http://www.travelindustrywire.com/ Restaurant Industry News en-us http://www.travelindustrywire.com/images/logo.gif http://www.travelindustrywire.com/ support@hotelresource.com http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44518.html WebScapes Empower Meeting Planners with Additional Information and Offer Suppliers Added Opportunities to Showcase Locations http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44512.html U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds U.S.-bound travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to register through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the United States. Beginning March 20, CBP will end its 60-day transition to enforced ESTA compliance for air carriers; VWP travelers without an approved ESTA may not be allowed to board U.S.-bound aircraft. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44502.html Changes in Consumer Consciousness about Environment, Culture, and Interconnectedness Are Creating New Modes of Travel http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44497.html HotelsCombined reports the top 10 domestic and international travel destinations for German residents in 2010. Statistics are based on the Web site's current booking leads for the upcoming year. Berlin and Hamburg top the list for domestic destinations while New York and London rank highest for international destinations. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44488.html Results from a new survey of unmanaged business travelers in Best Western’s loyalty program, Best Western Rewards®, provide further indication that the effects of the recession are easing and that more people plan to hit the road for business again in 2010. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44487.html Organizations To Cooperate In Support Of Initiatives Promoting Sustainability Of Caribbean Tourism http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44482.html Last week, ASTA along with the Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA) filed comments with the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, requesting that it show restraint in implementing increases in passport fees. The State Dept. recently proposed an increase in the cost of new passports (up from $100 to $135) and passport renewals (up from $75 to $110). http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44466.html Tom Ridge, Robert Crandall, Former Congressman Jim Turner to Address Concerns Leading Millions of Americans to Avoid Flying http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44454.html Continuing with their ethos of providing wide and varied entertainment itineraries for Disney lovers of all ages, Disney Cruise Line have assembled an all-star creative team to produce a spectacular show 'Villains Tonight!' http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44436.html World GDP fell by 2.1% in real terms, with developed economies - a major source of demand for Travel & Tourism - the most severely affected. Households curtailed leisure travel plans, substituting lower-cost short-haul and domestic travel for more expensive long-haul trips, and corporations reduced business travel budgets. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44433.html Largest online travel company shows commitment to Vegas through online promotions and consumer marketing programs http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44420.html New Study Finds That Enterprises Are Beginning to Look at Expense Management Strategically http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44411.html A starting point for destination marketers http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44404.html Travel professionals from 11 countries will meet in Seville, Spain, April 14–17 for MONTAGE, an NTA event designed to connect international tour operators, destinations and suppliers with their North American counterparts. This is one way that NTA, the leading North American travel association, opens the door for its members to new markets and creates additional opportunities to buy and sell product. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44403.html Social networking has finally become something valuable for brick-and-mortar businesses. Smartphones and location-based social networks allow users to interact, share, meet up, and recommend places based on their physical coordinates. This real-world connection to social media can mean more foot traffic and profits for business owners. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44401.html When the acclamation has faded should the cheerleaders be reminded that February 2010 is (5.3%) off where it was in 2008? http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44400.html Today the fitness oriented travel review website www.HotelGymReview.com launched to the public. The website is a place for travelers to read and write reviews specifically relating to a hotel’s fitness facilities. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44391.html Travel the world via Cruise West's (www.cruisewest.com) new Voyages of the Great Explorers blog. Guests, Captain and crew will share daily stories and observations at sea with daily posts from the line's inaugural world cruise, Voyages of the Great Explorers that departed Singapore on March 6, 2010, aboard the 60-suite Spirit of Oceanus. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44367.html Every once in awhile an author’s think-piece hits the bulls-eye. A recent article by Elizabeth Green titled ‘Building a Better Teacher’ (New York Times, March 7, 2010) does just that. But what does this have to do with hospitality? Actually, it’s a no-brainer. http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article44366.html VFM Leonardo, the leader in online visual content distribution for hotels, has launched a new episode on VTV Channel: 7 Steps to Successful Travel eBusiness – A Holistic Approach with Robert Cole the Founder of RockCheetah, a hotel marketing strategy and travel industry technology consulting practice.