WAV Travel News - Thursday Edition
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
(561) 318-9089 (Cellular)
Some cities and states boycott official travel to Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Governments, businesses and organizations are canceling events and barring travel to Indiana over a religious objections law that critics say would allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. Lawmakers are working to clarify the bill's intent, but many aren't waiting to see the results.
The list of cities and states banning government-funded travel continues to grow. Governors in Connecticut, New York, Washington state and Vermont have barred travel over the law, along with mayors in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Denver and Washington, D.C.
Last week, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the state Religious Freedom Restoration Act, giving heightened protections when businesses or individuals object on religious grounds to providing certain services.
Critics of the law say the intent is to discriminate against gays. They fear, for example, that caterers, florists, photographers and bakers with religious objections to same-sex marriage will be allowed to refuse to do business with gay couples. Supporters of the law say it will only give religious objectors a chance to bring their case before a judge.
Caught off guard by the intensity of the criticism, Pence on Tuesday called on state lawmakers to amend the Indiana law by the end of the week to clarify that it does not discriminate against gays.
A number of companies — including Salesforce, EMC and Cloudera — have withdrawn their sponsorships for Indy Big Data, a tech conference scheduled in May. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says he has also canceled all company travel to Indiana and pledged to "dramatically reduce" investment in the state. Salesforce bought Indianapolis-based ExactTarget in 2013 for $2.5 billion.
Amazon said it had canceled plans for its business development manager to speak at the Big Data event.
Consumer reporting agency Angie's List canceled a planned $40 million expansion of its Indianapolis headquarters, which was expected to bring 1,000 jobs to the city by 2019. CEO Bill Oesterle worked as a campaign aide to former Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican.
The National Forensic Association announced Tuesday it is pulling next year's five-day national competition from Ball State University in Muncie. The tournament brings 1,200 to 1,500 students and coaches from about 100 institutions and was expected to generate more than $1 million for the local economy.
AFSCME, a union for public employees, has canceled a women's conference planned for October in Indianapolis. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) announced Wednesday it would seek a new location for its 2017 General Assembly, which had been scheduled in Indianapolis.
The Mid-American Conference says it won't schedule any meetings or athletic championships in Indiana until the issue is resolved.
Rock band Wilco won't play a May 7 concert in Indianapolis. Comedian Nick Offerman of "Parks and Recreation" and wife, comic Megan Mullally, said they'll donate proceeds from Wednesday's appearance at Indiana University to the Human Rights Campaign and have canceled a May 16 show in Indianapolis.
Federal lawsuit calls All Aboard Florida funding “plainly unlawful”
Indian River County filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging the approval of $1.75 billion in tax exempt bonds for All Aboard Florida, calling the award “plainly unlawful.”
The 44-page complaint naming the U.S. Under Secretary of Transportation as a defendant is the first seen from opponents of the express passenger rail project, which plans to run 32 trains per day on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks.
All Aboard Florida was provisionally granted the $1.75 billion in private activity bonds by the U.S. Department of Transportation in December. The funding still requires approval from the Florida Development Finance Corp., which would act as the conduit issuer of the bonds.
The bonds are called a “linchpin” for completing the Miami to Orlando project in a letter from All Aboard Florida President and Chief Development Officer Michael Reininger that accompanied the federal bond application.
But Tuesday’s lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said the department of transportation’s approval violated federal environmental laws that require a final environmental impact statement to be completed first.
A draft environmental impact statement was released in September.
“Accordingly, the project approval should be declared not in accordance with law, arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion, and should be vacated and annulled as being in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act,” the lawsuit states.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said it does not comment on active litigation. Under its provisional approval, the bonds must be issued by July 1 and none of the bond proceeds can be spent until 45 days after a final environmental impact statement is released.
Private activity bonds are marketed to investors at no risk to taxpayers. The notes have a low interest rate, but are attractive to investors because they don’t pay taxes on the interest earned. All Aboard Florida hopes to use the bonds to supplement or replace a Federal Railroad Administration loan that is still pending approval. The Coral Gables-based company also wants to use the bond proceeds to pay off $405 million in high-risk bonds it sold last year to begin construction on the line between Miami and West Palm Beach.
