Ovation Club E-Newsletter

- Courtesy of The Lawyers' Travel Service May 7, 2008 In This Issue...
	TURBULENT ECONOMY HITS BUSINESS CLASS
	CHINA TIGHTENS VISA PROCEDURES
	US POLITICIANS SEEK TO BAN CELL PHONES ON PLANES
	OVATION CLUB E-NEWSLETTER WEEKLY SURVEY
	THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
	- MANSION ON TURTLE CREEK, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL, Dallas
	- LE MERIDIEN, San Francisco
	- INTERCONTINENTAL STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, Austin
	- THE JAMES, Chicago

TURBULENT ECONOMY HITS BUSINESS CLASS
(source: CNN)

In 2005 there was a major shift in the transatlantic airline market, with the launch of Maxjet and Eos, two business-class-only carriers, vying to carve their own niches into high-end air-travel.

At the time there were doubts as to whether they could make a dent in the existing operators' margin, especially while not offering much in the way of choice, with just one flight each way per day. It would seem that those doubts were well-founded: This week, Eos filed for bankruptcy, joining Maxjet, which went into Chapter 11 at the end of 2007.

It isn't only the business-class-only operators that are feeling the pinch. Many small, independent carriers are having to take drastic measures to survive an impending recession.

But what about Silverjet? Silverjet has managed to achieve an almost legendary status in the business class market, making a name for itself in little more than 18 months.

So, why have we seen its competitors crumble? The answer may boil down to an issue as simple as size.

Maxjet and Eos were two young startup carriers, running single routes at great cost. In many instances in the past this has led to huge success -- Virgin Atlantic spent its first year operating with a single DC10 -- but with the present economic unease, any fragile company is left painfully vulnerable.

It isn't only the business-class-only operators that are feeling the pinch. Many small, independent carriers are having to take drastic measures to survive an impending recession.

Silverjet, which is running an extra route over its competitors, into Dubai, has had to cozy up to a financial backer to continue operations, and in the United States, domestic airlines are making moves to merge and so consolidate fleets in an effort to insulate against the frosty economic climate.

So the business-class-only system itself may not be at fault. It might just be that the timing of Maxjet's and Eos's arrival in the market was unfortunate. It will be hard to divine the workability of a carrier that offers solely high-end seats until the world economy settles.

It seems likely that, if the concept is to continue, though, it will be in the hands of Silverjet, who stand now as the only big operator of their kind. Their new backer clearly has faith in the service they offer and if the pair remains partnered for the coming months, they may be the name to beat in this unique market.

CHINA TIGHTENS VISA PROCEDURES
(source: The Associated Press)

China acknowledged for the first time Tuesday, May 6, that it is tightening its visa policies ahead of the Olympic Games.

"We have made some arrangements according to the practice of the past Olympics and usual international practice. That is, in the approval process we are more strict and more serious with the procedure," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

Travel agents in Hong Kong, a major gateway to mainland China, reported last month that the government visa office told them multiple-entry business visas would not be available from mid-April until mid-October. In the past, such visas were easily obtainable. However, Qin said it was not true all multiple-entry visas had been suspended. He did not give further details.

More rules including additional documentation for business visas and hotel bookings and plane tickets for tourist visas have also been reported. Adding to the confusion was China's continued insistence that no changes had been made to its visa policy.

Both the American and European chambers of commerce in Hong Kong sent letters to the Chinese government last month, citing several cases of visa denials and raising concerns over the impact on businesses.

US POLITICIANS SEEK TO BAN CELL PHONES ON PLANES
(source: Cellular-News)

Several US politicians are proposing a law to ban the use of voice communications on mobile phones within aircraft over the USA.

The European Union recently announced that it will allow people to talk on their cell phones while a plane is in-flight on all commercial airlines. Additionally, U.S. airlines are already experimenting with in-flight Internet access.

The proposed law, H.R. 5788, the HANG UP Act, Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act, would insure that voice communication does not happen on U.S. flights.

The legislation only prohibits voice communications in-flight but passengers would still be able to access the Internet, e-mail and send text messages as these technologies become available on airplanes.

OVATION CLUB E-NEWSLETTER WEEKLY SURVEY

The Ovation Club E-Newsletter Weekly Survey gives you the opportunity to weigh in by voting your opinion on hot topics in business travel. You will also have the option to post comments online on the topic of the week.

Question of the Week: Do you want cell phones allowed on planes throughout the entire flight?

To cast your vote go to: https://ovationtravel.com/enewssurvey/

THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
MANSION ON TURTLE CREEK, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL
2821 Turtle Creek Boulevard
Dallas

another hotel Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek Unveils Restaurant and Bar Makeover.

Newly designed restaurant and bar pay tribute to historic architecture while blending contemporary accents.

The next era at Dallas' Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek has begun with the highly anticipated reopening of the Mansion Restaurant, The Mansion Bar and The Chef's Room. The legendary Texas icon recently unveiled an unprecedented restaurant and bar renovation that blends The Mansion's historic character with contemporary design elements. This multi-million-dollar makeover, part of a comprehensive $20 million hotel renovation, is highlighted by Chef John Tesar's newly created menus of contemporary American cuisine prepared with regional ingredients.

The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the Mansion on Turtle Creek is $280 (compared to a corporate rate of $360).

THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
LE MERIDIEN
333 Battery Street
San Francisco

another hotel Le Méridien San Francisco is a luxury hotel located in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District. The hotel is connected by a landscaped pedestrian bridge to the historic Federal Reserve Building, and the shops, entertainment, and cafés of the dynamic Embarcadero Center. Le Méridien is also steps away from San Francisco’s main leisure attractions such as Chinatown and the California Street cable cars, with easy access to Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square.

The guest rooms are spacious and many offer sweeping views of the bay as well as the city. The rooms have an attractive, contemporary décor and appointments with fine furnishings. Accommodations are 100% non-smoking and are equipped with wired and wireless High Speed Internet Access, plush robes, beds with 300-count Frette sheets, down duvets, and a Nakamichi stereo/CD player. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

A professional staff and superior facilities, including onsite catering and audiovisual resources with state-of-the-art telecommunication services, provide support for all conference needs.

Le Méridien San Francisco… the premier choice in the downtown area for your next executive conference, meeting, or retreat.

The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Le Meridien is $279 (compared to a corporate rate of $429).

THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
INTERCONTINENTAL STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
701 Congress Avenue
Austin

another hotel The InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel is a historic Austin icon located in the heart of one of America’s most culturally vibrant cities. Within the hotel, you’ll find world class dining, health facilities and 6000 sq. feet of banquet and meeting space. A preferred downtown Austin hotel among the local business community, the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel is only three blocks from the State Capitol Building and one block from the Austin entertainment district. The Concierge can guide you to the best hidden gems in restaurants, shopping, theatre, sporting and cultural events in this exciting city.

The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel is $205 (compared to a corporate rate of $299).

THE LAWYERS' TRAVEL SERVICE PREFERRED HOTEL PARTNERS PROGRAM
THE JAMES
55 East Ontario
Chicago

another hotel The James Chicago is the first in a new line of hotels that fill the niche between boutique and luxury brands by providing unique style and exceptional service in comfortable surroundings. The hotels are well thought out from the guests' point of view by providing a modern aesthetic with a classic commitment to hospitality.

The James Chicago, located in downtown Chicago, is steps off of Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue) and is centrally located to: The John Hancock Building, McCormick Place, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, River North and the Water Tower.

The Guestrooms and Suites feature a color palette of contrasting cool and warm tones. The minimalist layout and custom designed furniture include a streamlined dark wood platform bed, private dining niche, plasma screen TV's, and spacious slate-tiled and marbled bathrooms all created with the guests' personal needs in mind.

B.R. Guest, the company behind Chicago's Blue Water Grill, has partnered with renowned chef David Burke to bring you David Burke's Primehouse, a modern interpretation of the classic American steakhouse. David Burke continues to redefine Modern American Cuisine as he pushes the envelope of culinary creativity. The restaurant's design elements reflect the inspiration for its cuisine through warm tones such as cumin and cinnamon. David Burke's Primehouse features a contemporary steakhouse menu with meats handpicked from Creekstone Farms in Kentucky that are dry-aged on the premise in a salt-tiled aging room.

The Lawyers' Travel Service Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at The James Chicago is $245 (compared to a corporate rate of $489).

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The Lawyers' Travel Service
www.lawyerstravel.com
info@lawyerstravel.com
800.431.1112