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How to find commercial travellers in your family history

Jad Adams looks at the colourful lives of our ancestors who worked as travelling salesmen, as featured in the Whitehalls’ Who Do You Think You Are? episode

When Joseph Brown started selling drapery goods to tailors in 1858, he was “provided with a complete set of new patterns, and a smart horse and trap” and told to “go and prosper”.

“I went out as far as a cold piercing head wind would let me,” he added.

This anecdote gives an insight into the determination of the early commercial travellers.

Commercial travellers developed along with a century in which there was more and more manufacturing, and more shops selling the goods being made.

Another factor was the increase in public wealth from the middle of the 19th century: the public wanted to buy.

Travellers sold exclusively to shops, whose owners had previously gone to warehouses to pick up supplies.

The rise of the trade of commercial traveller therefore corresponded with a decline in that of the warehouseman: when a commercial traveller sold goods, they were delivered to the shop directly.

The occupation column in the census might not simply say “commercial traveller”. The job title given here would often relate to a particular product: for example a commercial timber traveller could be selling lumber or actual standing trees, waiting to be processed when they were bought.

Sometimes they thought it more classy to call themselves ‘representatives,’ so someone could style himself a commercial brewer’s traveller or brewery representative.

The commercial traveller might carry the Commercial Traveller’s Pocket Companion , giving all the counties with the towns and populations of each, their market days and the distance from the main county town.

Travel took so long in the 19th century that a salesman could be away “ten months out of twelve”. He worked one of nine circuits: the South Coast; the Eastern Counties; the Midlands; the Northern Counties; Bristol and the West of England; South Wales ; North Wales; Ireland ; and Scotland .

Many commercial travellers got started working in a shop . Commercial traveller was a final destination as a job: people did not gain levels of seniority, they just moved on to better companies that dealt in higher-quality (and higher-priced) goods, meaning the commission would be greater when they made a sale. A seller of china dinner services or pharmaceuticals would be on a higher rate than a man seeking orders for buckets and coal scuttles.

Everyone had to have a line in patter, with one salesman quoted as saying: “I am the ambassador, plenipotentiary, envoy extraordinary, from P.B. & Co. The object of my mission to your highness’s court is to settle, in an amicable and equitable basis, the great cotton and linen question.”

Between 1871 and 1881 the number of commercial travellers doubled to 40,000; it was almost 50,000 in 1891.

They would earn £100–200 basic salary a year, but their real income came as commission. This would be on a sliding scale, so there was 2.5 per cent commission on sales from £3,000 to £5,000; 5 per cent on sales up to £10,000; and 7.5 per cent above that. The incentive was great to obtain big orders.

Life on the road

With commercial travellers representing so much money in salary and expenses they were well treated by the hotel trade, who set aside ‘commercial rooms’ where they would write up their order books and dine.

Charles Dickens noted the “hotel-room tapestried with greatcoats and railway wrappers” for commercial travellers. These were effectively club rooms with fellow feeling, in addition to rituals of dining that were almost masonic.

The pretensions of some were mocked by George Formby senior in his music hall song 'The Commercial Traveller': “Everyone says I shine, the fellows in Lockhart’s commercial room say I’m the smartest in my line… I look just like a prize rabbit, I’ve got a wrist watch on and all, I’ll have earrings in next week and you can call me sissy.”

Over the 19th century the traveller on foot or in horse-drawn van became the railway traveller then, in the 20th century, the car driver.

As travel became easier, fewer ate in commercial rooms as more restaurants were available. Travellers returned home more frequently rather than engaging in extended road trips.

There was a temptation to ‘treat’ or buy a drink for a compliant buyer, to ‘baptise the business’. This made heavy drinking one of the dangers of the commercial traveller’s life.

With their self-assured manner, itinerant lifestyle and good income, commercial travellers had a reputation of being popular with the ladies. Certainly a sophisticated man with a car, slick patter and time on his hands in the evenings could play fast and loose with provincial women.

Alfred Rouse was one such commercial traveller and made the news in the 1930s, although he did not become famous so much as notorious.

He worked for a Leicester firm dealing in garters and braces (men wore sock suspenders or garters, and braces for trousers). When his love life started getting on top of him (with two wives and a number of maintenance orders against him) he decided to disappear and start again by killing a tramp who looked like him, putting the unfortunate victim in his car and setting light to it. He was spotted leaving the scene, and was soon arrested.

His trial gives details of the lives of travelling salesmen: he was earning £10 a week; paying £1 12s a week on his car, £1 7s 6d to the building society for his house, and £2 10s a week to his wives for housekeeping.

He had all of the traits useful to a commercial traveller: confidence, talkativeness, social skills and good mechanical knowledge, essential for maintaining the Morris Minor.

But none of these helped him, and he was hanged at Bedford on 10 March 1931.

Where to find commercial travellers

You will see “commercial traveller”, or one of its many variants, in the occupation column of the census, but remember that on census night a commercial traveller would be more likely to be in a hotel or lodging house than at home.

Commercial travellers were a branch of the company for which they worked, and their contact details were included in advertisements in trade magazines.

Willing’s British and Irish Press Guide (which you should find in a county library) will supply the name and date of the relevant trade magazine.

In addition, the Royal Commercial Travellers’ Schools in Pinner, Harrow, educated the children of impoverished commercial travellers and orphans between 1847 and 1967.

Among the resources on their website are a timeline, photographs and memorabilia, while the schools’ surviving records are held at the London Metropolitan Archives .

Finally you can find a range of informative conversations about commercial travellers on the forum RootsChat .

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commercial traveler

Definition of commercial traveler

Word history.

1807, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near commercial traveler

commercial room

commercial treaty

Cite this Entry

“Commercial traveler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commercial%20traveler. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.

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Definition of 'commercial traveller'

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Definition of commercial traveller noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

commercial traveller

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commercial traveller | commercial traveler noun

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What does the noun commercial traveller mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun commercial traveller . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is used in Australian English, British English, Irish English, and New Zealand English.

How is the noun commercial traveller pronounced?

British english, u.s. english, irish english, australian english, new zealand english, where does the noun commercial traveller come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun commercial traveller is in the 1800s.

OED's earliest evidence for commercial traveller is from 1800, in Hereford Journal .

commercial traveller is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: commercial adj. , traveller n.

Nearby entries

• commercialize, v. 1794–
• commercialized, adj. 1849–
• commercializing, n. 1830–
• commercial letter, n. 1871–
• commercially, adv. 1748–
• commercial note, n. 1871–
• commercial paper, n. 1777–
• commercial play, n. 1749–74
• commercial room, n. 1803–
• commercial surveillance, n. 1979–
• commercial traveller | commercial traveler, n. 1800–
• commerciate, v. 1740
• commercing, n. 1607–1912
• commercing, adj. 1632–
• commère, n. 1904–
• commerge, v. 1827–
• commers, n. 1854–
• commie, n. & adj. 1928–
• commigrate, v. 1755
• commigration, n. 1613–1755
• commilitant, n. & adj. 1577–1835

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, entry history for commercial traveller | commercial traveler, n..

Originally published as part of the entry for commercial, adj. & n.

commercial traveller, n. was revised in March 2024.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into commercial traveller, n. in March 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1891)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

• View commercial, a. and n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for commercial traveller | commercial traveler, n., browse entry.

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Was Your Ancestor a Commercial Traveller?

By Administrator | 26 August 2015

Commercial travellers, also known as travelling salesmen, have been an important part of Australian life since early in the 19th century. They regularly visited almost every city, town, or settlement across the nation selling their wares or seeking orders for products of the companies or manufacturers that they represented. They used every imaginable mode of travel – horseback, buggy, wagon, stage coach, intra- and interstate shipping and railways, motorcycles, cars and trucks – so they had strong views on deficiencies in these services and were not backward in forcefully expressing them to the relevant authorities.

Commercial traveller, Waymouth Street, Adelaide, 1884. State Library of South Australia.

