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Travel industry pioneer passes away
The travel industry is mourning the loss of Ralph Bahna, a business travel innovator who also helped shape modern cruising and online travel.
Bahna, 71, died at the Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan last week his family announced.
The cause of death was cardiac failure.
He came to prominence at TWA where he helped launch its first ever business-class seating – Ambassador Class.
He moved to Cunard Line as CEO, and his first notable success was to keep the iconic QE2 ship afloat by converting it from steam to diesel power.
He was also the driving force behind a tie-in with British Airways offering luxury trans-Atlantic round trips combining a cruise and a return on supersonic Concorde.
In 1994 he launched the first Club Quarters hotel in midtown Manhattan, offering business travelers full service overnight and long-stay accommodations in prime business locations at preferential rates for corporate members.
The company now has 16 hotels in the US.
Bahna was on the board at Priceline.com since its launch in 1998, overseeing its rise as the largest online travel agency in the US.
He served as chairman from 2004 until retiring in early 2013.
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