Take those vacation days
Help the economy by taking more time away from work. That is the message from the U.S. Travel Association, the nation's trade organization for the travel industry. A study for the group found that more than 40 percent of U.S. workers who receive paid time off don't use all of their allotted vacation time. It concluded that if Americans spent all of their vacation time, the economy would gain $160 billion in vacation spending, supporting 1.2 million jobs.Los Angeles Times
'Screen and walk' in future
In the near future, airline passengers may be screened for weapons without having to stop walking or remove their coats and shoes. The Department of Homeland Security is pushing for contractors to create a "screen and walk" machine for use at the nation's 160 international airports. Los Angeles times
Travel trend
Hotels to travelers: 'You rang?'
In the race for an increasingly personalized luxury hotel experience, the butler may be the ultimate amenity. Since January, the new Langham, Chicago has employed a rotating staff of eight dedicated butlers for its three club floors. Carlos Carrera, the director of butler services for the hotel, said that the new generation of butlers specializes in services like unpacking and pressing clothing, and arranging daily details like dinner reservations and child care. At the Langham, the service costs an extra $75 per person daily for those on the club floors, where rooms are $470 to $1,500 per night. At the St. Regis Hotels, the butler has morphed into a personal assistant. At the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Florida, guests can request to have their closets stocked with clothing and accessories to try from Neiman Marcus. The butler then serves as a kind of personal shopper. "Our butlers today are more Pepper Potts in 'Iron Man' than Alfred Pennyworth in 'Batman,' " said Anthony Ingham of St. Regis Hotels and Resorts.New York Times
Deal of the week
Two-for-one on Asia, Arabia cruises
Windstar Cruises is offering a promotion on its 2014 and 2015 Asia and Arabia sailings that includes two-for-one fares, two nights of pre- or post-cruise lodging and a free shore excursion. For example, the 10-night Singapore & the Malay Peninsula cruise, which sails round trip from Singapore on Dec. 2, now starts at $3,999 per person double, plus $500 port charges; the deal also includes two nights at the Conrad Centennial Singapore (value of $970 per couple) and a Feast for the Senses excursion in Phuket, Thailand (value of $600). Book by March 28. Info: 1-866-531-9831, www.wind starcruises.com.Washington Post
On the web
Cheap car rental, person to person
Travelers looking for an inexpensive car rental can make arrangements through FlightCar, which arranges car rentals between people who are parking their vehicles at the airport and people who need to rent a car. Owner and renter never meet. FlightCar has parking lots at Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco airports. Car rentals on FlightCar start at $10 a day, depending on the year and model of the car. I searched for a possible rental for a week's stay in San Francisco and found a coupe for $15 a day, or $105 for the week, including tax, GPS and insurance. Ninety miles per day are included in the price; after that you'll pay 35 cents a mile.Los Angeles Times