tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87542098078066324952024-03-04T23:54:12.365-08:00POTHOS CEO musingsPothos: Travel news, travel industry updates, corporate and business travelMichael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-16822667352766504752013-08-12T12:13:00.000-07:002013-08-12T12:14:07.792-07:00China's State-run airlines are enraging passengers with horrible delays<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the past decade, China has spent billions on building
some of the largest and most modern airports in the world. With so many new
stunning airports, one would think that they would be the envy of the world.
Here is the catch; Chinese airports are renowned for having horrible
punctuality. In fact, not a single Chinese airport managed to get even half of
its flights to leave on time. Even worse, Beijing’s Capital Airport had an
anemic 18% of its flights leave on time last month, making it the worst major
airport for punctuality in the world. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do these constant delays do to the psyche of the
Chinese travelers? Well, it enrages them beyond belief. Violent attacks have
erupted at airports across China. Angry passengers are taking out their frustrations
on hapless airport and airline staff members. Back in July, 30 angry passengers
broke through security and stormed the runway at Nanchang airport after being
delayed for 7 hours. This summer alone has seen at least eight large protests
at departure gates throughout China. There have been numerous reports of random
attacks on flight attendants. One such attack involved a man assaulting a
stewardess on a delayed flight while other passengers watched and even
applauded him while he hit her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWLfLtSoWM02h8jcrND7bel9jvK5SoB4Akx-XT44NKnOvLef8K85Y3eIn1B-NmdYuY6i5XxgzL_D-7nX4rWiTp6cLcMN5uLC2uWHTn56e1nVfoZTYyS2sSPEo5OzAxXwynfmyEW5xSdNF/s1600/china_airline_0805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWLfLtSoWM02h8jcrND7bel9jvK5SoB4Akx-XT44NKnOvLef8K85Y3eIn1B-NmdYuY6i5XxgzL_D-7nX4rWiTp6cLcMN5uLC2uWHTn56e1nVfoZTYyS2sSPEo5OzAxXwynfmyEW5xSdNF/s320/china_airline_0805.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protesters battle with police and airline personnel at a Chinese airport</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is all disturbing news on both fronts. The fact that
these flight delays are so rampant is a great cause for concern for anyone
traveling in China. On the other side, it is also very disturbing that airline
workers are subject to violent attacks for something they have no control over.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As China continues to boost its airport infrastructure, the
world will be watching to see if they can improve on punctuality and
efficiency. This is certainly a cause for concern for Western businessmen who
frequent China on business. They will no doubt be keeping an eye on this issue
in the next year and hoping that the situation improves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-90247038252278117922013-07-17T10:59:00.001-07:002013-07-17T10:59:47.568-07:00American Airlines flight attendant accused of smuggling pet rat<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In a strange story, an American Airlines flight attendant
has been accused of smuggling pet rats onto an international flight last year.
Yes, you read that correctly- smuggling rats!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In February 2012, an American Airlines pilot claimed that
Louann Giambattista was hiding pet rats inside her underwear and pantyhose on
an international flight. Yikes! In a separate incident on that same day,
another American Airlines colleague of Ms. Giambattista claims to have
witnessed her feeding a pet rat a bread roll on a flight to Miami. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ms. Giambattista was questioned and searched upon landing
but no rats were ever found. The <span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.05pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were
notified and she is now subject to searches by federal agents every time she
flies. She is now suing the airline and seeking damages for “debilitating
anxiety” caused by the ordeal. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.05pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.05pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is hard to imagine that
two separate colleagues on separate flights would both make up the same lie
about Ms. Giambattista. But I am not here to make that judgment. As I said,
strange story indeed.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-49634199011690053732013-07-02T11:51:00.002-07:002013-07-02T11:51:41.527-07:00U.S. issues travel warning for Egypt<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amidst the recent string of protests of Egyptian president
Mohamed Morsi, the U.S. has issued the strongest travel warnings for Egypt
since the 2011 revolution. The White House has ordered all non-emergency
diplomatic staff to leave the country.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least 7 people have been killed during the clashes, with
hundreds more reported injured. One of the casualties was a 21 year old
American student named Andrew Pochter. Pochter was working for a U.S. charity
teaching English to children. He was stabbed to death in Alexandria while
taking pictures of the clashes. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is an especially dangerous time for journalists, as one
Egyptian journalist died in a bomb attack, along with many other journalists
who have been beaten and robbed. A Dutch journalist was reportedly raped while
covering the protests. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55DPk0Ccs7OB1Zx_6jKfxgwb9H30299VqYgr-b_Rd4hyphenhyphen7W7s1g-BO72FTg-lxiNEawPjGSL7x98x6OkGHGLhrjqYCWNz5bK7BH-uqsY9JjKEG7Qyekto1xS6dHAYRzTdbCfMlXLw5GIOB/s600/egypt+protests+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55DPk0Ccs7OB1Zx_6jKfxgwb9H30299VqYgr-b_Rd4hyphenhyphen7W7s1g-BO72FTg-lxiNEawPjGSL7x98x6OkGHGLhrjqYCWNz5bK7BH-uqsY9JjKEG7Qyekto1xS6dHAYRzTdbCfMlXLw5GIOB/s320/egypt+protests+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protesters fill the streets of Cairo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Protesters are threatening to march Tuesday evening on
Cairo’s presidential palace if Morsi does not step down by then. With the
possibility of more violent clashes, the government is highly encouraging all
foreign nationals to leave Egypt immediately. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-52137226740612827782013-06-14T13:54:00.001-07:002013-06-14T13:54:28.358-07:00Game of Thrones tours now available!
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of our Game of Thrones fans please stand up! The wildly
popular HBO series just wrapped up its third season with a bang. If you are
like us, the next nine months or more without our beloved show will be a
challenge!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not to worry, we have some good news for you die-hard fans.
Did you know that there are recently launched “Game of Thrones tours” which
tour the cities of Dubrovnik, Croatia and Belfast, Northern Ireland? These two
marvelous cities serve as settings for fictional locales depicted in the series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The medieval walled city of Dubrovnik is one of the jewels
of Croatia, sitting on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It also serves as the
official setting of King’s Landing in the Game of Thrones. A guided tour with a
GOT expert will take you around the city to show you some of the settings from
the show. Highlights of the three hour GOT tour include the ancient city walls
and the Lovrijenac Fortress (the site of many battle scenes on the show).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK6BSjcZDTRQnaYoLXqmT6U8_lDTS4BDVAMuDYSeYJakwsiwafGuuGW3pKHySCRybF4Yzn_zXYRRO1xFjRVgqfye_L-7oD_yYPG4vKF4QB4AdAf-C-xusHLBRVrFCeAp9LYAmnQrA-ebl/s1600/dubrovnik.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK6BSjcZDTRQnaYoLXqmT6U8_lDTS4BDVAMuDYSeYJakwsiwafGuuGW3pKHySCRybF4Yzn_zXYRRO1xFjRVgqfye_L-7oD_yYPG4vKF4QB4AdAf-C-xusHLBRVrFCeAp9LYAmnQrA-ebl/s320/dubrovnik.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dubrovnik, Croatia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Belfast tour is even more epic, lasting nine hours and
taking guests to sites all around Northern Ireland. The nine hour tour takes
visitors to a number of sites where famous scenes have been filmed. The tour
also takes visitors to sites not featured in the show that are very iconic
parts of Belfast.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As always, the </span><a href="mailto:travel@pothos.us?subject=Summer%20Travel"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">POTHOS</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> travel team
is always here for any travel assistance. It’s not too late to book your summer
trip to see some breath taking views of these two famous cities!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-50697675484858399682013-05-09T11:36:00.000-07:002013-05-09T11:36:08.472-07:00Frontier Airlines to add new fees<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fees, fees, and more fees! Frontier Airlines is at it again.
In an effort to become an “ultra low cost carrier”, Frontier Airlines is set to
introduce new fees yet again. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To kick things off, Frontier has announced that it will
start charging customers who book their tickets through third-party sites a $25
to $100 fee for carry-on bags, excluding certain members of its frequent flier
program. Yes, you read that correctly. This fee is for carry-on bags. This is
an effort to get more people to check their bags to free up overhead space on
their planes. The $25 price is for passengers who check into their flights on
the airline website. For those who check in at the airport, the fee can be as
high as $100. The start date for this carry-on fee has yet to be announced, but
should be announced at some point this spring. If that wasn’t enough, Frontier
has also announced it will start charging $1.99 for what was once known as a
complimentary drink. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As miniscule as it may sound to charge $1.99 for a drink, it
is frightening to see the trend of adding so many fees for basic services. Europe’s
leading no-frills airline, Ryanair, has already brought up the idea of installing
coin-operated toilets and standing seats. That is an extreme case, but it goes
to show you the mind-set of the airlines and how they are trying to increase
ancillary revenue through increased fees. Don’t be surprised to see other
airlines study this move by Frontier and follow suit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-24430306855001753852013-05-02T10:20:00.000-07:002013-05-02T10:20:16.211-07:00Vegas cabs overcharge passengers $15 million worth in 2012<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to a recent report in the Las Vegas Sun, taxi
drivers in Las Vegas overcharged passengers to the tune of almost $15 million
last year. A legislative audit discovered that of the 6.6 million rides to and
from McCarran Airport, an estimated 23% were “deceptively long”. This deceptive
tactic is said to increase the average cab fare by about $10.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The report calls on the Taxicab Authority to take
“preventative measures” in order to protect travelers. According to the Las
Vegas tourism website, the average taxi fare from the airport to a hotel on the
Strip is $11. Anything substantially higher than that may mean you are being
taken advantage of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is something to keep note of for your next trip to Sin
City. Of course, this should not stop anyone from enjoying their trip in Vegas,
but should serve as a warning to keep an eye out for it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-52684173476273802302013-04-23T11:22:00.000-07:002013-04-23T11:22:31.848-07:00Furloughs cause delays at many major U.S. airports
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">This past Sunday marked the
beginning of furloughs at U.S. airports. The furloughs will reduce staff by
around 10% across the country. The FAA is warning that some airports may see
delays of up to 3 1/2 hours due to these budget cuts. Monday already saw delays
across the country, with New York’s La Guardia and JFK airports reporting