Treasure Coast residents are concerned All Aboard Florida will increase noise, traffic and safety hazards as trains travel up to 110 mph through their communities and historic downtowns.
The federal complaint says the plan will harm conservation areas such as the Vero Man archaeological dig, which is excavating human remains dated to 14,000 years ago, the Old Town Sebastian Historic District and Florida scrub-jay habitat. Decreased property values will also result from the increase in trains, the suit claims.
“At the same time, the purported benefits of the project will not accrue to the county, which is not slated for any train stops,” the complaint notes.
The legal action was expected following a unanimous March 17 vote by Indian River County commissioners to pursue a lawsuit in an effort to stop the project.
“Indian River County’s federal lawsuit is an important step in this process,” said Bill Ward, chairman of the All Aboard Florida opposition group Citizens Against Rail Expansion, CARE. “Their legal theory is to be lauded because it is designed to address a very critical issue — protecting the community’s right to be heard.”
CARE, which includes communities in northern Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, is weighing its own legal options, Ward said.
“Momentum is shifting and we will continue to do what we can to keep the All Aboard Florida project from taking over our communities,” Ward said.
Indian River and Martin counties approved a combined $4.1 million in February to fight All Aboard Florida.
In March, Martin County commissioners hired the same Washington, D.C.-based law firm that represents Citizens Against Rail Expansion.
Martin County Attorney Michael D. Durham said Wednesday that his office is still evaluating its legal options.
American Airlines changes service to PBIA
WEST PALM BEACH — American Airlines will drop its direct flight between Palm Beach International Airport and Los Angeles on May 7 — less than 17 months after it launched the non-stop service.
The direct route marked the first East Coast to West Coast flight for PBIA. It has been heralded as a major victory for Palm Beach International as officials try to compete with airports in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
PBIA officials said they have reached out to other air carriers in hopes another company will pick up the the non-stop route. But so far, they have not found a replacement.
In a statement sent to The Palm Beach Post, American Airlines said efforts to keep up with customer demand and maximize profits led the company to cancel the flight.
“We constantly evaluate our network to ensure we are maximizing our fleet and profitability and matching customer demand,” the company wrote. “As a result, we will be canceling our service between LAX and PBI beginning May 7.”
American will continue to provide service to Palm Beach from six other destinations, including New York, Charlotte, and Philadelphia, the company said.
PBIA officials have said demand for the flight was high. The cancellation might have more to do with American’s merger with US Airways than passengers’ interest in the service, they say.
“We haven’t been able to get a solid mathematical financial answer of why they took it out,” said Michael Simmons, PBIA’s Director of Finance and Administration. “Through our consultants we believe it was doing good. It is running pretty full most days, and the first class cabin is full.”
Palm Beach International officials announced in August 2013 that they had secured the non-stop route between PBIA and Los Angeles. PBIA officials essentially stole the Los Angeles flight from competitor Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
In exchange for the new service, PBIA offered American Airlines up to $1.4 million in fee waivers and other incentives over a two-year period. American, however, received far less.
Over a 10 month period, the airline was granted about $162,000 in fee waivers for items including landing fees, gate charges, and aircraft parking, Simmons said. The waivers applied only to American’s flight between Palm Beach and Los Angeles.
The waiver program was suspended in September, after American temporarily discontinued the daily route. American brought the flight back in October, but the service was not daily, and as a result, the waivers were not reinstated, Simmons said.
Despite the waivers, airport officials said the Los Angeles flight has helped boost other airport revenues, including concession sales, parking fees and rental car payments.
“We think the incentives in the long run pay to get the airlines here to start service here,” Simmons said. “It brings new passengers to the airport that might not otherwise come here. They park, they buy food and beverages, news and gifts. It brings more inbound customers as well, and they spend money in rental cars. In theory it brings more tourists.”
April Fool's? Richard Branson moving Virgin HQ to Branson, Mo.
Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson announced Tuesday he is moving the U.S. headquarters of Virgin airlines to Branson, Missouri.
But is he?
The announcement, posted on the Virgin website, cites Branson's recently discovered relation to the city's founder, Reuben S. Branson, as spurring his interest in moving some of his business interests to the Ozarks.
