Welcome to Smart Travel, our weekly column where we share our latest tips and tricks to stay up to date on the can’t-miss news in travel.
Today, we dive into a new investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation of the country’s top airlines, an exciting partnership between Marriott and Sotheby’s, an upswing in multi-generational family travel and more.
U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks to Protect Consumers’ Airline Rewards in Probe of Four Largest U.S. Airlines’ Rewards Practices
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched an inquiry into the rewards programs of the four largest U.S. airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg sent letters to each, ordering them to produce records and reports that detail their rewards programs, practices and policies.
The investigation will be centered on consumer impact by devaluation of earned rewards, hidden or dynamic pricing, extra fees, and reduced competition and choice. “Many Americans view their rewards points balances as part of their savings. These programs bring real value to consumers, with families often counting on airline rewards to fund a vacation or to pay for a trip to visit loved ones. But unlike a traditional savings account, these rewards are controlled by a company that can unilaterally change their value. Our goal is to ensure consumers are getting the value that was promised to them, which means validating that these programs are transparent and fair,” said Buttigieg.
Barbados Tourism Minister Named Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)
On September 3, Ian Gooding-Edghill, minister of tourism and international transport for Barbados, was elected as the country’s new Tourism Minister at the CTO’s Annual General Meeting. The development is being applauded as “a significant moment for Barbados and the wider Caribbean tourism sector,” Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. said in a press release.
The Caribbean has seen an increase in airlift and cruise deployments, with the region requiring an adapted approach to meet the demand. Gooding-Edghill’s primary focus will be reinvigorating the organization to suit the needs of its diverse member countries, as well as meet consumer demands. As he told the press, “I am deeply committed to working with my colleagues across the Caribbean to strengthen our tourism sector, drive sustainable growth and navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we will continue to position the Caribbean as the world’s leading tourist destination.”
Marriott’s Luxury Group & Sotheby’s Launch Biddable Experiences, Where Travel Meets Art, Fashion & Fine Goods
A new partnership has been announced between Luxury Group, Marriott International’s collection of high-end properties, and Sotheby’s, the world-renowned corporation that specializes in fine art, jewelry, collectibles and real estate. A press release cites the intersection of travel, art and culture as the collaboration’s focus, with Luxury Group curating next-level travel experiences to present at auction through Sotheby’s. Itineraries will be structured around the auction house’s sales categories, which include art, fashion, wine and spirits.
Read More: A Look Behind the Lobby at New Marriott International Headquarters
The partnership debuts with two top-tier travels, Alexander McQueen: Presented by EDITION and Whiskey Reverie: Presented by The Ritz-Carlton. The former will guide guests through London from McQueen’s perspective, including a private tour in the Victoria & Albert Museum of some of the designer’s most iconic pieces, as well as provide personalized photoshoots with Ann Ray, his frequent collaborator. Guests of Whiskey Reverie will travel from New York to Tennessee as part of a learning expedition, studying the spirit’s unsung Black history alongside best-selling author, Fawn Weaver.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces More than $2 Billion in Grants to Improve Airport Infrastructure Across the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration announced today that 519 grants in 48 states, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands totaling $1.9 billion will be awarded under the Airport Improvement Program. This decision follows a $269 million grant program provided to 62 projects at 56 U.S. airports to aid airport owners and operators in the updated development of the nation’s airport system.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said of the decision, “The Biden-Harris Administration is funding projects across the country that are making airports safer and more efficient for the passengers who travel through them and for the airport and airline employees who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make these complex systems run as smoothly as possible. The grants we’re announcing today will improve airfield operations for dozens of airports and help ensure the U.S. retains its global leadership in aviation.”
Beaches Resorts Unveils Latest Multi-Generational Travel Trends, Introduces the “Generation-Cation”
The Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive resort brand, Beaches Resorts, has released a Censuswide survey of over 1,000 North American families with respondents ages 25-45—and the results show an evolving approach to family travel. Perhaps most notably, there is a growing desire to gather three or more generations together for family travel experiences; 67% of all parents surveyed prioritize family travel to maximize time spent with loved ones of all ages, with 49% ditching solo travel in favor of multi-generational trips.
Read More: Stop the Generational Stereotyping
A big reason for this is that 60% of respondents said their core childhood vacation memories included their grandparents. Add to that sentiment the overall betterment of health and wellness in people over 60 than in decades prior, and bringing the whole family becomes practical, considering 72% of parents surveyed said grandparents were extremely helpful while on vacation.