delays of more than an hour. <o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">The FAA has been mandated to
furlough all of its 47,000 employees through the end of September, in order to
help with the $637 million the agency must cut from its annual budget. Nearly
15,000 of those employees are air traffic controllers. With nearly 10% of the
controllers scheduled to be off daily, the FAA has no choice but to space
planes farther apart in order to safely manage air traffic. Transportation
officials have questioned the need to furlough so many controllers, in contrast
to the Transportation Security Administration avoiding furloughs. <o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">If Monday’s pattern persists,
fliers can expect delays at many of the major airports. The airlines are doing
their best to adjust to these conditions in order to keep operations running
safely and efficiently, but there is only so much they can do to limit the
delays. It is difficult to judge the full impact of these furloughs, as there
are other contributing factors for some delays, in particular the recent string
of bad weather in some parts of the country. With that being said, it is safe
to say that these cuts will have a profound effect on fliers from now until the
end of September.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></span><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-84813989326070679672013-03-08T09:50:00.001-08:002013-03-08T09:50:05.269-08:00Australia opens its automated border processing system to U.S. Trusted Travelers<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Been thinking about traveling to Australia? Visiting the
land down under is now even easier for U.S. Trusted Travelers. In late 2012,
Australian Customs and Border Protection opened up its automated border
processing system, SmartGate, to U.S. Trusted Travelers. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does that mean exactly for a U.S. Trusted Traveler?
Well, it means that now when you arrive in Australia, you can bypass the
passport processing lines and self process using an ePassport. SmartGate uses
facial recognition technology and biometric data to perform the customs and
immigration check usually conducted by an Australian Customs and Border
Protection officer. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To use SmartGate, there is no additional enrollment
required. You simply need to be traveling on a valid U.S. ePassport and be over
16 years old. SmartGate is open to all U.S. Trusted Traveler members enrolled
in Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more information on SmartGate and booking your travel to
Australia, contact the POTHOS travel team at: </span><a href="mailto:travel@pothos.us"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">travel@pothos.us</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-53705677324771627112013-03-04T12:08:00.000-08:002013-03-04T12:08:49.697-08:00United Airlines drops 787 through June 5th<span style="font-family: Calibri;">United Airlines has announced that it will cut the Boeing
787 Dreamliner from its flying plans at least until June 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. The
787 has been grounded since January 16<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, in an attempt to resolve
the problem with the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In total, there are fifty 787’s throughout the world that
have been grounded. More than a month later, investigators are still trying to
figure out what caused a battery fire in one plane and forced the emergency
landing of another plane. The out of service aircraft has forced airlines to
scrap their schedules until Boeing can resolve the battery problem. United, for
example, was due to begin flying from Denver to Tokyo on March 31<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
but has had to postpone until the 787 is cleared to fly. Boeing has been
working diligently on finding a solution to the problem. How soon Boeing can
fix the problem depends partly on the approval process by the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of Boeing’s customers have remained optimistic that
Boeing will be able to come up with a solution very soon. All Nippon Airways,
which has 17 of Boeings’ 787’s, has stood by the Dreamliner. ANA remain
confident in the aircraft and hope they will be able to reassure their
customers once the 787 is cleared to fly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although many customers will undoubtedly have safety
concerns about the aircraft, Boeing remains firm in their belief of the
aircraft. Boeing CEO Ray Conner, reiterated his stance recently, proclaiming:
"I just want to reiterate that the 787 is still the game-changing aircraft
it is meant to be". He also added that the solution Boeing has proposed
“is not an interim solution. This is a permanent solution”. Many airlines will
be keeping their fingers crossed that these statements are true and that these
planes can get back in the sky sooner than later.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-47329003836337779582013-02-13T10:46:00.000-08:002013-02-13T10:46:00.961-08:00Visa facilitation can create five million jobs in G20 economies<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the </span>World
Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), visa facilitation is central to
stimulating economic growth and job creation through tourism. Preliminary
findings show that 656 million tourists visited G20 countries in 2011, with 110
million of them needing a visa. Millions more were deterred from travelling due
to the cost, waiting time, and difficulty of obtaining a visa. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Great strides have been made in the past decades to
facilitate tourist travel, but there are still important areas of opportunity.
