• What's elliott?
• About elliott
• Contact us

t o p i c s

• Business
• Commentary
• Destinations
• Help
• Leisure
• Technology
• Vault

Copyright Elliott Publishing. All rights reserved. For more information, call (305) 453-4781 or send e-mail to us.

E L L I O T T' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

March 16, 2004

TIA: Traveler Sentiment Takes Off
Another sign of the travel industry's continued recovery is the sharp increase in the Travel Industry Association of America's (TIA) Traveler Sentiment Index for the first quarter of 2004. The overall index now stands at 102.2, a nearly 9 percent increase over last quarter. The jump is primarily attributed to travelers' more positive feelings about having enough money and time to take pleasure trips. Also, travelers currently feel that travel is more affordable than it was a year ago. TIA | Posted 6 a.m.
-- Charlotte Observer: Spain plans canceled
-- WTNH: Nervous travelers calling off Euro trips

• The TIA stats may not tell the whole story. Since the survey was taken early in the year, before the Madrid incident, it doesn't reflect how people feel about travel now. I would expect the TIA index to slide next quarter. Send us your comments.

Cruise Lines' Pollution Claim Attacked
A coalition of 30 environmental groups today criticized a joint initiative announced by the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) and Conservation International (CI), purportedly to address the growing problem of cruise ship pollution. The coalition released a letter faulting the CI-ICCL proposal for its lack of substance and specific commitments. "Although the industry says that it is committed to ending cruise ship pollution, without a specific commitment to concrete actions by date certain, the public is left with no other choice than to trust the industry's good intentions," it said. "The collaboration appears to be a way for a polluting industry suffering from the spotlight of public disapproval to deflect mounting pressure to adopt better waste treatment systems and stricter standards for discharges." US Newswire | Posted 6:20 a.m.
-- Herald: Seatrade convention being held this week

Hotel Penalties Eased for Biz Travelers
Compelled by corporate buyer resistance, Expedia Corporate Travel, Orbitz for Business and Travelocity Business have eased restrictions on discount merchant hotel rates, specifically their policies that make it difficult, if not impossible, to change or cancel bookings. While these online agencies have liberalized these provisions, individual hotel policies regarding cancellation and exchanges remain in place, so travelers still may face penalties. By contrast, such Internet sites as Hotels.com, which offer prepaid discount merchant rates exclusively, tend to have rules that strictly prohibit any changes to the reservation. Business Travel News | Posted 6:30 a.m.
-- BBC: Why not buy your own hotel room?

-----------------------------------

• And finally ... I read a funny online discussion this morning about the TSA and its hopelessly inconsistent screening tactics ("take off your shoes - no, take off your belt"). It reminded me of an on-air conversation I had with Jill St. John, the co-host of the afternoon show on WDAY AM, last week. She predicted that a time might come when we'd have to take everything off before going through screening. Of course, Terry Riley thinks that's a good idea. Posted 6:40 a.m. | Send us your comments.

>> Yesterday's Notes | Tomorrow's Notes <<

E-mail Elliott | Other bloggers | About this blog

Latest Travel Notes | Complete Archives