However, there's some skepticism about the truth behind Branson's decision, and it's pretty well-founded considering Branson's choice to release this information — the day before April 1.
Branson is known for his April Fool's Day jokes. In the past, he has said that at Virgin, "we love to come up with a major fun prank that pulls peoples legs and makes them smile." (That came from a blog post where he opened up about a UFO prank he pulled in the '80s.)
Last year, the prank was announcing individual thermostats for each seat on Virgin's planes.
In his note on the Virgin website, Branson announces partnerships with the Branson city government, Under Armour, Walmart and Dolly Parton, among other companies and people in the city.
In a statement on the city's website, Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said, "We are incredibly excited about Virgin's move to Branson. This is a family-friendly city that is recognized as one of America's top places to vacation. We welcome Richard Branson and the Virgin Family with open arms. Branson is looking forward to becoming one of the world's must-visit destinations in 2015 and beyond."
So is Virgin airlines really moving to Branson, Missouri? Looks like we will have to wait and see.
Philly airport workers strike, protest wages and benefits
Baggage handlers, other workers strike at Philadelphia airport, protesting wages and benefits
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Baggage handlers, airplane cleaners and other non-union workers at Philadelphia's airport have called a strike to protest what they say are low wages and unfair labor practices.
Organizers say they expect more than 500 workers to picket at Philadelphia International Airport starting early Thursday.
Workers say they're making as little as $7.25 an hour.
They want their employers, airline contractors Prospect Airport Services and PrimeFlight Airline Services, to comply with a living wage law passed last year that requires pay of $10.88 or more per hour at city-owned facilities.
They're also calling for affordable health benefits and sick days.
Service Employees International Union has been trying to organize workers at Philadelphia and at other East Coast airports, including Pittsburgh, Newark and Kennedy.
Prospect and PrimeFlight didn't immediately return messages Thursday.
Airbnb Is Now Available in Cuba
Airbnb operates in 190 countries and 34,000 cities around the world, but its latest addition could be a momentous one. The online lodgings marketplace said today it now offers properties for rent in Cuba, becoming one of the first U.S. companies to establish itself there since President Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced in December that they would restore diplomatic ties after more than 50 years.
Expanding an Internet service to Cuba means overcoming a host of challenges, including spotty Web access, limited payment options, and the still-ongoing U.S. embargo. So Airbnb is starting small: U.S. travelers can choose from about 1,000 listings throughout the country, mostly concentrated in Havana. The company says its model—stay in somebody’s home, pay less than a hotel would charge—will help it facilitate travel that won’t pave over Cuba’s unique character, forged by decades of isolation from its northern neighbor. “Think about the big hotel chains coming in, with mass development,” says Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb co-founder and chief technology officer. “The idea here is to support growth in travel that isn’t disruptive, that actually celebrates and preserves Cuba as a distinct destination.”
The Cuban properties on the site, their photos sprinkled with glimpses of the nation's famously ancient cars, show off a broad range of colonial architecture and are available at extremely low rates. The Home Lunass offers a private room and bathroom a five-minute walk from Old Havana for $34 a night, including free breakfast. (Dinner costs extra.) Next to the double bed is an old cassette player. “Hello to my potential guests,” writes the owner, who gives her name as Yamilee. She says she rents rooms to foreigners full-time and used to practice medicine.
Like other U.S. websites, Airbnb had been forced to block IP addresses that originate in Cuba, in accordance with federal law. On Jan. 20, when the U.S. relaxed restrictions on Cuban travel, Airbnb initiated talks with the U.S. Department of State and the Office of Foreign Assets Control, which enforces trade sanctions, to clear its expansion into the country. The government agencies didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
In February and March, the company sent employees on trips to Cuba to meet with potential hosts and learn more about the existing network of casas particulares. That’s the local term for vacation rentals by homeowners like Yamilee who have long done business with tourists from countries such as Canada and Spain, typically relying on word of mouth and, sometimes, a borrowed Internet connection from a local business. In Cuba, “the Airbnb style of travel was already thriving,” says Molly Turner, the company’s head of civic partnerships.
