Road Warrior -Uber and Lyft overtaking taxis and car rental in the US by business travellers. New for Cork- Boston route by Norwegian on May 13. San Francisco priciest city for per diems, 3rd year in a row, May 6, 2015
Travellers on business calling app ride-hailers Uber and Lyft, those ride-hailing, app-based companies have overtaken both taxis and car rental usage in the US for business travellers. The data came from expense management company Certify, which tracks corporate spend across major categories such as airlines, meals, accommodation and transportation. General Motors, by the way, has taken a $500 million (€436 million) investment in Lyft.
Norwegian outfit awaits okay for Cork-Boston route Fingers crossed for the right result for Cork on Friday the 13th. The US Department of Transport is expected to give an answer on the issuing of a foreign carrier permit to the Irish-registered Norwegian Air International. If the permit is granted, then expect flights to begin from Cork to Boston as early as August. A Cork-New York service is planned for next year. Fares will be very competitive.
Lost luggage at a low thanks to electronic tagging Consolation for regular travellers from IT company Sita: baggage mishandling – lost and delayed and major annoyance to you and me – is at the lowest ever recorded rate. According to Sita’s Baggage Report 2016, mishandled bags were 6.5 per thousand passengers, down 10.5 per cent on the previous year and less than half the rate in 2003. Electronic bag tracking and tagging is expected to reduce this figure further in coming years.
Bay City beats NY as priciest for per diems for 3rd year The Business Travel News annual survey of per diems across 100 US cities shows average costs up by 3.9 percent, with San Francisco the most expensive city three years in row. Average per diem in the Bay City is $547.34, followed by New York at $523.05 and Boston, a former leader at $522.69. At the bottom end of the list the best value city for doing business is Norfolk at $248.15. Fastest growing rates were in Detroit, with an increase of 22.5 per cent to $344.21.
Road Warrior - conference ambassdors recognised, serviced apartment market growing, electronic entry to CanadaConference ambassadors bring €101 million to economy, booking.com report growth in apartment rental market, March 15 launch of eTA for CanadaJanuary 27, 2016
Joan Scales0
Entry to Canada is going electronic from March 15th
E-visas required for Canada from March Entry to Canada is going electronic from March 15th, when visitors to the country will have to have an electronic travel authorisation, eTA. Travellers from visa-exempt countries, which include Ireland, will need to apply online before they depart for Canadian airports. It means Canada can screen visitors before arrival. The authorisation eTA will be linked to your passport and will be valid for five years or until the passport expires. The cost will be Can $7 C per application. See the website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp?utm_ source =partner-eng&utm_ medium =website&utm_campaign= eta. If it is anything like the similar US ESTA service, expect fake websites to appear.
Ambassadors honoured Fáilte Ireland honoured 79 conference ambassadors last week at a recognition ceremony in Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The recipients were given awards for bidding and hosting international conferences or events in Dublin. The conference ambassadors delivered 73,000 international delegates to Ireland and €101 million to the economy. Brian Stapleton, MD of Periploi Aviation, was singled out as the inaugural conference ambassador for his contribution in delivering seven International Air Transport Association (IATA) conferences to Dublin. The conferences are valued at €5.6 million to the Irish economy, with another five conferences in the pipeline with an estimated value of €5.4 million. Dr Pearse Lyons founder and president of Alltech, was selected for his outstanding contribution to business tourism during the Gathering in 2013.
Reservations for apartments grow Booking. com, the accommodation reservation service, is reporting strong growth in the serviced apartment market. There are now 3,000 properties for rent in the UK market on booking.com, with 1,000 in the London area. New openings are expected in 2016 with Staycity expected to rise from 1,000 to 3,500 properties. Go Native is set to double its portfolio to 3,000 by next year. Extended stay and apart-hotels are the fastest growing area of the hospitality industry according to a report by Savills, released last month.
Joan Scales0
Entry to Canada is going electronic from March 15th
E-visas required for Canada from March Entry to Canada is going electronic from March 15th, when visitors to the country will have to have an electronic travel authorisation, eTA. Travellers from visa-exempt countries, which include Ireland, will need to apply online before they depart for Canadian airports. It means Canada can screen visitors before arrival. The authorisation eTA will be linked to your passport and will be valid for five years or until the passport expires. The cost will be Can $7 C per application. See the website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp?utm_ source =partner-eng&utm_ medium =website&utm_campaign= eta. If it is anything like the similar US ESTA service, expect fake websites to appear.
Ambassadors honoured Fáilte Ireland honoured 79 conference ambassadors last week at a recognition ceremony in Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The recipients were given awards for bidding and hosting international conferences or events in Dublin. The conference ambassadors delivered 73,000 international delegates to Ireland and €101 million to the economy. Brian Stapleton, MD of Periploi Aviation, was singled out as the inaugural conference ambassador for his contribution in delivering seven International Air Transport Association (IATA) conferences to Dublin. The conferences are valued at €5.6 million to the Irish economy, with another five conferences in the pipeline with an estimated value of €5.4 million. Dr Pearse Lyons founder and president of Alltech, was selected for his outstanding contribution to business tourism during the Gathering in 2013.
Reservations for apartments grow Booking. com, the accommodation reservation service, is reporting strong growth in the serviced apartment market. There are now 3,000 properties for rent in the UK market on booking.com, with 1,000 in the London area. New openings are expected in 2016 with Staycity expected to rise from 1,000 to 3,500 properties. Go Native is set to double its portfolio to 3,000 by next year. Extended stay and apart-hotels are the fastest growing area of the hospitality industry according to a report by Savills, released last month.
Road Warrior: VR sets, IHG landmark, malware infection and threats to travel
Wed, Jan 20, 2016, 02:00
Joan Scales
KLM is exploring new ways of using VR to enhance flying
Virtual reality headset opens up KLM Dreamliner The hottest new gadget is a virtual reality headset and for those of you who received a VR headset as a gift you can use it to explore KLM’s 787- 9 Dreamliner.
The VR Experience is a game which makes you feel like you are on board the Dreamliner and tracking down all the new innovations.
KLM is exploring other ways of using VR to enhance flying, such as changing environments for fearful flyers or showing products from the in-flight shopping catalogue. IHG passes landmark with 5,000th hotelIntercontinental Hotel Group passed a landmark figure last week with the opening of its 5,000th hotel in New York. The Hotel Indigo Lower East Side is a joint venture between IHG and Brack Capital Real Estate and is the third Indigo hotel in the city. So far the 5,000-hotel club includes Wyndham and Choice Hotel International, with Marriott set to join when the merger with Starwood Hotelsis completed later this year.
Hyatt identifies 250 hotels hit by malware infection Hyatt Hotels has identified 250 hotels in 50 countries which were affected by a malware infection last year. The data breach, first reported in December, identified that payment card information was accessed from point of sales systems in various retail outlets between July 13th and December 8th. Customers’ credit card numbers, expiration dates and verification codes were harvested. The list include three properties in the UK: Hyatt Regency Birmingham, Andaz London Liverpool Street and the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchil. .Hyatt has advised affected customers to monitor statements for any unauthorised transactions and is offering a free identity protection service. The company says it has installed additional anti-fraud measures to prevent future attacks.
Anvil hammers home threats to business traveller Corporate security specialists Anvil Group have identified threats to business travel for this year that companies should be prepared for. They are volatile oil prices which may cause instability in some regions. The threat of global terrorism as seen in attacks in recent weeks and IS gaining traction in Asia, south and east. Regional conflicts such as in Syria, European migration, cyber attacks on companies, Chinese financial manoeuvrings and new territories being affected by climate change will all have an impact on how companies do business this year. You can read the report in full here: http://www.anvilgroup.com/special-report-global-risk-forecast-2016/
Wed, Jan 20, 2016, 02:00
Joan Scales
KLM is exploring new ways of using VR to enhance flying
Virtual reality headset opens up KLM Dreamliner The hottest new gadget is a virtual reality headset and for those of you who received a VR headset as a gift you can use it to explore KLM’s 787- 9 Dreamliner.
The VR Experience is a game which makes you feel like you are on board the Dreamliner and tracking down all the new innovations.
KLM is exploring other ways of using VR to enhance flying, such as changing environments for fearful flyers or showing products from the in-flight shopping catalogue. IHG passes landmark with 5,000th hotelIntercontinental Hotel Group passed a landmark figure last week with the opening of its 5,000th hotel in New York. The Hotel Indigo Lower East Side is a joint venture between IHG and Brack Capital Real Estate and is the third Indigo hotel in the city. So far the 5,000-hotel club includes Wyndham and Choice Hotel International, with Marriott set to join when the merger with Starwood Hotelsis completed later this year.
Hyatt identifies 250 hotels hit by malware infection Hyatt Hotels has identified 250 hotels in 50 countries which were affected by a malware infection last year. The data breach, first reported in December, identified that payment card information was accessed from point of sales systems in various retail outlets between July 13th and December 8th. Customers’ credit card numbers, expiration dates and verification codes were harvested. The list include three properties in the UK: Hyatt Regency Birmingham, Andaz London Liverpool Street and the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchil. .Hyatt has advised affected customers to monitor statements for any unauthorised transactions and is offering a free identity protection service. The company says it has installed additional anti-fraud measures to prevent future attacks.
Anvil hammers home threats to business traveller Corporate security specialists Anvil Group have identified threats to business travel for this year that companies should be prepared for. They are volatile oil prices which may cause instability in some regions. The threat of global terrorism as seen in attacks in recent weeks and IS gaining traction in Asia, south and east. Regional conflicts such as in Syria, European migration, cyber attacks on companies, Chinese financial manoeuvrings and new territories being affected by climate change will all have an impact on how companies do business this year. You can read the report in full here: http://www.anvilgroup.com/special-report-global-risk-forecast-2016/
Road Warrior: the business of travel
The world’s safest airline, payphones go free, stellar Starwood, and guns on US aircraft
Wed, Jan 13, 2016.
Joan Scales
Qantas the safest airline for third year running The list of the world’s safest airlines has been released by airlineratings.com, and Australia’s Qantas has topped the list for the third year running. In a survey of 407 carriers worldwide, the top 10 includes four carriers operating out of Ireland: American Airlines, Emirates, Etihad and Finnair.Aer Lingus appears on the top 10 list of budget carriers. Assessments are made based on a range of factors related to audits by aviation’s governing bodies and lead associations, as well as government audits and the fatality records of airlines.
No quarter asked as Link NYC offers free calls and wifi You will no longer need a quarter to make a telephone call in New York, where thousands of payphones are being turned into wifi access points with free call access. Link NYC is transforming the city’s streetside relics into next-generation communications hubs. Users will be able to access gigabit wifi within 150 feet of the 7,500 call stations. The former payphones will also feature touchscreen tablets for free telephone calls and USB charging. Financing of the stations will be from in-station advertising. Some 500 stations are expected to come into operation this year.
Starwood’s stellar year not slowed by acquisition Starwood Hotels had a busy 2015 despite the company’s acquisition by Marriott Hotels late in the year. Starwood ended the year with 220 new hotel management and franchise deals, up 26 per cent on 2014. It also opened 105 new hotels with 22,000 rooms. New signings were across the brands Aloft, the Luxury Collection, W and St Regis. This year will bring further hard work to merge the Marriott and Starwood groups into the world’s largest hotel company.
The thousands of guns that US fliers ‘forgot’ President Obama may be making a big push on gun control in the US, but the end-of-year news from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is disconcerting. During 2015, 2,603 concealed guns, many of them loaded, were found on passengers attempting to board flights. This figure represents an increase of 17.7 percent on 2014 and is the highest ever. Officers also regularly find BB and pellet guns, ammunition, stun guns, replica arms, knives, brass knuckles and other prohibited items. The preliminary data for 2015, made available on the TSA’s blog this week, does not imply any raised terrorism threat. “In many cases, people simply forgot they had these items,” it says. Eek.
The world’s safest airline, payphones go free, stellar Starwood, and guns on US aircraft
Wed, Jan 13, 2016.
Joan Scales
Qantas the safest airline for third year running The list of the world’s safest airlines has been released by airlineratings.com, and Australia’s Qantas has topped the list for the third year running. In a survey of 407 carriers worldwide, the top 10 includes four carriers operating out of Ireland: American Airlines, Emirates, Etihad and Finnair.Aer Lingus appears on the top 10 list of budget carriers. Assessments are made based on a range of factors related to audits by aviation’s governing bodies and lead associations, as well as government audits and the fatality records of airlines.
No quarter asked as Link NYC offers free calls and wifi You will no longer need a quarter to make a telephone call in New York, where thousands of payphones are being turned into wifi access points with free call access. Link NYC is transforming the city’s streetside relics into next-generation communications hubs. Users will be able to access gigabit wifi within 150 feet of the 7,500 call stations. The former payphones will also feature touchscreen tablets for free telephone calls and USB charging. Financing of the stations will be from in-station advertising. Some 500 stations are expected to come into operation this year.
Starwood’s stellar year not slowed by acquisition Starwood Hotels had a busy 2015 despite the company’s acquisition by Marriott Hotels late in the year. Starwood ended the year with 220 new hotel management and franchise deals, up 26 per cent on 2014. It also opened 105 new hotels with 22,000 rooms. New signings were across the brands Aloft, the Luxury Collection, W and St Regis. This year will bring further hard work to merge the Marriott and Starwood groups into the world’s largest hotel company.
The thousands of guns that US fliers ‘forgot’ President Obama may be making a big push on gun control in the US, but the end-of-year news from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is disconcerting. During 2015, 2,603 concealed guns, many of them loaded, were found on passengers attempting to board flights. This figure represents an increase of 17.7 percent on 2014 and is the highest ever. Officers also regularly find BB and pellet guns, ammunition, stun guns, replica arms, knives, brass knuckles and other prohibited items. The preliminary data for 2015, made available on the TSA’s blog this week, does not imply any raised terrorism threat. “In many cases, people simply forgot they had these items,” it says. Eek.
Road Warrior - Security alerts, Michelin food on SwissPassenger numbers boom at Dublin Airport, more UK serviced apartments
Wed, Dec 9, 2015, 01:00
Joan Scales
Level three security alerts in 41 countries An analysis by the Collinson Group said 41 countries registered level three security incidents in the first six months of this year. The providers of insurance and assistance to business travellers revealedYemen in the top spot for serious security incidents. The other countries in the top five are Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Syria. The majority of risky countries are in Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. However, less risky countries have received level three alerts and include Denmark, France, Macedonia, Belgium and United States.
Gourmet delights for business clients at Swiss Business travellers flying with Swiss between now and March 1 will have the opportunity to eat top class food from the five-star Alpina Gstaad Hotel. The Swiss Taste of Switzerland programme will feature dishes devised by theMichelin starred Sommet restaurant, the Japanese-inspired Megu restaurant and the traditional Swiss Stübli at Alpina Gstaad. The accompanying wines will be selected from the cantons of Valais, Bern and the wine-growing region of Spiez.
Doubling in UK supply of serviced apartments likely The serviced apartments sector is expected to double over the next two years in the United Kingdom said a report by the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers and Savills. Currently there are around 19,000 units. The report also notes that there is concrete evidence that Airbnb has helped raise the profile of alternative accommodation. For example, Staycity has confirmed it is to add 843 apartments to its portfolio during 2016, putting it on target to reach 10.000 by 2020.
Record numbers of passengers at Dublin airport The boom is back with record numbers of passengers using Dublin Airport. On Friday the airport reached 23.5 million passengers this year beating the 23.46 million passengers in 2008. So far this year passenger numbers are up 16 per cent, which represents over 3.1 million extra people. Aer Lingus also announced 26,000 extra seats to Washington and Chicago last week. Washington will return on March 14th and go daily for the summer. Chicago will have 12 flights per week from Dublin.
Road Warrior
Malware at Hilton, worldwide rise in hotel prices, ban laser pointers
Wed, Dec 2, 2015, 01:00
Joan Scales
Forecast downgraded The International Air Transport Association has downgraded the long-term passenger forecast for the next 20 years by 400 million to seven billion by 2034. The revised projection reflects negative developments in the global economy.The annual growth in demand is expected to fall from 4.1 per cent to 3.8 per cent. However, the figure of seven billion is twice the numbers expected to fly this year. Despite the economic slowdown China is expected to overtake the United States by 2029 and India will displace the UK by 2026. Open travel between the rest of the world and Cuba and Iran is expected to offer good possibilities for business and tourism development.
Hilton warning after hacking If you stayed in a Hilton Hotel between November 18th and December 5th last year and between April 21st and July 27th this year, you should check your credit card statements. Hilton Worldwide has admitted hackers have breached its security systems. Malware got into its point-of-sale system and was able to steal customers’ names, credit card numbers, security codes and expiry dates, but not PINs. Home addresses were not affected. Hilton has eliminated the rogue code. Other hotel groups that have reports similar malware episodes this year include, Trump Hotels Collection, Sheraton, Westin and Mandarin Oriental.
Hotel rates in major UK cities increase by 16% HRS, the hotel solutions provider to the mainly business travel sector, has seen rates rising in all but a handful of worldwide destinations. Average rates across nine major UK cities are up 16 per cent. For the first time Bristol emerged as the third most expensive place, probably following a knock on from the Rugby World Cup in Cardiff. In Europe key cities rose by an average of 9 per cent with London the highest at €198 and Prague the lowest at €70. In the United States New York and Boston were sharing the top spot with increases of 30 per cent and 35 per cent respectively at €275. In Asia Tokyo had the biggest rise in room rates with average prices of €174 and KL at the bottom with €71 per night.
Laser pointers under focusMaybe it is time to call for a ban on selling laser pointers following a serious injury to a British Airways co-pilot. The pilot suffered damage to his eye, the retina was burned and he has been unable to return to work. The incident happened when landing at Heathrow, and the laser used is being described as of military strength, such was his injury. Last year, there were 1,440 incidents reported to the UK Civil Aviation Authority. In the United States there were almost 4,000 reported incidents to the FAA.
Malware at Hilton, worldwide rise in hotel prices, ban laser pointers
Wed, Dec 2, 2015, 01:00
Joan Scales
Forecast downgraded The International Air Transport Association has downgraded the long-term passenger forecast for the next 20 years by 400 million to seven billion by 2034. The revised projection reflects negative developments in the global economy.The annual growth in demand is expected to fall from 4.1 per cent to 3.8 per cent. However, the figure of seven billion is twice the numbers expected to fly this year. Despite the economic slowdown China is expected to overtake the United States by 2029 and India will displace the UK by 2026. Open travel between the rest of the world and Cuba and Iran is expected to offer good possibilities for business and tourism development.
Hilton warning after hacking If you stayed in a Hilton Hotel between November 18th and December 5th last year and between April 21st and July 27th this year, you should check your credit card statements. Hilton Worldwide has admitted hackers have breached its security systems. Malware got into its point-of-sale system and was able to steal customers’ names, credit card numbers, security codes and expiry dates, but not PINs. Home addresses were not affected. Hilton has eliminated the rogue code. Other hotel groups that have reports similar malware episodes this year include, Trump Hotels Collection, Sheraton, Westin and Mandarin Oriental.
Hotel rates in major UK cities increase by 16% HRS, the hotel solutions provider to the mainly business travel sector, has seen rates rising in all but a handful of worldwide destinations. Average rates across nine major UK cities are up 16 per cent. For the first time Bristol emerged as the third most expensive place, probably following a knock on from the Rugby World Cup in Cardiff. In Europe key cities rose by an average of 9 per cent with London the highest at €198 and Prague the lowest at €70. In the United States New York and Boston were sharing the top spot with increases of 30 per cent and 35 per cent respectively at €275. In Asia Tokyo had the biggest rise in room rates with average prices of €174 and KL at the bottom with €71 per night.
Laser pointers under focusMaybe it is time to call for a ban on selling laser pointers following a serious injury to a British Airways co-pilot. The pilot suffered damage to his eye, the retina was burned and he has been unable to return to work. The incident happened when landing at Heathrow, and the laser used is being described as of military strength, such was his injury. Last year, there were 1,440 incidents reported to the UK Civil Aviation Authority. In the United States there were almost 4,000 reported incidents to the FAA.
Road Warrior - Africa’s Silicon valleys, VIPs at LAX, Moxy webisodes, airline newsTravel tech in Africa, DUB does VIPs, Moxy for Millennials, three carriers for Athens
Wed, Nov 25, 2015, 01:00
Joan Scales
Tech start-ups to boost business travel to Africa According to theWorld Bank technology start-ups are flourishing across Africa and will help boost economies. Two aspiring Silicon Valleys are Hope City in Ghana andKonza Technology City in Kenya. The travel industry will reap the benefits of these tech hubs with increased business travel to a variety of African countries. Business air arrivals are expected to post a compound annual growth of 5 per cent for South Africa and 6 per cent for Kenya over the next five years. Two websites for travellers to Africa are hotels.ng, Nigeria’s largest online hotel-booking site, and AwesomeSouthAfrica.com, an app that uses location to find restaurants, hotels and activities.
YouTube campaign by Moxy Hotels Moxy Hotels, Marriott’s brand targeting the millennial generation, is aiming to reach its target audience with a new YouTube campaign. The videos/webisodes are called Do Not Disturb and feature YouTube queen Taryn Southerninterviewing other online influencers. The interviews take place on a bed in a mock-up of a Moxy room. The launch video features Flula, an LA-based German techno DJ, actor and comedian. Flula shuns Skype sex as he thinks Ronald Reagan is watching....quirky or what. Check them out on YouTube.
Los Angeles airport to build VIP terminal LAX, Los Angeles airport, plans to build a VIP terminal for wealthy and high-profile travellers. The Los Angeles Suite would allow people travelling through the airport to avoid the scrum of paparazzi or the long lines at security. Travellers will arrive at the suite, check in and clear security before they are driven to their flight. The new service will cost from $1,500, and will be operated by private security firm Gavin de Becker and Associates. Dublin Airport already has such a service, the Platinum Suites, and it costs from €160.
New services and news from the airlines Dublin is set to have three airlines on the Athens route next year with the announcement that Ryanairwill begin three times weekly services from March. Aegean, a Greek carrier, will begin services twice weekly in July, and Aer Lingus will continue three flights per week from May. Aer Lingus will discontinue the Belfast City to London Gatwick route from the end of March. Ryanair is believed to be interested in providing a Gatwick service from Belfast International. KLM is charging fees for reserved seating from December 1st. Prices €20 each way.
Wed, Nov 25, 2015, 01:00
Joan Scales
Tech start-ups to boost business travel to Africa According to theWorld Bank technology start-ups are flourishing across Africa and will help boost economies. Two aspiring Silicon Valleys are Hope City in Ghana andKonza Technology City in Kenya. The travel industry will reap the benefits of these tech hubs with increased business travel to a variety of African countries. Business air arrivals are expected to post a compound annual growth of 5 per cent for South Africa and 6 per cent for Kenya over the next five years. Two websites for travellers to Africa are hotels.ng, Nigeria’s largest online hotel-booking site, and AwesomeSouthAfrica.com, an app that uses location to find restaurants, hotels and activities.
YouTube campaign by Moxy Hotels Moxy Hotels, Marriott’s brand targeting the millennial generation, is aiming to reach its target audience with a new YouTube campaign. The videos/webisodes are called Do Not Disturb and feature YouTube queen Taryn Southerninterviewing other online influencers. The interviews take place on a bed in a mock-up of a Moxy room. The launch video features Flula, an LA-based German techno DJ, actor and comedian. Flula shuns Skype sex as he thinks Ronald Reagan is watching....quirky or what. Check them out on YouTube.
Los Angeles airport to build VIP terminal LAX, Los Angeles airport, plans to build a VIP terminal for wealthy and high-profile travellers. The Los Angeles Suite would allow people travelling through the airport to avoid the scrum of paparazzi or the long lines at security. Travellers will arrive at the suite, check in and clear security before they are driven to their flight. The new service will cost from $1,500, and will be operated by private security firm Gavin de Becker and Associates. Dublin Airport already has such a service, the Platinum Suites, and it costs from €160.
New services and news from the airlines Dublin is set to have three airlines on the Athens route next year with the announcement that Ryanairwill begin three times weekly services from March. Aegean, a Greek carrier, will begin services twice weekly in July, and Aer Lingus will continue three flights per week from May. Aer Lingus will discontinue the Belfast City to London Gatwick route from the end of March. Ryanair is believed to be interested in providing a Gatwick service from Belfast International. KLM is charging fees for reserved seating from December 1st. Prices €20 each way.
Road Warrior - all female Ethiopian flight, Easyjet introduce FFP, Marriott buy StarwoodWed, Nov 18, 2015.
Joan Scales
Ethiopian Airlines to operate all-female flight For the first time tomorrow, Ethiopian Airlines will operate an all-female flight. Not only will the pilots be women, but so also will be cabin crew, ground operations, flight preparations, on-board logistics, aviation safety, ramp operations, security, catering, air traffic control and the call centre. The flight from Addis Ababa to Bangkok is hoped to inspire other young female students in their dreams to become aviation professionals. Ethiopian Airlines is the biggest airline in Africa and has been in existence for almost 70 years.
Lufthansa looking to next downturn Already looking towards the next economic downturn, Lufthansa’s chief executive is predicting a round of consolidation in the European airline sector – a prediction already made by Willie Walsh of IAG –International Airlines Group.At the Guild of Business Travel Agents conference last week, Carsten Spohr said Lufthansa would be an “active participant” when the market next contracted. Not if its current difficult industrial relations with pilots and cabin crew continue; LH’s attitude to charging travel agents for making bookings on global distribution systems is also a cause for concern.
Marriott closes $12.2bn deal to buy Starwood The winner in the great Starwood buyout isMarriott International. The deal brokered over the past week will see Marriott becoming the world’s largest hotelier. The $12.2 billion stock and cash deal will add 50 per cent more rooms to Marriott’s portfolio and take it to more than 1.1 million rooms worldwide. The boards of both companies approved the acquisition and it must now be approved by shareholders. The new company will have 5,500 hotels. The next largest hotel group is Hilton Worldwide with 4,400 properties and about 720,000 rooms.
New frequent flyer programme at Aer Lingus Aer Lingus announced the launch of AerClub yesterday, the new frequent flyer programme to replace Gold Circle. Members will be able to collect and redeem points on not just EI but also other carriers. Easyjet has also announced that they will launch a frequent player programme. Celebrating 20 years in business this month, the carrier has trialled a FFP scheme with regular passengers. Flight Club will be an invitation only to passengers who have flown at least 20 flights or spent a certain amount with the carrier in the previous year. Benefits will include a price promise, dedicated contact centre, free seat choices, and flexibility. Ryanair are expected to introduce a loyalty programme next year.
Road Warrior - New York hoteliers say Airbnb is costing them millionsAirbnb costing NYC $450 million, CarTrawler survey, DUB traffic up 15.6 per cent, State aid scuppers Estonia Air
Wed, Nov 11, 2015, 03:00
Joan Scalees
NYC hotels say Airbnb is costing them millions The battle between New York hoteliers and Airbnb continues with a study that finds the sharing site is costing the hospitality industry half a billion dollars a year.
The Hotel Association of New York City made the claim based on an estimate of Airbnb’s gross revenue in New York of $450 million in the first eight months of the year.
Airbnb’s position is that many people would not otherwise have stayed in a hotel room and they are increasing visitor traffic.
“Hotels are concerned about losing the opportunity to price gouge consumers,” said Nick Papas of Airbnb.
European air passenger grows by 6.2% European passenger air traffic in the first three quarters of the year grew by 6.2 per cent.
Dublin in the Group 2 airport category (10-25 million passengers) had growth of 15.6 per cent. The October figures released this week show European traffic at the highest to date for October at 1.1 million, up 15 per cent.
Overall in Dublin, passenger numbers recorded were 2.3 million in October and 21.5 million for the first 10 months of the year.
EU rules against Estonian Air on state aid The small state-controlled carrier Estonian Air has ceased operations following a European Union ruling on state aid.
The EU had said the carrier must repay about €85 million of state aid as it had given it an unfair advantage.
Expecting a negative EU ruling, the Estonian government has set up a new company, Nordic Aviation Group, to operate flights from the capital Tallinn.
Flights booked from November 11th will be refunded to customers, details are on the website Estonian-air.ee.
Ancillary airlines revenue increases to £59.2bn The CarTrawlerWorldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue generated by airlines by unbundling fares represents an increase of 163 per cent on 2010.
That year the figure was $22.6 billion and represented 4.8 per cent of revenues.
In the intervening five years, the figure has grown to an estimated £59.2 billion this year and 7.8 per cent of revenue.
That represents a lot of bags, coffees, sandwiches and wifi paid for by passengers by the unbundling of fares.
Road Warrior - can Hyatt buy Starwood, Norgwegian buy 19 Dreamliners, free wi fi at Four Seasons, e-cigarettes banked in checked bags. November 4, 2015
Can Hyatt Hotel Corporation pull off a deal to buy double-the-size Starwood Hotels? That is the question this week for quality hotel users. The Hyatt, with 160,000 rooms, is in advanced talks with Starwood, which has the 350,000 rooms, about a takeover. Hyatt brands include the Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt and Andaz. Starwood brands include Sheraton, Le Meridien, Westin and W. China’s biggest hotel group Jin Jiang International Hotels has also shown interest in Starwood.
Free wifi for Four Seasons guests and visitors Four Seasons Hotels has introduced free wifi for all its guests and anybody visiting its hotels. The one-click service will work anywhere in its properties and for an unlimited number of devices. A premium 20MB service for those who want more bandwidth for large file uploads/ downloads, video streaming and gaming is also available for a fee.
Norwegian signs Boeing deal for 19 new Dreamliners The rapidly growing low-cost carrier Norwegian signed an agreement with Boeing to buy 19 new B787-9 Dreamliners, with an option to purchase 10 more. It is the single largest deal by a European airline. The aircraft will be used to add more long-haul routes and expand the existing network. Load factors at the carrier on long-haul routes are more than 90 per cent. Norwegian will begin flights from Cork to Boston next year.
E-cigarettes banned on flights due to fire risk The United States department of transportation has banned passengers and flight crew from placing battery-powered electronic smoking devices in checked bags. Banned devices include e-cigarettes, personal vaporisers and any other electronic nicotine system. There have been a number of incidences of e-cigarettes in checked bags catching fire. Recently a device caught fire midflight in a carry-on bag on a Malindo Air flight. A passenger suffered minor burns and the crew extinguished the fire without incident.
Can Hyatt Hotel Corporation pull off a deal to buy double-the-size Starwood Hotels? That is the question this week for quality hotel users. The Hyatt, with 160,000 rooms, is in advanced talks with Starwood, which has the 350,000 rooms, about a takeover. Hyatt brands include the Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt and Andaz. Starwood brands include Sheraton, Le Meridien, Westin and W. China’s biggest hotel group Jin Jiang International Hotels has also shown interest in Starwood.
Free wifi for Four Seasons guests and visitors Four Seasons Hotels has introduced free wifi for all its guests and anybody visiting its hotels. The one-click service will work anywhere in its properties and for an unlimited number of devices. A premium 20MB service for those who want more bandwidth for large file uploads/ downloads, video streaming and gaming is also available for a fee.
Norwegian signs Boeing deal for 19 new Dreamliners The rapidly growing low-cost carrier Norwegian signed an agreement with Boeing to buy 19 new B787-9 Dreamliners, with an option to purchase 10 more. It is the single largest deal by a European airline. The aircraft will be used to add more long-haul routes and expand the existing network. Load factors at the carrier on long-haul routes are more than 90 per cent. Norwegian will begin flights from Cork to Boston next year.
E-cigarettes banned on flights due to fire risk The United States department of transportation has banned passengers and flight crew from placing battery-powered electronic smoking devices in checked bags. Banned devices include e-cigarettes, personal vaporisers and any other electronic nicotine system. There have been a number of incidences of e-cigarettes in checked bags catching fire. Recently a device caught fire midflight in a carry-on bag on a Malindo Air flight. A passenger suffered minor burns and the crew extinguished the fire without incident.
Road Warrior - aviation woes for Russia, Dublin Airport to be in top five European hubs, fun out of office messages, China Airlines opens general sales agent in Ireland, Oct. 28, 2015.
Russian air woes as Transaero loses certificate
Russia’s aviation woes continue with the announcement that Transaero’s air operating certificate was cancelled on Monday.The country’s second largest carrier has been cash-strapped and in debt. The news will tough times for the 10,000 staff.Lufthansa announced that they will cease flying to Moscow Vnukovo, Samara and Nizhny Novgorod from next week.SAS has already said they will cease services from Copenhagen to Moscow in March and Easyjet will cease the London Gatwick to Moscow service.
Aer Lingus routes bring Dublin into top five hubs
Aer Lingus’s new flights to Newark and HartfordConnecticut will enhance business to the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The return of Los Angeles will also be seen as of major benefit to businesses.This first major expansion is a sign that the change of ownership will be good for Aer Lingus. When the new flights begin next year it will bring Dublin Airport into the top five hub airports in Europe. Aer Lingus will have more than two million transatlantic seats on 12 routes.
Out of the office? Liven up your auto-reply
Put a smile on people’s faces with fun out-of-office messages from Westin Hotels. Westin have come up with a website that will generate an amusing and personalised out-of-office message. Here’s an example. “I’ve gone ‘off the grid’ and though I’m told there’s wi-fi here – I keep meaning to head over to check in on emails, news, controversial Tweets, etc – it seems like there’s always a paddle-boarding lesson, yoga class, or build-your-own juice bar to try first.” You can choose your message as a video too, westinooogenerator.com.
Luxaircontinues, Chinese airline opens in Ireland
Other airline news for Ireland this week included the continuation of Luxair’s six times weekly service over the winter. China Southern Airlines, the third largest in the world, have opened a sales and marketing operation in Ireland. Due to increased business from Ireland the airline awarded the contract for ticketing, representation and marketing to APG in Dublin.
Road Warrior, ASL first Irish airline to win Gold Award from ERAA, Emirates and Jennifer Aniston poke fun at US airlines, James Clarke opens London Hilton Bankside, AirBnB and Bridgestreet team up, Oct. 21, 2015.
ASL flying high after winning first Irish gold award
Last week at the European Regional Airlines Association general assembly, two Irish companies were recognised with the highest awards. ASL, formerly Air Contractors Limited, won the Airline of the Year Gold Award, a first for an Irish airline. Air Contractors operates B757 services for Aer Lingus on the United States and Canada and B737 services for Ryanair. Shannon Airport won the award for best airport for the second year running. The award for Shannon is in recognition of the positive impact on European air transport operations.
Emirates and Aniston poke fun at US airlines
Emirates Airlines takes a dig at the United States air carriers in a new advertisement featuring Jennifer Aniston. In the ad she walks through a strange aircraft looking for the shower and bar. She is laughed at by the American cabin crew. Fortunately it is only a nightmare and she wakes up in lovely business class on Emirates. However, in recognising their audiences, the advertisement on the Emirates site mentions a lounge, not a bar, and Jennifer is served a lurid yellow drink rather than a martini. See YouTube for the hard liquor version where there are more than four million views so far and many harsh comments about privilege. See Video here.
Irish manager at helm of new London Hilton
London’s newest hotel has opened, the London Hilton Bankside. It is located on Great Suffolk Street, near London Bridge, the Shard and Borough Market. The general manager James Clarke hails from Boyle, Co Roscommon, and is looking forward to welcoming Irish business people to his hotel. The 292-room Hilton Bankside is also one of the few hotels in London to have an indoor pool.
Corporate travel meets Airbnb
Bridgestreet, the serviced apartment provider, is forming a partnership with the Airbnb for Business product. Recognising that business travellers often want more than just a room, Bridgestreet is a good choice for Airbnb. The company has more than 50,000 properties in 60 countries, ideal for longer stays, relocations and meeting spaces. It will be interesting to see how the shared economy and managed corporate travel programmes will meet.
ASL flying high after winning first Irish gold award
Last week at the European Regional Airlines Association general assembly, two Irish companies were recognised with the highest awards. ASL, formerly Air Contractors Limited, won the Airline of the Year Gold Award, a first for an Irish airline. Air Contractors operates B757 services for Aer Lingus on the United States and Canada and B737 services for Ryanair. Shannon Airport won the award for best airport for the second year running. The award for Shannon is in recognition of the positive impact on European air transport operations.
Emirates and Aniston poke fun at US airlines
Emirates Airlines takes a dig at the United States air carriers in a new advertisement featuring Jennifer Aniston. In the ad she walks through a strange aircraft looking for the shower and bar. She is laughed at by the American cabin crew. Fortunately it is only a nightmare and she wakes up in lovely business class on Emirates. However, in recognising their audiences, the advertisement on the Emirates site mentions a lounge, not a bar, and Jennifer is served a lurid yellow drink rather than a martini. See YouTube for the hard liquor version where there are more than four million views so far and many harsh comments about privilege. See Video here.
Irish manager at helm of new London Hilton
London’s newest hotel has opened, the London Hilton Bankside. It is located on Great Suffolk Street, near London Bridge, the Shard and Borough Market. The general manager James Clarke hails from Boyle, Co Roscommon, and is looking forward to welcoming Irish business people to his hotel. The 292-room Hilton Bankside is also one of the few hotels in London to have an indoor pool.
Corporate travel meets Airbnb
Bridgestreet, the serviced apartment provider, is forming a partnership with the Airbnb for Business product. Recognising that business travellers often want more than just a room, Bridgestreet is a good choice for Airbnb. The company has more than 50,000 properties in 60 countries, ideal for longer stays, relocations and meeting spaces. It will be interesting to see how the shared economy and managed corporate travel programmes will meet.
Road Warrior, China orders 300 new aircraft, EU aviation policy, advertisements on luggage, October 7, 2015
China orders 300 new Boeings China has ordered 300 aircraft from Boeing, in a deal that was placed when the Chinese premier visited the United States recently. The production lines will be busy completing an order that is worth about $38 billion (€34 billion). The package includes 250 B737s and 50 other wide-bodied aircraft to be delivered to Chinese airlines and leasing companies. The order was announced after Chinese premier Xi Jinping made a stop on his tour of the Seattle-based aircraft company.
Aviation policy is up for discussion Next week in Antwerp, leaders of European airlines will meet to discuss the European Aviation Package. The talks will set the course for the aviation policy and help boost Europe’s aviation competitiveness. A round table debate will take place with chief executives of the member airlines and with the Commissioner, regulators and key EU decision makers about the EU’s aviation policy.
Luggage may pay its own way Your luggage could be paying its own way with a new idea from Orion Travel Tech of Orlando. Entrepreneur Gary German has come up with an idea of putting advertising slogans and logos on luggage. The company plans to offer travellers free luggage and will pay the bag fees for passengers who sign up for the service. An advertiser’s message can traverse the globe and be seen by thousands of people in a day. The unique luggage will also be seen on trains and cruise ships.
Old lady of the sea is left in Dubai Sad to hear that one of the great ladies of the sea, the QE2 is still lying in dry dock in Dubai. She moved there in 2008 to become a floating hotel as part of Dubai World. QE2 fans and former staff are keeping the story alive on theqe2story.com.
Road WarriorTourism Ireland winner of Routes Award, space era technology for aviation, US-Cuba air talks, September 30, 2015
New services from the US to Cuba coming This week the United States and Cuba will hold talks in Havana on resuming scheduled air services between the two countries.
Rules on who can go to Cuba have been loosened recently but have not opened up to mass tourism or trade yet. The changes stop short of allowing investment by US companies.
However, access to telecommunications, internet and banking are expected to improved.
Nasa app to help airlines cut costs and flying times Space era technology is going to help airlines to cut costs and flying times. Nasa has signed up Virgin Americaand Alaska Airlines to trial the agency’s Traffic Aware Planner (TAP) application.
It allows flight crews to make changes in altitude or direction to become more efficient. Changes can cut down on fuel usage and reduce time in the air.
TAP connects with an aircraft’s on board avionics information system and actively searches for a quicker route or change in altitude.
Airlines give Tourism Irelandtop award Tourism Ireland beat off stiff competition from Las Vegas and Australia to win the destination marketing award at the significant World Routes Marketing awards in South Africa last week.
Tourism Ireland also won the overall award for the first time.
The awards are voted for by airlines only and there are four airport category and one destination marketing award. In the category for airports serving less than four million passengers both Cork and Shannon airports were highly commended.
Shannon won the category last year.
Some surprises in Tripadvisor hotel review analysis Luxury hotels will get a bit of a shake-up in the research carried out byLuxury Branding, a company that assists brands with client and customer relationships.
In an analysis of 2.25 million guest reviews on Tripadvisor of five-star brands, some household name did not appear in the top 10.
Four Seasons appear on the list at 13th just ahead of Irish luxury chain, the Doyle Collection. Top of the list is the Ritz Carlton Hotels followed by Oberoi and Raffles. The report can be seen on luxury-branding.com.
Book a great deal at Jurys Inns in one-day sale Jurys Inns are holding a flash sale today for one-night stays from October 19th to January 31st at a rate of €39 and £39.
The sale run from 9am today to 9am tomorrow. Use the promotional code 39SALE, jurysinns.com here to edit.
New services from the US to Cuba coming This week the United States and Cuba will hold talks in Havana on resuming scheduled air services between the two countries.
Rules on who can go to Cuba have been loosened recently but have not opened up to mass tourism or trade yet. The changes stop short of allowing investment by US companies.
However, access to telecommunications, internet and banking are expected to improved.
Nasa app to help airlines cut costs and flying times Space era technology is going to help airlines to cut costs and flying times. Nasa has signed up Virgin Americaand Alaska Airlines to trial the agency’s Traffic Aware Planner (TAP) application.
It allows flight crews to make changes in altitude or direction to become more efficient. Changes can cut down on fuel usage and reduce time in the air.
TAP connects with an aircraft’s on board avionics information system and actively searches for a quicker route or change in altitude.
Airlines give Tourism Irelandtop award Tourism Ireland beat off stiff competition from Las Vegas and Australia to win the destination marketing award at the significant World Routes Marketing awards in South Africa last week.
Tourism Ireland also won the overall award for the first time.
The awards are voted for by airlines only and there are four airport category and one destination marketing award. In the category for airports serving less than four million passengers both Cork and Shannon airports were highly commended.
Shannon won the category last year.
Some surprises in Tripadvisor hotel review analysis Luxury hotels will get a bit of a shake-up in the research carried out byLuxury Branding, a company that assists brands with client and customer relationships.
In an analysis of 2.25 million guest reviews on Tripadvisor of five-star brands, some household name did not appear in the top 10.
Four Seasons appear on the list at 13th just ahead of Irish luxury chain, the Doyle Collection. Top of the list is the Ritz Carlton Hotels followed by Oberoi and Raffles. The report can be seen on luxury-branding.com.
Book a great deal at Jurys Inns in one-day sale Jurys Inns are holding a flash sale today for one-night stays from October 19th to January 31st at a rate of €39 and £39.
The sale run from 9am today to 9am tomorrow. Use the promotional code 39SALE, jurysinns.com here to edit.
Road Warrior, Lufthansa, Inmarsat and Deutsche Telecom to trial in flight high speed internet access, Ethiopian Airlines join WEF Global Growth Companies, major hotel expansion in Belfast, Delta's busiest day, September 23, 2015
Lufthansa first to trial new high speed in-flight internet access Deutsche Telecom and satellite company Inmarsat has announced a strategic partnership to bring innovative technology to passenger connectivity in Europe’s aviation industry. The long term evolution-based (LTE) ground and satellite network will deliver high speed internet access in the air. The technology will allow airlines to benefit from a cost-efficient and future-proof connectivity solution. Lufthansa will be the first airline to trial the programme in the European Aviation Network.
Ethiopian Airlines to join economic forum’s global growth club Ethiopian Airlines has been selected to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Growth companies for 2015. Ethiopian is being recognised as one of 400 global companies with a track record of exceeding industry standards in revenue, growth, innovation and leadership in corporate global citizenship. The airline is the biggest pan-African carrier and began services from Addis Ababa to Los Angeles via Dublin in June.
Belfast set for major hotel expansion to cater to all tastes The hotel capacity in Belfast is increasing with the announcements of new properties in the next year or two. Hastings Hotels has already announced the building of Grand Central Hotel in the former Windsor House. There will be a new boutique hotel at Bank Square and Beannchor has announced plans for a new 55-bed property on Victoria and Ann Street.Days Hotel has rebranded as a Holiday Inn and Dalata has bought into the Holiday Inn and rebranded it as a Clayton Hotel.
Figures from Delta show it had a fine – and busy – summer Delta airlines is keen to show just how busy it was this summer – its busiest ever. On a single day, August 17th, there were 3,202 Delta flights in the air. On July 31th, passengers on board its aircraft numbered 614,159. On-time departure was 96.72 per cent and there were 45 consecutive days without any maintenance cancellations. Well done Delta.
Baubax Jacket
Road Warrior, forget luggage, pack your jacket, Air TV comes to Ireland West Knock airport, air ancillary revenues top $38 billion, September 16, 2015
Why use luggage when you can just pack your jacket?
The latest incarnation of wearable luggage is the Baubax. The innovative jacket is designed for road warriors and has a variety of pockets and uses.There is a built-in place for your earphones, an inflatable neck pillow, an eye mask, pockets big enough for iPads, a variety of pockets for phones, sunglasses, passport, drinks etc. The zip is even a pen and stylus. Baubax has raised more than $9 million on Kickstarter and you can order yours on Indigogo. The jacket comes in a range of styles from sweatshirts to blazers from $149.
Airport TV is about to take off in Ireland West
Watch out for Airport TV at Ireland West Airport, where you could be the star.The airport has launched a new online television channel where it will broadcast news stories, along with travel experiences of passengers who use the airport and holiday reviews. Airport TV will also support local food producers and tourism providers in the region. The channel will be broadcast at the airport and online at irelandwestairport.com/airporttv.
Enjoying nice revenue streams in the wings
Some interesting figures on the generation of ancillary revenues by airlines have appeared in the Cartrawler Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue by IdeaWorksCompany. Last year it accounted for $38 billion of revenues, up 21 per cent on the previous year. Ryanair believes 25 per cent of its passengers are business travellers and 9,000 per day are buying the Business Plus fares, over half a million euro per day. United earned $5.86 billion from passengers and on Jet2 ancillary fees averaged up to $56.28 each. Lufthansa earned $90 million from its Miles and More programme.
Hotel managing firm announces €30m in funding
The PREM Group, a leading Irish hotel management company and suites provider has announced a funding package worth €30 million with Proventus Capital Partners. In his blog, Jim Murphy, PREM Group’s chief executive said the company intends to use the funds to finance its expansion into freehold hotels, serviced apartments and hotel management in Europe. PREM’s portfolio includes 42 hotels and serviced apartment buildings in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands the UK and Ireland.
Why use luggage when you can just pack your jacket?
The latest incarnation of wearable luggage is the Baubax. The innovative jacket is designed for road warriors and has a variety of pockets and uses.There is a built-in place for your earphones, an inflatable neck pillow, an eye mask, pockets big enough for iPads, a variety of pockets for phones, sunglasses, passport, drinks etc. The zip is even a pen and stylus. Baubax has raised more than $9 million on Kickstarter and you can order yours on Indigogo. The jacket comes in a range of styles from sweatshirts to blazers from $149.
Airport TV is about to take off in Ireland West
Watch out for Airport TV at Ireland West Airport, where you could be the star.The airport has launched a new online television channel where it will broadcast news stories, along with travel experiences of passengers who use the airport and holiday reviews. Airport TV will also support local food producers and tourism providers in the region. The channel will be broadcast at the airport and online at irelandwestairport.com/airporttv.
Enjoying nice revenue streams in the wings
Some interesting figures on the generation of ancillary revenues by airlines have appeared in the Cartrawler Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue by IdeaWorksCompany. Last year it accounted for $38 billion of revenues, up 21 per cent on the previous year. Ryanair believes 25 per cent of its passengers are business travellers and 9,000 per day are buying the Business Plus fares, over half a million euro per day. United earned $5.86 billion from passengers and on Jet2 ancillary fees averaged up to $56.28 each. Lufthansa earned $90 million from its Miles and More programme.
Hotel managing firm announces €30m in funding
The PREM Group, a leading Irish hotel management company and suites provider has announced a funding package worth €30 million with Proventus Capital Partners. In his blog, Jim Murphy, PREM Group’s chief executive said the company intends to use the funds to finance its expansion into freehold hotels, serviced apartments and hotel management in Europe. PREM’s portfolio includes 42 hotels and serviced apartment buildings in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands the UK and Ireland.
Road Warrior - strong growth in air figures across Europe, earn Avios with Hailo in London, Norwegian rewards corporates, new app from Enterprise car rental, September 9, 2015
Strong air travel numbers across Europe in July Passenger traffic across Europe during July grew by 6.7 per cent according to the Airport Council International ACI-Europe. The strongest growth was in Slovenia, Ireland, Hungary, Romania and Luxembourg, with double-digit growth. Dublin had growth of 16.9 per cent. Aircraft movements were up by 2.6 per cent, though freight traffic was tepid at 0.5 per cent. Non-EU airport traffic rebounded after several months of weak growth. The International Air Transport Association in its July report said: “Following a strong summer the outlook heading into autumn is unsettled, to say the least. While passenger demand remains healthy, international air cargo growth turned negative in July. “The downward movement in stock markets around the globe reflects investors’ growing concerns about slowing trade and economic growth in emerging economies, as well as China’s continued shift towards domestic markets.”
BA links up with Hailo to offer extra Avios points You can earn extra Avios by using the Hailo app in the UK. British Airways has partnered with the taxi-booking app to offer Executive Club members the opportunity to earn Avios points. Members can earn one Avios for every £1 spent. Up until December 31st, new users will receive 400 bonus Avios on their first London airport transfer and 100 bonus Avios on subsequent trips to the airport.This service is only available for rides in London at present. To be eligible, Executive Club members must enter their membership number into their Hailo profile. They will then receive Avios for each ride taken in London.
Norwegian ups flight rewards for companies Norwegian has increased the amount of rewards companies can earn on all flights. The carrier, with direct flights from Dublin to Oslo and Copenhagen, offers “cash points”, which can be used to make savings. The corporate bonus scheme means rewards of up to 12 per cent on booking premium and economy flex tickets. Flights can be booked by companies, employees or travel agencies. There is also a direct discount scheme for companies of eight per cent applied immediately on bookings. Company profiles can be created online on norwegian.com.
Enterprise brings out mobile app to manage rentals Enterprise Rent-A-Car has launched an Irish mobile app for making and managing car rental reservations on the go. Customers will be able to make and change bookings, find a local office, get directions and call roadside assistance. The app will analyse past bookings to create shortcuts showing recently used and favourite locations.
Strong air travel numbers across Europe in July Passenger traffic across Europe during July grew by 6.7 per cent according to the Airport Council International ACI-Europe. The strongest growth was in Slovenia, Ireland, Hungary, Romania and Luxembourg, with double-digit growth. Dublin had growth of 16.9 per cent. Aircraft movements were up by 2.6 per cent, though freight traffic was tepid at 0.5 per cent. Non-EU airport traffic rebounded after several months of weak growth. The International Air Transport Association in its July report said: “Following a strong summer the outlook heading into autumn is unsettled, to say the least. While passenger demand remains healthy, international air cargo growth turned negative in July. “The downward movement in stock markets around the globe reflects investors’ growing concerns about slowing trade and economic growth in emerging economies, as well as China’s continued shift towards domestic markets.”