Commercial Travellers' Association of Queensland Coronation Smoke Concert, Brisbane, 1937. State Library of Queensland.

By the 1870s and 1880s they began to form state-based Commercial Travellers' Associations. The Queensland Association was formed in 1884, and by 1907 had over 500 members and a fine building at 283 Elizabeth St, Brisbane. In time, there were associations in all states and in New Zealand, and an Australasian Commercial Travellers' Association was formed to represent the interests of commercial travellers at the national, and to some extent, the international level.

Commercial Travellers' Club building, Elizabeth Street, Brisbane, ca.1907. State Library of Queensland.

The associations were, of course, greatly concerned with the welfare of their members, and developed and promoted accident and sickness insurance schemes, provided scholarships to children of members, compiled lists of recommended hotels across the country, and arranged social evenings, fundraisers, “smoke nights”, balls and so on. Being a commercial traveller and away from one’s family for weeks at a time could be a very lonely occupation, so CTA members used to get together in hotels and towns for companionship whenever possible.

Commercial travellers at Cloncurry, 1919. State Library of Queensland.

During World War One they actively encouraged enlistment by members and/or their sons, and participated vigorously in the conscription debates – generally on the side of conscription. Commercial Travellers' Associations were also very active in fund raising for the war effort, and the Australasian Association even donated an aeroplane.

The Queenslander, 23 January 1915, p 28.

State Library of Queensland has an excellent collection of issues of the Association’s trade journal, its monthly publication, The Australasian Traveller starting in 1905 and continuing as the Australian Traveller from 1925 to 1976, and early records of the Queensland CTA.

As well as providing a detailed history of the activities of the various Commercial Travellers' Associations, The Australasian Traveller also provides a wealth of more general information and images of: • everyday life in cities and towns across Australia • issues of the day (such as the impact of the world wars on life and commercial activities) • modes of transport and their progressive developments • styles and standards of accommodation available in towns both large and small • early development of the tourist industry in Queensland • social activities of the clubs, such as billiards competitions and cricket matches • prominent club members and their families, including their roles, photos, obituaries and family.

Margaret Cook has written a useful overview paper entitled Knights of the road – the Commercial Travellers of Queensland in the Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland , 2000, Vol 17, No 6, pp 241-246, which may be found online via SLQ's One Search catalogue .

Photographs related to Queensland commercial travellers may be found online using One Search and a more Australia-wide perspective is available through Trove (National Library of Australia's search engine and database).

Find your commercial traveller ancestor and a glimpse of another time in Australia among the records.

Dr Roger Jones

Dr Roger Jones is an agricultural scientist who was formerly with CSIRO. He is now an SLQ volunteer compiling an overview of SLQ resources on commercial travellers.

Your email address will not be published.

We welcome relevant, respectful comments.

What is business travel? Definition and examples

If you fly somewhere on behalf of your company, you are one of the millions of people involved in Business Travel each year worldwide. The term business travel refers to traveling for work purposes. We call each journey a business trip . If you drive across town to visit a client, that is not business travel. Business travel is longer.

If I say: “John is on a business trip,” we imagine he will be away for more than one day.

Wikipedia.org has the following definition of the term :

“Business travel is travel undertaken for work or business purposes, as opposed to other types of travel, such as for leisure purposes or regularly commuting between one’s home and workplace.”

Why go on a business trip?

There are literally dozens of reasons for business travel. Even if your employer is not a commercial entity, your trips may still be classed as business ones.

What about military personnel who specialize in purchasing defense equipment, missiles, vehicles, and airplanes who are flying to a military air show? Is this an example of business travel? Yes, it is.

So, rather than saying that business travel relates to journeys that are business related, we should say that they are work related.