Only about 4 percent of Cuban homes have Internet access of any kind, so Airbnb had to find local intermediaries to help manage listings and connect hosts with customers. That led to the problem of paying hosts, most of whom asked for cash. That’s not how Airbnb works; travelers pay online, and the site takes a 3 percent cut and transfers the rest to a host’s bank account. So Airbnb had to contract a licensed money remitter to make payments on its behalf. The company chose Florida-based VaCuba, which specializes in sending cash and gifts to families in Cuba. “What Airbnb has done is quite creative,” says Collin Laverty, founder of Cuba Educational Travel, which organizes U.S. exchange programs. “ ‘Cuba’ is really a dirty word in the banking world.”
As Airbnb tries to expand its Cuban network, it’s likely to find some hosts unaccustomed to American travel standards—among other things, many homes don’t have hot water. The company also remains limited by U.S. laws. It can’t show Cuban properties to users outside the U.S. or directly help Cuban hosts design ads for their rentals. And although the U.S. has relaxed travel requirements for people visiting Cuba for reasons such as professional research, educational activities, and “support for the Cuban people,” it still bans visits that are explicitly for tourism.
Airbnb’s first step into Cuba is likely only the beginning, says Dan Restrepo, a former adviser to President Obama on Latin America and the Caribbean who has consulted for Airbnb on its Cuba expansion: “So little has happened between the U.S. and Cuba for so long, I don’t think anyone really knows how this will develop.” But, he says, “this creates connectivity between two peoples in a way that is outside the reach of government on both sides.”
Germanwings co-pilot lied to doctors about sick leave -Bild
BERLIN, April 2 (Reuters) - The Germanwings co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing a plane in the French Alps allegedly lied to doctors, telling them he was on sick leave rather than flying commercial planes, German daily Bild reported on Thursday.
Citing sources from the investigation, the paper said 27-year-old Andreas Lubitz had sought medical attention to try and cure an eye condition.
Although Lubitz gave doctors information about his job as a pilot, and in some cases about his employer Germanwings, he deliberately concealed the fact that he was still working, the paper said.
Bild said that documents available to the investigators had also revealed that Lubitz had said he was involved in a car crash at the end of 2014. He was apparently injured when the airbag opened and had complained of trauma and vision problems since the incident.
Investigators are still trying to work out the motive for why Lubitz would take the controls of the Airbus A320, lock the captain out of the cockpit and apparently deliberately steer the aircraft into a mountainside. All 150 people on board were killed in the crash last week.
According to medical records, Lubitz stated that he was taking medicines to treat depression, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, Bild said, adding the drugs were an antidepressant and the tranquilizer Lorazepam.
Germanwings parent Lufthansa said on Tuesday that when Lubitz resumed pilot training in 2009 he provided the flight school with medical documents showing he had gone through a "previous episode of severe depression".
Passenger Dies Boarding Cunard's Queen Elizabeth
A passenger on Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth cruise ship died following an accident that occurred while attempting to board the ship from a tender in Cambodia, according to Teresa Machan of the Telegraph.
Tenders are small boats typically used to transport cruise passengers from the ship to the shore during times when the vessel is anchored at sea.
The female passenger has not been identified, however, Cunard did issue a statement confirming the tragedy.
"We can confirm that a passenger died earlier today following an accident whilst boarding Queen Elizabeth from a tender," said the company in an official statement. "Two of our crew members reacted very quickly and jumped in to rescue her. She was then taken to the medical centre but despite our very best efforts, she died."
"Our customer care team will be offering every support including to those passengers who witnessed the incident," the statement read. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends."
At the time of the accident, the luxury ship was in the port city of Sihanoukville in Cambodia in Southeast Asia.
The Queen Elizabeth is in the midst of a 112-night world voyage that set sail from Southampton, England back on Jan. 10. The cruise is scheduled to continue with the Queen Elizabeth bound for Singapore.
Launched in 2010, the Queen Elizabeth is the Carnival Corporation & plc subsidiary's newest luxury liner, and can carry more than 2,000 passengers.
Sadly, this week's tragic accident casts a dark cloud over what's so far been a memorable year for the Cunard Line, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2015.
Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles Loyalty Program Expands Partner Airline Inventory
Delta Air Lines is likely to win over some air travelers, and, more importantly, members of its SkyMiles loyalty program, as a result of expanding options when it comes to booking award travel on partner airlines.
The move comes nearly two months after Delta came under fire for removing the awards charts from its website, leaving members of its frequent-flier program both confused and frustrated.
As Nick Vivion of USA Today's Road Warrior Voices pointed out on Wednesday, the newly expanded inventory includes Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Garuda Indonesia, GOL and Vietnam Airlines. Those airlines join Air France/KLM, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Korean Air and Virgin Atlantic as Delta partners eligible for awards booking.
On top of the new partner additions, Delta has made life easier for SkyMiles members by including those other airlines into the search interface and identifying them much more clearly.
"We continue to adjust the SkyMiles program to give members more value and options, including making it easier to redeem more Award travel at lower prices," said SkyMiles managing director Karen Zachary in a statement last month. "Delta is committed to providing industry-leading operational performance and on-board product and services, while remaining innovative in meeting our customers' needs."
The expanded award travel inventory comes on the heels of Delta's announcement that SkyMiles members are eligible to earn Mileage Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) on most partner airlines regardless of the ticketing carrier.
Other recent changes for the better include being able to book award travel tickets via the FlyDelta mobile app on your smartphone and increased availability for one-way domestic awards.
Uber driver arrested after breaking into a passenger’s home, police say
An UberX driver circled back to the home of a passenger he’d recently dropped off at the airport and tried to burglarize the place — only to find that his intended victim had a roommate, Denver police said.
Gerald Montgomery, 51, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempted burglary, Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said on Wednesday.
Jackson, speaking by phone, added that Montgomery dropped off his intended victim at Denver International Airport on Thursday, then returned to the home that afternoon and tried to break in “with burglary tools.”
He quickly abandoned the attempt after the intended victim’s roommate confronted him as he tried to enter the home, Jackson added.
The local Fox affiliate reports that the roommate had just returned home and explained on Facebook that a burglar “was about to get in the back door. He probably thought no one else was here.”
“Friends that take Uber, please be careful,” she added.
According to Denver’s NBC affiliate, “investigators were able to connect the burglary to the Uber driver, because the victim had taken a screenshot of her receipt, which showed the driver’s picture. She sent that screenshot to her roommate who said that was the guy who tried to break in.”
An arrest warrant was issued on Friday.
Montgomery was arrested Tuesday, and, according to the Denver Post, is being held on a $10,000 bond, with a court appearance scheduled for Friday.
Taylor Patterson, an Uber spokesman, said in an emailed statement that Montgomery’s access to Uber’s database was “immediately deactivated” pending the results of an investigation. “We remain committed to supporting the Denver law enforcement in any way we can,” the statement adds.
Uber has spoken to the rider, refunded her ride, and explained to her that the driver is now deactivated from their system. The company has also been in touch with Denver police.
Uber performed a background check on Montgomery before hiring him but found that he did not have a criminal record.
The incident appears to be one of several recent safety controversies facing the company. In December, an Uber driver was charged with sexually assaulting one of his Chicago passengers. A Los Angeles-area driver is also under investigation after being accused of sexual assault, as the Los Angeles Times notes. A driver in Orlando was arrested and charged with battery in September after he allegedly put his hand down a female passenger’s shirt.
The cases have sparked criticism of the precautions Uber takes to ensure the safety of its passengers. The company explains the background check procedures it uses for new drivers on its Web site, writing:
All Uber ridesharing and livery partners must go through a rigorous background check. The three-step screening we’ve developed across the United States, which includes county, federal and multi-state checks, has set a new standard. These checks go back 7 years, the maximum allowable by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We apply this comprehensive and new industry standard consistently across all Uber products, including uberX.
Screening for safe drivers is just the beginning of our safety efforts. Our process includes prospective and regular checks of drivers’ motor vehicle records to ensure ongoing safe driving. Unlike the taxi industry, our background checking process and standards are consistent across the United States and often more rigorous than what is required to become a taxi driver.
