Travel updates: From Gulf tourism woes to London airport-train discounts

Counting the Gulf tourism losses

The Gulf Coast stands to lose 400,000 travel-industry jobs because of oil-spill impacts, and it's up to BP to pay to save them, says the U.S. Travel Association.

In a 10-point "Roadmap to Recovery," the association called for BP to finance a $500 million marketing campaign to attract visitors to the region.

The association also released an economic analysis of the oil spill's impact in late July. Based on the aftermath of 25 recent natural and man-made disasters, forecasting firm Oxford Economics projected that it will take the Gulf Coast three years and $22.7 billion to recover.

Hawaii hotel shows Amelia Earhart photos

Amelia Earhart is back at The Royal Hawaiian hotel in Waikiki. The historic hotel is hosting an exhibition of rarely seen photographs taken of the pioneering aviator when she visited Hawaii and stayed at the "Pink Palace of the Pacific" during the 1930s.

The black-and-white images show Earhart relaxing in a swimsuit and leaning against a palm tree while she gazes at the ocean. A few show her observing legendary surfer and Hawaii icon Duke Kahanamoku carve a pineapple for her.

Hotel officials say everyone — not just guests at the five-star hotel — are welcome to enjoy the exhibit. The 65 photos will be displayed through the end of the year.

Upscale hotels on the rebound

The hotel industry in the United States appears to be rebounding this summer, mainly because of strengthening business travel. So far the biggest beneficiary is New York, though other cities on the East Coast are starting to report gains. And the upscale, full-service hotels that have long been favored by business travelers have benefited more from the upturn in demand than the midlevel brands, industry analysts say.

With hotel occupancies rising, room rates have started stabilizing, according to Smith Travel Research. The rates remain substantially below their peak, reached in September 2008. And occupancy rates, in general, are also far below their peak: The average is now 55.8 percent, down from a high of 63.1 percent in November 2007.

Still, in New York now and probably in other cities in the fall, travelers will no longer be able to count on getting cheap rates at preferred hotels at the last minute and will have to book further in advance to stay where they want.

Discounts on London airport train

Heathrow Express, the express train service between London's Heathrow Airport and the city's Paddington station, is offering a 50 percent discount for groups of two or more buying round-trip tickets. Normal round-trip rate is $49 per adult and $24 per child. The offer is valid for express-class tickets only, and all members of the group must travel together. The first half of the trip must take place by Sept. 5. www.heathrowexpress.com/summer.

University launches geotourism degree

Missouri State University has developed a geotourism degree that it believes is a first-of-its-kind program in the world. The Springfield school got help from the National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations in designing the bachelor's degree program. Geotourism emphasizes the principle that tourist destinations should remain unspoiled for future generations.

Seattle Times staff and news services