Concur, the world’s leading provider of integrated travel and expense management solutions and services, today announced partnerships with Lyft and HotelTonight. These partnerships continue the company’s commitment to meet modern business travelers’ needs for on-demand services, while also providing finance and travel managers greater visibility and manageability for business expenses.
A 2015 survey of travel managers found that more than 50 percent say the booming on-demand and sharing economies are a top trend impacting travel programs. Supporting this observation, Concur saw a 7x increase in amount of spend by Concur customers expensing Lyft. Also, data from HotelTonight shows that more than 40 percent of people who book with the app have used it for business travel.
To view the multimedia news release visit
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7203652-concur-lyft-hoteltonight-partnership/
America’s traffic congestion recession is over. Just as the U.S. economy has regained nearly all of the 9 million jobs lost during the downturn, a new report produced by INRIX and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) shows that traffic congestion has returned to pre-recession levels.
According to the 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard, travel delays due to traffic congestion caused drivers to waste more than 3 billion gallons of fuel and kept travelers stuck in their cars for nearly 7 billion extra hours – 42 hours per rush-hour commuter. The total nationwide price tag: $160 billion, or $960 per commuter.
Washington, D.C. tops the list of gridlock-plagued cities, with 82 hours of delay per commuter, followed by Los Angeles (80 hours), San Francisco (78 hours), New York (74 hours), and San Jose (67 hours).
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7430751-inrix-2015-urban-mobility-scorecard/
Subaru of America, Inc. today announced the completion of a Pet Travel Seat Pilot Study as part of its continued partnership with Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit research and consumer advocacy organization. Subaru and CPS have tested pet products most commonly used by pet parents when traveling. Phase one tested pet harnesses, phase two tested pet crates and carriers, and now, phase three has tested pet travel seats.
A pet travel seat is typically used in a vehicle to hold or elevate the pet, but does not offer full containment. The Pet Travel Seat Pilot Study found that while a pet travel seat may offer distraction prevention, it will likely not offer crash protection in the event of an accident, which could lead to injury of the pet and the human vehicle passengers. The quality of commonly available pet travel seats did not provide effective protection in a crash scenario.
Based on the scientific test evidence collected over the past four years, in part through its partnership with Subaru, CPS can now identify the safest travel options for most pets. For small dogs and cats, Center for Pet Safety recommends one of the 2015 Top Performing Carriers; for medium and large dogs either the 2015 Top Performing Crate - Gunner Kennels G1 Intermediate with 8' Tie Down Straps, or a Center for Pet Safety Certified Harness. To view top performing products and CPS Certified products, visit www.CenterforPetSafety.org.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7074158-subaru-cps-pet-travel-seat-study/
Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County is in the midst of unprecedented economic development, with new research revealing an influx of affluent visitors as the driving force behind new travel and hospitality-related construction and investment.
The average annual income of domestic travelers to the destination has reached $112,563 – almost 25% higher than the national average, according to a comprehensive analysis of the domestic travel market in the United States by research firm D. K. Shifflet & Associates Ltd., commissioned by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
That is a dramatic 15.5% increase from the destination’s average in 2012 of $97,517, placing Greater Fort Lauderdale among the top leisure destinations in the U.S., and well above the national average visitor income of $90,591.
This increasing appeal to affluent travelers has led to a record-breaking 14.3 million tourists spending $11.4 billion annually in the destination, which is situated along Florida’s famed Atlantic Ocean coastline between Miami and Palm Beach.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7640751-greater-fort-lauderdale-development-boom/
Today Barclaycard US, the payments business of Barclays in the United States, announced the launch of the #IHAVEARRIVED Travel Community contest, hosted by Barclaycard Arrival™ MasterCard®. Travel enthusiasts and Barclaycard Arrival cardmembers are invited to join the Barclaycard Travel Community to share their #IHAVEARRIVED travel moment. Barclaycard Arrival cardmembers who enter, have the opportunity to win an exclusive grand prize trip for two to the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards® in February 2016. Community members who are not Barclaycard Arrival cardmembers have an opportunity to choose between two grand prize options: a West Coast VIP trip for two to Napa Valley, California or an East Coast VIP trip for two to New York City.
“Since launching in 2013, Barclaycard Arrival continues to be recognized by industry experts as the go-to travel card,” said Maurice Ragland, vice president of branded cards. “We make it easy for cardmembers to have once-in-a-lifetime adventures by offering the industry’s best travel rewards program. What better way to showcase these moments than through the #IHAVEARRIVED campaign.”
Travel enthusiasts across the country are encouraged to share memorable travel stories from October 28 through November 22 in the Barclaycard Travel Community. Entries must include a short description and photo of the travel experience. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, writing and photography.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7671251-barclaycard-ihavearrived-launch/
A rite of passage for many families is packing up the car and heading to a relative’s house to celebrate the holidays. Whether you’re flying part of the way or driving the entire distance, keeping the kids quiet and entertained is paramount to a stress-free trip. Just as important as going over your safety check list is packing your children’s favorite snacks, as well as activity bag chock full of mini board games, coloring books and puzzles. Wearing comfy clothes and bringing cozy blankets can also make a long (and sometimes COLD!) trip much more comfortable.
