- Courtesy of Ovation Corporate Travel October 1, 2008 In This Issue...
	AIRFARES AREN’T TAKING OFF EVERYWHERE
	CAR RENTAL COMPANIES GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF SHARING
	JETBLUE MAY LAUNCH ‘PREMIUM’ SNACKS FOR FLIGHTS
	OVATION CLUB E-NEWSLETTER WEEKLY SURVEY
	OVATION PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
	- BOSTON  HARBOR HOTEL, Boston
	- THREADNEEDLES, London
	- CROWNE PLAZA CABANA, Palo Alto
	- BALZAC HOTEL, Paris
	- HUNTINGTON HOTEL & NOB HILL SPA, San Francisco

AIRFARES AREN’T TAKING OFF EVERYWHERE
(source: msnbc.com)

Airfares are up, right? The short answer is yes — 22 fare increases this year. But fares in some cities are flat or even down, as fierce competition keeps airlines from charging as much as they would like.

Business fares in early September were down 5% in Phoenix and 4% in New York compared to the same week last year, according to research by Bob Harrell of Harrell Associates, who tracks airfares. In many other cities ticket prices were up only marginally — 1% in Orlando, 3% in Atlanta, 4% in Denver and Las Vegas.

The good news in those cities doesn't change the bad news for everyone else: Overall, fares are up — 11% for leisure travel, 6% for business fares, according to Harrell. Many individual cities are worse. He found year-over-year increases of 26% in Philadelphia, 17% in Minneapolis, 15% in Newark, N.J., 12% in Dallas.

CAR RENTAL COMPANIES GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF SHARING
(source: USA Today)

Car sharing, mostly popular among those who don't own cars, is going corporate. Car sharing would allow employees to rent a car by the hour for errands and customer meetings.

Enterprise says its nine-month experiment in car sharing, branded as WeCar, will now be available to some corporate customers, government agencies and universities nationally. U-Haul's car-sharing unit, U Car Share, will also market to large customers. Hertz says it will launch a car-sharing business on a limited scale before the end of the year. The industry pioneer Zipcar, which dominates city markets, has also been aggressively courting businesses.

It generally works like this: You register online and pay an annual membership fee. Then you reserve a car on the company website. In the corporate setting, car sharing can happen in various ways. A large company may request a fleet of cars on its parking lot so that employees have quick access. Small companies that can't promise a minimum revenue can instead sign up for corporate accounts.

Car-sharing companies say their services can encourage employees to use public transportation for commuting. It also frees companies from leasing and maintaining cars and keeping track of miles and reimbursements.

JETBLUE MAY LAUNCH ‘PREMIUM’ SNACKS FOR FLIGHTS
(source: Crain’s New York Business)

JetBlue Airways Corp. is considering launching a premium snack service, although the company hastened to add that it will still offer free snacks. Forest Hills, N.Y.-based JetBlue already offers a "premium" drink service that includes VitaminWater and Rockstar Energy Drinks for $3.

Speaking at an investors conference, Chief Financial Officer Ed Barnes said the carrier will consider charging extra fees, but insisted that it will not look to charge customers for basic items. "Our core product is something we would like to protect," Mr. Barnes said. "While we are looking at a premium snack offering, it's safe to say that your snack bag is safe."

OVATION CLUB E-NEWSLETTER WEEKLY SURVEY!

The Ovation Club E-Newsletter Weekly Survey gives you the opportunity to weigh in by voting your opinion on hot topics in business travel.  You can also post comments online on the topic of the week.

Question of the Week: Do you feel it has become more difficult to find space to store carry-on items when traveling?

- Absolutely.  No one wants to pay baggage fees and business travelers with small bags are paying the price.
-I don’t mind.  Space is limited, but they always manage to fit everyone’s items.
-Not really. I haven’t noticed a difference in the availability of overhead space.
-I always check my baggage; this issue does not affect me.

To cast your vote go to: https://ovationtravel.com/enewssurvey/

OVATION PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL
70 Rowes Wharf
Boston

Experience Boston’s newest Mobil 5 Star Hotel.

The Boston Harbor Hotel is Boston’s premier waterfront hotel, located steps from the Moakley Federal Courthouse and major law firms and financial companies in Boston’s Financial District. This 230-room hotel features guestrooms with panoramic views of the Boston skyline and Rose Kennedy Greenway, or historic Boston Harbor. A recently completed $12 million renovation guarantees each guest the highest levels of luxury at our Five Star property. The hotel offers a full service health club and spa with 60 foot indoor lap pool, fine dining in Meritage, a Four Diamond awarded restaurant with views of Boston Harbor, as well as complimentary town car service to local offices.

The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rates at Boston Harbor Hotel start at $290 through November 13, 2008 (compared to a corporate rate of $550), including complimentary wireless and high speed internet access.

OVATION PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THREADNEEDLES
5 Threadneedle Street
London

Threadneedles: a luxury boutique hotel in the City's Square Mile.

