United Airlines and American Airlines have both begun promotions that allow frequent fliers to use 30 percent fewer miles if they want to squeeze in some “short-hop” travel in the next few months. Both deals only apply to trips of 700 miles or less. Get the full story »
Filed under: Tourism
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Obama reportedly weighing more open travel to Cuba
From Bloomberg News | President Barack Obama is reportedly considering further easing travel restrictions to Cuba to allow American to go there for cultural or educational purposes.
Chicago Hyatt workers authorize strike
In the wake of still-unsettled labor disputes, union workers from Chicago-area Hyatt hotels voted Thursday to authorize a strike.
The vote does not mean workers will strike. It authorizes the union’s negotiating committee to call a strike if it is deemed necessary. This was the second such vote since negotiations began. In October, Chicago hotel workers voted to authorize a strike at five downtown Starwood hotels. So far, they have not called for a strike.
Union contracts covering 6,000 workers at 31 hotels in downtown Chicago expired Aug. 31, and the two sides have been unable to reach a settlement, according to Unite Here Local 1.
On Thursday, members of Unite Here Local 1 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Park Hyatt, Hyatt McCormick Place and Hyatt O’Hare voted by a 92 percent majority to authorize a strike if necessary.
While the contracts affect workers at several hotel chains, Unite Here has focused its efforts on Chicago-based Hyatt and the Pritzker family, which controls the chain, holding them up as an example of management that it claims is using the economy as an excuse to take advantage of workers.
Hyatt has said that negotiations are best left for the negotiating table.
McPier alum to head convention bureau board
Mayor Richard Daley Thursday named venture capitalist Bruce Rauner as chairman of the board of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, the publicly subsidized non-profit organization that books business into McCormick Place and markets the city as a business and leisure destination.
Rauner comes to the position after a stint this spring on an interim board of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state-city agency known as McPier that owns and operates McCormick Place and Navy Pier. Get the full story »
David Mosena named chairman of McPier
David Mosena, a former chief of staff to Mayor Richard Daley who currently is president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry, was elected Wednesday as the new chairman of the agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier.
Mosena’s was selected unanimously by the newly appointed interim board of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state-city agency known as McPier that owns and operates the convention complex and the pier.
Prior to joining the museum in 1997, Mosena served as president of the Chicago Transit Authority. He also has served as the city’s aviation commissioner and its planning commissioner. Get the full story »
July 15, 2010 at 6:10 a.m.
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Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Airlines, Airplanes, Tourism, Travel Just so ‘you know,’ Orbitz launches new ads
The new Orbitz TV commercial. (Orbitz)
Chicago-based Internet travel agency Orbitz Worldwide Inc. today launches a major new advertising campaign touting the information and services consumers can expect when they arrive at their hotels.
The new campaign, developed with New York ad agency BBDO, features a branded tagline, “When You Orbitz, You Know.” Financial terms of the campaign were not disclosed. Get the full story »
June 30, 2010 at 1:05 p.m.
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Filed under: Government, Housing, Real estate, Regulations, Tourism Vacation rentals to get B&B treatment in Chicago
Houses and condominiums leased as “vacation rentals” in Chicago will be treated like bed-and-breakfast establishments after aldermen unanimously voted Wednesday for a plan aimed at getting a handle on such leases in residential areas.
Look what’s brewing near top of the Hancock
Need a little lift when you’re 94 floors up?
The John Hancock Observatory’s Lavazza cafe now offers a full bar complete with Lavazza Colada, Cafe; Jamaica and After Coffee, espresso with chocolate gelato, crushed ice, peppermint liqueur and whipped cream. Get the full story »
AAA: 17% more Fourth of July travelers expected
The roads and airports will be more crowded during the July 4 weekend, but travelers will be spending less money.
AAA Chicago projects that the number of Americans traveling the July 4 weekend will rise 17.1 percent from 2009, with 34.9 million travelers taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home.In Illinois, nearly 2 million people will travel for the holiday weekend, defined as July 1 to July 5. That’s a 19.7 percent increase over 2009. Get the full story »
Overseas visitors heading back after weak year
Chicago suffered a particularly steep decline in visitors from overseas in 2009, but merchants, restaurateurs and hoteliers should start to feel a modest rebound this year.
That forecast will be delivered to the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association this week by Helen Marano, director of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. Get the full story »
Orbitz offers special oil spill travel guarantee
By Julie Johnsson | Online travel agency Orbitz is offering to refund lodging costs for
Florida travelers with standalone hotel reservations if a beach at their
destination is closed due to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
The “Open Beach Guarantee,” rolled out Monday by Chicago-based Orbitz
Worldwide, is one of the first broad initiatives aimed at addressing the
steep drop-off in tourism to the gulf region as a result of the BP
environmental disaster.
The guarantee applies to about 100 coastal hotels in Florida, but may be
expanded to other states, and is aimed providing some assurance to
travelers hesitant to vacation along Florida’s coasts, said Orbitz
spokesman Brian Hoyt.
Och-Ziff leads bids for Intercontinental O’Hare
From Crain’s Chicago Business | Och-Ziff, a New York based investment firm, filed the leading bid in the bankruptcy auction of the Intercontintal O’Hare hotel. The $42 million bid represents a 77 percent discount on the cost to build it in 2008.
Get the full story: chicagobusiness.com
State St. Embassy Suite to get overhaul in 4Q
By Ameet Sachdev |
Embassy Suites at 600 N. State St is scheduled to undergo a complete
renovation of all 367 rooms in the fourth quarter, the hotel’s new
management company said Thursday. Davidson Hotel Co. said the upgrade
will include bathrooms, corridors, lobby and public space. The cost of
the renovations was not disclosed.
Quinn sends McCormick bill back with changes
By Kathy Bergen, John Byrne and Ray Long |
Gov. Pat Quinn issued an amendatory veto of the McCormick Place
overhaul legislation early this afternoon, sending it back to the
legislature with revisions that would give him more control over the
remake of convention center operations.
The measure, which faces a tough fight for survival, eliminates the
naming of Jim Reilly, currently chairman of the Regional Transportation
Authority, as trustee to oversee the restructuring of the convention
center operations. Instead, it would allow the governor, with consent
of the Senate, to appoint the trustee.
Indianapolis trying to lure Chicago visitors
McClatchy-Tribune Newspapers | Indianapolis’ call for Chicago summer leisure travelers will be much stronger than it was the past two years.
Indianapolis tourism officials have ramped up marketing threefold in
Chicago, the highlight of an eight-city advertisement blitz that began
this week and runs through August. The blitz is $1.34 million, which
equals what Indianapolis spent in 2008 and 2009 combined for summer
promotions, the association said.
