Successful Meetings - May 2010 - 8

NEWS UPDATE
Senate Approves FAA Reauthorization Bill
Legislation aims to set deadlines for modernizing country’s air traffic control system

Meetings Spend Picked Up in Q1
pending on meetings and events rose by 10 percent in the first quarter of 2010 compared with the same period in 2008—before the start of the recession—according to a new report by Advito, BCD Travel's consulting unit. Released in April, the report concluded that while pricing remains low, meetings suppliers are confident it will trend upward as the year progresses. Advito reported that many of them are implementing stricter penalties and attrition clauses in their contracts and that fewer are willing to sign multiyear deals. Overall corporate travel appears to be on the mend. Advito reported a double-digit increase in demand in the first quarter.

he U.S. Senate has voted unanimously in favor of a longterm Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that supporters say would help modernize the nation’s air traffic control and strengthen the safety of air travel in the U.S. Since the last long-term reauthorization bill ex-

pired in 2007, the FAA has operated under numerous extensions. Last May, the House of Representatives passed its own long-term reauthorization bill, which now can move to conference with the Senate version and eventually on to President Barack Obama’s desk for passage. Senator John D. Rock-

efeller IV (D-WV), a sponsor of the Senate bill and chair of the Senate committee that oversees aviation issues, applauded passage of his bill, saying, “After so many years of delay, this bill takes significant steps to improve safety and modernize our air transportacontinued on page 10

Other key forecasts for 2010: • While airfares will remain flat, they’ll rise by 1 to 2 percent in Asia-Pacific due to a robust China. • Average daily hotel rates will remain low due in part to competition because of more room supply. • Car rental firms will levy new fees, such as no-show fees. For more information about Advito’s latest 2010 Industry Forecast, visit www.bcdtravel.com.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - May 2010

Successful Meetings - May 2010
Contents
Editor's Letter
Senate Passes FAA Reauthorization
Education
Meetings Law
Incentive Insights
Visionaries
Guilt-Free Pleasure
A Million Dollar Handoff
Show Me the Results
Places + Spaces
India
Indianapolis
Detroit
Cincinnati
Britain
London

Successful Meetings - May 2010