INSIGHT - October 2008

October 1, 2008

FIT FOR THE EXECUTIVE SUITE
By: Stephanie Clifford, INC.com
Hotels with a sweaty twist on room service.

A handful of upscale hotel chains are making on-the-road exercise more convenient with in-room workout options. These new additions cater to business customers, many of whom want to multitask while they exercise -- by making private phone calls on the treadmill, for instance -- or work long hours that don't sync with those of the hotel gym.

Hilton is offering guests complimentary use of what it calls a mini-gym, a bag of goodies put together by Bally Total Fitness that contains a mat, rubber resistance tubes, dumbbells, and a booklet of suggested exercises. Marriott and Omni offer similar kits, and Omni's also includes an AM/FM headset. Also at Omni, guests can order treadmills for their rooms for $15 per night.

For a more mellow routine, Kimpton has its own 24-hour yoga channel and supplies guests with a complimentary yoga basket that includes a mat, strap, and block. The Westin offers a handful of fitness hotel rooms at many of its North American locations for an extra fee of about $20 a night. They come equipped with a treadmill or stationary bike, along with dumbbells, a yoga mat, and a yoga and Pilates DVD.

Guests at Four Seasons hotels can order free workout videos and can have rowing machines, treadmills, or nearly any other exercise machine delivered to their rooms for a fee that is typically about $200 a night. The Four Seasons also counters the excuse of forgetting exercise gear: It lends workout shoes and clothes to its guests. Given that exercise can combat business travel stress, not to mention dining indulgences, road warriors could benefit from checking into these options. Read more >>

DON'T FORGET!

Starting June 1, 2009 you will need a passport if you want to travel to the United States. Don't wait until the last minute. Apply for your passport today.

To apply for your passport or to find a service location nearest you, please visit http://www.passportcanada.gc.ca. You can also contact your UNIGLOBE Travel Professional for more details.

First Wi-Fi Service in Canadian Airline History;
Air Canada Will Offer Service in Spring 2009
Canadian Press

Air Canada intends to begin offering live internet service to customers inflight starting next spring under an agreement announced with Aircell. Charles McKee, Vice President, Marketing, said that pending Canadian regulatory approvals, the airline plans to eventually offer internet access system-wide. Air Canada intends to begin operating Gogo by spring 2009 aboard Airbus A319 aircraft on select flights to the U.S. west coast and will be accessible by customers with a standard, wi-fi equipped laptop or Personal Electronic Device (PED). Initially, the Gogo system will be powered by Aircell's existing network and only available in the U.S. in order to make Air Canada's rollout fast, economical and simple.

Air Canada Eliminates Second Bag Fee, Folds Fuel Surcharges
into Advertised Fares in Response to Lower Oil Prices

MONTREAL, Sept. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today that in response to decreasing fuel prices the airline is eliminating all second checked-bag charges implemented this spring and incorporating fuel surcharges into its advertised base fares on North American flights."Although the cost of fuel remains highly volatile and far above historic norms, the recent retreat in oil prices is enabling us to reinstate our previous baggage policy. We are eliminating the second checked bag charge on North American Tango and Tango Plus fares, reflecting our customers' expressed preferences. Further, Air Canada is making its pricing more transparent by removing add-on fuel surcharges for flights within North America and instead adjusting its base fares to cover the total cost of fuel," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

"These initiatives are made possible by the recent relief from all-time high oil prices and even though fares will remain dynamic, Air Canada is committed to everyday low prices and will continue to match the lowest fares in the marketplace." Read more >>

Double The Trouble

You might want to think twice before packing that second pair of shoes or boots or a warm winter sweater or jacket in this upcoming travel season as it just may cost you…a lot. United announced today that it is raising the fee for your second checked bag from $25 to $50 because of fuel prices. The changes apply to customers who buy tickets for travel on or after Nov. 10.

United set the standard in the baggage fee department as it was the first airline to announce service fees on second bags back in February charging $15 for your first checked bag. Several other airlines followed suit, including Delta. Delta charged $25 for a second bag starting in May, and then in July the airline announced it was doubling the fee to $50. Delta, unlike United Airlines, does not charge for the first checked bag.

