Business Traveller May edition now live

Tue, 05/01/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Subscribers can now access the latest
edition online, with a look at whether Heathrow is doing enough to keep up
with the competition, plus a round up of ten top global rail links, and
destination features on Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires and Vienna Continues...

No 1 Traveller and Hong Kong Airlines announce new partnership

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 22:30 — Anonymous Passengers travelling on Hong Kong
Airlines' new London Gatwick route can now gain free access to the No 1
Traveller's lounge in the North Terminal Continues...

Iceland with Kids: Travel with a Baby, Children, or Teenagers

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 19:00 — Anonymous It's official. Elizabeth and I are
going to Iceland in August! We're excited to take our first international
trip with our son, who will be 9 months old when we go. I've scoured the
internet to learn about travel with kids in Iceland — what to do, where to
stay, and how to get around. [...]

Rail companies urge early booking for Olympics travel

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 20:21 — Anonymous Business travellers planning trips to
London during the Olympics are being urged to book their rail tickets when
they go on sale this week Continues...

Renaissance Barcelona Hotel opens

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 18:38 — Anonymous The 211-room Renaissance Barcelona
Hotel opened its doors last week, to further increase Marriott"s presence in
Spain Continues...

Hotel check: Grand Hyatt New York

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 17:00 — Anonymous Business Traveller reviews the recently
refurbished Grand Hyatt New York, located next to Grand Central Station in
the city's Midtown Manhattan district Continues...

Skyteam to launch Go Russia pass

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 17:54 — Anonymous This special product offers passengers
discounts on domestic flights within Russia Continues...

Residence Inn by Marriott Kuwait City opening 2015

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 13:36 — Anonymous Marriott inks in third extended stay
property in the GCC, after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Continues...

Golfing around… Phoenix

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Minty Clinch discovers some welcome
oases in the Arizona desert Continues...

Full to capacity

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous With no new runway to provide further
slots, Jenny Southan finds out how Heathrow airport intends to keep growing
Continues...

Olympic record

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Jenny Southan reports on how Heathrow
is preparing for the busiest time it"s ever had Continues...

Cut the cost of… communication

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Business Traveller offers
tried-and-tested tips on getting more for your money Continues...

Access all areas

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous From VIP privileges to travel
arrangements, Jenny Southan discovers how concierge companies can enhance
your personal and professional life Continues...

Asian players

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Alisha Haridasani introduces three
Asian hotel brands that offer a winning alternative to the big international
chains Continues...

Super charged

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Packing all the right kit to keep your
devices charged can be a mission. Rhodri Marsden selects a range of gadgets
for staying powered up Continues...

Great escape: Amalfi coast

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Travelling by boat from Naples to
Amalfi, Jenny Southan finds relaxation comes easily in this part of the world
Continues...

Tech nation

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Jenny Southan reports on how Tel Aviv
has become a world leader in high-tech innovation Continues...

Meet in Vienna

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous As the Austrian capital remembers the
birth of Klimt, David Atkinson takes a look at meetings and incentives with
an artistic vibe Continues...

Hotels at Heathrow

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Rose Dykins provides an update on
accommodation near the airport, including recent renovations and new budget
offerings Continues...

Lounge around

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Rose Dykins reports on new and improved
lounges at Heathrow's terminals Continues...

Indian addresses

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Meher Mirza and Bharati Motwani suggest
good-value hotels in four of the country"s biggest cities Continues...

Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel Baku opening May

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 15:34 — Anonymous Set alongside a 300m stretch of beach
on the Caspian shore, the hotel comprises 176 rooms and suites, and 14
stand-alone cottages Continues...

Starwood returning to Iraq

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 16:26 — Anonymous Operator announces brace of hotels in
Erbil, a 260-room Sheraton and 250-room Four Points, with both properties due
to open 2015 Continues...

InterContinental Muscat Hills Golf Resort opening 2015

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 17:32 — Anonymous City's second major golf resort will
contain 250 rooms, four F&B venues, a fitness centre, spa and pool
Continues...

New Tried and Tested reviews added

Sat, 04/28/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous We've recently added new reviews
including a look at BA's refurbished B767 Club World seat, and a review of
Thompson Hotels' first London property in Belgravia Continues...

Magdalen Chapter to open in June

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 19:27 — Anonymous The second hotel opening from Chapter
Hotels, the UK-focused sister brand of Swire Hotels, will feature free wifi
and an iPad 2 for guest use in every room Continues...

Barcelo UK becomes Puma Hotels Collection

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 17:55 — Anonymous Barcelo hotels in the UK have been
rebranded under the Puma Hotels Collection, and from May 1 all properties
will offer guests free wifi Continues...

Le Méridien Dubai unveils expansion plans

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 10:49 — Anonymous New eight-storey building at
established airport hotel will raise the overall room count to 580 rooms and
other changes are proposed for the ballrooms, meeting rooms and lobby
Continues...

