ExpertFlyer Blog

One-on-One with Meredith Hanrahan, chief travel officer, Cheapflights.com

Each month, ExpertFlyer sits down with an executive in the travel industry to provide insight to changes in the industry and how it affects the way you do business.  It's another way ExpertFlyer is providing additional information to empower the business traveler.

 

This month ExpertFlyer sat down with Meredith Hanrahan, chief travel officer for Cheapflights.com.  Cheapflights.com is an online shopping comparison engine that makes it easy for consumers to research, compare and save on domestic and international trips.

“This is a good time to travel.  There are still deals out there for the early part of summer that are still at last year’s prices.”

 - Meredith Hanrahan, chief travel officer for Cheapflights.com

1)    As a leading US travel website for price search and comparison, what are some of the interesting and recent queries that are surfacing from travelers?

We’ve kept our eye on the how trends change search behaviors, such as the economic downturn, natural disasters and political transitions and we watch the rise and shift in popularity in travel destinations.  For example, we are seeing a downturn in travel to Greece and upturn in popular destinations, such as Cancun.  We just did a survey of emerging new summer travel spots around the world – ones that have seen a major jump in user interest from 2009 to 2010.  Highlights from the list include Minneapolis, Seattle, Dallas, San Francisco, Phoenix, Cancun, Manila and Dubai.

One-on-One with Flo Lugli, executive vice president, Marketing, Wyndham Hotel Group

Each month, ExpertFlyer sits down with an executive in the travel industry to provide insight to changes in the industry and how it affects the way you do business.  It's another way ExpertFlyer is providing additional information to empower the business traveler.

This month ExpertFlyer sat down with Flo Lugli, Executive Vice President, Marketing for Wyndham Hotel Group, the largest hotel company in the world.  Flo discusses how the travel industry has been affected by the recent recession and how business travelers can take advantage of special offers and programs available to them.

“We don’t expect to get back to pre-recession levels for some time, but we are encouraged by the leading indicators.  People still need to get together. They still need to do business.”

- Flo Lugli, executive vice president, Marketing, Wyndham Hotel Group

 How big is Wyndham Hotel Group – how many properties, brands and in how many countries?

Wyndham Hotel Group is the world’s largest hotel company with more than 7,100 hotels and 597,000 rooms in 67 countries.  We have 11 brands, including Wyndham Hotels and Resorts^®, Ramada^®, Days Inn^®, Super 8^®, Wingate^® by Wyndham, Baymont Inn & Suites^®, Microtel Inns & Suites^®, Hawthorn Suites^® by Wyndham, Howard Johnson^®, Travelodge^® and Knights Inn^®.

"Did you know?..."

Bonus Frequent Flyer Miles for Business Bi-Coastals on American
The war between airlines for business travelers on lucrative cross-country routes is heating up just as the busy summer travel season approaches, with American Airlines announcing a rare promotion featuring bonus miles for frequent flier members. Read more: http://bit.ly/akTNEP

Food Flight
Airlines keep coming up with creative ways to tick people off. Spirit Airlines announced this month that it will start charging passengers as much as $45 to bring a carry-on bag. RyanAir is getting ready to install coin-operated toilets. But there may be at least one upside to the current extra-fee-ganza: better airline food.  Read more: http://bit.ly/dd4sKt

Apple iPad for business: Three reasons to love it, three reasons to ignore it
Let’s look at why businesses and IT departments should keep an eye on the iPad, as well as the top reasons why it’s safe for the corporate world to ignore it at this point.  Read more: http://bit.ly/bPOC6B

One-on-One with Cory Garner, director of Merchandising Strategy, American Airlines

ExpertFlyer is proud to introduce its new One on One blog series of one-on-one interviews with some of the most knowledgeable and influential professionals in the travel industry.  Each month, ExpertFlyer will sit down with an executive in the travel industry to provide insight to changes in the industry and how it affects the way you do business.  It's another way ExpertFlyer is providing additional information to empower the business traveler.

This month ExpertFlyer sat down with Cory Garner, Director of Merchandising Strategy for American Airlines who discusses the "unbundling" of services in the airline industry.

“The most interesting part of the ‘unbundling’ trend has been underreported -- the airline industry is on the verge of giving the customer more visibility and control over their flying experience.”

-- Cory Garner, director of Merchandising Strategy, American Airlines

What exactly does a Director of Merchandising Strategy do at American Airlines?

If you have ever ordered a hamburger and been offered a combo meal, shopped for a new car and been tempted by the leather package or bought something on Amazon.com only to be prompted to buy something that similar customers have purchased in the past, you have experienced merchandising. As director of merchandising strategy, I place the right products at the right prices in front of the right customers for American Airlines customers to purchase.

Additional Airline Award & Seat Map Availability

We’re happy to announce that additional/expanded airline Award & Seat Map availability has just been added to ExpertFlyer for the following airlines:

Award Availability:

Aeroflot (SkyTeam):
Business - Award (O)
Economy - Award (X) 

Korean Air (SkyTeam):
First – Award (A)

Air Europa Lineas Aereas (SkyTeam):
Business - Classic Award (P)
Business - Flex Award (I)
Economy - Classic Award (A)
Economy - Flex Award (B)

Alitalia (SkyTeam):
Business - Award (Z)
Economy - Award (U)

Malaysia Airlines:
Coach – Award (T)

Gol Transportes Aereos:
Business - Award (I)
Economy - Award (X)

Hawaiian Airlines:
First - Flex Award/Upgrade (P)
Economy - Award (T)
Economy - Flex Award (Q)

Kingfisher:
Business - Award (Z)
Economy - Award (R)

Live Seat Maps (Can now be used with Seat Alerts as well):
Aeroflot
Korean Air
Air Europa Lineas Aereas

Enjoy and safe travels!