New York Hospitality by Vijay Dandapani tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-263658 2008-07-24T08:27:13-04:00 A hotelier's outlook on NYC, travel and the hospitality industry TypePad Visa intransigence and tourism tag:typepad.com,2003:post-53165304 2008-07-24T08:27:13-04:00 2008-07-24T09:23:14-04:00 The European Commission issued a press release yesterday that essentially rapped the US government for failure to move on visa reciprocity with third countries. Currently, nationals of twelve European member states continue to require a visa to travel to the... Vijay http://www.vijaydandapani.com/2008/07/visa-intransige.html Single travelers face double rates tag:typepad.com,2003:post-53061386 2008-07-22T08:23:08-04:00 2008-07-22T08:23:22-04:00 CNN recently carried a report on an item that has been written about a few times in the past. CNN notes that the "The dreaded single supplement -- charging solo guests up to twice a couple's rate -- isn't new.... Vijay http://www.vijaydandapani.com/2008/07/single-traveler.html Pet friendly hotels tag:typepad.com,2003:post-53026154 2008-07-21T15:59:00-04:00 2008-07-21T15:59:21-04:00 The Street.com's Alison Stein Wellner has a report on how (high end) hotels are going over the top to make their hotels doggone good for guests' traveling with their quadripeds. Ms. Wellner notes while quoting the Travel Industry Association that... Vijay http://www.vijaydandapani.com/2008/07/pet-friendly-ho.html Virtual hotels and staycations tag:typepad.com,2003:post-52766360 2008-07-16T08:14:23-04:00 2008-07-16T08:14:41-04:00 The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) has a report on how the a flagging economy has caused some startling changes in consumer travel plans. Instead of actually going places, people have taken to simulating travel. The Journal reports on how... Vijay http://www.vijaydandapani.com/2008/07/virtual-hotels.html Declining room rates tag:typepad.com,2003:post-52732416 2008-07-15T13:30:55-04:00 2008-07-15T13:31:16-04:00 Travelmole has a lead story headlined "No gamble: hotel room rates declining". The focus is on Las Vegas where a "new survey by LasVegasAdvisor shows that rates are lower than they’ve been in five years". The Sin City focused website... Vijay http://www.vijaydandapani.com/2008/07/declining-room.html