Here’s something to wake you up real fast - Travelmuse is trying to put Starbucks out of business. Is true. I just got hit by this press release from the inspired folks at Travelmuse which says they’ve ginned up something called a Yaycations Calculator - a free online tool that helps consumers find hidden savings in everyday spending and discover the travel budget they never knew they had.

The Yaycations Calculator features 20 categories where you can find hidden savings, from coffee to clothing and lot’s more stuff. If say you drink five venti lattes a week (~$3.50 ea.), adds up to more than $910 in a year. Make your coffee at home, and you can book in at posh New York hotels at least once a year. Or something like that… The basic concept is to put Starbucks out of business, and use all that ‘coffee money’ to pay for annual vacations.

Travelmuse (www.travelmuse.com/) CEO Kevin Fliess hammered in a couple more nails by saying that “Many consumers are making 2009 the year of the ‘Yaycation’ by embracing their right to plan and take vacations no matter what external forces may be in play. The American vacation is a time-honored tradition, and people are continuing to find ways to travel, even if it means cutting out everyday items and activities.”

Travelmuse is also running a ‘free vacation’ contest where you can win a free stay at any Kimpton Hotel and a $500 VISA Card, along with some other goodies.

And if you’re a corporate type longing for the good old days when you could throw junkets anytime you wanted, Hilton is offering some cool incentives for meeting planners.

Book and stay between now and December 31, 2009 at participating Hampton, Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels and you’ll benefit from the following escalating incentive structure:

Book 20-50 Qualifying Nights: Select One Incentive of Choice
Book 51-75 Qualifying Nights: Select Two Incentives of Choice
Book 76+ Qualifying Nights: Select Three Incentives of Choice

Incentives include:
3% rebate on total paid guest room revenue
500 Hilton HHonors® bonus points per paid group room nights
Complimentary morning or afternoon beverage break (valued at up to $150)
One complimentary room night with every 35 paid room nights

Oh, and they also want to bribe meeting planners with a coupon for a complimentary 24-pack of Coke Zero which will be available if you book a meeting with a minimum of 20 rooms during the promotion. While supplies last… More details here - www.hiltonfamily.com/booknowandsave

Travel News Roundup:-

Beach-lovers tour of Cuba  - Miami Herald

Radisson LAX caves, signs labor contract with UNITE HERE - Southern California Public Radio

Take a year long vacation, get paid $80,000 for it - New York Times

World’s best hotel beds - Concierge

Pizza bandits strike outside Myrtle Beach motels - Sun News

American unveils first of new Boeing 737s - TravelWeekly

Posted on April 14th, 2009 by PLing
Filed under: Travel News