DECEMBER 2018

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Boarding With Biometrics

By Rochelle Broder-Singer

Several U.S. have introduced permanent biometric boarding and check-in options for international flights.

Delta Air Lines calls Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport’s international terminal, Terminal F, the U.S.’s “first biometric terminal.” Travelers in that terminal can use facial recognition instead of presenting their passport throughout the check-in, bag check, security and boarding process. To use facial recognition, travelers enter their passport information during online check-in, or have their passport scanned at an automated kiosk at the airport. Then, they click “look” at a kiosk to have their face scanned; it is then matched with passport or visa photos on file with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Delta’s Atlanta facial-recognition terminal includes international passengers flying Delta partners Aeromexico, -KLM and . The plans to add facial- recognition processing at its Detroit hub beginning early in 2019.

JetBlue Airways opened a permanent fully- integrated biometric self-boarding gate in New York-JFK Airport’s Terminal 5 (for certain international destinations), as well as at Washington, D.C.’s Reagan-Washington National Airport (for flights to Nassau, Bahamas only).

At these gates, customers can use special boarding lanes and have their faces scanned and verified instead of using boarding passes. These permanent biometric lanes follow the airline’s trials of facial-recognition boarding in several other U.S. airports. Fliers do not need to pre-register – they simply step up to a camera that takes their photo and matches it to the Customs and Border Protection database.

At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), launched a pilot biometric boarding program. As with JetBlue’s program, international travelers on some routes leaving from Terminal 4 can have their faces scanned at the gate, instead of using a boarding pass. Photos courtesy

TRAVEL NEWS

Marriott Data Breach A four-year-long breach of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s legacy reservation system has exposed sensitive data about up to 500 million people, Marriott International announced in late November. Exposed information includes names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, passport numbers, credit card information and Starwood preferences. According to U.S. media, it is one of the largest data breaches ever exposed, and the largest in the hotel industry. Guests who are concerned about their data can learn more at info.starwoodhotels.com, or can contact Marriott by phone. Marriott is notifying guests whose email addresses are in the Starwood guest reservation database, and is offering a free one-year subscription to a service that monitors whether an individual’s personal information is for sale online.

Avianca Brasil Files for Bankruptcy 's fourth-largest airline filed for bankruptcy protection this week, motivated by leasing companies that are trying to repossess about a third of its aircraft. A judge temporarily halted any repossessions. The airline said it it struggling to cope with high fuel prices and a strong dollar.

TRAVEL GEAR A Tiny Alarm for Peace of Mind As​ frequent travelers, you may have found yourself in a potentially dangerous situation once or twice. The BASU eAlarm, which the company calls “The Tiny Alarm for Everyone,” aims to offer you a bit of personal security in those situations. Emitting a high pitched noise at 120 decibels, the BASU eAlarm should be loud enough to scare off any criminals or threatening animals who come near you. At the same time, it can also be used as a rescue signal if you’re trapped somewhere. Because it’s permitted on airplanes in your carry-on luggage, it’s easy to keep with you at all times. Photo courtesy BASU eAlarm

Hotel News

Google will add voice booking of hotels to its Google Assistant by the end of 2018.

Through a partnership between Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Aston Martin Lagonda, hotel guests will have access to Aston Martin’s newest luxury vehicles, as well as VIP access to Aston Martin Racing events.

South America Marriott’s first Aloft property in opened – the 164-room Aloft Miraflores, owned by Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas. Located 13 miles from Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport, the property includes a co-working/cocktail space, an all-day “grab and go” food station, a bar, two restaurants, a fitness center and a splash pool. The Aloft Lima also has 278 square feet of meeting space.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts opened the 171-room Hilton Pilar on the outskirts of . Part of the Pilar Golf Club, the property includes a restaurant, two bars, a spa, pools and full access to the Pilar Golf sports area. It also has 20,000 square feet of event space, including three ballrooms and nine breakout rooms. The Radisson Hotel Monterrey San Jerónimo opened in the Uruguayan capital’s San Jerónimo neighborhood, within three miles of the Galerías Monterrey and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The 98-room hotel offers complimentary shuttle service within a three- mile radius, as well as an onsite restaurant, two bars, a business center, complimentary Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness center and complimentary parking. Its two meeting rooms can accommodate up to 60 people.

InterContinental Hotels Group opened the Holiday Inn Express Farroupilha Hotel in Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil. The 98-room property is part of the Casa Perlage commercial complex, which includes a convention center and restaurants. Located 20 minutes from Caxias Do Sul Airport, it offers a business center with three meeting rooms, a 24-hour fitness center and a complimentary breakfast buffet. It is the first hotel in Brazil to offer enhanced high-speed Wi-Fi for IHG Reward Members through its IHG Connect service.

Central America W Hotels Worldwide opened the W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal, the brand’s first property in the country. Located in a 2,300-acre nature reserve near Tamarindo, Costa Rica, the resort includes a restaurant, meeting space, a pool, a beach club, a shop offering artisan and regional items and a zipline.

Mexico Hilton Hotels & Resorts opened the Hilton Guadalajara Midtown, in the Midtown Jalisco development in the heart of the city’s financial district. The hotel is 12 miles from Guadalajara International Airport and 4 miles from the Expo Guadalajara convention center. In addition, the Hilton Guadalajara Midtown has 11,500 square feet of flexible event space onsite – including 10 meeting rooms and ballrooms – where it can accommodate up to 550 people. The 225- room property includes a restaurant, two bars, more than 11,500 square feet of event space, a fitness center and a pool. La Coleccion Resorts by Fiesta Americana opened the 153-room, newly built Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende. The resort includes two restaurants, a pool and a fitness center.

Riu Hotels & Resorts opened the Riu Palace Costa Mujeres resort near the beach of Bahía de Mujeres, north of Cancún. The 670-room property includes multiple bars and restaurants, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, pools and entertainment.

The company also opened the Riu Palace Baja California in Los Cabos. The all- inclusive, adults-only property has free parking, 602 rooms with free Wi-Fi, plus multiple restaurants and pools.

Caribbean The Hotel Rio Palace Tropical Bay in Negril, Jamaica, reopened after a total refurbishment that includes the lobby, 452 rooms, restaurants and more.

Photo​ courtesy Hilton Guadalajara Midtown

Airline News

U.S.-based United Continental Holdings, the parent company of , finalized a joint venture with -based Holdings SA and Panama-based . If regulators in all three countries approve the deal, the airlines will plan routes and fares together, and share revenues on those routes.

All fliers in Delta Air Lines’ Delta One international can now pre- select meals. Three days before their flight, passengers booked in Delta One will receive an email from Delta offering the chance to choose their first-choice onboard meal. The airline has also updated its Flight Fuel menu for Main Cabin customers.

Morocco-based Royal Air Marco will become a full member of the frequent flier alliance by mid-2020. It will be the alliance’s 14th full member, and its first new full member since 2012.

American Airlines, and Southwest began operations in the new Eastern Concourse in New York-LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B (only some American flights use this concourse currently). The new concourse has local restaurants and shops, airline lounges and abundant power outlets next to seating.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) opened the completely redeveloped International Airport Terminal 1, where Southwest Airlines operates. The US$516.7 million renovation introduced self-service ticket and check-in kiosks, a nine-lane security checkpoint, a new baggage claim, new dining and shopping, updated guestrooms, and an automated baggage sorting system to the 13-gate terminal. Photo courtesy Delta Air Lines

IN THE AIR: FLIGHTS & CODESHARES

New Codeshares in the Region

Interjet & LATAM – launched codeshare on flights within Chile, and between Chile and Mexico

LATAM Airlines Brasil & Airlines – began a codeshare covering service from Barcelona to various cities in Europe

LATAM Airlines Brasil & – launched reciprocal codeshare covering routes between -Guarulhos and Italian cities, and between cities within Italy

Aeromexico & Copa Airlines – expanded their codeshare to additional routes between Panama City and cities in Brazil, and to Aruba flights

Delta Air Lines & – expanded their codeshare to put Korean Air numbers on Delta flights between Mexico and several U.S. cities

LATAM & Korean Air – expanded their codeshare to add service between Sao Paulo- Guarulhos the cities of London (Heathrow) and Frankfurt, Germany

New Airline Routes (All routes are round-trip, nonstop unless otherwise indicated; if service has not already begun, month of service start is indicated in parentheses)

South America Guayaquil, – Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, Puerto Rico – Florida ( area, U.S.): JetBlue Baltimore/Washington (Maryland, U.S.): (February) Spirit Airlines (February)

Santa Marta, Peru – Miami (U.S.): Viva Air San Juan, Puerto Rico –Tampa, Florida Peru (December) (U.S.): Spirit Airlines (February)

Milan Malpensa (Italy) – Santo Domingo – Antigua – Milan Malpensa: Blue Panorama (December)*

*Replaces Milan Malpensa – La Romana – Antigua – Milan Malpensa route. Mexico Los Cabos – London-Gatwick: TUI Airways UK Photo courtesy Viva Air Peru

RESOURCES FROM LATIN TRADE

NEW! Trends in Asian Investment in Latin America: Funds sources broaden from state-owned policy banks to commercial banks, interest grows in Peru and Chile, plus more changes

NEW! Infrastructure Index 2018 – Latin America and the Caribbean: Latin Trade’s exclusive measurement of conditions in transportation, technology, electricity and water in 18 nations

NEW! Exclusive Interview With Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández : Migration, investment, working the Trump Administration and more

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