Below is a list of types of trips people can make for work purposes:

• Attending a conference, convention, or trade show.
• Considering, examining, inspecting, or assessing new markets.
• Evaluating a project site.
• Going for a job interview far away (especially if your are an executive or specialized professional).
• Installing equipment for a customer.
• Meeting with colleagues (from the same company) at a faraway location.
• Motivating your staff to boost employee loyalty.
• Negotiating with suppliers.
• Networking.
• Promoting a product or service.
• Seeing a demonstration of something you may buy.
• Visiting customers.
• Meeting prospects (contacts who could turn into a customers).
• Apologizing to somebody.

Business travel and COVID-19

The market for business travel globally is huge. The World Health Organization says that approximately thirty percent of international trips are business-related. Until the coronavirus (COVID) pandemic hit at the beginning of 2020, the market had been forecast to expand rapidly over the next decade.

However, COVID-19 changed all that. The year 2020 saw a dramatic decline in all types of travel, including by air, ship, and land. Business traveler numbers are no exception. As businesses embrace modern telecommunication tools to communicate with employees, clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders, a new trend has evolved – the trend of replacing business travel with online meetings and events.

In August 2020, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, Alexander Joe wrote the following in an article we published :

“Business travel has been hit hard during the pandemic. Before you make travel arrangements, make sure that you are permitted to enter your country of destination by checking the latest government guidelines. If possible, it is wise to avoid travel, and if possible, to conduct meetings with colleagues and clients digitally for the time being.”

A permanent trend?

Many conference organizers and airline executives wonder whether this new online trend will prevail after the pandemic is over. Companies have not only found that modern technology is suitable for their needs, but also that communicating online with faraway people is considerably cheaper than face-to-face.

Anything that saves money and helps boost the bottom line is an attractive prospect for CEOs and board members. Bottom line , in this context , means net profit, net earnings, net income, or net EPS (earnings per share).

In a BBC article, Natasha Frost wrote :

“Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, business travel has ground to a halt. We’ve moved critical client meetings to Zoom, allowed our frequent-flier cards to gather dust and learned how to communicate with colleagues around the world without jumping on a plane.”

“But is this the start of a new normal for business travel?”

Pros and cons of business travel

Traveling is great for broadening the mind and learning new things. However, if somebody has a family, there is definitely a price to pay. Missing family events may contribute to relationship difficulties.

It is also difficult if you don’t have any children but have a partner at home that you like to be with as much as possible.

Many people who travel frequently on business say that they feel lonely while away. Healthcare professionals, for example, have commented that several of their patients who regularly go on business trips show signs of declining mental health, and in some cases, depression.

Jet lag or jet lag disorder is common for people who travel across time zones. Jet lag is primarily a temporary sleep disorder which can make you feel unwell and cause daytime fatigue. Sufferers often find it hard to stay alert and may also have gastrointestinal problems.

If you suffer from jet lag, you have a greater risk of being involved in a road accident. Try to get somebody else to drive if you feel drowsy when you get back from your trip.

If your business travel is successful, i.e., good for your employer, your opportunities for promotion may improve. If you visit branches of your company, you will make new face-to-face contacts. In fact, one of them may offer you an interesting position in the future. Without your trips, this opportunity may never arise.

On a personal note, if you like learning about different cultures and how people abroad go about their lives, business travel is great. Not only do you learn a lot, but you also do it on the company’s expense.

If you accumulate lots of airmiles or reward points, you can use them for big discounts when you take your family on vacation. You may get special concessions from airlines, airports (VIP lounges), hotel chains, restaurants, currency exchange agencies, and car rental companies.

With the advancement of smart technology, business travel is becoming more efficient as travelers can check in, navigate airports, and manage itineraries using their smartphones.

Terms related to business travel

There are many words and expressions in the English language that are related to business travel. Let’s look at six compound phrases that contain the words “business travel,” understand their meanings, and see how they are used in a sentence:

Business travel expenses

The costs incurred while traveling for work purposes. Example: “The finance department requires all receipts to accurately reimburse business travel expenses.”

Business travel policy

A set of guidelines a company establishes for employees to follow when traveling on business. Example: “Before booking your flight, please review the business travel policy for approved airlines and accommodation.”