On a round-trip ticket with two checked bags, you'll pay an extra $130 and that’s not including a boxed meal.

The service fee won't apply to first class or business class customers, those who have premier status with United or Star Alliance, or the military personnel travelling on orders.

WestJet Eliminates Fuel Surcharge

Calgary - WestJet said it will honour its commitment to monitor the fuel environment and remove the fuel surcharge if and when the price of fuel subsided.
The airline announced the removal of the fuel surcharge, effective 1 p.m. MT Sept. 18, in acknowledgement of the recent decline in fuel prices.
"The decision to eliminate the fuel surcharge is in line with who we are," commented WestJet Executive Vice President of Guest Experience and Marketing Bob Cummings. "The WestJet brand is all about caring, straight talk, trust and best value - our advertising is effective because we walk the talk."

THE LODGE AT TORREY PINES

Book Your Next Meeting at The Lodge at Torrey Pines with UNIGLOBE Travel and Earn Meeting Rewards *
(A minimum booking of 25 rooms is required)

HERE ARE THE MEETING REWARDS* YOU CAN EARN:
- Ultimate Spa Experience: Choose from a menu of four (4) Rituals from different parts of the world.
- One treatment (140 minutes)
- Complimentary VIP Deluxe Suite
- $1,000.00 Food and Beverage credit for each $10,000 spent
- $50.00 Resort Credit per room
- VIP Audi Drive Experience — Top rated vehicle award, 2008
(The use of an Audi A6 or RS4 One full tank of gas)

Contact Your UNIGLOBE Travel Professional For Full Details

LOCATION & DESCRIPTION
-The Lodge is prominently situated adjacent to the 18th hole of the world-famous South Course of Torrey Pines Golf Course. - Only a 20-minute drive from San Diego International Airport, and 10 minutes from the Solana Beach Amtrak Station.

GUEST ROOMS
- Offering 170 guest rooms, including seven suites, all generously sized from 520 square feet to more than 2,000 square feet. - All rooms have large workspaces, high-speed Internet access, personal voicemail, separate data ports and room safes large enough to hold a laptop computer.

MEETING & BANQUET SPACE
- Over 13,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, featuring natural light, beamed ceilings, adjacent patios and all have high-tech telecommunications capabilities - The Arroyo Terrace is 10,000 square feet of serene outdoor banquet space, overlooking the 18th hole of the famous Torrey Pines South Course and the Pacific Ocean.

For more information, please contact your UNIGLOBE Travel professional.

*To qualify for Meeting Rewards, bookings must be for a minimum of 25 rooms and must be the subject of a standard group rooms contract executed on or before December 31, 2008 for stays occurring between September 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, inclusive. Offer is limited to new bookings received after August 18, 2008 only. Offer is subject to negotiated rates and dates and is subject to availability at time of booking and is not combinable with any other specials or offers. The Spa Treatment Meeting Reward includes the choice of any one 140-minute Spa Ritual offered at the time of booking. Spa appointments and treatment types are based on availability at the time of request. The VIP Suite Meeting Reward will be good for one deluxe suite (maximum double occupancy) for each of the dates of the group booking and includes complimentary room charge and room tax only. The Food and Beverage Credit Meeting Reward is valid for a reduction of $1,000 for each $10,000 spent on food and beverage revenue. “Food and beverage revenue” excludes service charges and sales tax and Meeting Reward may not be used to pay for service charges or taxes. The $50 Resort Credit Meeting Reward will be applied once to each guest room stay during the dates of the group booking and is valid for any incidental expenditure at the hotel, excluding the room charge and room tax. The Audi Drive Experience Meeting Reward is valid for the complimentary use of one Audi A6 or RS4 for the dates of the group booking and includes one full tank of gas. Driver of automobile must be at least 25 years of age, have a valid and unrestricted driver’s license, and execute a Vehicle Usage, Liability Release, Waiver, and Indemnification Agreement containing certain other conditions and restrictions prior to use. Meeting Rewards are not transferable to any other individual or group. Other restrictions may apply.