BA links up with Hailo to offer extra Avios points You can earn extra Avios by using the Hailo app in the UK. British Airways has partnered with the taxi-booking app to offer Executive Club members the opportunity to earn Avios points. Members can earn one Avios for every £1 spent. Up until December 31st, new users will receive 400 bonus Avios on their first London airport transfer and 100 bonus Avios on subsequent trips to the airport.This service is only available for rides in London at present. To be eligible, Executive Club members must enter their membership number into their Hailo profile. They will then receive Avios for each ride taken in London.
Norwegian ups flight rewards for companies Norwegian has increased the amount of rewards companies can earn on all flights. The carrier, with direct flights from Dublin to Oslo and Copenhagen, offers “cash points”, which can be used to make savings. The corporate bonus scheme means rewards of up to 12 per cent on booking premium and economy flex tickets. Flights can be booked by companies, employees or travel agencies. There is also a direct discount scheme for companies of eight per cent applied immediately on bookings. Company profiles can be created online on norwegian.com.
Enterprise brings out mobile app to manage rentals Enterprise Rent-A-Car has launched an Irish mobile app for making and managing car rental reservations on the go. Customers will be able to make and change bookings, find a local office, get directions and call roadside assistance. The app will analyse past bookings to create shortcuts showing recently used and favourite locations.
Road Warrior - Irish hotel prices up 15 per cent, BA flights to Silicon Valley, no more porn in Hilton hotels, Dublin in the running for best conference venue, September 2, 2015
Irish hotel prices up 15% in first half of this year
Irish hotel prices rose by 15 per cent in the first half of this year. The average room rate is €116 per night, with Dublin at €128, up 19 per cent from €107 last year.The Hotel Price Index by Hotels. com shows the fifth consecutive year that prices have continued to rise or recover depending on whether you are a guest or a property. Belfast is following close on Dublin with average rates of €125 and an increase last year of 25 per cent. Globally hotel prices rose by just 1 per cent in the first half of the year except in North American, Caribbean and Latin America.
British Airways to operate London to San José flight
Ireland’s tech industry will be happy to hear that British Airways will be introducing a London Heathrow to San José flight next May.
The only European route to Silicon Valley will operate every day with four classes – First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and economy. Flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Fares originating in Ireland will be better value than those from the UK.
Hilton hotels to end adult video service
Bedrooms in Hilton hotels worldwide will become pornography free zones from next year.The hotel group will end the adult video-on-demand service in all properties by next July. In recent years Hilton Worldwide has been listed on the US National Centre On Sexual Exploitation’s “dirty dozen list” which lists 12 “leading contributors to sexual exploitation”. Other brands such as Marriott and Ritz Carlton have already ended the in-room service.
Dublin shortlisted for awards in three categories Dublin has been shortlisted in three categories for the upcoming Conferencing and Incentive Awards, C&IT. The categories are best short-haul destination, best international conference for the One Young World Summit and best use of event technology or social media. Separately, Fáilte Ireland’s destination marketing video The Event Island is a finalist in the Meetings Industry Marketing Awards.
Irish hotel prices up 15% in first half of this year
Irish hotel prices rose by 15 per cent in the first half of this year. The average room rate is €116 per night, with Dublin at €128, up 19 per cent from €107 last year.The Hotel Price Index by Hotels. com shows the fifth consecutive year that prices have continued to rise or recover depending on whether you are a guest or a property. Belfast is following close on Dublin with average rates of €125 and an increase last year of 25 per cent. Globally hotel prices rose by just 1 per cent in the first half of the year except in North American, Caribbean and Latin America.
British Airways to operate London to San José flight
Ireland’s tech industry will be happy to hear that British Airways will be introducing a London Heathrow to San José flight next May.
The only European route to Silicon Valley will operate every day with four classes – First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and economy. Flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Fares originating in Ireland will be better value than those from the UK.
Hilton hotels to end adult video service
Bedrooms in Hilton hotels worldwide will become pornography free zones from next year.The hotel group will end the adult video-on-demand service in all properties by next July. In recent years Hilton Worldwide has been listed on the US National Centre On Sexual Exploitation’s “dirty dozen list” which lists 12 “leading contributors to sexual exploitation”. Other brands such as Marriott and Ritz Carlton have already ended the in-room service.
Dublin shortlisted for awards in three categories Dublin has been shortlisted in three categories for the upcoming Conferencing and Incentive Awards, C&IT. The categories are best short-haul destination, best international conference for the One Young World Summit and best use of event technology or social media. Separately, Fáilte Ireland’s destination marketing video The Event Island is a finalist in the Meetings Industry Marketing Awards.
Road Warrior - the darker side of hypermobility, gadgets for road warriors, five million hotels rooms in United States, August 26, 2015
A darker side to ‘hypermobility’
You may never get sympathy from your friends, but there is a darker side to being “hypermobile”, or a road warrior.
Researchers at the University of Surrey and Linnaeus University in Sweden have published a study of what they call the “darker side of hypermobility.”
The study finds three types of consequence: physiological, psychological and emotional, and social. So next time you scowl at a friend or colleague’s Instagrams from around the world, pause for a moment and think of the damage they are likely to suffer. Read the report at http://bit.ly/1NEJI9a.
Gadget guidance from City airport
London City Airport knows plenty about what gadgets business travellers like and has come up with a list of useful items to travel with. For example, a Zolt charger will get you out of a hole in no time, simultaneously powering your laptop, mobile and camera.
The Livescribe Echo, meanwhile, is a slim pen that can record up to 800 hours of audio. It can also transcribe remotely into words on your iOS and Android devices and via USB to your laptop.
And avoid being let down by AV equipment by bringing a Brookstone Pocket Projector to meetings. It’s a small device capable of HD video output.
Five million hotel rooms in US
The number of available hotel rooms in the United States has passed the five million mark this summer. STR, the hotel data benchmark company, in its most recent census, put the total of rooms at 5,001,163 across 53,554 properties.
Growth is expected to continue this year at 1.2 per cent and to increase next year to 1.4 per cent. New York has been adding more rooms than any other market and the stock now stands at more than 112,000 rooms with 88 per cent occupancy.
Etihad to halve Abu Dhabi flights
Adjustments to fleet and network during the winter will mean a reduction in Etihad flights from Dublin to Abu Dhabi next year, from two to one from January 11th until June. The aircraft will change from an A330 to a Boeing 777, with 40 business-class and 340 economy seats.
United Airlines has announced the return of the Belfast-to-Newark winter service from January, three times a week. Cityjet will announce a rebrand next week that will include plans for the replacement of the current fleet.
Road Warrior - would you pay $32,000 for a suite on an aircraft. Watch the All Blacks be the Men in Black, in room workouts with Even Hotels, August 19. 2015
Imagine paying the price of a car for a plane ticket to New York. Now you can: $32,000 is the price from Abu Dhabi in your personal suite on Etihad’s A380 superjumbo aircraft. The Residence, the three-room on-board luxury suite, is producing healthy forward bookings before it comes into service on December 1. The suite has a living room, bedroom and bathroom with shower. Needless to say, there is also a butler to take care of your needs. The price is equivalent to 26 economy seats on the same route.
An Even way to stay fitIHG’s lifestyle brand hotel Even is getting ready to open in Manhattan and Brooklyn by the end of the year. The focus is on keeping you fit and well while on the road. Each hotel has a gym, group fitness classes, healthy food choices and rooms equipped for training. Each room also has resistance bands, Swiss ball and yoga mat. Even has also produced a video to show you how to use the in-room equipment. You can watch it here: http://bit.ly/1hBLAmK. There are already Even hotels in Rockville, Maryland and Norwalk, Connecticut.
The All Blacks take on the ‘Men in Black’
Cheer yourself up by watching the new Air Zealand inflight video. It features All Black captain Richie McCaw and outhalf Dan Carter as the Men in Black. Based on the MIB movie, the video has an edgy rap rhythm. Also appearing are coachSteve Hansen and players Kieran Read, Keven Meatamu, Sam Whitelock and Israel Dagg. Rip Torn reprises the role of chief of the MIB with Australian David Campese, former England captain Martin Johnson and former Argentinian captain Agustin Pichotmaking cameo appearances. You don’t have to go to New Zealand to watch it; see it on airnewzealand.com.
Handy app for airport orientation
Regular flyers with United Airlines will find its updated app useful for navigating some of the busiest airports it flies into, including Newark, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington.The system uses uses beacons to help customers navigate the terminals. So if you are looking for an ATM or somewhere to eat or trying to find your gate, the app will help you. If you have a boarding pass stored in the app, the map will automatically default to your gate location.
Imagine paying the price of a car for a plane ticket to New York. Now you can: $32,000 is the price from Abu Dhabi in your personal suite on Etihad’s A380 superjumbo aircraft. The Residence, the three-room on-board luxury suite, is producing healthy forward bookings before it comes into service on December 1. The suite has a living room, bedroom and bathroom with shower. Needless to say, there is also a butler to take care of your needs. The price is equivalent to 26 economy seats on the same route.
An Even way to stay fitIHG’s lifestyle brand hotel Even is getting ready to open in Manhattan and Brooklyn by the end of the year. The focus is on keeping you fit and well while on the road. Each hotel has a gym, group fitness classes, healthy food choices and rooms equipped for training. Each room also has resistance bands, Swiss ball and yoga mat. Even has also produced a video to show you how to use the in-room equipment. You can watch it here: http://bit.ly/1hBLAmK. There are already Even hotels in Rockville, Maryland and Norwalk, Connecticut.
The All Blacks take on the ‘Men in Black’
Cheer yourself up by watching the new Air Zealand inflight video. It features All Black captain Richie McCaw and outhalf Dan Carter as the Men in Black. Based on the MIB movie, the video has an edgy rap rhythm. Also appearing are coachSteve Hansen and players Kieran Read, Keven Meatamu, Sam Whitelock and Israel Dagg. Rip Torn reprises the role of chief of the MIB with Australian David Campese, former England captain Martin Johnson and former Argentinian captain Agustin Pichotmaking cameo appearances. You don’t have to go to New Zealand to watch it; see it on airnewzealand.com.
Handy app for airport orientation
Regular flyers with United Airlines will find its updated app useful for navigating some of the busiest airports it flies into, including Newark, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington.The system uses uses beacons to help customers navigate the terminals. So if you are looking for an ATM or somewhere to eat or trying to find your gate, the app will help you. If you have a boarding pass stored in the app, the map will automatically default to your gate location.
Road Warrior - ERA call for urgent drone regulations, 20% would pay to deplane first, eat yourself happy to Gatwick Airport, beware scam hotel booking sites. August 12, 2015.
Call to regulate drones after near misses at airports The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) is calling for urgent measures to regulate the use of drones in Europe’s airspace. Two recent near misses in Heathrow and Warsaw airports highlight the need for regulations. “Only some EU member states have regulations for the flying of smaller RPAS (remotely piloted aircraft systems),” says Simon McNamara director general of ERA. The use of RPAS operations needs to be incorporated into commercial airspace regulations.
Fifth of people would pay to get off aircraft first Some 22 per cent of people said they would be willing to pay for the privilege of getting off an aircraft first, according to survey by OAG and FlightView of 2,339 users of the mobile app. Some airlines already enable people to pay for a seat near the front or exit rows. Yet, despite this, deplaning first is not likely to become an additional ancillary revenue source for the foreseeable future. Airlines globally earned more than €38 billion in revenue in 2014 from ancillary services. Millennials (Generation Y) were most likely to pay for deplaning.
Eat yourself happy at Gatwick Airport in August If you are travelling through Gatwick Airport in August, be sure to leave time to eat, especially serotonin-rich foods. The airport teamed up with a nutritionist to advise eight restaurants in making meals packed with mood-boosting ingredients. Salmon, tuna, oats, bananas, citrus fruits, soy products, spinach, kale, and sesame seeds are some of the ingredients. Mood-boosting menu options will be marked with a smiling emoji.
Warning to watch out for bogus hotel websites The proliferation of bogus hotel websites has led the US Federal Trade Commission to warn travellers to be careful when booking hotel rooms. Fake and third-party websites have been gathering credit card and personal information.
Blog post on the FTC website says “just because a webpage looks like the official site of your favourite hotel chain doesn’t necessarily mean it is.
“Before you reserve a room for your next trip make sure that you know who’s at the other end of that ‘book now’button.”
Call to regulate drones after near misses at airports The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) is calling for urgent measures to regulate the use of drones in Europe’s airspace. Two recent near misses in Heathrow and Warsaw airports highlight the need for regulations. “Only some EU member states have regulations for the flying of smaller RPAS (remotely piloted aircraft systems),” says Simon McNamara director general of ERA. The use of RPAS operations needs to be incorporated into commercial airspace regulations.
Fifth of people would pay to get off aircraft first Some 22 per cent of people said they would be willing to pay for the privilege of getting off an aircraft first, according to survey by OAG and FlightView of 2,339 users of the mobile app. Some airlines already enable people to pay for a seat near the front or exit rows. Yet, despite this, deplaning first is not likely to become an additional ancillary revenue source for the foreseeable future. Airlines globally earned more than €38 billion in revenue in 2014 from ancillary services. Millennials (Generation Y) were most likely to pay for deplaning.
Eat yourself happy at Gatwick Airport in August If you are travelling through Gatwick Airport in August, be sure to leave time to eat, especially serotonin-rich foods. The airport teamed up with a nutritionist to advise eight restaurants in making meals packed with mood-boosting ingredients. Salmon, tuna, oats, bananas, citrus fruits, soy products, spinach, kale, and sesame seeds are some of the ingredients. Mood-boosting menu options will be marked with a smiling emoji.
Warning to watch out for bogus hotel websites The proliferation of bogus hotel websites has led the US Federal Trade Commission to warn travellers to be careful when booking hotel rooms. Fake and third-party websites have been gathering credit card and personal information.
Blog post on the FTC website says “just because a webpage looks like the official site of your favourite hotel chain doesn’t necessarily mean it is.
“Before you reserve a room for your next trip make sure that you know who’s at the other end of that ‘book now’button.”
Road Warrior, new terminal and upgrade for LaGuardia Airport and TWA building at JFK to be turned into hotel, new fares from Lufthansa, Aer Space for Aer Lingus customes, BA enforces cabin bag sizes, August 5, 2015.
$4bn overhaul on the way for New York’s LaGuardia
New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week the redesign and development of LaGuardia Airport. The public-private partnership, which has a budget of $4 billion, will develop a single unified terminal building with improved transportation access, with.
Along with that news was word of the redevelopment of one of the most famous buildings at JFK: the TWA building. Unused since 2001 the terminal avoided the wrecking ball by being on the National Register of Historic Places.
Designed by Eero Saarinen, the building will become a 505-room hotel called TWA Flight Center Hotel, which will open in 2018.
New range of fares announced by Lufthansa
Lufthansa has introduced a new fare concept for Europe which goes on sale now to apply from October 1st. The four-tier fares are economy light, economy classic, economy flex and business with varying additional services. For example, lowest fares from Dublin to Frankfurt could cost from €75, €95, €145 or €220. Fares booked through travel agents will attract a €16 GDS fee. Ryanair reiterated its commitment to take up to 20 per cent of the German air market from the existing 5 per cent. It will open a base at Berlin-Schönefeld in October.
Perks available for Aer Lingus passengers
Is the curtain coming back? Regular business travellers to London, Paris and Amsterdam will benefit from additional services with Aer Lingus from Q4.
The new Aer Space product will include seating in the first three rows, empty middle seat, lounge access, fast-track through security, priority boarding and flexible tickets. It’s part of the “Keeping One Step Ahead” programme.
BA introduces new rules for carry-on bags
British Airways are tightening up the rules on hand baggage for fliers. You will still be able to bring two bags on board, but the second one will have to be smaller. Acceptable sizes would be a laptop bag or handbag, which will have to be tagged with a yellow label on check-in. The standard size for cabin bags is unchanged at 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and can weigh up to 23kgs, which is still generous.
Road Warrior - record profits for US carriers, GoAtlas app launched, top business spots include India, Singapore, China, Colombia and Mexico, Airbnb for road warriors. July 29, 2015.
Record quarter for top American airline carriers The four major American carriers are rubbing their hands with glee following a record -breaking second quarter. United Airlines Limited reported $1.2 billion second quarter profit excluding special items. They also announced a $3 billion share repurchase programme. American Airlines are showing $1.9 billion profits and also repurchased €750 million of stock. Delta Airlines are banking €1.6 billion and have returned €1 billion to shareholders as dividends and share purchases. Low cost carrier South West enjoyed high profits with the second quarter up to $608 million from $465 million last quarter.
Atlas Travel Service launch mobile travel app A leading Irish corporate travel management company, Atlas Travel Service, has launched a mobile travel app, GoAtlas. In conjunction with reservation service Amadeus Ireland, the app will improve travel experiences for customers. Road warriors will be able to easily access itineraries, changes, flight information, receive notifications and integrate with air, hotel and ground transportation reservations.
India now among six top business travel hot spots New research from the 2016 Global Travel Price Outlook, identifies six hot spots for business – India, China,Colombia, Mexico, Singapore and Australia. Research on business travel trends was conducted for the Global Business Travel Association GBTA Foundation, and travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). Overall air travel is expected to be essentially flat in 2016. The report provides global, regional and country-by-country projections for air travel, hotel, ground transportation, meetings and events prices in 2016. It can be viewed onGBTA.org.
Airbnb for Business targets corporate clients In response to the number of corporate customers using Airbnb to house staff, the company has introduced Airbnb for Business. The dedicated business travel programme includes a central billing system, and a dashboard for travel managers to track employee spend.
The main market for Airbnb for Business will be extended stays and off-site meetings for teams, airbnb.ie/business-travel.
Companies already using the service include Google, Salesforce and SoundCloud.
Record quarter for top American airline carriers The four major American carriers are rubbing their hands with glee following a record -breaking second quarter. United Airlines Limited reported $1.2 billion second quarter profit excluding special items. They also announced a $3 billion share repurchase programme. American Airlines are showing $1.9 billion profits and also repurchased €750 million of stock. Delta Airlines are banking €1.6 billion and have returned €1 billion to shareholders as dividends and share purchases. Low cost carrier South West enjoyed high profits with the second quarter up to $608 million from $465 million last quarter.
Atlas Travel Service launch mobile travel app A leading Irish corporate travel management company, Atlas Travel Service, has launched a mobile travel app, GoAtlas. In conjunction with reservation service Amadeus Ireland, the app will improve travel experiences for customers. Road warriors will be able to easily access itineraries, changes, flight information, receive notifications and integrate with air, hotel and ground transportation reservations.
India now among six top business travel hot spots New research from the 2016 Global Travel Price Outlook, identifies six hot spots for business – India, China,Colombia, Mexico, Singapore and Australia. Research on business travel trends was conducted for the Global Business Travel Association GBTA Foundation, and travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). Overall air travel is expected to be essentially flat in 2016. The report provides global, regional and country-by-country projections for air travel, hotel, ground transportation, meetings and events prices in 2016. It can be viewed onGBTA.org.
Airbnb for Business targets corporate clients In response to the number of corporate customers using Airbnb to house staff, the company has introduced Airbnb for Business. The dedicated business travel programme includes a central billing system, and a dashboard for travel managers to track employee spend.
The main market for Airbnb for Business will be extended stays and off-site meetings for teams, airbnb.ie/business-travel.
Companies already using the service include Google, Salesforce and SoundCloud.
Road Warrior, car hire firms agree to higher standards, PASSME will speed up departures to arrivals, Airbnb and Uber making inroads in traditional markets, million airmile reward for hacker, July 22, 2015
Car hire firms agree higher standards
Five major car hire firms have agreed to improve practices following a Europe-wide review by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), supported by theEuropean Commission. The companies, Avis Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, Sixt and Hertz, are introducing improvements over the next six months. These include more transparency when bookings are made, better information about optional waiver and insurance products, more upfront information about the pre- and post-rental inspection process, and improved notification of dispute processes and any charges for damages.
From departures to arrivals in one hour less
Research is being undertaken to cut up to 60 minutes from the time passengers spend getting from the departures hall in one airport to the arrival area at their destination. Personalised Airport Systems for Seamless Mobility and Experience (Passme) is EU funded as part of the Horizon 2020 research project. The project aims to reduce times for luggage dropoff, cut queues, and introduce smart boarding. Passme will be piloted at Schiphol and Hamburg airports.
Airbnb and Uber figures see bigger share for sharing
The sharing economy is beginning to make inroads into traditional markets for accommodation and ground transportation in the United States. Travel and expense management company Certify looked at millions of expense reports and said that, in the second quarter of this year, 31 per cent for ground transportation were from Uber, 24 per cent were from taxis and 45 per cent were from rental cars. Airbnb’s share of the business travel market jumped 143 per cent from the previous quarter. Top cities for Airbnb business travellers were San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Miami and Tampa.
Million air mile reward for UA website hacker
A Florida man has earned 1,000,000 air miles from United Airlines (UA) after identifying a bug in the firm’s online system. UA asked hackers to check out its new website for bugs, with the lure of earning air miles. Jordan Wiens, of Tampa, is looking forward to spending his haul of air miles but cannot reveal the bug in the system.
Car hire firms agree higher standards
Five major car hire firms have agreed to improve practices following a Europe-wide review by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), supported by theEuropean Commission. The companies, Avis Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, Sixt and Hertz, are introducing improvements over the next six months. These include more transparency when bookings are made, better information about optional waiver and insurance products, more upfront information about the pre- and post-rental inspection process, and improved notification of dispute processes and any charges for damages.
From departures to arrivals in one hour less
Research is being undertaken to cut up to 60 minutes from the time passengers spend getting from the departures hall in one airport to the arrival area at their destination. Personalised Airport Systems for Seamless Mobility and Experience (Passme) is EU funded as part of the Horizon 2020 research project. The project aims to reduce times for luggage dropoff, cut queues, and introduce smart boarding. Passme will be piloted at Schiphol and Hamburg airports.
Airbnb and Uber figures see bigger share for sharing
The sharing economy is beginning to make inroads into traditional markets for accommodation and ground transportation in the United States. Travel and expense management company Certify looked at millions of expense reports and said that, in the second quarter of this year, 31 per cent for ground transportation were from Uber, 24 per cent were from taxis and 45 per cent were from rental cars. Airbnb’s share of the business travel market jumped 143 per cent from the previous quarter. Top cities for Airbnb business travellers were San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Miami and Tampa.
Million air mile reward for UA website hacker
A Florida man has earned 1,000,000 air miles from United Airlines (UA) after identifying a bug in the firm’s online system. UA asked hackers to check out its new website for bugs, with the lure of earning air miles. Jordan Wiens, of Tampa, is looking forward to spending his haul of air miles but cannot reveal the bug in the system.
Road Warrior, 51 major international business events for Dublin, AerCap bring A350 t0 Dublin, Interconti Hong Kong sells for $935 million and airline ancillary revenues growing faster. July 15, 2015. From The Irish Times
51 international events for Ireland in three years
The Business Tourism team at Fáilte Ireland is already ahead of target for 2015. It has attracted 51 international events to Ireland to take place between 2016 and 2019. At least 20,000 delegates will spend more than €27 million attending events like the Social Media and Critical Care Conference and the International Air Transport Associationagm in the city.
The Meet in Dublin website has been upgraded with new features such as a live chat, planning toolkits and a blog. dublinconventionbureau.com
AerCap flies in to mark HQ move from LA to Dublin
AerCap, the largest owner of commercial aircraft in the world, brought a new Airbus A350 into Dublin last week to mark its HQ move from LA to Dublin. AerCap will move into the LXV building on the corner of St Stephen’s Green and Earlsfort Terrace next year. AerCap has ordered 122 of the A350s and Aer Lingus has ordered nine of the A350-900XWB to come into service from 2018.
Consortium buys IHG Hong Kong Hotel for $938m
The owners of IHG Intercontinental Hong Kong Hotel have agreed to sell the property to Supreme Key, a consortium of investors, for $938 million. IHG will retain the management contract of the hotel for 37 years with three 10-year extensions. The hotel on the Kowloon Waterfront has 503 rooms. IHG sold Le Grand Hotel in Paris last autumn for $405 million and the Park Lane Intercontinental in London in 2013 for £302 million.
Ancillary airline revenue up eighth year in succession
Ancillary revenue for airlines has jumped for the eighth year in row, to $38.1 billion in 2014. The study of 63 airlines by IdeaWorksCompany sponsored by CarTrawler shows that revenue from the sale of seats, baggage, food, extra leg room and loyalty points increased by more than $2.9 billion last year. The biggest rise in revenue was among low-cost carriers, up €2.9 billion, while the US major airlines increased revenue by $2.6 billion. The increase in air travel will further add to the bottom line of airlines this year.
Road Warrior - British Airways sale on World Traveller seats, Big Four US airlines being investigated, eco friendliness for Starood pays off, air displays in Shannon and Bray, July 8, 2015.
Get away with summer deals on long-haul flights This is a good week to plan any future long-haul travel and take advantage of the British Airways summer sale. There are reductions of up to 30 per cent on many business destinations. World Traveller Plus fares, the premium economy service, has prices from €849 to Beijing, €1,005 to Hong Kong and €756 to Dubai, all of which are return fares from Dublin. Fares are valid until next March with a blackout period over Christmas and can be booked online or with your travel agent up to July 14th.
US government asks questions of ‘big four’ airlines The United States justice department is investigating the big four air carriers over “possible unlawful coordination”. The department has requested documents from airlines related to expansions, as well as documents related to meetings with analysts or officials at other airlines. Despite the fall in fuel prices domestic airfares have continued to rise. Over the last seven years there has been consolidation in the market and more than 80 per cent is now controlled by four carriers: American, United, Delta and Southwest. Capacity is less than it was in 2007 and load factors are strong.
Hotel group’s eco-friendly plan is paying off Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is on track to hit its 30/20 target: 30 per cent reductions in energy use and 20 per cent less water usage by 2020. It also plans to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent. The environmental programme began in 2008 and so far has seen energy use drop by 12.08 per cent, carbon emissions by 16.07 per cent and water use by 17.26 per cent across the group. These improvements have come about by using hi-efficiency LED lighting, solar power, low-flow taps and fixtures and other measures.
Air shows will be flying in for the weekend Aviation lovers are in for a treat on the weekend of July 18th-19th with two air shows taking place. On Saturday Shannon Airport will mark 70 years of transatlantic services with a six-hour display. There will be jet fighters, aerial acrobatics, stunt fliers and parachutists. See shannonairdisplay.com. Tickets are €5 for adults from eventbrite.ie.
The free annual Bray Air Display will be on Sunday from 2pm and will feature a whole host of aerial masters. All three Irish airlines will be represented as will the air-sea rescue service. More here: brayairdisplay.com. The Air Corps, the Black Knights, the Irish Parachute Club and MIG-15 will be at both shows.
Get away with summer deals on long-haul flights This is a good week to plan any future long-haul travel and take advantage of the British Airways summer sale. There are reductions of up to 30 per cent on many business destinations. World Traveller Plus fares, the premium economy service, has prices from €849 to Beijing, €1,005 to Hong Kong and €756 to Dubai, all of which are return fares from Dublin. Fares are valid until next March with a blackout period over Christmas and can be booked online or with your travel agent up to July 14th.
US government asks questions of ‘big four’ airlines The United States justice department is investigating the big four air carriers over “possible unlawful coordination”. The department has requested documents from airlines related to expansions, as well as documents related to meetings with analysts or officials at other airlines. Despite the fall in fuel prices domestic airfares have continued to rise. Over the last seven years there has been consolidation in the market and more than 80 per cent is now controlled by four carriers: American, United, Delta and Southwest. Capacity is less than it was in 2007 and load factors are strong.
Hotel group’s eco-friendly plan is paying off Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is on track to hit its 30/20 target: 30 per cent reductions in energy use and 20 per cent less water usage by 2020. It also plans to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent. The environmental programme began in 2008 and so far has seen energy use drop by 12.08 per cent, carbon emissions by 16.07 per cent and water use by 17.26 per cent across the group. These improvements have come about by using hi-efficiency LED lighting, solar power, low-flow taps and fixtures and other measures.
Air shows will be flying in for the weekend Aviation lovers are in for a treat on the weekend of July 18th-19th with two air shows taking place. On Saturday Shannon Airport will mark 70 years of transatlantic services with a six-hour display. There will be jet fighters, aerial acrobatics, stunt fliers and parachutists. See shannonairdisplay.com. Tickets are €5 for adults from eventbrite.ie.
The free annual Bray Air Display will be on Sunday from 2pm and will feature a whole host of aerial masters. All three Irish airlines will be represented as will the air-sea rescue service. More here: brayairdisplay.com. The Air Corps, the Black Knights, the Irish Parachute Club and MIG-15 will be at both shows.
Road Warrior -- where’s the dearest club sandwich, freshen up in the Revival Lounge, good books at the Westin, Cityjet coming to Cork, July 1 , 2015
Cost of coffee, glass of wine and a club sandwich The Hotels. com Club Sandwich Index is a good indicator of prices across the world and where is on the up or down. This year it added in prices for a burger meal, coffee and a glass of red wine to give a broader picture. The dearest city for the traditional club sandwich is Geneva €27.90 and it is dearest overall. The cheapest club sandwich is Mexico at €8.91. Dublin is 18th in a list of 28 top cities and average price is €12.56.
The most expensive city for a cup of coffee is Seoul at €8.87, the most expensive burger meal is Geneva at €34.48 and most expensive red wine is Paris €11.69.
Lose your long-haul slept-in look Business-class passengers arriving on transatlantic flights with Aer Lingus will now have a chance to lose the slept-in look. The Revivals Lounge has opened in Dublin Airport Terminal 2. The lounge, located beside carousel six in the baggage hall, will have changing rooms, showers and amenities. You can also have your shirt or blouse steam-pressed, use the wifi, catch up on the news and have breakfast before facing your work day.
Get the butler to bring you a good book A good book is always an ideal way to relax when you are travelling. So if you are staying in the Westin Hotel on Dublin’s Westmoreland Street, you can consult the first Book Butler for a suggestion. Booksellers Eason and the Westin have devised this service for guests. The Book Butler will have a selection of bestsellers across 10 genres and, if your favourite author is not there, it can be ordered by 2pm for delivery the same day.
Set the controls for the financial heart of London News that Cityjet is to begin a service from Cork to London City Airport will be welcomed by businesses in the region. The up-to-three-times daily service will ensure fast access into the financial heart of London from September.
There will also be opportunities to connect into more than 40 UK and European routes from the fast-growing airport.
Cost of coffee, glass of wine and a club sandwich The Hotels. com Club Sandwich Index is a good indicator of prices across the world and where is on the up or down. This year it added in prices for a burger meal, coffee and a glass of red wine to give a broader picture. The dearest city for the traditional club sandwich is Geneva €27.90 and it is dearest overall. The cheapest club sandwich is Mexico at €8.91. Dublin is 18th in a list of 28 top cities and average price is €12.56.
The most expensive city for a cup of coffee is Seoul at €8.87, the most expensive burger meal is Geneva at €34.48 and most expensive red wine is Paris €11.69.
Lose your long-haul slept-in look Business-class passengers arriving on transatlantic flights with Aer Lingus will now have a chance to lose the slept-in look. The Revivals Lounge has opened in Dublin Airport Terminal 2. The lounge, located beside carousel six in the baggage hall, will have changing rooms, showers and amenities. You can also have your shirt or blouse steam-pressed, use the wifi, catch up on the news and have breakfast before facing your work day.
Get the butler to bring you a good book A good book is always an ideal way to relax when you are travelling. So if you are staying in the Westin Hotel on Dublin’s Westmoreland Street, you can consult the first Book Butler for a suggestion. Booksellers Eason and the Westin have devised this service for guests. The Book Butler will have a selection of bestsellers across 10 genres and, if your favourite author is not there, it can be ordered by 2pm for delivery the same day.
Set the controls for the financial heart of London News that Cityjet is to begin a service from Cork to London City Airport will be welcomed by businesses in the region. The up-to-three-times daily service will ensure fast access into the financial heart of London from September.
There will also be opportunities to connect into more than 40 UK and European routes from the fast-growing airport.
Road Warrior - The Internet of Things in the air, EU aviation strategy, resistance to Cabin OK, new Pod hotel for DC, June 24, 2015
Connectivity during flights set to take offThe internet of things, when physical objects are connected to the internet, is going to play a key role in travel in the not too distant future. Sita, the air transport and communications specialist, surveyed 200 of the world’s top airlines and more than half plan investments in this area. Eighty- three per cent of passengers are already travelling with a smartphone and keeping people luggage and aircraft connected will be easier.
Airline chiefs set out route to greater efficiency Last week the heads of Air France KLM, easyJet, IAG, Lufthansaand Ryanair sat around a table in Brussels to discuss EU aviation strategy with transport commissioner Violeta Bulc. Setting aside their competitive differences, the airlines urged the commissioner to introduce more efficiency in air-traffic control, to reduce the tax burden on passengers, and consider reforming the airport charges directive. Strengthening EU aviation strategy by simplifying regulatory structures would ensure jobs, growth and innovation, they said.
Americans resist downsizing of cabin luggage Cabin-okay is not okay for the moment. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has had to pause plans for the rollout of a standardised cabin baggage size due to concerns from travellers, particularly in North America. Cabin-okay would be 20 per cent smaller than the size most major airlines currently allow. Iata pointed out that the scheme was designed to be a guideline, not a standard. So it is back to the drawing board.
Pod expands with Washington DC microhotelWashington DC is due to get a microhotel next year when the Pod DC opens on H Street NW. The 245 rooms at the Pod will be a minuscule 14sq m (150sq ft) with everything you will need for a good night’s stay. You may have to take your pants off in the hallway but you will be paying at least a fifth less than the midrange price. Pod Hotels has two properties in New York, at East 39th and East 51st streets.
Connectivity during flights set to take offThe internet of things, when physical objects are connected to the internet, is going to play a key role in travel in the not too distant future. Sita, the air transport and communications specialist, surveyed 200 of the world’s top airlines and more than half plan investments in this area. Eighty- three per cent of passengers are already travelling with a smartphone and keeping people luggage and aircraft connected will be easier.
Airline chiefs set out route to greater efficiency Last week the heads of Air France KLM, easyJet, IAG, Lufthansaand Ryanair sat around a table in Brussels to discuss EU aviation strategy with transport commissioner Violeta Bulc. Setting aside their competitive differences, the airlines urged the commissioner to introduce more efficiency in air-traffic control, to reduce the tax burden on passengers, and consider reforming the airport charges directive. Strengthening EU aviation strategy by simplifying regulatory structures would ensure jobs, growth and innovation, they said.
Americans resist downsizing of cabin luggage Cabin-okay is not okay for the moment. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has had to pause plans for the rollout of a standardised cabin baggage size due to concerns from travellers, particularly in North America. Cabin-okay would be 20 per cent smaller than the size most major airlines currently allow. Iata pointed out that the scheme was designed to be a guideline, not a standard. So it is back to the drawing board.
Pod expands with Washington DC microhotelWashington DC is due to get a microhotel next year when the Pod DC opens on H Street NW. The 245 rooms at the Pod will be a minuscule 14sq m (150sq ft) with everything you will need for a good night’s stay. You may have to take your pants off in the hallway but you will be paying at least a fifth less than the midrange price. Pod Hotels has two properties in New York, at East 39th and East 51st streets.
Cabin OK or Not
Road Warrior - Hotel prices in Dublin surging ahead, cabin baggage to be standarised, Portugal sells 61% of TAP. Canada to introduce electronic travel authorisation, June 17, 2015
Trivago index shows hotel rates up 26% on year Suspicion that Dublin prices are surging ahead has been confirmed by the Trivago Hotel Price Index for June. Hotel prices are up by 26 per cent compared to this time last year, an average of €167 a night. A night in Jurys Inn Custom House this midweek will set you back €339 without breakfast. Europe on average is up 7 per cent. Cork hoteliers are also benefiting from a price hike of 8 per cent, mainly on the back of Live at the Marquee gigs and average prices this month are €148.
Cabin baggage sizes set to be standardised The confusion over different cabin baggage sizes across airlines is about to become clear with an initiative from the International Airline Transport Association IATA. Airline manufacturers were asked to share the optimum size of cabin bags for the most popular aircraft to allow a carry on bag for each passenger. The optimum size is 55cm by 35cm by 20cm. Bags complying with these dimensions will be able to carry a manufacturer’s label marked Cabin OK which will speed up check-in and reduce the need to use bag sizers.
Portugal sells stake in national airline TAP Yet another national carrier will change hands now that the Portuguese government has agreed to sell a controlling interest in TAP Air Portugal. An investor group led by David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue and Brazilian airline Azul SA, with Portuguese bus company Grupo Barraqueiro, bid €348 million for a 61 per cent share of the company. The investors have also agreed to add 53 new aircraft to the fleet and keep Lisbon as a major hub for 30 years.
Canada to bring in new travel authorisation Canada will be making changes in how visitors enter the country.
Irish visitors will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation in advance of arrival in Canada from March 15th next year.
The ETA will be similar to the United States Electronic System For Travel Authorisation – ESTA – and will be valid for five years or until passport renewal date. It is expected to cost $7. You will also need to provide advance passenger information before boarding an international flight to Canada. The system is expected to come into operation from August 1st and you can apply in advance of purchasing an airline ticket.
Trivago index shows hotel rates up 26% on year Suspicion that Dublin prices are surging ahead has been confirmed by the Trivago Hotel Price Index for June. Hotel prices are up by 26 per cent compared to this time last year, an average of €167 a night. A night in Jurys Inn Custom House this midweek will set you back €339 without breakfast. Europe on average is up 7 per cent. Cork hoteliers are also benefiting from a price hike of 8 per cent, mainly on the back of Live at the Marquee gigs and average prices this month are €148.
Cabin baggage sizes set to be standardised The confusion over different cabin baggage sizes across airlines is about to become clear with an initiative from the International Airline Transport Association IATA. Airline manufacturers were asked to share the optimum size of cabin bags for the most popular aircraft to allow a carry on bag for each passenger. The optimum size is 55cm by 35cm by 20cm. Bags complying with these dimensions will be able to carry a manufacturer’s label marked Cabin OK which will speed up check-in and reduce the need to use bag sizers.
Portugal sells stake in national airline TAP Yet another national carrier will change hands now that the Portuguese government has agreed to sell a controlling interest in TAP Air Portugal. An investor group led by David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue and Brazilian airline Azul SA, with Portuguese bus company Grupo Barraqueiro, bid €348 million for a 61 per cent share of the company. The investors have also agreed to add 53 new aircraft to the fleet and keep Lisbon as a major hub for 30 years.
Canada to bring in new travel authorisation Canada will be making changes in how visitors enter the country.
Irish visitors will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation in advance of arrival in Canada from March 15th next year.
The ETA will be similar to the United States Electronic System For Travel Authorisation – ESTA – and will be valid for five years or until passport renewal date. It is expected to cost $7. You will also need to provide advance passenger information before boarding an international flight to Canada. The system is expected to come into operation from August 1st and you can apply in advance of purchasing an airline ticket.
Road Warrior, Lufthansa to charge for GDS bookings, Easyjet to use drones and 3D printing, Hyatt Hotels trying out new strands of business, who has Rotten Wi Fi? June 10, 2015.
Lufthansa to charge GDS users Lufthansa Airline Group intends to change the cost of booking travel by charging the end-user for the cost of distribution from September 1st. Travel agents who use global distribution systems (GDS) such as Amadeus, Travelport and Sabre will be charged €16 per booking, which will no doubt be passed on to clients.Direct bookings on the airline sites will not incur the cost.
Airlines in the group also include Austrian, Swiss and Brussels. EasyJet testing new technologies EasyJet is testing the application of new technologies for the aviation business. Tests have shown automated drones can be used to conduct aircraft inspections after events such as lightning strikes. Virtual Reality headsets can help train staff to deal with various situations on board aircraft. 3D printing will also be used to replace parts within the cabin and reduce the storage of spares.
Hyatt Hotels making changes Disruption has changed the accommodation and transportation market substantially in recent years and Hyatt Hotels is embracing it. It recently invested in upscale housing company OneFineStay to better understand what customers want. Hyatt also includes Uber, the taxi company, on its app.
Fastest public wifi is in Europe From Rotten Wi-Fi we discover that the fastest public wifi is in Europe. Public access has been popping up in downtown areas, parks, and city squares, and helps reduce exorbitant data costs. Dublin has 14 areas around the city; there is a map on dublincity.ie
The top four countries in the survey are Lithuania, Croatia, Estonia and Ireland.
See rottenwifi.com
Lufthansa to charge GDS users Lufthansa Airline Group intends to change the cost of booking travel by charging the end-user for the cost of distribution from September 1st. Travel agents who use global distribution systems (GDS) such as Amadeus, Travelport and Sabre will be charged €16 per booking, which will no doubt be passed on to clients.Direct bookings on the airline sites will not incur the cost.
Airlines in the group also include Austrian, Swiss and Brussels. EasyJet testing new technologies EasyJet is testing the application of new technologies for the aviation business. Tests have shown automated drones can be used to conduct aircraft inspections after events such as lightning strikes. Virtual Reality headsets can help train staff to deal with various situations on board aircraft. 3D printing will also be used to replace parts within the cabin and reduce the storage of spares.
Hyatt Hotels making changes Disruption has changed the accommodation and transportation market substantially in recent years and Hyatt Hotels is embracing it. It recently invested in upscale housing company OneFineStay to better understand what customers want. Hyatt also includes Uber, the taxi company, on its app.
Fastest public wifi is in Europe From Rotten Wi-Fi we discover that the fastest public wifi is in Europe. Public access has been popping up in downtown areas, parks, and city squares, and helps reduce exorbitant data costs. Dublin has 14 areas around the city; there is a map on dublincity.ie
The top four countries in the survey are Lithuania, Croatia, Estonia and Ireland.
See rottenwifi.com
Road Warrior - Brandenburg Airport delayed another year or more, London rooftops being used, who has the best wi fi, new partners for Aer Lingus? June 3, 2015
Brandenburg still not open Another year goes by and still BER Brandenburg Airport is still not open. Originally due to open on a site near Schoenefeld in 2010 with further opening dates never reached, it is unlikely to operate for another few years.Carsten Muehlenfeld, former head of Rolls Royce Germany, has been appointed CEO. Aer Lingus will move its flight services from Schoenefeld to Tegal Airport and increase frequencies to 10 per week in the winter schedule.
London looking to its rooftops Using the rooftops of building may have begun in New York but London is now joining the trend. The London Marriott Park Lane has opened a pop-up food and drinks venue called Roofnic on the 4th floor of the hotel. It has Astroturf flooring for that authentic feel and retro furniture. Other rooftop venues include Radio at ME London on the Strand and the Angler rooftop terrace at South Place Hotel.
Check out wifi in hotel groups Good and free wifi is a priority for most business travellers and finding this information about hotels can be difficult. Some hotels may only have free wifi in public areas. Hotel Wifi Test has ranked hotel groups on the quality of wifi and whether in-room is free. The top three were Nordic Choice, RadissonBlu and Renaissance. See hotelwifitest.com
Aer Lingus may lose old partners Now that Aer Lingus will be joining the big brands of BA and IB it may be losing some of its long-time partners like United Airlines and KLM. Partners from different airline alliances may no longer be acceptable. And will it mean a move from the lovely new Terminal Two at Heathrow to T5? KLM will certainly feel the pinch as Aer Lingus has been feeding Amsterdam successfully for years.
Brandenburg still not open Another year goes by and still BER Brandenburg Airport is still not open. Originally due to open on a site near Schoenefeld in 2010 with further opening dates never reached, it is unlikely to operate for another few years.Carsten Muehlenfeld, former head of Rolls Royce Germany, has been appointed CEO. Aer Lingus will move its flight services from Schoenefeld to Tegal Airport and increase frequencies to 10 per week in the winter schedule.
London looking to its rooftops Using the rooftops of building may have begun in New York but London is now joining the trend. The London Marriott Park Lane has opened a pop-up food and drinks venue called Roofnic on the 4th floor of the hotel. It has Astroturf flooring for that authentic feel and retro furniture. Other rooftop venues include Radio at ME London on the Strand and the Angler rooftop terrace at South Place Hotel.
Check out wifi in hotel groups Good and free wifi is a priority for most business travellers and finding this information about hotels can be difficult. Some hotels may only have free wifi in public areas. Hotel Wifi Test has ranked hotel groups on the quality of wifi and whether in-room is free. The top three were Nordic Choice, RadissonBlu and Renaissance. See hotelwifitest.com
Aer Lingus may lose old partners Now that Aer Lingus will be joining the big brands of BA and IB it may be losing some of its long-time partners like United Airlines and KLM. Partners from different airline alliances may no longer be acceptable. And will it mean a move from the lovely new Terminal Two at Heathrow to T5? KLM will certainly feel the pinch as Aer Lingus has been feeding Amsterdam successfully for years.
Road warrior, 275,000 more seats this winter with Aer Lingus, Ryanair improves app, Delta entertains with memes, US will show first growth in hotel occupancy since 1981 this year.75,000 extra Transatlantic seats from EI, fun with Delta’s inflight video. May 27, 2015
Extra winter seats at Aer Lingus The winter timetable from Aer Lingus will have an extra 275,000 seats on sale, including 75,000 extra seats on Transatlantic services. Shannon to Boston and the new Dublin to Washington and Orlando routes are going to continue over the winter. Liverpool, the second ever route flown by the airline, is returning and Manchester and Birmingham increase in capacity. Reinvestment in European cities is the first in over a decade. All the main business routes from Dublin, Cork and Shannon will have increased capacity over the winter.
Familiar faces in Delta safety video Delta Airlines’ latest in-flight safety video is a mash-up of the Internet’s popular memes. Catch up on the latest urban culture with Keyboard Cat, Dramatic Chipmunk and a certain Screaming Goat. The video, narrated by a straight-faced crew member, will keep you in your seat for almost six minutes. Watch it on deltasafetyvideo.com.
New features on My Ryanair Ryanair has upgraded its mobile app to include new features for My Ryanair. Users will be able to create a personal profile, store payment card details, and passport details. Currently you can make bookings, choose seats, check in and download mobile boarding passes on the app. Both Ryanair and EasyJetare reporting big increases in corporate travellers.
Bumper year forecast for US In Ireland the year 2007 is cited as the bumper year for the hotel industry and is the benchmark for return to growth.
In the US, 1981 is the last highest level of hotel occupancy at 65.7 per cent. Price Waterhouse Coopers in its lodging forecast predict occupancy back up to that level in 2015. Daily rates are predicted to increase by 6.1 per cent.
Extra winter seats at Aer Lingus The winter timetable from Aer Lingus will have an extra 275,000 seats on sale, including 75,000 extra seats on Transatlantic services. Shannon to Boston and the new Dublin to Washington and Orlando routes are going to continue over the winter. Liverpool, the second ever route flown by the airline, is returning and Manchester and Birmingham increase in capacity. Reinvestment in European cities is the first in over a decade. All the main business routes from Dublin, Cork and Shannon will have increased capacity over the winter.
Familiar faces in Delta safety video Delta Airlines’ latest in-flight safety video is a mash-up of the Internet’s popular memes. Catch up on the latest urban culture with Keyboard Cat, Dramatic Chipmunk and a certain Screaming Goat. The video, narrated by a straight-faced crew member, will keep you in your seat for almost six minutes. Watch it on deltasafetyvideo.com.
New features on My Ryanair Ryanair has upgraded its mobile app to include new features for My Ryanair. Users will be able to create a personal profile, store payment card details, and passport details. Currently you can make bookings, choose seats, check in and download mobile boarding passes on the app. Both Ryanair and EasyJetare reporting big increases in corporate travellers.
Bumper year forecast for US In Ireland the year 2007 is cited as the bumper year for the hotel industry and is the benchmark for return to growth.
In the US, 1981 is the last highest level of hotel occupancy at 65.7 per cent. Price Waterhouse Coopers in its lodging forecast predict occupancy back up to that level in 2015. Daily rates are predicted to increase by 6.1 per cent.
Road warrior - are you a HENRY? Connect Aviation come to Kerry, United Airlines want friendly hackers, My 20, 2015
Hotels for the higher earner Are you a Henry? The latest acronym describes “high-earning-not-rich-yet” millennials, a group targeted by Starwood for their latest brand, the Tribute Portfolio. The collection will comprise of some independently run hotels, some resorts and boutique properties. The hotels will pay Starwood a flat fee for their guest loyalty and marketing programmes. Top cities for Henrys will be London, Paris, New York, and some of the hipper cities in the United States.
Improved site from UA United Airlines has released a beta version of their new site and are encouraging people to see what’s new. The clean, modern site will have better options for selecting the best flights, and choosing what is most important to the traveller. Options will including wi-fi availability, connection cities, in-seat power, and a 15-day booking window. The site will work across devices and be touch-friendly. See beta.united.com
Air miles for travel bugs To help with debugging the site, United is encouraging computer wizards to help identify problems by offering a “bug bounty”. The airline will pay air miles to friendly hackers who discover security problems. Bounties include 50,000 miles for finding scripting bugs, 250,000 if you can access customer information and up to a million for major security flaws.
Aviation industry forum for Kerry Kerry Airport has attracted a prestigious aviation conference to the county from June 2nd to 5th. Connect Aviation is a forum for airlines, airports, regulatory bodies, suppliers and tourism bodies. The 450 attendees will hear from experts including Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs, John Weatherill, Richard Carcaillet and Ruth Andrews. See connect-aviation.com
Hotels for the higher earner Are you a Henry? The latest acronym describes “high-earning-not-rich-yet” millennials, a group targeted by Starwood for their latest brand, the Tribute Portfolio. The collection will comprise of some independently run hotels, some resorts and boutique properties. The hotels will pay Starwood a flat fee for their guest loyalty and marketing programmes. Top cities for Henrys will be London, Paris, New York, and some of the hipper cities in the United States.
Improved site from UA United Airlines has released a beta version of their new site and are encouraging people to see what’s new. The clean, modern site will have better options for selecting the best flights, and choosing what is most important to the traveller. Options will including wi-fi availability, connection cities, in-seat power, and a 15-day booking window. The site will work across devices and be touch-friendly. See beta.united.com
Air miles for travel bugs To help with debugging the site, United is encouraging computer wizards to help identify problems by offering a “bug bounty”. The airline will pay air miles to friendly hackers who discover security problems. Bounties include 50,000 miles for finding scripting bugs, 250,000 if you can access customer information and up to a million for major security flaws.
