OCTOBER 19, 2022

US STATE DEPARTMENT TEMPORARILY REOPENS ONLINE PASSPORT RENEWAL PROGRAM


The US Department of State has temporarily reopened its online passport renewal program to new customers, reports Travel Pulse. The reopening is part of a pilot program that the State Department hopes will prove efficient enough to allow all Americans to renew passports online. To renew passports, the State Department's official website says Americans must follow the steps on the page to create and activate a MyTravelGov account. After around four hours, users will be able to find the option to renew their passports. While the State Department didn’t say how long the online service would remain open, officials said it would reopen the portal again in November for new customers. The website states that Americans are eligible to renew online if their most recent passport is valid for 10 years and they are 25 years or older. In addition, passports must have been issued over nine years ago but less than 15 years ago from the application date. In September, the State Department announced that the online passport renewal system would fully launch in early 2023.

TSA SCREENS HIGHEST NUMBER OF TRAVELERS SINCE FEBRUARY 2020


The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened more than 2.49 million travelers over the weekend, the highest single day total since before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Travel + Leisure. A total of 2,494,757 travelers passed through US airports on Sunday, October 16, according to TSA throughput data, marking the first time since February 2020 that traveler numbers reached that high. That number is in addition to the more than 2 million travelers that were screened on Saturday and the more than 2.47 million travelers that were screened on Friday. "After two years of delaying travel, it is clear that consumers are getting out and traveling the world," Delta Air Lines’ Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in an interview last week. "Business travel continues to recover in line with our expectations as bookings have improved after Labor Day and companies reconnect with their teams and their customers." Air travel in the US has been increasing in popularity in recent months with several records broken over the summer, including on July 1 when the TSA screened 2,490,490 travelers. It comes as the country prepares for what is expected to be a busy holiday travel season.

DELTA'S AIR+RAIL PROGRAM CONNECTS TRAVELERS TO 20 MORE DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE


Delta Air Lines has announced that it has expanded travel options to Europe using its Air+Rail program. The new addition will provide train connections to 20 more destinations, including 12 new cities for travelers in The Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, and the UK. First launched in August 2021, for travel between Amsterdam and the Belgian cities of Brussels and Antwerp, this expansion enables connectivity directly from Brussels, Manchester, Rome Fiumicino, and Zurich airports with one Delta ticket booking for the whole journey. Delta will also add the service from Geneva when its nonstop flights from New York-JFK begin in April 2023. The airline is working with leading rail operators in each country to provide onward train journeys via stations located at the airports. “Building more Air+Rail connections into our schedule provides a greater choice of destinations for our customers, including a number of these cities not currently served by Delta or our European partners, such as Bern, Rotterdam and York,” said Alain Bellemare, Delta’s President – International. “Expanding our footprint in Europe also makes it more convenient for customers to get to popular city center locations whether traveling for business or pleasure to make the most of their time away.”

AIR CANADA TO INCREASE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK BEGINNING SUMMER 2023


Air Canada will expand its international service with new, resumed, and expanded routes beginning summer 2023, reports Business Travel News. According to the carrier, new European routes beginning June 1 will include Toronto-Brussels, to operate year-round five times weekly; Montreal-Toulouse, France, to operate year-round five times weekly; and Montreal-Copenhagen, to operate for the summer season five times weekly. In addition, Air Canada will increase its summer services between Toronto and each London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Barcelona, and Madrid, as well as between Montreal and each Frankfurt, Geneva, and Nice. Further, the carrier will resume year-round daily service between Toronto and Tokyo-Haneda beginning May 1, and as of June 2, four-times weekly summer service between Vancouver and Osaka. Air Canada's route expansion comes shortly after Canadian regulators lifted the country’s remaining COVID-19-related entry restrictions in early October.

TAIWAN LIFTS COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS FOR VISITORS


Taiwan has ended all COVID-19 entry restrictions for travelers, which were in place for more than two years, reports Airport-Technology. As of October 13, travelers are no longer required to quarantine upon their arrival or take any PCR tests; however, they are required to monitor their health status for a week after their entry to the country and also have to obtain a negative result on a rapid antigen test upon arrival. Although Taiwan has lifted all restrictions, the Chinese government continues to implement restrictions on the mainland, requiring visitors to complete a mandatory quarantine period. 

