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.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt