Travel news: Closer to Cuba, robot hotel staff and more

Aloft’s new botler

Close but no cigar…yet

President Obama announced this week that the U.S. would resume diplomatic relations with Cuba after 50 years and this includes easing some travel restrictions, a move which Orbitz has supported for some time now. According to the New York Times, US travel to Cuba for leisure is still banned, but expectations are high that the ban will soon be lifted and that major commercial airlines will begin flying nonstop to the island. No word yet on when Havana will get its first Rainforest Cafe and Trump casino.

Holy crap
A Chicago travel agent has been accused of cheating customers who used his services to book religious pilgrimages. According to the Chicago Tribune, 42-year-old Rashid Minhas misrepresented his ability to sell visas that would allow visitors to make an Islamic religious visit to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. He is accused of bilking customers out of more than half a million dollars.

Name that buffoon
Awhile ago we reported on a Canadian man who had booked an around-the-world trip and was seeking a travel companion withthe same name as the now ex-girlfriend with whom he booked the original tickets. Jordan Axani, 28, now has a travel companion in Elizabeth Gallagher, 23, from Nova Scotia, says ABC news. We get the feeling Canada’s national motto, “A mari usque ad mari” means “in complete strangers we trust.” Yikes.

Ask the botler
Industry insiders are already making their 2015 travel predictions and the upcoming year is shaping up to be a tech-heavy one. According to CNN, Starwood hotels will offer an Apple Watch that works as a key card, Aloft hotels is trialing a robot butler called the “botler” that will deliver simple items, and Royal Caribbean is introducing robot bartenders that sling drinks. Sure, but will the cute ones give out their phone numbers?

Dashing through the snow
Americans are dying to visit their relatives more than we are. According to USA Today, 2014 is expected to set a new record in holiday travel with more than 99 million Americans traveling more than 50 miles via automobile or airplane. The increase comes in the wake of falling gas prices, an improved economy and Christmas falling on a Thursday, which creates a long weekend. In turn, awkward conversations with crazy relatives is also expected to rise nearly 50%.

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