Jet Airways passenger leaps from plane and almost gets away with it
Admit it, in the seemingly endless jostle to get off the plane after landing and taxiing to the gate, you’ve entertained fantasies of gripping both hands around the emergency exit door handle, cranking it to one side, and escaping to sweet sweet freedom.
Last week in Mumbai, India, one passenger on a Jet Airways flight did just that, and for a time, he seemed to have gotten away with it. Shimmying onto the wing apron and dropping 15 feet to the tarmac, 30-year old Akash Jain then cooly asked a baggage loader the way to the arrivals terminal. Surprisingly, he was pointed to the door, and no one, security included, thought to stop and ask what he was doing. Fifteen minutes later, he had left the airport.
None of this builds any confidence in passengers already worried about airline security protocols. Perhaps even more shocking was the fact that crew members waited 35 minutes to notify authorities, long after Jain had gone. In fact, he even had time to stop and get a drink before hiring a rickshaw.
The following day, police did find and arrest the man, who appears to suffer from mental problems and may have run away from his family after stealing money. During interrogations, Jain apparently explained his stunt as a tribute to Bollywood action star Akshay Kumar.
In the meantime, the promise of “further investigations” aren’t doing much to uncross passengers’ fingers, squeezed tight in hopes that this is just another correctable security fluke.
FAA fines Southwest again for two safety issues
Southwest Airlines is in hot water with the Federal Aviation Administration again after the agency proposed two fines totaling $328,550 for two separate aviation violations.
Both alleged violations took place in 2013, the FAA said.
In the first case, a Southwest plane lost cabin pressure en route to St. Louis from Boston and was diverted to Baltimore.
FAA officials said this was due to the failure of Southwest mechanics to do a mandatory inspection and ensure empty oxygen bottles were replaced.
For this case the agency has proposed levying a $265,800 fine.
Southwest's recently integrated AirTran Airways unit repeatedly operated a Boeing 717 with a leaking air conditioning unit and failed to record it correctly in the log book.
The FAA wants to impose a $62,750 fine for this offence.
"Southwest Airlines has requested to meet with the FAA to discuss each case," the FAA said.
"Upon discovery, each repair was appropriately addressed in accordance with applicable regulations and Southwest Airlines' maintenance program," said Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins, who noted that both cases involved a single airplane.
"These items were fully resolved some time ago and are not currently an issue for aircraft being operated by Southwest Airlines," Hawkins added.
The carrier is currently contesting a $12 million FAA fine for alleged botched repairs on Boeing 737 aircraft which is due to go to trial next year if a settlement cannot be reached.
Hollywood's Margaritaville still on track to open this summer
That cheeseburger in paradise and its accompanying Jimmy Buffett-themed resort are on the way.
They may just take a tiny bit longer than expected.
The $147 million Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort broke ground in August 2013 and was initially scheduled to open in mid-July this year.
But Wednesday, developer Lon Tabatchnick told city commissioners he couldn't give them a concrete opening date yet. All he can promise is that it will open sometime this summer.
Margaritaville resort bringing change to Hollywood beach
Margaritaville resort bringing change to Hollywood beach
The 349-room resort is nearly complete, but still must pass numerous inspections by the city and several regulatory agencies, Tabatchnick said.
The 17-story property, situated on five city-owned acres at Johnson Street and A1A, will include seven restaurants and bars, oceanside pools, a FlowRider wave ride, spa and fitness center and 35,000 square feet of convention space.
Commissioner Patty Asseff pressed Tabatchnick for a specific date, noting the commission would be on its summer break in late July through mid-August.
"We are all trying to plan our vacations around your opening," Asseff said. "I don't want to be in Canada or Europe."
Tabatchnick said it all depends on the inspections.
"We have plenty of agencies that have to sign off on this before it can open," he said.
If all goes well, the much-anticipated project will open sometime after mid-July but before Labor Day, he said.
A "soft opening" would likely take place before Labor Day on Sept. 7, he said. And a weeklong grand opening celebration would likely be held in November.
Tabatchnick showed commissioners snapshots of the hotel's ballroom, lobby, king- and queen-sized rooms and aerials of the resort.
Mayor Peter Bober was impressed. "I think it's definitely going to exceed people's expectations," he said.
Speaking for all parrotheads, Commissioner Traci Callari asked when "Jimmy will be there."
Tabatchnick casually responded that Buffett had paid a visit just last week.
"But when will he perform?" Callari asked.
Tabatchnick promised to give everyone advance notice as soon as he finds out when Mr. Cheeseburger in Paradise plans to take the stage.
Allegiant Air avoids pilots strike after court order
SANFORD — Allegiant Air narrowly averted a pilots’ strike on Thursday at its major hub airports, including Orlando Sanford International Airport.
Pilots at the discount carrier were blocked in their plans to strike when a federal court issued a temporary restraining order.
The Las Vegas-based airline had gone to court to block the strike, which would have grounded 250 flights and affected 33,000 customers. The airline does not have enough replacement crews to fly its full schedule. Had the strike gone into the weekend, Allegiant says as many as 186,000 travelers could be stranded.
Corey Berger, an Allegiant pilot based in Phoenix, said the union will comply with the judge’s decision.
The carrier said all scheduled flights are expected to operate normally.
Allegiant is one of the most profitable airlines in the world, taking vacationers from smaller U.S. cities to warm destinations like Phoenix, Las Vegas and the Florida cities of Orlando and Tampa. It has low base fares but charges extra for seat assignments, placing bags in overhead bins and for drinks including water.
The airline’s pilots, represented by the Teamsters union, are upset over the company’s change in crew scheduling and a rollback in a disability program and other benefits. The two sides had been negotiating until a stalemate in November.
Allegiant said in a statement that it now hopes both sides focus on the next federally mediated negotiating session, scheduled for late April.
Delta becomes first US airline to offer Alipay to Chinese travelers
ATLANTA, GA and SHANGHAI, China - Delta Air Lines is partnering with Ant Financial Services Group and UATP to make it easier for Chinese consumers to purchase airline tickets via delta.com. The move, which sees Delta become the first United States carrier to add Ant Financial's Alipay payment platform to its website, is part of the airline's ongoing effort to serve Chinese travelers. UATP's alternative form of payment processing initiative connects airlines with online payment brands such as Alipay.
With the Alipay payment option on delta.com, Chinese travelers will now be able to use China's most trusted payment method when they book Delta flights. Alipay is China's leading online payment provider and the primary means of online and mobile payment for Chinese consumers.
China has emerged as the world's top-spending and fastest-growing tourism source market over the past decade due to rapid urbanization and the astonishing growth of its middle class. With an enthusiasm for exploring new destinations and different lifestyles, this new generation of Chinese consumers has made the United States its most desired travel destination. In 2013, 1.8 million Chinese travelers visited the United States, contributing $21.1 billion to the U.S. economy*. Following the recent easing of reciprocal visa policies between the U.S. and China, a further increase in Chinese travelers is now expected.
"We are thrilled to help Delta Air Lines make purchasing travel from China easier and more accessible than ever," said Jingming Li, President, Ant Financial Services Group, Americas. "Giving Chinese customers access to the payment method they most trust signals the great service that they can expect when they travel with Delta – from the ease of online booking to the airline's Chinese-speaking flight attendants and airport support."
The partnership with Ant Financial will help Delta connect with the more than 300 million registered Alipay users in China. These savvy online consumers will be able to fund their Alipay purchase on delta.com through bank accounts or credit or debit cards with over 200 Alipay financial institution partners around the world.
"This exciting new partnership is one of many Delta initiatives to build the most Chinese-friendly U.S. airline," said Vinay Dube, Delta's senior vice president – Asia Pacific. "As the U.S. and China have agreed to issue multiple-entry visas for up to ten years for short-term business and tourist travel, our partnership with Alipay will give more Chinese consumers the chance to experience traveling in the U.S. with our industry-leading product and service in flight and on the ground."
Delta operates nonstop flights from Beijing and Shanghai-Pudong to two U.S. gateways, Detroit and Seattle, where passengers can connect to more than 250 U.S. cities. Delta also operates daily nonstop flights from Shanghai-Pudong to Tokyo-Narita, where passengers have additional connection options to Delta's global network. Delta recently announced a new service between Shanghai and Los Angeles starting July 9, 2015.