There are many possibilities for maximizing use of information and
communication technologies in improving visa procedures. Improving the delivery
of information and instituting eVisa programs are more examples of measures
that can be taken to create jobs and encourage tourist travel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The UNWTO estimates that over 5 million jobs in the G20
economies could be created by facilitating visas for these tourists. An
additional $206 billion in tourism receipts could be generated by 2015.
Clearly, this presents a great opportunity that many are looking to capitalize
on. One such person is UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, who had this to
say: </span><em><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;">“Small steps towards visa facilitation can result in big
economic benefits. By facilitating visas, the G20 countries stand to gain five
million jobs at a time of rampant unemployment across the world. These are in
addition to the hundreds of millions of direct and indirect jobs already being
supported every day by the sector.”<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This latest report has brought to light the extent of this
opportunity that has presented itself. It is simply too big of an opportunity
to be ignored any longer. It will be interesting to see if the Governments of
G20 countries will look into enhancing visa facilitation in support of job
creation. Let’s hope so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-13733586803859635352013-02-07T15:06:00.000-08:002013-02-07T15:06:35.429-08:00February 7th is National Fettuccini Alfredo Day!<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Today, on this glorious 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
day of February, we commemorate the invention of the world famous Fettuccine
Alfredo dish. I am willing to bet that most of you did not even know that we
had a national Fettuccine Alfredo Day. But lo and behold, February 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
of every year is deemed the day to celebrate this wonderful dish.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Italian restaurateur Alfredo di
Lelio created Fettuccini Alfredo in 1914 to help his wife regain her appetite
after the birth of their first son. Its popularity in the USA stems from
Hollywood stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks returning to the States
after dining at Di Lelio’s restaurant on their honeymoon. Upon their return,
they spread the word like wildfire about this new incredible dish. Before we
knew it, Fettuccini Alfredo became one of the most popular dishes in America
and remains so to this day.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Celebrate the legacy of Alfredo di
Lelio and his creation by heading to your favorite Italian restaurant tonight
and enjoying this dish. Or even better, if you are feeling more adventurous,
prepare your own version at home and enjoy with friends and family. With all
your newly acquired knowledge about the dish, you will assuredly liven up the
party with all these fun facts!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Here is a quick and easy recipe from Giada De Laurentiis:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFIXI0WKbASVYf8MUV5Nq-1lAY-f5prLhhdOrvobp7EKA-5uGm9L6tP7jTOe_6V4JLTOSP5NWI1RnqxhKVLMCXkzgR7pqVMomIrtrcVvd0A5SzWmCH5RhjnkLYa7CDOpX9lSn5rP09GoO/s1600/fettuccinialfredo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFIXI0WKbASVYf8MUV5Nq-1lAY-f5prLhhdOrvobp7EKA-5uGm9L6tP7jTOe_6V4JLTOSP5NWI1RnqxhKVLMCXkzgR7pqVMomIrtrcVvd0A5SzWmCH5RhjnkLYa7CDOpX9lSn5rP09GoO/s1600/fettuccinialfredo.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<strong><u>Ingredients</u></strong><br />
<ul class="col1">
<li class="ingredient"><em>18 </em>ounces fresh fettuccine</li>
<li class="ingredient"><em>2 1/2 </em>cups heavy cream</li>
<li class="ingredient"><em>1/2 </em>cup fresh lemon juice</li>
<li class="ingredient"><em>12 </em>tablespoons unsalted butter</li>
</ul>
<ul class="col2">
<li class="ingredient"><em>2 </em>cups grated Parmesan</li>
<li class="ingredient"><em>2 </em>teaspoons grated lemon zest</li>
<li class="ingredient">Pinch freshly grated nutmeg</li>
<li class="ingredient">Salt and freshly ground white pepper</li>
</ul>
<div class="ingredient">
<strong><u>Directions</u></strong></div>
<div class="instructions">
</div>
<div class="instructions">
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Drain.Stir 2 cups of the cream and the lemon juice in a heavy large skillet to blend. Add the butter and cook over medium heat just until the butter melts, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.<b></b></div>
<div class="instructions">
</div>
<div class="instructions">
Add the pasta and toss. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of cream, and Parmesan to the cream sauce in the skillet. Add the lemon zest, nutmeg, salt, and white pepper. Toss the pasta mixture over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute.</div>
<br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-51575356403992730612013-01-31T13:26:00.000-08:002013-01-31T13:26:15.894-08:00American Airlines to fly large Embraer Regional Jets<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Th</span>ose of you who fly regional routes on American Airlines will
soon be able to fly on bigger regional jets. American Airlines has reached a
deal with Republic Airways to establish a fleet or larger regional jets.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The fleet will include 53 Embraer E175 jets to replace the old
CRJ’s. The new aircraft will feature a two-class configuration, with 12 seats
in first class and 64 seats in coach. It will also include American’s
premium-economy Main Cabin Extra seats with extra legroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This is very good news for American Airline customers. These jets
are much more comfortable and spacious than the cramped spaces in the tiny CRJ’s.
The new jets are also much more fuel efficient, which is of vital importance
for airlines trying to cut costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I am looking forward to the day when all other airlines follow
suit and upgrade to the bigger jets for short haul regional routes. Be on the lookout
for the new jets to be phased into operation beginning mid-2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-20903384219035116742013-01-22T11:11:00.001-08:002013-01-22T11:13:16.273-08:00Super Bowl XLVII is upon us!<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After Sunday’s conference championship games, we now have
our two teams set for </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Super Bowl XLVII. The San Francisco 49ers
will battle the Baltimore Ravens in this year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans. Now
that the two teams playing have been determined, their legions of fans can now
begin to make travel arrangements to participate in the festivities.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If you are one of the thousands looking to
make the trip to the Big Easy, you better get on making your arrangements ASAP.
With the limited number of vacancies, hotel rooms will be hard to come across,
and they will come at a hefty premium. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hotel rates in New Orleans have gone up by an
average of 304% during Super Bowl weekend. Although hotel availability is
limited, there are some exciting options for the diehard fan. Take the Bud
Light Hotel, for example. Bud Light will transform a 200-room downtown New
Orleans hotel into the ultimate fan experience, and will be home to some of the
hottest parties and events during Super Bowl weekend. An adjacent parking lot
is even being converted to a 34,000 square foot concert tent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is just one example of the many unique
experiences that can be had in New Orleans during Super Bowl weekend. With the
big game less than 2 weeks away, time is running out to make travel
arrangements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With such limited availabilities, <a href="http://www.pothos.us/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">POTHOS</span></a> can help ease your mind and let you focus on the
festivities and not all the travel hassles. For travel arrangements for your
Super Bowl getaway, please contact <a href="mailto:travel@pothos.us"><span style="color: blue;">travel@pothos.us</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-68669318466035220292013-01-18T14:09:00.002-08:002013-01-18T14:09:19.089-08:00British businessman killed in Honduras during robbery
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Earlier this week, a 33 year old British businessman was
shot dead while on vacation in Honduras. The man was taking pictures in Trejo,
a small town outside of San Pedro Sula, when a group of men surrounded him and
robbed him of his camera. The man was then shot dead as he ran away from his
attackers. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This tragedy is just one instance of the ongoing violence
that is prevalent in not only Honduras, but much of Central America. Honduras
is no stranger to this type of violence. The Central American nation currently
has the world’s highest murder rate with 87 killings per 100,000 people,
according to the United Nations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hate to admit it but this is hardly surprising to
me. Two years ago, when in El Salvador, we were told that we should not
travel alone as there are gangs that will identify you as a tourist, surround
you (quietly) and rob you at knife point. If you don’t give your items, they
will literally stab you in the stomach and leave you for dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is very unfortunate as Central America is home to some
of the most stunning landscapes, amazing cultures, and abundant wildlife. It is
a shame that such a beautiful region can be plagued by such a rampant gang
culture. This is not to scare you into never visiting Central America. This is
simply a warning to proceed with great caution and to be aware of the dangers
while travelling through Central America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-2107950117026996972013-01-11T13:36:00.002-08:002013-01-11T13:36:42.324-08:00American Eagle pilot arrested after failing blood-alcohol test<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An American Eagle pilot was arrested last week at the
Minneapolis airport after failing a blood-alcohol test. The pilot was
conducting pre-flight checks around 6:30 AM when airport police boarded the New
York City bound aircraft. The officers boarded after a witness tipped them off,
saying they smelled alcohol on the pilots breath. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The pilot was taken into custody after failing the
breathalyzer test. The pilot has been suspended pending an investigation. The
flight was delayed 2 ½ hours while a replacement pilot was arranged. This all
occurred before any passengers had boarded the NYC bound flight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The pilot was taken to a local hospital to have a blood
sample taken for testing. The legal BAC limit in Minnesota is .04 for pilots.
Although this is a much stricter limit than someone travelling on the road, I
was left scratching my head. Call me crazy, but shouldn’t there be absolutely
no trace of alcohol in a pilot’s system? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-41958228527863428582013-01-08T13:14:00.000-08:002013-01-08T13:14:03.907-08:00Las Vegas Air to launch in 2013<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With all of the airline consolidation going on, I have been
counting down the days until new entrants appear, offering new service angles.