Business travel insurance

Insurance coverage designed to protect travelers from risks associated with traveling for work. Example: “Given the unpredictability of international trips, our company always recommends purchasing business travel insurance.”

Business travel management

The process or practice of managing and organizing corporate travel. Example: “Our agency specializes in business travel management, ensuring clients have a seamless experience.”

Business travel consultant

A professional who advises on and arranges all aspects of travel for businesses and their employees. Example: “To optimize our travel budget, we hired a business travel consultant.”

Business travel planner

A tool or service used to organize the details of travel for work. Example: “The business travel planner app was instrumental in coordinating the complex itinerary for our sales team’s roadshow.”

Video – What is Business Travel?

This video, from our YouTube partner channel – Marketing Business Network – explains what ‘Business Travel’ is using simple and easy-to-understand language and examples.

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Credit cards

Here’s how to avoid my embarrassing rookie Chase Sapphire Preferred travel redemption mistake

Natasha Etzel

Allie Johnson

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Robin Saks Frankel

Published 5:09 a.m. UTC May 30, 2024

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As a credit card and personal finance writer, I’m a big fan of using rewards credit cards. But my knowledge took time to build, and my understanding has evolved over the years. 

I first started using travel rewards credit cards in 2015, and at that time, I was still learning the ins and outs of credit card reward programs. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes while learning. Let me share one redemption mistake I made so you can avoid my error. 

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s take

• Flexible points that can be transferred to 14 travel partners or redeemed through Chase Travel℠ at 1.25 cents each.
• $50 annual statement credit toward Chase Travel hotel bookings.
• Valuable travel protections.
• $95 annual fee.
• Category bonuses are limited and not competitive against other travel cards.
• Transfer partner list is limited compared to programs like Amex Membership ® Rewards and Citi ThankYou ® .

Card details

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Different redemptions are worth different amounts

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is popular among frequent travelers — and for good reason. It has an affordable $95 annual fee and earns plentiful rewards in bonus categories such as dining and travel, while also rewarding you nicely for other everyday spending. 

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s annual fee worth it? Here’s how to make the most out of that $95 price tag

Another big benefit is the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards® . You can redeem them in many ways, including statement credits, travel bookings through the Chase Travel℠ portal and transfers to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs. 

The value you get from your rewards varies depending on the redemption method you choose, which is why it’s best to consider how you can maximize your rewards before you redeem them. I didn’t do this many years ago, and it’s not a mistake I’d repeat. 

I missed out on hundreds of dollars worth of value from my rewards

Once I collected a sizable stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards points (a little over 85,000), I chose the most straightforward redemption option: a statement credit to my credit card account. I cringe thinking about it now — you’ll soon understand why. 

A statement credit redemption is similar to getting cash back, but the earnings are applied to your credit card statement, reducing the amount you owe on your bill. That wasn’t the best use of my rewards because it didn’t offer maximum value.

When you redeem your points for statement credit to the Sapphire Preferred, each point is worth one cent. When redeeming 85,000 points, I received $850 as a statement credit. At the time, it felt like a win because it helped offset previous travel purchases I had made with my card. 

That’s not a terrible redemption, but it’s not the best — especially with this travel rewards credit card . I could have stretched my points further if I had used them differently. I’ll share two examples with far better value so you can avoid my mistake. 

The card gives a 25% boost when booking through the Chase Travel portal 

A notable benefit of the Sapphire Preferred Card is you can get 25% more value from your points when booking travel through the Chase Travel portal . This means each point is worth 1.25 cents when used this way. It also means my 85,000 points could have been worth $1,062.50 in travel booked through the issuer, an additional $212.50 in value.

You can book hotels, flights, and rental cars through Chase Travel. The site works similarly to other travel booking websites and apps. In addition to being shown the cost in cash, you’ll see how many points each booking would require if you want to pay with rewards.

Travel partner bookings can be worth even more

Chase has multiple airline and hotel transfer loyalty partners, which means Sapphire Preferred Card users can transfer their points to one of Chase’s travel partners to book flights and hotel stays. This can provide outsized value compared to other redemption methods. 