China Airlines to move to JFK Terminal 4

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:50 — Anonymous Terminal 4 will offer passengers faster
transfers, priority security and more space Continues...

Green Hotel Pick: Kimpton Hotels (in 23 cities across the US)

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous If you're looking for a green hotel
brand deserving of your loyalty, Kimpton Hotels delivers on style,
convenience (they're located in 23 US cities), and eco-responsibility. Ever
since being introduced to the brand at Portland's Hotel Monaco, I've
loved staying at their hip (sometimes downright quirky) properties for their
stellar guest service and extra touches. [...]

Noodle house expands to UK and Morocco

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 19:13 — Anonymous Jumeirah Restaurants has signed a
licensing agreement with affiliates of the EQ Group to open 27 restaurants
across the UK, and another with EKY Asian Cuisine SRL to open five outlets in
Morocco Continues...

W Dubai, St. Regis Dubai and Westin Dubai opening 2017

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 15:00 — Anonymous Habtoor Group and Starwood announced
today that they will open Dubai's first St. Regis & W hotel at Habtoor
Palace, along with a 966-room Westin Dubai and new Metropolitan Hotel
Continues...

Finnair launches lifetime tier status

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 17:02 — Anonymous Members of the Oneworld carrier"s
frequent flyer scheme can earn lifetime Gold and Platinum status under a new
benefit launched to co-incide with the programme"s 20th anniversary
Continues...

Singapore Marriott Hotel completes refurbishment

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:29 — Anonymous The Orchard Road landmark revealed
today the results of a US$28 million makeover Continues...

ANA to fly to Seattle

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 15:00 — Anonymous The carrier has announced it will
launch flights to Seattle and San Jose, both of which are important business
destinations for Japanese corporates Continues...

British Airways upgrades Dubai lounge

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 15:38 — Anonymous Novel lighting has been installed
alongside a new menu and improved F&B facilities Continues...

Four Seasons Riyadh renovation nears completion

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 13:26 — Anonymous Currently the hotel has 229 rooms and
suites, which will rise to 274 on completion of the work in October
Continues...

Portable Water Purifier for Travel

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 20:59 — Anonymous Last year, my husband and I took three
months to road trip through Africa. Visiting over a dozen countries in our
4×4 was no small feat and there were countless hours of planning. While I am
happy with how we planned and stayed on budget, there is one piece of
equipment I wish we would [...]

Citizen M announces third London hotel

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 22:26 — Anonymous "Budget luxury" hotel brand Citizen M
has announced its third London property, located on Holborn Viaduct close to
St Paul's Continues...

KLM confirms business class revamp

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:58 — Anonymous As previously reported by Business
Traveller, the carrier is to launch a fully-flat business class seat next
year, with Dutch designer Hella Jongerius commissioned to design both the
seat and cabin interiors Continues...

London Southend gets terminal extension go-ahead

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:27 — Anonymous The airport only opened its new
terminal in March, but is already moving ahead with an extension to increase
the number of check-in desks, add security lanes and enlarge the departures
area Continues...

Flybe to scrap debit card charges

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:17 — Anonymous Flybe is scrapping debit card charges,
reducing credit card fees and changing its fares structure as part of a new
strategy to increase the transparency of its pricing Continues...

Turkish Airlines and Air India to expand codeshare

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous The two carriers will now affix their
codes to domestic routes in Turkey and India Continues...

BA to launch LCY-Aberdeen route

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 15:29 — Anonymous The carrier will serve the route three
times-daily from September, adding to existing BA flights from Heathrow to
the Granite City Continues...

Walsh 'not confident' of selling Bmi subsidiaries

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:59 — Anonymous The boss of British Airways" owner IAG
has cast doubt on the ability of the company to sell Bmi subsidiaries Bmibaby
and Bmi Regional Continues...

How to Save Money on a Road Trip: 5 Tips

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous My family and I are lucky enough to
live in a beautiful region of the Pacific Northwest. Since we're a family
of five and airfare is sometimes out of the budget, we often opt to save
money on a road trip. While more economical than flying, road trip costs can
add up, especially as gas [...]

BA marks 85 years of serving inflight meals

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 20:52 — Anonymous Next week will mark 85 years since
British Airways served its first inflight meal. Among the food and drink on
offer on the flight were sandwiches, biscuits and beef tea Continues...

Gatwick leads the way with social media

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 18:07 — Anonymous The south London airport is the first
in the UK to receive the Twitter blue tick Continues...

BA and Virgin unveil website revamps

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 18:55 — Anonymous The rival carriers have both unveiled
new website homepages at ba.com and virginatlantic.com Continues...

Hyatt Regency Riyadh opening end 2013

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 14:14 — Anonymous The 257-room hotel will be part of
Al-Swailem Tower and an upscale shopping arcade and commercial complex - and
complement the upcoming Hyatt Regency Jeddah Continues...

Swiss to fly London City to Basel

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 15:06 — Anonymous The carrier will offer a twice-daily
service from London City airport to Basel, starting on May 21 Continues...

Boeing Dream Tour reaches Heathrow

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 16:04 — Anonymous The Boeing 787 Dreamliner touched down
at London Heathrow this week, on the latest leg of its world tour
Continues...

Pullman Deira City Centre Dubai targets October opening

Tue, 04/24/2012 - 12:15 — Anonymous General manager Laurent Noury gave
Business Traveller Middle East an exclusive tour of the centrally located
property this week Continues...

Exclusive: Inside JAL's Dreamliner

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous The carrier's B787, used on its first
flight to Boston yesterday, capitalises on a unique lighting system to
reflect a particular season or phase in the inflight service Continues...

Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous We're thrilled to announce the launch
of a monthly Go Green Travel Green newsletter. Just sign up in the Join the
Email List box to the right sidebar or sign up here. When you sign up today,
you'll get monthly emails with: Top travel deals and steals Excellent
travel tips and stories Useful reviews of [...]

Lufthansa to selectively cut first class

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 20:45 — Anonymous The German carrier is to cut first
class from "a number of routes", and will re-consider the possibility of
introducing a premium economy product Continues...

Virgin unveils new Upper Class suite

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 18:36 — Anonymous Features include increased width and
recline in seat mode, and "the longest flat bed in business class". The
onboard bar has also been separated from the main cabin area Continues...

Sheraton Edinburgh completes refurb

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 21:29 — Anonymous The property has undergone a total
renovation of its public areas and guestrooms, as part of a US$350 million
investment in 14 flagship Sheraton hotels worldwide Continues...

Lounge check: BA Galleries lounge, Newark airport

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 16:10 — Anonymous Business Traveller takes a look around
British Airways' new lounge at Newark Liberty airport Continues...

Ryanair to launch Liverpool-Warsaw route

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 18:23 — Anonymous The carrier will join fellow low-cost
airline Wizzair in offering flights from Liverpool to Warsaw"s new Modlin
airport later this year Continues...

Starwood continues expansion in China

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 12:00 — Anonymous The group is expected to open 15 hotels
in mainland China by the end of this year Continues...

Hotel Indigo comes to Xiamen

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 17:04 — Anonymous The hotel is IHG's second property
under its lifestyle brand Indigo in the region, with another one poised to
open in Hong Kong Continues...

10 Fun Earth Day Activities and Photos

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous We environmentalists tend to take
ourselves pretty seriously most of the year, but Earth Day should be fun, in
addition to being educational. If you're looking for a unique way to
commemorate Earth Day 2012, you've come to the right place. Here are ten
activities — some conventional, some unorthodox — to make this Earth Day
one [...]

Back on track

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Frequent travellers are at increased
risk from back pain, but simple strategies can help to prevent it, says Sally
Brown Continues...

Four hours in Hyderabad

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Margot Bigg discovers opulent
architecture, gourmet biryani and a lush oasis in the Indian city
Continues...

Meet in Sharm el-Sheikh

Sat, 04/21/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous With world-class diving and dramatic
landscapes, Jenny Southan finds the Sinai Peninsula makes an ideal incentive
destination Continues...

Lyon's quest

Sat, 04/21/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous France's second city is on a mission
– to become one of the world's premier centres for research and
innovation. Liat Clark reports Continues...

6 Awesome Travel Deals for Earth Day

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 20:51 — Anonymous This Earth Day, why not treat yourself
to a green vacation? In honor of Earth Day 2012, Groupon has a number of
excellent, eco-friendly trips. You can stay off the grid in a eco-lodge or
live it up in luxury at a sustainable retreat. From Nicaragua and Thailand to
Botswana and Hawaii, there's sure to [...]

July 3: transfer day for Diamond Club miles and Avios

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 21:19 — Anonymous BA says it will launch an online tool
on July 3 to "allow Diamond Club and Executive Club members to transfer
destinations miles and Avios points between both programmes" Continues...

Virgin Australia refreshes B777 cabins

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 13:16 — Anonymous The interiors now feature new colour
schemes, fabric covers and carpets Continues...

Scoot to take off ahead of schedule

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 17:25 — Anonymous The carrier's first flight to launch
destination Sydney is set for June 4 Continues...

Easyjet to launch Gatwick-Luxembourg route

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 19:54 — Anonymous The low-cost carrier will compete with
BA, Luxair and Cityjet on the London-Luxembourg route from this winter, with
a four times-weekly service launching on October 29 Continues...

Diamond Club and Avios: the details

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 16:39 — Anonymous Existing Diamond Club members will be
offered status match in BA"s Executive Club scheme, and 1:1 conversion of
miles into Avios Continues...

IAG completes Bmi purchase

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 15:46 — Anonymous The deal has gone through but IAG will
receive a "significant price reduction" as Lufthansa was unable to sell
subsidiaries Bmibaby or Bmi Regional ahead of the purchase Continues...

Who to Travel With: 6 Tips for Picking the Best Travel Companion

Thu, 04/19/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous As far as picking traveling companions
goes, I have been fortunate: my best friend and my husband are both wonderful
travel companions. But on a recent trip, my husband and I traveled for about
a week with some people we met along the way. While it worked out okay, by
the time we parted ways [...]

Tried and Tested: BA"s refurbished B767 Club World seat

Thu, 04/19/2012 - 20:05 — Anonymous Business Traveller reviews the
refurbished Club World seating on BA"s B767 service between London Heathrow
and New York Newark, complete with photos taken on board the flight
Continues...

Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah opening 2014

Thu, 04/19/2012 - 18:11 — Anonymous The 250-room hotel, located on Al
Madinah Road, will also contain 100 serviced apartments Continues...

OFT halves BA"s penalty for fuel surcharge fixing

Thu, 04/19/2012 - 18:23 — Anonymous The Office of Fair Trading has reduced
BA"s penalty for fuel surcharge fixing with Virgin Atlantic to £58.5
million, less than half the original £121.5 million fine originally imposed
Continues...

Servisair opens Liverpool airport lounge

Thu, 04/19/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Lounge provider Servisair has opened
the first of its "Aspire" lounge concepts outside of London, a £250,000
facility at Liverpool John Lennon airport Continues...

Easyjet to launch Birmingham-Belfast route

Thu, 04/19/2012 - 07:02 — Anonymous The low-cost carrier is to launch
flights between the two cities on October 22, and will also increase
frequencies on its Manchester-Belfast route for the winter season
Continues...

5 Least Crowded US National Parks (and Why You Should Visit)

Wed, 04/18/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous My top five picks among the least
crowded US national parks are no less worthy of visiting than the big Ys
(you know: Yosemite and Yellowstone). They're simply more remote than the
top US national parks, smaller (or in some cases, vastly larger) and often
harder to access. What does this mean for the adventurous traveler? [...]

Hotel Indigo opens Edinburgh property

Wed, 04/18/2012 - 19:16 — Anonymous Intercontinental Hotels Group has
opened its second Hotel Indigo property in Scotland, a 60-room hotel housed
within a listed 18th century building in Edinburgh's city centre.
Continues...

Thomson announces first Dreamliner routes

Wed, 04/18/2012 - 16:51 — Anonymous The leisure carrier is the first UK
airline to take delivery of the B787 Dreamliner, and will operate it on
routes from Manchester, Gatwick, East Midlands and Glasgow to Cancun and
Florida from next May Continues...

Flybe to launch Leeds-Glasgow route

Wed, 04/18/2012 - 15:52 — Anonymous The twice-daily flights will be
operated by Flybe's franchise partner Loganair, following Bmi"s decision to
drop the route from April 27 Continues...

Hotel check: Belgraves London

Wed, 04/18/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Business Traveller reviews the recently
opened Belgraves hotel in London"s Belgravia district, the first property
outside North America under the Thompson Hotels brand Continues...

7 Tips for Taking Great Travel Photos

Tue, 04/17/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous Whether you have several thousands of
dollars worth of professional camera gear or just a point and shoot camera,
you can take great travel photos. In fact, photography is one of the best
ways to capture memories from your travel experiences. Here are some tips for
taking amazing travel photos: 1. Think outside the box [...]

Air Nigeria set to restart Gatwick flights

Tue, 04/17/2012 - 19:28 — Anonymous The former Virgin Nigeria, now branded
as Air Nigeria, looks set to relaunch flights between Lagos and London,
according to local media reports Continues...

Easyjet to launch Manchester-Tel Aviv route

Tue, 04/17/2012 - 19:19 — Anonymous The low-cost carrier is to offer a
twice-weekly service to the Israeli city, adding to existing flights from
London Luton airport Continues...

SIA to fly special A380 flights to Osaka

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 17:16 — Anonymous The superjumbo will be deployed to the
Japanese city to celebrate the route's 40th anniversary Continues...

Jetstar Japan to take off on July 3

Tue, 04/17/2012 - 13:38 — Anonymous The carrier will fly from Tokyo to
Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa Continues...

Marriott plans Latin America / Caribbean expansion

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 22:24 — Anonymous The group is aiming to double its hotel
portfolio across the region by 2017, with president Arne Sorenson describing
Latin America as being at the forefront of "a golden age of travel"
Continues...