Aviation industry forum for Kerry Kerry Airport has attracted a prestigious aviation conference to the county from June 2nd to 5th. Connect Aviation is a forum for airlines, airports, regulatory bodies, suppliers and tourism bodies. The 450 attendees will hear from experts including Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs, John Weatherill, Richard Carcaillet and Ruth Andrews. See connect-aviation.com
Road Warrior, winning customers by entertainment, airlines offering free movies and wi fi, hotels producing films.Fly- fi from Jetblue, movies from American, Made in Milan by Excelsior Gallia Hotel, French Kiss, only in Marriott Champes Elysee, ay 13, 2015
Let them entertain you at a height The lure for passengers in the near future may be what entertainment airlines have on board and how it can be accessed. Jetblue Airlines have announced a partnership with Amazon Prime to allow passengers stream some content directly to personal devices for free. The Fly-fi wifi service is being rolled out across the Jetblue fleet at present. American Airlines will be offering free movies on many domestic routes with the launch of the Gogo streaming service.
United Airlinestaken to court On the other hand, a woman plans to sue United Airlines in a $5 million class-action lawsuit for deceiving passengers about the lack of in-flight wifi access. Ms Cary M David was travelling from Puerto Rico to Newark and paid $7.99 for the DirecTV on-board service. She discovered it only operated over US soil and worked for about 10 minutes. The airline said notices about the limitations of the wifi access are displayed on all aircraft.
Explore Milan with Excelsior To celebrate the reopening following a major renovation the Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan commissioned a short film. Made in Milan, directed by Matt Tyrnauer. It is an introduction to the city’s tastemakers, shares unique insights about the lesser known places and tempts you to explore. Watch Made in Milan on http://www.excelsiorhotelgallia.com/en/made-in-milan.
Marriott movie set for release Marriott Content Studios’ second short film, French Kiss, is due for release next Tuesday, May 19th. Set in and around the Marriott Hotel Champs Elysée, it is a magical romance that could only happen in Paris. Ethan (Tyler Ritter) is led on a journey through the city by alluring Margaux, watch it next week on Marriott.com. There’s a trailer available on Youtube. com.
Let them entertain you at a height The lure for passengers in the near future may be what entertainment airlines have on board and how it can be accessed. Jetblue Airlines have announced a partnership with Amazon Prime to allow passengers stream some content directly to personal devices for free. The Fly-fi wifi service is being rolled out across the Jetblue fleet at present. American Airlines will be offering free movies on many domestic routes with the launch of the Gogo streaming service.
United Airlinestaken to court On the other hand, a woman plans to sue United Airlines in a $5 million class-action lawsuit for deceiving passengers about the lack of in-flight wifi access. Ms Cary M David was travelling from Puerto Rico to Newark and paid $7.99 for the DirecTV on-board service. She discovered it only operated over US soil and worked for about 10 minutes. The airline said notices about the limitations of the wifi access are displayed on all aircraft.
Explore Milan with Excelsior To celebrate the reopening following a major renovation the Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan commissioned a short film. Made in Milan, directed by Matt Tyrnauer. It is an introduction to the city’s tastemakers, shares unique insights about the lesser known places and tempts you to explore. Watch Made in Milan on http://www.excelsiorhotelgallia.com/en/made-in-milan.
Marriott movie set for release Marriott Content Studios’ second short film, French Kiss, is due for release next Tuesday, May 19th. Set in and around the Marriott Hotel Champs Elysée, it is a magical romance that could only happen in Paris. Ethan (Tyler Ritter) is led on a journey through the city by alluring Margaux, watch it next week on Marriott.com. There’s a trailer available on Youtube. com.
Road Warrior, setting standards for serviced accommodation, Delta back in Shannon, mega profits for mega merger airlines, CarTrawler buys Cabforce. May 6, 2015
Standards set for apartment rental The serviced apartment industry grew by 14 per cent last year with 750,000 apartments worldwide.
The UK’s Association of Service Apartment Providers is rolling out an accreditation programme globally with the US-based Corporate Housing Provider Association. This will lead to a set of standards across the industry. The International Serviced Apartment Accreditation Programme will be launched this summer in the US.
Delta enhance Shannon service Delta’s Shannon-New York service returned on Saturday May 2th with even better onward connections. More than 80 per cent of the airline’s internal flights are now operating from Terminal 4 at JFK. The Boeing 757-200 aircraft has 164 seats with 16 lie-flat seats in Delta One. It will be the latest flight out of New York to Ireland at 11.30pm. Aer Lingus will operate the earliest flight into New York this summer when EI103 departs at 07.50.
US airlines show huge profits First quarter profits for the airline industry in the United States are showing some extraordinary results. Consolidation in the past few years has meant that this year American netted $402m, United $508m, Delta $372m. In Europe mega merger IAG finally showed a profit of £25m, the first ever. Sadly for KLM/AF rocky industrial relations mean a first quarter loss of €417m.
CarTrawler acquire Cabforce Irish company CarTrawler has acquired the leading provider of taxi booking solutions, Cabforce. The Finnish technology and service company provide all-inclusive rates for millions of business trips each year. Travellers can book online for 200 destinations in 54 countries.
Standards set for apartment rental The serviced apartment industry grew by 14 per cent last year with 750,000 apartments worldwide.
The UK’s Association of Service Apartment Providers is rolling out an accreditation programme globally with the US-based Corporate Housing Provider Association. This will lead to a set of standards across the industry. The International Serviced Apartment Accreditation Programme will be launched this summer in the US.
Delta enhance Shannon service Delta’s Shannon-New York service returned on Saturday May 2th with even better onward connections. More than 80 per cent of the airline’s internal flights are now operating from Terminal 4 at JFK. The Boeing 757-200 aircraft has 164 seats with 16 lie-flat seats in Delta One. It will be the latest flight out of New York to Ireland at 11.30pm. Aer Lingus will operate the earliest flight into New York this summer when EI103 departs at 07.50.
US airlines show huge profits First quarter profits for the airline industry in the United States are showing some extraordinary results. Consolidation in the past few years has meant that this year American netted $402m, United $508m, Delta $372m. In Europe mega merger IAG finally showed a profit of £25m, the first ever. Sadly for KLM/AF rocky industrial relations mean a first quarter loss of €417m.
CarTrawler acquire Cabforce Irish company CarTrawler has acquired the leading provider of taxi booking solutions, Cabforce. The Finnish technology and service company provide all-inclusive rates for millions of business trips each year. Travellers can book online for 200 destinations in 54 countries.
Road Warrior, Optimism in Irish hotel industry, Turkish Cargo to operate from Shannon, Europe's first 4G on board, April 29, 2015.
Irish hoteliers optimistic There was an air of optimism at the Irish Hospitality Institute conference on Thursday last, with hoteliers expressing relief as occupancy increases and rates rise. However, warning bells were sounded. To continue the current growth plan Dublin will need more hotels rooms but it is still cheaper to buy an existing hotel than to build one. Fears were also raised about plans for the sale of the Clyde Court and Ballsbridge hotels, which would cut capacity by 400 rooms.
Shannon cargo service Turkish Airlines has been granted permission to operate a cargo-only service from Shannon Airport to Chicago though its subsidiary Turkish Cargo. The service will operate on Fridays, and will carry up to 70 tonnes. The aircraft, an Airbus 330F, can carry high-value consumer goods, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals and thoroughbred horses.
Turkish Cargo* is using Shannon for refuelling of the Istanbul to Chicago route.
Enhanced meals in economy class British Airways is going to offer enhanced meals for economy passengers from May 12th on selected transatlantic routes. You could be enjoying Loch Fyne salmon, beef cheeks from Hereford and vegetarian polenta crespelle with mascarpone or the great British breakfast. Prices are from £15-£18, €21-€25.
Europe’s first 4G in-flight service Inmarsat and BA are planning on offering Europe’s first 4G in-flight broadband service. Passengers could use their mobile telephone data plan to access the internet and the service will be launched on UK domestic routes initially. Customers on the Club World London City to New York service that clears CBP in Shannon can already use their mobile phones to receive data.
Irish hoteliers optimistic There was an air of optimism at the Irish Hospitality Institute conference on Thursday last, with hoteliers expressing relief as occupancy increases and rates rise. However, warning bells were sounded. To continue the current growth plan Dublin will need more hotels rooms but it is still cheaper to buy an existing hotel than to build one. Fears were also raised about plans for the sale of the Clyde Court and Ballsbridge hotels, which would cut capacity by 400 rooms.
Shannon cargo service Turkish Airlines has been granted permission to operate a cargo-only service from Shannon Airport to Chicago though its subsidiary Turkish Cargo. The service will operate on Fridays, and will carry up to 70 tonnes. The aircraft, an Airbus 330F, can carry high-value consumer goods, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals and thoroughbred horses.
Turkish Cargo* is using Shannon for refuelling of the Istanbul to Chicago route.
Enhanced meals in economy class British Airways is going to offer enhanced meals for economy passengers from May 12th on selected transatlantic routes. You could be enjoying Loch Fyne salmon, beef cheeks from Hereford and vegetarian polenta crespelle with mascarpone or the great British breakfast. Prices are from £15-£18, €21-€25.
Europe’s first 4G in-flight service Inmarsat and BA are planning on offering Europe’s first 4G in-flight broadband service. Passengers could use their mobile telephone data plan to access the internet and the service will be launched on UK domestic routes initially. Customers on the Club World London City to New York service that clears CBP in Shannon can already use their mobile phones to receive data.
Road Warrior, claim your Avios now to get best value, which Hyatt the expanding brand, Emirates to carry 615 passengers in A380, April 22, 201
Changing rules for Avios points Any travellers with accumulated British AirwaysAvios should consider using them before April 28th when the redemption rules change. For example, an upgrade from London to New York could jump from 10,000 to 24,000 Avios points. Bookings can be made up to a year in advance, so if you are planning any trips or upgrades do it now while the Avios have more value. See headforpoints.com for tips on the changes.
Spoilt for choice with Hyatt Which Hyatt hotel will you choose? A Hyatt Regency or Park Hyatt, a Grand Hyatt, Hyatt House or a Hyatt Place. And soon you could choose a Hyatt Centric. If all the Hyatts are too confusing there’s always the super-trendy Andaz, another H brand. With all the Hyatts the hotel corporation has yet to open a brand in Ireland. They missed a number of opportunities over the years including the Marker, but with the revival in hotel fortunes lately we may yet see a Hyatt appear.
Some airlines may opt for six classes Last week at the airline interiors expo in Hamburg some revealing possibilities were aired. While 11-across seating is still further down the road, Airbus unveiled a possible three classes in economy: premium, comfort and budget. That could take some airlines to six classes – choices, choices, choices.
Emirates A380 to carry over 600 Cramming in more passengers will be the order of the day, and Emirates is the first airline to announce a 600+ passenger aircraft. The Dubai to Copenhagen route will carry 615 passengers on the Airbus A380 in a two class configuration, from December 1st. The current maximum three-class configuration in the A380 is 517 seats.
Changing rules for Avios points Any travellers with accumulated British AirwaysAvios should consider using them before April 28th when the redemption rules change. For example, an upgrade from London to New York could jump from 10,000 to 24,000 Avios points. Bookings can be made up to a year in advance, so if you are planning any trips or upgrades do it now while the Avios have more value. See headforpoints.com for tips on the changes.
Spoilt for choice with Hyatt Which Hyatt hotel will you choose? A Hyatt Regency or Park Hyatt, a Grand Hyatt, Hyatt House or a Hyatt Place. And soon you could choose a Hyatt Centric. If all the Hyatts are too confusing there’s always the super-trendy Andaz, another H brand. With all the Hyatts the hotel corporation has yet to open a brand in Ireland. They missed a number of opportunities over the years including the Marker, but with the revival in hotel fortunes lately we may yet see a Hyatt appear.
Some airlines may opt for six classes Last week at the airline interiors expo in Hamburg some revealing possibilities were aired. While 11-across seating is still further down the road, Airbus unveiled a possible three classes in economy: premium, comfort and budget. That could take some airlines to six classes – choices, choices, choices.
Emirates A380 to carry over 600 Cramming in more passengers will be the order of the day, and Emirates is the first airline to announce a 600+ passenger aircraft. The Dubai to Copenhagen route will carry 615 passengers on the Airbus A380 in a two class configuration, from December 1st. The current maximum three-class configuration in the A380 is 517 seats.
Road Warrior - Movies by Marriott, get the Pan Am experience, all the way to Brazil with IB and TAM, April 15, 2015
only in The Irish Times
Two films from Marriott Hotels Marriott Hotels has entered the movie business with Marriott International Content Studio producing short films. The first, Two Bellmen, set in the JW Marriott, Los Angeles, is an action comedy. The next, French Kiss, will be a magical romance in Paris. You can watch Two Bellmen on Youtube. com where is has already surpassed five million views. This initiative takes rich content to another level, and will appeal to the hotel group’s next-generation travellers.
Airbus taking the wider view Airbus aircraft of the future could have interactive windows now that the aircraft manufacturer has registered a patent in the US. Passengers could view the ground below and home in of specific landmarks as they fly over. Aircraft walls could also change to reflect outside lighting conditions. Airbus is also suggesting panoramic windows stretching to the ceiling in its concept aircraft of the future.
Code-sharing for travellers to Brazil Iberia and TAM Airlines are widening their code-sharing agreements on more connections for customers to Brazil. Travellers can fly on through tickets from Ireland via Madrid to Brasilia, Fortaleza,Curitiba, Manaus, Recife, Porto Alege and other Brazilian cities. Bookings can be made on the Iberia.com site and flyers can earn Avios across the two airlines.
Relive the golden age of travel Recreate the 1970s with the Pan Am experience, the airline that passed in 1991. Air Hollywood in Los Angeles, an aviation-themed motion picture studio, will be announcing new dates for the Pan Am experience on April 17th. Relive the magic of the golden age of travel when legroom was spacious and meals were four-course. airhollywood.com/panam
only in The Irish Times
Two films from Marriott Hotels Marriott Hotels has entered the movie business with Marriott International Content Studio producing short films. The first, Two Bellmen, set in the JW Marriott, Los Angeles, is an action comedy. The next, French Kiss, will be a magical romance in Paris. You can watch Two Bellmen on Youtube. com where is has already surpassed five million views. This initiative takes rich content to another level, and will appeal to the hotel group’s next-generation travellers.
Airbus taking the wider view Airbus aircraft of the future could have interactive windows now that the aircraft manufacturer has registered a patent in the US. Passengers could view the ground below and home in of specific landmarks as they fly over. Aircraft walls could also change to reflect outside lighting conditions. Airbus is also suggesting panoramic windows stretching to the ceiling in its concept aircraft of the future.
Code-sharing for travellers to Brazil Iberia and TAM Airlines are widening their code-sharing agreements on more connections for customers to Brazil. Travellers can fly on through tickets from Ireland via Madrid to Brasilia, Fortaleza,Curitiba, Manaus, Recife, Porto Alege and other Brazilian cities. Bookings can be made on the Iberia.com site and flyers can earn Avios across the two airlines.
Relive the golden age of travel Recreate the 1970s with the Pan Am experience, the airline that passed in 1991. Air Hollywood in Los Angeles, an aviation-themed motion picture studio, will be announcing new dates for the Pan Am experience on April 17th. Relive the magic of the golden age of travel when legroom was spacious and meals were four-course. airhollywood.com/panam
Road Warrior - London hotel tax proposed, LCY airport expansion to be nixed, new Gold Circle lounge at JFK, self bag-tagging on the way, April 8, 2015
Only in The Irish Times
London 1% hotel tax proposed There is consternation in London as the frontrunner for the next mayor, Tessa Jowell, is proposing a hotel levy of 1 per cent per bed per night. The tax could raise £50 million (€68 million). The Guild of Travel Management Companies says it could have a negative effect on the city. “Making it more difficult to do business in London is not a positive move for the economy. We are firmly opposed to the hotel levy,” said Paul Wait, the chief executive of the guild.
Veto on London City expansion There is more consternation in London as the current mayor Boris Johnson has ordered Newham Council to veto the planned expansion of London City Airport. In February the council gave the go-ahead to expand the airport to allow up to 111,000 flight movements per year with a £200 million building programme. The mayor said this would “lead to an unacceptable increase in noise for east Londoners and would not be for the greater benefit of the city”.
More business for Aer Lingus A new Aer Lingus Gold Circle lounge opens at T5 in New York JFK airport this month. Flyers can dine before boarding, work or relax. The lounge continues the theme of those at Dublin and Heathrow T2. Aer Lingus’s Cara magazine has increased its business content to 16 pages. The new section is called On Business.
Get ready to tag your own bag A number of airlines have begun to offer self-bag-tagging. Alaska Airlines was the first US carrier and United has begun a similar initiative for non-stop flights from Boston. In Europe Iberia has MyBagTag home printing service in Spain, Switzerland and Latin America. Lufthansa is experimenting with HomeTag which would also have a radio frequency identifier chip
Only in The Irish Times
London 1% hotel tax proposed There is consternation in London as the frontrunner for the next mayor, Tessa Jowell, is proposing a hotel levy of 1 per cent per bed per night. The tax could raise £50 million (€68 million). The Guild of Travel Management Companies says it could have a negative effect on the city. “Making it more difficult to do business in London is not a positive move for the economy. We are firmly opposed to the hotel levy,” said Paul Wait, the chief executive of the guild.
Veto on London City expansion There is more consternation in London as the current mayor Boris Johnson has ordered Newham Council to veto the planned expansion of London City Airport. In February the council gave the go-ahead to expand the airport to allow up to 111,000 flight movements per year with a £200 million building programme. The mayor said this would “lead to an unacceptable increase in noise for east Londoners and would not be for the greater benefit of the city”.
More business for Aer Lingus A new Aer Lingus Gold Circle lounge opens at T5 in New York JFK airport this month. Flyers can dine before boarding, work or relax. The lounge continues the theme of those at Dublin and Heathrow T2. Aer Lingus’s Cara magazine has increased its business content to 16 pages. The new section is called On Business.
Get ready to tag your own bag A number of airlines have begun to offer self-bag-tagging. Alaska Airlines was the first US carrier and United has begun a similar initiative for non-stop flights from Boston. In Europe Iberia has MyBagTag home printing service in Spain, Switzerland and Latin America. Lufthansa is experimenting with HomeTag which would also have a radio frequency identifier chip
- Road Warrior - Aer Lingus business class, BA Avios hacked, Fly away Flybe, new hotels for Istanbul April 1, 2015
Aer Lingus does the business Aer Lingus is halfway through the upgrade of its business class cabins, with four of the eight A330s fitted out with the new seating and service. Business class fares from May 1st to October 31st are on sale for €1,950 return to the east coast and €3,522 to San Francisco. There are also plans to relaunch the frequent flyer loyalty programme later in the year. Hack attack takes away BA’s points Thousands of accumulated Avios belonging to British Airways Executive Club members disappeared over the weekend in a hack attack. Thousands of accounts were affected, and BA have frozen all of them for a few days while it resolves the issue. Club members may not be able to use their points at present. BA reassured customers that their personal details were not accessed.
Dublin-to-London route a dead end It was unlikely that three airlines on the Dublin-to-London City Airport route were ever going to be viable, and Flybe will terminate the City of Dublin on May 31st. Services will be reduced for April and May during the wind-down period. Dublin-to-London Southend will also be suspended from Friday, April 3rd. Cityjet is increasing services to LCY on Sunday, with an additional round trip from April 19th.
Istanbul on high with flights, hotels Another sign that Istanbul is on the up and up are the double daily flights from Dublin with Turkish Airlines and the opening of two new hotels in March.The Soho House is a boutique property in a 19th- century palazzo with a rooftop cocktail pool. The other is the swanky five-star St Regis in the Nisantasi District, steps from the Bosphorus. The St Regis will also have a Wolfgang Puck Spago restaurant
I did fly on the bigger version later that day
Road Warrior - Ethiopian Airlines bring Dreamliner to Dublin, Flymojo for Malaysia, two Bluesky Airways, Cayman Islands and Botswana, free smartphones from Dorsett Hotels Hong Kong and tighten your seat belt in French, March 25, 2015.
Dublin Airport had a viewing of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on Friday in advance of the new routing beginning on June 20th.
Ireland’s first Dreamliner service will connect Addis Ababa to Dublin and Los Angeles.
The super-efficient aircraft uses 20 per cent less fuel and produces 20 per cent less emissions.
It will be configured in two classes with 246 seats in economy and 24 Cloud Nine business seats.
Return flights from Addis Ababa will be from €595 and to LAX from €680 three times a week.
Ethiopian Airlines are members of the Star Alliance network. Flymojo boost for Bombardier The Malaysian government has announced plans to launch a new airline next year after signing a letter of intent with Bombardier for 20 new CS100 aircraft.
The airline, which will be called Flymojo, will concentrate on the regional routes from Johor Bahru in the south and Kota Kinabalu in the north.
There is also an option for 20 further CS aircraft which are ideal for the 100-149 single-aisle market.
The wings will be manufactured at the Bombardier factory in Belfast.
BlueSky to fly out of the Caymans Another new carrier in development is BlueSky airlines based in the Cayman Islands.
The airline is planning to fly to destinations across the Caribbean basin and Latin America.
BlueSky expects to begin services this year with two Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft that can carry 71 passengers.
Operating from Grand Cayman, the first destinations will include Bogota, Santo Domingo, Panama City, Montego Bay, Cancun, Nassau and Cartagena.
It will share the name BlueSky with another nascent airline in Botswana. Dorsett Hotels in smart move Visitors staying in any of the four Dorsett Hotels in Hong Kong will enjoy the fact that they supply free smartphones for guests.
It allows them to walk around Hong Kong with the phone, which has a wifi hotspot. There is no charge or deposit for the device.
There are also free local calls and international calls to the UK, US, Canada, Singapore, Australia and more.
The phone is preloaded with maps and local tourist information.
The hotels are the Dorsett Mongkok, Tsuen Wan, Cosmopolitan Hong Kong and Kwun Tong.
Air France safety message so chic The new Air France safety demonstration video was launched last week and is so chic and very French.
Put your tray tables in the upright position and stow your hand baggage sounds like something special and as for telling you that your seatbelt will accentuate your waist, how very stylish.
You can improve your French aviation language by watching the video on youtube.com.
Ryanair set to go Transatlantic, no more lost luggage, Next Gen guest services from Holiday Inn Express, Qantas face Facebook page, March 18, 2015
Ryanair set to go transatlantic News that Ryanair’s board has approved the planning for a transatlantic service will be welcomed at Dublin and Shannon airports. Ireland will be an obvious starting point for the new services, with preclearance to theUnited States and a strong market. This summer there will be 326 transatlantic flights a week to and from North America, operating to 15 destinations with 10 carriers. Ryanair would love to get some of that market.
Better choices for guests of future InterContinental Hotels Group is trialling the “next generation” guest experiences for its Holiday Inn Express brand in Europe. Some of the changes to look forward to will include smart televisions in guest rooms to allow you stream your own media. Rooms will have multiple USB ports and larger beds with padded headboards and, for those in a hurry, takeaway breakfast in the lobby.
Lost luggage soon a thing of the past The days of lost luggage are fast diminishing with a rush to market of new technology-enabled suitcases. All the major manufacturers are developing built-in tracking devices to help you find your luggage wherever you are. You will be able to track your bags using GPS locators and smartphones. Some suitcases will also have an inbuilt scale to keep you under the limit. Watch for names such as Pluggage, Bag2Go, GeotrakR and Bluesmart.
Qantas page was just a clever fake More than 100,000 people thought they might be in with a chance of winning first class seats on Qantas over the weekend. It was a clever fake Facebook page that asked people to like and share the page, with the winner to be named on St Patrick’s Day. The page has since been taken down.
Ryanair set to go transatlantic News that Ryanair’s board has approved the planning for a transatlantic service will be welcomed at Dublin and Shannon airports. Ireland will be an obvious starting point for the new services, with preclearance to theUnited States and a strong market. This summer there will be 326 transatlantic flights a week to and from North America, operating to 15 destinations with 10 carriers. Ryanair would love to get some of that market.
Better choices for guests of future InterContinental Hotels Group is trialling the “next generation” guest experiences for its Holiday Inn Express brand in Europe. Some of the changes to look forward to will include smart televisions in guest rooms to allow you stream your own media. Rooms will have multiple USB ports and larger beds with padded headboards and, for those in a hurry, takeaway breakfast in the lobby.
Lost luggage soon a thing of the past The days of lost luggage are fast diminishing with a rush to market of new technology-enabled suitcases. All the major manufacturers are developing built-in tracking devices to help you find your luggage wherever you are. You will be able to track your bags using GPS locators and smartphones. Some suitcases will also have an inbuilt scale to keep you under the limit. Watch for names such as Pluggage, Bag2Go, GeotrakR and Bluesmart.
Qantas page was just a clever fake More than 100,000 people thought they might be in with a chance of winning first class seats on Qantas over the weekend. It was a clever fake Facebook page that asked people to like and share the page, with the winner to be named on St Patrick’s Day. The page has since been taken down.
Road Warrior, fearless flying with British Airways, follow Solar Impulse, Sleep in a GoSleep pod in HEL, Starwood to open 40 new hotels, March 11, 2015.
Feel the fear and do it anyway Flying is such an integral part of most people’s lives that a fear of flying can be very limiting. British Airways will be running a one-day course, Flying with Confidence, on March 28th in Dublin. The course will be delivered by BA pilots and crew, along with a clinical psychologist. It costs €299 and includes a flight. flyingwithconfidence.com
Follow the Solar Impulse flight live The round-the-world flight by Solar Impulse HB-SIB that began on Monday from Abu Dhabi is about more than simply making aviation history and setting records. Innovations from the powering of the aircraft and the nose-to-tail connectivity by Sita On-air will bring technology advances for the future of aviation. The public can experience the flight in real time on solarimpulse.com. On-Air will also provide operational applications, live weather updates and monitoring.
Open the pod bay doors, HEL Long layovers at airports could become a time for relaxation and sleep with the GoSleep pods recently introduced to Helsinki Airport (HEL). The pods convert from a seat into a comfortable bed with space for hand baggage and a power point. They also have a shade to reduce light and sounds. Designed by a Finnish firm, the pods cost about €9 an hour and are likely to be introduced into more airports.
Starwood to open 40 propertiesStarwood fans and SPG members will be happy to hear the group plans to open more than 40 new properties in Europe over the next five years. This will represent a portfolio increase of some 30 per cent. In Turkey alone the group will open five new hotels by the end of this year. Russia must be expected to be on the up again soon, as eight new hotels are in the pipeline there.
Feel the fear and do it anyway Flying is such an integral part of most people’s lives that a fear of flying can be very limiting. British Airways will be running a one-day course, Flying with Confidence, on March 28th in Dublin. The course will be delivered by BA pilots and crew, along with a clinical psychologist. It costs €299 and includes a flight. flyingwithconfidence.com
Follow the Solar Impulse flight live The round-the-world flight by Solar Impulse HB-SIB that began on Monday from Abu Dhabi is about more than simply making aviation history and setting records. Innovations from the powering of the aircraft and the nose-to-tail connectivity by Sita On-air will bring technology advances for the future of aviation. The public can experience the flight in real time on solarimpulse.com. On-Air will also provide operational applications, live weather updates and monitoring.
Open the pod bay doors, HEL Long layovers at airports could become a time for relaxation and sleep with the GoSleep pods recently introduced to Helsinki Airport (HEL). The pods convert from a seat into a comfortable bed with space for hand baggage and a power point. They also have a shade to reduce light and sounds. Designed by a Finnish firm, the pods cost about €9 an hour and are likely to be introduced into more airports.
Starwood to open 40 propertiesStarwood fans and SPG members will be happy to hear the group plans to open more than 40 new properties in Europe over the next five years. This will represent a portfolio increase of some 30 per cent. In Turkey alone the group will open five new hotels by the end of this year. Russia must be expected to be on the up again soon, as eight new hotels are in the pipeline there.
Experience a Tesla in Chicago, Air Asia air pass, hotel prices rise in Ireland, ICAO compliance conference in Malahide, March 3, 2015
Feel the Chicago wind in your hair Guests at the recently opened Virgin Hotel in Chicago can experience the world’s hottest electric car, the Tesla SP85D accelerates from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds. You can have a spin around the Windy City being driven by one of the hotel’s staff. The car is painted Virgin red and the super accelerating electric model has a range of over 265 miles on a single charge. It costs around $64,000 to buy in the US.
Air Asia offers multi-trip pass If business takes you around South East Asia, Air Asia has come up with an air pass that will provide cost effective in travelling to 10 countries in the region. The ASEAN Pass, using Kuala Lumpur orBangkok as a hub, will allow travel to Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos and Brunei. Ten credits will cost $160 with 30 days validity and 20 credits will cost $290 with 60 days validity. Flights must be booked at least two weeks in advance. See airasia.com for more details.
Irish hotel prices rise by 10 per cent The hotels.com Hotel Price Index was released on Tuesday and Irish hotel prices have risen by 10 per cent in 2014. Dublin had the highest rises, up by 13 per cent, with an average of €109 per night. Killarney leads the average price at €111 per night. Worldwide highest growth in prices was in Monte Carlo.
Malahide is venue for air conference Dublin International Aviation Training Academy, the training wing of Dublin Airport Authority, will host a civil aviation conference in Malahide this month. Three hundred delegates from 190 countries will attend the Global Aviation Training and Trainair Plus Symposium to discuss and learn how to operate, implement and manage ICAO compliance requirements.
Feel the Chicago wind in your hair Guests at the recently opened Virgin Hotel in Chicago can experience the world’s hottest electric car, the Tesla SP85D accelerates from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds. You can have a spin around the Windy City being driven by one of the hotel’s staff. The car is painted Virgin red and the super accelerating electric model has a range of over 265 miles on a single charge. It costs around $64,000 to buy in the US.
Air Asia offers multi-trip pass If business takes you around South East Asia, Air Asia has come up with an air pass that will provide cost effective in travelling to 10 countries in the region. The ASEAN Pass, using Kuala Lumpur orBangkok as a hub, will allow travel to Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos and Brunei. Ten credits will cost $160 with 30 days validity and 20 credits will cost $290 with 60 days validity. Flights must be booked at least two weeks in advance. See airasia.com for more details.
Irish hotel prices rise by 10 per cent The hotels.com Hotel Price Index was released on Tuesday and Irish hotel prices have risen by 10 per cent in 2014. Dublin had the highest rises, up by 13 per cent, with an average of €109 per night. Killarney leads the average price at €111 per night. Worldwide highest growth in prices was in Monte Carlo.
Malahide is venue for air conference Dublin International Aviation Training Academy, the training wing of Dublin Airport Authority, will host a civil aviation conference in Malahide this month. Three hundred delegates from 190 countries will attend the Global Aviation Training and Trainair Plus Symposium to discuss and learn how to operate, implement and manage ICAO compliance requirements.
Road Warrior from The Irish Times, IHG profits, Air France KLM profits down, apartments grow in popularity, IATA safety conference for Dublin, February 25, 2015.
The Intercontinental Hotel Group has posted a 10 per cent profit rise to $648 million for 2014. RevPar – revenue per available room – showed increases across the board of 6.1 per cent. Strong economic growth in the United States of 7.4 per cent led to higher occupancy rates. Results were helped by strong bookings on digital channels with a 50 per cent increase in mobile bookings worth $900 million. IHG brands in Ireland include Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express and the recently branded Intercontinental, formerly the Four Seasons.
Air France-KLM hit by strikes
Savings from lower fuel prices have been wiped out at Air France-KLM by the strike last September. The longest strike in 20 years cost the group €495 million in lost revenue. The strike by pilots was held to protest against plans to expand the group’s budget airline Transavia. Revenues fell 2.4 per cent to €24.91 billion, despite a 1.3 per cent increase in passenger numbers.
Apartments grow in popularity
The largest operator of serviced apartments worldwide, SACO, has reported strong growth of 15 per cent in the business travel market. Road warriors are increasingly turning to apartments as an alternative to hotels, as they prefer the flexibility and space. SACO increased its global presence to 52 countries with 30,000 apartments.
Aviation forum comes to Dublin
The International Air Transport Association aviation safety conference will be held in Dublin this year. Some 500 experts and dozens of airlines will be represented in the Convention Centre in October. The conference was secured for the capital with the assistance of the Fáilte Ireland Conference Ambassador scheme.
The Intercontinental Hotel Group has posted a 10 per cent profit rise to $648 million for 2014. RevPar – revenue per available room – showed increases across the board of 6.1 per cent. Strong economic growth in the United States of 7.4 per cent led to higher occupancy rates. Results were helped by strong bookings on digital channels with a 50 per cent increase in mobile bookings worth $900 million. IHG brands in Ireland include Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express and the recently branded Intercontinental, formerly the Four Seasons.
Air France-KLM hit by strikes
Savings from lower fuel prices have been wiped out at Air France-KLM by the strike last September. The longest strike in 20 years cost the group €495 million in lost revenue. The strike by pilots was held to protest against plans to expand the group’s budget airline Transavia. Revenues fell 2.4 per cent to €24.91 billion, despite a 1.3 per cent increase in passenger numbers.
Apartments grow in popularity
The largest operator of serviced apartments worldwide, SACO, has reported strong growth of 15 per cent in the business travel market. Road warriors are increasingly turning to apartments as an alternative to hotels, as they prefer the flexibility and space. SACO increased its global presence to 52 countries with 30,000 apartments.
Aviation forum comes to Dublin
The International Air Transport Association aviation safety conference will be held in Dublin this year. Some 500 experts and dozens of airlines will be represented in the Convention Centre in October. The conference was secured for the capital with the assistance of the Fáilte Ireland Conference Ambassador scheme.
Road Warrior from The Irish Times, traffic up for Lufthansa from Ireland, Starbucks on board with Delta, Expedia buying again, Are you being served by Robots, February 18, 2015.
“Ireland has continued to shine as a key market” according to Christian Schindler, Lufthansa’s regional director for UK & Ireland. Last year the German carrier flew 377,000 passengers from Dublin to Frankfurt and Munich. The Munich service is being increased to daily from March 30th. Top destinations were Sofia, Belgrade, Lagos, Shenyang, Tokyo, and Beijing.
You will never miss your Starbucks coffee if you fly Delta. The airline has partnered with the global brand to provide Starbucks coffee on all their flights. That means up to 68 million cups of coffee this year on Delta and 1.7 million pounds of beans brewed on Delta flights. Coffees will be accompanied by a Delta branded biscuit.
Expedia, the online travel booking site has acquired Travelocity and Australia’s Wotif. Further expansion of the group will see Orbitz Worldwide join along with Cheap Tickets, eBookers and Hotel Club in a $1.6 billion cash deal. Expedia will have 75 per cent share of the market among US online travel agencies according to Phocuswright, the travel research company.
From the country that gave us capsule hotels, comes the hotel staffed by robots, Japan. The Henn-na Hotel will open this summer with a staff of 10 robots programmed to engage with guests, carry bags and do cleaning. Doors will open using facial recognition technology. The hotel is within the Huis Ten Bosch theme park at Nagasaki. Guests can bid for rooms, with expected rates from $60-$153 per night.
“Ireland has continued to shine as a key market” according to Christian Schindler, Lufthansa’s regional director for UK & Ireland. Last year the German carrier flew 377,000 passengers from Dublin to Frankfurt and Munich. The Munich service is being increased to daily from March 30th. Top destinations were Sofia, Belgrade, Lagos, Shenyang, Tokyo, and Beijing.
You will never miss your Starbucks coffee if you fly Delta. The airline has partnered with the global brand to provide Starbucks coffee on all their flights. That means up to 68 million cups of coffee this year on Delta and 1.7 million pounds of beans brewed on Delta flights. Coffees will be accompanied by a Delta branded biscuit.
Expedia, the online travel booking site has acquired Travelocity and Australia’s Wotif. Further expansion of the group will see Orbitz Worldwide join along with Cheap Tickets, eBookers and Hotel Club in a $1.6 billion cash deal. Expedia will have 75 per cent share of the market among US online travel agencies according to Phocuswright, the travel research company.
From the country that gave us capsule hotels, comes the hotel staffed by robots, Japan. The Henn-na Hotel will open this summer with a staff of 10 robots programmed to engage with guests, carry bags and do cleaning. Doors will open using facial recognition technology. The hotel is within the Huis Ten Bosch theme park at Nagasaki. Guests can bid for rooms, with expected rates from $60-$153 per night.
Road Warrior from The Irish Times, London City Airport to expand, room rates up in Ireland, fly to New York business class for £649 and Starwood opened 74 hotels in 2014. February 11, 2015
Link to story
London City Airport has received planning approval for a £200 million investment which will see flights operations move from 70,000 to 111,000 per year. The terminal building will be extended, and a new taxi-way and additional aircraft parking stands will be built. Three airlines operate on the Dublin to London City route: CityJet, Flybeand British Airways. Best value operator is Flybe, with fares in March for €84 return.
Hotel room rates up 9% in Ireland
Average room rates for business hotel bookers HRS saw big percentage rises across the UK and in Ireland, where prices were 9 per cent up on 2013. Top increase in Europe is Athens with a 35 per cent rise, from a low base. Moscow has been knocked from the top spot as most expensive for hotel rooms, with New York now taking the lead. Oslo also experienced a 13.3 per cent decline. Prague, Budapest and Warsaw are the best value for hotels in Europe.
Business class to US from £649
French airline La Compagnie will begin a business class only service from Luton to Newark in April. The boutique airline will compete on price using a 74-seat Boeing 757-200 in a 2x2 configuration. Opening offers on the three times weekly service are from £649. The airline began services from Paris CDG to Newark last July.
Starwood opens 74 new hotels
Starwood Hotels and Resorts opened 74 new hotels in 2014, representing around 15,000 rooms in 26 countries including the US, China, Macao, Tajikistan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Germany and Thailand. It also signed 175 new hotel management and franchise agreements, adding to the existing 1,200 properties in more than 100 countries. 2015 is expected to be another year of solid growth
Link to story
London City Airport has received planning approval for a £200 million investment which will see flights operations move from 70,000 to 111,000 per year. The terminal building will be extended, and a new taxi-way and additional aircraft parking stands will be built. Three airlines operate on the Dublin to London City route: CityJet, Flybeand British Airways. Best value operator is Flybe, with fares in March for €84 return.
Hotel room rates up 9% in Ireland
Average room rates for business hotel bookers HRS saw big percentage rises across the UK and in Ireland, where prices were 9 per cent up on 2013. Top increase in Europe is Athens with a 35 per cent rise, from a low base. Moscow has been knocked from the top spot as most expensive for hotel rooms, with New York now taking the lead. Oslo also experienced a 13.3 per cent decline. Prague, Budapest and Warsaw are the best value for hotels in Europe.
Business class to US from £649
French airline La Compagnie will begin a business class only service from Luton to Newark in April. The boutique airline will compete on price using a 74-seat Boeing 757-200 in a 2x2 configuration. Opening offers on the three times weekly service are from £649. The airline began services from Paris CDG to Newark last July.
Starwood opens 74 new hotels
Starwood Hotels and Resorts opened 74 new hotels in 2014, representing around 15,000 rooms in 26 countries including the US, China, Macao, Tajikistan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Germany and Thailand. It also signed 175 new hotel management and franchise agreements, adding to the existing 1,200 properties in more than 100 countries. 2015 is expected to be another year of solid growth
Road Warrior from The Irish Times, BA Avios to get complicated, Donegal to Dallas is easier, safety in the air with ICAO and Hyatt put you first, February 4, 2015 by Joan Scales
Link to Irish Times
Flying BA? Get out the calculator Road warriors are going to need a crash course in algorithms to claim reward seats using British Airways Avios from April 28th. For example, “in premium economy, during off-peak periods, you will require an average of 14 per cent fewer Avios than today, except on routes within zone 4 which will require an average of seven per cent more than today to book. During peak periods, you will require an average of 33 per cent more Avios to book.” Eek.
Donegal gets new Aer Lingus flights Business travellers based in Donegal will now be able to fly from the airport at Carrickfinn and transfer to Aer Lingus services seamlessly with the change of operator. Aer Lingus Regional operated by Stobart Air began to fly the route from Monday. The service will operate twice a day each way. ALR replaced Logan Air who operated the service from 2011.
High level safety conference The second high level safety conference in the history of the International Civil Aviation Organisation is on this week in Montreal. It will discuss safety of aircraft and preventing losses. Global tracking of aircraft and more intelligence sharing on overflying conflict zones are priorities at the conference. One recommendation is to reduce airline tracking to 15 minutes.
Hyatt’s new plans for the curious Do you feel that you are a modern explorer, curious, independent but time-crunched? If so, Hyatt has a new brand for you, the Hyatt Centric.
It promises to put you, the traveller, at the centre of the hotel experience with an intimate cosmopolitan vibe. First cities for Hyatt Centrics will be Paris, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Miami. Watch the catchy video on hyattcentric.com and see if it’s you.
Road Warrior from The Irish Times and now online. The hotel group with a million rooms, watch out for Ransomware, HotHotels on the up. January, 28, 2015.
Road Warrior by Joan Scales
Meet the hotel group with a million rooms. That is the number of rooms Marriott expect to open or have in development this year. When open the hotels under development will have generated $50billion in real estate investment globally and will create more than 150,000 jobs. Last year the hotel company opened 46,000 rooms worldwide.
Data released by Travel Leaders Corporate in the United States last week show that bookings made in the seven-13 days before travel cost nine per cent less than those purchased within six days. Booking made 14-20 days ahead of department cost up to 24 per cent less and that trend is expected to continue with further savings for savvy travellers.
The FBI has detected an increase in Ransomeware incidents and is warning business travellers to be very careful what website they click on. Ransomware works by infecting your hard drive, freezing your computer and demanding a ransom. In some cases the software uses the name of the FBI or other reputable organisations or companies. More information at FBI.gov.
Spanish based Hot Hotels, the last minute hotel booking app is reporting an increase in business of 2,195 per cent. Trading data for 2014 is very strong and the CEO Conor O’Connor puts it down to smartphone penetration of the market, lower data roaming costs in the EU, hotels embracing last minute booking channels and more customers booking seven days in advance.
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Road Warrior by Joan Scales
Meet the hotel group with a million rooms. That is the number of rooms Marriott expect to open or have in development this year. When open the hotels under development will have generated $50billion in real estate investment globally and will create more than 150,000 jobs. Last year the hotel company opened 46,000 rooms worldwide.
Data released by Travel Leaders Corporate in the United States last week show that bookings made in the seven-13 days before travel cost nine per cent less than those purchased within six days. Booking made 14-20 days ahead of department cost up to 24 per cent less and that trend is expected to continue with further savings for savvy travellers.
The FBI has detected an increase in Ransomeware incidents and is warning business travellers to be very careful what website they click on. Ransomware works by infecting your hard drive, freezing your computer and demanding a ransom. In some cases the software uses the name of the FBI or other reputable organisations or companies. More information at FBI.gov.
Spanish based Hot Hotels, the last minute hotel booking app is reporting an increase in business of 2,195 per cent. Trading data for 2014 is very strong and the CEO Conor O’Connor puts it down to smartphone penetration of the market, lower data roaming costs in the EU, hotels embracing last minute booking channels and more customers booking seven days in advance.
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Road Warrior, only in The Irish Times, Ryanair getting better, new hotels,. jumping the queue in the UK and WeChat for airlines, January 21, 2015.
Ryanair is planning on providing more services to passengers this year. Expect to take part in trials of the onboard entertainment system on longer flights from Dublin. The system will use onboard wifi and allow passengers to connect via smartphones and tablets to a range of preloaded films and television shows. Wifi will also be coming to key business routes this year.
There are lots of new hotels in the pipeline this year with more than 15 to open in New York, five in Chicago including the Virgin Hotel and four in Boston. In Europe, London is leading with six new hotels opening, Paris has four including the reopening of the Ritz and the Crillon following major refurbishment. In China there are too many new hotels to count but Macau will have three major brands opening, Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott and St. Regis.
Technology could change how air traffic is managed in the future by allowing flights with more business class and first class passengers jump the queue to land or take off. The UK’s National Air Traffic Service chief Richard Deakin said that plans to transform the way air traffic control works would allow controllers to prioritise specific flights, including ones with a lot of onward connecting passengers.
The power of social media is not lost on airlines, with many taking to Facebook and Twitter to better assist passengers. The SkyTeam, an alliance of 20 member airlines including Delta, KLM, China and China Easter, has joined Sino Weibo and WeChat to interact with Chinese customers. 14 of the SkyTeam members carry more than 350,000 passengers a day in the region. WeChat has 440 million users.
Ryanair is planning on providing more services to passengers this year. Expect to take part in trials of the onboard entertainment system on longer flights from Dublin. The system will use onboard wifi and allow passengers to connect via smartphones and tablets to a range of preloaded films and television shows. Wifi will also be coming to key business routes this year.
There are lots of new hotels in the pipeline this year with more than 15 to open in New York, five in Chicago including the Virgin Hotel and four in Boston. In Europe, London is leading with six new hotels opening, Paris has four including the reopening of the Ritz and the Crillon following major refurbishment. In China there are too many new hotels to count but Macau will have three major brands opening, Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott and St. Regis.
Technology could change how air traffic is managed in the future by allowing flights with more business class and first class passengers jump the queue to land or take off. The UK’s National Air Traffic Service chief Richard Deakin said that plans to transform the way air traffic control works would allow controllers to prioritise specific flights, including ones with a lot of onward connecting passengers.
The power of social media is not lost on airlines, with many taking to Facebook and Twitter to better assist passengers. The SkyTeam, an alliance of 20 member airlines including Delta, KLM, China and China Easter, has joined Sino Weibo and WeChat to interact with Chinese customers. 14 of the SkyTeam members carry more than 350,000 passengers a day in the region. WeChat has 440 million users.
Road Warrior, only in The Irish Times, January 14, 2015
Falling oil prices, strong worldwide GDP growth and a highly competitive environment will see airline fares drop by five per cent this year. The International Air Transport Association IATA is predicting a 5. 1 per cent drop as cost savings are passed on to consumers. Global profits for the industry are expected to be in the region of $25 billion this year.
Hotel rates in London for the last three quarters of 2014 were the highest of any capital city in Europe. A study by HRS reservation service showed that Edinburgh, Cardiff and Leeds also had strong rate growth. Other expensive capitals in Europe are Zurich and Copenhagen. “The UK is on track to be the fastest growing G7 economy this year”, said Jon West, MD of HRS.
Starwood Hotels have had a busy time in the last month opening new hotels across the United States and in Colombia. New Aloft hotels appeared in Buffalo, Detroit and Denver and Le Méridiens in New Orleans and Charlotte. In Colombia Bogota has a new W Hotel and a Four Points by Sheraton, a brand that also opened in Barranquilla.
Good to hear that African carrier Fastjet has posted the first profitable month since beginning operations in November 2012. The start up low cost carrier based in Tanzania and serving South Africa and Zambia also carried their one millionth passenger in December. Further reductions in fuel costs should help the airline continue its upward trend and stimulate business.
Falling oil prices, strong worldwide GDP growth and a highly competitive environment will see airline fares drop by five per cent this year. The International Air Transport Association IATA is predicting a 5. 1 per cent drop as cost savings are passed on to consumers. Global profits for the industry are expected to be in the region of $25 billion this year.
Hotel rates in London for the last three quarters of 2014 were the highest of any capital city in Europe. A study by HRS reservation service showed that Edinburgh, Cardiff and Leeds also had strong rate growth. Other expensive capitals in Europe are Zurich and Copenhagen. “The UK is on track to be the fastest growing G7 economy this year”, said Jon West, MD of HRS.
Starwood Hotels have had a busy time in the last month opening new hotels across the United States and in Colombia. New Aloft hotels appeared in Buffalo, Detroit and Denver and Le Méridiens in New Orleans and Charlotte. In Colombia Bogota has a new W Hotel and a Four Points by Sheraton, a brand that also opened in Barranquilla.
Good to hear that African carrier Fastjet has posted the first profitable month since beginning operations in November 2012. The start up low cost carrier based in Tanzania and serving South Africa and Zambia also carried their one millionth passenger in December. Further reductions in fuel costs should help the airline continue its upward trend and stimulate business.
Road Warrior - recognising dynamism in the business of travel. by Joan Scales, December 17, 2014
Air travel is again entering a golden age with fuel at its cheapest for years and airlines reporting profits again. Dynamism in the business of travel is recognised in the following organisations.
Ryanair – for taking the plunge to be nice with the “always getting better” programme and introducing business class at a reasonable rate. The figures speak for themselves with revised profit and passenger numbers.
Heathrow T2, the Queen’s Terminal - finally making us feel like first class passengers. Now we have speedy access into London, great onward connections and some very fine food to choose from in the restaurants in the glittering terminal including Heston Blumenthal’s The Perfectionists’ Cafe.
Shannon Airport – now that the Midwest airport an independent company the decline in passenger numbers has been reversed with growth of 28% this year and a significant marketing award from the Routes Conference.
Airline seats – many of the world’s major airlines have their aircraft seats made in Northern Ireland by BE Aerospace and Thompson Aero with fabrics and upholstery made in the Coombe by Botany Weaving. Business is booming in the seat business.
CarTrawler – for expanding beyond car hire to introduce lots more ancillary services like limousines, taxis and ride sharing which can be booked over Global Distribution Systems and increasing their workforce in Ireland by 200 early next year.
Hotels – any hotel that has removed wi fi costs for guests this year will benefit from increased business. It is the single most aggravating charge for road warriors.
Air travel is again entering a golden age with fuel at its cheapest for years and airlines reporting profits again. Dynamism in the business of travel is recognised in the following organisations.
Ryanair – for taking the plunge to be nice with the “always getting better” programme and introducing business class at a reasonable rate. The figures speak for themselves with revised profit and passenger numbers.
Heathrow T2, the Queen’s Terminal - finally making us feel like first class passengers. Now we have speedy access into London, great onward connections and some very fine food to choose from in the restaurants in the glittering terminal including Heston Blumenthal’s The Perfectionists’ Cafe.
Shannon Airport – now that the Midwest airport an independent company the decline in passenger numbers has been reversed with growth of 28% this year and a significant marketing award from the Routes Conference.
Airline seats – many of the world’s major airlines have their aircraft seats made in Northern Ireland by BE Aerospace and Thompson Aero with fabrics and upholstery made in the Coombe by Botany Weaving. Business is booming in the seat business.
CarTrawler – for expanding beyond car hire to introduce lots more ancillary services like limousines, taxis and ride sharing which can be booked over Global Distribution Systems and increasing their workforce in Ireland by 200 early next year.
Hotels – any hotel that has removed wi fi costs for guests this year will benefit from increased business. It is the single most aggravating charge for road warriors.
Road Warrior - Finnair's Asian routes from Dublin, SESAR gets funding, ASL buy Farnair, Yo Yotel is big moves, December 10, 2014
Finnair has opened its new service from Dublin to Helsinki for bookings. The timetable has been tailored for the best possible connections for Finnair’s Asian flights. Passengers from Dublin can take advantage of the northern route to Asia and also some of the shortest connecting times in Europe. Flights times from Ireland to cities like Beijing, Chingoing, Shanghai, Seoul and Nagoya are between 14-15 hours.
The European Union has made three billion euros available to deliver the Single European Skies Air Traffic Management Research. Last Friday the EU signed a partnership involving air traffic management stakeholders, airlines, airport operators, and air navigation service providers to make Europe’s skiers, smarter, cheaper, greener and safer.
