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Travel and Entertainment Items in the News

The managing of travel, travel accommodations, and entertainment is central to Procurement & Payment Services and its impact. We continually monitor and update our procedures, operations, and opportunities in order to provide individuals at SM¾­µäºÏ¼¯ the best entertainment and traveling accommodations across flights, discounts, hotels, and more.

The following are travel and entertainment related news items connected to our most recent newsletter:

Key Travel Reminders

• As a reminder, any changes made to your profile will need “overnight” for the profile data to synch-up.
• If you find yourself in an emergency situation (your flight is cancelled, delayed, etc.), you have the option to call the Northwestern designated phone number for Key Travel (646-289-6820). If a Northwestern agent is not available, another key agent will take the call.
• If you need help cancelling a reservation, call and speak to an agent if it is urgent by calling 646-289-6820. You may send an email with the pertinent information to (northwestern@keytravel.com) and they will cancel the reservation for you. However, this process may take longer than calling.

Download the Key Travel Mobile App for Travel Info on the Go

With the Key Travel app, you can view all elements of your trip in one place, from itineraries, flight and hotel bookings to rail and car hire. Along with flight check-in reminders, the app will also alert you in real time to any alterations or delays that may impact your journey and provides risk notifications enabling you to avoid last minute surprises and disruption. Through the app, you will also have easy access to KT Online for the booking of flights, hotels, and more.

Available in multiple languages including English, French, Dutch, Italian, German & Spanish.

You can find the app in the Apple app store or the Google Play Store. Download and add your Key Travel bookings today!

For more information about the app and how to add your trips to the app, visit the under Travel ToolKit.

Recent and Upcoming Key Travel Booking Tool Improvements

• The hotel search radius has been widened showing more hotels in a geographic area.
• Users can add booking notifiers (in addition to the default Expense Supervisor), such as financial or business admin, by adding the notifier’s email in the user’s profile.

• When selecting a chart string at check-out, the chart string will now have descriptors to help with the check-out process.
• 800 Fund numbers are now available in the Fund drop down at check-out

Flying to Los Angeles from Chicago? Upgrade to Economy Plus on United for Free!

For a limited time, you can upgrade to Economy Plus for free on flights between Chicago and Los Angeles. Travel must be booked before March 31, 2026 and be between Chicago and Los Angeles on non-stop flights.

Seats are based on availability.

Click on this link for details and this link for Economy Plus Promo

United Airlines is Offering Discounts on Personal Travel for Northwestern Travelers

Sign-up for United’s Break from Business program and receive between 5-10% off personal travel booked by December 31, 2026. Click on this link for details.  If you are not a United Mileage Plus member, you must join to take advantage of this savings. You must connect your MileagePlus account with your email. It is free to join.

You can join via the link provided. This promotion is valid on United marketed flights operated by United, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air, Air Canada, and All Nipon Airways.

Preferred Hotel Vendors News

• The contracts for our current preferred hotel vendors will be extended through 2028. The new rates and blackout dates for 2026 have been posted and can be found in the following link in the “Hotel Comparison Chart”. /procurement/travel/hotels/rates.html
• As of September 30^th, Omni Chicago donated over 2,600 meals to the Greater Chicago Food Depository on behalf of SM¾­µäºÏ¼¯. Every reservation made for SM¾­µäºÏ¼¯ travelers at Omni Chicago results in a meal donated to a local family in need.

Discount Dining News

• Invoicing is now available at the Alcove in Evanston. You will be asked to provide billing information upon arrival so the Alcove can send an invoice in the days following your dining experience.
• Several Lettuce Entertain You restaurants have joined our fixed price meal program to ensure compliance with our travel and entertainment policy. Restaurants included in the program include Ema, Il Porcellino, Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba, Osteria Via Stato, Wildfire, and Beatrix among others (stipulations and offers are unique to reach restaurant. What is included in the deal, such as price per person and the items received from the menu, vary from business to business). You must contact the Lettuce events team at lettuceparties@lettuce.com for parties of 2-10 and they will connect you with your restaurant of choice.

Please see the Discount Dining web pages for more information.

Travel to the European Union

The European Union (EU) is in the process of rolling out a new electronic Entry/Exit System (EES) at border checks. The new system will modernize border management making border checks more efficient, thus reducing wait times. Select self-service kiosks will be available. To use the new system, travelers will need a biometric passport that contains a chip with their pertinent information. If your passport does not contain a biometric chip, do not to worry as valid biometric and non-biometric passports will be accepted. You will not be denied entry to a country if you do not have a biometric passport.

GeoBlue Rebrands as Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Global Solutions

GeoBlue, the company that manages SM¾­µäºÏ¼¯’s international health insurance and assistance plans for all eligible students and employees traveling abroad for university purposes, has changed its name to BCBS Global Solutions. Our coverage and benefits are not impacted by this change, but returning users will notice visual changes in both their app and web portal. See our overview for more in-depth information. This plan is not impacted by Northwestern’s switch to United Healthcare for domestic coverage.