Virgin to appeal IAG"s purchase of Bmi

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 15:13 — Anonymous Sir Richard Branson said the EU"s
"lightning speed" decision to approve IAG"s purchase of Bmi "will cause
serious competitive harm at Heathrow" Continues...

Etihad starts Basra flights

Sun, 04/15/2012 - 23:45 — Anonymous New A320 service, with 16 Pearl
business class seats, operates four times a week, offering a mix of morning
and afternoon departures Continues...

Pan Pacific Singapore embarks on major refurbishment project

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 13:17 — Anonymous The transformation will cover the
guestrooms, lobby and restaurants Continues...

Tune Hotels King's Cross to offer £9 rooms

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 16:30 — Anonymous Budget chain Tune Hotels is gearing up
to open its latest London property in King's Cross, and will launch a flash
sale this week with rooms for just £9 Continues...

Vancouver on wheels

Sun, 04/15/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Tom Otley gets on his bike for a
cycling tour of the scenic Canadian city Continues...

Sight and sound

Sun, 04/15/2012 - 07:02 — Anonymous Whether you want to jot down that
killer idea or capture an unforgettable vista, Steve Dinneen rounds up the
latest gadgets for recording the moment Continues...

What's in a room?

Sat, 04/14/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous At a time when many hotels are adding
flashy extras to stand out from the competition, what is it that time-poor
travellers really want to find beyond the door? Liat Clark reports
Continues...

Cut the cost of... car hire

Sat, 04/14/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Business Traveller offers
tried-and-tested tips on getting more for your money. This month: car hire
Continues...

Qatar Airways plans US Dreamliner routes

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 18:47 — Anonymous Qatar Airways is to launch flights to
Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and Detroit using forthcoming Boeing Dreamliner
aircraft, according to a Bloomberg report Continues...

Accor unveils new sustainability strategy

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 18:28 — Anonymous The hotel operator has revealed 21
steps to make its global portfolio of hotels more environmentally friendly by
2015 Continues...

JetKonnect to offer Premiere cabins

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 16:47 — Anonymous The rebranded low-cost subsidiary of
Jet Airways will roll out the business class product from April 17 on select
routes Continues...

Shangri-La Dalian to expand

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous One of the very first international
hotels to enter the busy seaport in Liaoning province, the property will soon
get a new tower block Continues...

Dreamliner tour to visit London and Manchester

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 15:16 — Anonymous Boeing"s world tour of its B787
Dreamliner aircraft will take in the UK later this month, with visits to
Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester airports Continues...

Green Cruise Line Measures on the New Disney Fantasy

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous Last month, my kids and I were lucky
enough to sail on the media preview voyage of the Disney Fantasy, the newest
ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet of four. Having conducted research on
how small ship cruising is the best green cruise option, I had concerns about
the eco-implications of our trip aboard [...]

BA"s takeover of Bmi to result in "up to 1,200 redundancies"

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 20:39 — Anonymous British Airways says that Bmi is losing
£3 million per week, and has opened a consultation with unions for full
integration of the airline into BA"s operations at Heathrow Continues...

Hong Kong Airlines crew taught martial arts

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 22:12 — Anonymous Cabin crew on Hong Kong Airlines
flights are being trained in Wing Chun, a martial arts said to "enhance
general well-being and reinforce physical health and mental wellness"
Continues...

Etihad 'did not end Aer Arann codeshare'

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 12:52 — Anonymous Abu Dhabi airline says its hand was
forced after Aer Arann network recently became part of Aer Lingus Regional
brand Continues...

Heathrow extends VIP service

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 13:42 — Anonymous Heathrow By Invitation was previously
reserved exclusively for royalty and heads of state Continues...

Fraser World loyalty programme launched

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 11:46 — Anonymous New global programme from Fraser
Hospitality rewards points for every room night stayed and features Crystal,
Sapphire, Diamond and Platinum tiers Continues...

Ryanair to cut Edinburgh routes

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 16:53 — Anonymous The carrier says it will drop eight
routes from its winter schedule, citing BAA"s refusal to offer "a competitive
cost base for more Ryanair growth" and accusing the operator of having "no
interest in securing the future of Scottish tourism, traffic and jobs"
Continues...

Best Guidebooks for e-Readers

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 20:00 — Anonymous My first overseas experience was a
backpacking trip through Europe with my best friend right after
college. Before the trip, we bought the Lonely Planet Europe guidebook. We
couldn't believe how big it was — and how much it weighed. At the time,
our solution was to cut out the pages we needed and throw them away [...]

Heathrow passes 70 million passengers mark

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 20:54 — Anonymous The London airport saw a record number
of travellers pass through its terminals over the last 12 months, but BAA
warned that the facility continues to operate at over 99 per cent capacity
Continues...

