Online Travel Booking Sites Offer Rewards

November 28, 2018: In an effort to compete with hotel loyalty programs, online travel sites, like Expedia, are enhancing their booking sites with their own rewards programs. Some offer add on deals — incremental revenue opportunities for them — with some only available for 15 minutes after you make a firm travel booking. Some booking sites even offer as much as 10% cash back on your booking. Be sure and read the fine print on all these “so called deals.”

Airport Meals Going Healthy?

November 20, 2018: US Airport food service operators say — yes, well, maybe? Some travelers are demanding lighter healthier meal options — both to eat at the airport or take on planes. And they want more than just a juice bar — including foods that are vegan, low carb, low calorie and low sodium.  One of the most popular healthy meal options at Dallas/Ft Worth airport is a spring lettuce mix on a whole wheat bun — hopefully selling for less than $10?

Mickey Turns 90 — and Cranks Up Billion-Dollar Marketing Campaign

November 19, 2018: Disney is using Mickey’s 90th birthday this fall to headline a massive marketing “worldwide” advertising promotion and merchandising campaign to let the world know — and of course sell Mickey and Disney merchandise including car size Mickey Birthday cupcakes and a Mickey collectors item book that’s so big and heavy it comes with a carrying case! The Disney worldwide park collection attracted 150 MILLION visitors last year and the famous Mouse has more than 14.3 million followers on Facebook. Gotta be the “world’s biggest Mouse party!”

Costco Air to Launch?

November 16, 2018: Maybe — check out the new Costco holiday shopping catalogue and you’ll find a small ad for something called, “Costco Wheels Up Private Aviation” membership  — price is $15,999.99!  Very confusing — involves a Costco cash card and flight credit — not sure what it is they’re selling?  Hopefully includes grooming standards for flights as well as adequate parking.