Here’s an example. To fly from Seattle to Singapore using my points to book an award flight I could transfer my points to Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer program, KrisFlyer. 

Here is an example of an option I could book this way in December 2024.

When you book award flights, you’re still responsible for paying taxes and fees. This round trip itinerary would cost 84,000 miles (or 84,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards as Chase transfers to airline miles at a 1:1 ratio), plus $71.80 in taxes and fees. 

I looked up flights to determine the cost of this itinerary without miles. I chose the same flights and the cheapest available economy tickets. The cash price for the same trip was $1,795.70.

Considering I’d need to pay $71.80 to cover the taxes and fees for the above award flight ticket, I’d value the award redemption at $1,723.90 at a value of roughly 2 cents per point.

That’s much better than redeeming 85,000 Chase points for an $850 statement credit or even booking travel worth $1,062.50 through Chase Travel. I’d get more than double the value. 

You can see why it pays to carefully review all options before redeeming your rewards. 

Look for ways to maximize your credit card rewards

For some, redeeming rewards earned from their Sapphire Preferred Card for statement credit may be the best option. You should always make a redemption choice that suits your needs and goals. 

But if you’re open to other redemptions, consider how to maximize the value of your rewards. Strategizing can allow you to stretch your points further. You worked hard to earn your Chase points , so taking extra time to determine the best way to redeem your Chase points can add additional value. 

Some of the best travel rewards cards require solid credit. Here’s what you need to know about what credit score is needed for the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Natasha has been a freelance writer since 2015. She specializes in credit card and credit card rewards content. When not busy writing, she's either dreaming up her next credit card rewards redemption or traveling the globe. Natasha hopes to encourage more people to experience the world around them while making smart financial choices.

Allie is a journalist with a passion for money tips and advice. She's been writing about personal finance since the Great Recession for online publications such as Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MyWalletJoy and ValuePenguin. She's also written personal finance content for Discover, First Horizon Bank, The Hartford, Travelers and Synovus.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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Have You Seen This? NASA developing supersonic plane that could 'revolutionize air travel'

By tim vandenack, ksl.com | posted - may 29, 2024 at 3:38 p.m., the experimental x-59 supersonic airplane under development by nasa and lockheed martin. it could revolutionize commercial air travel. (nasa).

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

PALMDALE, California — A sleek, long-nosed airplane is taking shape and NASA and contractor Lockheed Martin say it could revolutionize air travel, dramatically reducing the time it takes to fly from one point to another.

The sonic boom caused when airplanes travel faster than the speed of sound led to a federal ban on supersonic flights over land in 1973. Now, NASA and Lockheed Martin are spearheading development of a new airplane, the X-59, that investigators hope will be quieter, perhaps paving the way for commercial supersonic air travel.

The aim of the Quesst Mission , NASA said in a press release earlier this month , is "to reduce the sound of a sonic boom to a quieter 'thump.'" Depending on the results of eventual testing over several U.S. cities to gauge public response, NASA said the airplane and data collected could lead to "a new generation of commercial aircraft that can travel faster than the speed of sound." The X-59 — with a tapered nose designed to break up the shock waves that cause a sonic boom — will reach speeds of 925 mph, 1.4 times the speed of sound.

The new airplane, which hasn't yet taken to the skies, was revealed to the public in January and NASA recently said a flight readiness review is complete — a key step forward in allowing test flights. The X-59 project, if plans materialize as hoped, could "change the future of commercial aviation, reducing flight times by half of what they are currently," Lockheed Martin said in a statement. Development is taking place at a Lockheed Martin facility in Palmdale, California.

The NASA unveiling video unveiling shows the airplane on a tarmac and pilots inspecting the craft. A NASA update on X-59 plans last Friday shows animation of the airplane flying around cities and in other scenarios.

