Month: January 2024

FlyBasis.com Unveils First-Ever Online Travel Agency That Lets Consumers Book Consolidator Fares Completely Online

With FlyBasis.com, ordinary travelers can now book rates that used to be exclusively for travel agents. Its unparalleled convenience allows ordinary travelers to experience the luxury of business class travel at a fraction of the cost.

United States – January 25, 2024 —

FlyBasis.com has emerged as a game-changing platform where leisure travelers can effortlessly book consolidator rates online. Consolidator rates, which are fares that airlines sell in mass to travel agencies, have long sparked outrage among travelers who need to go through intermediaries to secure them.

For a long time, airlines have been selling consolidator fares in mass to dedicated consolidators which sell them to travel agents who sell them to consumers. Consumers can’t buy them directly and have to go through a travel agent, which means enduring a time-consuming back-and-forth dialogue. 

FlyBasis.com, however, changed the game by launching the first OTA (Online Travel Agency) that lets consumers book consolidator fares completely online. “Previously, these were only bookable through travel agents. Consumers would have to call an agent back and forth and it’s a painful waiting game. We’ve solved this problem by letting consolidator rates be booked as if consumers were travel agents. Except they don’t have to be,” a representative said in a statement. 

The platform’s user-friendly search engine grants access to just as many private contracts as a travel agent would. It has eliminated all middlemen and has challenged the archaic systems employed by skyluxtravel.com or business-class.com which requires travelers to navigate the complexities of booking wholesale airfare through intermediaries. In an era where self-sufficiency is paramount, FlyBasis.com has put the power back into the hands of the traveler. 

“With FlyBasis, booking tickets is just as easy as you would on united.com. We’ve built the GDS from the ground up with the intention of letting

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10 tropical destinations you can visit without a US passport

A trip to the tropics is one of the best family vacation ideas any time of the year, but many tropical destinations can’t be accessed without a passport. And while in an ideal world everyone in the family would have valid passports ready at any moment, that’s not always possible − especially with busy work and school schedules, historically long wait times for passports, and kids needing new passports every five years.

I’ve heard countless stories of people postponing or canceling family vacations because they discovered their passports were expired or damaged. Even those with valid passports may find they can’t travel because their passports expire within three to six months, which could prevent entry in many countries.

For my family, fears of delays in issuing new passports are already getting in the way of planning a tropical vacation abroad for spring break, so we’re turning instead to tropical vacation spots that do not require a U.S. passport. Fortunately, there are a lot more than you might expect. Some are easier to reach than others, but it’s always good to know all of your choices. Here are the best options.

NO PASSPORT NEEDED: 21 best all-inclusive family resorts in the U.S.

1. Hawaii

Beach, Hanauma Bay, Oahu Island, Hawaii, United States of America.

Beach, Hanauma Bay, Oahu Island, Hawaii, United States of America.

The islands of Hawaii are probably the first passport-free tropical destination that comes to mind for many families. Legendary for their beauty, rich culture and hospitality, they’re also far-flung enough from the mainland to feel like a genuine tropical vacation despite being one of the 50 United States. That means U.S. citizens not only don’t need a passport to enter, but the islands are also easy to get to, with loads of direct and nonstop flights from all across the country. Hawaii has near-perfect summer-like weather

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What to Do If You Have Upcoming Travel to Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon

Shanna Baker

This is a developing story and will be updated with more information.

In recent weeks, the war between Israel and Hamas has seeped further into surrounding areas of the Middle East. Violence has reached the southern stretch of the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have attacked cargo ships off the coast of Yemen, and the US has responded with its own airstrikes. On Israel’s border, clashes between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon continue to intensify.

While it’s a no-brainer to reconfigure plans located in the immediate conflict zone, many travelers with upcoming trips to the surrounding region are wondering what to do. Is it safe, or responsible, to embark on a Nile cruise in Egypt at the moment? Or to continue on with a visit to Petra, in Jordan? The questions have become only murkier as the conflict expands.

Following a regional security alert issued by the State Department in October that advises US citizens throughout the Middle East to “take caution,” some travelers have responded by canceling trips, while others have pressed on with plans under the guidance of travel providers.

One luxury tour group, Red Savannah says that all travel they have arranged for clients in Egypt and Jordan is continuing as normal. “While we are holding off selling Lebanon, we believe that Egypt and Jordan continue to be safe destinations to visit,” says George Morgan-Grenville, CEO of Red Savannah. “Feedback from clients who traveled over Christmas was incredibly positive.”

According to data from the travel booking company Hopper, Jordan is currently seeing increased demand from US travelers compared to January of last year. US travel demand to Lebanon has dropped relative to other countries in the region, while bookings for Egypt have remained flat, Hopper tells Condé Nast Traveler.

For many,

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Steven Moreira – Cape Verde’s AFCON Adventure And Columbus Crew Success

The 2023 MLS Cup champion, Columbus Crew, will be represented in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Defender Steven Moreira, who plays as a right center-back for his club and right-back for his national team, has been part of Cape Verde’s impressive display during the tournament’s group stage.

Cape Verde has been one of the best teams in the opening games of this AFCON. They are among a number of underdogs to impress along with the likes of Equatorial Guinea and Angola who also qualified for the knockout stage as unexpected group winners.

For Cape Verde, Moreira has played in his more familiar role as a right-back, but a positional switch to center-back at club level played a key role in what Columbus Crew looked like under coach Wilfried Nancy, especially as the team impressed during the playoffs and its profile was raised as a result.

It also alerted more people to Nancy’s coaching work, playing style, and outlook on the game.

In a wide-ranging interview with French soccer magazine Onze Mondial, Moreira spoke about the Crew’s 2023 MLS Cup win and representing Cape Verde.

As is to be expected, Lionel Messi, who signed for MLS franchise Inter Miami in 2023, was also one of the subjects raised in the interview.

Moreira joked: “I’m proud to say that, for the moment anyway, Messi doesn’t have an MLS Cup, but I have one under my belt!”

He also spoke about how the

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How Productions Can Save on Business Needs With United Airlines

Navigating air travel can be tricky for any trip. It’s even more imperative that things go smoothly when it comes to business travel. More specifically for production studios, coordinating travel plans effectively is crucial for sending crew, talent, studio personnel and expensive equipment all over the world.  

Not every airline understands the challenges that executives and productions face when managing travel for a film or TV project. Delays or a shift in the filming schedule could result in significant financial repercussions. These challenges could be the difference between a film project staying on track or resulting in costly postponements and cancellations.  

United Airlines is equipped to handle these unique challenges and has made distinct efforts to support the entertainment industry with the United for Business program.  

United’s personalized strategy helps clients in the entertainment industry save money by working within specialized production travel agreements, all while offering higher levels of support for groups and individuals who are flying for industry projects. “Supporting the entertainment industry is a top priority for United because it aligns with our mission, ‘Connecting people. Uniting the world,’” says Jon Purpura, director of entertainment sales at United Airlines.  

“Our two industries are pivotal in creating memories and encouraging cultural exchange that fosters a shared human experience. We take pride in offering solutions that meet the entertainment industry’s unique needs for business travel so they can focus on their production.” 

Specific elements of the United for Business program encompass everything from upgrades for traveling crew members to affordable rates, a 24/7 entertainment support desk, VIP airport services, flight discounts, and flat fees on checked baggage and equipment. Plus, these benefits are extended to both large-scale corporations and independent creatives working on smaller projects. Agreements are free to sign up for, and new customers get immediate access

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Need a vacation? These are the top 10 destinations for Sioux Falls travelers.

Every day, an average of 1,750 travelers from the Sioux Falls metro area hop on or off a plane.

But where are they headed? We took a look at the top 10 most popular destinations for travelers from the Sioux Falls metro area — as well as how much a one-way ticket cost, on average. All figures are averages from a 12-month period ending in March 2023.

