The Associated Press reports that some 50 hotels across thecountry are giving away a free night to guests who can prove that theycompleted at least eight hours of community service between July 1 andDec. 20.

To qualify, you must provide a letter on the nonprofitorganization's letterhead proving that you've completed the volunteerwork at a 501c3 organization such as Meals on Wheels or Habitat forHumanity.

The hotels, all managed by Sage Hospitality, includeThe Nines in Portland, Ore., The Blackstone in Chicago and the SheratonTucson Hotel and Suites in Arizona.

The room must be reservedat least 48 hours before arrival. Guests must pay taxes for the room.Blackout dates apply and there are a limited number of rooms availableat each hotel.

The offer runs to Dec. 20.

Details on how to book can be found at http://www.giveadaygetanight.com.

Otherparticipating hotels include the Sheraton Tempe in Arizona; theCourtyard Monrovia, Courtyard San Diego, and Homewood Suites Brisbanein California; the Courtyard Denver, Hilton Garden Inn Denver andResidence Inn Denver; the Hilton Garden Inn, Orlando, Fla.; theDoubletree Atlanta; the Sheraton Chicago NW; the Courtyard Brighton,Detroit; the Fairfield Inn Duluth in Minnesota; the Sheraton KansasCity in Missouri; the Holiday Inn Omaha in Nebraska; the Fairfield InnLas Vegas; the Marriott Charlotte in North Carolina; the Fairfield InnCincinnati North; the Courtyard Portland in Oregon; the RenaissancePittsburgh; the Renaissance Providence in Rhode Island; and theResidence Inn Milwaukee.


Here's some more travel news you can use:

*  Last week I blogged about China's Spring Airlines wanting passengers to stand up on flights to accommodate more passengers per plane – and now it appears that the Irish discount airline Ryanair wants its passengers to do the same thing.  The company's CEO wants Boeing to build a special standing room only jet so fliers can perch on stools instead of sitting on chairs.

*  The first direct international flight service from New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina begins Tuesday with AeroMexico's route to Mexico City.

*  The Associated Press reports that a TSA agent was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport after authorities say she avoided a pre-flight screeningand boarded a Continental Airlines flight bound for Houston.  Apparently, she was wantedon traffic-related warrants. The incident caused the flight to be delayed for more than an hour as each passenger was taken off the plane and screened again.

*  An electrical fire near the Space Needle shut down the travel sectionof Bing, Microsoft's new search engine, for 36 hours over the Fourth ofJuly weekend. Bing Travel apparently has no backup servers to handle such an incident.