Hertz and Dollar Thrifty Announce Merger Agreement
Hertz Global Holdings Inc. and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. Monday announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Hertz would acquire Dollar Thrifty for $87.50 per share in cash, reports Auto Rental News.
http://www.autorentalnews.com/News/Story/2012/08/Hertz-and-Dollar-Thrifty-Announce-Merger-Agreement.aspx

Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel Set to Reopen
The Hiltons of Branson have announced that Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, which was severely damaged in a February 29 tornado, is scheduled to re-open Sept. 15, according to hotel interactive.com.
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/article.aspx?articleid=26366

US Airways Inches Toward Merger Deal with American
US Airways, whose months-long merger overtures have been largely dismissed by American executives, is currently reviewing whether to agree to sign American's so-called non-disclosure agreement, USA Today reports.
http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2012-08-26/US-Airways-inches-toward-merger-deal-with-American/57328510/1

Ritz-Carlton Expands in Europe
Chevy Chase-based Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. LLC has opened a hotel in Vienna, its first hotel in Austria, according to the Washington Business Journal.
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2012/08/27/ritz-carlton-expands-in-europe.html

'World-class' New Doha International Airport to Open in Second Half of 2013
The much-anticipated New Doha International Airport (NDIA) will open for passenger traffic in the second half of 2013, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has confirmed to The Moodie Report.
http://goo.gl/9qvmA

Briefs: Three Airlines Scrap Europe Routes; Southwest Adds Rental Car Partner
Travel Executive magazine reports that in news of U.S. airlines, three carriers will discontinue transatlantic routes this fall; Southwest adds a new rental car partner to its Rapid Rewards loyalty program; United will upgrade in-flight Wi-Fi; and JetBlue rules out an American merger.
http://www.executivetravelmagazine.com/blogs/air-travel-news/2012/8/26/briefs-three-carriers-scrap-europe-routes-sw-adds-rental-car-partner

Brown Palace Expects Boost from Marriott Affiliation
According to the Denver Business Journal, The Brown Palace Hotel will become part of the Marriott Autograph Collection on September 12.
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2012/08/24/brown-palace-expects-boost-from.html

World's Most Expensive Cities for a Hotel Room
CNN cites a Hogg Robinson Group biannual study revealing that hotels in Moscow are by far the world's most expensive and have been so for nearly a decade. CNN also lists the 10 most expensive cities to stay in and their average hotel room rate.
http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/costliest-hotels-list-637685?hpt=tr_c2

Business Travelers Gone Wild – Does Business Travel Lead to Divorce and Alcoholism?
Business travel can wreak havoc on those who are not well equipped for it, including broken marriages and a range of other social problems. In fact, business travel should probably come with a warning label, Forbes reports.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/reuvencohen/2012/08/23/does-business-travel-lead-to-divorce-and-alcoholism/

Airlines to Passengers – You Can't Wear That
Airlines give many reasons for refusing to let you board, but none stir as much debate as your outfit, reports USA Today.
http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2012-08-27/Airlines-to-passengers-You-cant-wear-that/57343448/1

Hotels on Track to Take in Nearly $2 Billion in Surcharges
NBC News reports that while hotel fees for Internet access, fitness centers and other amenities continue to rise, they may not go much higher as hotels run out of new things to charge for.
http://goo.gl/g2ndA