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DHS EXTENDS REAL ID DEADLINE TO MAY 7, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the REAL ID deadline will now be May 7, 2025. The deadline was previously May 3, 2023, for US travelers 18 years of age or older to secure a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license for domestic air travel.
The lingering impacts of COVID-19 have impeded REAL ID progress over the past two years, and the extension will give states additional time to ensure their residents have driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security standards established by the REAL ID Act.
“DHS continues to work closely with US states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories to meet REAL ID requirements,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.”
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FRANCE’S PLAN TO BAN SHORT-HAUL DOMESTIC FLIGHTS WINS APPROVAL FROM EUROPEAN COMMISSION
The European Commission has approved France’s ability to prevent flights between Paris Orly airport and Nantes, Lyon, and Bordeaux reports Forbes. If the concept is judged successful after three years, then more flight routes will also be banned. As part of France’s Climate Law, the country wants to abolish flights between cities that are connected by train travel of less than two and a half hours. New high-speed rail lines as part of the EU’s TEN-T project of European road and rail links are expected to make many short-haul flights redundant across Europe. For example, it currently takes over seven hours to travel by train from Milan, Italy, to Paris, but with the opening of the 36-mile-long Mont Cenis Base Tunnel, constructed under the Savoy Alps, this time will be halved.
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TSA PLANS TO EXPAND FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY AT US AIRPORTS
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is planning to expand its facial recognition identification system to airports around the country in 2023, reports Travel Pulse. The identification system, Credential Authentication Technology with Camera (CAT-2), works when travelers step up to the machine, insert their identification cards, and wait as their faces are scanned. The system then cross references the live photos of the traveler with images on their identification card, in order to positively identify them. The device could potentially eliminate the need for a TSA agent to check each traveler’s identification manually. TSA official Jason Lim stated, “This technology is definitely a security enhancement [however] none of this facial recognition technology is mandated. Those who do not feel comfortable will still have to present their ID, but they can tell the officer that they do not want their photo taken, and the officer will turn off the live camera.”
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DELTA IS RESTRICTING WHO CAN ACCESS ITS SKY CLUB LOUNGES IN 2023
Delta Air Lines is restricting who is allowed into its Sky Club network of airport lounges next year, reports CNN. The change is being made as some of Delta’s frequent flyers this year saw their access to the lounges stripped as a result of crowding. As of February 2, 2023, Sky Club members traveling on a basic economy ticket will no longer be allowed to enter the lounges. Additionally, Delta Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members flying internationally in Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+ will no longer get access unless they are flying internationally in Premium Select or Delta One. Finally, Delta is restricting membership to its Medallion members. Delta spokesperson Dwight James stated, “We wanted to continue to look at ways to elevate the experience for our customers […] The experience that a lot of our premium customers have grown to expect is not necessarily as consistent in some cases because of overcrowding.”
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NEW WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTS TRAVELERS AFFECTED BY 'UNCONSCIONABLE' VISA WAIT TIMES
The US Travel Association (USTA) has developed a website that allows travelers to post stories of visa wait times in a bid to pressure the Biden Administration to address the backlog, reports USA Today. Currently, the average wait time is more than 400 days in many popular inbound markets, such as Brazil, India, and Mexico; the goal is to get the time as low as 21 days. According to USTA President and CEO Geoff Freeman, staffing issues are the main reason for the “unconscionable” wait times. Some of USTA's proposals to address the problem include surging staff from lower-traffic embassies and consulates to higher-demand locations, as well as extending visas or waiving interviews for returning travelers. Roughly 40% of international visitors to the US need a visa to enter; the only travelers who are typically exempt come from the 40 countries with visa waivers in place.
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1-2 SERJEANT'S INN
LONDON
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In the heart of the bustling Fleet Street is the Apex Temple Court Hotel. Ideally situated for leisure and business, some of the best things to do in London are just a stone’s throw away. With London’s West End Covent Garden and St Paul’s Cathedral both within walking distance, it’s the perfect place to enjoy the London experience.
The hotel’s eye-catching interiors and historic façade adds character and style. The spacious rooms boast sleek ensuite bathrooms and comforting in-room amenities including Nespresso coffee machines, bathrobes, slippers, and Antipodes organic toiletries. Plus, some rooms even have a balcony.
The hotel is home to Chambers Restaurant which serves fresh, modern cuisine and just a short walk across the courtyard lies a chic wine bar, The Amicable Society of Lazy Ballerinas. Here, guests can indulge in carefully selected cheeses, charcuterie, and delectable small plates. The perfect place to start the evening or end the day.
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1055 ASHFORD AVENUE
SAN JUAN
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Enter Condado Vanderbilt Hotel and experience the indescribable sheen of grandeur. Located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel is a prized gem gleaming anew and has been re-crafted piece-by-piece into its rich Spanish Revival architectural heritage. Condado Vanderbilt Hotel is the standard of excellence for luxury resort hotels in San Juan and throughout The Caribbean.
Unique and historic, Condado Vanderbilt Hotel has a storied heritage of elegance now fused with distinctly modern amenities. This unique San Juan beach resort, originally built in 1919 and restored to its distinguished and luxurious grandeur, is located in the city's most stylish neighborhood. It offers visitors unsurpassed cuisine, exquisite rooms and suites, and highly personalized service.