A very important caveat — these numbers come from the Sioux Falls Regional Airport’s “Leakage and Retention Study.”

What the study is examining is a phenomenon called “airport leakage,” which is not as gross as it sounds. It refers to someone in an airport’s local market who has instead driven to a different airport to catch their flight.

In the case of Sioux Falls, the three other airports looked at are Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and the Rapid City Regional Airport. Those four airports combined represent 99.1% of the market share for Sioux Falls travelers across all destinations.

An aerial photo of Phoenix.

An aerial photo of Phoenix.

1. Phoenix/Mesa

Phoenix/Mesa is by far the most popular destination for Sioux Falls travelers, with 204 passengers per day in either direction for a total of 148,900 across the four airports, paying $150 per ticket.

Of those travelers, 182.8 per day choose Sioux Falls — which also boasted the lowest one-way ticket price at $147.

11.2 customers drove to Omaha for a $182 ticket, 2.4 customers headed to Minneapolis for a $169 ticket and 1.3 customers went across the state to Rapid City for a $149 ticket.

2. Denver

An average of 135.2 Sioux Falls travelers come and go from Denver each day, with 98,662 in total paying an average of $124.

An average of 129.8 people used the Sioux Falls airport, where the average one-way

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Buy tickets to Taylor Swift’s 2024 Eras Tour shows: See the whole tour list

Taylor Swift is not slowing down anytime soon, as her record-breaking Eras Tour will continue throughout the 2024 year.

Starting in March of 2023, the Eras Tour will travel around the world until December of 2024, finishing up in Canada. Throughout the entirely of the tour, Swift has already made stops across the U.S., Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. In February, the global icon will start up again in Japan, making majority of stops at international venues.

*New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.*

The Eras Tour features songs from her 10th studio album, “Midnights,” which debuted back on Oct. 21. of 2022.

The tour also spans a wide variety of her discography, including her country roots in “Fearless,” electropop beats from “Reputation,” slow ballads from sister albums “Evermore” and “Folklore” and everything in between.

Those who hope to see the 12-time Grammy Award-winning artist can shop for tickets on third-party websites like VividSeats and StubHub.

Below you can find links to buy tickets at the 2024 shows.

Taylor Swift’s international tour dates with links to purchase tickets are below:

  • Feb. 7, 2024: Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome – Buy tickets at StubHub and VividSeats
  • Feb. 8, 2024: Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome – Buy tickets at StubHub and VividSeats
  • Feb. 9, 2024: Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome – Buy tickets at StubHub and VividSeats
  • Feb. 10, 2024: Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome – Buy tickets at StubHub and VividSeats
  • Feb. 16, 2024: Melbourne, Australia MCG – Buy tickets at StubHub and VividSeats
  • Feb. 17, 2024: Melbourne, Australia MCG – Buy tickets at StubHub and VividSeats
  • Feb. 23, 2023: Sydney, Australia Accor Stadium – Buy tickets at StubHub and VividSeats
  • Feb. 24, 2024: Sydney, Australia Accor Stadium –
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SoftBank leads $104 million investment in travel startup TravelPerk

TravelPerk CEO and co-founder Avi Meir.

TravelPerk

Barcelona-based startup TravelPerk, which helps automate corporate travel and expenses, has raised $104 million in fresh funding from Japanese tech investing giant SoftBank and a flood of other names, to invest in artificial intelligence development and new products.

The company said Tuesday that it raised the cash in a new equity round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and backed by existing investors Kinnevik and Felix Capital. TravelPerk said it plans to use the money to invest in continued company growth and product expansion.

TravelPerk primarily uses AI technologies like machine learning and neural networks in the back end to help automate a lot of the manual tasks involved in corporate travel — for example, connecting users with the best prices for flights and accommodation.

“Traditionally, if you look at legacy players, like American Express or Expedia, or holiday travel sites, most of the work is done manually by travel agents,” Avi Meir, CEO and co-founder of TravelPerk, told CNBC.

