Travel Roundup: Southwest to Canada, O'Hare Cancellations, Sheraton Dallas Facelift and More

Southwest wants to fly to Canada -- Southwest Airlines Co. announced Monday it applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to fly to Canada so it can use its code share agreement with Canadian WestJet Airlines Ltd., but the certificate will also allow Southwest to use its own planes. Southwest previously announced plans to partner with carriers that fly to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada -- all places Southwest doesn't service. So far, the company has signed agreements with WestJet and Mexican carrier Volaris. The company expects approval for its Canadian flights in early 2009. [Source: Dallas Morning News]

More than 250 flights canceled at O'Hare -- More than 250 flights were canceled at O'Hare International Airport Tuesday because of a snowstorm. Thirty- to 90-minute delays were reported because of "intense" snowfall that will likely continue until 6 p.m. Wednesday. More snow is expected and also a mix of sleet and freezing rain. The storms are likely to cause limited visibility. [Source: Chicago Tribune]

Sheraton Dallas gets $90 million facelift -- An investment group is pouring $90 million into the Sheraton Dallas hotel, giving the 1,840-room property the equivalent of a $50,000 remodel per room. A decade ago, the building was 1.2 million-square-foot office building before being turned into the Adam's Mark hotel for around $150 million. Earlier this year, the Chartres Lodging Group LLC purchased the hotel, branded it a Sheraton and began making plans for its renovation. Analysts say that while the remodel is expensive, it's a fraction of the cost to build a new hotel. [Source: Dallas Morning News]

Holiday travel down -- The number of Americans traveling during the holiday season is down and it's a sign of the economic downturn, the Automobile Association of America reported. About 8.1 million Americans plan to travel by plane, down 8.5 percent last year. However, the number traveling by train, bus or other transportation rose slightly to 0.7 percent, up from a year ago. Travelers can expect a busy Christmas Eve, with 17 percent of travelers departing that day. The average traveler also plans to travel 1,307 miles and spend $842 for the trip. [Source: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal]