Intelligence – June, 17 2010

Intelligence – June, 17 2010

InterContinental Hotels Group now generates more than $1 million per month in revenue from the company’s enhanced mobile Web sites–a growth of more than 600 percent over the past year …

Frontier Airlines will soon be launching flights between Denver and New Orleans and Santa Barbara, Calif. and from Kansas City, Mo. to New Orleans. Frontier recently introduced flights from Denver to Fairbanks, Alaska; Grand Rapids, Mich. and Long Beach, Calif. and will begin seasonal service between Milwaukee and Cancun beginning Dec. 18, 2010 through May 1, 2011 …

Delta recently began nonstop flights between Seattle and Beijing operating five times weekly …

Choice Privileges recently celebrated that program’s 10 millionth member. Membership is also now available to residents throughout Central America, Africa and the Middle East. In addition, all members will now be able to earn and burn points for qualifying hotel stays in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Lebanon …

Southwest Airlines now serves Panama City Beach, Fla. as its 69th destination …

JAL Mileage Bank members can now earn up to five miles for each 100 yen spent on the KDDI Corp. mobile phone network. Inphonix, Inc. will sell the phones and provide customer support. JAL is restructuring under bankruptcy protection and is hoping to attract new customers through partnerships such as this. The airline is also cutting routes …

Caribbean Airlines has taken over operations of Air Jamaica and its seven routes, which will continue as before. Tickets issued by Air Jamaica before the buyout will be honored, as will frequent flyer miles. Air Jamaica’s fleet will retain its logo during a six to 12 month transition …

Oman Air Sindbad members can now earn 500 miles for Hertz car rentals and members can earn up to 1,000 miles when they rent from the Hertz Prestige Collection …

Emirates Skywards was recently honored as having the best frequent flyer program in the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2010 and IHG Priority Club Rewards was singled out as having the best hotel loyalty scheme. Priority Club Rewards has more than 1.5 million members in the Middle East and Africa …

Air France/KLM Flying Blue is now the frequent flyer program of TAROM. TAROM Smart Miles no longer exists. The change was made as TAROM enters the SkyTeam alliance …

Rumor has it that if the merger between Continental and United is approved, the airlines will begin to offer their FFP members the ability to combine miles between the two programs for award redemption before the merger is complete …

Hilton is opening new Doubletree hotels in Ankara and Avanos, Turkey as well as in the Moda section and Old Town Istanbul later this year …

Oneworld alliance has been named the World’s Best Airline Alliance at the 2010 World Airline Awards, followed by Star Alliance and then SkyTeam …

IHG is a new partner in the Etihad Airways Etihad Guest program and members will earn 500 miles per stay at participating IHG hotels …

Lufthansa announced that it will expand its Montreal — Munich service from seasonal (summer) to year-round, offering five flights a week.