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FAIRMONT CHICAGO MILLENNIUM PARK | |
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200 NORTH COLUMBUS DRIVE
CHICAGO
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The Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park offers sophisticated, modern luxury in the heart of downtown Chicago. Overlooking Lake Michigan, Grant and Millennium Parks, and the legendary skyline, the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park is the perfect backdrop for an urban escape. The Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park boasts some of the city’s most spacious and impeccably appointed guest rooms. This hotel features 687 guest rooms and suites, including hypoallergenic, allergy-friendly Fairmont PURE rooms.
Celebrate winter in Chicago at Fairmont Lodge. Relax, recharge, and have fun with cozy décor, indoor “fire pits,” festive programming, overnight packages, and more. Nestled between Millennium Park and the Magnificent Mile, the Lodge offers a welcoming and unexpected holiday haven for families, visitors, and neighbors to experience the magic of winter while escaping to the great indoors. Brighten any cold and blustery day with a memorable visit to Fairmont Lodge.
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191 SUTTER STREET
SAN FRANCISCO
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The spirit of adventure, bold style, and iconic history live on at the Galleria Park Hotel. A historic facade belies the all-new interior which is as fashionable as it is comfortable. Guests can enjoy staying on the edge of the Financial District (FiDi), just minutes from Union Square, and have the best of the city at their fingertips. Guests can immerse themselves in elegant accommodations, indulge in elevated French-inspired dining, or plan the social soiree of the year at Galleria Park Hotel. Completely reimagined, elegant rooms and suites are outfitted with custom furnishings and eclectic accents that infuse a sense of vibrant style into the space. | |
HILTON BOSTON DOWNTOWN/FANEUIL HALL | |
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Hilton Boston Downtown/Faneuil Hall is perfectly situated in the heart of downtown Boston in the Financial District, one block from Boston's Waterfront, and ten minutes from Logan International Airport. Close to law firms, corporate HQs, government offices, and more.
Built in 1928 as Boston, Massachusetts' first Art Deco skyscraper, the historic Hilton Boston Downtown/Faneuil Hall is the ideal blend of old and new. The 1920's intimate decor of warm brick, rich woods and brass is combined with a host of modern comforts and conveniences. The hotel's ongoing commitment to superior service and exceptional standards of excellence earned the coveted AAA Four Diamond Award annually. Providing spacious guest rooms with an enchanting view of the city and period-style furnishings with thoughtful business amenities, including Wi-Fi and a state-of-the-art fitness facility, the hotel offers classic American and seafood cuisine with the on-property restaurant, Fin Point Oyster Bar & Grille.
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1310 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON, DC
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Where DC days begin and end. Calm colors. Soft textures. Open, uncommonly spacious rooms. Comfortably modern and fresh with thoughtful details and an endearing, quirky sense of surprise and delight. Short walk to Dupont Circle, easy access to all the bucket list sights in downtown DC, 4.8 miles from DCA, 2.6 miles from Union Station, & a 3-minute walk to Dupont Metro. Complimentary cocktail half-hour daily for all guests.
Ovation clients also receive a complimentary room upgrade based on availability.
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70 PINE STREET
NEW YORK CITY
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Housed in an Art Deco landmark in the heart of the Financial District, Mint House at 70 Pine offers unparalleled space and modern design in The City That Never Sleeps. With suites three times the space of traditional New York hotel rooms, the hotel offers guests a one-stop-shop in Lower Manhattan, complete with Michelin-starred restaurant Crown Shy, an Australian-style coffee shop, a gourmet grocer, state-of-the-art fitness center, golf simulators, and a bowling alley.
In-suite, guests have fully equipped kitchens and unique amenities, like local coffee from Brooklyn-based Sey, record players with a curated vinyl selection, custom-designed furniture and accents, smart TVs, and pre-stay grocery stocking. The hotel also provides laundromat services in the building.
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MILLENNIUM DOWNTOWN NEW YORK | |
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55 CHURCH STREET
NEW YORK CITY
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Experience the stunning architecture of The Oculus and explore the One World Observatory and 9/11 Memorial Museum. A stay at Millennium Downtown New York places guests in the heart of the Financial District with unobstructed panoramas of Lower Manhattan from City View rooms. Select rooms also offer views of the Hudson River, the Freedom Tower, Manhattan Bridge, and Brooklyn Bridge.
For convenient breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, onsite restaurant Church & Dey serves American cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients, while the lobby bar Liquid Assets offers cocktails and live music on select evenings. Meetings come together seamlessly in the 55th floor event spaces, complemented by a business and fitness center.
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330 NORTH WABASH AVENUE
CHICAGO
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The joy of the season comes to life at The Langham Chicago with a variety of festive offerings. Ranging from holiday experiences such as afternoon tea in Pavilion to decadent culinary occasions such as Christmas Brunch and New Year’s Eve dinner, The Langham Chicago is the quintessential destination for memorable celebrations.
Share the wonder of the season with family and loved ones when you extend your visit to include the experiences that abound during the “most wonderful time of the year.”
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GBT Travel Services UK Limited (GBT UK) and its authorized sublicensees (including Ovation Travel Group and Egencia) use certain trademarks and service marks of American Express Company or its subsidiaries (American Express) in the “American Express Global Business Travel” and “American Express Meetings & Events” brands and in connection with its business for permitted uses only under a limited license from American Express (Licensed Marks). The Licensed Marks are trademarks or service marks of, and the property of, American Express. GBT UK is a subsidiary of Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (NYSE: GBTG). American Express holds a minority interest in GBTG, which operates as a separate company from American Express. | | | | | |