ASL Aviation Group based in Ireland has increased their stable by acquiring the Farnair Group of Switzerland last week. 30 year old Farnair operates 20 cargo and passenger aircraft and has a Swiss Air Operator Certificate. The acquisition also includes Farnair Hungary and two joint ventures Quikjet Indian and 45% share in K-Mile Asia. ASL Aviation Group has 1,200 staff worldwide and a fleet of around 80 aircraft.
Yotel the budget capsule type hotel will be expanding across the globe with new properties in Europe, Asia and North America. The group currently has hotels in Heathrow, Gatwick and Amsterdam airports. The success of the 669-room hotel in New York means they will be looking at future Yotels in downtown Miami, Boston, Barcelona, Paris, Singapore as well as airport locations.
Finnair has opened its new service from Dublin to Helsinki for bookings. The timetable has been tailored for the best possible connections for Finnair’s Asian flights. Passengers from Dublin can take advantage of the northern route to Asia and also some of the shortest connecting times in Europe. Flights times from Ireland to cities like Beijing, Chingoing, Shanghai, Seoul and Nagoya are between 14-15 hours.
The European Union has made three billion euros available to deliver the Single European Skies Air Traffic Management Research. Last Friday the EU signed a partnership involving air traffic management stakeholders, airlines, airport operators, and air navigation service providers to make Europe’s skiers, smarter, cheaper, greener and safer.
ASL Aviation Group based in Ireland has increased their stable by acquiring the Farnair Group of Switzerland last week. 30 year old Farnair operates 20 cargo and passenger aircraft and has a Swiss Air Operator Certificate. The acquisition also includes Farnair Hungary and two joint ventures Quikjet Indian and 45% share in K-Mile Asia. ASL Aviation Group has 1,200 staff worldwide and a fleet of around 80 aircraft.
Yotel the budget capsule type hotel will be expanding across the globe with new properties in Europe, Asia and North America. The group currently has hotels in Heathrow, Gatwick and Amsterdam airports. The success of the 669-room hotel in New York means they will be looking at future Yotels in downtown Miami, Boston, Barcelona, Paris, Singapore as well as airport locations.
Road Warrior, new aircraft interiors for Air France, CarTrawler getting bigger, crackdown on credit card cheats, welcome to The Dean Hotel Dublin, December 3, 2013.
Air France unveiled its new aircraft interiors and service changes at an event in CDG on November 27. The medium haul service on the A319s and A320s will have smart new interiors including seats made by BE Aerospace in Kilkeel, Co. Down. The new offering will be in place for business from April and prices will be up to 18% less in some classes. Expect better food, real cutlery and crockery and wifi on board.
CarTrawler the Irish based travel online marketplace for the aviation industry is going to provide its customers with more ancillary sales options. Moving into the ground transportation area, airline customers will be able to book, not just rental cars, but also limousines, taxis, shuttle services or GPS-located transport solutions. Ancillary revenue is estimated to reach almost $50 billion in 2014.
A two day crackdown on fraudulent use of credit cards last week resulted in 118 people being arrested in 80 airports in 45 countries. The racket is believed to cost airlines more than one billion dollars a year with hundreds of people travelling each day on scammed tickets. The raids were coordinated by Europol with airlines and credit cards companies and called the Global Airport Action.
Dublin’s newest hotel, The Dean opened quietly on Harcourt Street ten days ago. The hip property hopes to attract young road warriors who will enjoy urban chic decor, great wifi and Dublin’s busiest nightlife on the doorstep. Pod rooms at The Dean begin at €109 per night and the Irish snacks from the tempting tray are extra. Posher rooms have Marshall speakers and a vinyl selection.
Air France unveiled its new aircraft interiors and service changes at an event in CDG on November 27. The medium haul service on the A319s and A320s will have smart new interiors including seats made by BE Aerospace in Kilkeel, Co. Down. The new offering will be in place for business from April and prices will be up to 18% less in some classes. Expect better food, real cutlery and crockery and wifi on board.
CarTrawler the Irish based travel online marketplace for the aviation industry is going to provide its customers with more ancillary sales options. Moving into the ground transportation area, airline customers will be able to book, not just rental cars, but also limousines, taxis, shuttle services or GPS-located transport solutions. Ancillary revenue is estimated to reach almost $50 billion in 2014.
A two day crackdown on fraudulent use of credit cards last week resulted in 118 people being arrested in 80 airports in 45 countries. The racket is believed to cost airlines more than one billion dollars a year with hundreds of people travelling each day on scammed tickets. The raids were coordinated by Europol with airlines and credit cards companies and called the Global Airport Action.
Dublin’s newest hotel, The Dean opened quietly on Harcourt Street ten days ago. The hip property hopes to attract young road warriors who will enjoy urban chic decor, great wifi and Dublin’s busiest nightlife on the doorstep. Pod rooms at The Dean begin at €109 per night and the Irish snacks from the tempting tray are extra. Posher rooms have Marshall speakers and a vinyl selection.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, November 26, 2014
It must be the association with F1 racing that has speeded up Etihad Airways, as they have just broken the world record for changing an aircraft engine. On November 10, a GE90 engine on a Boeing 777 was completely replaced in less than seven hours by a team of 12 mechanical staff. Normal time for replacing this type of engine would be 20-25 hours. The engine diameter is 3.4 metres, 7.4 metres in lengths, weighs eight tonnes and delivers 115,000 pounds of thrust.
Thistle Hotels have launched a facility for guests to choose their own room at the Euston Hotel in London. On booking guests will be sent an email with a link to take a 360-degree tour of the property’s rooms, including the view. Hilton launched a similar service via smartphones in the summer for HiltonHonors members. Loyalty programme members and direct bookings will have access for choosing rooms first.
United Airlines will be increasing their foothold in the Irish market with the announcement that they will begin daily services from Dublin to Chicago from June for the summer. The Boeings 757-200 will operate with 169 seats including 16 flat-bed United BusinessFirst seats. United operates year round services from Dublin to Newark and Washington, Shannon and Belfast to Newark and a seasonal Shannon to Chicago service.
Last week there were a number of sightings of unmanned drones in and around JFK Airport in New York. Pilots for Delta, Jetblue and Virgin Atlantic reported seeing drones at altitudes of 2,000-3,000 feet. The US National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that small drones are a type of aircraft subject to FAA rules. There are already regulations in place in Ireland by the Irish Aviation Authority on their operation. Drones evolved from military applications and are now readily available to purchase.
It must be the association with F1 racing that has speeded up Etihad Airways, as they have just broken the world record for changing an aircraft engine. On November 10, a GE90 engine on a Boeing 777 was completely replaced in less than seven hours by a team of 12 mechanical staff. Normal time for replacing this type of engine would be 20-25 hours. The engine diameter is 3.4 metres, 7.4 metres in lengths, weighs eight tonnes and delivers 115,000 pounds of thrust.
Thistle Hotels have launched a facility for guests to choose their own room at the Euston Hotel in London. On booking guests will be sent an email with a link to take a 360-degree tour of the property’s rooms, including the view. Hilton launched a similar service via smartphones in the summer for HiltonHonors members. Loyalty programme members and direct bookings will have access for choosing rooms first.
United Airlines will be increasing their foothold in the Irish market with the announcement that they will begin daily services from Dublin to Chicago from June for the summer. The Boeings 757-200 will operate with 169 seats including 16 flat-bed United BusinessFirst seats. United operates year round services from Dublin to Newark and Washington, Shannon and Belfast to Newark and a seasonal Shannon to Chicago service.
Last week there were a number of sightings of unmanned drones in and around JFK Airport in New York. Pilots for Delta, Jetblue and Virgin Atlantic reported seeing drones at altitudes of 2,000-3,000 feet. The US National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that small drones are a type of aircraft subject to FAA rules. There are already regulations in place in Ireland by the Irish Aviation Authority on their operation. Drones evolved from military applications and are now readily available to purchase.
Road Warrior, only in The Irish Times, November 19, 2014
Marriott began last week by offering free wi fi to all 47 million members of its loyalty programme from January in 3,800 hotels, if they book direct. That upset corporate travel managers and travel management companies, who control companies travel expenditure by enforcing travel policies and negotiated contracts. Last month Marriott International Inc. was fined $600,000 by the Federal Communications Commission for preventing individuals from connecting to the internet using personal wi fi networks at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Centre.
The world’s first duty free shop Shannon relaunched last week with a 1940s themed party. Established almost 70 years ago with a small kiosk selling souvenirs, the shop now sells dozens of Irish and international brands. The new supplier for the shop is the Gebr Heinemann, a German firm that supplies duty free products to 67 airports worldwide.
Heavenly Beds are 15 this year and to in a move enhancing the Westin sleep philosophy, they will be trialling new wearable sleep sensor technology from Lark Technologies. During this month guests at a number of Westin hotels across the globe will try the Lark Up Sleep Monitor, Silent Alarm Clock and meet a personal sleep coach.
First it was the driverless car, now Google subsidiary Planet Ventures is going into space exploration with the leasing of NASA’s Moffett Airfield in California for 60 years. The company will refurbish all three hangers to use as research facilities in space exploration, robotics and other high tech fields.
Marriott began last week by offering free wi fi to all 47 million members of its loyalty programme from January in 3,800 hotels, if they book direct. That upset corporate travel managers and travel management companies, who control companies travel expenditure by enforcing travel policies and negotiated contracts. Last month Marriott International Inc. was fined $600,000 by the Federal Communications Commission for preventing individuals from connecting to the internet using personal wi fi networks at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Centre.
The world’s first duty free shop Shannon relaunched last week with a 1940s themed party. Established almost 70 years ago with a small kiosk selling souvenirs, the shop now sells dozens of Irish and international brands. The new supplier for the shop is the Gebr Heinemann, a German firm that supplies duty free products to 67 airports worldwide.
Heavenly Beds are 15 this year and to in a move enhancing the Westin sleep philosophy, they will be trialling new wearable sleep sensor technology from Lark Technologies. During this month guests at a number of Westin hotels across the globe will try the Lark Up Sleep Monitor, Silent Alarm Clock and meet a personal sleep coach.
First it was the driverless car, now Google subsidiary Planet Ventures is going into space exploration with the leasing of NASA’s Moffett Airfield in California for 60 years. The company will refurbish all three hangers to use as research facilities in space exploration, robotics and other high tech fields.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, November 12, 2104
The SkyTeam has refreshed their app to provide more useful content for travellers on member airlines. New services will include Sky Tips to help you make the most of your time in airports. SkyPriority Finder will let customers know which airport services are available to them. Lounge Finder to help locate any of the Skyteam’s refuges in 516 airports. SkyTeam members operating from Ireland include Delta and Air France.
The saucy cocktail, the Bloody Mary was feted last month in the 34 St. Regis Hotels around the world to celebrate 80 years. The cocktail was invented in the King Cole bar in the St. Regis New York in 1934. Originally it was called the Red Snapper as Bloody Mary was deemed too vulgar for the hotel’s elegant bar.
Following meetings and discussions with three of Europe’s top car rental firms, the European Commission has a commitment that they will respect the principle of non discrimination in the EU Single Market. The Commission had made public a letter sent earlier in the year to car rental companies regarding the practice of preventing customers from accessing best available prices on the basis of their country of resident.
The tallest Holiday Inn opened in Manhattan this month. The Holiday Inn Manhattan Financial District is 50-storeys, has 492 rooms and is 138 metres tall. At 99 Washington Street, it is close to Wall Street, the NYSE, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Book a room high up to enjoy views over the Hudson River and One World Trade Center.
The SkyTeam has refreshed their app to provide more useful content for travellers on member airlines. New services will include Sky Tips to help you make the most of your time in airports. SkyPriority Finder will let customers know which airport services are available to them. Lounge Finder to help locate any of the Skyteam’s refuges in 516 airports. SkyTeam members operating from Ireland include Delta and Air France.
The saucy cocktail, the Bloody Mary was feted last month in the 34 St. Regis Hotels around the world to celebrate 80 years. The cocktail was invented in the King Cole bar in the St. Regis New York in 1934. Originally it was called the Red Snapper as Bloody Mary was deemed too vulgar for the hotel’s elegant bar.
Following meetings and discussions with three of Europe’s top car rental firms, the European Commission has a commitment that they will respect the principle of non discrimination in the EU Single Market. The Commission had made public a letter sent earlier in the year to car rental companies regarding the practice of preventing customers from accessing best available prices on the basis of their country of resident.
The tallest Holiday Inn opened in Manhattan this month. The Holiday Inn Manhattan Financial District is 50-storeys, has 492 rooms and is 138 metres tall. At 99 Washington Street, it is close to Wall Street, the NYSE, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Book a room high up to enjoy views over the Hudson River and One World Trade Center.
Road Warrior - only in the Irish Times, November 5, 2014
Unsettling news from Germany last week, when Lufthansa revised downwards their profit forecast for 2015. The predicted operating profit of €2 billion has been revised to be around €1 billion. The reasons given are weakening global growth and fierce competition driving down ticket prices. Lufthansa lost €170 million due to industrial action by employees in recent months.
Hilton Hotels have signed a big licensing agreement with Plateno Hotels in China to rapidly launch and develop the mid-scale Hampton by Hilton brand across the country. The aim is to have 400 deals signed and the first hotel opening next year. Plateno Hotels have a portfolio of 3,000 hotels in 300 cities across China and 80 million members of their loyalty programme.
Cathy Pacific will begin a direct service from Manchester to Hong Kong next month. The four times weekly service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER with business class, premium economy and the new economy class. The service will be accessible from most Irish airports and avoids the congestion of Heathrow.
Marriott Hotels are encouraging direct bookings by introducing free Wi Fi to all 47 million members of the Marriott Rewards programme. Book direct through Marriott .com and reservations from January 15, 2015 will enjoy free standard Wi Fi in 3,800 Marriott and associated brand hotels.
Unsettling news from Germany last week, when Lufthansa revised downwards their profit forecast for 2015. The predicted operating profit of €2 billion has been revised to be around €1 billion. The reasons given are weakening global growth and fierce competition driving down ticket prices. Lufthansa lost €170 million due to industrial action by employees in recent months.
Hilton Hotels have signed a big licensing agreement with Plateno Hotels in China to rapidly launch and develop the mid-scale Hampton by Hilton brand across the country. The aim is to have 400 deals signed and the first hotel opening next year. Plateno Hotels have a portfolio of 3,000 hotels in 300 cities across China and 80 million members of their loyalty programme.
Cathy Pacific will begin a direct service from Manchester to Hong Kong next month. The four times weekly service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER with business class, premium economy and the new economy class. The service will be accessible from most Irish airports and avoids the congestion of Heathrow.
Marriott Hotels are encouraging direct bookings by introducing free Wi Fi to all 47 million members of the Marriott Rewards programme. Book direct through Marriott .com and reservations from January 15, 2015 will enjoy free standard Wi Fi in 3,800 Marriott and associated brand hotels.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, Oct. 29, 2014
Soon you will know when you have arrived at your hotel your watch will tell you. New technology from Hotels.com means a wearable notification of your hotel booking and also lots of helpful information on your smart watch. The wearable notifications will show things like a street view of your hotel and map and will operate on the Android system.
A sign that things are improving is the recent figures from IATA showing that premium air travel is growing at a faster rate than economy this year. Global premium traffic rose by 3.9 per cent for the first eight months of the year compared to 3.7 per cent for economy passengers. The markets showing the most growth in premium traffic include Africa – Middle East, Middle East – Far East and Europe – Middle East.
Travellers to Russia will be happy to hear that the first Holiday Inn Express is about to open in a few weeks time, though it will be in Voronezh Kirova, about 400kms south of Moscow. Six properties are in planning with one in Moscow. There are plans for up to 100 HIE’s in and around Russian by 2020. All HIE properties include wi fi and breakfast in their rates. For too long Russia has led the table of the world’s highest hotel rates, hopefully HIE will change that.
It might cheer up your boss to know that more than 60 per cent of road warriors think they have the best job in the world but they will also bend the rules when they can. These are some of the findings from a survey conducted by Virgin Atlantic into the habits and needs of premium economy and Upper Class passengers. The resulting infographic is interesting, see it here http://bit.ly/1zkTk3J.
Soon you will know when you have arrived at your hotel your watch will tell you. New technology from Hotels.com means a wearable notification of your hotel booking and also lots of helpful information on your smart watch. The wearable notifications will show things like a street view of your hotel and map and will operate on the Android system.
A sign that things are improving is the recent figures from IATA showing that premium air travel is growing at a faster rate than economy this year. Global premium traffic rose by 3.9 per cent for the first eight months of the year compared to 3.7 per cent for economy passengers. The markets showing the most growth in premium traffic include Africa – Middle East, Middle East – Far East and Europe – Middle East.
Travellers to Russia will be happy to hear that the first Holiday Inn Express is about to open in a few weeks time, though it will be in Voronezh Kirova, about 400kms south of Moscow. Six properties are in planning with one in Moscow. There are plans for up to 100 HIE’s in and around Russian by 2020. All HIE properties include wi fi and breakfast in their rates. For too long Russia has led the table of the world’s highest hotel rates, hopefully HIE will change that.
It might cheer up your boss to know that more than 60 per cent of road warriors think they have the best job in the world but they will also bend the rules when they can. These are some of the findings from a survey conducted by Virgin Atlantic into the habits and needs of premium economy and Upper Class passengers. The resulting infographic is interesting, see it here http://bit.ly/1zkTk3J.
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Road Warrior - Oct. 22, 2014 only in The Irish Times Today (Wed. 22nd Oct) regular road warriors travelling to the United States are getting a preview of what to expect from the new Aer Lingus business class service at an event in Kilmainham. Described as the best of modern Ireland service culture, the new cabin layout on the A330s will mean two metre lie flat beds, luxury dining on board or pre-flight dining in the US, free wifi, and movies on demand. The new business class service will come into operation next March. The fun begins at London City Airport at the weekend when the incumbent airline Cityjet is joined by British Airways and Flybe. We will be spoiled for choice with three airlines serving the premium City Airport. The introductory €39 fare from BA has to be booked as a one way from Dublin. From this weekend BA flights from Dublin to Heathrow will move to Terminal 5. According to the Expedia and Egencia Mobile Index on how mobile devices impact travel, we Irish are the least tolerant when it comes to offensive behaviour. Violations we hate include people making calls on speakerphone, playing music without headphones, taking photos/videos of strangers and using a phone while in a restaurant. The worst offenders for mobile etiquette are the Braziliams and Thais. We also have a deep dependence on our mobile devices and 98 per cent of us bring at least one device on business trips. Two airlines spinoff hotel groups announce new hotel openings. Easyhotel in Frankfurt opens its doors on December 1 in the financial district with rates from an unbelievable €29 per night. Virgin’s property in Chicago opens doors on January 15 with rates from $209 per night. Have a look at the website, in typical Virgin fashion it’s fun and quirky, virginhotels.com |
Road Warrior, only in The Irish Times, Oct. 1, 2014
Congratulations to both Dublin and Shannon Airports in taking two of the four awards for airport marketing at the World Routes Conference awards last week, held in Chicago. Dublin won the category for 20-50m passengers and Shannon for under four million passengers. Changi airport Singapore won the award for over 50m passengers and Brussels Airport was the overall winner.
In the same week that O’Hare Airport Chicago reclaimed its position as the world’s busiest airport, it and Midway Airport had to ground 2,000 flights and cancel another 1,500. A disgruntled employee lit a fire in the air traffic control centre forcing its closure for at least two weeks. From January to August this year, more than 580,000 flights departed or landed at O’Hare airport.
Passengers with bags to check in can fly though London City Airport even faster with the new self bag tagging. The Sonic bag tag system means passengers use their boarding card to print out a bag label for the drop zone. Bags can be tagged and dropped off in under a minute.
Hot Hotels the mobile only hotel booking App has changed its model from same day to same week bookings. Guests will be able to book hotels up to one week in advance at discounted rates. The main markets are Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, UK and Ireland.
Congratulations to both Dublin and Shannon Airports in taking two of the four awards for airport marketing at the World Routes Conference awards last week, held in Chicago. Dublin won the category for 20-50m passengers and Shannon for under four million passengers. Changi airport Singapore won the award for over 50m passengers and Brussels Airport was the overall winner.
In the same week that O’Hare Airport Chicago reclaimed its position as the world’s busiest airport, it and Midway Airport had to ground 2,000 flights and cancel another 1,500. A disgruntled employee lit a fire in the air traffic control centre forcing its closure for at least two weeks. From January to August this year, more than 580,000 flights departed or landed at O’Hare airport.
Passengers with bags to check in can fly though London City Airport even faster with the new self bag tagging. The Sonic bag tag system means passengers use their boarding card to print out a bag label for the drop zone. Bags can be tagged and dropped off in under a minute.
Hot Hotels the mobile only hotel booking App has changed its model from same day to same week bookings. Guests will be able to book hotels up to one week in advance at discounted rates. The main markets are Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, UK and Ireland.
Road Warrior, only in The Irish Times, Sept. 24, 2014.
To coincide with the UN Climate Summit taking place in New York, Finnair’s Helsinki to New York flight yesterday was powered by recycled cooking oil. The airline used this as an example of their commitment to using environmentally friendly sustainable biofuels. The biofuel mixture powering the flight was provided by SkyNRG Nordic, a joint venture between SkyNRG and Statoil Aviation.
Security can never be too careful it seems when 605 firearms were discovered in passengers’ luggage at British airports last year, up from 412 in the previous year. Included in this were gas and air guns and realistic imitations. The British haul falls far short of banned items in the US, where last week alone the TSA found 33 guns, 26 of which were loaded, two indeert grenades and seven stun guns in carry-on luggage.
Another recent scam identified by the Better Business Bureau in the US is scammers calling guests pretending to be hotel employees. You might get a call late in the evening or early in the morning, supposedly from Reception saying they had trouble processing your credit card or the system has crashed and can they check the number. They may even offer you a discount for the inconvenience, don’t be tempted, go down to Reception and report it.
Remember the Anna Livia Club at Dublin Airport? It was a great service for regular travellers and it now returns as the Airport Club. Depending on membership level, you can get fast track through Security, discounts on parking, shopping and Executive Loungem access or include parking too, airportclub.ie.
To coincide with the UN Climate Summit taking place in New York, Finnair’s Helsinki to New York flight yesterday was powered by recycled cooking oil. The airline used this as an example of their commitment to using environmentally friendly sustainable biofuels. The biofuel mixture powering the flight was provided by SkyNRG Nordic, a joint venture between SkyNRG and Statoil Aviation.
Security can never be too careful it seems when 605 firearms were discovered in passengers’ luggage at British airports last year, up from 412 in the previous year. Included in this were gas and air guns and realistic imitations. The British haul falls far short of banned items in the US, where last week alone the TSA found 33 guns, 26 of which were loaded, two indeert grenades and seven stun guns in carry-on luggage.
Another recent scam identified by the Better Business Bureau in the US is scammers calling guests pretending to be hotel employees. You might get a call late in the evening or early in the morning, supposedly from Reception saying they had trouble processing your credit card or the system has crashed and can they check the number. They may even offer you a discount for the inconvenience, don’t be tempted, go down to Reception and report it.
Remember the Anna Livia Club at Dublin Airport? It was a great service for regular travellers and it now returns as the Airport Club. Depending on membership level, you can get fast track through Security, discounts on parking, shopping and Executive Loungem access or include parking too, airportclub.ie.
Road Warrior only in the Irish Times, September 10, 2014
In a busy week for Aer Lingus Regional operated by Stobart Air, they announced the return of the daily Leeds Bradford service from the end of October. The last EI service was 14 years ago. The airline has also been in talks with Cork Airport about the reintroduction of the ORK – DUB service to particularly use the transatlantic services. Stobart would require the support of the local business community to make the service viable and has been in talk with Cork Chamber and business houses.
Fans of Virgin Atlantic and travellers to Cape Town, Mumbai, Tokyo and Vancouver will be disappointed to hear that the airline will be discontinuing services early next year. Virgin is ceasing services to use the aircraft to beef up routes to the United States. Following the joint venture with Delta, aircraft will be redeployed on LAX, JFK, ATL and SFO from LHR and MAN. . "Transatlantic flying has always been at the heart of our network and our most financially successful region," said ceo Craig Kreeger.
In the week that Ryanair announced orders for 200 more Boeing 734 MAX aircraft, the Regional Airlines Association of America is flagging flight cuts at US airports due to pilot shortage. Many communities across the country have lost or reduced services. A coalition of stakeholders Takeflighttomrrow.org has been set up to address this worsening problem which has been exacerbated by changes in training and experience levels and an increased in retirements..
Travel like the readers of Fortune Magazine by following their tips for business travel. Stay in Ritz Carlton, Luxury Collection and Kimpton Hotels, fly with Virgin America, Alaska Airlines or Jetblue in the States and Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates worldwide. Carry hand luggage only and sneak in some shopping or sightseeing between meetings 62% are members of TSA PreCheck and the favourite apps are Google Maps, Kayak, Expedia, Yelp, Skype, and Tripit.
In a busy week for Aer Lingus Regional operated by Stobart Air, they announced the return of the daily Leeds Bradford service from the end of October. The last EI service was 14 years ago. The airline has also been in talks with Cork Airport about the reintroduction of the ORK – DUB service to particularly use the transatlantic services. Stobart would require the support of the local business community to make the service viable and has been in talk with Cork Chamber and business houses.
Fans of Virgin Atlantic and travellers to Cape Town, Mumbai, Tokyo and Vancouver will be disappointed to hear that the airline will be discontinuing services early next year. Virgin is ceasing services to use the aircraft to beef up routes to the United States. Following the joint venture with Delta, aircraft will be redeployed on LAX, JFK, ATL and SFO from LHR and MAN. . "Transatlantic flying has always been at the heart of our network and our most financially successful region," said ceo Craig Kreeger.
In the week that Ryanair announced orders for 200 more Boeing 734 MAX aircraft, the Regional Airlines Association of America is flagging flight cuts at US airports due to pilot shortage. Many communities across the country have lost or reduced services. A coalition of stakeholders Takeflighttomrrow.org has been set up to address this worsening problem which has been exacerbated by changes in training and experience levels and an increased in retirements..
Travel like the readers of Fortune Magazine by following their tips for business travel. Stay in Ritz Carlton, Luxury Collection and Kimpton Hotels, fly with Virgin America, Alaska Airlines or Jetblue in the States and Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates worldwide. Carry hand luggage only and sneak in some shopping or sightseeing between meetings 62% are members of TSA PreCheck and the favourite apps are Google Maps, Kayak, Expedia, Yelp, Skype, and Tripit.
Road Warrior, only in The Irish Times, September 3, 2014
Hotel Wi fi is one of the most important factors when booking a room, and then bandwidth became important as we added more sophisticated devices. Now you can check a hotels wi fi by using hotelwifitest.com. We tried it on Dublin and it wasn’t the five star hotels that come out tops, but the four starTrinty City on Pearse St at 68.4 followed by the Academy Plaza at 24.9, most other hotels were around the 10mps mark.
If you have to fly on the day of the All Ireland Hurling Final, next Sunday, then fly Etihad. The airline will be screening the final between Tipperary and Kilkenny live on board. For the first time ever a live match will be shown to all passengers using the E-BOX in flight entertainment system.
Rome city council has approved the increasing of the city’s hotel occupancy tax from last Monday. The “tassa di soggiorno” is being collected from visitors to be used for the repair and maintenance of the city. The cost per night will be from €3 - €7 depending on the star rating of the hotel.
With the on again off again threat of another ash cloud in Iceland companies should be reviewing their travel insurance policies. If any of the threatened eruptions happen then it will be down to the individual airlines to decide on the action they take, and that may affect travel policies.
If you are a woman travelling on business and looking for hotel recommendations or to meet other women road warriors, the site maiden-voyage.com is a place to view. The website is a network for women travelling on business and provides suggestions of hotels around the world. Travellers can also enter your trip dates and maybe find a companion to explore a destination with or have dinner with.
Hotel Wi fi is one of the most important factors when booking a room, and then bandwidth became important as we added more sophisticated devices. Now you can check a hotels wi fi by using hotelwifitest.com. We tried it on Dublin and it wasn’t the five star hotels that come out tops, but the four starTrinty City on Pearse St at 68.4 followed by the Academy Plaza at 24.9, most other hotels were around the 10mps mark.
If you have to fly on the day of the All Ireland Hurling Final, next Sunday, then fly Etihad. The airline will be screening the final between Tipperary and Kilkenny live on board. For the first time ever a live match will be shown to all passengers using the E-BOX in flight entertainment system.
Rome city council has approved the increasing of the city’s hotel occupancy tax from last Monday. The “tassa di soggiorno” is being collected from visitors to be used for the repair and maintenance of the city. The cost per night will be from €3 - €7 depending on the star rating of the hotel.
With the on again off again threat of another ash cloud in Iceland companies should be reviewing their travel insurance policies. If any of the threatened eruptions happen then it will be down to the individual airlines to decide on the action they take, and that may affect travel policies.
If you are a woman travelling on business and looking for hotel recommendations or to meet other women road warriors, the site maiden-voyage.com is a place to view. The website is a network for women travelling on business and provides suggestions of hotels around the world. Travellers can also enter your trip dates and maybe find a companion to explore a destination with or have dinner with.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, Aug. 27. 2014
The US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, chaired by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV is beginning an inquiry into airline ancillary fees, how they are disclosed to consumers and internal policies aimed at protecting consumer information gathered during ticket purchase. Transparency in airline fees should be looked at here too, as the mix bag of charges are just lumped into Fees on airline tickets. We could still be paying for the last Icelandic volcano eruption.
The Guild of Business Travel Association and Carlson Wagonlit Travel surveyed the most prominent risks for travel in 2015. Top of the list is the escalating Ukrainian crisis with the potential knock-on effect of energy cost spikes, nflation in Europe devolving into deflation and growing government and corporate debt in China. Overall business travel spend is expected to rise by 5.1% in the UK with the highest jump in hotel prices. Competition from Ryanair and Easyjet for business travel seats will keep airfares down.
New York’s prime hotel stock added a new member last week with the opening of the Park Hyatt hotel at 153 West 57th St. between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, across the road from Carnegie Hall. The hotel occupies the first 25 floors of the 90-storey skyscraper One57 designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc. Standard room rates are from $795 per night.
Emirates double daily service from Dublin goes live on Monday with a Boeing 777-300ER, adding 5,000 seats per week to and from Dubai in three classes. Flight EK164 will depart Dublin at 22.00 arriving in Dubai at 08.55, allowing more connections east and south and additional 25 tonnes of cargo capacity.
The US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, chaired by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV is beginning an inquiry into airline ancillary fees, how they are disclosed to consumers and internal policies aimed at protecting consumer information gathered during ticket purchase. Transparency in airline fees should be looked at here too, as the mix bag of charges are just lumped into Fees on airline tickets. We could still be paying for the last Icelandic volcano eruption.
The Guild of Business Travel Association and Carlson Wagonlit Travel surveyed the most prominent risks for travel in 2015. Top of the list is the escalating Ukrainian crisis with the potential knock-on effect of energy cost spikes, nflation in Europe devolving into deflation and growing government and corporate debt in China. Overall business travel spend is expected to rise by 5.1% in the UK with the highest jump in hotel prices. Competition from Ryanair and Easyjet for business travel seats will keep airfares down.
New York’s prime hotel stock added a new member last week with the opening of the Park Hyatt hotel at 153 West 57th St. between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, across the road from Carnegie Hall. The hotel occupies the first 25 floors of the 90-storey skyscraper One57 designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc. Standard room rates are from $795 per night.
Emirates double daily service from Dublin goes live on Monday with a Boeing 777-300ER, adding 5,000 seats per week to and from Dubai in three classes. Flight EK164 will depart Dublin at 22.00 arriving in Dubai at 08.55, allowing more connections east and south and additional 25 tonnes of cargo capacity.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, Aug. 20, 2014
IATA has issued a plea to airlines to continue serving the countries hit by the Ebola outbreak following Kenya Airways decision to halt services on Monday. Passengers can be screened at airports in infected areas and airlines can fully disinfect planes afterwards. “Travel and trade bans are unnecessary,” said Raphael Kuuchi, IATA vp for Africa, “Ebola hit regions need connections to the outside world to fight the disease.” A number of airlines have already terminated services to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Passengers travelling to the United States with United can speed up check in by scanning their passport up to 24 hours in advance. The new mobile app for iPhones and Androids uses the camera to record and store passport details. Once the verification process is complete you can then print out your boarding card. The app is only valid for people that don’t need visas for the US.
Premier Suites Dublin are opening their new luxury serviced apartments from September 8. The 46 suites are in the newly restored and developed Merrion Hall and will be a mix of suites, one and two-bedroom apartments, lofts and penthouses. There will be uncontended broadband, and HD IPTVs with movies on demand and 100 international channels. They will be in big demand in the city. Opening prices are from €99 per night.
Road warriors planning travel for autumn and winter can take advantage today of the Jurys Inns one day flash sale. There will be up to 30 percent discount on 29 hotels in Ireland, the UK and Prague for stays between October 1 and February 28, 2015.
IATA has issued a plea to airlines to continue serving the countries hit by the Ebola outbreak following Kenya Airways decision to halt services on Monday. Passengers can be screened at airports in infected areas and airlines can fully disinfect planes afterwards. “Travel and trade bans are unnecessary,” said Raphael Kuuchi, IATA vp for Africa, “Ebola hit regions need connections to the outside world to fight the disease.” A number of airlines have already terminated services to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Passengers travelling to the United States with United can speed up check in by scanning their passport up to 24 hours in advance. The new mobile app for iPhones and Androids uses the camera to record and store passport details. Once the verification process is complete you can then print out your boarding card. The app is only valid for people that don’t need visas for the US.
Premier Suites Dublin are opening their new luxury serviced apartments from September 8. The 46 suites are in the newly restored and developed Merrion Hall and will be a mix of suites, one and two-bedroom apartments, lofts and penthouses. There will be uncontended broadband, and HD IPTVs with movies on demand and 100 international channels. They will be in big demand in the city. Opening prices are from €99 per night.
Road warriors planning travel for autumn and winter can take advantage today of the Jurys Inns one day flash sale. There will be up to 30 percent discount on 29 hotels in Ireland, the UK and Prague for stays between October 1 and February 28, 2015.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, Aug. 13, 2014
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States has banned all US carriers from overflying Iraq until further notice. British Airways have also suspended overflying along with Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and Air France. Avoiding flying over areas in conflict is a priority for airlines following two incidents this summer, the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine and a rocket landing near Ben Gurion airport in Israel.
The United State Customs and Immigration Service at Dublin Airport is making it easy for you to use their service with a new instructional video on the Dublinairport.com website. . Under At The Airport, the Port Director Bill Carratini explains how to use the service, a friendly face of CBP. You can now download the customs form online to save time at the airport. Passenger traffic travelling to the US through Dublin Airport has increased significantly this year, with thousands coming from Europe.
Turning tobacco into aviation biofuel is a collaboration between South African Airways, Boeing and SkyNRG that will develop a renewable jet fuel. The energy rich hybrid plant Solaris, does not contain nicotine and can be grown in the same way. Developing a sustainable aviation fuel would reduce carbon emissions by 50-80 per cent and provide a new crop for SA farmers.
The European Commission has made public a letter written to the six major car rental companies in Europe by the Director General Internal Market and Services regarding significant prices differentials between member states. The concern is the car rental industry in Europe prevents consumers from getting the best price by charging different prices based on country of residence.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States has banned all US carriers from overflying Iraq until further notice. British Airways have also suspended overflying along with Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and Air France. Avoiding flying over areas in conflict is a priority for airlines following two incidents this summer, the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine and a rocket landing near Ben Gurion airport in Israel.
The United State Customs and Immigration Service at Dublin Airport is making it easy for you to use their service with a new instructional video on the Dublinairport.com website. . Under At The Airport, the Port Director Bill Carratini explains how to use the service, a friendly face of CBP. You can now download the customs form online to save time at the airport. Passenger traffic travelling to the US through Dublin Airport has increased significantly this year, with thousands coming from Europe.
Turning tobacco into aviation biofuel is a collaboration between South African Airways, Boeing and SkyNRG that will develop a renewable jet fuel. The energy rich hybrid plant Solaris, does not contain nicotine and can be grown in the same way. Developing a sustainable aviation fuel would reduce carbon emissions by 50-80 per cent and provide a new crop for SA farmers.
The European Commission has made public a letter written to the six major car rental companies in Europe by the Director General Internal Market and Services regarding significant prices differentials between member states. The concern is the car rental industry in Europe prevents consumers from getting the best price by charging different prices based on country of residence.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, Aug. 6, 2014.
Who would have thought the humble snow globe is still so popular. London City Airport has confiscated 78 of the charming souvenirs in the first half of the year. Busy business travellers grabbing a easy gift from Harrods maybe? Also confiscated by the airport staff were a selection of jams and preserves, lemon curd was the most favourite and four pairs of handcuffs along with bottles of champagne, Shades of Grey.....
Hilton HHonors members will be able to check-in and out of their rooms by using smartphones, tablets or computers. The new technology will allow you choose the exact room you would like to sleep in from the 650,000 rooms worldwide in 4,000 hotels. The service will be available in the US by the end of the summer and worldwide by year end. No more waiting in queues for checking in and out.
Aer Lingus is previewing the new business class service on their website with a video and it looks very spacious and comfortable. Due to come into service next March the new business class Transatlantic cabin will have lie flat beds, 16-inch HD screens, massage seats, power outlets, premium food and beverages, wi fi, and plenty of space to sit back, relax and enjoy. Passengers will also have the option of dining in the lounge before flying.
The International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO is to immediately establish a task force at senior level comprised of state and industry experts to address the potential risks to civil aviation operating to, from and over conflict zones. The main aspect will be to explore how information can be effectively collected and disseminated to the 191 country members. A High Level Safety Conference has will tale place in February 2015.
Who would have thought the humble snow globe is still so popular. London City Airport has confiscated 78 of the charming souvenirs in the first half of the year. Busy business travellers grabbing a easy gift from Harrods maybe? Also confiscated by the airport staff were a selection of jams and preserves, lemon curd was the most favourite and four pairs of handcuffs along with bottles of champagne, Shades of Grey.....
Hilton HHonors members will be able to check-in and out of their rooms by using smartphones, tablets or computers. The new technology will allow you choose the exact room you would like to sleep in from the 650,000 rooms worldwide in 4,000 hotels. The service will be available in the US by the end of the summer and worldwide by year end. No more waiting in queues for checking in and out.
Aer Lingus is previewing the new business class service on their website with a video and it looks very spacious and comfortable. Due to come into service next March the new business class Transatlantic cabin will have lie flat beds, 16-inch HD screens, massage seats, power outlets, premium food and beverages, wi fi, and plenty of space to sit back, relax and enjoy. Passengers will also have the option of dining in the lounge before flying.
The International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO is to immediately establish a task force at senior level comprised of state and industry experts to address the potential risks to civil aviation operating to, from and over conflict zones. The main aspect will be to explore how information can be effectively collected and disseminated to the 191 country members. A High Level Safety Conference has will tale place in February 2015.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, July 30, 2014
Emirates Airlines have stopped flying over Iraq amid fears that Islamic extremists could have missiles capable of downing commercial aircraft. Sir Tim Clark president of Emirates, expressed real concern that fighters may have acquired similar ground to air missiles as the one which downed MH17 in Ukraine. He went on to say “MH17 changed everything, that was very nearly in European airspace.” Other airlines are expected to follow Emirates’ lead.
In a survey conducted for Bitbuzz, the Wi Fi provider, 70 per cent of Irish people are now ignoring the television in their hotel rooms in favour of using their own devices. Reliable Wi Fi is more important than breakfast to 20 per cent of those surveyed , 70 per cent would ditch the kettle and five per cent would go without hot water to have good Wi Fi; food for thought for hoteliers.
An alternative venue for a client meetings, business briefings, think tanks and incentives is the yacht Azul in Lough Derg. Escape the office for the surroundings of the lake and enjoy all the services of a hotel with Wi Fi, full DC power, Nespresso coffee, and unique events to showcase your company or products, luxuryyachtingireland.com.
Two Irish companies, NUI Galway and Enerit are involved in an EU funded project, CASCADE to reduce the emissions of airports. Airports consume as much energy as small cities. Pilot testing is taking place in Rome’s Fiumicino and Milan’s Malpensa airports. The project is also being supported by the Airport Council International Europe representing 450 airports.
Emirates Airlines have stopped flying over Iraq amid fears that Islamic extremists could have missiles capable of downing commercial aircraft. Sir Tim Clark president of Emirates, expressed real concern that fighters may have acquired similar ground to air missiles as the one which downed MH17 in Ukraine. He went on to say “MH17 changed everything, that was very nearly in European airspace.” Other airlines are expected to follow Emirates’ lead.
In a survey conducted for Bitbuzz, the Wi Fi provider, 70 per cent of Irish people are now ignoring the television in their hotel rooms in favour of using their own devices. Reliable Wi Fi is more important than breakfast to 20 per cent of those surveyed , 70 per cent would ditch the kettle and five per cent would go without hot water to have good Wi Fi; food for thought for hoteliers.
An alternative venue for a client meetings, business briefings, think tanks and incentives is the yacht Azul in Lough Derg. Escape the office for the surroundings of the lake and enjoy all the services of a hotel with Wi Fi, full DC power, Nespresso coffee, and unique events to showcase your company or products, luxuryyachtingireland.com.
Two Irish companies, NUI Galway and Enerit are involved in an EU funded project, CASCADE to reduce the emissions of airports. Airports consume as much energy as small cities. Pilot testing is taking place in Rome’s Fiumicino and Milan’s Malpensa airports. The project is also being supported by the Airport Council International Europe representing 450 airports.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, July 23, 2014Passengers booked on Malaysia Airlines flights up to the end of December can apply by tomorrow for a refund, change or postpone journeys. There will be no fees for changes and restricted tickets will also be refunded in full. Flight number MH17 has been retired as a mark of respect to the passengers and crew and will be replaced with MH19.
Ancillary revenues for the top ten airlines passed the $20 billion mark last year. In a survey conducted for Ireland headquartered Cartrawler, IdealWorks found that the US carriers United, Delta and American have taken the top three slots in ancillary revenues. United alone earned more than $5 billion. Ryanair appears in fifth place with $1.689 billion ancillary revenue. The top earner for revenue per passenger was Jet2 with $55.61.
Kimpton Hotels with more than 60 four and five star properties in the United States is taking a new pass at how it rewards guest loyalty. As well as earning points for staying in a Kimpton Hotel, guests will also earn rewards for engaging with the hotel group. Social engagements include attending Wine Hour, a daily occurrence at the hotels, or by social media mentions, involvement with fitness programmes and taking a pet to stay.
Airports are always coming up with new ways to keep us busy while waiting for flights, apart from shopping. In Helsinki Airport, it’s Yoga Gate. Classes are organised during the busy morning and afternoon peaks and passengers can take part or exercise independently, though they found that the yoga mats are popular for those needing a nap. Yoga Gate continues through August.
Ancillary revenues for the top ten airlines passed the $20 billion mark last year. In a survey conducted for Ireland headquartered Cartrawler, IdealWorks found that the US carriers United, Delta and American have taken the top three slots in ancillary revenues. United alone earned more than $5 billion. Ryanair appears in fifth place with $1.689 billion ancillary revenue. The top earner for revenue per passenger was Jet2 with $55.61.
Kimpton Hotels with more than 60 four and five star properties in the United States is taking a new pass at how it rewards guest loyalty. As well as earning points for staying in a Kimpton Hotel, guests will also earn rewards for engaging with the hotel group. Social engagements include attending Wine Hour, a daily occurrence at the hotels, or by social media mentions, involvement with fitness programmes and taking a pet to stay.
Airports are always coming up with new ways to keep us busy while waiting for flights, apart from shopping. In Helsinki Airport, it’s Yoga Gate. Classes are organised during the busy morning and afternoon peaks and passengers can take part or exercise independently, though they found that the yoga mats are popular for those needing a nap. Yoga Gate continues through August.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, July 16, 2014
Business travel on Ryanair – not as remote an experience as you might have thought. The launch of the App on Monday is the precursor for the introduction of a business type service in September. The schedules for major city pairs will operate at set times with double daily services. Options for business customers will include flexibility, check in baggage and priority boarding from an expected €40 premium per sector. Corporate clients may also enjoy rebates on gross annual business.
The list of possible sites for the British Spaceport is expected to include several locations in Scotland as well as Bristol and Norfolk. The Spaceport is expected to be operational in 2018 and will be used to launch manned missions and commercial satellites. Richard Branson is known to support Lossiemouth on the Moray Firth for the Virgin Galactic service, and has already had talks with Scottish ministers.
Hilton Worldwide is expanding its brands with the launch of the Curio Collection. If you are a traveller who likes seek local discovery and authentic experiences then Curio could be for you. The brand will be a mixture of independent, boutique and new build hotels, in the United States firstly. Guests will continue to benefit from the Hilton HHonors loyalty programme.
International Airlines Group has ordered 20 singled-aisled A320 aircraft to replace British Airways’ short-haul fleet. The new jets will cost over $1 billion and will replace the current short haul fleet. BA already had 120 Airbus single-aisle aircraft from the smallest A318 to the A321s.
Business travel on Ryanair – not as remote an experience as you might have thought. The launch of the App on Monday is the precursor for the introduction of a business type service in September. The schedules for major city pairs will operate at set times with double daily services. Options for business customers will include flexibility, check in baggage and priority boarding from an expected €40 premium per sector. Corporate clients may also enjoy rebates on gross annual business.
The list of possible sites for the British Spaceport is expected to include several locations in Scotland as well as Bristol and Norfolk. The Spaceport is expected to be operational in 2018 and will be used to launch manned missions and commercial satellites. Richard Branson is known to support Lossiemouth on the Moray Firth for the Virgin Galactic service, and has already had talks with Scottish ministers.
Hilton Worldwide is expanding its brands with the launch of the Curio Collection. If you are a traveller who likes seek local discovery and authentic experiences then Curio could be for you. The brand will be a mixture of independent, boutique and new build hotels, in the United States firstly. Guests will continue to benefit from the Hilton HHonors loyalty programme.
International Airlines Group has ordered 20 singled-aisled A320 aircraft to replace British Airways’ short-haul fleet. The new jets will cost over $1 billion and will replace the current short haul fleet. BA already had 120 Airbus single-aisle aircraft from the smallest A318 to the A321s.
A recent haul by TSA
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, July 9, 2014
Etihad Airways has hit back at critics of its holdings in European and other airlines, saying without its investment some airlines would see job losses and possible collapse. The “rescue investor”, now holds stakes in Aer Lingus, Air Berlin, Air Serbia, Darwin Airline and soon Al Italia. James Hogan ceo of Etihad said “external investment is not a threat,” Speaking at a European Union conference on air transport competitiveness in Vienna. “It is an opportunity to strengthen airlines, and to support employment and economic growth. Consolidation of airlines is critical to sustainable air services.”
With security in Europe tightening for travel to the United States, travellers can expect the enhanced security will not be temporary. In response to potential new bomb designs that might not be picked up by existing procedures there will be more checks on electronic equipment, explosive swabs and pat downs.
As an example of security issues facing TSA agents, last week’s haul of prohibited items found in US airports by security staff included the following. A stun cane, a Samurai sword in a carry-on bag, 33 firearms of which 25 were loaded, Red Devil fireworks, 38 credit cards knives, two inert grenades, 12 stun guns and a selection of other weaponry and sharp pointy implements. Keep up to date with TSA on blog.tsa.gov.
In a survey of Irish travel buyers and procurement managers by HRS Hotel Solutions Provider found that cost reduction and travellers’ expectations are a high priority for travel policies. The main frustrations when booking hotels is getting the right price for the location and free cancellation up to 6.00pm Preferred hotels fared badly in the poll as proximity to business being conducted took priority.
Etihad Airways has hit back at critics of its holdings in European and other airlines, saying without its investment some airlines would see job losses and possible collapse. The “rescue investor”, now holds stakes in Aer Lingus, Air Berlin, Air Serbia, Darwin Airline and soon Al Italia. James Hogan ceo of Etihad said “external investment is not a threat,” Speaking at a European Union conference on air transport competitiveness in Vienna. “It is an opportunity to strengthen airlines, and to support employment and economic growth. Consolidation of airlines is critical to sustainable air services.”
With security in Europe tightening for travel to the United States, travellers can expect the enhanced security will not be temporary. In response to potential new bomb designs that might not be picked up by existing procedures there will be more checks on electronic equipment, explosive swabs and pat downs.
As an example of security issues facing TSA agents, last week’s haul of prohibited items found in US airports by security staff included the following. A stun cane, a Samurai sword in a carry-on bag, 33 firearms of which 25 were loaded, Red Devil fireworks, 38 credit cards knives, two inert grenades, 12 stun guns and a selection of other weaponry and sharp pointy implements. Keep up to date with TSA on blog.tsa.gov.
In a survey of Irish travel buyers and procurement managers by HRS Hotel Solutions Provider found that cost reduction and travellers’ expectations are a high priority for travel policies. The main frustrations when booking hotels is getting the right price for the location and free cancellation up to 6.00pm Preferred hotels fared badly in the poll as proximity to business being conducted took priority.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, July 2, 2014
It’s T2-7 today for the first Aer Lingus services to the Queen’s Terminal at Heathrow airport next week. Fingers will be crossed that there will be no repeat of the massive baggage problems in T5 since last Thursday. Gold Circle members will enjoy the new bigger lounge with great views over the airfield. Journey times through T2 to transport will be less than half the old T1 hike. The Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines move to T2 today has been postponed to later in the summer due to unplanned baggage testing.
Network, share and learn at the Buying Business Travel forum in Dublin tomorrow. There are some free sponsored places for people involved in company travel planning and purchasing. The half day event begins from 1pm with lunch in the Ballsbridge Hotel. Contact Claire Robson about places, crobson@panaceapublishing.com or call +44 (0)207 821 2700.
Who would believe that Dublin would have so many flights to the Middle East in such a short space of time? Etihad are getting ready for the double daily service beginning on July 15 to Abu Dhabi. Emirates are on track and selling hard for their double daily to Dubai on September 1. Both airlines operate a two-class service from Dublin. Turkish Airlines increased their services to Istanbul the gateway to Asia and Africa to 12 per week from the beginning of the summer.
In the first quarter alone this year Delta has collected from than $191million in baggage fees and another $220 million for cancellation and flight change fees. United collected $147 million is baggage fees and $194 million in change fees. Together the top four carriers in the US collected almost $600 million in three months for baggage fees alone.
It’s T2-7 today for the first Aer Lingus services to the Queen’s Terminal at Heathrow airport next week. Fingers will be crossed that there will be no repeat of the massive baggage problems in T5 since last Thursday. Gold Circle members will enjoy the new bigger lounge with great views over the airfield. Journey times through T2 to transport will be less than half the old T1 hike. The Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines move to T2 today has been postponed to later in the summer due to unplanned baggage testing.
Network, share and learn at the Buying Business Travel forum in Dublin tomorrow. There are some free sponsored places for people involved in company travel planning and purchasing. The half day event begins from 1pm with lunch in the Ballsbridge Hotel. Contact Claire Robson about places, crobson@panaceapublishing.com or call +44 (0)207 821 2700.
