The airline mergers is not nessarily a "done deal" ...many obstacles remain
February 6, 2008
Airline Merger could bring anything | news.enquirer.com
* Will the Bush administration or the next administration approve approve any airlines attempt to merge? * Unions and communities will fight any merger attempts. * Other carriers like American and Southwest will likewise lobby against any mergers. * Premises for mergers is not valid since there are too many profitable network carrier that are smaller than any of the individual carriers that are in play.
There is no such thing as a good airline merger
January 18, 2008
Delta delays Comair sale as it explores merger hopes | www.ft.com
*Service will get worse...I know that is hard to imagine. *Fares will go up. *Communites will loses both Hubs, flights and jobs. *If it happens it will be Delta merging with Northwest and United merging with Continental and no one want US Airways
Blackstone's Probably Won't Put Others in Play...
July 6, 2007
Will Blackstone’s Hilton Deal Put Others in Play? | online.wsj.com
* Blackstone/Hilton deal is unique on several levels * Hotel Industry metrics have probably peaked in terms of RevPAR. * New Construction in the piptline is at an all time high * Starwood's management is weak and no apparent strategy. * Marriott is not about to sell the family business
Marriott Knows What They Are Doing
June 18, 2007
Strange Bedfellows: Marriott, Schrager | online.wsj.com
•Marriott is very good at managing multiple brands. •Marriott has successfully kept brands/cultures separate. •Marriott Needed a boutique brand. •Marriott has a history of success in developing brands.
Increasing CAFE standards is not the answer
May 7, 2007
CAFE Break | online.wsj.com
* CAFE standards never had the intended outcome.
* relies on something to happen in the future when what is needed something for today.
* Making car makers accountable for conservation rather than the end user is illogical.
* Drivers are ultimately responsible for conservation.
* The solution is to follow the Europeans...charge what the charge for fuel and invest that money into the highway and road infrastructure.
NCL "Freestyle Cruising that is free"
September 22, 2006
Norwegian Cruise Line trying a unique approach | www.ncl.com
Norwegian Cruise Line, the world's third largest cruise company, announced today a major new $100 million dollar rebranding campaign. The new approach attempts to differentiate themselves from Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Line. NCL freestyle cruising will be re-launched, with a completely new unique image portrayal.
RCI buys Spanish Cruise Tour Operator
September 6, 2006
Royal Caribbean buys Spanish cruise operator | today.reuters.com
It is a good thing.
Europe is the fastest growing part of their network and the cruise
industry in general.
Caribbean has too much capacity.
Why Asia has a robust Travel market
August 23, 2006
Asia - Robust Travel Market In The First Half Of 2006 | www.hotelnewsresource.com
*Asia being driven by the China economic growth
*Japan holding its own with its own modest growth.
*Shanghai is the new New York of Asia (and will ultimately displace Tokyo as the financial capital of Asia.
Residual growth from India.
August 23, 2006
Cruise lines in troubled waters | www.bradenton.com
*The problem exists only in the Caribbean.
*Alaska, Europe remain strong entities.
*Carnival Corp and RCI will continue to have strong margins albeit down YOY.
Flaws with the AA (Sabre) GDS Plan
July 31, 2006
AA Posts GDS Plan | www.solutionz.com
American's failure to reach an agreement with Sabre (and Amadeus) is short sighted indeed. They are trying to act like the play ground bullies and force Sabre to play by their rules and thus force the other GDSs to follow. In this, I will explain why their thought process is flawed and why probably nothing will happen until after 9/1.
http://www.thebeat.travel/news.php?adate=jul_06%25cid=aaplan
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