It seems like I won’t have to wait much longer. Las Vegas Air appears to be on
track to launch sometime in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The airline is promising all of the Vegas thrills, including
planes equipped with full reclining luxury beds in first class and a
shower/changing room. Club Class will include a Circle bar, 3D surround sound,
and translucent bulk heads. Every flight will also include an online and
private network gaming experience.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">LV Air looks to bring some much needed competition to the
established carriers with its creative and innovative ideas. LV Air has been
contacted by many celebrities who wish to be associated with its youthful, high
tech, and luxurious brand image. Expect to see LV Air hitting the market with
an intense social media campaign sometime in early 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-58188216776647192052013-01-02T13:13:00.001-08:002013-01-02T13:13:52.765-08:00Best new airport amenities in 2012<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2012 has come and gone. With it, we saw many changes in the
Travel industry. Some changes were great. Some were irritating. One trend that
we have been seeing is with the improvement in airport amenities. Airports
throughout the country continue to make strides in adding new amenities to make
the traveling experience more enjoyable.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gone are the days where finding electrical charging stations
or free Wi-Fi at airports is unheard of. An estimated 88% of airports now have
electrical charging stations and 90% offer free Wi-Fi. These amenities were
once unheard of, but now are staples at most airports.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2012, airports continued to add innovative and creative
amenities to enhance the customer experience. For example, San Francisco
International Airport has introduced a first-of-its-kind airport Yoga room.
This space allows for travelers to have a room devoted to contemplation and
self-reflection. This is just one example of how airports are trying to make
your travel experience a little mellower, healthier, and more connected. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a list of USA Today’s <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2012/12/18/best-airports-amenities-food-checkpoints/1777983/"><span style="color: blue;">Best
new airport amenities in 2012</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s hope that 2013
continues to bring improvements to our airport experience. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-12920601090585393002012-12-27T11:07:00.000-08:002012-12-27T11:22:28.282-08:00Southwest to implement no-show fee<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Southwest Airlines has always been known for its
customer-friendly policies. It remains the only major U.S. airline that does
not charge customers to change flight plans. Although this policy will remain,
Southwest is beginning to tighten some of its other rules.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Southwest has announced that sometime next year they will
begin to implement a “no-show” fee to customers who miss a flight but fail to
cancel their seat before takeoff. Southwest’s current policy allows for no-show
fliers to apply the full value of the ticket towards purchasing a new ticket.
As you can imagine, too many no-show fliers are leaving too many empty seats on
Southwest flights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Southwest has responded to the increasing number of no-show
fliers by adding this no-show fee to its cheapest “Wanna Get Away” fares. The
exact price of the fee or the date it will go into effect have yet to be
determined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Southwest hopes this new fee will add revenue and also
promote customer behavior that will allow for Southwest to sell open seats.
There will still be no fees for changing flights or for your first two checked
bags. Customers just need to make sure to cancel their flight in time in order
to avoid this new fee. You can be assured that when you book with </span><a href="http://pothos.us/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">POTHOS</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, we will always make the proper arrangements in
order to avoid such fees!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-18501852065528170242012-12-18T14:43:00.002-08:002012-12-18T14:43:54.651-08:00Three biggest U.S. airlines to offer internet service on international flights
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The three biggest American airlines have announced that
Internet service will soon be available on international flights. United,
Delta, and American Airlines have all announced that they are a few weeks away
from having their first international flights with internet connection.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Passengers can already enjoy internet service while flying
over the U.S., but the air-to-ground signal used by those planes does not work
overseas. To make this service overseas possible, the airlines are installing
satellite-based systems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those of you who are now looking forward to streaming
Netflix or watching YouTube videos on an international flight will most likely
be disappointed. While speeds on airplane Internet connections are getting
faster, they are most likely only good enough for basic Web browsing and
emails. However, most of the international Wi-Fi systems will have computer
servers on the plane with movies and TV shows that passengers can view for a
fee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This news should bring a smile to the faces of many business
travelers who will soon be able to access important business emails while
traveling internationally. All three airlines will have this service within the
next 2 months, with fees for this service yet to be determined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-11648812189702919522012-12-13T15:02:00.000-08:002012-12-13T15:02:58.348-08:00Domestic beer sales up more than 1% this year<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic breweries can revel in the fact that beer sales are
up by more than 1% in the U.S. this year. However, the driving force for this
resurgence in sales is not coming from the traditional, full-calorie beers that
have historically been the focal point for most domestic breweries.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems that the 2012 American palate now craves more of
the specialty, craft, and small-market beers than ever before. Even more so,
Americans prefer light beer over any other type of beer. It is of no surprise,
then, that the leading selling beer in America last year (by a long shot) was
Bud Light. Bud Light sold 39.15 million barrels last year. To put that into
context, that is more than double the amount sold of Coors Light (#2 in
domestic beer sales) and Budweiser (#3 in domestic beer sales).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the beer industry continues to change, breweries
constantly have to adapt in order to stay competitive. Larger breweries are
banking on the popularity of craft brews by marketing their own specialty beer.
Innovation in the market place is vital for some of these breweries to stay
competitive.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some breweries and beers are finding it difficult to stay
relevant in the beer market. In a study by 24/7 Wall Street, nine domestic
beers were identified as beers that Americans no longer drink. Each beer on the
list has declined in sales by 30% or more since 2006, with #1 on the list
having declined by 72% since 2006. Who tops the list of beer with the biggest
sales decline since 2006? To find out, check out the article and full list: </span><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nine-beers-americans-no-longer-drink-183045945.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Nine
Beers Americans No Longer Drink</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-55442991610435135722012-12-11T14:41:00.000-08:002012-12-11T14:41:15.506-08:00American Airlines introduces self-bag tagging<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">On November 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>,
American Airlines introduced self-bag tagging for travelers flying out of
Orlando. This comes after a successful trial run at Austin Bergstrom
international Airport earlier this year. According to American Airline,
check-in times were reduced by as much as 55% in Austin. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">The way it works is that
travelers are allowed to use a kiosk to print and attach baggage tags. The
traveler enters all their flight info, pays any necessary charges, and then
prints their tag and attaches it to their bag. They then take their bag to a
drop off area and show ID to an airline representative. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">American plans to expand
self-bag tagging to Chicago O’Hare and Washington Reagan Airports in the coming
months. The airline also expects to debut this service in up to 8 more U.S.
cities within the next 2 years.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">There are still many travelers
who remain wary of the self-serve options and its uncertainties. One issue in
particular is that of lost and mis-routed bags due to passenger self-service
error. What happens then? Is the passenger at fault? Does the airline take
responsibility? Nobody knows. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">The truth is that there is a
first time learning curve for airlines when it comes to dealing with this new
service. Bags get lost or mis-routed fairly regularly when trained agents from
the airlines are tagging the bags. It is only natural to assume that this would
be compounded by your every day traveler tagging their own bags.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">This self-bag tagging system
sounds good in theory but it feels too impractical. I am a firm believer that
the customer/client should be able to choose when they want to serve themselves
and not be forced into it if they desire to interact with a real person. It is,
after all, the "Service" industry.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<u5:p></u5:p><br />Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-89494579131759822052012-12-07T15:12:00.001-08:002012-12-07T15:12:51.284-08:00Virgin America to launch status matching program
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good news for travelers who have status with American
Airlines or United Airlines: Virgin America has announced a status match
program. Flyers from United Airlines and American Airlines’ frequent flyer
programs can receive matched status through </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Virgin America’s Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver Status now
through April 30, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">United’s Mileage Plus and American’s AAdvantage flyers will
get to enjoy nearly all of the benefits currently offered to Elevate Gold and
Elevate Silver members. Some of these benefits include: priority check-in, free
checked bag allowances, priority security clearance and boarding, and private
discounts. Furthermore, if you apply for the Elevate program, you will have the
opportunity to retain your status through the end of 2013 by earning points on
flying Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have never flown Virgin America, now is a great time
to familiarize yourself with this popular airline. Virgin America has won many
awards, including 2012’s “Best Domestic Airline” by Conde Nast Traveler. Virgin
America is usually among the top rated domestic airlines year in, year
out.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To book a flight on Virgin America contact your </span><a href="mailto:travel@pothos.us"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">POTHOS</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> travel team.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-23939185649353684122012-12-05T10:39:00.000-08:002012-12-05T10:39:36.981-08:00Epic Russian traffic jam strands drivers for 3 days<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I think it is safe to say that none of us like being stuck
in traffic. We have all been in a traffic jam at some point in our lives that
really drove us crazy. It is very doubtful, however, that any of us have ever
seen anything like the traffic jam that occurred this past weekend in Russia.</div>
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<br /></div>
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After a few days of heavy snowing, part of the main highway
between Moscow and St. Petersburg was backed up 125 miles. Traffic was at a
complete stand-still with the only movement being foot traffic, not vehicular.