Who would believe that Dublin would have so many flights to the Middle East in such a short space of time? Etihad are getting ready for the double daily service beginning on July 15 to Abu Dhabi. Emirates are on track and selling hard for their double daily to Dubai on September 1. Both airlines operate a two-class service from Dublin. Turkish Airlines increased their services to Istanbul the gateway to Asia and Africa to 12 per week from the beginning of the summer.
In the first quarter alone this year Delta has collected from than $191million in baggage fees and another $220 million for cancellation and flight change fees. United collected $147 million is baggage fees and $194 million in change fees. Together the top four carriers in the US collected almost $600 million in three months for baggage fees alone.
Gregg Saretsky ceo Westjet
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, June 18
United Airlines have announced the changes to the MileagePlus programme for award miles. Members will earn miles based on the ticket price rather than distance and on the base fares from Mar 1, 2015. Miles will be from five to 11 miles per dollar depending on MileagePlus status.
Renaissance the lifestyle brand within the Marriott portfolio has opened a hotel in Minsk, Belarus. The 267 room hotel will also have extensive conference and meeting facilities and the largest ballroom in the city. Located in the central business area it will be operated by Interstate Hotels and Resorts, who also operate the Marker Hotel in Dublin and Powerscourt in Wicklow.
Welcome to Ireland Westjet. The Canadian carrier’s first Transatlantic flight arrived in Dublin on Monday morning. Such is the interest from New Foundland that the seasonal daily service is already 90 per cent sold. The company is considering extending the flight to a year round timetable. Many passengers are using Ireland as a gateway to Europe.
On the same day in the US Jetblue the low cost carrier began operating a business class service from JFK to LAX. Mint Business Class will operate on the low cost carrier’s Airbus A321 with fares from $599, seriously undercutting the competition. Mint will be expanded to the JFK-San Francisco route by the end of October.
United Airlines have announced the changes to the MileagePlus programme for award miles. Members will earn miles based on the ticket price rather than distance and on the base fares from Mar 1, 2015. Miles will be from five to 11 miles per dollar depending on MileagePlus status.
Renaissance the lifestyle brand within the Marriott portfolio has opened a hotel in Minsk, Belarus. The 267 room hotel will also have extensive conference and meeting facilities and the largest ballroom in the city. Located in the central business area it will be operated by Interstate Hotels and Resorts, who also operate the Marker Hotel in Dublin and Powerscourt in Wicklow.
Welcome to Ireland Westjet. The Canadian carrier’s first Transatlantic flight arrived in Dublin on Monday morning. Such is the interest from New Foundland that the seasonal daily service is already 90 per cent sold. The company is considering extending the flight to a year round timetable. Many passengers are using Ireland as a gateway to Europe.
On the same day in the US Jetblue the low cost carrier began operating a business class service from JFK to LAX. Mint Business Class will operate on the low cost carrier’s Airbus A321 with fares from $599, seriously undercutting the competition. Mint will be expanded to the JFK-San Francisco route by the end of October.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times
Mobile wi fi in Avis rental cars Lufthansa sale on Premium economy seats, Virgin Galactic gets FAA approval and find a hotel that grows green air.
Car rental company Avis has launched a mobile wi fi service in the UK and some European countries. The in car device allows customers to use up to five mobile devices while travelling. The cost is £8.50 per day and allows up to one GB per day at speeds of up to 21.6mbps. It will have cross border connectivity and no roaming charges.
If you knew you had business in Hong Kong, Beijing, Mexico, Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires and other long haul routes from January to March next year you could save hundreds on the fares. Lufthansa is introducing Premium Economy to the Irish market with a sale on introductory fares until June 12.
We’ve heard of hotels growing their own herbs but what about the concept of growing green air, treating the interior spaces as greenhouses to grow green air? The Green Air Hotel concept was the winner of the Radical Innovation Awards created by Hotel development firm the John Hardy Group. We may in the future see the green air hotel in reality.
Virgin Galactic’s commercial space flights appear another step closer last week when the US Federal Aviation Administration agreed to allow it charter space flights from its base in New Mexico. The deal outlines how FAA air traffic control with work with Virgin Galactic to provide safe air space. Richard Branson is still hoping for a launch of SpaceShipTwo by the end of the year.
Mobile wi fi in Avis rental cars Lufthansa sale on Premium economy seats, Virgin Galactic gets FAA approval and find a hotel that grows green air.
Car rental company Avis has launched a mobile wi fi service in the UK and some European countries. The in car device allows customers to use up to five mobile devices while travelling. The cost is £8.50 per day and allows up to one GB per day at speeds of up to 21.6mbps. It will have cross border connectivity and no roaming charges.
If you knew you had business in Hong Kong, Beijing, Mexico, Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires and other long haul routes from January to March next year you could save hundreds on the fares. Lufthansa is introducing Premium Economy to the Irish market with a sale on introductory fares until June 12.
We’ve heard of hotels growing their own herbs but what about the concept of growing green air, treating the interior spaces as greenhouses to grow green air? The Green Air Hotel concept was the winner of the Radical Innovation Awards created by Hotel development firm the John Hardy Group. We may in the future see the green air hotel in reality.
Virgin Galactic’s commercial space flights appear another step closer last week when the US Federal Aviation Administration agreed to allow it charter space flights from its base in New Mexico. The deal outlines how FAA air traffic control with work with Virgin Galactic to provide safe air space. Richard Branson is still hoping for a launch of SpaceShipTwo by the end of the year.
Road Warrior - only in 'the Irish Times
Use your phone to order room service or another pillow, don't be a Glasshole, improving global tracking on aircraft.
May 28, 2014
Marriott Hotels have introduced check-in and check out by mobile phone for all its 500 properties. Members of the Marriott Rewards having signed into the app, will receive a message after 4.00pm on the day before arrival allowing them to check in. When you get ot the hotel you just collect your pre-programmed keycard from the mobile check-in desk. At the end of the stay guests will receive a notifications and can provide an email address for the bill to be sent to..
The next round of innovations at Marriott will include the ability to text service requests like extra pillows or turndown to housekeeping. In Washington the Marriott Marquis is experimenting with a new way of delivering room service. No fancy trolleys and cutlery, instead guests can choose from a menu which has burgers, sandwiches, salads, cake, beers, wines which will be delivered to your door like a take-away service by a runner, and no need to tip either.
Hotels are always looking for new things to encourage guest to book them and the Stanford Court Hotel in the Nob Hill district of San Francisco has come up with a current innovation. Guests staying for two nights or more will be given the opportunity to try the Google Glass. There will also be a tutorial on how to avoid being a “glasshole” . Rates begin at $199 per night. Using Google Glass will give guests a feel for living in the Bay Area.
The UN agency, the International Civil Aviation Organisation is moving swiftly to improve global tracking of airline flights following the disappearance of MH370 in March. The agency expects to have recommendations in place by the autumn, for the more than 36 million flights a year. This follows a two-day meeting last week to discuss improvements in tracking. Inmarsat the British based satellite company has offered to provide a free tracking service for airlines.
Use your phone to order room service or another pillow, don't be a Glasshole, improving global tracking on aircraft.
May 28, 2014
Marriott Hotels have introduced check-in and check out by mobile phone for all its 500 properties. Members of the Marriott Rewards having signed into the app, will receive a message after 4.00pm on the day before arrival allowing them to check in. When you get ot the hotel you just collect your pre-programmed keycard from the mobile check-in desk. At the end of the stay guests will receive a notifications and can provide an email address for the bill to be sent to..
The next round of innovations at Marriott will include the ability to text service requests like extra pillows or turndown to housekeeping. In Washington the Marriott Marquis is experimenting with a new way of delivering room service. No fancy trolleys and cutlery, instead guests can choose from a menu which has burgers, sandwiches, salads, cake, beers, wines which will be delivered to your door like a take-away service by a runner, and no need to tip either.
Hotels are always looking for new things to encourage guest to book them and the Stanford Court Hotel in the Nob Hill district of San Francisco has come up with a current innovation. Guests staying for two nights or more will be given the opportunity to try the Google Glass. There will also be a tutorial on how to avoid being a “glasshole” . Rates begin at $199 per night. Using Google Glass will give guests a feel for living in the Bay Area.
The UN agency, the International Civil Aviation Organisation is moving swiftly to improve global tracking of airline flights following the disappearance of MH370 in March. The agency expects to have recommendations in place by the autumn, for the more than 36 million flights a year. This follows a two-day meeting last week to discuss improvements in tracking. Inmarsat the British based satellite company has offered to provide a free tracking service for airlines.
A380 will carry 652 passengers
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times
The world's largest capacity A380, new hotel for London, Ham Yard, soothing scents from Iberia and the new Waldorf Astoria, May, 7, 2014.
The world’s largest capacity aircraft is going to be Transaero’s A380 configured to carry 652 passengers. It will beat the current record holder by more than 100 passengers. Air France’s A380 carries 538 passengers every day to San Francisco. Russia’s second carrier will configure the plane is three classes and will have 12 closed suites in first class. No routes have been announced yet but it is expected to be used on high density tourism destinations.
Who would have expected that there would be a derelict site behind Piccadilly Circus between Shaftsbury Avenue and Brewer St of nearly an acre. Firmdale Hotels, the leaders in lifestyle design have developed the Ham Yard Hotel with an urban village feel and it will open in June. The 90 room hotel will also have a 1950s style Texan bowling alley and bar with dance floor and rooftop garden.
Iberia will be soothing its passengers with a soft, fresh and delicate scent, Mediterráneo de Iberia. The scent has been specially created for use on all Iberia’s aircraft with notes of fruit, flowers, a touch of citrus and bergamot. The sensory elements including a new selection of songs by Spanish artists will reflect the brand image, now a lot more than a logo.
The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam opened its doors on May Day. The hotel is comprised of six 17th and 18th century townhouses in the Herengracht area of the city, looking on to one of the city’s grandest canals. This is the second WA to open in the past month or so, Jerusalem opened its doors on March 26.
The world's largest capacity A380, new hotel for London, Ham Yard, soothing scents from Iberia and the new Waldorf Astoria, May, 7, 2014.
The world’s largest capacity aircraft is going to be Transaero’s A380 configured to carry 652 passengers. It will beat the current record holder by more than 100 passengers. Air France’s A380 carries 538 passengers every day to San Francisco. Russia’s second carrier will configure the plane is three classes and will have 12 closed suites in first class. No routes have been announced yet but it is expected to be used on high density tourism destinations.
Who would have expected that there would be a derelict site behind Piccadilly Circus between Shaftsbury Avenue and Brewer St of nearly an acre. Firmdale Hotels, the leaders in lifestyle design have developed the Ham Yard Hotel with an urban village feel and it will open in June. The 90 room hotel will also have a 1950s style Texan bowling alley and bar with dance floor and rooftop garden.
Iberia will be soothing its passengers with a soft, fresh and delicate scent, Mediterráneo de Iberia. The scent has been specially created for use on all Iberia’s aircraft with notes of fruit, flowers, a touch of citrus and bergamot. The sensory elements including a new selection of songs by Spanish artists will reflect the brand image, now a lot more than a logo.
The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam opened its doors on May Day. The hotel is comprised of six 17th and 18th century townhouses in the Herengracht area of the city, looking on to one of the city’s grandest canals. This is the second WA to open in the past month or so, Jerusalem opened its doors on March 26.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times
Your wellbeing matters to Westin, new route to Cambridge from Dublin with Cityjet, fares have gone down but ancillary costs have gone up, April 30, 2014
Westin Hotels have launched a global Well-Being Movement to help guests and associates live well and work well. The Well Being council is being joined by founder of the Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington. She will bring to the council her insights on the Third Metric, a way to measure success beyond just money and power. Ms Huffington will contribute to the content of the website, westin.com/wellbeing and on the Social Media channels.
Cityjet are expanding into provincial territory with the announcement on Monday of new routes from Cambridge to Dublin and Amsterdam. The new services begin on May 12 and it will be possible to do a day trip to Cambridge. This follows on the announcement last week that Cityjet will finally have some competition at London City Airport when Flybe begin a Dublin service in October.
A few suggestions from AFAR media can make a business trip more fun. Catch up on reading on flights or download a few TED talks to inspire you. Make dinner reservations ahead at the new or in restaurant at your destination, try a more local neighbourhood hotel to explore your surroundings. Plan a visit to a museum or relax in a local park.
It is interesting to see how much air fares have changed in the past fourteen years. While fares may be down 16 per cent on the peak year of 2000, and the average rise last year in the US was only $1, still we are paying more. The unbundling of airfares, and those extra charges mean that airlines now earn almost 30 per cent of revenue from ancillary costs.
Your wellbeing matters to Westin, new route to Cambridge from Dublin with Cityjet, fares have gone down but ancillary costs have gone up, April 30, 2014
Westin Hotels have launched a global Well-Being Movement to help guests and associates live well and work well. The Well Being council is being joined by founder of the Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington. She will bring to the council her insights on the Third Metric, a way to measure success beyond just money and power. Ms Huffington will contribute to the content of the website, westin.com/wellbeing and on the Social Media channels.
Cityjet are expanding into provincial territory with the announcement on Monday of new routes from Cambridge to Dublin and Amsterdam. The new services begin on May 12 and it will be possible to do a day trip to Cambridge. This follows on the announcement last week that Cityjet will finally have some competition at London City Airport when Flybe begin a Dublin service in October.
A few suggestions from AFAR media can make a business trip more fun. Catch up on reading on flights or download a few TED talks to inspire you. Make dinner reservations ahead at the new or in restaurant at your destination, try a more local neighbourhood hotel to explore your surroundings. Plan a visit to a museum or relax in a local park.
It is interesting to see how much air fares have changed in the past fourteen years. While fares may be down 16 per cent on the peak year of 2000, and the average rise last year in the US was only $1, still we are paying more. The unbundling of airfares, and those extra charges mean that airlines now earn almost 30 per cent of revenue from ancillary costs.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times
Making aviation fuel out of rubbish, Dubai taking over from London Heathrow, fly an Airbus A380, Jerusalem is on the up, April 23, 2014.
Could you turn rubbish into aviation fuel? It seems that the Green Sky project by Solana Fuels can by using a patented high temperature plasma gasification technology to convert the waste into synthetic gas and then into liquid hydrocarbons. One of the first customers is British Airways who have committed to taking 50,000 tonnes per annum for the next eleven years.
Heathrow will probably relinquish the title of the world’s busiest international airport this year, judging by the figures for it and Dubai. For January and February, Dubai raced ahead with 1.7 million more passengers than LHR. Last year Dubai jumped up the ranks of leading world airports from tenth to seventh. Top two busiest airports are Atlanta and Beijing, where traffic is predominantly domestic.
Passengers stopping over in Dubai can get a taste for what it is like to actually fly an Airbus A380. The Emirates A380 Experience is now open in the Dubai Mall and will allow visitors to sit in the pilot’s seat and take off and land at 12 of the world’s busiest airports, like Paris, Hong Kong and Amsterdam.
A sign that a destination is on the up is the opening of a Waldorf Astoria Hotel – and Jerusalem is such a city. Last week the 226 room Waldorf opened in the restored Ottoman style building, formerly the Palace Hotel, near the Old City’s Jaffa Gate. Prices are from $570 per night including complimentary wifi.
Making aviation fuel out of rubbish, Dubai taking over from London Heathrow, fly an Airbus A380, Jerusalem is on the up, April 23, 2014.
Could you turn rubbish into aviation fuel? It seems that the Green Sky project by Solana Fuels can by using a patented high temperature plasma gasification technology to convert the waste into synthetic gas and then into liquid hydrocarbons. One of the first customers is British Airways who have committed to taking 50,000 tonnes per annum for the next eleven years.
Heathrow will probably relinquish the title of the world’s busiest international airport this year, judging by the figures for it and Dubai. For January and February, Dubai raced ahead with 1.7 million more passengers than LHR. Last year Dubai jumped up the ranks of leading world airports from tenth to seventh. Top two busiest airports are Atlanta and Beijing, where traffic is predominantly domestic.
Passengers stopping over in Dubai can get a taste for what it is like to actually fly an Airbus A380. The Emirates A380 Experience is now open in the Dubai Mall and will allow visitors to sit in the pilot’s seat and take off and land at 12 of the world’s busiest airports, like Paris, Hong Kong and Amsterdam.
A sign that a destination is on the up is the opening of a Waldorf Astoria Hotel – and Jerusalem is such a city. Last week the 226 room Waldorf opened in the restored Ottoman style building, formerly the Palace Hotel, near the Old City’s Jaffa Gate. Prices are from $570 per night including complimentary wifi.
Road Warrior - PartnerPlusBenefit double Transatlantic miles, airlines banned by EU, Toronto begins, home from home at the Oriental Residence Bangkok, April 16, 2014.
United are encouraging companies to sign up for the PartnerPlusBenefit frequent flyer programme with double points on flights to the USA until the end of June. United will be operating a double daily service from Dublin to Newark from June and the Shannon to Chicago returns, in addition to the Dublin Washington and Belfast Newark services.
If your travels are going to take you off the beaten track, then you should take a look at the list of airlines banned by the EU because of safety concerns. The airlines on the list cannot operate in Europe but may be operating in other countries. The list can be accessed on air-ban.europa.eu.
The Aer Lingus Toronto daily service began on Monday using the Boeing 757 for the first time. It will be operated by ASL aviation on behalf of Aer Lingus. In three weeks time Air Canada Rouge will begin year round services on Toronto initially four times a week, moving up to daily from June 23. The airline is Air Canada’s new leisure airline and will be priced competitively priced. Premium Rouge customers will benefit from extra legroom and complimentary meals.
The Oriental Residence in Bangkok doesn’t want you to feel homesick when on the road and have come up with a Marmite and Marmalade Business Traveller Package. You can be collected by Jaguar limousine from the airport, make your own meals in the stocked kitchen. The Cafe Claire will also serve food like fish and chips and bangers and mash, an antidote to Pad Thai. Prices are from €190 per night, in a one-bedroom suite, reservations@oriental-residence.com.
United are encouraging companies to sign up for the PartnerPlusBenefit frequent flyer programme with double points on flights to the USA until the end of June. United will be operating a double daily service from Dublin to Newark from June and the Shannon to Chicago returns, in addition to the Dublin Washington and Belfast Newark services.
If your travels are going to take you off the beaten track, then you should take a look at the list of airlines banned by the EU because of safety concerns. The airlines on the list cannot operate in Europe but may be operating in other countries. The list can be accessed on air-ban.europa.eu.
The Aer Lingus Toronto daily service began on Monday using the Boeing 757 for the first time. It will be operated by ASL aviation on behalf of Aer Lingus. In three weeks time Air Canada Rouge will begin year round services on Toronto initially four times a week, moving up to daily from June 23. The airline is Air Canada’s new leisure airline and will be priced competitively priced. Premium Rouge customers will benefit from extra legroom and complimentary meals.
The Oriental Residence in Bangkok doesn’t want you to feel homesick when on the road and have come up with a Marmite and Marmalade Business Traveller Package. You can be collected by Jaguar limousine from the airport, make your own meals in the stocked kitchen. The Cafe Claire will also serve food like fish and chips and bangers and mash, an antidote to Pad Thai. Prices are from €190 per night, in a one-bedroom suite, reservations@oriental-residence.com.
Road Warrior - massive growth in China MICE business, United bring power to travellers, Citizen M opens in New York and lost baggage is less. - April 9, 2014
A rise in meetings, incentives, conference and events MICE is responsible for a massive growth in business travel in China expected to be 16.5 per cent this year to $262.1 billion. The report by GBTA BTI Outlook said the surge is being driven by both domestic and inbound travel. Over the last decade China’s main airports have doubled in size and there are almost 2,000 hotel projects in the pipeline.
We all know the sinking feeling when we see the 10 per cent power message on electronic devices, especially when travelling. United are installing 500 new electronic charging stations at airports in the United States at customer seating areas. The first 110 have been installed at Chicago O’Hare with more to follow in Newark, Washington Dulles and LAX.
Good news for regular travellers is that airline baggage mishandling hit the all time best in 2013, dropping by 21%. Air transport IT specialist SITA reports that the number of mishandled bags dropped to 6.96 per thousand passengers. That figure is half what it was in 2007. Of the three billion people who flew last year, there were 21.8 million mishandled bags and 81% of these were delayed, rather than lost.
New York’s newest hotel opens next week with the European CitizenM Group’s first US property near Times Square at Broadway and 50th Street. The boutique hotel concept it defined by luxury at an affordable rate and includes free wifi, free movies, Skype phone rates and mood enhancing lighting. In NYC where average rates for three star hotels are now from $357-$494 per night, CitizenM is coming in around $299 per night.
A rise in meetings, incentives, conference and events MICE is responsible for a massive growth in business travel in China expected to be 16.5 per cent this year to $262.1 billion. The report by GBTA BTI Outlook said the surge is being driven by both domestic and inbound travel. Over the last decade China’s main airports have doubled in size and there are almost 2,000 hotel projects in the pipeline.
We all know the sinking feeling when we see the 10 per cent power message on electronic devices, especially when travelling. United are installing 500 new electronic charging stations at airports in the United States at customer seating areas. The first 110 have been installed at Chicago O’Hare with more to follow in Newark, Washington Dulles and LAX.
Good news for regular travellers is that airline baggage mishandling hit the all time best in 2013, dropping by 21%. Air transport IT specialist SITA reports that the number of mishandled bags dropped to 6.96 per thousand passengers. That figure is half what it was in 2007. Of the three billion people who flew last year, there were 21.8 million mishandled bags and 81% of these were delayed, rather than lost.
New York’s newest hotel opens next week with the European CitizenM Group’s first US property near Times Square at Broadway and 50th Street. The boutique hotel concept it defined by luxury at an affordable rate and includes free wifi, free movies, Skype phone rates and mood enhancing lighting. In NYC where average rates for three star hotels are now from $357-$494 per night, CitizenM is coming in around $299 per night.
Road Warrior - Who you sit beside could affect your future, Delta's Innovation Class, what's a Poshtel, calculating room prices on square footage, and LHR Terminal 2 is getting closer, March 26, 2014
Who you sit beside on a flight could change the way you think and work, if you were flying in Delta’s Innovation Class. The airline’s mentoring programme is putting big thinkers and innovators side by side with aspiring business people. Mentors can be chosen from any field that is fuelling innovation including financial services, sports, advertising and entertainment. See the video about the first mentoring session on deltainnovationclass.com.
The Poshtel aka the posh hostel has arrived and is becoming popular with certain business travellers. The British Youth Hostel Association (YHA) spent £13m last year refurbishing its properties: some suites with four-poster beds and YHA York has an on-site art installation (yha.org.uk, from £23 a night). In London Safestay Hostel (safestay.co.uk, from £21 a night) in Elephant & Castle has Banksy prints and other British art, and bunk beds come with individual reading lights and curtains while in Liverpool, Hoax (hoaxliverpool.com, £11.50 a night) the bunks have supersize (6ft by 3ft) mattresses. Best of all they rarely charge for Wi Fi.
Here’s a different way to compare and calculate hotel rooms in London, the cost per square metre per night. Newly opened CitizenM at Bankside has rooms of 14 sqm at £7.80 per night while the Savoy’s Royal Suite is 325 sqm and costs from £37 per sqm. In Kings Cross the standard 11.4 sqm Premier Inn is a tiny £4.80 per sqm while ultra trendy Soho Hotel is only a tenner more at £14.27 per sqm.
The move to the new Terminal 2 at Heathrow is getting closer and already the airport’s development director John Holland-Kaye has said to expect teething problems. T2’s operations will be staged over the month of June with United Airlines being the first to arrive on June 4 at 05.55. We are still waiting to hear the final opening date of Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport , now possibly in 2016.
Who you sit beside on a flight could change the way you think and work, if you were flying in Delta’s Innovation Class. The airline’s mentoring programme is putting big thinkers and innovators side by side with aspiring business people. Mentors can be chosen from any field that is fuelling innovation including financial services, sports, advertising and entertainment. See the video about the first mentoring session on deltainnovationclass.com.
The Poshtel aka the posh hostel has arrived and is becoming popular with certain business travellers. The British Youth Hostel Association (YHA) spent £13m last year refurbishing its properties: some suites with four-poster beds and YHA York has an on-site art installation (yha.org.uk, from £23 a night). In London Safestay Hostel (safestay.co.uk, from £21 a night) in Elephant & Castle has Banksy prints and other British art, and bunk beds come with individual reading lights and curtains while in Liverpool, Hoax (hoaxliverpool.com, £11.50 a night) the bunks have supersize (6ft by 3ft) mattresses. Best of all they rarely charge for Wi Fi.
Here’s a different way to compare and calculate hotel rooms in London, the cost per square metre per night. Newly opened CitizenM at Bankside has rooms of 14 sqm at £7.80 per night while the Savoy’s Royal Suite is 325 sqm and costs from £37 per sqm. In Kings Cross the standard 11.4 sqm Premier Inn is a tiny £4.80 per sqm while ultra trendy Soho Hotel is only a tenner more at £14.27 per sqm.
The move to the new Terminal 2 at Heathrow is getting closer and already the airport’s development director John Holland-Kaye has said to expect teething problems. T2’s operations will be staged over the month of June with United Airlines being the first to arrive on June 4 at 05.55. We are still waiting to hear the final opening date of Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport , now possibly in 2016.
Lufthansa adding a new class
Road Warrior - Fexco new currency shops, Delta rewarding Skymiles based on cost of tickets, Etihad improving sleep for travellers and add new premium economy class. March 19, 2014.
With fewer banks around and less access to foreign exchange services, Fexco is stepping into the breach with new retail outlets for currency exchange. No. 1 currency.ie will supply up to 53 different currencies. Travellers can order currency online at no1currency.ie and collect from the new office in Westmoreland Street or in the Square, Tallaght. More retail outlets are due to open during the year.
Delta is changing the face of its frequent flyer programme Skymiles to shift away from the current model of rewarding miles flown. Instead members will earn Skymiles based on the price of the ticket. Depending on your status in Delta’s FFP you could anything from five-eleven miles per US dollar spent.
Sleep is taking centre stage for Etihad Airways and they have invested heavily in giving you the best sleep ever. The airline has been working with sleep experts from the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology to research ways to enhance sleep in-flight. Some o f the enhancements include all-natural bedding, mood enhancing lighting, noise cancelling headphones and bed time beverages.
Lufthansa is upgrading its long haul fleet to provide a new Premium Economy class service. The new service will be installed by November and passengers will be able to enjoy bigger seats, more legroom, two checked bags, better food, larger inflight screens and access to airport lounges for €25. Prices are expected to be closer to economy than business class, where lie-flat seats have been installed. LH will deploy the larger Boeing 747 on Sao Paolo route from the end of this month in time for the World Cup in Brazil.
With fewer banks around and less access to foreign exchange services, Fexco is stepping into the breach with new retail outlets for currency exchange. No. 1 currency.ie will supply up to 53 different currencies. Travellers can order currency online at no1currency.ie and collect from the new office in Westmoreland Street or in the Square, Tallaght. More retail outlets are due to open during the year.
Delta is changing the face of its frequent flyer programme Skymiles to shift away from the current model of rewarding miles flown. Instead members will earn Skymiles based on the price of the ticket. Depending on your status in Delta’s FFP you could anything from five-eleven miles per US dollar spent.
Sleep is taking centre stage for Etihad Airways and they have invested heavily in giving you the best sleep ever. The airline has been working with sleep experts from the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology to research ways to enhance sleep in-flight. Some o f the enhancements include all-natural bedding, mood enhancing lighting, noise cancelling headphones and bed time beverages.
Lufthansa is upgrading its long haul fleet to provide a new Premium Economy class service. The new service will be installed by November and passengers will be able to enjoy bigger seats, more legroom, two checked bags, better food, larger inflight screens and access to airport lounges for €25. Prices are expected to be closer to economy than business class, where lie-flat seats have been installed. LH will deploy the larger Boeing 747 on Sao Paolo route from the end of this month in time for the World Cup in Brazil.
Cathay Pacific business class
Road Warrior - Cathay Pacific awards for businesses trading with China, Spike Aerospace aircraft with no windows, Moscow still the dearest for hotel rooms and new food from United. March 5, 2013
Companies trading with China have an opportunity to enter the Cathay Pacific China business Awards 2014 in association with HSBC. The three categories are Continued Commitment Award, Rising Star Award and Social Responsibility Award. The rewards for the winners will be considerable business networking opportunities in China and help with business goals, as well as two business class tickets on the Cathay Pacific network. The awards website is telegraph.co.uk/cathaypacific
I hope Michael O’Leary doesn’t hear about this – planes with no windows. Spike Aerospace are replacing heavy windows with thin screens and will use cameras outside the aircraft to project panoramic views. Based in Boston, Spike Aerospace plan to launch the first supersonic S-512 business jet in 2018. London to New York will drop to three to four hours and Tokyo to LA will be around eight hours.
Moscow is still maintaining the position for highest hotel rates in the world, ten years now. The HRG survey based on the rates paid by its business travel customers puts the average room rate at €315. The largest rate rise was in Munich was the average is up 21 per cent and now €147 per night. Other cities in the top climbers are Barcelona, Cape Town and Tokyo.
New food offers from United are good news for coeliacs and those on gluten free diets. The airline is introducing gluten free options in the premium class menus. Passengers flying coach can buy gluten free items from the Choice Menu. The wine service has also be upgraded with Meiomi Pinot Noir 2012 and Murphy-Goode North Coast 2012 Sauvignon Blanc for 375ml bottles at $15.99
Companies trading with China have an opportunity to enter the Cathay Pacific China business Awards 2014 in association with HSBC. The three categories are Continued Commitment Award, Rising Star Award and Social Responsibility Award. The rewards for the winners will be considerable business networking opportunities in China and help with business goals, as well as two business class tickets on the Cathay Pacific network. The awards website is telegraph.co.uk/cathaypacific
I hope Michael O’Leary doesn’t hear about this – planes with no windows. Spike Aerospace are replacing heavy windows with thin screens and will use cameras outside the aircraft to project panoramic views. Based in Boston, Spike Aerospace plan to launch the first supersonic S-512 business jet in 2018. London to New York will drop to three to four hours and Tokyo to LA will be around eight hours.
Moscow is still maintaining the position for highest hotel rates in the world, ten years now. The HRG survey based on the rates paid by its business travel customers puts the average room rate at €315. The largest rate rise was in Munich was the average is up 21 per cent and now €147 per night. Other cities in the top climbers are Barcelona, Cape Town and Tokyo.
New food offers from United are good news for coeliacs and those on gluten free diets. The airline is introducing gluten free options in the premium class menus. Passengers flying coach can buy gluten free items from the Choice Menu. The wine service has also be upgraded with Meiomi Pinot Noir 2012 and Murphy-Goode North Coast 2012 Sauvignon Blanc for 375ml bottles at $15.99
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times. This week, what are Scimitar Winglets, watch the Virgin Safety Video, laser dangers from the FBI and safely eat street food in Delhi, Feb. 26 2014
If you ever came across a Split Scimitar Winglet and wondered that it does, United has the answer. It is a new design of a wing tip that will reduce drag and will result in savings of 65 million gallons of aviation fuel and 640,000 metric tons of carbon a year. United will be the first airline to use the new fuel-saving technology. It will be retrofitted to the airline’s Boeing 737, 757 and 767 fleet.
Getting passengers’ attention for flight safety videos is pushing airlines to be more creative. Virgin Atlantic releases their new safety video on Saturday, March 1 with a film that dips into the various movie genres. Expect to be entertained by the western, action thriller, period drama, animation, musicals, space, underwater, psychedelic, science fiction, and of course, James Bond. Watch. Watch it first on Youtube.com, Virgin Atlantic safety video.
The FBI is offering $10,000 reward for information that helps catch people who point lasers at aircraft. Last year there 3,960 cases of laser strikes against aircraft and 35 incidents where pilots required medical treatment in the United States. "Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a serious matter and a violation of federal law," said assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, Ron Hosko in a statement. "
One of the benefits of travelling is the opportunity to try local cuisine. From May visitors to Delhi in India can safely enjoy street food as eight zones are being developed to provide safe food. Vendors will have to stick to strict hygiene standards and 2,000 staff are being trained. Outlets will have a have to show a safety stamp from the National Association of Street Vendors of India.
If you ever came across a Split Scimitar Winglet and wondered that it does, United has the answer. It is a new design of a wing tip that will reduce drag and will result in savings of 65 million gallons of aviation fuel and 640,000 metric tons of carbon a year. United will be the first airline to use the new fuel-saving technology. It will be retrofitted to the airline’s Boeing 737, 757 and 767 fleet.
Getting passengers’ attention for flight safety videos is pushing airlines to be more creative. Virgin Atlantic releases their new safety video on Saturday, March 1 with a film that dips into the various movie genres. Expect to be entertained by the western, action thriller, period drama, animation, musicals, space, underwater, psychedelic, science fiction, and of course, James Bond. Watch. Watch it first on Youtube.com, Virgin Atlantic safety video.
The FBI is offering $10,000 reward for information that helps catch people who point lasers at aircraft. Last year there 3,960 cases of laser strikes against aircraft and 35 incidents where pilots required medical treatment in the United States. "Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a serious matter and a violation of federal law," said assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, Ron Hosko in a statement. "
One of the benefits of travelling is the opportunity to try local cuisine. From May visitors to Delhi in India can safely enjoy street food as eight zones are being developed to provide safe food. Vendors will have to stick to strict hygiene standards and 2,000 staff are being trained. Outlets will have a have to show a safety stamp from the National Association of Street Vendors of India.
Cook Islands
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, February 12
Get ready to see the world’s most beautiful inflight safety video today when Air New Zealand (click here to see) releases Safety in Paradise in conjunction with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit which celebrates 50 years of the iconic publication this year. Made in the Cook Islands the video will features some of the world’s biggest names in modelling including Chrissy Teigen, Ariel Meredith, Hannah Davis and Jessica Gomes. There will also be a special appearance by Chrissie Brinkley the original Uptown Girl.
The European Parliament has begun the process of revising and refining the EU261 Passenger Air Protection, when the first reading of the changes was approved last week. EU261 protects passengers’ rights in the event of delays and cancellations of air services. The new provisions will include a list of defined extraordinary circumstances. There will also be rules regarding tarmac delays allowing passengers to disembark after two hours, assuming no security risks. Carriers may welcome the cap of five nights accommodation for passengers grounded by extraordinary circumstances. Carriers will also have to reply to a complaint within two months and notify passengers within 30 minutes of a flight being delayed.
Lufthansa will roll out inflight mobile telephone service across the entire long haul fleet of more than 100 aircraft this year. Airline passengers will be able to use mobile devices to text, browse and stay connected during flights. The airline has roaming agreements with 240 operators worldwide in collaboration with Aeromobile. Ryanair passengers can now use tablets, smartphones, Ipods, e-readers, MP3s and portable DVD players for the duration of flights. Larger devices like laptops can be used once cruising altitude has been reached and the seat belt sign is switched off.
The Westbury Hotel has won the Best Business Hotel Ireland in the Business Destinations 2014 awards for the second year running. The award was based on the number of characteristics, such as quality of service and professionalism, curb side check in for regular and VIP guests, a Guardian Angel programme to VIPs, 100mb broadband, free in public areas and bedrooms and multi-media installation in all meeting rooms. The Clarion Hotel at Dublin airport has been rebranded as a Maldron Hotel and will be managed by the Dalata Hotel Group.
Get ready to see the world’s most beautiful inflight safety video today when Air New Zealand (click here to see) releases Safety in Paradise in conjunction with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit which celebrates 50 years of the iconic publication this year. Made in the Cook Islands the video will features some of the world’s biggest names in modelling including Chrissy Teigen, Ariel Meredith, Hannah Davis and Jessica Gomes. There will also be a special appearance by Chrissie Brinkley the original Uptown Girl.
The European Parliament has begun the process of revising and refining the EU261 Passenger Air Protection, when the first reading of the changes was approved last week. EU261 protects passengers’ rights in the event of delays and cancellations of air services. The new provisions will include a list of defined extraordinary circumstances. There will also be rules regarding tarmac delays allowing passengers to disembark after two hours, assuming no security risks. Carriers may welcome the cap of five nights accommodation for passengers grounded by extraordinary circumstances. Carriers will also have to reply to a complaint within two months and notify passengers within 30 minutes of a flight being delayed.
Lufthansa will roll out inflight mobile telephone service across the entire long haul fleet of more than 100 aircraft this year. Airline passengers will be able to use mobile devices to text, browse and stay connected during flights. The airline has roaming agreements with 240 operators worldwide in collaboration with Aeromobile. Ryanair passengers can now use tablets, smartphones, Ipods, e-readers, MP3s and portable DVD players for the duration of flights. Larger devices like laptops can be used once cruising altitude has been reached and the seat belt sign is switched off.
The Westbury Hotel has won the Best Business Hotel Ireland in the Business Destinations 2014 awards for the second year running. The award was based on the number of characteristics, such as quality of service and professionalism, curb side check in for regular and VIP guests, a Guardian Angel programme to VIPs, 100mb broadband, free in public areas and bedrooms and multi-media installation in all meeting rooms. The Clarion Hotel at Dublin airport has been rebranded as a Maldron Hotel and will be managed by the Dalata Hotel Group.
Road Warrior only in The Irish Times, February 5
Ryanair’s progress towards changing how they do business will include putting its fares on the airline Global Distribution Systems. The airline is in negotiations with GDS operators about using their systems for ticket distribution. Travel agents across Europe use GDSs for the purchase of air tickets and most companies use travel agents to purchase and manage their travel spend. The airline is also on target to roll out mobile boarding passes in April and the new business travel product by the end of May.
In response to a huge increase in booking being made by mobile applications, Jurys Inns have begun a pilot scheme for online check-in at their Islington property. Guests can opt for mobile check-in and will be sent a text message with a link which will generate a personalised QR code. On arrival at the hotel, you just scan the code and take the key. No need to check in at the Reception.
The first step towards easing the restrictions on liquids at EU airports begins this week. The change is that liquid products purchased in duty free stores outside the EU or on board non-EU aircraft can transfer in hand luggage to an EU flight. Once the liquids are sealed in a transparent security bag issued by the airport or carrier, you will be able to take them to your final destination. Let’s hope Security know about the changes too.
Lufthansa smashed their own records at Dublin Airport in 2013 carrying 369,676 passengers, an increase of 6.75% on 2012. Almost three quarters of passengers from Dublin are using the carrier to transfer on to the Lufthansa worldwide network at Frankfurt and Munich. The most popular onward destinations were Moscow, Kiev, Tel Aviv, Lagos, Beijing, Caracas, Tokyo, Cairo and Minsk.
Ryanair’s progress towards changing how they do business will include putting its fares on the airline Global Distribution Systems. The airline is in negotiations with GDS operators about using their systems for ticket distribution. Travel agents across Europe use GDSs for the purchase of air tickets and most companies use travel agents to purchase and manage their travel spend. The airline is also on target to roll out mobile boarding passes in April and the new business travel product by the end of May.
In response to a huge increase in booking being made by mobile applications, Jurys Inns have begun a pilot scheme for online check-in at their Islington property. Guests can opt for mobile check-in and will be sent a text message with a link which will generate a personalised QR code. On arrival at the hotel, you just scan the code and take the key. No need to check in at the Reception.
The first step towards easing the restrictions on liquids at EU airports begins this week. The change is that liquid products purchased in duty free stores outside the EU or on board non-EU aircraft can transfer in hand luggage to an EU flight. Once the liquids are sealed in a transparent security bag issued by the airport or carrier, you will be able to take them to your final destination. Let’s hope Security know about the changes too.
Lufthansa smashed their own records at Dublin Airport in 2013 carrying 369,676 passengers, an increase of 6.75% on 2012. Almost three quarters of passengers from Dublin are using the carrier to transfer on to the Lufthansa worldwide network at Frankfurt and Munich. The most popular onward destinations were Moscow, Kiev, Tel Aviv, Lagos, Beijing, Caracas, Tokyo, Cairo and Minsk.
Road Warrior, only in The Irish Times, January 29
Smell can invoke memories and hotels are picking up on an olfactory trend by introducing scents to ensnare our loyalty. The Westin hotels are using White Tea to shift mode the moment you step through the doors and help you feel balanced and inspired. In New York the Jade Hotel has identified the smell of classic cocktails, with a whiff of smoky tobacco, wood and leather as a scent to invoke a return visit.
Today with so many items as standard for road warriors, the chance of losing something has increased. LuggageHunters.com has come up with a great solution for laptops, telephones, tablets, keys, passports, phones etc. The Luggage Hunters labels can be attached to belongings and if lost each has an easily retrievable unique code to connect it back to you via a website, assuming people are honest. The labels are available from luggagehunters.com and stockists around the country from €5.95 - €14.95.
If you ever thought first class travel was out of your budget, look again. Emirates are selling first class travel on 140 destinations from Dublin via Dubai to celebrate the introduction of the new second daily service later in the year. First class to Dubai is reduced to €3,159 (normally from €4,339) return and first class to Melbourne to €4,851 return (normally from €5,999). These fares are on sale until February 14 for travel during 2014.
Imagine having 1.1 billion hotel rooms to sell in any given year. That is the market in the United States where the average daily rate achieved last year was a record $110.35, up 3.9 per cent from 2012. The largest gains in the year are San Francisco up 9.3 per cent to an average of $187.79 per night according to STR the hotel benchmarking company. The Aer Lingus service to San Francisco begins on April 2.
The recent bad weather in the United States caused havoc for travel along the Eastern states and proved how wifi on board can be invaluable in some instances. The Travel Broker in Clontarf had a client travelling via New York on one such day and they were able to reschedule her whole itinerary, on the seven hour flight to New York using Aer Lingus’s new wi fi service. Sometimes, it is useful to be connected.
Smell can invoke memories and hotels are picking up on an olfactory trend by introducing scents to ensnare our loyalty. The Westin hotels are using White Tea to shift mode the moment you step through the doors and help you feel balanced and inspired. In New York the Jade Hotel has identified the smell of classic cocktails, with a whiff of smoky tobacco, wood and leather as a scent to invoke a return visit.
Today with so many items as standard for road warriors, the chance of losing something has increased. LuggageHunters.com has come up with a great solution for laptops, telephones, tablets, keys, passports, phones etc. The Luggage Hunters labels can be attached to belongings and if lost each has an easily retrievable unique code to connect it back to you via a website, assuming people are honest. The labels are available from luggagehunters.com and stockists around the country from €5.95 - €14.95.
If you ever thought first class travel was out of your budget, look again. Emirates are selling first class travel on 140 destinations from Dublin via Dubai to celebrate the introduction of the new second daily service later in the year. First class to Dubai is reduced to €3,159 (normally from €4,339) return and first class to Melbourne to €4,851 return (normally from €5,999). These fares are on sale until February 14 for travel during 2014.
Imagine having 1.1 billion hotel rooms to sell in any given year. That is the market in the United States where the average daily rate achieved last year was a record $110.35, up 3.9 per cent from 2012. The largest gains in the year are San Francisco up 9.3 per cent to an average of $187.79 per night according to STR the hotel benchmarking company. The Aer Lingus service to San Francisco begins on April 2.
The recent bad weather in the United States caused havoc for travel along the Eastern states and proved how wifi on board can be invaluable in some instances. The Travel Broker in Clontarf had a client travelling via New York on one such day and they were able to reschedule her whole itinerary, on the seven hour flight to New York using Aer Lingus’s new wi fi service. Sometimes, it is useful to be connected.
Rooftop view from Viceroy Hotel NYC
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, January 15
Yet another Irish man pops up at the helm of a prestigious hotel, Gerard Denneny has been announced as the new General Manager of the Viceroy Hotel, New York. The 29 storey hotel is in midtown at 57th St and has 240 luxury rooms and opened in October. It will open a rooftop lounge in spring. He joins fellow Irishman Bill Walshe CEO in the Viceroy Hotel Group of design led lifestyle properties around the world. Special opening rates for Irish customers are from $349 or €242 per night.
African low cost airline, Fastjet, has signed two agreements giving travel agents and Skyscanner customers access to their flights. The agreements mean that Fastjet services can be booked in GDS systems Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport within the next month. The fast growing carrier will also begin services to Lusaka in Zambia from February 1.
Europcar Ireland had a record year in 2013 with 958,067 rental days for the 5,300-strong fleet. The success is not only being attributed to the big influx of visitors for the Gathering but also to a change in corporate sector behaviour with companies choosing to rent fleet vehicles rather than tie up capital. Growth at Dublin Airport is year is expected to be up to 350 cars a day.
The annual business travel survey conducted in advance of the Business Travel Show taking place in London on February 4-5 shows that three quarters of buyers will have more money to spend this year. The rise in business travel spend supports studies from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) showing strong growth in 2014 and 2015 worldwide with the BRICS leading the table.
Yet another Irish man pops up at the helm of a prestigious hotel, Gerard Denneny has been announced as the new General Manager of the Viceroy Hotel, New York. The 29 storey hotel is in midtown at 57th St and has 240 luxury rooms and opened in October. It will open a rooftop lounge in spring. He joins fellow Irishman Bill Walshe CEO in the Viceroy Hotel Group of design led lifestyle properties around the world. Special opening rates for Irish customers are from $349 or €242 per night.
African low cost airline, Fastjet, has signed two agreements giving travel agents and Skyscanner customers access to their flights. The agreements mean that Fastjet services can be booked in GDS systems Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport within the next month. The fast growing carrier will also begin services to Lusaka in Zambia from February 1.
Europcar Ireland had a record year in 2013 with 958,067 rental days for the 5,300-strong fleet. The success is not only being attributed to the big influx of visitors for the Gathering but also to a change in corporate sector behaviour with companies choosing to rent fleet vehicles rather than tie up capital. Growth at Dublin Airport is year is expected to be up to 350 cars a day.
The annual business travel survey conducted in advance of the Business Travel Show taking place in London on February 4-5 shows that three quarters of buyers will have more money to spend this year. The rise in business travel spend supports studies from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) showing strong growth in 2014 and 2015 worldwide with the BRICS leading the table.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times - January 8, 2014
New rules on pilot fly hours come into force in US, extra UA service from Dublin, Star Alliance introduce PartnerPlusBenefits rewards programme for companies and new hotels in the Gulf.
New rules for pilot flying hours and rest periods came into effect in the United States on Saturday. The Federal Aviation Administration’s changes require pilots to have a minimum of ten hours rest including eight hours of sleep between shifts, a limit of nine or ten hours flying, and 30 consecutive hours of rest each week. The changes will see more pilots being employed to implement the changes.
United Airlines will be introducing a second daily service from Dublin to New York Newark airport this summer, beginning in June. The late departure of 10.25pm from New York will allow for a full day of business in the city. Using the Boeing 757-200 the aircraft will have 16 flat-bed seats in BusinessFirst. US Airways are also bumping up comfort with the introduction of A330-200 on the Dublin Philadelphia route from March.
The Star Alliance have overhauled their company business travel rewards programme and renamed it PartnerPlusBenefit, flyppb.co.uk. Companies that are members of the scheme will be able to claim points on all classes of tickets booked with the ten member airlines. Points earned can be used for flights, upgrades, cash back, airport parking, hotel stays, Heathrow Express and chauffeured transfers.
The Irish trade mission to the Gulf States this week will witness the huge growth in hotels in the area. Opening this year in the region will be the Fairmont in Riyadh, Anantara in Doha, the Adagio in Abu Dhabi and another Marriott in Dubai as well as a Four Seasons.
Jurys Inns are having a flash sale today and tomorrow with up to 30 per cent off stays in their 31 hotels in Ireland, UK and Prague, up to next December.
New rules on pilot fly hours come into force in US, extra UA service from Dublin, Star Alliance introduce PartnerPlusBenefits rewards programme for companies and new hotels in the Gulf.
New rules for pilot flying hours and rest periods came into effect in the United States on Saturday. The Federal Aviation Administration’s changes require pilots to have a minimum of ten hours rest including eight hours of sleep between shifts, a limit of nine or ten hours flying, and 30 consecutive hours of rest each week. The changes will see more pilots being employed to implement the changes.
United Airlines will be introducing a second daily service from Dublin to New York Newark airport this summer, beginning in June. The late departure of 10.25pm from New York will allow for a full day of business in the city. Using the Boeing 757-200 the aircraft will have 16 flat-bed seats in BusinessFirst. US Airways are also bumping up comfort with the introduction of A330-200 on the Dublin Philadelphia route from March.
The Star Alliance have overhauled their company business travel rewards programme and renamed it PartnerPlusBenefit, flyppb.co.uk. Companies that are members of the scheme will be able to claim points on all classes of tickets booked with the ten member airlines. Points earned can be used for flights, upgrades, cash back, airport parking, hotel stays, Heathrow Express and chauffeured transfers.
The Irish trade mission to the Gulf States this week will witness the huge growth in hotels in the area. Opening this year in the region will be the Fairmont in Riyadh, Anantara in Doha, the Adagio in Abu Dhabi and another Marriott in Dubai as well as a Four Seasons.
Jurys Inns are having a flash sale today and tomorrow with up to 30 per cent off stays in their 31 hotels in Ireland, UK and Prague, up to next December.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times, December 18th
see the lovely cabin staff of Cathay Pacific singing and dancing for Christmas
The Hilton Hotel company became the most valued hotel business when their IPO last week was nine times oversubscribed. Shares hit the market last Thursday at $20 and quickly raised $2.34 billion, a record for the industry. Hilton has 3,800 hotels worldwide. Blackstone, who purchased Hilton six years ago, will retain 76.2 per cent of the company.
Aer Lingus’s new baggage policy was dropped into our laps on December 12 with little fanfare, but we could do with a matrix to figure it out. Now prices will depend on whether you bring, 15, 20, 25ks bags, where you will be going, what time of the year and which ticket you buy. The graphics on the Aer Lingus website will be needed.
Dublin based Datalex, providers of global distribution platforms and ecommerce solutions to the travel industry, this week announced their newest client is Virgin Atlantic Airways. Datalex is technology partner to more than 50 airlines worldwide.
IATA raised its forecast for profits in the industry and now expects them to rise ten per cent in 2013 to $12.9bn and to $19.7bn next year. Total passenger numbers are expected to top three billion this year.
300 Cathay Pacific air and ground crew surprised passengers in Chep Lak Kok airport last week with a Christmas flash mob. When All I want for Christmas came on the speakers, suddenly the airport was a sea of red as staff danced and sang for eight minutes as part of a fundraiser for Operation Santa Claus. You can see it on Youtube.com, search Cathay Pacific flash mob.
see the lovely cabin staff of Cathay Pacific singing and dancing for Christmas
The Hilton Hotel company became the most valued hotel business when their IPO last week was nine times oversubscribed. Shares hit the market last Thursday at $20 and quickly raised $2.34 billion, a record for the industry. Hilton has 3,800 hotels worldwide. Blackstone, who purchased Hilton six years ago, will retain 76.2 per cent of the company.
Aer Lingus’s new baggage policy was dropped into our laps on December 12 with little fanfare, but we could do with a matrix to figure it out. Now prices will depend on whether you bring, 15, 20, 25ks bags, where you will be going, what time of the year and which ticket you buy. The graphics on the Aer Lingus website will be needed.
Dublin based Datalex, providers of global distribution platforms and ecommerce solutions to the travel industry, this week announced their newest client is Virgin Atlantic Airways. Datalex is technology partner to more than 50 airlines worldwide.
IATA raised its forecast for profits in the industry and now expects them to rise ten per cent in 2013 to $12.9bn and to $19.7bn next year. Total passenger numbers are expected to top three billion this year.
300 Cathay Pacific air and ground crew surprised passengers in Chep Lak Kok airport last week with a Christmas flash mob. When All I want for Christmas came on the speakers, suddenly the airport was a sea of red as staff danced and sang for eight minutes as part of a fundraiser for Operation Santa Claus. You can see it on Youtube.com, search Cathay Pacific flash mob.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times - December 11, 2013
Discover what Glumming is?
With all that’s going on in South Africa this week some of our colleagues may find themselves discovering “glumming.” Emoya Luxury Hotel in Blomfontein has a recreation of a shanty town with guests staying in shacks made of corrugated iron sheets with long drop effect toilets and braai facilities, see emoya.co.za.
AirPlus the payment card can give us a little glimpse into the world of business travel in 2060 in a report hey commissioned from Travel Intelligence Network. Supersonic air travel will reduce journeys, most internal meetings will be conducted by hologram videoconferencing, traveller security will be a bigger priority than cost reduction, business travel will be concentrated on 20-30 urban networks across the globe, your smart phone will be a transport ticket, a key, a payment method and high speed rail will be a viable travel option.
The disruption to flights into and out of the south of England last Saturday has thrown up a compensation conundrum for airlines. NATS the managers of the air traffic control, had an extraordinary disruption which resulted in hundreds of flights being cancelled and major delays in others. Under European regulations, passengers are not able to claim compensation from the airlines as the technical problems are deemed outside of the airlines' control. But airlines had to assist passengers with re-bookings, re-routings and food and accommodation for delays that continued overnight leading to airlines considering on looking for compensation from NATS.
In advance of the opening of its first two hotels devoted to keeping you healthy on the road Even Hotels have launched a newsletter. Wellwellwell.com is full of tips and ideas for keeping healthy and fit while travelling.
Discover what Glumming is?
With all that’s going on in South Africa this week some of our colleagues may find themselves discovering “glumming.” Emoya Luxury Hotel in Blomfontein has a recreation of a shanty town with guests staying in shacks made of corrugated iron sheets with long drop effect toilets and braai facilities, see emoya.co.za.
AirPlus the payment card can give us a little glimpse into the world of business travel in 2060 in a report hey commissioned from Travel Intelligence Network. Supersonic air travel will reduce journeys, most internal meetings will be conducted by hologram videoconferencing, traveller security will be a bigger priority than cost reduction, business travel will be concentrated on 20-30 urban networks across the globe, your smart phone will be a transport ticket, a key, a payment method and high speed rail will be a viable travel option.
The disruption to flights into and out of the south of England last Saturday has thrown up a compensation conundrum for airlines. NATS the managers of the air traffic control, had an extraordinary disruption which resulted in hundreds of flights being cancelled and major delays in others. Under European regulations, passengers are not able to claim compensation from the airlines as the technical problems are deemed outside of the airlines' control. But airlines had to assist passengers with re-bookings, re-routings and food and accommodation for delays that continued overnight leading to airlines considering on looking for compensation from NATS.
In advance of the opening of its first two hotels devoted to keeping you healthy on the road Even Hotels have launched a newsletter. Wellwellwell.com is full of tips and ideas for keeping healthy and fit while travelling.
Road Warrior - only in The Irish Times - December 4th, 2013
Social seating, the latest trend in aviation is allowing you to choose who to sit beside on flights. When you log in to KLM, Iberia, Malaysia or Air Baltic you can see the LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles of other passengers who chose to show their profiles. You can choose to sit beside them, if a seat is free, of course. It may be a way to share a flight with a colleague, chat to a traveller with shared interests, stymie a competitor, or avoid your nemesis.
Taking Social Media into another area of travel the Abu Dhabi government run Tourism and Culture Authority will monitor social media ratings of hotels and hold their operators responsible for bad reviews and negative feedback. Abu Dhabi will become the first place in the world to integrate social media ratings in its official hotel classification system. The new system is due to come into place during the first quarter of next year.
Ten years ago last week BA’s Concorde G-BOAF made its final journey ending 27 years of supersonic flying. Incredibly Son of Concorde has not yet appeared and is unlikely to for many years yet, probably 2021. Aerion Corporation in the US showed a model at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas that it is developing a supersonic business jet SBJ which will take about 12 passengers at double the speeds of current jets.
If you tell your boss you are staying in the Moxy Hotel will he think you have a moxy load of work to do? Marriott International is planning a new hotel brand in the three-star market for Millennial global nomads. The first of 150 new Moxy hotels will be in Milan Malpensa with future properties in European cities including Dublin and airport locations. The Moxy brand is being developed in conjunction with Inter Hospitality, Ikea’s property division.
Social seating, the latest trend in aviation is allowing you to choose who to sit beside on flights. When you log in to KLM, Iberia, Malaysia or Air Baltic you can see the LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles of other passengers who chose to show their profiles. You can choose to sit beside them, if a seat is free, of course. It may be a way to share a flight with a colleague, chat to a traveller with shared interests, stymie a competitor, or avoid your nemesis.
Taking Social Media into another area of travel the Abu Dhabi government run Tourism and Culture Authority will monitor social media ratings of hotels and hold their operators responsible for bad reviews and negative feedback. Abu Dhabi will become the first place in the world to integrate social media ratings in its official hotel classification system. The new system is due to come into place during the first quarter of next year.
Ten years ago last week BA’s Concorde G-BOAF made its final journey ending 27 years of supersonic flying. Incredibly Son of Concorde has not yet appeared and is unlikely to for many years yet, probably 2021. Aerion Corporation in the US showed a model at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas that it is developing a supersonic business jet SBJ which will take about 12 passengers at double the speeds of current jets.
If you tell your boss you are staying in the Moxy Hotel will he think you have a moxy load of work to do? Marriott International is planning a new hotel brand in the three-star market for Millennial global nomads. The first of 150 new Moxy hotels will be in Milan Malpensa with future properties in European cities including Dublin and airport locations. The Moxy brand is being developed in conjunction with Inter Hospitality, Ikea’s property division.
Road Warrior - Nov. 27
Only in The Irish Times
The final steps are beginning to appear in the merger of airline giants American Airways and US Airlines. The US Department of Justice has reached a settlement that will allow the merger to go ahead. A timetable has been set out for competitive impact statement and it will take up to March 10 to fulfil the criteria.
What next? Ryanair to Russia in business class, that’s something to look forward to in 2014. While Ryanair has been given permission to fly to Russian airports from next year, can we also expect flexible fares and services for business travel? Ryanair could also encourage European governments and the Russian authorities to make visa requirements less onerous for business travellers.
Rail travel will become easier to plan with the announcement that SilverRail, the content aggregator has acquired Integrated Public Transport Information System. Expect to be able see schedules, availability and fares in one search for initially nine countries including UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands, and Spain.
A sure fire indicator of an improvement in business is a sign that hotel rates are going up. Business Consultancy BCO said London room rates went up by 7.6% in October to an average of £131.66, compared to the £122.36 for the same month last year, across three and four star properties. Occupancy also increased with the British capital recording a high of 87.5 per cent.
Only in The Irish Times
The final steps are beginning to appear in the merger of airline giants American Airways and US Airlines. The US Department of Justice has reached a settlement that will allow the merger to go ahead. A timetable has been set out for competitive impact statement and it will take up to March 10 to fulfil the criteria.
What next? Ryanair to Russia in business class, that’s something to look forward to in 2014. While Ryanair has been given permission to fly to Russian airports from next year, can we also expect flexible fares and services for business travel? Ryanair could also encourage European governments and the Russian authorities to make visa requirements less onerous for business travellers.
Rail travel will become easier to plan with the announcement that SilverRail, the content aggregator has acquired Integrated Public Transport Information System. Expect to be able see schedules, availability and fares in one search for initially nine countries including UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands, and Spain.
A sure fire indicator of an improvement in business is a sign that hotel rates are going up. Business Consultancy BCO said London room rates went up by 7.6% in October to an average of £131.66, compared to the £122.36 for the same month last year, across three and four star properties. Occupancy also increased with the British capital recording a high of 87.5 per cent.
Protea, the national flower of South Africa
Road Warrior - Nov. 13
Only in The Irish Times
Hotel Tonight the booking app celebrated one year in Ireland last week. The company has had more than seven million downloads in its first two years of operation. The daily offers appear each day from noon in 15 countries and 150 destinations across the North America and Europe. Users in Ireland are being offered a €40 discount on their first booking valid until next March is you download the app by November 15.
Marriott Hotels are set to double their presence in Africa with the news of a letter of intent to acquire Protea Hospitality Holdings with 116 hotels in South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. Travellers to South Africa will be familiar with the indigenous Protea brand. The combined portfolios of Marriott and Protea will give it the largest presence in Africa.
Marriott will also accelerate expansion in Eastern Europe with the opening of an extended stay Residence Inn in Sarajevo in Bosnia Herzegovina next year. It will be the first internationally branded hotel in the country.
“Tonight get ready to fly, cuz we gonna live it up in the sky....fly away with me.” Travelling on Virgin America is going to make you want to dance in your seat from this month with the new irreverent flight safety video. Using a catchy dance tune and some cool rappers the fun safety message will get your toes tapping. You can watch it on virginamerica.com.
Only in The Irish Times
Hotel Tonight the booking app celebrated one year in Ireland last week. The company has had more than seven million downloads in its first two years of operation. The daily offers appear each day from noon in 15 countries and 150 destinations across the North America and Europe. Users in Ireland are being offered a €40 discount on their first booking valid until next March is you download the app by November 15.
Marriott Hotels are set to double their presence in Africa with the news of a letter of intent to acquire Protea Hospitality Holdings with 116 hotels in South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. Travellers to South Africa will be familiar with the indigenous Protea brand. The combined portfolios of Marriott and Protea will give it the largest presence in Africa.
Marriott will also accelerate expansion in Eastern Europe with the opening of an extended stay Residence Inn in Sarajevo in Bosnia Herzegovina next year. It will be the first internationally branded hotel in the country.
“Tonight get ready to fly, cuz we gonna live it up in the sky....fly away with me.” Travelling on Virgin America is going to make you want to dance in your seat from this month with the new irreverent flight safety video. Using a catchy dance tune and some cool rappers the fun safety message will get your toes tapping. You can watch it on virginamerica.com.
Road Warrior - Oct. 30
The perpetual bugbear of car rental is always the cost of fuel. It seems that no matter what the policy is, empty on arrival or departure or full either way, replace what you use, consumers never win. Now Avis Budget group are piloting an in-vehicle measurement technology which should lead to more accurate fuel billing. The technology measures the amount of fuel on leaving and returning the car and you can be billed exactly, or credited, if you bring a car back with more fuel in it.
Rosewood Hotels have opened a new five star hotel in London this month between the City and the West End at Holborn. The former Pearl Assurance headquarters, a Belle Epoque building features a courtyard entrance off High Holborn. The Grand Manor House Wing is the only hotel suite in the world to have its own postcode, probably because it is 6,300 square feet.
In the future we may not have to worry about losing laptops, tablets, smartphones at the airport as we will be wearing smart technology. The latest findings from the SITA Lab, technology for the air transport industry, will have us wearing smart glasses, smart watches and smart headgear. No need to root out a boarding card or passport, it will be in your watch.
Just because you are on the road a lot does not mean you can’t enjoy art particularly if you are a British Airways executive club member. BA has over 1,000 pieces of art and sculpture curated around their lounges from artists like Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, Tracey Emin and Chris Ofili. So next time you travel with BA, take time to look around and see what you spot.
The perpetual bugbear of car rental is always the cost of fuel. It seems that no matter what the policy is, empty on arrival or departure or full either way, replace what you use, consumers never win. Now Avis Budget group are piloting an in-vehicle measurement technology which should lead to more accurate fuel billing. The technology measures the amount of fuel on leaving and returning the car and you can be billed exactly, or credited, if you bring a car back with more fuel in it.
Rosewood Hotels have opened a new five star hotel in London this month between the City and the West End at Holborn. The former Pearl Assurance headquarters, a Belle Epoque building features a courtyard entrance off High Holborn. The Grand Manor House Wing is the only hotel suite in the world to have its own postcode, probably because it is 6,300 square feet.
In the future we may not have to worry about losing laptops, tablets, smartphones at the airport as we will be wearing smart technology. The latest findings from the SITA Lab, technology for the air transport industry, will have us wearing smart glasses, smart watches and smart headgear. No need to root out a boarding card or passport, it will be in your watch.
Just because you are on the road a lot does not mean you can’t enjoy art particularly if you are a British Airways executive club member. BA has over 1,000 pieces of art and sculpture curated around their lounges from artists like Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, Tracey Emin and Chris Ofili. So next time you travel with BA, take time to look around and see what you spot.
Road Warrior - Oct. 23
Dublin will play host next week to one of the world’s premier aviation events, the IATA World Passenger Symposium from October 29-31. Themed, “From Service to Value – customer driven transformation”, the event will focus on the customer experience from shopping for air travel to the actual experience. Christoph Mueller ceo of Aer Lingus will give the opening address. Particular focus will be on New Distribution Capabilities, and how technology is going to change customer experience
Have you got 2,000 Emirates Skywards Miles, if so, you could use them for a general admission ticket for a match played by AC Milan, Arsenal, Olympiacos, Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid. Members of Emirates Skywards frequent flyer programme can redeem miles for football matches sponsored by the airline. Miles can also be used for concert tickets, excursions or donated to charity.
Whatever happened to business entertainment? It’s a sad day when the Certify SpendSmart Report shows that road warriors in the US spent more in Starbucks, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts and Subway than fine dining restaurants. Breakfast was the most expensed meal with lunch and dinner falling way behind. Perhaps it is the pace of life that no one has time to dine, but just grabs a bite on the road, or is it access to good free wi fi that’s tempting travellers – hotels and restaurants, watch out.
Millennials or those under 30 now travel more than others for business, on average 4.7 times per year. They live life in a multi-platform environment and are less fearful of sharing personal data. These are some of the findings of the Expedia and Egencia Future of Travel Report. Irish millennials are also likely to extend business trips into personal holidays and are more careful with the company’s money.
Dublin will play host next week to one of the world’s premier aviation events, the IATA World Passenger Symposium from October 29-31. Themed, “From Service to Value – customer driven transformation”, the event will focus on the customer experience from shopping for air travel to the actual experience. Christoph Mueller ceo of Aer Lingus will give the opening address. Particular focus will be on New Distribution Capabilities, and how technology is going to change customer experience
Have you got 2,000 Emirates Skywards Miles, if so, you could use them for a general admission ticket for a match played by AC Milan, Arsenal, Olympiacos, Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid. Members of Emirates Skywards frequent flyer programme can redeem miles for football matches sponsored by the airline. Miles can also be used for concert tickets, excursions or donated to charity.
Whatever happened to business entertainment? It’s a sad day when the Certify SpendSmart Report shows that road warriors in the US spent more in Starbucks, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts and Subway than fine dining restaurants. Breakfast was the most expensed meal with lunch and dinner falling way behind. Perhaps it is the pace of life that no one has time to dine, but just grabs a bite on the road, or is it access to good free wi fi that’s tempting travellers – hotels and restaurants, watch out.
Millennials or those under 30 now travel more than others for business, on average 4.7 times per year. They live life in a multi-platform environment and are less fearful of sharing personal data. These are some of the findings of the Expedia and Egencia Future of Travel Report. Irish millennials are also likely to extend business trips into personal holidays and are more careful with the company’s money.
Road Warrior - Oct. 9
Passengers on Aer Lingus Transatlantic services on Monday received a nice surprise when they discovered that the airline has launched Wi fi and mobile phone services on the A330s. The new service will allow passengers to use personal devices including laptops, tablets, mobile and smart phones to send and receive emails, browse the internet, use social networking and download content. No calls though, surveys have shown the vast majority of passengers prefer “call free” cabins. Unlimited wi fi will be €10.95 per hour and €19.95 for 24 hours. GSM, SMS and mobile data, a roaming charge will apply. The service will also be available on the Dublin Malaga flight EI584 and EI585.
A new service from the Passport office is going to make life on the road a lot easier – a passport renewal reminder. The Passport Office will send you a reminder three months before your passport is due for renewal. It is simple to do, just log on to eforms.gov.ie/reminder/passport/ and fill in your name, date of expiry and email address.
The newest Four Seasons hotel opened last week in Shenzhen, China with 266 rooms. In the heart of downtown of the UNESCO City of Design, just minutes from Hong Kong. Shenzhen is a centre of the electronics industry, banking and financial services and is China’s newest destination for foodies.
Jurys Inn Islington assures readers of Road Warrior that it will be business as usual while the popular London hotel near the Angel underground station undertakes a €14 million extension over the next year. The hotel will increase by 143 bedrooms and add seven new meeting rooms and a new Costa coffee bar.
Passengers on Aer Lingus Transatlantic services on Monday received a nice surprise when they discovered that the airline has launched Wi fi and mobile phone services on the A330s. The new service will allow passengers to use personal devices including laptops, tablets, mobile and smart phones to send and receive emails, browse the internet, use social networking and download content. No calls though, surveys have shown the vast majority of passengers prefer “call free” cabins. Unlimited wi fi will be €10.95 per hour and €19.95 for 24 hours. GSM, SMS and mobile data, a roaming charge will apply. The service will also be available on the Dublin Malaga flight EI584 and EI585.
A new service from the Passport office is going to make life on the road a lot easier – a passport renewal reminder. The Passport Office will send you a reminder three months before your passport is due for renewal. It is simple to do, just log on to eforms.gov.ie/reminder/passport/ and fill in your name, date of expiry and email address.
The newest Four Seasons hotel opened last week in Shenzhen, China with 266 rooms. In the heart of downtown of the UNESCO City of Design, just minutes from Hong Kong. Shenzhen is a centre of the electronics industry, banking and financial services and is China’s newest destination for foodies.
Jurys Inn Islington assures readers of Road Warrior that it will be business as usual while the popular London hotel near the Angel underground station undertakes a €14 million extension over the next year. The hotel will increase by 143 bedrooms and add seven new meeting rooms and a new Costa coffee bar.
Road Warrior - Oct. 2
Business travellers, Ryanair is after your bucks and business now that they have agreed to take American Express cards. It’s the new world of Ryanair, so expect less hassle and more smiles when they welcome you on board. Easyjet are also on a mission to target business travellers with special fares only bookable through agency systems that include a bag, seat selection and no credit card fees.
London City Airport has lodged a planning application to increase the size of the airport and double passenger numbers to six million in the next ten years. The expansion is estimated to cost €238 million and will provide extra parking stands, particularly for newer bigger aircraft and a parallel taxiway to increase efficiency. The airport is currently handling 70,000 annual flight movements and this figure will grow to 120,000.
The flagship of the Jurys Inns Hotels in the UK, Islington will undergo a complete refurbishment that will take a year to complete. The £12million project will increase the hotel to 373 bedrooms up from 229 currently and add meeting rooms and conference space. The hotel opened in 1998 and has consistently produced above average occupancy and rates.
Now that Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic have received anti-trust immunity from the US Department of Transportation, they are on track to change schedules from LHR on Saturday with nine daily non-stop services. The DOT has ruled that there are clear consumer benefits to the partnership. Frequent flyers will have reciprocal access to Delta Sky Club and Virgin Atlantic Sky Club.
Business travellers, Ryanair is after your bucks and business now that they have agreed to take American Express cards. It’s the new world of Ryanair, so expect less hassle and more smiles when they welcome you on board. Easyjet are also on a mission to target business travellers with special fares only bookable through agency systems that include a bag, seat selection and no credit card fees.
London City Airport has lodged a planning application to increase the size of the airport and double passenger numbers to six million in the next ten years. The expansion is estimated to cost €238 million and will provide extra parking stands, particularly for newer bigger aircraft and a parallel taxiway to increase efficiency. The airport is currently handling 70,000 annual flight movements and this figure will grow to 120,000.
The flagship of the Jurys Inns Hotels in the UK, Islington will undergo a complete refurbishment that will take a year to complete. The £12million project will increase the hotel to 373 bedrooms up from 229 currently and add meeting rooms and conference space. The hotel opened in 1998 and has consistently produced above average occupancy and rates.
Now that Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic have received anti-trust immunity from the US Department of Transportation, they are on track to change schedules from LHR on Saturday with nine daily non-stop services. The DOT has ruled that there are clear consumer benefits to the partnership. Frequent flyers will have reciprocal access to Delta Sky Club and Virgin Atlantic Sky Club.
Road Warrior - Sept. 25
Airline Information, the research and conference body is calling on hotels and Facebook to tighten up security against credit card fraud. An epidemic of card fraud is being driven by hackers and employees with access to credit card data. Hotels are the source of nearly one third of all frauds globally. Personal data from Facebook is being used by fraudsters, who also use Facebook to share and sell stolen credit card details.
Are you one of the 73 per cent of business travellers that feel out of pocket at the end of a work trip? According to a study by Mintel only 27 per cent of travellers say that they had been fully reimbursed for all costs related to a business trip. A quarter said they work longer hours on the road and only 19 per cent were reimbursed for time spent travelling outside normal working hours. The study also highlighted the harder line companies are taking on premium travel with only six per cent of road warriors enjoying superior service.
Just to add to the many facilities on offer at Motorway service station, Regus, the office space provider is opening business lounges for busy travellers. The Regus express hub is located at Moto SS at Leigh Delamere on the M4 between Swansea and Bristol. It has private workstations, wi fi and meeting rooms. Regus is also trialling 70 workhubs at Shell stations around Berlin.
Marriott Hotels have announced plans to build hotels in Africa and in places that we might think twice about going to like Libya and Rwanda along with Tunis and Morocco. Development in Africa is being driven by strong growth rates, a burgeoning middle class and the push for oil, gas and raw materials. Rates in Africa are also very strong with hotels charging $300-500 per night for hotels that would be $150-200 in the United States.
Are you one of the 73 per cent of business travellers that feel out of pocket at the end of a work trip? According to a study by Mintel only 27 per cent of travellers say that they had been fully reimbursed for all costs related to a business trip. A quarter said they work longer hours on the road and only 19 per cent were reimbursed for time spent travelling outside normal working hours. The study also highlighted the harder line companies are taking on premium travel with only six per cent of road warriors enjoying superior service.
Just to add to the many facilities on offer at Motorway service station, Regus, the office space provider is opening business lounges for busy travellers. The Regus express hub is located at Moto SS at Leigh Delamere on the M4 between Swansea and Bristol. It has private workstations, wi fi and meeting rooms. Regus is also trialling 70 workhubs at Shell stations around Berlin.
Marriott Hotels have announced plans to build hotels in Africa and in places that we might think twice about going to like Libya and Rwanda along with Tunis and Morocco. Development in Africa is being driven by strong growth rates, a burgeoning middle class and the push for oil, gas and raw materials. Rates in Africa are also very strong with hotels charging $300-500 per night for hotels that would be $150-200 in the United States.
Road Warrior - September 18
The St. Ermin’s Hotel in London is a hotel with a secret life of bees, 200,000 of them. On the rooftop of the hotel, three hives of busy Buckfast bees work the many parks and open spaces of London SW1, including Buckingham Palace to produce the hotel’s own honey. The honey is used in a variety of dishes and is also for sale. Is this the only hotel with an apiarist?
A reader sent me an email to add the
Churchfield Mayfair Hotel, Royal Lancaster Hotel, The Athenaeum to the list of bee-keeping hotels in London. How about that now...J.
The Transportation Security Administration TSA in the United States is planning a three-tier system for passenger and baggage screening at US airports. Passengers will be pre-selected for expedited, standard or enhanced screening at the time of booking. Information will be taken from existing data in the Secure Flight system, passenger reservation records and the FBI’s watch list. Anyone who has stood in the lines at US airports will be wishing to be on the expedited list.
Flightfest on Sunday was a great success and turned the spotlight on to the role that Ireland plays in world aviation. Half of the world’s commercial aircraft are managed from Ireland, where nine of the ten largest aircraft leasing companies are based. The industry employs more than 1,000 people with over 3,000 aircraft in operation and the sponsorship they provided helped make Sunday’s air show an enjoyable event.
The Ritz Carlton Hotel company is on a major expansion with plans to expand the number of hotels to 100 by 2016. Six new hotels are due open in the final quarter of this year from China to Aruba. Next year Ritz Carltons will open in Kyoto, Nanjing, Rabat, Cairo, India, Bali and Indonesia.
Road Warrior - Sept. 11
Sunday is Flightfest.ie day in Dublin, and will be an opportunity to see a range of aircraft from every decade from the 1930s flying the over the Liffey. This unique event as part of the Gathering will have aircraft flying from Matt Talbot Bridge of the East Link at around 800 feet or 243m. One of the newest aircraft to come into service, the Airbus A380, owned by British Airways will be a highlight of the programme. All the Irish airlines are taking part along with the Russian airline Transaero with a Boeing 767, Etihad Airlines Airbus A340, and the workhorse of the sky the C130 will be flown over by the British Royal Air Force. The Irish Air Corps will fly a number of craft. In all 35 aircraft of varying size, ownership and age will fly over from 2pm.
The good news is that if you did have a heart attack in London’s Heathrow airport, you are six times more likely to survive than anywhere else in London. LHR has a team of specialist bike-riding paramedics, the Cycle Response Unit. More than 100 line managers are trained in life saving first aid and you are never more than two minutes away from a defibrillator. During June, 6.5million passengers travelled through Heathrow and almost 900 were treated by the team.
Conrad Hotels are launching a new social media campaign, Conrad Connections that uses short video documentaries to introduce people to destinations. The videos will be by cultural curators and opinion leaders talking about their home towns and what they love about it. The video by Jia Choi of Seoul about Korean food will make you want to find a reason to go there, facebook.com/conradconnections.
Possibly a good sign for Athens and Greece – the five star King George Hotel has joined the Starwood Luxury Collection following a three month refurbishment. In Kiev the Starwood Aloft brand will open next year in the Central Business District and in Iraq, four new Starwood properties are scheduled to open including in Dohuk, in the Kurdistan Autonomous Region.
The good news is that if you did have a heart attack in London’s Heathrow airport, you are six times more likely to survive than anywhere else in London. LHR has a team of specialist bike-riding paramedics, the Cycle Response Unit. More than 100 line managers are trained in life saving first aid and you are never more than two minutes away from a defibrillator. During June, 6.5million passengers travelled through Heathrow and almost 900 were treated by the team.
Conrad Hotels are launching a new social media campaign, Conrad Connections that uses short video documentaries to introduce people to destinations. The videos will be by cultural curators and opinion leaders talking about their home towns and what they love about it. The video by Jia Choi of Seoul about Korean food will make you want to find a reason to go there, facebook.com/conradconnections.
Possibly a good sign for Athens and Greece – the five star King George Hotel has joined the Starwood Luxury Collection following a three month refurbishment. In Kiev the Starwood Aloft brand will open next year in the Central Business District and in Iraq, four new Starwood properties are scheduled to open including in Dohuk, in the Kurdistan Autonomous Region.
Road Warrior - Sept. 4
American Airlines and US Airways will be happy with the news that the District court of Columbia has set the trial date as November 25 to hear the lawsuit against their merger by the Department of Justice. The initial date had looked like it might be February next year, throwing plans for the merger back by many months. The two airlines have set up a website outlining the benefits of the merger and what the changes would bring to customers, newamericanarriving.com.
In advance of its closure in October for extension and refurbishment, the Plaza Athénée Hotel in Paris is going to hold an auction of furniture, flatware and works of arts. If you ever had your eye on the Alain Ducasse marked tableware, or the Maison Porthault embroidered sheets or indeed a comfortable armchair from the bar, viewing will be from October 4 – 6. The auction itself will take place on October 7 and 8 and be conducted by Artcurial Briest-Poulain-F. Tajan.
The more than half a million travellers from Northern Ireland who use Dublin airport will benefit from changes in financial protection for travel bookings made in the north. The Civil Aviation Authority, trustees of the Air Travel Trust (ATT) and the Irish Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) clarified that travel firms that make available flights and flight inclusive trips will be required to hold either UK Air Tour Operators Licence or CAR protection resulting in savings of around £2.50 per booking.
Lufthansa is coordinating air and rail travel for people travelling to Cologne, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart via Frankfurt. Passengers can now book air and rail tickets in the same booking and the rail schedule has been adjusted to ensure minimum transfer times, Lufthansa.com.
In advance of its closure in October for extension and refurbishment, the Plaza Athénée Hotel in Paris is going to hold an auction of furniture, flatware and works of arts. If you ever had your eye on the Alain Ducasse marked tableware, or the Maison Porthault embroidered sheets or indeed a comfortable armchair from the bar, viewing will be from October 4 – 6. The auction itself will take place on October 7 and 8 and be conducted by Artcurial Briest-Poulain-F. Tajan.
The more than half a million travellers from Northern Ireland who use Dublin airport will benefit from changes in financial protection for travel bookings made in the north. The Civil Aviation Authority, trustees of the Air Travel Trust (ATT) and the Irish Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) clarified that travel firms that make available flights and flight inclusive trips will be required to hold either UK Air Tour Operators Licence or CAR protection resulting in savings of around £2.50 per booking.
Lufthansa is coordinating air and rail travel for people travelling to Cologne, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart via Frankfurt. Passengers can now book air and rail tickets in the same booking and the rail schedule has been adjusted to ensure minimum transfer times, Lufthansa.com.
Road Warrior - Aug. 28
Credit card fraud rose by 14.5 per cent in the United States last year to over $5.3 billion on all types of cards. US fraud accounted for 47 per cent of the total global fraud activity of $11.3 billion in 2012. Card fraud is declining in Europe following the introduction of chip and pin cards and terminals. The US also had the highest level of counterfeit “card not present” transactions, according to the Nilson Report.
Four Seasons hotels have come up with a trip planning tool that uses Pinterest the social media tool. The unique concierge service allows visitors to get advice in advance from the hotel. It may be you need a casual place for dinner, or an idea of events in a city you are visiting or things to see. 77 Four Season properties are now on Pinterest with hotels in LA, Paris, Bangkok, Dallas, Vancouver and Hong Kong being among the most active. Go to pinterest.com and create a Pin, Pack and Go board in your account.
Could it be that the first green shoots, not again, can be seen in the increase in premium air bookings in June? IATA seems to think that some stability is coming into the European market with an increase of 4.1 per cent in June following a two per cent increase in May. Early reports for July see the trend continuing. Current trends show that growth is solid in Europe - Middle East and Europe – Far East with higher than average increases in premium class seats.
New entrants to the top 50 cities this year are Toronto, Athens, Pittsburgh and Chennai, appearing in the HRG Worldwide interim hotel survey for the first half of the year. Moscow again tops the list as most expensive city for accommodation with average room rates of €309.43, followed by Lagos, New York, Zurich and Geneva. Dublin did not feature in the top cities list. The highest increase in rates in Europe was in Munich at 39.05% where the triennial Bauma Fair drove rates up.
Four Seasons hotels have come up with a trip planning tool that uses Pinterest the social media tool. The unique concierge service allows visitors to get advice in advance from the hotel. It may be you need a casual place for dinner, or an idea of events in a city you are visiting or things to see. 77 Four Season properties are now on Pinterest with hotels in LA, Paris, Bangkok, Dallas, Vancouver and Hong Kong being among the most active. Go to pinterest.com and create a Pin, Pack and Go board in your account.
Could it be that the first green shoots, not again, can be seen in the increase in premium air bookings in June? IATA seems to think that some stability is coming into the European market with an increase of 4.1 per cent in June following a two per cent increase in May. Early reports for July see the trend continuing. Current trends show that growth is solid in Europe - Middle East and Europe – Far East with higher than average increases in premium class seats.
New entrants to the top 50 cities this year are Toronto, Athens, Pittsburgh and Chennai, appearing in the HRG Worldwide interim hotel survey for the first half of the year. Moscow again tops the list as most expensive city for accommodation with average room rates of €309.43, followed by Lagos, New York, Zurich and Geneva. Dublin did not feature in the top cities list. The highest increase in rates in Europe was in Munich at 39.05% where the triennial Bauma Fair drove rates up.
Road Warrior - Aug. 21
Surprise all round last week in the AA-US Airways merger talks when the US Department of Justice threw a spanner in the works and filed suit against the merger. The planned union of the two huge carriers had been expected to be a shoo-in but the DOJ came down firmly on the side of consumers. The complaint addressed the issue of ancillary fees where even small increases can reap huge rewards. Citing the fact that consumers could be paying higher fees for checked baggage, flight changes, more legroom and redeeming air miles, it now looks like it will be a long haul before the merger can go ahead.
Business travellers to Shenzen in China spending more than a day or two in the city will now have the option of staying in the Marriott Executive apartments. Marriott have opened 155 new units in one, two and three bedrooms suites. On site there will be a 24-hour gym, dry cleaning, pools, lounge, shopping service and children are welcome. Located in the OCT Harbour, the area is set to become one of China’s international entertainment areas. Opening offers from RMB 1,380 (€169) per night for studios.
The newest Waldorf Astoria hotel officially opened in Ras al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates last week. The 346-room hotel will bring the Waldorf style to the growing emirate. Ras al Khaimah has expanded into the investment market in recent years with no income, sales or wealth taxes payable by individuals and no corporate taxes or exchange controls.
Having averted a planned strike by pilots this week, Aer Lingus Regional brings good news to the table with the launch of a double daily Dublin to Newcastle service. The flights will begin on October 24 and the aim is for 65,000 passengers in the first year. The new services will benefit business travel into the north east of England and is will also connect onward Transatlantic passengers through Dublin.
Business travellers to Shenzen in China spending more than a day or two in the city will now have the option of staying in the Marriott Executive apartments. Marriott have opened 155 new units in one, two and three bedrooms suites. On site there will be a 24-hour gym, dry cleaning, pools, lounge, shopping service and children are welcome. Located in the OCT Harbour, the area is set to become one of China’s international entertainment areas. Opening offers from RMB 1,380 (€169) per night for studios.
The newest Waldorf Astoria hotel officially opened in Ras al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates last week. The 346-room hotel will bring the Waldorf style to the growing emirate. Ras al Khaimah has expanded into the investment market in recent years with no income, sales or wealth taxes payable by individuals and no corporate taxes or exchange controls.
Having averted a planned strike by pilots this week, Aer Lingus Regional brings good news to the table with the launch of a double daily Dublin to Newcastle service. The flights will begin on October 24 and the aim is for 65,000 passengers in the first year. The new services will benefit business travel into the north east of England and is will also connect onward Transatlantic passengers through Dublin.
Road Warrior - August 14.
It is time to think like a counter intelligence officer or spy if Luke Bencie’s book, Among Enemies – counter intelligence for the business traveller, is to be taken seriously. Every day thousands of road warriors set off across the globe not knowing or realising that they carry important information that other companies and governments want. Bencie urges business travellers to realise that the enemy is an espionage operative waiting for the right moment to pounce. At times companies may not even be aware that their executives have been targeted. Take his advice and never forget that your presence and the information you carry is of interest to others, and watch out for Honeypots and Romeos.
If you have a US Airways Dividend Miles frequent flyer account, check it carefully. Hackers managed to get into the US Airways systems and steal air miles from passengers. The carrier noticed suspicious activity after customers reported that miles were deducted and have notified State and federal officials of a data breach. The exact number of accounts is not known, but no credit card details were compromised.
Accor Hotels has announced that it is rolling out free quality wi fi in all its 194 UK hotels and not just in the public areas, but also in the meeting rooms and bedrooms. Accor operates a variety of brands in the UK including Ibis, Novotel, Mercure, Pullman and Mgallery hotels. Free wi fi has topped the list of various surveys of business travellers and more hotels are now providing wi fi as a norm.
The Global Business Travel Association in its annual report and forecast GBTA BTI Outlook, is predicting that worldwide business travel spend will rise by 5.4% year on year to reach $1.12 trillion this year. According to the report which details travel spending in 75 countries the landscape for future growth will be strong, 2014 is looking like 8.2%, and subsequent years will have than seven per cent growth. The US is the strongest market with China now on its heels. Third biggest market is Japan followed by Germany and the UK. Growth in China, India and Brazil is in the range from 10 – 15%.
If you have a US Airways Dividend Miles frequent flyer account, check it carefully. Hackers managed to get into the US Airways systems and steal air miles from passengers. The carrier noticed suspicious activity after customers reported that miles were deducted and have notified State and federal officials of a data breach. The exact number of accounts is not known, but no credit card details were compromised.
Accor Hotels has announced that it is rolling out free quality wi fi in all its 194 UK hotels and not just in the public areas, but also in the meeting rooms and bedrooms. Accor operates a variety of brands in the UK including Ibis, Novotel, Mercure, Pullman and Mgallery hotels. Free wi fi has topped the list of various surveys of business travellers and more hotels are now providing wi fi as a norm.
The Global Business Travel Association in its annual report and forecast GBTA BTI Outlook, is predicting that worldwide business travel spend will rise by 5.4% year on year to reach $1.12 trillion this year. According to the report which details travel spending in 75 countries the landscape for future growth will be strong, 2014 is looking like 8.2%, and subsequent years will have than seven per cent growth. The US is the strongest market with China now on its heels. Third biggest market is Japan followed by Germany and the UK. Growth in China, India and Brazil is in the range from 10 – 15%.
Road Warrior - Aug. 7
The STR Global hotel pipeline survey throws up surprising news about Europe – overall hotel development is strong with 800 new properties in the pipeline. Branding is behind the growth with companies such as Choice, Best Western and Hilton moving into markets where brands are thin on the ground and opportunities for conversions and new builds. Marriott have announced plans for a new economy brand in Europe, Moxy Hotels. In the US the pipeline is showing 2,700 properties and in Asia/Pacific, 1,840 properties.
No more dallying in duty free at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 with the new boarding passes introduced recently. Following trials Virgin Atlantic are the first airline to adopt positive boarding cards. Passengers are issued with a barcoded boarding card and progress through the airport is tracked. If you stay to long in the Cavier House, you will find yourself unable to proceed to the departure gate and your bags offloaded. The cutoff time is 30 minutes before going through security. In the trials 10 late-running passengers were offloaded.
Who would have thought it? The Foreign Office has issued a warning to travellers going to Switzerland to beware of theft, confidence tricksters and pickpockets. High risk areas are Geneva Airport and on the trains to and from the airport, and larger cities. Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe , perhaps they are having a upsurge in theft tourism.
No more dallying in duty free at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 with the new boarding passes introduced recently. Following trials Virgin Atlantic are the first airline to adopt positive boarding cards. Passengers are issued with a barcoded boarding card and progress through the airport is tracked. If you stay to long in the Cavier House, you will find yourself unable to proceed to the departure gate and your bags offloaded. The cutoff time is 30 minutes before going through security. In the trials 10 late-running passengers were offloaded.
Who would have thought it? The Foreign Office has issued a warning to travellers going to Switzerland to beware of theft, confidence tricksters and pickpockets. High risk areas are Geneva Airport and on the trains to and from the airport, and larger cities. Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe , perhaps they are having a upsurge in theft tourism.
Road Warrior - July 31
The European Commission has published a preliminary list of guidelines to clarify when a delay or cancellation of flights is not the airline’s fault i.e. extraordinary circumstances. Airlines have to compensate travellers within two weeks when flights are cancelled or departure/arrival time is more than three hours late, but only if it is the airline’s fault. The grey areas will hopefully be clarified with the new guidelines which list 30 scenarios including weather problems, de-icing, air traffic control and industrial relations issues. There are five issues that are not extraordinary and are mainly technical, crew out of hours and absence of correct documentation.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has increased his shareholding in the fledging African carrier Fastjet with an increase of under three per cent up to 5.81 per cent. The airline began services last November in Tanzania and plans to begin services to South African imminently. Fastjet has received their foreign operators license from South Africa’s department of transport, Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg is expected to be the first SA route.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office is entering the Twittersphere with dedicated cyber travel advice to Tweeters. The one to one service follows a successful two month trial. Teams of advisers will be online from 9.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday to answer questions, generally within 30 minutes. Outside of these times, questions may be answered in times of crisis.
With the recent fine weather, and positive forecasts for the next month or so, maybe it is time for Irish hoteliers to join a new fashion from the United States – outdoor meetings. Outdoor meeting spaces are being equipped for board meetings, breakout sessions and full-fledged general sessions. The Hilton Orlando is developing a 50,000 square foot outdoor meeting Promenade for up to 3,000 people, due to open in October.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has increased his shareholding in the fledging African carrier Fastjet with an increase of under three per cent up to 5.81 per cent. The airline began services last November in Tanzania and plans to begin services to South African imminently. Fastjet has received their foreign operators license from South Africa’s department of transport, Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg is expected to be the first SA route.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office is entering the Twittersphere with dedicated cyber travel advice to Tweeters. The one to one service follows a successful two month trial. Teams of advisers will be online from 9.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday to answer questions, generally within 30 minutes. Outside of these times, questions may be answered in times of crisis.
With the recent fine weather, and positive forecasts for the next month or so, maybe it is time for Irish hoteliers to join a new fashion from the United States – outdoor meetings. Outdoor meeting spaces are being equipped for board meetings, breakout sessions and full-fledged general sessions. The Hilton Orlando is developing a 50,000 square foot outdoor meeting Promenade for up to 3,000 people, due to open in October.
Road Warrior - July 24
The Concur Expense IQ Report for 2013 has some interesting facts about business travel expenses and after processing $50 billion expense transactions last year, they should know. Key figures are dining dropped by 11.1%, car rental by 9.1% , airfares by 8.2% and hotels by 3.8%.. The five most visited cities for business were London, Shanghai, Singapore, Beijing, and Tokyo. The five most expensive cities were, Brisbane, Tokyo, Sydney, Perth and London. Lodging costs in Australia pushed three cities into the top five most expensive places to visit.
M-day is fast approaching for American Airlines and US Airways, now that US Airways shareholders have voted overwhelmingly to approve the merger. AA shareholders will be voting on the Plan of Reorganization this month with hopes that the bankruptcy judge will consider approval of the plan on August 16. Behind the scenes AA and US staff are already working together on the integration of the companies that will lead to more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries by one airline, American.
Marriott Hotels Rewards members will have the added convenience of checking into 325 hotels on their mobile phones soon. Marriott have been trialling mobile check-in at 31 hotels and will now expand the service over the next few months. Guests can check-in on the mobile app from 4.00p.m. on the day before arrival and will automatically receive a notification when their room is ready the next day. Hotels will have an “expedited mobile check-in desk” where guests can pick up the key card.
The Queen of Mean, Leona Hemsley’s hotel empire is gradually being dismantled with the news this week that the sale of the Park Lane Hemsley Hotel is almost finalised. She would rub her hands in glee at the $650 million price tag. The new owners, the Witkoff Group, will no doubt erase all traces of the Helmsleys at the dated property. Whether it will continue as a hotel, or be redeveloped at the prime location is unclear yet.
M-day is fast approaching for American Airlines and US Airways, now that US Airways shareholders have voted overwhelmingly to approve the merger. AA shareholders will be voting on the Plan of Reorganization this month with hopes that the bankruptcy judge will consider approval of the plan on August 16. Behind the scenes AA and US staff are already working together on the integration of the companies that will lead to more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries by one airline, American.
Marriott Hotels Rewards members will have the added convenience of checking into 325 hotels on their mobile phones soon. Marriott have been trialling mobile check-in at 31 hotels and will now expand the service over the next few months. Guests can check-in on the mobile app from 4.00p.m. on the day before arrival and will automatically receive a notification when their room is ready the next day. Hotels will have an “expedited mobile check-in desk” where guests can pick up the key card.
The Queen of Mean, Leona Hemsley’s hotel empire is gradually being dismantled with the news this week that the sale of the Park Lane Hemsley Hotel is almost finalised. She would rub her hands in glee at the $650 million price tag. The new owners, the Witkoff Group, will no doubt erase all traces of the Helmsleys at the dated property. Whether it will continue as a hotel, or be redeveloped at the prime location is unclear yet.
Road Warrior - July 17
Extended stay hotels and apartments have been identified as the new growth area in the accommodation market in Europe. The rate of growth is expected to be much faster than other types of hotels with more finance becoming available. The first Serviced Apartment Summit was held in London last week and identified the beginning of growth in the market for Europe. The extended stay and suite hotels have long being popular in the US and now the trend is spreading.
Are you a rogue traveller? Some companies have been allowing travellers to make their own travel arrangements but in a survey by Carlson Wagonlit Travel, fares booked through managed programmes are nine – 24% less. Most travel managers are sceptical about unmanaged travel with only nine per cent of those surveyed being in favour. On average 45 per cent of CWT’s European reservations are changed before or after ticketing.
Twenty five years slips by very fast in the aviation industry and its congratulations to Delta Airlines on reading their silver anniversary on the Ireland – USA routes. In 1988 Delta began five times weekly service from Dublin via Shannon to Atlanta. Twenty five years later Delta is operating 24 flights a week this summer to Atlanta and New York.
Road Warrior, July 10
Have your say about air travel and what you want by taking part in the International Air Transport Association passenger survey. IATA are asking people to take part in the survey which will be online until next Sunday, July 14. The results of the survey will form the basis for future travel planning, iata.org/paxsurvey.
The announcement of the new Aer Lingus routes to San Francisco and Toronto also included the news that 100,000 passengers from the UK have used Ireland for onward Transatlantic routes in the past year. Aer Lingus Regional is increasing services to Manchester with two extra flights a day from Dublin. Aer Lingus Regional is now operating 27 routes in Ireland, the UK and France.
For an airline that has not yet reached its tenth birthday, the results from Etihad Airways are extraordinary. The national carrier of the United Arab Emirates achieved an eight per cent increase in Q2 and half year revenues of $1.8bm, up 13 per cent on last year. Etihad introduced the Boeing 777-300ER 412-seater aircraft on the Dublin to Abu Dhabi route ten days ago, increasing capacity by 34 per cent.
The QE2, one of the world’s most famous cruise ships will be on its way to become a hotel following refurbishment in China. Bought by Nakheel in 2008 for $50 million, with plans to turn it into a floating hotel in Dubai, the plans never went ahead due to the economic downturn. It has now been sold to an investment consortium to become a 400-room hotel. Its eventual destination is not yet known.
The announcement of the new Aer Lingus routes to San Francisco and Toronto also included the news that 100,000 passengers from the UK have used Ireland for onward Transatlantic routes in the past year. Aer Lingus Regional is increasing services to Manchester with two extra flights a day from Dublin. Aer Lingus Regional is now operating 27 routes in Ireland, the UK and France.
For an airline that has not yet reached its tenth birthday, the results from Etihad Airways are extraordinary. The national carrier of the United Arab Emirates achieved an eight per cent increase in Q2 and half year revenues of $1.8bm, up 13 per cent on last year. Etihad introduced the Boeing 777-300ER 412-seater aircraft on the Dublin to Abu Dhabi route ten days ago, increasing capacity by 34 per cent.
The QE2, one of the world’s most famous cruise ships will be on its way to become a hotel following refurbishment in China. Bought by Nakheel in 2008 for $50 million, with plans to turn it into a floating hotel in Dubai, the plans never went ahead due to the economic downturn. It has now been sold to an investment consortium to become a 400-room hotel. Its eventual destination is not yet known.
Road Warrior - June 26
Brussels Airlines have expanded their network in Africa. Following a bilateral agreement with Senegal flights to Dakar have resumed to four times weekly. Frequency has also on increased on Freetown, Sierre Leone, Conakry, Guinea and Cotonu in Benin. During the summer there will be daily flights to Douala and Yaoundé in Cameroon. British Airways are also expanding services to Africa.
Ever wonder what it is like to fly a plane? Visitors to London will get an opportunity when Emirates Airlines opens the first public flight simulators by the Emirates Cable Car on the south side of the Thames near ExCeL next month. The Emirates Aviation Experience will feature interactive displays and life-size aircraft models. The simulators will include two Airbus A380s and two Boeing 777s using full landscape visuals.
The Loews Madison Hotel in Washington is taking up the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign and providing a new fitness package for guests. Inspired by the Obamas healthy living, guests will receive Michelle Obama’s American Grown Cook Book, a complimentary yoga or pilates class and a fitness package with yoga mat and running map of DC’s trails. Rates are from $259 per night.
Guoman Hotels have rebranded as GLH and are planning to open 100 more hotels around the world in the next decade. Guoman has 36 hotels in the UK, including the Cumberland, the Grosvenor and Horse Guards Hotels. Most hotels in the UK are under the Thistle brand which will remain.
Ever wonder what it is like to fly a plane? Visitors to London will get an opportunity when Emirates Airlines opens the first public flight simulators by the Emirates Cable Car on the south side of the Thames near ExCeL next month. The Emirates Aviation Experience will feature interactive displays and life-size aircraft models. The simulators will include two Airbus A380s and two Boeing 777s using full landscape visuals.
The Loews Madison Hotel in Washington is taking up the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign and providing a new fitness package for guests. Inspired by the Obamas healthy living, guests will receive Michelle Obama’s American Grown Cook Book, a complimentary yoga or pilates class and a fitness package with yoga mat and running map of DC’s trails. Rates are from $259 per night.
Guoman Hotels have rebranded as GLH and are planning to open 100 more hotels around the world in the next decade. Guoman has 36 hotels in the UK, including the Cumberland, the Grosvenor and Horse Guards Hotels. Most hotels in the UK are under the Thistle brand which will remain.
Starwood Hotels continues its expansion in China with an extraordinary 20 new hotels opening this year, one every 20 days. The new hotels will join the 120 Starwood properties already open and another 100 in the pipeline. Starwood is the largest high-end hotel operator in China ahead of Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt. Among the new hotels are the Sheraton Huzhou, the 4,000-room Sheraton Macau and two ski resorts in Changbaishan.
China is also where Hilton Hotels have opened their 4,000th hotel, on Monday. The Hotel Shijiazhuang in the Hebei province of China is milestone for the global company that has opened more than 100 hotels globally since the beginning of the year.
British Airways took delivery of their first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on Thursday. The aircraft will go into service from September 1 on the London to Toronto route with introductory fares from £787 in World Traveller Plus and £1,574 in Club World. Newark is expected to be the second Dreamliner destination from Octob er 1. It is the first of 24 Dreamliners ordered by BA for delivery over the next four years. BA is the first airline in Europe to operate both the 787 and the A380.
An incentive programme from Etihad for SMEs will run until July 21 and allow companies with two to 50 business travellers to earn additional rewards on flights booked. BusinessConnect customers can benefit from 1,000 mile for each new traveller, earn trip miles of premium cabin booking and a chance to win 200,000 guest miles during the promotion period, etihadbusinessconnect.com.
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China is also where Hilton Hotels have opened their 4,000th hotel, on Monday. The Hotel Shijiazhuang in the Hebei province of China is milestone for the global company that has opened more than 100 hotels globally since the beginning of the year.