Does your hotel or house rental have a hidden camera? Here's the single best way to find out

“This is one of the reasons why you don’t really see huge success at scale with travel, because technology was not used, and technology is how you scale today.”

SoftBank invested $70 million in TravelPerk’s latest round, which the company said was an extension of its “D-1” funding round. The fundraising round shows SoftBank is placing a major bet on a company driving disruption in corporate travel through new technologies, such as AI — which has seen significant buzz since the November 2022 launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The latest fundraising round lifts TravelPerk’s valuation to $1.4 billion, a touch above the $1.3 billion at which TravelPerk was assessed during its previous cash raise a year ago.

An “upround,” where a private startup pulls in funds at a higher share price, became a rare

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Expedia CEO’s Plea for Hotel Owners Over Wholesale Rates

Skift Take

Hotels aren’t doing enough to keep their wholesale rates off of smaller retail travel sites. That is damaging to Expedia’s effort to gather the best prices online.

Sean O’Neill

Expedia CEO Peter Kern pled his case to hotel owners Monday: Take seriously the billion-dollar issue of wholesale rates being misused online.

“It’s a growing problem,” Kern said Monday. “There is a massive amount of rates leaking out.”

Kern spoke on-stage at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles. It was the first time the head of a major online travel agency was invited to speak at the conference — arguably the largest one for hotel owners and developers.

Some backstory: Hotels have long set aside some rooms at discounted wholesale rates for contracted partners to offer to specific, coveted travelers. A hotel might offer wholesale rates to a tour operator to bundle with a flight in a discounted vacation package, for example.

Kern complains that some agencies are breaking the rules.

“Wholesale rates get out in the world where they’re unintended, and ‘unintended’ means they are available at the retail marketplace on other OTAs [online travel agencies] and comparison sites,” Kern said. “All of a sudden, people are showing up at your front desk with a rate that your desk doesn’t know how the hell it got there.”

Kern’s team at Expedia has worked with Marriott and other major hotel chains to curb the distribution of rates. However, the “wholesale leakage” problem continues to plague independent and regional hotel groups.

Expedia CEO Peter Kern talking on-stage at the ALIS hotel conference on Monday. Source: Skift.

Difficult Problem

Why don’t more hotels care, given that they’re the ones who are being undercut on price? A

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Google’s Flight Search Changes in Europe Get Thumbs Down from eDreams Odigeo

Skift Take

As the saying goes about changes to the way Google displays flights, the devil will be in the details.

Dennis Schaal

Under orders from the European Commission to enhance competition, Google plans to change the way it displays flight search results in European Union countries. But a major flights seller said it “firmly rejects” Google’s plan as not going far enough.

Spain-based eDreams Odigeo, which touts itself as one of the largest third-party flights sellers in the world, said Google’s plan continues to allow it to favor Google Flights over rival services.

Google’s changes are meant to comply with mandates from the European Commission’s new Digital Markets Act. eDreams Odigeo says Google’s plan “continues to raise substantial competitive concerns within the travel retailing industry, particularly by perpetuating long-standing self-favouring practices that actively encourage consumers to remain within Google’s ecosystem.”

What’s the Fuss About Google Flights?

Here’s an example: When consumers search for “New York to Paris flights” on Google, they’ll often see the “Google Flights unit” prominently in search results. When consumers select any of the airlines below the date grid, as seen below, they navigate directly to Google’s own flights business.

Rivals such as eDreams Odigeo, Kayak, Skyscanner and Tripadvisor have argued for years that the prominence of that unit has given Google an unfair advantage over their simple blue links.

What Google Plans To Do

Google has a March 7 deadline to comply with the Digital Markets Act.

Google stated last week that in addition to eliminating the Google Flights unit in search results, it plans to add new dedicated units that contain links from competitors. It also plans to add a tool for consumers to solely retrieve search results from comparison sites such Momondo and Skyscanner, for example.

While Google plans to do away

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