Back On Track. . .The high cost of energy, coupled with congestion on highways and at airports, is drawing travelers back to trains not only for commuting but also for travel between cities as much as 500 miles apart. Amtrak, the passenger rail service that struggled for years to attract riders, drew a record 28.7 million passengers in the year ending September 30—an 11 percent increase over the previous year. In a major vote of confidence for the railroad, Congress passed legislation in October that sets a goal of providing Amtrak $1.3 billion over five years and that encourages the development of high-speed corridors. The money must still be appropriated, however, and with the economy in crisis, securing all the funds is far from certain. (Source: MSNBC, 10/31/08)

Survey Says. . .According to a new survey done for Amadeus North America, more than half of U.S. air travelers now prefer buying the cheapest available ticket first. Then they’ll look at paying fees for "extras" such as food and drink, preferred seating and checking bags. Although 85% of air travelers don't like à la carte pricing, i.e., having to pay extra for services that used to be included in their fare, 52% say they now understand why airlines are moving to unbundled fares, and do see some consumer value in the practice. Airline managers view à la carte pricing as a way of growing revenue in an intensely price-competitive industry at a time when they can't push through fare increases fast enough to offset rising costs. But "airlines walk a very narrow line in how they roll out ancillary services so that it does not seem to the consumer like nickel-and-diming, and more like a true value-add," says Robert Buckman, Amadeus North America's director of airline distribution strategies. (Source: USA Today, 11/12/08)

Hotels Go For More Gizmos and Gadgets. . .More and more hotels are working with technology companies to regain their edge with gadget-crazed guests. Sheraton has struck a deal with Microsoft, Westin signed an agreement with Nintendo, the Gansevoort Hotel Group has teamed up with Sony, and other hotel brands are partnering with technology companies to equip their properties with the latest gadgets. "What we're trying to do is give people the chance to experience firsthand the latest in technology," said Elon Kenchington, chief operating officer at Gansevoort. "It's an integral part of not only the success of an operation but also what makes one brand better than another or more interesting to travelers than other brands." Technology companies, in turn, have a chance to show off their wares. Imagine, for example, arriving in your room after checking in and being greeted by the drapes opening, the lights automatically turning on and the television displaying a customized message with your name. Thanks to Control4 technology, when the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group opens its Las Vegas property in late 2009, that’s just the kind of welcome experience you might have. (Source: The New York Times, 11/11/08)

Staying Connected. . . In August, American Airlines became the first U.S. air carrier to offer in-flight broadband service enabling passengers to access the Internet, e-mail and text message while en route. Passengers on the airline's Boeing 767-200 aircraft can access coast-to-coast coverage on nonstop flights between New York and San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, and New York and Miami. The service offered by American Airlines is based on technology developed by Aircell LLC, which calls its airline WiFi broadband service "Gogo Inflight Internet." Delta Airlines, Aircell's second commercial air carrier client, will offer Gogo in first and economy classes on hundreds of Delta aircraft next year. The first international Gogo customer is Air Canada, Canada's largest airline. Service is expected to start in spring 2009 on the carrier’s Airbus A319 jetliners used for flights to the United States. On all air carriers, Gogo is available to passengers as a fee-based service. Travelers can access Gogo when the aircraft is above 10,000 feet and from any seat. (Source: Fox News 11/05/08)