Phuket airport temporarily closes due to tsunami warning

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 18:18 — Anonymous The alert has been issued following the
magnitude 8.7 earthquake that occurred off the coast of Aceh in Indonesia
Continues...

Accor to open second M Gallery property in the UK

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 18:02 — Anonymous The group is rebrand the Mercure Bath
Francis Hotel, following an "intensive £6 million refurbishment" project
Continues...

Doha chosen for first Middle East Amari hotel

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 18:24 — Anonymous Thailand-based Onyx Hospitality Group
says the 120-room hotel, located 15 minutes from the airport, aims to open in
September, and confirms Amari Hua Hin will open in Thailand in June
Continues...

Doubletree by Hilton opens in Gurgaon

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 13:59 — Anonymous This is the brand's second property in
the larger Delhi conurbation Continues...

JPA to design new Air China lounges

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 16:08 — Anonymous James Park Associates has been
commissioned to design new flagship lounges for Air China in Beijing,
Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing Continues...

BA revamps Club Kitchen offering

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 21:40 — Anonymous Club World passengers on long-haul
flights from Heathrow can now enjoy snacks from "great British brands"
including Waitrose and The Ice Cream Union Continues...

Best Jobs with Travel Perks and Discounts

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 17:44 — Anonymous Unfortunately, travel can get
expensive. Whether it is purchasing camping gear, or booking flights—it
seems to add up quickly. Thankfully, there are several jobs that offer great
travel discounts and perks for frequent travelers. If you're a frequent
traveler, then these may be the jobs for you. Here are some great jobs with
travel perks and discounts. [...]

BA2012 pops up in London

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 19:09 — Anonymous Business Traveller visits British
Airways" Olympic-themed venue in Shoreditch Continues...

Emirates revamps ICE digital widescreen

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 17:47 — Anonymous The new interface, developed by
Panasonic, will be introduced in all classes within two weeks across
Emirates" A380 fleet and over the next year across the majority of its B777s
Continues...

Singapore Airlines to deploy A380 on third London service

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 16:31 — Anonymous Starting from June 1, the carrier will
use the superjumbo for all three daily flights between the Lion City and the
UK capital Continues...

BA starts A380 build

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 16:46 — Anonymous Construction has begun on BA"s first
A380 superjumbo, due for delivery in 2013. The carrier also says it is "on
track" to be the first airline to have both A380 and B787 aircraft in its
fleet Continues...

Best Western sets out expansion plans in Indonesia

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous The hotel group will more than
quadruple its portfolio in the archipelago by the end of 2013 Continues...

SWISS opens new Zurich arrivals lounge

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 13:56 — Anonymous New 700sqm facility, which replaces
former lounge in Arrivals 1, is located in the public area of Arrivals 2 and
contains 10 workstations, 20 showers and three hotel-style bedrooms
Continues...

The big picture: BA's refurbished B767 Club World seat

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 14:37 — Anonymous British Airways has released images of
the refurbished Club World seat on its B767 aircraft, serving routes
including New York Newark Continues...

Etihad expands Brussels Airlines codeshare

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 17:41 — Anonymous New agreement covers services to Lyon,
Marseille and Toulouse Continues...

SIA bids farewell to the "Queen of the Skies" from 1970s

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 08:25 — Anonymous The carrier's last B747, which flew a
special flight between Singapore and Hong Kong, is now replaced by the A380
Continues...

Oman Air posts RO110 million loss in 2011

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 12:42 — Anonymous Airline describes it as a "justified"
loss as a result of 38% increase in fuel prices Continues...

AACO urges global solution to ETS

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 12:24 — Anonymous Arab Air Carriers Organisation issues
six-point declaration at Doha meeting Continues...

New Tried and Tested reviews added

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 07:02 — Anonymous We've recently added new reviews
including a look at Hong Kong Airlines' new Club Premier offering, Cathay's
new premium economy seat, and the new Alyn Williams restaurant at the
Westbury Continues...

Just the ticket

Sun, 04/08/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Desperate to see the Games? Jenny
Southan reveals last-minute hospitality options for the Olympics Continues...

Route of the month

Sun, 04/08/2012 - 07:02 — Anonymous Alex McWhirter looks at how new
services can benefit business travellers. This month: options from London to
Taipei Continues...

In the picture

Sat, 04/07/2012 - 07:01 — Anonymous Stats presented in illuminating ways.
This month: doing business abroad Continues...

Hubs of activity

Sat, 04/07/2012 - 07:02 — Anonymous Operating a hub airport can pay huge
dividends for a city, country and national airline. Alex McWhirter reports on
the ones getting it right Continues...

Oetker Collection opens Palais Namaskar

Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:40 — Anonymous The 41 villa-and-suite property, a
20-minute drive outside Marrakech, opens its doors today Continues...

In focus

Fri, 04/06/2012 - 07:02 — Anonymous Alex McWhirter examines topical
business travel issues. This month: the future of nonstop flights between the
US and Asia Continues...