The Concorde, used for commercial flights from New York to Europe, provided supersonic air travel between 1976 and 2003, according to a NASA online report on the history of supersonic flight. It notes the supersonic flight by an F-105 on May 31, 1968, over a ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado that shaped public opinion on such high-speed flying. "The sonic boom blew out 200 windows on the side of the iconic Air Force Chapel and injured a dozen people," the report reads.

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The Importance of Hotel Cleanliness for Travelers

When selecting a hotel, travelers often prioritize cleanliness due to its significant impact on their overall experience. The standards of cleaning in a hotel can greatly influence a traveler’s health, comfort, and perception of the establishment. Here, we delve into the immense benefits of clean hotels for travelers.

A clean hotel is essential for maintaining good health by reducing the presence of bacteria and viruses. It creates a comfortable and relaxing environment, akin to a home away from home. Additionally, a clean hotel elevates the guest’s experience with meticulous service and attention to detail. Cleanliness also contributes to sustainability by minimizing environmental impact. Finally, a clean hotel fosters trust and enhances the hotel’s reputation, encouraging travelers to choose a reliable establishment.

1. Health Benefits of Clean Hotels

The health and well-being of travelers are significantly influenced by hotel cleanliness. Clean hotels promote health in several ways:

Improved Air Quality: High cleaning standards ensure good air quality, essential for guests with allergies or respiratory conditions.

Reduced Allergens: Regular cleaning minimizes allergens and contaminants, preventing allergic reactions and respiratory issues.

Disease Prevention: Adhering to strict hygiene protocols prevents the spread of illnesses, providing a safe environment for guests.

Jani-King is committed to maintaining the highest cleanliness standards and promoting health and well-being for travelers through quality commercial cleaning and housekeeping services.

2. Comfort and Relaxation

Clean hotels offer the comfort and relaxation that travelers seek. Fresh, clean bedding enhances sleep quality, while thorough cleaning across all hotel facilities creates a pleasant atmosphere.

Enhanced Sleep Quality: Clean, fresh bedding is crucial for a good night’s sleep.

Facility Cleanliness: High standards of cleanliness in amenities such as fitness centers and bathrooms ensure a comfortable stay.

Peaceful Environment: Effective soundproofing measures in clean hotels contribute to a restful environment.

3. Enhanced Guest Experience

Clean hotels significantly enhance the guest experience. Cleanliness sets the tone for a memorable stay, with a tidy lobby and sparkling surroundings instantly reassuring guests of their comfort and well-being.

Excellent Customer Service: Guests in clean hotels are likely to receive top-notch service from attentive staff.

Attention to Detail: Cleanliness extends to all hotel amenities, ensuring a pleasant experience throughout the stay.

Jani-King understands the unique needs of the hospitality industry and is dedicated to maintaining high standards of cleaning to enhance the guest experience.

4. Sustainability

Cleanliness is intrinsically linked to sustainability. Clean hotels minimize environmental impact through effective cleaning practices. At Jani-King, we prioritize eco-friendly cleaning solutions.

Resource Conservation : Green cleaning practices save water, energy, and other resources.

Eco-Friendly Products : We use safe, non-toxic cleaners and energy-efficient equipment, balancing cleanliness with sustainability.

5. Trust and Reputation

Cleanliness plays a crucial role in building trust and reputation for a hotel. A clean hotel exceeds guests’ expectations, leaving a lasting positive impression.

Positive Reviews : Satisfied guests often leave positive reviews, which influence potential travelers .

Professionalism and Commitment : Clean hotels reflect a commitment to guest satisfaction and professionalism, essential for establishing a reputable brand in the competitive hospitality industry.

Travelers prefer hotels with high cleanliness standards. A clean hotel ensures guest health and comfort, enhances the overall experience, and builds trust and loyalty. In the competitive hospitality industry, impeccable cleanliness is a key advantage. By maintaining high cleaning standards, hotels can build a strong reputation, attract repeat customers, and achieve long-term success.

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Boeing/NASA say helium leak a non-issue, set new Starliner launch date

Long-delayed mission for capsule now set for june 1, return could include landing in utah’s west desert.

