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

January 7, 2005

New Leads in Mizener Case
A man aboard the cruise ship from which Annette Mizener disappeared a month ago says he’s the one who found an array of her belongings on a deck, and that he witnessed a security camera covered with paper near those items. Michael Gaither, of Milipitas, Calif., said he was surprised the FBI never contacted or interviewed him because he was one of three people who knew firsthand where the items were found. He said he also sent the FBI and Carnival Cruise Lines a detailed account of his observations, along with times. "I consider myself sort of, kind of, a suspect," Gaither said sarcastically in a phone interview. (GM Today) Posted 5:35 a.m.
• Earlier: FBI Investigates Disappearance (PT)
• Probe Continues in Mizener Case (GM Today)

Is Carnival really investigating this case - or merely trying to sweep it under the carpet? In this case, actions speak louder than words.

Leisure Travel: What's Up For 2005?
Anyone who flew during the holidays knows that people are traveling again. Airports were bustling, and resort areas from Florida to Hawaii were jammed, as they had been for much of the year. After three lousy years, the travel industry bounced back with gusto in 2004. And industry observers expect the rebound to continue into 2005. Overall traveler spending is expected to rise by 5.3% in the coming year to $624 billion, a record high, according to the Travel Industry of America's annual forecast. (USA Today) Posted 5:45 a.m.

Confused By Fares? Here's Help
It's unclear at this point just how hard Delta Air Lines' move will hit the carrier's bottom line -- and the rest of the industry's. "It's bold and aggressive, but the jury is out on whether it's smart," Michael Miller, partner at airline consulting concern Velocity Group, says of Delta's strategy. What's clear is that consumers will have to do their homework to be sure they're getting the best deal. "The travel habits you had in the past won't apply," says Miller. (BusinessWeek) Posted 5:50 a.m.

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6 Odd Festivals of the Keys
The Florida Keys are home to a collection of the strangest festivals in the United States. They range from the overexposed (just try to get a hotel room in the Southernmost City the week leading up to Fantasy Fest) to the obscure (the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival is mostly an excuse for local residents to throw a party on their boats). But they all have one thing in common - they are as quirky as this island chain is long. (Tripso) Posted 6:55 a.m.

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Continental Needs $500 Million in Cuts
In a bleak take on its prospects for the new year, Continental Airlines yesterday said it will face a serious cash crunch unless it slashes $500 million in labor costs. The nation's No. 5 carrier, which operates a major hub at Newark Liberty International Airport, has said it must achieve the cuts in wages, salaries and benefits by Feb. 28. Without an agreement in place from its unions, the Houston-based airline said it stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in 2005, and may not be able to raise new money to meet its obligations, according to a filing Continental made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Star-Ledger) Posted 6:05 a.m.

Judge Jettison US Airways Machinists Contract
A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge yesterday granted US Airways' request to throw out its machinists' contract as part of the airline's effort to cut costs and emerge from bankruptcy protection. But Judge Stephen S. Mitchell delayed enforcement of the ruling at least until Jan. 22, when union members are scheduled to vote on US Airways' latest contract proposal. If the union rejects the cost-cutting proposal, the existing contract will be nullified and the airline permitted to replace it with a cheaper one. (Post) Posted 6:10 a.m.

Error Gives Danvers More Hotel Taxes
Danvers has received $1.638 million more in hotel/motel tax revenue during the last six years due to errors made by an unnamed chain hotel doing business in town, Town Manager Wayne Marquis told selectmen Tuesday night. Thanks to a bill Gov. Mitt Romney is expected to sign within the next 10 days, Danvers may not have to pay the money back; however, the town will see a loss of about $250,000 every year in tax revenue, or 25 percent of about $1 million in hotel/motel taxes and .35 percent of the town's estimated $70 million total revenue. (Danvers Herald) Posted 6:15 a.m.

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