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Kaleel Sakakeeny's Blog – June 2011 Archive (10)

The Taj: An Indian-Owned Hotel in Yankeetown?

I was there, January 11, 2007, when the venerable Ritz-Carlton in Boston's historic Back Bay was sold to the Taj Hotels and Palaces Of India, one of Asia's largest hotel company,

Bostonians, and much of the East Coast Establishment, cried "heresy."

A tradition and an emotional landmark was gone, sold to foreigners, for one hundred seventy million dollars.… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 30, 2011 at 12:45pm — No Comments

Note to Airlines: Skip the Flight, Just Charge for The Bags

Note to Airlines: Skip the Flight, Just Charge for The Bags

Absurd as it may seems, it's very possible the airlines are making more money on the persistent and aggressive fees they're charging than on ticket sales.

A recent report from the Department of Transportation reveals that in 2010,… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 27, 2011 at 6:54pm — 5 Comments

When Travel Marketing Conferences Fall Short

When Travel Marketing Conferences Fall Short

I went to the recently held, high-powered Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME) conference eager to pick up the latest in travel trends, and come back with content for an article on the forward-looking state of travel.

Half way…

Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 20, 2011 at 3:24pm — No Comments

Help for the Lost Luggage Disaster

Help for the Lost Luggage Disaster

According to Cheapflights.com The Department of Transportation says only 0.005% of bags are lost.

But that’s not counting delays in repatriating passengers with their luggage.

The Cheapflights' site has some… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 17, 2011 at 5:24pm — 2 Comments

Cows, Canines and Kids: Vermont's Chesterfield Inn

Cows, Canines and Kids: The Chesterfield Inn

We missed the Strolling of the Heifers, a yearly event here in Brattelboro, Vermont, and by all accounts Vermont’s answer to Spain’s frenetic running of the bulls.

And a much preferred, more gentle event.

But we… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 16, 2011 at 9:00am — No Comments

Are You Flying a Mean Airline?

Are You Flying a Mean Airline?

It’s great that the airlines made money last year, all except American Airlines that is.

And according the recently released 2011 Airline Quality Rating (AQR) report, the experience of flying has improved too.

The AQR is a touted as a “premier… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 14, 2011 at 10:40am — 8 Comments

Flying the Family-Unfriendly Airports

Flying the Family Unfriendly Airports

Crying kids, stressed parents and unhappy families may not be exactly typical of families flying from our nation’s airports, but the scene is all too familiar.

And it’s not the families’ faults.

Skyscanner, the flight comparison site,… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 9, 2011 at 6:43pm — No Comments

When Did Travel Become a Commodity?

When Did Travel Become a Commodity?

When did it stop being an experience and more of a package, a deal, a search result?

Travel has turned into an obsession for the cheapest airfare, cheapest hotel room and pretty much the lowest, cheapest cost for anything and every thing related to travel.

Wasn't so long ago that airlines, the most commodified of the travel experience were sufficiently different from each other that you could them… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 6, 2011 at 3:25pm — No Comments

Groupon & Expedia Deal Means Deep Discounts for Travelers

Groupon & Expedia Deal Means Deep Discounts for Travelers

It certainly was a deal that most people either saw coming or could easily imagine: Groupon and Expedia launching “Groupon Getaways With Expedia.”

The new company, says… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 2, 2011 at 5:41pm — 5 Comments

Playground Safety on The Road This Summer

Playground Safety on The Road This Summer

Summer time and the traveling’s easy.

And as any traveling family will do, at some point in their journey they’ll just opt to forget the big sights for the day, and play in a playground.

If they don’t, they should.

Hanging out in playground is a great way to get to know the… Continue

Added by Kaleel Sakakeeny on June 2, 2011 at 2:27pm — 2 Comments