Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.travel From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: travel Tue, Mar 24 1992 Date: Tue, 24 Mar 92 05:43:45 EST Message-ID: 03-24 0000 DECISIONLINE: Travel USA TODAY Update March 24, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network TRAVEL `BIBLE' GETTING HIT: For 350,000 frequent fliers, the Official Airline Guide is a traveler's bible, linking them to flight schedules for more than 700 airlines serving North America. But the recession is whacking OAG from all sides. Top problems: Frequent business travelers are disappearing. Company surveys show that retirement and unemployment are taking a toll. (For more, see special OAG package below.) HOTEL INDUSTRY MAY REBOUND: After three years of mounting losses, the U.S. hotel industry is expected to rebound this year, according to Coopers & Lybrand Hospitality Direction. In 1989, 52.1% of hotels lost money. That increased to 55.6% in 1990 and 60.1% in 1991. But projected losses for 1992 are down to 55.5%. WOLF BUYS 20,000 SHARES: UAL Chairman Stephen Wolf evidently thinks the stock market is undervaluing his company. Wolf recently bought 20,000 shares of UAL stock on the open market for $3 million. Wolf paid $150 a share, though he has options to buy 68,750 shares at an average $86.35. "It reflects his belief in the future value of the company," says UAL spokesman Joe Hopkins. MOVE HELPS DISPEL RUMORS: UAL Chairman Stephen Wolf's recent investment in his own company helps dispel rumors that he might leave UAL, parent of United Airlines. "It's sending a message that he intends to be with the company a long time," says analyst Helane Becker. Although UAL is expected to post a loss of $2.75 per share this quarter, analysts predict a better year than last year, with the war and recession. L.A. COULD BAN SMOKING: The Los Angeles City Council votes Tuesday on whether the city will ban smoking in all restaurants. If the ban passes, as many think it will, Los Angeles would take over from Sacramento the title as largest U.S. city to have such an ordinance. Half the state's cities already have some kind of law against public smoking, and smaller communities have been strengthening bans. COMPANIES CAN BID ON AIRPORT: U.S. companies will be able to bid on an $800 million Japanese airport project, the Commerce Department says. A 1988 U.S.-Japan trade agreement was amended last year to add six projects worth $26.7 billion. The international terminal at the Fukuoka airport is the first of the six to be announced. U.S. companies had complained they were virtually shut out of the Japanese construction market. UNITED GETS ROME ROUTE: The Department of Transportation Monday awarded a Washington-Rome:Milan route to United Airlines. United starts flying the route June 20. USAir and Delta had applied to fly to the two Italian cities from Pittsburgh and Atlanta, respectively. United also received tentative approval to operate a Los Angeles-Mexico City route, beating Alaska Airlines. THERE'S A SMALL HOTEL: Some real estate professionals say they are seeing more people forced into early retirement looking to buy a small hotel where they can live and work. They typically are looking for a hotel or motel with fewer than 100 rooms and an owner's quarters, sometimes in an area where they've vacationed. There are "a lot of first-time people out there," says Duane Jones of Harbour Real Estate. `A CHAIN ON THEIR ANKLE': Some would-be hoteliers have a misconception about what they are getting into, says a hotel-motel sales specialist. "They will have a chain on their ankle to the hotel lobby," says Chuck Nester of Brown Motel Investment. In Michigan, hotels and motels continue to do well in many tourist-oriented areas, says Duane Jones of Harbour Real Estate. But a weak market makes some owners reluctant to sell. JOINT TRAVEL CARD OFFERED: Employees of small businesses will soon be able to put all their travel expenses including calls back to home or office on a single charge card. Monday, AT&T and American Express announced plans to offer a joint card that marries the capabilities of an AT&T Calling Card to the American Express corporate card. Companies who issue corporate cards will get one monthly bill - and AT&T discounts. PHONE BILL IS PROMPT: One of the problems with renting a cellular phone on the road is waiting weeks for the bill. But there's a car phone being tested by National Car Rental and Electronic Data Systems that might help. Renters get their phone bill when they return the car. The National phone also doesn't require a credit card to activate. Instead, use a four-digit identification code issued to you at rental time. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON OAG: OAG IS A CLEARINGHOUSE: As the clearinghouse for information, Official Airline Guides provides all flight information on travel agents' computers and sells huge amounts of data to airlines, airports and aircraft makers. Without OAG, the travel industry would come to a halt. But much of the air-travel industry has been ailing the past two years, forcing companies to cut or freeze purchases from OAG. COMPANY BRACES FOR CHANGE: OAG is bracing for change. OAG is a part of the Robert Maxwell empire. Maxwell bought the company in 1988. Maxwell died at sea Nov. 5, and his media group since has fallen apart due to alleged financial scandals. Now, OAG has to face a future of spinning off as an independent company or being sold to another firm. Some analysts have figured OAG could sell for $500 million tops. OAG HAS HIGH-TECH PRODUCTS: The Maxwell affair hasn't slowed the flurry of new products, most of them high-tech twists on OAG information. FlightFax, for instance, gives users detailed, up-to-the-minute flight data via facsimile machines. FlightCall is a telephone flight-update service in several major cities - call for flight status. This week OAG will launch products aimed at federal government worker-travelers. (End of package.) 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Weather Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Travel Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM