell said the strategy, while helping raise revenue on a short-term basis, will backfire by alienating corporate travelers.
“These major airlines . . . unintentionally drive more and more business travelers to low-fare competitors and product substitutes,” he said.
Hotel magazine near: The debut of Concierge Preferred Magazine in April will offer guests at Chicago’s hotels a new source of information about the city and challenge the near monopoly held by Where Chicago magazine, a staple of hotel rooms here.
Developed in cooperation with the Concierge Advisory Council of the Chicago Hotel Concierge Association, the magazine will offer the “insider’s” viewpoint that guests can usually only obtain from their hotel’s concierge or a resident.
“Active visitors want current tourism information from someone who really knows the city,” said Jon Winke, chief concierge at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, president of the concierge association.
The magazine is to be published by Tim O’Malley, former publisher of Where Chicago and Chicago Official Visitors Guide.
Renovations: Area hotels have been rushing contractors to complete makeovers of their hotels during a time when business has been slow.
The Howard Johnson Hotel in Skokie has renovated its 175 rooms, corridors and lobby in response to the increased competition in the North Shore area.
The Hyatt Regency Chicago, undergoing a $50 million renovation, says 400 of its guest rooms will be remodeled in a fashion to help separate the sleeping area from the desk and work area.
As part of the multimillion-dollar renovation, the hotel is adding 10,000 square feet of meeting room space to the existing 210,000 square feet.
The additional space is part of the Grand Ballroom renovation slated to be completed this fall.
———-
E-mail comments to [email protected]