CHURCHILL HOTEL NEAR EMBASSY ROW

1914 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW

WASHINGTON, DC

The Churchill Hotel Near Embassy Row is a luxury, boutique-style property nestled between Dupont Circle & Adams Morgan neighborhoods. Guests enjoy being within walking distance of the metro and many trendy restaurants and art galleries that the community offers. As a member of Historic Hotels of America, guests delight in the old-world charm of the Churchill while appreciating the modern and luxurious amenities. Experience the art of personalized service and the history of Washington, DC.

HILTON WASHINGTON, DC CAPITOL HILL

525 NEW JERSEY AVENUE NW

WASHINGTON, DC

Centrally located just blocks from the US Capitol, Union Station, and walkable to the National Mall, the entirety of DC is at the hotel’s doorstop. Experience the only Capitol Hill hotel offering expansive views of the US Capitol, 20,000 square feet of renovated meeting space, three onsite dining offerings, and upscale amenities.

HOTEL WASHINGTON

515 15TH STREET NW

WASHINGTON, DC

Hotel Washington is the perfect destination to add to a guest’s agenda. Located in downtown Washington, DC, this iconic property is home to luxe amenities, VUE Rooftop restaurant and bar, and steps away from the city's best attractions. Hotel Washington has five meeting spaces with over 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space; there is enough space for board meetings and workshops during the day, retreats and happy hours at night. The Hotel has 326 rooms, including 31 luxurious suites and the Presidential Suite overlooking the Washington Monument. 

 

All guests will receive a complimentary upgrade to the next room category (subject to availability at the time of booking).

OMNI SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL

500 CALIFORNIA STREET

SAN FRANCISCO

The Omni San Francisco Hotel provides luxury accommodations, modern comforts, and elegant event spaces in the heart of the city's Financial District. Located on the historic California cable car line and only a short walk to Union Square, Embarcadero, Chinatown, the Ferry Building, and the Moscone Convention Center, the Omni San Francisco is at the center of all the exciting sights the “City by the Bay” has to offer.

THE PALMER HOUSE -

A HILTON HOTEL

17 EAST MONROE STREET

CHICAGO

An icon of downtown Chicago for over 150 years, the Palmer House – a Hilton Hotel sits at the heart of the Theater District. The hotel is located two blocks from the Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park. State Street shops are just outside the door. Sip a cocktail in the famed lobby and bite into a brownie at the hotel where it was invented. Enjoy the fitness center featuring Peloton Bikes, spa, and renovated pool. All of the rooms feature just the right touches to make guests feel at home and be able to rest easy with the added assurance of Hilton CleanStay. 

THE PENINSULA NEW YORK

700 FIFTH AVENUE

NEW YORK

The Peninsula New York, the iconic Fifth Avenue property that has epitomized elegant luxury for decades, welcomed back its devoted patrons to its award-winning Spa and also recently launched its brand-wide Wellness program. ‘Life Lived Best’ will provide guests at all properties with unprecedented opportunities to pursue their fitness, mindfulness, and nutritional goals – and to access those opportunities whenever they wish through a dedicated Wellness Portal and 24-hour Wellness Concierge service. The program includes in-room video fitness tutorials and guided audio meditations, schedules, and bookings for in-person exercise and mindfulness classes, plant-based cooking classes, spa treatments, and wellness-themed events, and Naturally Peninsula menu choices.

WYNDHAM GRAND PITTSBURGH DOWNTOWN

600 COMMONWEALTH PLACE

PITTSBURGH

Located in Pittsburgh’s Central Business District, also known as the Golden Triangle, the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh offers stunning views of the famed three rivers and Pittsburgh’s rejuvenated downtown. A premiere destination for business travelers and casual fun-seekers alike, the Wyndham Grand is within walking distance to Heinz Field, PNC Park, the Cultural District, and 80+ bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Nearby attractions include the Rivers Casino, Andy Warhol Museum, PPG Arena, and Market Square.  


Guests can take in spectacular views of Point State Park as they relax by the indoor swimming pool or soak in the jacuzzi. Guests can energize when it suits their schedule in the 24/7 fitness center with views of downtown or explore classic flavors of Pittsburgh with a modern American spin at the upscale 3 Rivers Restaurant and Lounge. 

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