Year – The News Desk

More than 50 hotels united for Ramadan drive by Marriott’s Business Council in the UAE this year – Business Traveller

10Apr

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More than 50 hotels united for Ramadan drive by Marriott’s Business Council in the UAE this year – Business Traveller

As part of its ongoing commitment to give back to the community, Marriott International Hotels in the UAE came together during Ramadan to help provide over 12,000 meals across the community. More than 50 hotels collaborated with The Giving Family, Dubai Municipality and Emirates Red Crescent on a number of initiatives, and the company also celebrated its annual Iftar for Cabs initiative in the UAE. The initiatives were organised by Marriott’s Business Council in the UAE. Pam Wilby, chair of Marriott Business Council UAE and multi-property general manager of Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel and Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, said: “We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the well-being of our communities through our initiatives. Our initiatives during the...

British Airways launches its “largest sale of the year” – Business Traveller

19Dec

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British Airways launches its “largest sale of the year” – Business Traveller

British Airways has announced its “largest annual sale”, with more than 80 destinations available to book on ba.com until 30 January, 2024. Discounts on transatlantic routes include return flights to New York from £356, to Orlando from £386 and to San Francisco from £415. The carrier is also offering return fares to Dubai and the Dominican Republic from £449 and £556 respectively, while customers can travel to BA’s latest destination of Abu Dhabi from £429. Selected routes also include the option to upgrade to World Traveller Plus (premium economy) from £199. Those planning short-haul hops can benefit from discounted Club Europe (business class) return fares from £194 to Pisa, £277 to Venice and £205 to Valencia. For those travelling long-haul, there are return Club World (business class...

British Airways aiming to restore online access to On Business platform “early next year” – Business Traveller

6Dec

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British Airways aiming to restore online access to On Business platform “early next year” – Business Traveller

British Airways has provided an update on ongoing issues with its On Business loyalty programme. As detailed in this forum thread, users have been unable to access their accounts online since around February this year. In an email to members BA said that “Our teams are continuing to work with our third-party provider to restore online access to the platform, and we’re pleased to let you know that they’ve made great progress and are on-track for launch early next year”. The carrier stressed that members continue to earn On Business Points on flight bookings made through ba.com or their travel agent, providing their account number is included in the booking. BA also noted that “there may be a slight delay to your points balance and any requested account changes being reflected within your ...

Etihad to operate direct flights to Nairobi next year – Business Traveller

28Oct

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Etihad to operate direct flights to Nairobi next year – Business Traveller

Etihad Airways has said that it will resume flights to East Africa with daily flights to Nairobi from 1 May, 2024. The schedule of these flights are below: Flight Number Departure Airport Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Time Frequency Aircraft EY 767 AUH 9:05 NBO 13:15 1234567 A320 EY 768 NBO 18:10 AUH 0:20 1234567 A320 “We are thrilled to be re-starting flights to Nairobi, a dynamic and exciting city in itself and also the gateway to a Kenyan safari, a dream adventure for many travellers, offering a view of the diverse and magnificent wildlife of Africa,” said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways. Etihad will operate these daily flights to Nairobi using its Airbus A320, featuring both business and economy cabins. Separately, Etihad has expanded ...

Rosewood London launches ‘Rosewood London X’ to celebrate their 10 Year anniversary

19Oct

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Rosewood London launches ‘Rosewood London X’ to celebrate their 10 Year anniversary

Rosewood London is commemorating its remarkable 10-year anniversary with a captivating campaign titled ‘Rosewood London X,’ cleverly playing on the Roman numeral for 10. This initiative stands as a tribute to the property’s profound connection to the worlds of fashion and art, showcasing a series of distinctive and innovative partnerships. From October 9-15, 2023, the hotel will be transformed into a hub of creativity and collaboration, welcoming prominent brands to showcase their creative expressions. Each partnership, be it in the realms of fashion, art, or cuisine, embodies the spirit of innovation, championing artisans and creators who wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to their craft. “We are honoured to be celebrating this moment, it has been an incredible journey for Rosewood Lond...

