May 31, 2022

Direct Travel

News Briefs

May 31, 2022

In This Edition… the rebound in business travel, flight service updates, Delta’s new cabin, travel to Cuba opens up again, biometric technology for security, Hertz extends loyalty status, new hotel openings, shipping your luggage, Delta updates at LAX, revenge travel, mental health tips for event planners, and much more!

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How Changes in Standard of Care are Evolving for Post-Pandemic Travel

Corporate travel goals have shifted significantly for most businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For individuals tasked with managing travel, a common thread tying many of these shifts together is the increased importance of duty of care. More specifically, standard of care. Read More


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For the First Time Since the Pandemic, Leisure and Business Flights Surpass 2019 Levels

CNBC — For the first time since the start of the pandemic, global leisure and business flights have risen to levels not seen. Read More

Travel Industry Expected to Make Full Recovery by 2025

TravelPulse — The global travel industry is expected to make a full recovery by 2025, according to new research from Global Data. Read More

European Summer Travel Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Travel Market Report — U.S. travelers are heading back to Europe in numbers not seen since 2019. Read More


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Delta Doubles Its Service to Johannesburg

Travel Weekly — Delta Air Lines has doubled its frequency on the Atlanta-Johannesburg nonstop route from three to six flights per week. Read More

Delta to Debut New First-Class Cabin on Initial A321neo Flight

Business Travel News — Delta Air Lines will launch its inaugural commercial flight of the Airbus A321neo narrow-body aircraft on a flight from Boston to San Francisco, which will feature a newly designed first-class cabin. Read More

United Airlines Bringing Back Hot Meals to Domestic First Class

Travel Weekly — The airline on June 1 will reintroduce meal trays in domestic first class on all flights that are longer than 800 miles. Read More

United Wants to Launch Washington-Cape Town Service

Travel Weekly — If it secures regulatory approval, the carrier plans to begin weekly nonstop flights between the cities in November. Read More

Delta Partnership with Greek Airline Expands Options Beyond Athens

Travel Weekly — Delta’s interline agreement with Sky Express will enable passengers to connect to 34 destinations in Greece and Cyprus. Read More

American’s Swankiest Jet Will Operate 14 Flights on a New Limited-time Route

The Points Guy — A handful of American Airlines planes offer the most luxurious domestic configuration you’ll find in the skies. Read More

Delta Reverses Course, Will Allow Arriving Passengers to use Sky Club Lounges

Travel Reporter — Delta Air Lines, which in early may announced that it would no longer grant most arriving passengers access to its Sky Club lounges, walked back that decision. Read More

U.S. Citizens Will Once Again Be Allowed To Visit Cuba

View From the Wing — The Obama administration opened up travel to Cuba. President Trump tried to roll that back. Now President Biden will reinstate much of what the Obama administration tried to do eight years ago. Read More

Delta Joins United in Rolling Out Bluetooth Headphone Support on Latest Jets

The Points Guy — You’ll soon have one less dongle to pack for your upcoming Delta trip, as the Atlanta-based carrier is working to add wireless Bluetooth connectivity to its in-flight entertainment systems… Read More


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Miami Airport Enables Largest Use of Biometric Tech in U.S.

PhocusWire — Miami International Airport is rolling out SITA’s biometric boarding system for international flights at all of its more than 130 gates. Read More

Government Travel Warnings & Alerts

U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More


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Hertz Extends Tier Status to End of January 2023

Business Travel News — Extended grace period coming out of the pandemic allows travelers to retain top-tier loyalty status a little longer. Read More


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Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Enters Greece

Travel Weekly — The company will manage a new luxury hotel in Costa Navarino, marking the company’s first property in the country. Read More

New Hotel Opening: Hilton’s Slate Denver, the Mile High City’s Newest Property

Travel Market Report — The hotel sits at the former site of the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, one of the first-ever U.S. trade schools. Read More


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These Luggage Shipping Companies Will Get Your Bags to Your Destination Hassle-Free

Afar Magazine — Sometimes, it’s easier to ship luggage than to check it. Here’s what you need to know about how it works, plus a list of the best luggage shipping companies. Read More

COVID-19 No Longer the Biggest Concern for Many Travelers

Travel Pulse — The latest installment of Longwoods International’s ongoing American Travel Sentiment Study indicates that record-high gas prices and soaring airfare costs have overtaken pandemic-related concerns for consumers as the summer travel season approaches. Read More

How Long-haul Travel Will Change Post-Covid

BBC — Airlines are rethinking long-haul travel as passengers cautiously return to flying. What’s likely to change? Read More

Revenge Travel: How Vacation Vengeance Became a Thing

CNN Travel — “Revenge travel is a media buzzword that originated in 2021 when the world began to reopen, and people decided to make up for lost time,” says Erika Richter, vice president of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Read More

A First Look at Delta’s New LAX Terminal and Sky Club Lounge

Afar Magazine — Afar got a sneak peek and the new Delta spaces at Los Angeles International Airport are a major upgrade. Read More

Food and Drinks at New York City Airports Just Got Less Expensive

Travel Market Report — Just under a year since a story about a $27 beer at LaGuardia went viral, things are changing at New York area airports. Read More


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Mental Health Tips for Event Planners: 5 Ways to Reduce Stress and Burnout

Creative Group — As the end of Mental Health Awareness Month draws near, we encourage you to find and form those healthy habits that help build resiliency. Here are 5 tips from Creative Group for event planners to take care of their mental health. Read More

The CDC’s Latest Pandemic Guidelines for Travel and Events

Northstar Meetings Group — The agency now advises all domestic travelers to take a Covid-19 test as close to the time of departure as possible. Read More

Vaccination Requirements Recede as Omicron Continues to Rise

Prevue Meetings & Incentives — Event vaccination requirements are on the wane even as the Omicron variant continues to rise. Read More

Looking for guidance on planning your next convention, incentive, or group trip? Direct Travel will assist with all your meetings and event details!  Whatever your needs may be when it comes to your event, you can always depend on us to design streamlined travel arrangements, plan strategic meetings, and deliver real-time results. For details, please send a message to: [email protected].

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