British Airways took delivery of their first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on Thursday. The aircraft will go into service from September 1 on the London to Toronto route with introductory fares from £787 in World Traveller Plus and £1,574 in Club World. Newark is expected to be the second Dreamliner destination from Octob er 1. It is the first of 24 Dreamliners ordered by BA for delivery over the next four years. BA is the first airline in Europe to operate both the 787 and the A380.
An incentive programme from Etihad for SMEs will run until July 21 and allow companies with two to 50 business travellers to earn additional rewards on flights booked. BusinessConnect customers can benefit from 1,000 mile for each new traveller, earn trip miles of premium cabin booking and a chance to win 200,000 guest miles during the promotion period, etihadbusinessconnect.com.
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Road Warrior, July 3
Starwood Hotels continues its expansion in China with an extraordinary 20 new hotels opening this year, one every 20 days. The new hotels will join the 120 Starwood properties already open and another 100 in the pipeline. Starwood is the largest high-end hotel operator in China ahead of Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt. Among the new hotels are the Sheraton Huzhou, the 4,000-room Sheraton Macau and two ski resorts in Changbaishan.
China is also where Hilton Hotels have opened their 4,000th hotel, on Monday. The Hotel Shijiazhuang in the Hebei province of China is milestone for the global company that has opened more than 100 hotels globally since the beginning of the year.
British Airways took delivery of their first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on Thursday. The aircraft will go into service from September 1 on the London to Toronto route with introductory fares from £787 in World Traveller Plus and £1,574 in Club World. Newark is expected to be the second Dreamliner destination from Octob er 1. It is the first of 24 Dreamliners ordered by BA for delivery over the next four years. BA is the first airline in Europe to operate both the 787 and the A380.
An incentive programme from Etihad for SMEs will run until July 21 and allow companies with two to 50 business travellers to earn additional rewards on flights booked. BusinessConnect customers can benefit from 1,000 mile for each new traveller, earn trip miles of premium cabin booking and a chance to win 200,000 guest miles during the promotion period, etihadbusinessconnect.com.
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China is also where Hilton Hotels have opened their 4,000th hotel, on Monday. The Hotel Shijiazhuang in the Hebei province of China is milestone for the global company that has opened more than 100 hotels globally since the beginning of the year.
British Airways took delivery of their first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on Thursday. The aircraft will go into service from September 1 on the London to Toronto route with introductory fares from £787 in World Traveller Plus and £1,574 in Club World. Newark is expected to be the second Dreamliner destination from Octob er 1. It is the first of 24 Dreamliners ordered by BA for delivery over the next four years. BA is the first airline in Europe to operate both the 787 and the A380.
An incentive programme from Etihad for SMEs will run until July 21 and allow companies with two to 50 business travellers to earn additional rewards on flights booked. BusinessConnect customers can benefit from 1,000 mile for each new traveller, earn trip miles of premium cabin booking and a chance to win 200,000 guest miles during the promotion period, etihadbusinessconnect.com.
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Road Warrior - June 19
Two of the very best airlines in the world operate from Ireland, Emirates and Etihad. Both airlines were among only 11 carriers out of 425 to be rated seven out of seven for both safety and product by airlineratings.com.
The survey conducted by a team of aviation specialists also rated Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific and Singapore among the top. Low cost carriers’ product is rated out of five stars. Aer Lingus achieved seven stars for safety and four for product. Ryanair achieved five out of seven stars for safety and 2.5 for product. The highest rated low costs carriers are Jet Blue, Alaska Air and Frontier in the United States and Tuifly in Germany.
The Hotels.com club sandwich index for this year sees Geneva knocking Paris off the top slot. The staple of room service menus around the globe will cost €23.35 on average in Geneva and in Dublin €11.58. The cheapest club sandwich is in New Delhi costing on average €7. The survey was taken in 840 hotels from three to five star ratings. The highest price was in Geneva at €39.78, still less than the €40.10 in Paris last year. The index reflects not only changes in the actual price of The Club but also the effects of currency fluctuations. New York is up to €13.47 from €12.85 last year and Helsinki is down from €17.21 to €15.23.
Last week in Dublin the theme of the Datalex conference was the travel retail experience and how airlines and travel companies can increase revenue. I came across some research from JD Powers about airline ancillary revenue. You may think that Ryanair would top the list with 13 opportunities to purchase before completing a booking, but top of the list for ancillary revenue are Spirit Air with 38.4%, Allegiant, 29.9%, Jet2, 26.5% and Ryanair 21.8%.
The survey conducted by a team of aviation specialists also rated Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific and Singapore among the top. Low cost carriers’ product is rated out of five stars. Aer Lingus achieved seven stars for safety and four for product. Ryanair achieved five out of seven stars for safety and 2.5 for product. The highest rated low costs carriers are Jet Blue, Alaska Air and Frontier in the United States and Tuifly in Germany.
The Hotels.com club sandwich index for this year sees Geneva knocking Paris off the top slot. The staple of room service menus around the globe will cost €23.35 on average in Geneva and in Dublin €11.58. The cheapest club sandwich is in New Delhi costing on average €7. The survey was taken in 840 hotels from three to five star ratings. The highest price was in Geneva at €39.78, still less than the €40.10 in Paris last year. The index reflects not only changes in the actual price of The Club but also the effects of currency fluctuations. New York is up to €13.47 from €12.85 last year and Helsinki is down from €17.21 to €15.23.
Last week in Dublin the theme of the Datalex conference was the travel retail experience and how airlines and travel companies can increase revenue. I came across some research from JD Powers about airline ancillary revenue. You may think that Ryanair would top the list with 13 opportunities to purchase before completing a booking, but top of the list for ancillary revenue are Spirit Air with 38.4%, Allegiant, 29.9%, Jet2, 26.5% and Ryanair 21.8%.
Road Warrior - June 12
From plane to train in ten minutes – that will be the reality for passengers when Heathrow’s Terminal 2 opens next June. Terminal 2 promises to be a passenger focused experience from start to finish. Learning from previous airport experiences, extensive testing has already begun, involving 14,000 people. Each day 4,000 items of baggage are being put through the system, a major obstacle when T5 opened. A phased sequence from June will see 26 airlines moving in, including all the Star Alliance partners, German Wings and Aer Lingus in July. The new terminal is expected to handle up to 20 million passengers a year.
150 of the world’s leading airlines and travel companies are meeting in Dublin today and yesterday for the Datalex conference on The Travel Retail Experience, focusing on how to increase revenues across all sales channels. Ancillary and extra services are becoming a major source of revenue for many airlines and travel companies, examples of which are Ryanair selling luggage and Aer Lingus offering gourmet meals. Speakers include Maurice Pratt and ceo of Datalex Aidan Brogan.
Checking bags for travel around the US is becoming an issue with carriers charging from $25 dollars a sector. United Airlines have launched two new subscription services for passengers travelling with bags and reserving Economy Plus seats. For €499 a year you can reserve Economy Plus seats in continental US and $699 for world wide. Checked bag subscriptions range from $349 for one bag in the US to $999 for two bags on a global system basis.
Until June 19, Etihad Airlines will be offering substantial discounts on business class fares valid until November 30. Dublin to Abu Dhabi will cost from €988, Singapore from €1,298, Sydney from €2,166 and Beijing from €1,530.
150 of the world’s leading airlines and travel companies are meeting in Dublin today and yesterday for the Datalex conference on The Travel Retail Experience, focusing on how to increase revenues across all sales channels. Ancillary and extra services are becoming a major source of revenue for many airlines and travel companies, examples of which are Ryanair selling luggage and Aer Lingus offering gourmet meals. Speakers include Maurice Pratt and ceo of Datalex Aidan Brogan.
Checking bags for travel around the US is becoming an issue with carriers charging from $25 dollars a sector. United Airlines have launched two new subscription services for passengers travelling with bags and reserving Economy Plus seats. For €499 a year you can reserve Economy Plus seats in continental US and $699 for world wide. Checked bag subscriptions range from $349 for one bag in the US to $999 for two bags on a global system basis.
Until June 19, Etihad Airlines will be offering substantial discounts on business class fares valid until November 30. Dublin to Abu Dhabi will cost from €988, Singapore from €1,298, Sydney from €2,166 and Beijing from €1,530.
Road Warrior, June 5
There are still places on the Irish Exporters Business Trip to china from June 23 – 29. FCm travel agents are handling the Asia Trade Forum which will visit two of China’s leading business cities, Hangzhou and Suzhou, both on the Yangtze River Delta. The purpose of the Forum is to showcase exporting or partnering opportunities in China. The programme has seminars, workshops and one to one meetings with prospective partners. The estimated travel costs are €1,800 plus €500 for the participation fee per company, see asiatradeforum.org.
The doyen of Irish business hotels has beaten off the five-star newcomers to be named the Best Business Hotel in Ireland by Business Destinations 2013. Factors considered by the panel of guests, corporate buyers and industry influencers worldwide were not just the quality but the range of services, and business acumenas well as environmental awareness. Factors may also have included the location, a step from Grafton Street, the lovely Marble Bar and the classy lobby.
Road Warrior
London City Airport must have the most honest travellers and staff using it. The lost property department is home to the following items, £50,000 cash, a bag of diamonds, a Rolex watches worth £10,000+, a Porsche key and a book of signed blank cheques. Other odd items that have turned up include a glass eye, an artificial skull, adult togs, wigs and adult magazines. What does this all say about LCY travellers????#
Heathrow airport has finally gone wirelss for free. From June 1 all five terminals at Europe’s busiest airport will have free WiFi for 90 minutes.
The doyen of Irish business hotels has beaten off the five-star newcomers to be named the Best Business Hotel in Ireland by Business Destinations 2013. Factors considered by the panel of guests, corporate buyers and industry influencers worldwide were not just the quality but the range of services, and business acumenas well as environmental awareness. Factors may also have included the location, a step from Grafton Street, the lovely Marble Bar and the classy lobby.
Road Warrior
London City Airport must have the most honest travellers and staff using it. The lost property department is home to the following items, £50,000 cash, a bag of diamonds, a Rolex watches worth £10,000+, a Porsche key and a book of signed blank cheques. Other odd items that have turned up include a glass eye, an artificial skull, adult togs, wigs and adult magazines. What does this all say about LCY travellers????#
Heathrow airport has finally gone wirelss for free. From June 1 all five terminals at Europe’s busiest airport will have free WiFi for 90 minutes.
Road Warrior, May 29
The bugbear of frequent travellers is internet connections and cost. Finnish company Uros.com are intent on lowering the cost of roaming in Europe with their mobile hotspot service. The Goodspeed unit can take up to ten sim cards allowing you to toggle between networks as you travel. The cost of the Goodspeed unit is around €270 upfront plus €9.90 per month fee and €5.90 per day when you are using it on your travels. Goodspeed is now available in Russia and you can connect up to five devices wirelessly.
AIB’s sectoral report on the Irish hotel industry will give hope to hoteliers and investors and hope too to business travellers. There is evidence that the worst is over with asset values a lot more stable and an increase in visitor numbers. The plus side for business travel is that hoteliers are keen to invest in upgrading and refurbishing their properties, leading to better services and facilities.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sports, Leo Varadker was dropping hints again about the possibility of a US west coast service. Addressing the Ireland US Alumni Association he said, “The West Coast is looking pretty good for 2014.” He went on to add that the partnership between Aer Lingus and Jetblue would make the route more viable for EI, but it is not just Aer Lingus considering it.
Not for nothing is the Burj al Arab the world’s most luxurious hotel – now they are introducing gold iPads for all guests. The exclusive 24-carat iPads specifically designed by Gold & Co. London, for the Burj al Arab, will be a virtual concierge for guests. On it there will be information about the hotel services, restaurant and spa options, housekeeping and private dining. Sorry to say, you have to give it back at the end of your visit.
AIB’s sectoral report on the Irish hotel industry will give hope to hoteliers and investors and hope too to business travellers. There is evidence that the worst is over with asset values a lot more stable and an increase in visitor numbers. The plus side for business travel is that hoteliers are keen to invest in upgrading and refurbishing their properties, leading to better services and facilities.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sports, Leo Varadker was dropping hints again about the possibility of a US west coast service. Addressing the Ireland US Alumni Association he said, “The West Coast is looking pretty good for 2014.” He went on to add that the partnership between Aer Lingus and Jetblue would make the route more viable for EI, but it is not just Aer Lingus considering it.
Not for nothing is the Burj al Arab the world’s most luxurious hotel – now they are introducing gold iPads for all guests. The exclusive 24-carat iPads specifically designed by Gold & Co. London, for the Burj al Arab, will be a virtual concierge for guests. On it there will be information about the hotel services, restaurant and spa options, housekeeping and private dining. Sorry to say, you have to give it back at the end of your visit.
Road Warrior - May 22
Delta’s new terminal T4 at JFK opens on Friday, following a $1.4 billion investment. Terminal four will be the international hub for all Delta flights and will have new gates, security lanes and additional US Customs and Border Protection inspection booths. The terminal will be 1.5 million sq. ft with shopping, restaurants and the Sky Club will be the largest in the system. The new terminal will be able to handle the A380 and will be managed by the Schiphol Group, the first US terminal to be managed by a foreign airport operator.
If you have 50 or more people attending a meeting from two or more countries, the SkyTeam airline alliance are offering special discounts. Delegates can make booking through the SkyTeam website with the event code. Airlines in the 27-member SkyTeam include Delta, Air France, three Chinese airlines and Aero Mexico. Event organisers can find details on skyteam.com on how to set up an event.
The first six months of the year are seeing an increase in business tourism with conferences and events bringing more than 31,000 delegates to Ireland a bonus of the Gathering. The estimated economic impact is €37 million from116 international events. The top ten conferences bring 8,766 delegates with the World of Health IT conference being the largest with 2,800 people coming to Ireland.
Here’s a piece of hotel trivia from Hotelchatter.com. Guess which hotel group has the most song mentions? – the Holiday Inn with more than 50 lyrics. Songs include Holiday Inn by Elton John, Cheesburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett, Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang and one of my favourites Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off by Joe Nichols. See Youtube video here,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj2700em-JQ
If you have 50 or more people attending a meeting from two or more countries, the SkyTeam airline alliance are offering special discounts. Delegates can make booking through the SkyTeam website with the event code. Airlines in the 27-member SkyTeam include Delta, Air France, three Chinese airlines and Aero Mexico. Event organisers can find details on skyteam.com on how to set up an event.
The first six months of the year are seeing an increase in business tourism with conferences and events bringing more than 31,000 delegates to Ireland a bonus of the Gathering. The estimated economic impact is €37 million from116 international events. The top ten conferences bring 8,766 delegates with the World of Health IT conference being the largest with 2,800 people coming to Ireland.
Here’s a piece of hotel trivia from Hotelchatter.com. Guess which hotel group has the most song mentions? – the Holiday Inn with more than 50 lyrics. Songs include Holiday Inn by Elton John, Cheesburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett, Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang and one of my favourites Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off by Joe Nichols. See Youtube video here,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj2700em-JQ
Road Warrior - May 15
Twenty five successive years of profit makes Emirates one of the most envied airlines in the world. Figures for 2012 released last week show full year profit increasing by 34% to £544 on revenue of £13.6bn. The cash balance grew by 53% to £4.7bn. Highlights for the year included the opening of the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai, delivery of 34 new aircraft and ten new routes.
Dublin Airport is at the head of the biometric race with new speedy automated immigration gates. Delivered by air transport technology solutions provider SITA, whose software development centre is in Letterkenny, passengers pass through the gates in seconds. The electronic system uses NeoFace recognition software that is twice as fast as any other biometric in use and eight times more accurate. Up to 1,000 passengers a days are taking part in the trial.
An interesting survey from Trivago this week shows how hotel prices are affected by major events. In London, for Champions League at the end of the month, prices increased by 64 per cent to an average of €334. Cannes Film Festival pushes prices up by 247%, Monaco Grand Prix by 34% and in Malmo the Eurovision and ABBA the Museum in Stockholm pushed prices up by at 23%.
Appropriately in time of the release of The Great Gatsby, the Prince de Galles Hotel in Paris reopens tomorrow after a meticulous two year restoration. One of the Starwood Luxury Collection, the jewel of Parisien Art Deco will be a treasure house of the period.
The 115 room hotel on Avenue George V will take its place among the great hotels of Paris, where extensive restoration and renovations have been going on at the top end of the market.
Dublin Airport is at the head of the biometric race with new speedy automated immigration gates. Delivered by air transport technology solutions provider SITA, whose software development centre is in Letterkenny, passengers pass through the gates in seconds. The electronic system uses NeoFace recognition software that is twice as fast as any other biometric in use and eight times more accurate. Up to 1,000 passengers a days are taking part in the trial.
An interesting survey from Trivago this week shows how hotel prices are affected by major events. In London, for Champions League at the end of the month, prices increased by 64 per cent to an average of €334. Cannes Film Festival pushes prices up by 247%, Monaco Grand Prix by 34% and in Malmo the Eurovision and ABBA the Museum in Stockholm pushed prices up by at 23%.
Appropriately in time of the release of The Great Gatsby, the Prince de Galles Hotel in Paris reopens tomorrow after a meticulous two year restoration. One of the Starwood Luxury Collection, the jewel of Parisien Art Deco will be a treasure house of the period.
The 115 room hotel on Avenue George V will take its place among the great hotels of Paris, where extensive restoration and renovations have been going on at the top end of the market.
Road Warrior - April 24.
The Irish Hospitality Institute unveils a very special speaker for their conference on May 9 in the Marker Hotel. Gerald Lawless, President and Group CEO of Jumeirah Group has agreed to be the key note speaker. Mr. Lawless, from Galway, will also be familiar to people in the hospitality industry as the manager who oversaw the opening of the world’s most famous hotel, the Burj al Arab. Other speakers taking part will include Catherine Toolan, Aramark, Padraig O’Ceidigh and panellists Paul O’Toole of Fás, Pat McCann of Dalata, David Collins of Great National Hotels and Richard E. Bourke, Prem Group.
Here are some interesting facts about the value and impact of business travel. In 2012 there were 171,319,102 million business class seats available on planes worldwide, 16.2 million were taken up in the United States. Brazil is expecting a 14.3% growth in business travel this year taking it to $34.5 billion. This would see it rise above Italy, France and the UK in expenditure tables. The fastest growth countries for business travel until 2016 will be India, China, Kenya, Brazil and Kuwait.
It is a bad week for flying anywhere with Lufthansa grounding most of its fleet on Monday for a strike by staff about pay and conditions. Up to 150,000 passengers were disrupted by the strike which hit the whole of the LH network. In Israel El Al is on an open ended strike against the government’s plans to increased competition by introducing an open skies policy. The strike is also affecting two smaller carriers, Israir Airlines and Arkia Israel Airlines.
Rezidor Hotel Group has been busy in the first quarter this year with five new hotel openings with 940 rooms. This bring Rezidor’s portfolio to 338 hotels with 74,000 rooms. The new hotels are in Gothenburg, Sweden, Maputo, Mozambique, Rosa Khutor Russia, and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and in Dortmund, Germany.
Here are some interesting facts about the value and impact of business travel. In 2012 there were 171,319,102 million business class seats available on planes worldwide, 16.2 million were taken up in the United States. Brazil is expecting a 14.3% growth in business travel this year taking it to $34.5 billion. This would see it rise above Italy, France and the UK in expenditure tables. The fastest growth countries for business travel until 2016 will be India, China, Kenya, Brazil and Kuwait.
It is a bad week for flying anywhere with Lufthansa grounding most of its fleet on Monday for a strike by staff about pay and conditions. Up to 150,000 passengers were disrupted by the strike which hit the whole of the LH network. In Israel El Al is on an open ended strike against the government’s plans to increased competition by introducing an open skies policy. The strike is also affecting two smaller carriers, Israir Airlines and Arkia Israel Airlines.
Rezidor Hotel Group has been busy in the first quarter this year with five new hotel openings with 940 rooms. This bring Rezidor’s portfolio to 338 hotels with 74,000 rooms. The new hotels are in Gothenburg, Sweden, Maputo, Mozambique, Rosa Khutor Russia, and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and in Dortmund, Germany.
Road Warrior news from The Irish Times
April 17th.
Breaking Bad on the road
Ever wonder what is going on in the room next to you in hotels? If you are staying in the United States, then it could be a meth lab. There have been more than 1,300 reports of makeshift methamphetamine labs in hotels in the past five years, and that is considered the tip of the iceberg. EPIC the El Paso Intelligence Center in Texas say there are many more incidents that do not get reported. So if you get the smrll of cat urine, move hotels, it is strong indicator.
Return of the Dreamliner
Anticipation for the return of the Dreamliner 787 aircraft is increasing with the announcement by Qatar Airways that they hope to see the aircraft back in service by the end of the month and United Airlines are planning its return for May. All Nippon Airways and Lot Polish Airlines anticipate the return in June. The newest aircraft from Boeing suffered battery problems in January and was grounded immediately. New batteries have been performing perfectly in tests and the US Federal Aviation Administration is confident of the replacement.
United will need the Dreamliner’s return to help it honour its commitment to save 85 million gallons of fuel this year. The airline has made a commitment during Earth Month to save the equiavalent of 828,750 metric tonnes of CO2 or roughly $275 million dollars at current fuel prices.
Double Blues
Air France, KLM and Cityjet are giving double Blue credits during April on flights to Europe from Ireland. BlueBiz the corporate business travel reward programmes allows companies to benefit from mileage flown by staff and is open to companies of any size.
Good news coming from China should help push the world economy out of lethargy. The GBTA BTI Outlook – China 2013 reports an expansion in business travel by 15.1% this year to $226 billion (RMB 1,379 billion). The projected expansion for 2014 is 16.9%, twice the rate of the United States.
Breaking Bad on the road
Ever wonder what is going on in the room next to you in hotels? If you are staying in the United States, then it could be a meth lab. There have been more than 1,300 reports of makeshift methamphetamine labs in hotels in the past five years, and that is considered the tip of the iceberg. EPIC the El Paso Intelligence Center in Texas say there are many more incidents that do not get reported. So if you get the smrll of cat urine, move hotels, it is strong indicator.
Return of the Dreamliner
Anticipation for the return of the Dreamliner 787 aircraft is increasing with the announcement by Qatar Airways that they hope to see the aircraft back in service by the end of the month and United Airlines are planning its return for May. All Nippon Airways and Lot Polish Airlines anticipate the return in June. The newest aircraft from Boeing suffered battery problems in January and was grounded immediately. New batteries have been performing perfectly in tests and the US Federal Aviation Administration is confident of the replacement.
United will need the Dreamliner’s return to help it honour its commitment to save 85 million gallons of fuel this year. The airline has made a commitment during Earth Month to save the equiavalent of 828,750 metric tonnes of CO2 or roughly $275 million dollars at current fuel prices.
Double Blues
Air France, KLM and Cityjet are giving double Blue credits during April on flights to Europe from Ireland. BlueBiz the corporate business travel reward programmes allows companies to benefit from mileage flown by staff and is open to companies of any size.
Good news coming from China should help push the world economy out of lethargy. The GBTA BTI Outlook – China 2013 reports an expansion in business travel by 15.1% this year to $226 billion (RMB 1,379 billion). The projected expansion for 2014 is 16.9%, twice the rate of the United States.
ROAD WARRIOR: March 6
Etihad carried 1 million passengers from Ireland in 8 years.
If Etihad has paid $70 million for Jet Airways’ three Heathrow slots as part of a sale and leaseback deal, how much does that value Aer Lingus’s 23 slots? Just as well they will be hanging on to the potential $500 million-plus asset.
Jet Airways will continue to use the slots for their routes to India and has applied to the Indian government to take over other routes formerly operated by Kingfisher Airlines.
Exclusive and reclusive
For the reclusive business traveller a new trend may fit the bill – the one-room hotel. A number of singular properties have begun springing up around the world. The tallest is the One Room Hotel, with views from 66m in the Park Tower in Prague. Another is 155m deep in a former silver mine in Sweden, salasilvergruva.se. The Hotel Droog in Amsterdam is an experience in art, entertainment and then sleeping, hoteldroog.com
Exercise the option to borrow running gear
No excuses for not getting some exercise when you stay in the Westin Hotel in Dublin. If you forget your gear, or a spring moment encourages you to explore the city on foot, you can borrow New Balance fitness gear for €5. The hotel will have running shoes, with disposable insoles, and a selection of shorts, shirts, socks and pants. The gear lending programme was launched yesterday with a 5km fun run around Dublin for the Barretstown charity.
Road Warrior - Feb. 27
Low-cost airline takes off in India
AirAsia has announced plans to operate a new low-cost airline in India now that the government there has opened up the country’s aviation industry to foreign investors.
Joining with Tata and Telstra Tradeplace the new airline will initially be based in the southern city of Chennai. Telstra Tradeplace is an investment holding company of Arun Bhatia, whose son Amit Bhatia is a director at Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club, along with AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes.
AirAsia has also been making inroads into the hotel industry with budget properties Tune Hotels.
Sleepbox puts prices to bed in Moscow
Moscow has topped the list of priciest city for hotel rooms for years and now Sleepbox is going to change that.
The capsule hotel has opened in downtown Moscow, following the success of Sleepbox at Sheremetyevo Airport. Based in the Tverskoy district the minuscule rooms will offer TV, free wifi and use of the hotel’s iPads from about €66 per night. Sleepbox Hotel Moscow is on Facebook.
Nightmare goes on for Boeing
Still no sign of Boeing’s Dreamliners returning to the skies with the news that All Nippon Airways has cancelled 1,700 flights up to the end of May. Holiday airline Thomson has begun to make alternative arrangements for the summer season.
Boeing is still working with the Federal Aviation Administration on finding a solution to the battery problem which caused the grounding of aviation’s newest aircraft. Every day the aircraft are not flying is costing Boeing millions
AirAsia has announced plans to operate a new low-cost airline in India now that the government there has opened up the country’s aviation industry to foreign investors.
Joining with Tata and Telstra Tradeplace the new airline will initially be based in the southern city of Chennai. Telstra Tradeplace is an investment holding company of Arun Bhatia, whose son Amit Bhatia is a director at Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club, along with AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes.
AirAsia has also been making inroads into the hotel industry with budget properties Tune Hotels.
Sleepbox puts prices to bed in Moscow
Moscow has topped the list of priciest city for hotel rooms for years and now Sleepbox is going to change that.
The capsule hotel has opened in downtown Moscow, following the success of Sleepbox at Sheremetyevo Airport. Based in the Tverskoy district the minuscule rooms will offer TV, free wifi and use of the hotel’s iPads from about €66 per night. Sleepbox Hotel Moscow is on Facebook.
Nightmare goes on for Boeing
Still no sign of Boeing’s Dreamliners returning to the skies with the news that All Nippon Airways has cancelled 1,700 flights up to the end of May. Holiday airline Thomson has begun to make alternative arrangements for the summer season.
Boeing is still working with the Federal Aviation Administration on finding a solution to the battery problem which caused the grounding of aviation’s newest aircraft. Every day the aircraft are not flying is costing Boeing millions
Road Warrior - February 20
Airlines merger in US creates carrier colossus
The merger between American Airlines and US Airways will form the biggest airline in the world. It will have revenues of $40 billion, with 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries.
The merger is expected to be in place by the third quarter of this year. The aviation market in the US will now be dominated by three major carriers, United, Delta and AA, and the trend of increasing fares will probably continue.
From Ireland, the only direct routes affected are the year-round Dublin-Philadelphia service, the summer Shannon-Philadelphia and Dublin-Charlotte routes with US Airways and the summer routes to Chicago and JFK with AA.
Visiting Antwerp? Contain yourself!
Fed up staying in homogenised hotel rooms? The pop-up concept has been brought to hotel rooms in Antwerp and you could find yourself sleeping in a former shipping container.
The four 20-ft containers have been turned into a comfortable bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms, Ipod docking stations, air conditioning and breakfast too, from €149 a night. There is also a lounger container where breakfast is served. The pop-up moves around the city of Antwerp, track its location on sleeping-around.eu
Ritz hotel getting up to speed
Hurray for the Ritz in London.
Unlike other top-class hotels it has taken the decision to not only provide free internet access for all guests but it has also increased download speeds. The upgrade of the network will deliver speeds of 400Mb and 173 wireless access points have been installed throughout the bedrooms and public areas.
“Our guests not only benefit from complementary internet access but also enjoy download speeds that are unsurpassed in the London luxury hotel sector,” said Stephen Boxall, managing director of The Ritz London.
The merger between American Airlines and US Airways will form the biggest airline in the world. It will have revenues of $40 billion, with 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries.
The merger is expected to be in place by the third quarter of this year. The aviation market in the US will now be dominated by three major carriers, United, Delta and AA, and the trend of increasing fares will probably continue.
From Ireland, the only direct routes affected are the year-round Dublin-Philadelphia service, the summer Shannon-Philadelphia and Dublin-Charlotte routes with US Airways and the summer routes to Chicago and JFK with AA.
Visiting Antwerp? Contain yourself!
Fed up staying in homogenised hotel rooms? The pop-up concept has been brought to hotel rooms in Antwerp and you could find yourself sleeping in a former shipping container.
The four 20-ft containers have been turned into a comfortable bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms, Ipod docking stations, air conditioning and breakfast too, from €149 a night. There is also a lounger container where breakfast is served. The pop-up moves around the city of Antwerp, track its location on sleeping-around.eu
Ritz hotel getting up to speed
Hurray for the Ritz in London.
Unlike other top-class hotels it has taken the decision to not only provide free internet access for all guests but it has also increased download speeds. The upgrade of the network will deliver speeds of 400Mb and 173 wireless access points have been installed throughout the bedrooms and public areas.
“Our guests not only benefit from complementary internet access but also enjoy download speeds that are unsurpassed in the London luxury hotel sector,” said Stephen Boxall, managing director of The Ritz London.
Road Warrior - Feb. 13
Hyatt to manage four of France's top hotels
Hyatt Hotels will be taking over the management of four of France’s best known hotels beginning from April next. In Paris the Concorde La Fayette, with views of the Eiffel Tower, will become the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile.
The historic Hotel du Louvre will retain its name but may become an Andaz boutique hotel. On the Cote d’Azur, the celebrity haunt the Martinez in Cannes will become a Grand Hyatt and almost equally famous, the Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice will become a Hyatt Regency.
Frequent flyers in court action
United Airlines million miler frequent flyers are up in arms at the carrier’s efforts to downgrade their lifetime benefits. Since the merger in 2011 with Continental, the two frequent flyer programmes have been integrated and benefits redefined.
United million milers, who gained their status by flying more than a million miles on United services only, are now taking the airline to court to stop it undermining their benefits.
There is a public website entreating the airline to review its policies for this elite group, millionmilersunited.com.
Loyalty crossover means a lot more
A crossover of loyalty programmes between Starwood Hotels and Delta Airlines will mean that elite-level members will receive benefits and points across both programmes from March 1st. Delta SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion members will have benefits like late checkout and free in-room internet access. SPG Platinum members will get free checked baggage and priority check-in on Delta services.
Road Warrior - Feb. 6th
Malaysia joins Oneworld
Malaysia Airlines joined the Oneworld airline alliance last week and immediately expands the alliance network into the fastest-growing markets of South East Asia.
Malaysia Airlines serves 60 destinations across almost 30 countries. Members of Malaysia’s Enrich frequent flyer programme will receive double award miles for flights booked before February 15th and flown by April 15th.
International air travel and load factors on the up
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the 2012 air passenger numbers, showing a 5.3 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Load factors were near record levels at 79.1 per cent.
International traffic increased faster than domestic markets with emerging markets in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa the main drivers of growth. The US market delivered the lowest growth in 2012 at 1.3 per cent but the highest load factor at 82 per cent.
New routes through Turkey
Turkish Airlines is increasing its Dublin to Istanbul schedule from daily to 10 flights a week from March 31st. Return flights are currently on offer for €179.
This year Turkish will open 22 new international routes on its network using mainly the Boeing 777. Routings via Istanbul will open up 30 destinations in Africa.
People's Republic for Chinese
The River Lee Hotel in Cork is encouraging visitors from the People’s Republic of China to visit the People’s Republic of Cork with a Chinese version of its website. The website will include information on the hotel, location, restaurant, meetings and events.
The River Lee Hotel also has a Chinese-speaking member of staff in Tom Wong, above with Paula Cogan, sales and marketing manager, from Dalian. It will also accept payment using the China UnionPay (Cup) card.
Stars in their eyes in Dublin 4
The Marker Hotel in Dublin’s docklands, which is due to open in April, is going to add some chic to the city’s skyline with its rooftop terrace.
The outdoor cafe and lounge bar will take inspiration from the Burren and will give great views across the city and towards the mountains. Expect the Marker Rooftop Terrace to feature on the list of unusual venues for corporate events shortly.
Road Warrior - January 30, 2013
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2013/0130/1224329429903.html
Body scanners binned over software issue
The body conscious will be glad to hear that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States is to remove the controversial body-imaging scanners.
It was not the furore from near-naked scanned travellers that was the downfall of the Rapiscans but a software issue.
The TSA has terminated the contract due to the fact Rapiscan will not be ready to meet the deadline in June for the next level of privacy software which produces a generic body image and not the stripped effect.
Record growth for Hilton chain
Hilton Hotels Worldwide continued with record growth through 2012 with the opening of 171 hotels with more than 28,000 rooms.
The plan for new hotels is approaching 1,000 and already 85,000 rooms are under construction.
The Hilton brand has now spread to more than 90 countries with 10 brands, and 3,900 hotels with more than 510,000 rooms.
New service to Oxford The city of dreaming spires is now just a short hop from Dublin on Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays with a new air service from Minoan Air. Beginning on March 6th, the new service will connect directly to Oxford Airport allowing for day trips to the city, with fares from €60 each way, minoanair.com.
Business travel show for London
The annual Business Travel Show will take place in London on February 5th and 6th in Earls Court.
The conference will cover topics such as managing travel policies, online booking tools, connecting on the road, security of employees, managing data in a regulated environment, forecasting the future of business travel, airline sourcing with a dwindling supplier base and the role of social media in company travel.
The great art gallery in the sky
Next month passengers on Virgin Atlantic’s London to New York service will experience the “Gallery in the Air”.
British artist Ben Eine’s trademark typographical work (above) will be on display in the Virgin Clubhouses at Heathrow, JFK and Newark.
In the air passengers can take a virtual tour of the Gallery in the Air before buying pieces, which sell from £2,500 to £15,000.
The body conscious will be glad to hear that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States is to remove the controversial body-imaging scanners.
It was not the furore from near-naked scanned travellers that was the downfall of the Rapiscans but a software issue.
The TSA has terminated the contract due to the fact Rapiscan will not be ready to meet the deadline in June for the next level of privacy software which produces a generic body image and not the stripped effect.
Record growth for Hilton chain
Hilton Hotels Worldwide continued with record growth through 2012 with the opening of 171 hotels with more than 28,000 rooms.
The plan for new hotels is approaching 1,000 and already 85,000 rooms are under construction.
The Hilton brand has now spread to more than 90 countries with 10 brands, and 3,900 hotels with more than 510,000 rooms.
New service to Oxford The city of dreaming spires is now just a short hop from Dublin on Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays with a new air service from Minoan Air. Beginning on March 6th, the new service will connect directly to Oxford Airport allowing for day trips to the city, with fares from €60 each way, minoanair.com.
Business travel show for London
The annual Business Travel Show will take place in London on February 5th and 6th in Earls Court.
The conference will cover topics such as managing travel policies, online booking tools, connecting on the road, security of employees, managing data in a regulated environment, forecasting the future of business travel, airline sourcing with a dwindling supplier base and the role of social media in company travel.
The great art gallery in the sky
Next month passengers on Virgin Atlantic’s London to New York service will experience the “Gallery in the Air”.
British artist Ben Eine’s trademark typographical work (above) will be on display in the Virgin Clubhouses at Heathrow, JFK and Newark.
In the air passengers can take a virtual tour of the Gallery in the Air before buying pieces, which sell from £2,500 to £15,000.
Road Warrior - January 23, 2013
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2013/0123/1224329188264.html
Dublin second to St Petersburg as hotel rates thrive
Dublin was second to St Petersburg with the highest growth in hotel rates of 19 European cities in a PwC hotel report, with 13.9 per cent growth in 2012, following on 11.7per cent in 2011.
The European Cities Hotels Forecast looked at hotel trading across Europe. The publication forecasts which cities are best placed to grow in terms of revenue, occupancy and average daily rates.
The forecast for 2013 rates Dublin as a “thriver”, and sixth on the list, but with only 3.1 per cent growth. The average daily room rate is expected to reach €90 per night.
Marriot to offer hotel office space
Marriott Hotels is test running Workspace on Demand, a new service which provides meeting rooms and work areas for people on the move.
Workspace on Demand is a collaboration between Marriott and LiquidSpace, a mobile app connecting people with venues providing space. The service is available in 30 Marriott, Renaissance and Courtyard hotels in Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Houston. See work spaceondemand.marriott.com
Dreamliner stalls flight schedules
The grounding of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft around the globe is disrupting flight schedules for a number of carriers.
Fifty-one of the Dreamliners have been delivered to airlines such as United, JAL, ANA, BA, LAN, and Qatar.
Most have now been grounded following incidents involving batteries burning out and fuel leaks. The Dreamliner has been plagued by delays, arriving three years late and with soaring cost overruns.
Boeing has orders for more than 800 of the aircraft which are 20 per more fuel efficient than existing Boeing aircraft.
Dublin was second to St Petersburg with the highest growth in hotel rates of 19 European cities in a PwC hotel report, with 13.9 per cent growth in 2012, following on 11.7per cent in 2011.
The European Cities Hotels Forecast looked at hotel trading across Europe. The publication forecasts which cities are best placed to grow in terms of revenue, occupancy and average daily rates.
The forecast for 2013 rates Dublin as a “thriver”, and sixth on the list, but with only 3.1 per cent growth. The average daily room rate is expected to reach €90 per night.
Marriot to offer hotel office space
Marriott Hotels is test running Workspace on Demand, a new service which provides meeting rooms and work areas for people on the move.
Workspace on Demand is a collaboration between Marriott and LiquidSpace, a mobile app connecting people with venues providing space. The service is available in 30 Marriott, Renaissance and Courtyard hotels in Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Houston. See work spaceondemand.marriott.com
Dreamliner stalls flight schedules
The grounding of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft around the globe is disrupting flight schedules for a number of carriers.
Fifty-one of the Dreamliners have been delivered to airlines such as United, JAL, ANA, BA, LAN, and Qatar.
Most have now been grounded following incidents involving batteries burning out and fuel leaks. The Dreamliner has been plagued by delays, arriving three years late and with soaring cost overruns.
Boeing has orders for more than 800 of the aircraft which are 20 per more fuel efficient than existing Boeing aircraft.
Road Warrior - January 16, 2013
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2013/0116/1224328902184.html
Back in time at Café Royal Hotel
After a number of stops and starts, the ornately decorative Café Royal Hotel on London’s Regent Street opened last month.
Capturing the essence of London’s haut monde at the turn of the century when it existed as a restaurant and club only, the architect Sir David Chipperfield has transformed the building into 158 luxury rooms. From now until the end of March, the introductory rates are from £280-£350 per night. Hotelcaferoyal.com
Passenger symposium for the Gathering
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is to bringing the World Passenger Symposium to Dublin in the CCD as part of the Gathering in October.
The annual symposium brings together hundreds of senior aviation figures from around the world. The 700+ delegates are expected to discuss industry positions, public policy and focus on emerging industry issues, new technologies and processes.
IATA is the trade association for the aviation industry and represents 84 per cent of the world’s airlines. This is the second major aviation conference to be announced for Dublin this year.
Pilots approve airline merger
The merger between American Airlines and US Airways is now on stronger footing following approval by the two airlines’ pilots unions of the framework for their terms of employment.
The memorandum of understanding is seen as a strong signal for the integration of the two airlines. Both airlines originated in the 1930s and have similar sized fleets. US Airways operates a service to Philadelphia all year and Charlotte during the summer from Ireland. AA will return in the summer with a Dublin-Chicago service.
World’s safest airlines revealed
The world’s safest airlines have been revealed by the Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre, JACDEC.deand Finnair has been ranked as the best.
The top 10 included three airlines that operate from Ireland – Emirates, Etihad and British Airways. The Safety Index ratings are calculated by comparing serious incidents suffered by airlines over the past 30 years compared to the revenue and passenger kilometres flown over the same period. Ryanair ranked 32 in the top 60 airlines.
In tune with the budget traveller
At the other end of the price scale, no-frills Tune Hotels has opened a new establishment opposite Haymarket Station in Edinburgh.
Guests will have the benefit of air conditioning, good quality beds, showers and optional extras such as towels and toiletries. Wifi is available at a charge. Rates at Tune Hotel in Edinburgh are from £40 per night. Tune have four hotels in London.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2013/0109/1224328602711.html
Road Warrior - The Business of Travel - 2013
January 9, 2013
Hike in number of weapons seized
Just when we were feeling safe about flying the Transport Safety Administration in the US issued 2012 figures for firearms confiscation – 1,500, up from 1,300 in 2011. The record haul was even scarier as 85 per cent of weapons were loaded and also included stun guns, grenades and rocket launchers. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport was first with over 100 guns confiscated, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix.
Blackstone plans for Burlington
Now that the announcement has been made that the Morrison Hotel is to become the first franchised DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Ireland, what happens the Burlington? New owners of the Burlo are Blackstone Group, owners of the Hilton brands. It had been suggested in the industry that the Burlington would become a DoubleTree by Hilton.
Other Hilton brands are Conrad, Waldorf Astoria and Hampton Inns. It is unlikely the Blackstone Group will upgrade the Burlington to five star as there are enough five-star hotels in Dublin, and Hampton Inn is unlikely too as the brand is usually for limited service properties. It is more likely the Burlington will continue as is but may incorporate the Hilton legacy, to capitalise on the Hilton HHonors guest programme.
Boutique brand package breaks from the norm
Most road warriors will be familiar with that airport-to-hotel-to-airport feeling; it’s like you have never left a homogenous environment.
Indigo Hotels, the boutique brand of Intercontinental Hotels, is hoping to change that with its new package, It’s Not All Business.
The offer includes complimentary breakfast, signature drinks, craft beers, fresh-made breads, artisan cheeses, great bars and restaurants that serve locally sourced food and seasonal menus.
The Indigo package includes 1,000 Priority Club bonus points. There are Indigo Hotels in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia.
Road Warrior - Review of the Year 2012, December 19, 2012
And in the hotel market
Good to see the Irish market moving with the Burlington, Morrison, Jurys Inn Parnell Street, Cork International Hotel and Clare Inn all changing hands, though at very low prices.
London grabbed the headlines for the most new hotel openings in such a short space of time, adding lots more choices since the Olympics.
The oddest room was also in London, a boat perched on the roof of the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank, courtesy of Living Architecture.
The five tallest hotels in the world are now all in Dubai with the addition of JW Marriott Marquis to the Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, Burj al Arab, Jumeirah Emirates Tower and the Address Downtown.
Steady growth for agencies
The biggest travel account in the country moved agencies after more than 20 years when Carlson Wagonlit Travel wrested it from Club Travel.
All the major business travel agencies and travel management companies in Ireland have reported steady growth this year.
Let them entertain you
Virgin America’s in-flight entertainment system Red was rated the best by the Passenger Choice Awards, with lots of films, video games, interactive Google maps, seat to seat messaging and drink ordering, and great prices too.
Meanwhile, US business hotels rated by Men’s Health Magazine for their gyms were the Mark and W New York, Radisson Blu, Chicago, Ritz Carlton, Boston, and the Park Hyatt, Philadelphia.
Airlines in full flight during a busy year
After years of speculation, Emirates Airlines arrived in Dublin on January 9th with a daily service on an A330-200, switching to the bigger capacity 777-300ER on May 1st.
Despite speculation, Emirates did not undermine the market for Etihad; the Abu Dhabi-based carrier will increase capacity in July with a 412-seater 777-300 in two classes.
Sad to see the departure of British Midland Airways or bmi as it was latterly known when it was sold by Lufthansa to IAG owners of British Airways.
But happy to welcome back British Airways to the Dublin London route after a gap of 21 years.
Sad also to see the Continental name disappear as it merged with United Airlines, but thanks for the Washington route: it makes life easier for doing business.
Not sure that Delta SkyMiles will be worth as much as Virgin Flying Club miles now that Delta will be a major shareholder. The rewards certainly won’t be as exciting as a trip to space with Virgin Galactic.
Thanks also to Virgin Atlantic, America and Australia for the first movie shot at 35,000 feet, over three continents – Departure Date starred Ben Feldman from Mad Men.
And in other travel news . . .
Deutsche Bahn or Bahn.combecame the world’s leading rail transport system with access to fares and ticketing for most of Europe.
Dublin outperformed London in the battle of the cities by TripAdvisor users for friendliest locals, best taxi drivers, cleanest streets, value for money and safest cities.
Well done Datalex, the Dublin-headquartered travel booking software company, for winning two awards at the World Travel Awards held in Delhi last week.
Road Warrior - December 12, 2012Air passenger numbers forecast to keep climbing
The International Air Transport Associations has released its forecast of air passenger growth for 2012-2016. International passenger numbers are expected to increase from 1.1bn to 1.45bn in 2016.
Domestic passengers are expected to rise from 1.72bn to 2.21bn by 2016. Routes to, from and within China are expected to account for one in four of all new passengers over the period. Fastest-growing markets will be Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Sudan, Uruguay, Chile, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Cambodia, Panama and the Russian Federation.
New York's Hotel Week opens up
Return to business in New York from January 4th to 20th and you can enjoy 17 days of great value rates for Hotel Week. Fixed prices in 24 citywide hotels will be from $100, $200 and $250 per night, half the usual rates in some cases. Hotels taking part include the Gansevoort Park Avenue, Hyatt 48 Lex, The James and the Cosmopolitan. See the full list and how to book on njfpr.com/hotel-week
Concierge app on hand at Conrad
Customise your stay at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin and 20 other Conrad hotels worldwide with a new concierge app. Order room service dinner and bathroom amenities, all from your smartphone.
Fastjet quickly on acquisition trail
In its third week of operation, new African airline Fastjet, founded by Easyjet’s Stelios Haji-Ioannou, is already on the acquisition trail, showing interest in buying South Africa’s failed 1Time airline. 1Time ceased trading last month. Fastjet is also in talks with Emirates about a partnership. Emirates flies to 24 destinations in Africa and Fastjet could provide connecting passengers from African cities.
Road Warrior - December 5, 2012The business of travel
Etihad loyalty scheme for SMEs
SMEs can benefit from the miles flown by staff with the introduction to Ireland by Etihad of the BusinessConnect product. Companies with two to 50 business travellers and which do not have an airline corporate contract can earn miles on all tickets booked. Miles can be used against free flights and upgrades.
Destinations to keep an eye on
Watching travel trends is a key to uncovering emerging markets and FCm Travel Solutions – with offices in 75 countries – has released predictions from its regional markets. Outside the BRIC nations, Latin America, Angola, Ghana, Congo, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are countries identified for growth and development opportunities.
Time worth on average €233 per hour
How much is an hour of your time worth? If you travel through London City Airport, then probably in the region of €233 per hour, the average value put on their time by airport users.
Almost 30 per cent valued their time at more than €246 per hour and 8 per cent value their time at more than €600 per hour. Speed, efficiency and convenience is why they use LCY. After all, time is money.
Hotels for less with new app
Hot Hotels, the newest hotel app, cut its teeth in the Spanish market and is now available in 18 countries and 101 cities. Irish co-founder Conor O’Connor said: “We aim to fill empty rooms at the last minute and so can offer serious savings.” Smartphone users could find themselves staying in the Hilton Dublin for €94, the Waldorf Hilton London for €216, the Gambrinus Rome for €81 and the Mercure Madrid for €85. Three-star hotels are considerably cheaper, see hot.co.uk.
Road Warrior - November 28, 2012
The business of travel
Easyjet founder backs budget African airline
Fastjet, the new African low-cost carrier, backed by Easyjet founder by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, begins flights tomorrow from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The first three routes will be Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Mwanza, with further routes to follow in Kenya and Uganda. Thousands of bookings have already been made for the services, and Fastjet expects to become Africa’s pancontinental airline, aiming to bring international standards at low-cost rates.
Xiamen Airlines joins the Skyteam
The world’s most profitable airline, with positive financial results for 26 consecutive years, Xiamen Airlines joins the Skyteam global airline alliance this month. With headquarters in the coastal city of Xiamen and hubs in Fuzhou and Hangzhou, the airline carried more than 15 million passengers last year to 50 cities in the greater China region. Other members of the Skyteam alliance include Delta, Aeroflot and Air France.
Review site for business travel
Understanding reviews of hotels on Tripadvisor can be a difficult, with people applying varying expectations. Carlson Wagonlit Travel hopes to overcome the differences with an innovative travel review site by business travellers for business travellers.
CWT Hotel Intel will gather reviews after stays from guests and will include key information such as wifi, parking, facilities and food. Reviews will remain within a private network and will be available to CWT clients.
Emirates sale ends on Sunday
Until Sunday December 2nd you can book sale fares with Emirates across their network for up to six months in advance. Return flights to Dubai from €492, Shanghai from €539 and Melbourne from €1,001.
Road Warrior - November 21, 2012
JOAN SCALES - The business of travel
Travelodge fits the bill for customers
It seems fitness is the big new trend in hotels, with Travelodge announcing it will be partnering with The Gym Group to find 10 co-located sites in London and the southeast. A trial of four sites in Waterloo, Guildford, Wembley and Plymouth has been a success and there are synergies in their growth models. Both companies are operating in the budget sector, where there is considerable room for growth.
Meanwhile, there’s no excuse for not exercising on the road when you stay in a Westin Hotel. In conjunction with New Balance, you can now borrow gear and shoes at a number of Westin Hotels for a small charge. It will also help cut down on weight, particularly when travelling light. See westinnewbalance.com.
SAS plots course for survival
SAS Scandinavian Airlines is facing into an urgent restructure to secure its future. A plan will have to be put in place very quickly to secure collective agreements on annual savings of about €370 million. SAS’s banks and main shareholders, the governments of Sweden, Denmark and Norway, will make credit available when they deliver the new collective agreements.
Easing the way for UAE entry
Doing business in the United Arab Emirates, which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has just become easier with the decision of the UAE government to issue multiple entry visas for business people. The decree issued by the deputy prime minister means that the visas can be issued by the Directorate of Residency and Foreigner Affairs and UAE consular offices abroad. Visas are valid for six months and for stays of up to 30 days. The new visa will be available to property owners and cruise ship passengers too.