Originally a Banking Hall built in 1865, with solid oak doors and impressive marble columns, the hotel echoes its colorful past with a rich and contemporary interior.

A multitude of textures and complementary tones create a feeling of understated luxury and tranquility in the heart of the City of London.

Crowning the honesty bar of Threadneedles hotel is a stunning antique dome, born in 1856. This dome bears the inscription ‘CB’, echoing its past life as The City Bank, prior to becoming a five star boutique hotel. Enjoy a strong gin and tonic, a refreshing white wine, a glass of bubbles or a simple beer from the honesty bar. The bar and dome combine to make a lovely spot to relax, work or conduct that final ‘deal’.

The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Threadneedles is £265 (compared to a corporate rate of £315).

OVATION PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
CROWNE PLAZA CABANA
4290 El Camino Real
Palo Alto

In the heart of Silicon Valley, the Crown Plaza Cabana offers a mosaic tiled outdoor pool, jacuzzi whirlpool, 24-hour health & exercise center. Additional amenities include 24-hour business center.

Delight in their European ambiance and California charm. Their style and personality starts with a spectacular entrance through the lobby, where traditional detailing pays tribute to European flavors of plaster walls, stone flooring and subdued colors. Seasonal outdoor patios and large pool deck with spa make for an enjoyable, relaxing stay.

The Crowne Plaza Cabana Palo Alto is proud to be one of a selected few hotels in California powered by Solar Energy while creating a "green hotel program" that provides a relief to the environment.

Steeped in history, tradition and elegance, the Crowne Plaza Cabana combines luxurious amenities of a vacation destination with high tech necessities of today's savvy business traveler.

Located close to Stanford University, HP, Google, SAP, Intuit, just to name a few, the 194 room Crowne Plaza Cabana Palo Alto meets social, business and group travel needs. Complimentary fiber optic wired and wireless Internet services are available throughout all public areas and guest rooms.

Guests can dine al fresco in the hotel's courtyard or delight in favorable cuisine at 4290 Bistro & Bar.

The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Crowne Plaza Cabana is $180 (compared to a corporate rate of $309).

OVATION PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
BALZAC HOTEL
6 rue Balzac
Paris

Built for the director of the Paris Opera in 1853 and once home to Balzac himself, the hotel is reminiscent of town houses of that period. Still a haven of peace and a shining example of Parisian chic, the Balzac Hotel is a blend of the elegant and the modern - an aesthetic feat deftly carried out by interior designer Anne-Marie Sabatier, who re-looked the sumptuous neo-Classical decor with precious and vibrant tones. Today, with personalized service provided by the majordomo and "Golden Key" concierges, the latest in modern technologies, splendid fabrics and period furniture, the Balzac Hotel invites guests to share in its elegance and French art de vivre.

The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Balzac Hotel is €270 (compared to a corporate rate of €375).

OVATION PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
HUNTINGTON HOTEL & NOB HILL SPA
1075 California Street
San Francisco

The Huntington Hotel & Nob Hill Spa has been ranked consistently as not only the most distinguished choice of San Francisco luxury hotels, but as one of the finest places to stay in the world. Withstanding more than three-quarters of a century in the heart of the community, this family-owned and operated San Francisco hotel property is regarded as one of the last bastions of the city's deep historic roots. Recent honors bestowed upon this downtown San Francisco California hotel include:

*2007 Peter Goldman Hotelier of the Year Award; John Cope, President & CEO

*2007 World Travel Award, California's Leading Spa Resort

*SpaFinder's 2007 Reader's Choice Award, top 10 urban hotel spas in the world

*UltimateHotels.com Top 50 Great Restaurants in San Francisco, Big 4 Restaurant named one of the 50 greatest restaurants in the city for 2007

*Frommer's San Francisco Day by Day, Best Spa - Nob Hill Spa

*Elite Meetings Advisory Board, Elite Meetings Excellence Award

*Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2006 & 2007, Big 4 Restaurant voted among the most refined restaurants in San Francisco

*Travel and Leisure's 2005 Award, as one of the world's 500 greatest hotels

*Travel and Leisure's 2004 Award, 100 best hotels in North America

*Condé Nast Traveler's 2003 Gold List, as one of the best places to stay worldwide

With its breathtaking perspective of the Bay Area, this San Francisco hotel is one of few remaining places in which the fast pace of city life gives way to understated elegance and discretion. Seated on one of the city's highest hills, this San Francisco luxury hotel provides superlative views of the skyline or Huntington Park. From its unique position atop the prestigious Nob Hill, this elegant San Francisco hotel offers leisure and business travelers the perfect location.

As a full-service, four-diamond property with a strong tradition of hospitality, this San Francisco luxury hotel provides service with the grace of yesteryear – right alongside today's most modern amenities. Treat yourself to the premier choice of San Francisco hotels, where timeless charm meets contemporary style.

The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Huntington Hotel & Nob Hill Spa is $255 (compared to a corporate rate of $315).

__________________________________________________________________________

Ovation Corporate Travel
www.ovationtravel.com
info@ovationtravel.com
800.431.1112