Travel expert and self-defined “über-busy working mom,” Amy E. Goodman is a pro when it comes to traveling with her family. She is available for live interviews to share with your viewers how to put together a stress-free, relaxing winter getaway – whether to the relative’s or a much needed winter escape!
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. Gifts are perfectly wrapped, cakes and cookies are baking in the oven, and people across the country are making final preparations to visit their loved loves. In fact, Americans spent an average of 7.3 hours and $560 on holiday travel alone last year, which can also lead to chaos, stress and precious time spent in busy airports and jam-packed highways. That’s why Ziploc® brand is offering a variety of festive products, a surprise-and-delight experience and helpful tips to give travelers a chaos-free holiday.
When hundreds of people along the Ohio Turnpike got to the tollbooth at Mile Marker 71 before their Thanksgiving celebrations began, they were surprised that instead of being asked for the toll, they received an array of gifts—from snacks packed in Ziploc® brand bags and containers to a chauffeured limo ride home.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7707651-ziploc-chaos-free-holiday/
JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) and Barclaycard today announced the launch of the new suite of JetBlue MasterCard credit cards, the latest complement to JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program. The new JetBlue® Card features a limited-time 10,000 bonus points offer and an easy-to-earn travel rewards program. Cardmembers can earn accelerated TrueBlue points in new ways for everyday spending at restaurants and grocery stores. With the new card, cardmembers can earn award flights even faster.
“We wanted to put the award-winning JetBlue experience in our customers’ wallets,” said Jamie Perry, vice president, marketing, JetBlue. “It’s simple; customers want to earn flights more quickly. With our new card, you’re able to earn points toward your trip and get there even faster than you think.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7778051-barclaycard-jetblue-card/
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) today announces the newest evolution of the Holiday Inn® brand’s Journey to Extraordinary campaign. This campaign, now in its third year, celebrates the unique journeys of the many guests who walk through the doors of Holiday Inn hotels each day. In this new year of the campaign, the Holiday Inn brand will highlight the extraordinary journeys of two small businesses – Sword & Plough and Perfect 10 Foods – and how Holiday Inn hotels can be a valuable partner in helping them succeed.
Eric Lent, Vice President, Holiday Inn Brand, Americas said: “The Holiday Inn brand carefully researched nearly 300 businesses before deciding to partner with Sword & Plough and Perfect 10. Both of these inspiring companies have a purpose-led mission to change the way business is done in their respective fields, and therefore have an incredibly unique story to tell. Sword & Plough and Perfect 10 embody the entrepreneurial spirit that is the foundation of the Holiday Inn brand. Founder Kemmons Wilson grew the brand from a small, family-owned business into a global brand that offers a consistent and affordable hotel experience that makes travel more enjoyable for all, and in doing so, changed the way people travel.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7824951-holiday-inn-journey-to-extraordinary/
Seventeen years ago saw the first blasting in the historic heartland of Switzerland of the longest train tunnel in the world. Wednesday 1 June 2016 will see the festive opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel – adding a further pioneering attraction to the world's densest public transport network. The tunnel will bring Switzerland's neighbouring countries, regions and cities north and south of the Alps closer together. Travel by train will be quicker, easier and more convenient.
Wednesday 1 June 2016 sees the festive opening in Switzerland of the longest and deepest train tunnel in the world. The tunnel extends for 57 kilometres to a depth of up to 2300 metres below the Gotthard massif. This flagship project for efficient and sustainable transportation on the north-south axis will permit high-speed travel through the Alps in only 17 minutes. The new flat-track route will not only cut travel time through the Gotthard, but also facilitate transit travel for longer and heavier trains. After 17 years of challenging building work, constructor AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd will hand over the completed tunnel to the Swiss Federal Railways on time and on budget. Switzerland's internationally acclaimed public transport system – already the densest in the world – has perfected another pioneering first.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7828351-swiss-alps-longest-deepest-train-tunnel/
Room KeySM announces access to Loyalty Member Rates from more than 60 of the world’s largest and most well-known hotel brands, including Hilton®, Hyatt®, Marriott®, Holiday Inn®, Comfort Inn® and Wyndham®. Hotels’ member rates are typically lower than other published rates and available only to members of the hotels’ loyalty programs who book directly with the hotel, primarily through their own websites. Now Room Key can access these rates and is the only travel site where customers can shop and compare Loyalty Member Rates from so many different hotel chains in one place.
“There’s a lot of confusion out there about how and where to find the best hotel rates,” says Steve Sickel, CEO, Room Key. “A relatively unknown ‘travel secret’ is that many hotels offer lower rates to members of their loyalty program on their own websites,” Steve adds. “Room Key can now display these lower ‘Loyalty Member Rates’ for thousands of U.S. hotels across more than 60 hotel chains all on one site, making shopping the best rate a lot easier,” he says. “No other travel site can access as many loyalty rates across as many hotel chains as Room Key.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7850951-room-key-lower-rates/
Summer road trip season is here, so grab the family and pack up the car! There is a richness to making your way across a state or country by car that is absent from the experience of boarding a metal bird and climbing out at your destination. Whether you’re going on a short trip or a cross-country adventure proper preparation is a must.
Travel and lifestyle expert, Amy Goodman, is available for live interviews on XXXX ##, 2016 to discuss her tips and tricks to make your summer road trip one to remember. From what to pack to where pull over for a bite to eat she’ll make prepping for your vacation quick and simple.