By Art Raymond

Boeing and NASA officials say a helium leak, discovered after a May 6 launch attempt for the debut manned flight of Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule was scrubbed due to another issue, isn’t serious enough to warrant further delays and announced June 1 as the next target launch date for a mission to the International Space Station.

At a Friday press conference, Mark Nappi, vice president and manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew program, said the leak was small and stable and would be monitored throughout the mission.

“We know we can manage this (leak), so this is really not a safety of flight issue,” Nappi said.

The decision follows resolution of another technical glitch discovered just hours before the May 6 launch that required replacement of a valve on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket that will power the Boeing craft to low Earth orbit.

Liftoff is now scheduled for no earlier than 12:25 p.m. EDT on June 1, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the flight’s commander and pilot, respectively, remain in preflight quarantine at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, according to NASA. While there, they will continue to conduct various exercises using Starliner simulators ahead of the launch.

Earlier this month, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the Starliner test flight is a crucial step in NASA’s ongoing efforts to commercialize the business of space exploration, including the effort to replace the job of ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011. The SpaceX Dragon crew capsule was the first private enterprise to deliver astronauts to the ISS in 2020.

“This is all a part of our commercial activities,” Nelson said. “You’ve already seen commercial crew and cargo go to orbit with the Dragon and other cargo vehicles. This will give us that additional capacity because we always look for a backup.

“It’s a fixed-price contract. We share in the development costs but then the operation is a fixed-price contract. We’re doing that as we go to the moon as well.”

Starliner’s June 1 launch, should it come to fruition, will mark the first time since 1968′s Apollo 7 mission that a crewed mission will lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, formerly known as the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The privatization of manned space travel

Back in 2014, NASA announced a pair of “groundbreaking” contracts, granted to Boeing and SpaceX, aiming to bring the job of ferrying astronauts to and from the orbiting International Space Station, a task that was assumed by Russia’s Roscosmos following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, back to the U.S.

Boeing’s decades-long partnership with NASA and jumbo $4.2 billion contract, compared to SpaceX’s $2.6 billion, led many to believe early on that the legacy aircraft and aerospace company would outpace Elon Musk’s scrappy space startup and be first to the finish line in NASA’s new Commercial Crew Transportation Capability effort.

But a series of delays allowed SpaceX to leapfrog Boeing in the work to develop a new crew transport vehicle and in 2020, SpaceX’s Dragon 2 Crew Capsule became the first U.S.-launched spaceflight to carry astronauts to the ISS since the final, 13-day shuttle mission performed by Atlantis.

Starliner is expected to dock with the ISS about 26 hours after launch and Wilmore and Williams will spend about a week aboard the station before returning on a mission focused on testing and confirming Starliner’s capabilities.

Utah could play a role in Starliner’s debut crew flight as the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground in the state’s west desert is among a short list of possible landing sites, which also includes two targets in the vast White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and Willcox, Arizona, according to NASA. Edwards Air Force Base in California is available as a contingency landing site.

While a parachute-assisted ground landing is expected, the Starliner capsule is also capable of a water landing.

Boeing’s long journey to space

Boeing has had to overcome issues both within and without its Starliner program on the path to Monday’s scheduled launch, while SpaceX has now completed nine crewed missions to the ISS with its Dragon capsule and has a 10th in progress.

An uncrewed Starliner test flight in 2019 exposed software and communications issues that combined to derail an attempt to dock with the ISS and almost led to the crew ship’s destruction, per CBS News .

A second test flight in 2021 was scrubbed after engineers discovered corroded valves in the spacecraft’s propulsion system, pushing the next attempt to 2022. And while that flight was a success, potential problems with Starliner’s parachute lines were revealed as well as the need to replace about a mile of electrical tape that was found to be flammable.

Along the way, Boeing has had to navigate major issues in its commercial airliner division, including the tragic 737 Max plane crashes and, more recently, production and quality control issues that were highlighted when a Boeing plane flown by Alaska Airlines lost a door plug component in the passenger cabin during a flight.

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