The Emergencies Ministry reported that traffic would return back to normal by 6
PM on Sunday. However, the traffic jam still spanned 34 miles long on Sunday night.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The traffic woes began on Friday after one of the heaviest
November snowstorms in the last 50 years pummeled the Moscow area. When
everything was said and done, three feet of snow had fallen in western Russia. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh2LCG0yiVkFcIz1AuxWJt2cJC_UyMPxQlHB4VnTM8Np9KjL2Kh3toqJRqu47BqLflTeitAFMqwe6vmzAPpUU91h-OM7ETsFIsrcIyRFpiRKsL5CwHn_BMT5AMjlkxv75xCVkB9ErB5OM/s1600/russian+traffic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh2LCG0yiVkFcIz1AuxWJt2cJC_UyMPxQlHB4VnTM8Np9KjL2Kh3toqJRqu47BqLflTeitAFMqwe6vmzAPpUU91h-OM7ETsFIsrcIyRFpiRKsL5CwHn_BMT5AMjlkxv75xCVkB9ErB5OM/s320/russian+traffic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Drivers complained that authorities weren’t offering enough
assistance to the stranded travelers. Restaurants reportedly tried to take
advantage of the situation by increasing their prices and gas stations ran out
of fuel. The Emergencies Ministry soon stepped in to assist with food distribution
and setting up warming stations. Traffic started clearing up on Monday, with
cars being able to travel at speeds of 3-6 mph for large sections of the
highway. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although this traffic jam sounds horrific, it pales in
comparison to some of the worst jams we have seen recently. In 2010, drivers in
China were stuck for 10 days waiting for a 60 mile back up to clear near
Beijing. In 2009 there was a reported 183 mile traffic stoppage during an
evening rush in Sao Paulo, Brazil. So the next time you’re cursing the world
while stuck in light traffic, just think of how much worse it could be. </div>
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-91563135869494768072012-12-03T15:07:00.001-08:002012-12-03T15:09:29.424-08:00JAL to serve KFC on international flights<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Japan Airlines (JAL) and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) have
partnered up to bring Air Kentucky Fried Chicken onboard select international
flights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
Customers flying in Premium Economy and Economy Class from
Narita to New York, <span style="color: black;">Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San
Diego, London, Paris and Frankfurt will be served KFC’s Original Recipe 2-piece
chicken meal. The meal will include one drumstick, one boneless chicken breast,
flat bread, and a cup of coleslaw and lettuce. JAL and KFC have also created an
exquisite packaging that is exclusively available on JAL flights.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">KFC is widely popular in Japan,
especially during Christmas time. Now these KFC enthusiasts can enjoy KFC’s
tasty chicken on a trans-Atlantic flight. This service will go into effect
starting December 1, 2012 and will last through February 28, 2013.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5ngWNZoDCAcZQ_I3zuL6Y-6sqSEsPs6U_pJXBKp_GPC1RA61hclEVHHE4ap07P4wDBt_mFJ3H7vlynYzAwoJy5_AbeUblM2gWXTIAi1NQrGkZGjBoRWbT2rC5827p-fyRSQTzFHDn8r2/s1600/kfc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5ngWNZoDCAcZQ_I3zuL6Y-6sqSEsPs6U_pJXBKp_GPC1RA61hclEVHHE4ap07P4wDBt_mFJ3H7vlynYzAwoJy5_AbeUblM2gWXTIAi1NQrGkZGjBoRWbT2rC5827p-fyRSQTzFHDn8r2/s200/kfc.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air Kentucky Fried Chicken meal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</span><br />Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754209807806632495.post-3024012902909682452012-11-29T11:49:00.004-08:002012-11-29T11:49:43.161-08:00Antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in tested hotel rooms<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the most comprehensive testing of hotel cleanliness in
Canadian history, <i>CBC Marketplace </i>uncovered some disturbing findings. In
a test of 54 hotels across six major hotel chains, every hotel contained some
form of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Specifically, the findings of C. difficile and <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">methicillin-resistant staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) were extremely alarming. C. difficile and MRSA are not rare bugs,
with an estimated 5% of the population carrying MRSA without showing symptoms.
However, these super bugs can pose a great threat to those with weakened immune
systems.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Marketplace’s test </i>found the worst bacterial hot
spots in hotel rooms to be: bed comforters, bathroom faucets, and TV remotes.
It also recorded hidden camera footage of maids using cleaning techniques that
would actually help spread bacteria.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you think about lack of sanitation and the sheer volume
of people coming and going in hotels, these bacterial contaminations aren’t all
that surprising. When you start finding these antibiotic-resistant bacteria,
then you start realizing that this is a real issue that needs to be addressed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As scary as these findings might be for consumers, this
study brings light to the matter of hotel cleanliness. It is clear that
cleaning practices in hotels need to be drastically ratified. This study has
already driven some of the studied hotel chains to re-train and update cleaning
procedures and protocols. Let’s hope that studies like this one continue to
address the issue and force hotels to examine their cleaning standards and
ratify them if need be.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Michael Patton, CMMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443329577691165701noreply@blogger.com0