Atlantis Dubai extends 1 USD conservation programme for another year – Business Traveller

11Oct

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Atlantis Dubai extends 1 USD conservation programme for another year – Business Traveller

Atlantis Dubai has selected nine local and international conservation and sustainability projects to receive funding from its Atlantis Atlas Project 1 USD initiative. From June 2022 to May 2023, for every marine animal experience participated in by a guest, Atlantis Dubai contributed US$1, resulting in a US$140,000 fund. In the programme’s first year, Atlantis contributed US$120,000 of funding, and since launching in June 2021, the 1 USD contribution initiative has raised over a quarter of a million dollars. Since April, organisations around the world were invited to apply for funding, after which proposals were solicited and assessed by the internal Atlantis Conservation and Science Committee. Atlantis Atlas Project currently focuses on four key groups of wildlife; sharks, rays, dolphin...

UK travellers spend up to £350 per year in airport departure terminals – Business Traveller

20Sep

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UK travellers spend up to £350 per year in airport departure terminals – Business Traveller

When questioned on the reasons for the items purchased, 21 per cent of respondents said that the purchases were to “alleviate boredom” while 18 per cent attributed it to alleviating stress. The research also found that most Brits are unaware of perks in airports, with just 28 per cent knowing that you can often shower in a lounge and 13 per cent in the know that spa treatments are on offer. Additionally, only 22 per cent are aware that booking a lounge can unlock airport shop discounts. For those who do use the airport benefits, 5 per cent use the massage services, 7 per cent the airport personal shopping experience and the same amount take a shower, while 11 per cent use it for sleeping. According to Collinson, those aged 25-34 are the most “in the know” when it comes to making use of a...

Elizabeth line stations and tunnelled sections to have mobile coverage by next year – Business Traveller

8Sep

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Elizabeth line stations and tunnelled sections to have mobile coverage by next year – Business Traveller

Further ahead coverage will also be extended to the Docklands Light Railway and between Highbury and Islington and New Cross on the London Overground within the next two years. The project is being implemented by Boldyn Networks, with around 500 people working overnight across the Tube network to install mobile equipment. The “neutral host” network means users of all four of the UK’s mobile network operators – Three UK, EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media O2 – are able to get connected. Commenting on the news Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner said: “It’s great to see the first Tube stations in the West End getting high-speed mobile coverage on their phones within the station, as part of the next stage of our project with Boldyn Networks to bring 4G and 5G to the whole Tube network. “...

Around 20 per cent of Travelodge hotels to feature budge-luxe design by year end – Business Traveller

7Aug

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Around 20 per cent of Travelodge hotels to feature budge-luxe design by year end – Business Traveller

Travelodge has published an update on the rollout of of its budget-luxe revamp, with a total of 55 properties set to benefit from the new design this year. Of these, 25 hotels have already been upgraded in time for the peak summer period, including properties in Cheltenham, Ipswich, Oxford, Newport and Southampton. The group’s two largest hotels have also been updated – the 463-room Travelodge London Covent Garden, and the 408-room Travelodge London Kings Cross Royal Scot. Travelodge unveiled the budget-luxe design in April 2022, with features including a new “timeless classic style” reception, as well as a contemporary Bar Cafe concept and redesigned rooms. Phase 1 of the rollout was completed at the start of this year, with 65 existing hotels upgraded, and three new-build properties op...

New report shows scrapping of UK tax-free shopping deterring two million tourists a year – Business Traveller

5Aug

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New report shows scrapping of UK tax-free shopping deterring two million tourists a year – Business Traveller

A new report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) shows what it says are the “clear economic benefits associated with a VAT refund scheme”. The report concludes that the scrapping of the UK tax-free shopping scheme in 2021 following Brexit is having the effect of deterring two million tourists a year, resulting in £10.7 billion in annual lost GDP. In September last year, then UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed plans to reintroduce tax-free shopping for overseas visitors, as part of his doomed “mini budget”. But this was quickly scrapped by his replacement Jeremy Hunt, who said “not proceeding with this scheme is worth around £2 billion a year”. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee subsequently published its own report calling the move “short-sigh...