LA Story

Fri, 04/06/2012 - 07:02 — Anonymous With a new airport terminal set to open
and ambitious Downtown redevelopment, Jenny Southan finds the City of Angels
on the brink of a surprising transformation Continues...

Best Travel Water Bottle for Kids

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 19:30 — Anonymous Parents who travel green are among the
most responsible consumers: not only are they committed to eco-friendly
products, but they demand the highest standards when it comes to the safety
of their kids. I'd like to think I'm no exception, which is why I did
extensive research before purchasing stainless steel water bottles for my
[...]

Tried and Tested: Cathay Pacific B777-300ER premium economy

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 18:20 — Anonymous Business Traveller's Asia-Pacific
edition reviews the new premium economy product from Cathay Pacific, on the
aircraft's delivery flight from Seattle Continues...

W hotels to number 60 by 2015

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 19:10 — Anonymous Business Traveller gets a Starwood
update at official launch of W Paris Opéra Continues...

Turkish Airlines expanding in KSA, Kuwait and Iraq

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 11:54 — Anonymous Riyadh increases to 14 flights a week,
Kuwait rises to 21 a week and services to Erbil and Baghdad are both set to
expand this summer Continues...

BA unveils Newark lounge and B767 refresh

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 16:37 — Anonymous The carrier has opened a new
"Galleries-style" lounge at New York Newark airport, along with refurbished
B767 aircraft serving the Newark-London route Continues...

Hyatt Place Bayamón targets 2014 opening

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 13:35 — Anonymous Marks the company's first select
service hotel in Puerto Rico and return to the Caribbean island after
nine-year absence Continues...

Airbus enhances A350XWB premium seats

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 13:45 — Anonymous The four-strong range now encompasses
'Journey', 'Equinox', 'Cirrus' and 'Arcus' models, all of which convert into
flatbeds Continues...

Accor opens rebranded properties in Bangkok and Pattaya

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 16:35 — Anonymous Sofitel Bangkok Silom and Pullman
Pattaya Aisawan have become Pullman Bangkok Hotel G and Pullman Pattaya Hotel
G respectively Continues...

No more name changes from Kulula

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 21:09 — Anonymous Kulula will no longer allow name
changes. If you are a frequent traveller on Kulula, we can sign you up for
Kulula Biz Deals, provided the minimum spend is met. Biz Deals entitles
travellers to the following: * 2 x free 'admin changes' eg name change,
(valued at R150) per

Watch out Washington - here comes Emirates

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 20:30 — Anonymous Washington Dulles International Airport
will see the start of a new Emirates service come September later this year.
Operating the B777-300 ER aircraft on this route means that 8 private suites,
42 lie-flat beds in Business Class and 304 seats in Economy will be available
on this

Kenya Airways and the New Delhi flights

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 20:37 — Anonymous As from 15 May Kenya Airways will have
direct flights to new Delhi, India.  The route will be operational four
times a week departing from Nairobi on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and
Sundays at 13:50 arriving at New Delhi at 00:50. Mumbai will be the next
Indian city

U-Bag it around the World

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 20:46 — Anonymous U-BAG is a leading brand in the United
Kingdom and South Africa of UBI Worldwide Limited. U-BAG specializes in
sending excess baggage andpersonal effects as unaccompanied baggage by air to
over 500 destinations worldwide.  There benefits are listed below: U-

Philile update

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 21:14 — Anonymous There is some exciting progress being
made at the Philile Foundation in their quest to develop a pre-school in the
Cosmo City area.  Philile has received news that the transfer of the
property has finally come through. Their dream to build a preschool which can
be used at

Europcar's Green Initiatives

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 21:17 — Anonymous Europcar, one of South Africa’s
leading car rental companies, is once again demonstrating its commitment to
sustainability and the preservation of natural resources by being the lead
sponsor of Green Office Week (GOW) for the second year.  Now in its third
year, GOW is an annual initi

Why Use a Travel Agent?

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 19:00 — Anonymous I definitely consider myself
a do-it-yourself traveler (I'm on track to visit 30 countries by my 30th
birthday), so people are surprised when I tell them that I use a travel
agent. Of course, there are times when I opt to book my own travel. For
example, we're visiting friends in Orlando soon and I bought the [...]

Etihad launches flights to East Africa

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 20:21 — Anonymous Eithad Airways began their first
flights to Nairobi in early April this year. The daily service is the first
into East Africa and an important step in establishing a presence in this
region. The A320 will be operational on this route offering 16 Business Class
and 120 Economy Class seat

Airlink to begin flights to Maun

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 20:25 — Anonymous Airlink will begin daily flights
between Johannesburg and Maun, Botswana from mid June later this year. One
aircraft from the fleet of Embraer ERJ 137 regional jets, configured with 37
seats, will operate the route. Flights will depart Johannesburg at 11:45 and
arr

Virgin begins B747 Gatwick refit

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 17:06 — Anonymous The carrier says a total of 125 staff
will fit over 32,000 new parts to its seven B747 Gatwick aircraft, serving
routes to destinations including Orlando and Las Vegas Continues...

