Friday Travel Ticker: Thanksgiving passenger drop predicted

An annual Thanksgiving travel forecast predicts 37,000 fewer airline passengers this year — about a 2% drop over the same period last year. But U.S. carriers have reduced capacity to match demand and offset higher costs, the Air Transport Assn. says. That means few empty seats.... Of Americans planning to travel at Thanksgiving, 82% have not booked their travel (flight, rental car, hotel) a poll commissioned by Hotwire.com has found. Harris Interactive conducted the poll among 2,000 respondents.... Mammoth Lakes is expecting a strong cold system to move through Friday and into the weekend, with light to moderate snow.... Tickets go on sale Friday for the inaugural South Lake Tahoe’s SnowGlobe Music Festival, a three-day event over New Year’s weekend. Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Thievery Corporation and The Glitch Mob will perform. For details, click here.... Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa has unveiled two new restaurants, a refreshed poolside lounge and bar and an upgraded pool deck after a $13-million renovation.... Atlantis Events Inc. is planning the largest gay cruise in history, aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas on Jan. 29. The Fort Lauderdale departure heads to Cozumel, with up to 5,400 gay and lesbian guests.... The new SkiLakeTahoe.com website has received the 2011 WebAward for outstanding website in the travel category.... Geneva, a restaurant in Swissôtel Chicago, now serves a California Benedict, featuring a savory veggie burger.... Quirky travel pitch of the day: “W Hoboken, the luxurious waterfront landmark on the Hudson River....” SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration takes place Nov. 19–20; Nov. 25–27; Dec. 3–4; Dec. 10–11; Dec. 17–31; and Jan. 1. All holiday festivities are included with park admission.... Travel quote of the day: “I don’t draw and Leonardo [da Vinci] didn’t play the banjo, so it’s not quite accurate.” (Steve Martin on being dubbed a Renaissance man, in Sky magazine)