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Welcome to the Spring 2020 edition of GW's Travel Services newsletter! This issue features COVID-19 travel information, iBuy+ Travel tips, travel industry news, and new service enhancements available to GW travelers.
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| GW Online Resource for Latest COVID-19 Information
Visit GW’s COVID-19 campus resources website go.gwu.edu/covid19 for updates as the situation evolves and contains information on prevention, travel information and campus resources. Additionally, the site contains all the information and frequently asked questions about COVID-19 that have been previously posted to Campus Advisories. We ask our community members to refer to this website for regular updates. GW will continue to regularly send messages to the community regarding this evolving situation.
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| Future Airfare Credit
COVID-19 travel restrictions have required travelers to cancel airline reservations. In almost every instance, the airline has provided a future travel credit - not a refund. Unfortunately, understanding the rules to redeem the future travel credit vary by airline and can be confusing. airfarewatchdog.com provides a synopsis of each airline's rules. However, the airlines change their rules frequently so the information could go stale quickly.
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| You're Grounded
Perhaps it’s torture to read a travel article when COVID-19 has us all grounded or maybe it’s the perfect time. There are an abundance of vacation destination websites that can provide a little fantasy, e.g., Visit Las Vegas, Go Hawaii or Visit Maldives, but business travel will resume when life returns to normal. This is an opportune time to review your iBuy+ Travel user profile, e.g., current phone number, add a mobile phone number, verify email addresses, update emergency contact, travel preferences, frequent flier numbers, credit card expiration dates, and connect to My Travel Network. READ MORE
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| Delta and Lufthansa Join TripLink Supplier Network READ MORE
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Book for a guest or act on behalf of another user?
When making travel reservations in iBuy+ Travel for other people, some users are uncertain which method to use, "Book for a guest" or "Act on behalf of another user."
The user must first answer the question, "Is the traveler a guest of GW or is the traveler a GW employee or student?" READ MORE
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| REAL ID Mandate Extended to October 1, 2021
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has extended the REAL ID deadline to October 1, 2021. READ MORE
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| IRS Lowers 2020 Mileage Reimbursement Rate
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service for 2020 has lowered the rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business purposes. The standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be 57.5 cents per mile driven, half a cent lower than in 2019. The deductible mileage rate is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. GW uses the standard rate to calculate reimbursements for employees who use personal vehicles for business.
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| How Technology Will Reshape Airports Before 2030
Whether its biometrics to get through security, an airline app that tells you if your flight is delayed, or free Wi-Fi and charging areas, there's no doubt technology this past decade has helped enhance the airport experience for fliers around the world. READ MORE
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| How to Stay Secure During a Hotel Stay
Making sure your private details remain private is just one way to maintain personal safety and security while staying in hotels. READ MORE
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Just for GW Travelers
Make reservations through iBuy+ Travel or by calling Travel Leaders (855-771-9109) to take advantage of the following offers.
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GW Contract Benefits
GW travelers benefit from contractual relationships established with several travel suppliers, most often to obtain discount pricing and augmented services. However, some suppliers have extended additional benefits to contract partners because of COVID-19. As an example, Delta Airlines has waived change fees and name change fees for GW travelers. To take advantage of this benefit or any GW contractual benefit, it is required that the reservation be booked thru iBuy+ Travel, Travel Leaders, or directly with Delta if the traveler's TripLink is enabled. READ MORE
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Car Rental Programs for Business and Leisure
GW has car rental rate programs with Hertz, Enterprise, and National that offer significant savings for business related travel that includes insurance at no extra cost. READ MORE
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| Local Hotel Rates Renewed for 2020
GW room rate agreements with local DC, VSTC, and Bethesda hotels have been renewed for 2020. See iBuy+ Travel Lodging for updated information.
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| Common Goals and Shared Purpose
In an effort to protect employment for as many of their agents as possible during an unprecedented downturn in the travel industry, Travel Leaders, GW's travel management company, partnered with the City of New York to combat COVID-19. Watch this video from Sue Berman, SVP Service Delivery.
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| COVID-19 Grounds Passenger Aircraft Fleet
US air carriers ground 50% of their passenger fleet. Some of which are parked at Dulles (above). READ MORE
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| Take a Trip... Without Leaving Your Home
Take A Virtual Vacation! Soon we will step out from behind our screens. But thanks to the wonders of technology, you can still see the world from the comfort of your home - through virtual tours, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and books. And when you're ready to travel again, Marriott will be waiting for you. READ MORE
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Myth or Fact?My Financial Director can change how my name appears in my iBuy+ Travel user profile. That's a myth. Only GW's Systems, Analytics & Insights Group can change how a user name appears in iBuy+ Travel. Simply email SAIG@gwu.edu and request that your name be changed. In the email, include how your name currently appears and how you would like it to appear. Please note that your name, as profiled in iBuy+ Travel, will appear on airline tickets purchased through the system and that the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) requires that the name on the airline ticket matches the identification used at the airport. Please be certain your profiled name matches your identification, e.g., passport, Real ID, etc.
Do you have a Myth or Fact question? Please email travel@gwu.edu and we'll provide the answer.
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| Travel Leaders (GW's Travel Management Company)1-855-771-9109 Office Hours: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm (Monday thru Friday)
After hours & emergency assistance (24 hours):
1-866-297-9293 Domestic, 1-706-812-7887 International, Refer to code: D07
For online technical and navigational booking assistance contact Travel Leaders Corporate eCommerce Support: 1-877-554-6306 or email ecommerce@tlcorporate.com
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