Bmi flights for sale at ba.com

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 15:25 — Anonymous With the sale of Bmi to IAG now
approved by the European Commission, BA is to begin selling selected Bmi
flights at ba.com, with a codeshare agreement also allowing passengers to
earn Avios Continues...

Etihad announces FFP earning changes

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 16:36 — Anonymous Etihad Airways is changing the number
of miles earned by passengers travelling on certain fare codes, with some
economy fares seeing the number of miles earned reduced to half the current
amount Continues...

Park Hyatt debuts in Hyderabad

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 21:47 — Anonymous The 185-room hotel is located in the
Banjara Hill district of the city, and features Italian restaurant Tre-Forni,
and a spa with sauna, steam room and swimming pool Continues...

Stansted Easter strike called off

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 23:13 — Anonymous Industrial action by baggage handling
staff at Stansted airport this weekend has been called off, following talks
between trade unions and employers Swissport Continues...

Tried and Tested: Alyn Williams at the Westbury

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 20:02 — Anonymous Business Traveller reviews the new
restaurant at the Westbury hotel in Mayfair, serving "refined contemporary
French cuisine based on British produce" Continues...

Tips for Packing Carry-On Luggage Only with Kids

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 18:24 — Anonymous The sheer horror of lost luggage is
enough incentive for families to pack carry-on luggage only, but with nearly
all airlines charging checked luggage fees, doing so will also ease the
burden on your wallet. Think it can't be done? Following the tips below
will have you packing light on your next family vacation: 1. Use the
'roll' [...]

MAS bans infants and children from A380 upper deck economy

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 17:07 — Anonymous The new move applies to all passengers
under 12 Continues...

Atlasjet to launch London-Istanbul service

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 16:04 — Anonymous The Turkish carrier will fly six
times-weekly between Stansted and Istanbul"s Ataturk airport from May 5
Continues...

Air France reorganises at Paris CDG

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 16:00 — Anonymous Paris Charles de Gaulle and the French
flag carrier are revamping their operations in a bid to speed up connection
times and make the airport Europe"s preferred hub Continues...

Swissotel continues Indian growth with Grand Mumbai

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 18:15 — Anonymous Swissotel Hotels and Resorts is set to
continue its expansion into India by signing a management contract for the
300-room Grand Mumbai, due to open in 2014 Continues...

The big picture: BA unveils Dove livery

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 16:54 — Anonymous British Airways has unveiled the golden
Dove livery which has been painted onto nine A319 aircraft as part of the
carrier's London 2012 celebrations Continues...

Royal Jordanian 'in talks over merger'

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 11:24 — Anonymous IAG and Gulf carriers in the frame as
Oneworld carrier sees consolidation as "inevitable", according to a recent
Bloomberg interview Continues...

Easyhotel to open Johannesburg property

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 15:23 — Anonymous Having announced plans to open 50
properties across Africa last year, the budget hotel group has now confirmed
Johannesburg will be the first location to open later this year Continues...

Renaissance Hotels to open nine hotels

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 18:24 — Anonymous The brand has plans to open properties
in Barcelona, Shanghai and the Tuscany region of Italy Continues...

Etihad to fly to South America and Vietnam

Tue, 04/03/2012 - 15:29 — Anonymous President and CEO James Hogan said the
move into its sixth continent marks the airline's "coming of age" and will
raise competition with Emirates and Qatar Continues...

Tried and Tested: Hong Kong Airlines A330-200 Club Premier

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 21:58 — Anonymous Business Traveller reviews the new Hong
Kong Airlines all-business class service between London Gatwick and Hong Kong
Continues...

MGallery Doha targets 2015 opening

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 15:36 — Anonymous The 215-room boutique hotel will be
located opposite Souq Waqif, close to the airport and Doha"s business
districts, and offer "a modern interpretation of Qatari heritage and
hospitality" Continues...

EVA Air boss talks about future plans

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 09:14 — Anonymous The airline's president KW Chang shares
with Business Traveller his views on Taipei's future as an aviation hub, what
Star Alliance can bring to the business and his new ambassador Hello Kitty
Continues...

Win a trip for two to Amsterdam

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 14:45 — Anonymous Thalys, also known as the "red
train", has teamed up with Rail Europe to offer one lucky reader a pair of
return tickets from London to Amsterdam Continues...

Okura launches Prestige brand in Bangkok

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 12:02 — Anonymous This will be the Japanese hotel group's
first property in Thailand Continues...