Air France strikes a chord with new music app
Air France believes that travel should be a sensory experience and will make you prick up your ears with their new Music in the Sky app. Air France Music is known for its exclusive content and now you can take it anywhere with you on your smart phone or iPad. Expect to find world music from artists such as François The Atlas Mountains, Eugene McGuinness, Villagers and Tomorrow’s World. There will also be an opportunity to win concert and airline tickets throughout the year. See music.airfrance.com/en
Airlines rack up level of comfort
Anyone who travels business class within the United States knows that it is only really a name for slightly bigger seats and maybe some food – and it is always packed. Things are going to improve next year, with Delta, United and American Airlines all announcing plans to improve coast-to- coast, transcontinental routes with fully lie-flat seats in business/first class. The new cabins will be mainly on the busy routes of New York to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Road Warrior - November 14, 2012
Etihad rockets after just nine years in business
JOAN SCALES
ROAD WARRIOR: The business of travel
It is hard to believe that Etihad Airways is only now celebrating its ninth year in business. The state carrier of the United Arab Emirates already serves 86 cities in the Middle East, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America, with 67 aircraft and 90 more on order.
Etihad is also expanding with equity stakes in Air Berlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus. Etihad operates 10 flights a week from Dublin to Abu Dhabi.
Will abolished fee for long-haul lure flyers back to NI?
Will £16.24 or £32.48 really make a difference to people from Northern Ireland using Dublin Airport for long-haul routes?
The Northern Ireland Assembly passed the final stage of the Air Passenger Duty Bill to abolish the charge on long-haul routes from Belfast International Airport. Routes affected by the change are the daily United service to Newark and seasonal routes to Canada, Egypt and Barbados.
Travellers flying business class should also always check the prices for Dublin and Belfast to Newark; sometimes the business class fare can be considerably cheaper in one city and economy cheaper in the other. A check on flights for next week showed a difference of more than €1,000, with BFS cheaper.
Follow fame in Washington
If election day in the US or hit drama Scandal is putting you in the mood to visit Washington, then consider these scandalous hotels.
Client 9, aka Eliot Spitzer, dallied in the Mayflower Hotel, rooms from $189. The Ritz Carlton Pentagon City was the location for the taping of Monica Lewinsky’s confession to Linda Tripp which started the ball rolling for an impeachment hearing of President Bill Clinton, rooms from $259.
Lounge around at Dubai airport
Refresh the parts that other beers don’t at the new Heineken Airport Lounge in Emirates T3 in Dubai. This is the second lounge to open, the first is in Newark Airport, and dozens more are planned across the globe.
Business travellers and sports fans can watch the latest scores with live screening, or read the papers and charge their electronics.
NY-Shannon route back in May
Delta has announced the return of the seasonal New York to Shannon service from May 11th, 2013 with DL123 taking off at 10.45 daily. The service will also be using the new Delta Terminal Four at JFK which is due to open in May. Fares are in the system now with prices from €492 economy and €2,132 business class.
JOAN SCALES
ROAD WARRIOR: The business of travel
It is hard to believe that Etihad Airways is only now celebrating its ninth year in business. The state carrier of the United Arab Emirates already serves 86 cities in the Middle East, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America, with 67 aircraft and 90 more on order.
Etihad is also expanding with equity stakes in Air Berlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus. Etihad operates 10 flights a week from Dublin to Abu Dhabi.
Will abolished fee for long-haul lure flyers back to NI?
Will £16.24 or £32.48 really make a difference to people from Northern Ireland using Dublin Airport for long-haul routes?
The Northern Ireland Assembly passed the final stage of the Air Passenger Duty Bill to abolish the charge on long-haul routes from Belfast International Airport. Routes affected by the change are the daily United service to Newark and seasonal routes to Canada, Egypt and Barbados.
Travellers flying business class should also always check the prices for Dublin and Belfast to Newark; sometimes the business class fare can be considerably cheaper in one city and economy cheaper in the other. A check on flights for next week showed a difference of more than €1,000, with BFS cheaper.
Follow fame in Washington
If election day in the US or hit drama Scandal is putting you in the mood to visit Washington, then consider these scandalous hotels.
Client 9, aka Eliot Spitzer, dallied in the Mayflower Hotel, rooms from $189. The Ritz Carlton Pentagon City was the location for the taping of Monica Lewinsky’s confession to Linda Tripp which started the ball rolling for an impeachment hearing of President Bill Clinton, rooms from $259.
Lounge around at Dubai airport
Refresh the parts that other beers don’t at the new Heineken Airport Lounge in Emirates T3 in Dubai. This is the second lounge to open, the first is in Newark Airport, and dozens more are planned across the globe.
Business travellers and sports fans can watch the latest scores with live screening, or read the papers and charge their electronics.
NY-Shannon route back in May
Delta has announced the return of the seasonal New York to Shannon service from May 11th, 2013 with DL123 taking off at 10.45 daily. The service will also be using the new Delta Terminal Four at JFK which is due to open in May. Fares are in the system now with prices from €492 economy and €2,132 business class.
Road Warrior - November 7
Martin Mangan - GM, Conrad Dublin
Chinese take 10% stake in Heathrow
The Chinese government, in the form of the China Investment Corporation, has taken a 10 per cent state in Heathrow Airport Holdings, formerly BAA, for £450 million. The value of their stake will mean a seat on the 14-member board. CIC’s investment will see it joining shareholders as diverse as the Singapore Sovereign wealth fund, Quebec’s investment agency and US Alinda Infrastructure.
Virgin back on Mumbai route after four years
Timing is right for Virgin Atlantic’s entry back onto the Heathrow-Mumbai route after a break of four years. The lucrative corridor carries more than one million passengers a year and Virgin has tweaked the schedules for daily connections to New York. Indian Airlines Kingfisher has suspended all flight bookings for the foreseeable future. It pulled out of Heathrow in March and is now in liquidation.
Plane food at pop-up park
Grab a picnic at the pop-up park in Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and you can be dining alfresco while you wait for your flight. The indoor green zone will be serving food that is known to help people unwind, including smoked chicken and mango salad from Gordon Ramsay Plane Food and crab maki rolls from Isu.
Airline shake-up in Aussie skies
In more news from Virgin, its Australia arm is bidding to acquire 60 per cent of Tiger Airways’ Australia operations along with endeavoring to purchase the regional carrier, Skywest. The acquisition would have the potential to create a duopoly with Qantas in the Australian market. Singapore Airlines’ purchase of 10 per cent of Virgin Australia has been given the go-ahead by the Australian Foreign Investment Review board.
Travel award for Conrad Dublin
The Conrad Hotel in Dublin is celebrating beating off competition from five other five-star hotels in the city to scoop the accolade of Ireland’s leading business hotel at the World Travel Awards held in Portugal last month.
CWT moves into mobile technology
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has acquired WorldMate Inc, the mobile travel technology firm which provides itinerary management systems and on-the-road services for travellers. CWT will invest in WorldMate to provide a broader range of services for business travellers and corporate customers, including hotel and restaurant reservations, ground transportation, airport parking, security tracking and in-flight internet.
The Chinese government, in the form of the China Investment Corporation, has taken a 10 per cent state in Heathrow Airport Holdings, formerly BAA, for £450 million. The value of their stake will mean a seat on the 14-member board. CIC’s investment will see it joining shareholders as diverse as the Singapore Sovereign wealth fund, Quebec’s investment agency and US Alinda Infrastructure.
Virgin back on Mumbai route after four years
Timing is right for Virgin Atlantic’s entry back onto the Heathrow-Mumbai route after a break of four years. The lucrative corridor carries more than one million passengers a year and Virgin has tweaked the schedules for daily connections to New York. Indian Airlines Kingfisher has suspended all flight bookings for the foreseeable future. It pulled out of Heathrow in March and is now in liquidation.
Plane food at pop-up park
Grab a picnic at the pop-up park in Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and you can be dining alfresco while you wait for your flight. The indoor green zone will be serving food that is known to help people unwind, including smoked chicken and mango salad from Gordon Ramsay Plane Food and crab maki rolls from Isu.
Airline shake-up in Aussie skies
In more news from Virgin, its Australia arm is bidding to acquire 60 per cent of Tiger Airways’ Australia operations along with endeavoring to purchase the regional carrier, Skywest. The acquisition would have the potential to create a duopoly with Qantas in the Australian market. Singapore Airlines’ purchase of 10 per cent of Virgin Australia has been given the go-ahead by the Australian Foreign Investment Review board.
Travel award for Conrad Dublin
The Conrad Hotel in Dublin is celebrating beating off competition from five other five-star hotels in the city to scoop the accolade of Ireland’s leading business hotel at the World Travel Awards held in Portugal last month.
CWT moves into mobile technology
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has acquired WorldMate Inc, the mobile travel technology firm which provides itinerary management systems and on-the-road services for travellers. CWT will invest in WorldMate to provide a broader range of services for business travellers and corporate customers, including hotel and restaurant reservations, ground transportation, airport parking, security tracking and in-flight internet.
Road Warrior - Oct. 31, 2012
The business of travelling for work
American airlines spreads its wings
What does Dublin have in common with Lima, Seoul and Dusseldorf? American Airlines will be flying scheduled services to these cities from next year.
The New York-Dublin AA route will begin on June 12th and operate year round. Premium passengers will have a separate check-in facilities and use of the executive lounge. On board the Boeing 757-200 there will be 14 lie-flat business class seats, Samsung Galaxy tablets and five-course fine dining. Prices start at €2,236 return.
The service will be the earliest leaving Dublin at 9am, arriving in New York at 11.30am local time and departing New York at 6.55pm. The service will operate in conjunction with joint business partners British Airways and Iberia, and customers will be able to collect points in the AA, BA or IB frequent flyer programmes. Flights are now on sale on americanairlines.com.
Greek airlines deal Aegean Airlines has agreed to buy Olympic Air in a deal worth €72 million. The two carriers had tried to merge two years ago, but that was blocked by the European Commission.
Olympic Air was formed after the privatisation of the national carrier Olympic Airways and operates from Athens, Thessaloniki and Rhodes airports.
The separate brands of the two airlines will be maintained for the future but all administrative and commercial departments will merge. Aegean launched flights on Sunday from London Gatwick to Athens.
Winning goes on
No sign of a post-Olympics slump in hotel prices in London, despite the dozens of new properties that opened.
TRI Hospitality Consulting reported a 3.2 per cent rise in occupancy to 89.4 per cent, with revPAR, revenue per available room, at £123.33 per room last month.
Despite the challenging economic outlook and history of post-Olympic slumps in other host cities, London looks likes finishing the year up on 2011 figures. The figures for provincial hotels, however, are gloomy, with revPAR at £57.31.
Hotel at the Arch
Is nothing sacrosanct in these days of austerity? The UK government has leased London’s landmark Admiralty Arch to Rafael Serrano’s Prime Investors Capital for 99 years to convert it into a luxury hotel.
PIC operates London’s newest most expensive hotel, the Bulgari in Knightsbridge. The deal will be worth £60 million and see the Grade 1 listed building restored to house 100 luxurious rooms, fine dining restaurant, ballroom and a spa.
Straddling the entry between Trafalgar Square and the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace, it was commissioned in 1912 by Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria.
Free wifi at hotels
Say goodbye to wifi charges when you stay in any of the Guoman Hotels in London.
Bandwidth has been increased in the Cumberland Marble Arch, the Tower, Royal Horseguards, Grosvenor Victoria and Charing Cross Hotels. Broadband will be available all through the hotels at no extra charge. See guomanhotels.com.
American airlines spreads its wings
What does Dublin have in common with Lima, Seoul and Dusseldorf? American Airlines will be flying scheduled services to these cities from next year.
The New York-Dublin AA route will begin on June 12th and operate year round. Premium passengers will have a separate check-in facilities and use of the executive lounge. On board the Boeing 757-200 there will be 14 lie-flat business class seats, Samsung Galaxy tablets and five-course fine dining. Prices start at €2,236 return.
The service will be the earliest leaving Dublin at 9am, arriving in New York at 11.30am local time and departing New York at 6.55pm. The service will operate in conjunction with joint business partners British Airways and Iberia, and customers will be able to collect points in the AA, BA or IB frequent flyer programmes. Flights are now on sale on americanairlines.com.
Greek airlines deal Aegean Airlines has agreed to buy Olympic Air in a deal worth €72 million. The two carriers had tried to merge two years ago, but that was blocked by the European Commission.
Olympic Air was formed after the privatisation of the national carrier Olympic Airways and operates from Athens, Thessaloniki and Rhodes airports.
The separate brands of the two airlines will be maintained for the future but all administrative and commercial departments will merge. Aegean launched flights on Sunday from London Gatwick to Athens.
Winning goes on
No sign of a post-Olympics slump in hotel prices in London, despite the dozens of new properties that opened.
TRI Hospitality Consulting reported a 3.2 per cent rise in occupancy to 89.4 per cent, with revPAR, revenue per available room, at £123.33 per room last month.
Despite the challenging economic outlook and history of post-Olympic slumps in other host cities, London looks likes finishing the year up on 2011 figures. The figures for provincial hotels, however, are gloomy, with revPAR at £57.31.
Hotel at the Arch
Is nothing sacrosanct in these days of austerity? The UK government has leased London’s landmark Admiralty Arch to Rafael Serrano’s Prime Investors Capital for 99 years to convert it into a luxury hotel.
PIC operates London’s newest most expensive hotel, the Bulgari in Knightsbridge. The deal will be worth £60 million and see the Grade 1 listed building restored to house 100 luxurious rooms, fine dining restaurant, ballroom and a spa.
Straddling the entry between Trafalgar Square and the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace, it was commissioned in 1912 by Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria.
Free wifi at hotels
Say goodbye to wifi charges when you stay in any of the Guoman Hotels in London.
Bandwidth has been increased in the Cumberland Marble Arch, the Tower, Royal Horseguards, Grosvenor Victoria and Charing Cross Hotels. Broadband will be available all through the hotels at no extra charge. See guomanhotels.com.
Road Warrior - Oct. 24th, 2012
The business of travelling for work
Go the extra mile
Flying Blue Irish members can earn up to 5,000 bonus miles when they fly from Dublin on a number of routes operated by Air France and KLM up to the end of November.
Routes include AF to Tokyo, Havana, Lima and Lagos via Paris. From Amsterdam, passengers on KL flight to Johannesburg, Xiamen, Rio de Janeiro and Lusaka can earn the bonus miles too.
Economy miles will be 3,000, Premium Voyageur 4,000 and Business Class will earn the full 5,000 per journey.
Getting the message
Plasticine man is going to being consigned to the Aer Lingus archives when the new in-flight video appears next year. vStream Media in Dublin has been appointed to deliver a creative and dynamic in-flight message to hold passengers’ attention while the safety features are pointed out. They will be competing against wireless internet on board, which is expected to begin appearing in the next few months on long-haul flights.
Get a room deal at the last minute
The number of people who arrive in a city with no accommodation booked is always higher than you would expect – hoping for a good deal by being a last-minute booker, maybe?
HotelTonight the booking app has arrived in Ireland and works on the basis that rooms for a select few hotels will be released at a special price from noon each day, up to 70 per cent off.
It was announced at the Web Summit last Thursday by CEO Sam Shank. Hotels in Dublin on the app include the Westbury, Merrion, Gresham, Morgan and Croke Park. HotelTonight is available in 65 cites including London, New York, and Amsterdam.
Blue-sky thinking
Hotels are beginning to realise that business travellers are often cooped up all day in meetings and would enjoy a walk, run or cycle in the fresh air. Exercising outdoors is becoming more popular and some people feel it can be better for your mental health and provide a positive distraction from the day’s toils.
Hotels encouraging you to enjoy the outdoors include the Affinia Dumont and Affinia Shelburne in New York, where Republic bikes and maps are available for guests. The four Kimpton hotels in Chicago also have complimentary bikes and the Woolcott in midtown Manhattan provides pedometers, as does the Palomar in San Diego. Most city hotels also have a running map of the area, for the fleet of foot.
Frommer's app
Another app this month is from WorldHotels, the independent hotel group with 500 properties worldwide. In partnership with the guide book publisher Frommer’s, the app will also have travel tips and maps.
Clients of the larger travel management companies will also be able to access their negotiated rates and book immediately. Members of Air France’s Flying Blue club can earn an additional, 1,500 miles per stay up to the end of December. See worldhotels.com.
Go the extra mile
Flying Blue Irish members can earn up to 5,000 bonus miles when they fly from Dublin on a number of routes operated by Air France and KLM up to the end of November.
Routes include AF to Tokyo, Havana, Lima and Lagos via Paris. From Amsterdam, passengers on KL flight to Johannesburg, Xiamen, Rio de Janeiro and Lusaka can earn the bonus miles too.
Economy miles will be 3,000, Premium Voyageur 4,000 and Business Class will earn the full 5,000 per journey.
Getting the message
Plasticine man is going to being consigned to the Aer Lingus archives when the new in-flight video appears next year. vStream Media in Dublin has been appointed to deliver a creative and dynamic in-flight message to hold passengers’ attention while the safety features are pointed out. They will be competing against wireless internet on board, which is expected to begin appearing in the next few months on long-haul flights.
Get a room deal at the last minute
The number of people who arrive in a city with no accommodation booked is always higher than you would expect – hoping for a good deal by being a last-minute booker, maybe?
HotelTonight the booking app has arrived in Ireland and works on the basis that rooms for a select few hotels will be released at a special price from noon each day, up to 70 per cent off.
It was announced at the Web Summit last Thursday by CEO Sam Shank. Hotels in Dublin on the app include the Westbury, Merrion, Gresham, Morgan and Croke Park. HotelTonight is available in 65 cites including London, New York, and Amsterdam.
Blue-sky thinking
Hotels are beginning to realise that business travellers are often cooped up all day in meetings and would enjoy a walk, run or cycle in the fresh air. Exercising outdoors is becoming more popular and some people feel it can be better for your mental health and provide a positive distraction from the day’s toils.
Hotels encouraging you to enjoy the outdoors include the Affinia Dumont and Affinia Shelburne in New York, where Republic bikes and maps are available for guests. The four Kimpton hotels in Chicago also have complimentary bikes and the Woolcott in midtown Manhattan provides pedometers, as does the Palomar in San Diego. Most city hotels also have a running map of the area, for the fleet of foot.
Frommer's app
Another app this month is from WorldHotels, the independent hotel group with 500 properties worldwide. In partnership with the guide book publisher Frommer’s, the app will also have travel tips and maps.
Clients of the larger travel management companies will also be able to access their negotiated rates and book immediately. Members of Air France’s Flying Blue club can earn an additional, 1,500 miles per stay up to the end of December. See worldhotels.com.
Oct. 17, world's biggest airport, silver for Ritz Carlton, need a spare jet, Emirates new office, ITM event.
Call that an airport? Beijing to go large
The world’s biggest airport will open in five years’ time 46km south of Beijing. It will be able to manage more than 130 million passengers a year – almost double Heathrow’s 69 million.
Daxing International Airport will be the busiest airport in the world and will cover an area of 55 square kilometres, about the size of Bermuda. It will have space for up to eight runways and the integrated transport hub will bring passengers into Beijing in 30 minutes on a high-speed railway.
Beijing Capital International airport handles 74 million passengers a year and is the second-busiest airport after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta in the US.
Putting on the Ritz
Getting silver and bronze may not be as good as gold, but it can be rewarding. The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt came second to the Bellagio in Las Vegas as the best overseas incentive hotel while Dublin was named one of the best incentive destinations after London and Cape Town in Conference and Incentive Magazine’s hot list of places to take your business. Let’s hope we see it translate into some serious business next year.
Got a spare jet?
Does anyone have a lightweight twin-engine jet aircraft they no longer need?
DIT is in the market for the delivery and installation of a secondhand aircraft for maintenance training purposes in the school of mechanical and transport engineering.
The aircraft does not have to be airworthy but does need to have avionics/radio systems, air data instrument systems and the engine turning over. Details on etenders.gov.ie.
Drop into Emirates
Customers are welcome to call into the new Emirates office at 2 Hume Street, Dublin 2, from 9am-5pm, where 14 staff will be based to deal with both leisure and business travel customers.
Since Emirates began services on January 9th this year, the airline has carried more than 160,000 passengers and 6,000 tonnes of freight.
Pictured are Margaret Shannon, country manager in Ireland, and Richard Jewsbury, senior vice president commercial operations Europe.
Travel forum
The Institute of Travel and Meetings (ITM) will be holding a forum and networking event on Thursday, November 20th, in the Burlington Hotel (above). The event is open to members and non-members.
Topics on the agenda will include online booking tools for travel, how social media, mobile technology and gamification affects travel programmes. Industry professionals will give a perspective on the business travel industry. Free to members and €30 for non-members and ITM connect members. Book places with Harriet.Holmes@itm.org.uk, or at tel: 00-44-1494-618497.
The world’s biggest airport will open in five years’ time 46km south of Beijing. It will be able to manage more than 130 million passengers a year – almost double Heathrow’s 69 million.
Daxing International Airport will be the busiest airport in the world and will cover an area of 55 square kilometres, about the size of Bermuda. It will have space for up to eight runways and the integrated transport hub will bring passengers into Beijing in 30 minutes on a high-speed railway.
Beijing Capital International airport handles 74 million passengers a year and is the second-busiest airport after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta in the US.
Putting on the Ritz
Getting silver and bronze may not be as good as gold, but it can be rewarding. The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt came second to the Bellagio in Las Vegas as the best overseas incentive hotel while Dublin was named one of the best incentive destinations after London and Cape Town in Conference and Incentive Magazine’s hot list of places to take your business. Let’s hope we see it translate into some serious business next year.
Got a spare jet?
Does anyone have a lightweight twin-engine jet aircraft they no longer need?
DIT is in the market for the delivery and installation of a secondhand aircraft for maintenance training purposes in the school of mechanical and transport engineering.
The aircraft does not have to be airworthy but does need to have avionics/radio systems, air data instrument systems and the engine turning over. Details on etenders.gov.ie.
Drop into Emirates
Customers are welcome to call into the new Emirates office at 2 Hume Street, Dublin 2, from 9am-5pm, where 14 staff will be based to deal with both leisure and business travel customers.
Since Emirates began services on January 9th this year, the airline has carried more than 160,000 passengers and 6,000 tonnes of freight.
Pictured are Margaret Shannon, country manager in Ireland, and Richard Jewsbury, senior vice president commercial operations Europe.
Travel forum
The Institute of Travel and Meetings (ITM) will be holding a forum and networking event on Thursday, November 20th, in the Burlington Hotel (above). The event is open to members and non-members.
Topics on the agenda will include online booking tools for travel, how social media, mobile technology and gamification affects travel programmes. Industry professionals will give a perspective on the business travel industry. Free to members and €30 for non-members and ITM connect members. Book places with Harriet.Holmes@itm.org.uk, or at tel: 00-44-1494-618497.
Road Warrior - space travel, stressed warriors, LH fees, Delta in Chelsea, Oct. 10
The next frontier
Road warriors of the future will not be limited to this planet, but may travel in wider worlds. European Space Solutions, a three-day conference in London, will bring together business, public sector users and developers to explore space-based services and applying the technologies for the future.
One of the keynote speakers will be Sir Richard Branson (above), an advocate of space travel. The conference takes place from December 3rd to 5th during the European Space Expo in London. See space-solutions.eu
Delta force Chelsea
Be nice and fly with Delta (a lot) and you may get an invitation to the Delta 360 degree lounge at Chelsea Football Club for pre-match hospitality. The airline has opened a lounge in the Millennium and Copthorne Hotel at Stamford Bridge Stadium. They have exclusive use for home games, where they will host guests for pre-match hospitality.
‘Lost time’ causes travelling stress
In a survey of 6,000 regular road warriors into the causes of stress while travelling, Carlson Wagonlit Travel has hit on some surprising findings. Jet lag and long working hours are less stressful than losing a bag. It is not a bag being lost or delayed that causes the stress, but the “lost time”, along with routine breakers and surprises.
Not being able to stick routines, such as fitness or eating healthily on the road, were also high on the list. Surprises like unforeseen events which throw off plans were at the top of the list. Women found travelling on average four percentage points of stress higher than men. People living with a spouse or partner, found weekend travelling generated additional stress.
More travel fees Brothers in Liberty
Visitors to Philadelphia can combine a love of history with a stay in the Hotel Monaco, which opened last Friday. The hotel, in the Lafayette Building, overlooks the Liberty Bell (above) and is in the most historic square mile of the United States.
Follow in the footsteps of Ben Franklin or indeed run up those steps in the Rocky robe. The hotel also has the Stratus Rooftop bar and lounge to survey the birth city of a nation. Rates from $211 per night. See monaco-philadelphia.com.
From next week Lufthansa will be introducing a credit card surcharge which means tickets will incur an additional €7.50, just in case you were wondering what the extra fee on your card is.
Road warriors of the future will not be limited to this planet, but may travel in wider worlds. European Space Solutions, a three-day conference in London, will bring together business, public sector users and developers to explore space-based services and applying the technologies for the future.
One of the keynote speakers will be Sir Richard Branson (above), an advocate of space travel. The conference takes place from December 3rd to 5th during the European Space Expo in London. See space-solutions.eu
Delta force Chelsea
Be nice and fly with Delta (a lot) and you may get an invitation to the Delta 360 degree lounge at Chelsea Football Club for pre-match hospitality. The airline has opened a lounge in the Millennium and Copthorne Hotel at Stamford Bridge Stadium. They have exclusive use for home games, where they will host guests for pre-match hospitality.
‘Lost time’ causes travelling stress
In a survey of 6,000 regular road warriors into the causes of stress while travelling, Carlson Wagonlit Travel has hit on some surprising findings. Jet lag and long working hours are less stressful than losing a bag. It is not a bag being lost or delayed that causes the stress, but the “lost time”, along with routine breakers and surprises.
Not being able to stick routines, such as fitness or eating healthily on the road, were also high on the list. Surprises like unforeseen events which throw off plans were at the top of the list. Women found travelling on average four percentage points of stress higher than men. People living with a spouse or partner, found weekend travelling generated additional stress.
More travel fees Brothers in Liberty
Visitors to Philadelphia can combine a love of history with a stay in the Hotel Monaco, which opened last Friday. The hotel, in the Lafayette Building, overlooks the Liberty Bell (above) and is in the most historic square mile of the United States.
Follow in the footsteps of Ben Franklin or indeed run up those steps in the Rocky robe. The hotel also has the Stratus Rooftop bar and lounge to survey the birth city of a nation. Rates from $211 per night. See monaco-philadelphia.com.
From next week Lufthansa will be introducing a credit card surcharge which means tickets will incur an additional €7.50, just in case you were wondering what the extra fee on your card is.
Road Warrior Sept. 25
Cashback with SAS
SAS Scandinavian Airlines are bringing back Cashback for Business from October 1st to December 31st, when companies spending a minimum of €1,000 on fares will receive up to €50 back for each business class ticket and €30 for Economy Plus.
Register with your travel agent for the campaign by September 30th. SAS also have a sale on fares to Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm until Friday, with each-way fares from €52 including baggage, taxes and fees, in November and December. See flysas.ie.
Toggle your number
Keep the cost of communications on the road down with a sim card that carries numbers for a range of countries in Europe.
The ToggleMobile sim comes with a permanent UK number and the option to add a selection of other country mobile numbers, including an Irish number.
Callers can use a local number and low call rates of 15p a minute, SMS are 9p per message and internet browsing costs from 15p per MB. Incoming calls are free on Toggle numbers in over 100 countries. Details from toggle mobile.co.uk.
The Caley is back
Edinburgh’s landmark hotel the Caledonian reopened last week under the Waldorf Astoria brand after a refurbishment costing £24 million (€30.1 million).
The 241-bedroom hotel, formerly a Hilton, has relaunched with two restaurants under the management of Michelin-starred chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin. The Caledonian is expected to take the crown in a city that has had many new hotel openings in recent years.
Waldorf Astoria will be adding to the stable during the autumn with a new build hotel in Berlin at the Zoofenster Building near the Kufürstendamm.
Lufthansa wings it
Germanwings, the domestic subsidiary of Lufthansa, is being integrated into the mother ship from January 1st, with the potential to cut costs and achieve economies of scale.
Germanwings, headquartered at Cologne, has been operating low-cost services for 10 years in Germany and to other European cities. Little baby brother Eurowings, based at Düsseldorf, will also be brought into the fold. We may see a new name for Lufthansa’s budget offering next year.
County Car win franchise for Sixt
County Car Rentals in Dún Laoghaire has won the franchise for Ireland for the Sixt car rental brand. County Car rentals, a business run by the Loughran family for the past 60 year, will create 23 new jobs over the next eight months.
Sixt is one of the biggest car rental companies and celebrates 100 years in business this year. There are 4,000 Sixt locations in 105 countries worldwide.
Customers of Sixt can earn airmiles with more than 70 airline partners and points with major hotel chains such as Starwood, Hilton and Hyatt. The Sixt franchise had been with Murrays car rental firm.
Road Warrior - Sept. 18
What's left behind If you wonder what everyone is doing when they stay in a Travelodge, this research might enlighten you. So far this year, 7,000 copies of Fifty Shades of Grey have been discarded in bedrooms, followed by the other two volumes in the trilogy.
Other books making the “Books Left Behind” list includes Stieg Larsson The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy and our own Marian Keyes’s The Brightest Star in the Sky. Business travellers were probably responsible for leaving behind Steve Jobs, the Exclusive Biography.
Size doesn't matter
Finding a room for a small meeting in Dublin just became easier with Bewleys Hotels. Meetings for up to 10 people will cost €100 per day and include wifi, mineral water, AV and smart boards or LCD projector and screen. There are four Bewleys hotels in Dublin. Manchester Airport Bewleys will cost from £85 per day and Leeds City Centre from £99 per day. Book online on BewleysHotels.com/meetings.
European airlines gather in Dublin
Welcome to Dublin to the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) for the general assembly 2012. The ERA, which represents 60 intra-European carriers, will be meeting in the Convention Centre over the next three days to discuss many issues of vital importance for the provision of air transport links. Issues will include the investment in infrastructure and fleet, mitigating environmental damage and ensuring fair competition.
Christoph Mueller, the chief executive of Aer Lingus, will give the keynote address. The area covered by ERA members stretches from Greenland to Cape Verde, off Africa, and east as far as Novosibirsk in Russia, with 462 destinations in 61 European countries.
Cuts hit US customs
Cutbacks at Shannon Airport by the US Customs and Border Patrol mean the second daily British Airways business class-only service from London City Airport will not be able to use the US pre-clearance facilities. The business class-only services from London city were introduced three years ago and use A318s configured for 32 passengers. The flights carry the original Concorde designators, BA001 – BA004.
Wifi for all seasons
Four Seasons hotels will have free in-car wifi in all of its house cars and contracted limousine and chauffeur services. Already in place in many Four Season properties, including Hotel Pudong, Shanghai, the service will be available at all locations by October 1st. Some cars will also be equipped with iPads offering hotel information, and multi-adaptor device chargers.
Other books making the “Books Left Behind” list includes Stieg Larsson The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy and our own Marian Keyes’s The Brightest Star in the Sky. Business travellers were probably responsible for leaving behind Steve Jobs, the Exclusive Biography.
Size doesn't matter
Finding a room for a small meeting in Dublin just became easier with Bewleys Hotels. Meetings for up to 10 people will cost €100 per day and include wifi, mineral water, AV and smart boards or LCD projector and screen. There are four Bewleys hotels in Dublin. Manchester Airport Bewleys will cost from £85 per day and Leeds City Centre from £99 per day. Book online on BewleysHotels.com/meetings.
European airlines gather in Dublin
Welcome to Dublin to the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) for the general assembly 2012. The ERA, which represents 60 intra-European carriers, will be meeting in the Convention Centre over the next three days to discuss many issues of vital importance for the provision of air transport links. Issues will include the investment in infrastructure and fleet, mitigating environmental damage and ensuring fair competition.
Christoph Mueller, the chief executive of Aer Lingus, will give the keynote address. The area covered by ERA members stretches from Greenland to Cape Verde, off Africa, and east as far as Novosibirsk in Russia, with 462 destinations in 61 European countries.
Cuts hit US customs
Cutbacks at Shannon Airport by the US Customs and Border Patrol mean the second daily British Airways business class-only service from London City Airport will not be able to use the US pre-clearance facilities. The business class-only services from London city were introduced three years ago and use A318s configured for 32 passengers. The flights carry the original Concorde designators, BA001 – BA004.
Wifi for all seasons
Four Seasons hotels will have free in-car wifi in all of its house cars and contracted limousine and chauffeur services. Already in place in many Four Season properties, including Hotel Pudong, Shanghai, the service will be available at all locations by October 1st. Some cars will also be equipped with iPads offering hotel information, and multi-adaptor device chargers.
Road Warrior - September 12, 2012.
Wifi is becoming more available on international carriers, but at a cost. Airlines are charging anything from $5-$30 (€4-23) per session. Two airlines operating out of Ireland are providing free wifi for passengers: Norwegian and SAS.
Norwegian, the low-cost carrier, has flights from Dublin to Oslo and Copenhagen, and wifi will be available on its whole fleet by the end of the year. SAS, with substantial routes to the Scandinavian countries and onwards, is rolling out wifi across the fleet. Some services from Ireland already have free access.
ITM’s new name
The Institute of Travel and Meetings, formerly the Institute of Travel Management, (ITM) has reformed in Ireland under the chairmanship of Olive Kavanagh, global travel category manager with Microsoft. The ITM was established in the UK in 1956 and is the leading body for buyers and suppliers of business travel, and helps companies to establish best practice in business travel management.
The ITM will be organising a series of workshops and events, and new members are welcome to join by contacting Kavanagh on OliveK@microsoft.com and (086) 8134030.
Get bonus miles
The autumn travel season begins with a chance to earn extra points and miles when flying with Virgin Atlantic and Emirates. VS will be giving up to 150 per cent bonus miles and up to 12 bonus tier points when you fly between now and February 28, 2013. Register for this offer with Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club. You can double your miles with Emirates Skywards club on 20 routes to the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Economy passengers can earn 50 per cent bonus miles and first and business class can double the miles on flights to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Lagos, among the 20 routes. Book by November 30th for travel by the end of that month.
Qantas says G’day to BA after 17 years
Qantas announced last week that it will be ending the 17-year revenue sharing partnership with British Airways next March and entering into a code sharing agreement with Emirates. The main intercontinental hub for Qantas will move from Singapore to Dubai.
Recently Qantas reported its first loss in 17 years and it has embarked on a stringent cost-cutting programme.
Orders for 35 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners have been cancelled. Traffic to Australia has become dominated by carriers from the Middle East in recent years and the new relationship is expected to help Qantas to strip out some of its costs.
Widen the net
Networking is one of the keys to business success especially in China and Hong Kong. Considerable business networking opportunities are the prizes, along with tickets and entry to the Diamond and Gold membership of the Marco Polo Club, in the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards 2012. The awards recognise the dynamism of Irish and British companies doing business in China and Hong Kong, entry closes on October 31st. See details about how to enter on CathayPacific.co.uk/awards.
lick here to edit.
Norwegian, the low-cost carrier, has flights from Dublin to Oslo and Copenhagen, and wifi will be available on its whole fleet by the end of the year. SAS, with substantial routes to the Scandinavian countries and onwards, is rolling out wifi across the fleet. Some services from Ireland already have free access.
ITM’s new name
The Institute of Travel and Meetings, formerly the Institute of Travel Management, (ITM) has reformed in Ireland under the chairmanship of Olive Kavanagh, global travel category manager with Microsoft. The ITM was established in the UK in 1956 and is the leading body for buyers and suppliers of business travel, and helps companies to establish best practice in business travel management.
The ITM will be organising a series of workshops and events, and new members are welcome to join by contacting Kavanagh on OliveK@microsoft.com and (086) 8134030.
Get bonus miles
The autumn travel season begins with a chance to earn extra points and miles when flying with Virgin Atlantic and Emirates. VS will be giving up to 150 per cent bonus miles and up to 12 bonus tier points when you fly between now and February 28, 2013. Register for this offer with Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club. You can double your miles with Emirates Skywards club on 20 routes to the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Economy passengers can earn 50 per cent bonus miles and first and business class can double the miles on flights to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Lagos, among the 20 routes. Book by November 30th for travel by the end of that month.
Qantas says G’day to BA after 17 years
Qantas announced last week that it will be ending the 17-year revenue sharing partnership with British Airways next March and entering into a code sharing agreement with Emirates. The main intercontinental hub for Qantas will move from Singapore to Dubai.
Recently Qantas reported its first loss in 17 years and it has embarked on a stringent cost-cutting programme.
Orders for 35 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners have been cancelled. Traffic to Australia has become dominated by carriers from the Middle East in recent years and the new relationship is expected to help Qantas to strip out some of its costs.
Widen the net
Networking is one of the keys to business success especially in China and Hong Kong. Considerable business networking opportunities are the prizes, along with tickets and entry to the Diamond and Gold membership of the Marco Polo Club, in the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards 2012. The awards recognise the dynamism of Irish and British companies doing business in China and Hong Kong, entry closes on October 31st. See details about how to enter on CathayPacific.co.uk/awards.
lick here to edit.
Road Warrior September 5
Virgin code-share
VIRGIN RUSSIA could be on the cards next with the latest tie-in with Transaero, the Russian carrier. The two airlines will code-share on each other’s services to Moscow. Transaero will code-share on Virgin’s flight to Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and on Gatwick to Orlando.
Earlier this year, Virgin announced that it wanted to begin services to Moscow and that it would be bidding for the 12 former bmi slots that British Airways will be giving up at Heathrow.
A decision is expected in December.
Hertz nabs Thrifty
Hertz has finally got its hands on Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group with an all-cash transaction of $2.6 billion in equity value. The deal took two years to complete and now sees the US car rental market under the control of three companies: Hertz, Avis and Enterprise.
Hertz will keep the Dollar and Thrifty brands and plans to expand the Thrifty brand into Europe. The Advantage brand will be divested as it is seen as too low priced to be on the same rate card for Hertz corporate customers.
Hyho website
HYHO HOTELS has launched a new corporate website for hotel bookings with access to 130,000 to hotels worldwide. The new site will be ideal for small and medium enterprises as it offers a flexible payment policy.
Payments will only have to be made on credit card when the individual hotel cancellation policy comes into effect. There are no credit card fees. Companies can be provided with monthly reports and statistics on spend and savings made.
Invoices are generated for every booking, Hyhocorporate.com.
Best address in town
ONE OF the best addresses in London is Grosvenor House, Park Lane, and you can have it as yours when you stay in the Jumeirah Grosvenor House Apartments.
The new development at the landmark hotel means studios from £450 a night up to £11,000 a night for four-bedroom suites on 4,800sq ft!
Guaranteeing privacy, discretion, security and all the services of a five-star hotel, the Grosvenor House apartments in the Lutyens-designed building are luxurious and provide business facilities, 24-hour dining and concierge services.
BA chief joins in passenger tax fight
THE CAMPAIGN to cap air passenger duty (APD) in the UK has been extended beyond the UK border with a letter from Keith Williams, chief executive of British Airways, to overseas members of BA’s Executive Club.
In the letter he urges members to visit the website Afairtaxonflying.orgwhich will generate a letter to chancellor George Osborne, the minister in charge of APD, calling for action on the tax. The duty has continually increased in the past six years; for example the tax on a long-haul economy ticket has increased from £20 to £80 and is double that for business- and first-class fares.
Air passenger duty is not applied to tickets for travel though the UK if the passenger is travelling on a through ticket, ie there is one ticket for the journey and it begins in Ireland or elsewhere.
VIRGIN RUSSIA could be on the cards next with the latest tie-in with Transaero, the Russian carrier. The two airlines will code-share on each other’s services to Moscow. Transaero will code-share on Virgin’s flight to Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and on Gatwick to Orlando.
Earlier this year, Virgin announced that it wanted to begin services to Moscow and that it would be bidding for the 12 former bmi slots that British Airways will be giving up at Heathrow.
A decision is expected in December.
Hertz nabs Thrifty
Hertz has finally got its hands on Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group with an all-cash transaction of $2.6 billion in equity value. The deal took two years to complete and now sees the US car rental market under the control of three companies: Hertz, Avis and Enterprise.
Hertz will keep the Dollar and Thrifty brands and plans to expand the Thrifty brand into Europe. The Advantage brand will be divested as it is seen as too low priced to be on the same rate card for Hertz corporate customers.
Hyho website
HYHO HOTELS has launched a new corporate website for hotel bookings with access to 130,000 to hotels worldwide. The new site will be ideal for small and medium enterprises as it offers a flexible payment policy.
Payments will only have to be made on credit card when the individual hotel cancellation policy comes into effect. There are no credit card fees. Companies can be provided with monthly reports and statistics on spend and savings made.
Invoices are generated for every booking, Hyhocorporate.com.
Best address in town
ONE OF the best addresses in London is Grosvenor House, Park Lane, and you can have it as yours when you stay in the Jumeirah Grosvenor House Apartments.
The new development at the landmark hotel means studios from £450 a night up to £11,000 a night for four-bedroom suites on 4,800sq ft!
Guaranteeing privacy, discretion, security and all the services of a five-star hotel, the Grosvenor House apartments in the Lutyens-designed building are luxurious and provide business facilities, 24-hour dining and concierge services.
BA chief joins in passenger tax fight
THE CAMPAIGN to cap air passenger duty (APD) in the UK has been extended beyond the UK border with a letter from Keith Williams, chief executive of British Airways, to overseas members of BA’s Executive Club.
In the letter he urges members to visit the website Afairtaxonflying.orgwhich will generate a letter to chancellor George Osborne, the minister in charge of APD, calling for action on the tax. The duty has continually increased in the past six years; for example the tax on a long-haul economy ticket has increased from £20 to £80 and is double that for business- and first-class fares.
Air passenger duty is not applied to tickets for travel though the UK if the passenger is travelling on a through ticket, ie there is one ticket for the journey and it begins in Ireland or elsewhere.
Who's got a Dream Liner?
Africa’s first 787
Ethiopian becomes the first airline outside of Japan and ahead of airlines in the Americas and Europe to take delivery of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
Named Africa First, the Dreamliner, although much delayed, is one of the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft in the world. Ethiopian has an order for 10 more Dreamliners with Boeing and will be receiving five more by the end of the year. With the delivery of the Dreamliners, the Ethiopian fleet will become one of the youngest and most advanced in Africa.
The new aircraft will serve international routes to Europe, India and the Middle East. On September 17th, Africa First will fly the first ever flight from Addis Ababa to Rome and London.
Routes to watch
Low-cost carriers in Asia are expanding rapidly and adding regional routes to formerly difficult to get to locations. Ones to watch are Indigo ( GoIndigo.in) with 27 cities within India. Cebu Pacific has a fleet of 18 for 32 destinations in and around the Philippines and to China and other SE Asian cities (Cebu Pacificair. com). Air Asia has more than 90 aircraft with a primary hub in Kuala Lumpur and more than 400 routes, particularly to the Asean countries.
Bargain time as BA drops prices by 27%
THE EXPECTED British Airways sale has appeared and passengers from Ireland can book travel up to June 23rd next year at discounted rates. World Traveller Plus seats have been reduced by 18-27 per cent depending on the routes.
Booking can be made on the BA.comwebsite or with travel agents by September 25th. Sample World Traveller premium economy flights from Ireland (Dublin, Cork and Shannon) are New York from €795, Johannesburg from €1,240, Hong Kong from €1,100. No sale on Club World or First yet, but watch this space.
On-off for phones On an aircraft, when the message comes over the intercom to remind passengers to turn off their phones, are you one of the 12 per cent who leave them on?
A survey by Four Points by Sheraton found that 12 per cent of business travellers leave their phones on during flights and 54 per cent turn them on while the aircraft is taxiing. The smartphone is the most carried of all technology gadgets with 74 per cent of people having one.
Road warriors carry up to four technology devices, including tablets, music players and laptops.
The Lion’s share
Lion Air’s hub is Jakarta and it has 81 aircraft flying to 36 cities in Indonesia. Lion Air’s large aircraft orders – 230 Boeing jets – will see it growing significantly over the new few years ( Lionair.co.id). Nok Air is a home- grown Thai airline and baby brother of Thai International. It offers 20 destinations around Thailand and to Vientiane in Laos ( Nokair.com).
Ethiopian becomes the first airline outside of Japan and ahead of airlines in the Americas and Europe to take delivery of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
Named Africa First, the Dreamliner, although much delayed, is one of the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft in the world. Ethiopian has an order for 10 more Dreamliners with Boeing and will be receiving five more by the end of the year. With the delivery of the Dreamliners, the Ethiopian fleet will become one of the youngest and most advanced in Africa.
The new aircraft will serve international routes to Europe, India and the Middle East. On September 17th, Africa First will fly the first ever flight from Addis Ababa to Rome and London.
Routes to watch
Low-cost carriers in Asia are expanding rapidly and adding regional routes to formerly difficult to get to locations. Ones to watch are Indigo ( GoIndigo.in) with 27 cities within India. Cebu Pacific has a fleet of 18 for 32 destinations in and around the Philippines and to China and other SE Asian cities (Cebu Pacificair. com). Air Asia has more than 90 aircraft with a primary hub in Kuala Lumpur and more than 400 routes, particularly to the Asean countries.
Bargain time as BA drops prices by 27%
THE EXPECTED British Airways sale has appeared and passengers from Ireland can book travel up to June 23rd next year at discounted rates. World Traveller Plus seats have been reduced by 18-27 per cent depending on the routes.
Booking can be made on the BA.comwebsite or with travel agents by September 25th. Sample World Traveller premium economy flights from Ireland (Dublin, Cork and Shannon) are New York from €795, Johannesburg from €1,240, Hong Kong from €1,100. No sale on Club World or First yet, but watch this space.
On-off for phones On an aircraft, when the message comes over the intercom to remind passengers to turn off their phones, are you one of the 12 per cent who leave them on?
A survey by Four Points by Sheraton found that 12 per cent of business travellers leave their phones on during flights and 54 per cent turn them on while the aircraft is taxiing. The smartphone is the most carried of all technology gadgets with 74 per cent of people having one.
Road warriors carry up to four technology devices, including tablets, music players and laptops.
The Lion’s share
Lion Air’s hub is Jakarta and it has 81 aircraft flying to 36 cities in Indonesia. Lion Air’s large aircraft orders – 230 Boeing jets – will see it growing significantly over the new few years ( Lionair.co.id). Nok Air is a home- grown Thai airline and baby brother of Thai International. It offers 20 destinations around Thailand and to Vientiane in Laos ( Nokair.com).
Road Warrior - Aug. 22, 2012
Dearest Moscow
Moscow continues to be the most expensive city for business travellers in terms of hotels, where rates were up 3 per cent in the first six months of the year according to business travel specialists HRG.
Second ranked most expensive is Lagos in Nigeria, followed by Geneva, Zurich, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Paris and Washington DC. Cities where rates decreased were Barcelona, Munich, Istanbul, Bangalaore and Mumbai.
Accor's free wi-fi
Better news for business travellers from Accor Hotels, who have announced that they will be introducing free wi-fi in all of its almost 500 hotels in Asia Pacific by the end of the year.
Brands in the Accor stable include Novotel, Mercure, Pullman and Sofitel.
Surfing the web and checking emails will be free, but bandwidth hogs will have to pay for downloads.
Straight to Toronto
Air Canada is continuing the Dublin to Toronto service until October 14th. It will fly daily until September 30th and then four times weekly until October 14th. Germany’s centre of green technology, Münster, moves a little closer with a Cityjet service via London City Airport beginning on October 29th.
More hotels charge for internet in US
The bugbear of many business travellers is hotels charging for internet access – and the bad news from the US is that more hotels are levying a fee.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association biennial survey found 23 per cent of properties are charging for in-room internet access, up eight points since 2008. At the top end of the market, 84 per cent of luxury and 76 per cent of upper upscale properties charge for access.
Charges for using exercise facilities have become more common, with 25 per cent of hotels levying fees. On the bright side, free breakfast is becoming more common.
A trip to India
If your company is planning on doing business in India, the Irish Exporters’ Association through its Asia Trade Forum is organising a business visit to India from September 5th-7th in co-operation with the India Export Organisations and the Ireland India Business Association. There is just time to apply for a visa, details from Ashley Beston at Irish Exports on (01) 642 4171 and Carol Mullins at FCm Travel Solutions on (01) 605 3989.
Post-Games blues
Post-Olympics hotel trading in London will be tough, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The luxury market has grown 33 per cent since the Games were announced and the budget market more than doubled at 60 per cent.
Liz Hall of PwC said “such a large supply spike against an uncertain economic and travel environment is likely to mean a tougher competitive outlook.”
Expect some rate cutting in the future.
jscales@irishtimes.com
Moscow continues to be the most expensive city for business travellers in terms of hotels, where rates were up 3 per cent in the first six months of the year according to business travel specialists HRG.
Second ranked most expensive is Lagos in Nigeria, followed by Geneva, Zurich, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Paris and Washington DC. Cities where rates decreased were Barcelona, Munich, Istanbul, Bangalaore and Mumbai.
Accor's free wi-fi
Better news for business travellers from Accor Hotels, who have announced that they will be introducing free wi-fi in all of its almost 500 hotels in Asia Pacific by the end of the year.
Brands in the Accor stable include Novotel, Mercure, Pullman and Sofitel.
Surfing the web and checking emails will be free, but bandwidth hogs will have to pay for downloads.
Straight to Toronto
Air Canada is continuing the Dublin to Toronto service until October 14th. It will fly daily until September 30th and then four times weekly until October 14th. Germany’s centre of green technology, Münster, moves a little closer with a Cityjet service via London City Airport beginning on October 29th.
More hotels charge for internet in US
The bugbear of many business travellers is hotels charging for internet access – and the bad news from the US is that more hotels are levying a fee.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association biennial survey found 23 per cent of properties are charging for in-room internet access, up eight points since 2008. At the top end of the market, 84 per cent of luxury and 76 per cent of upper upscale properties charge for access.
Charges for using exercise facilities have become more common, with 25 per cent of hotels levying fees. On the bright side, free breakfast is becoming more common.
A trip to India
If your company is planning on doing business in India, the Irish Exporters’ Association through its Asia Trade Forum is organising a business visit to India from September 5th-7th in co-operation with the India Export Organisations and the Ireland India Business Association. There is just time to apply for a visa, details from Ashley Beston at Irish Exports on (01) 642 4171 and Carol Mullins at FCm Travel Solutions on (01) 605 3989.
Post-Games blues
Post-Olympics hotel trading in London will be tough, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The luxury market has grown 33 per cent since the Games were announced and the budget market more than doubled at 60 per cent.
Liz Hall of PwC said “such a large supply spike against an uncertain economic and travel environment is likely to mean a tougher competitive outlook.”
Expect some rate cutting in the future.
jscales@irishtimes.com
Road Warrior - Aug 15
It takes a Sharklet to save fuel. That is what the new wing tips being fitted to Air Berlin’s fleet of A320/321 aircraft are called. The two-and-a-half metre extensions which point upwards reduce vortices and improve aerodynamics. Lowering fuel burn by 3.5 per cent will mean a reduction of 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum of each aircraft.
Air Berlin is Germany’s second airline and carried 35 million passengers on its 165 aircraft last year.
By royal approval
London City Airport, the only airport in London as it loves to stress, particularly since Southend Airport recently acquired the designation of London, is celebrating 25 years in business. There have been 35.5 million passenger trips through the boutique airport and more than one million flights.
Plans are being made to increase traffic movements from 70,000 to 120,000 per year and maintain the 20/10 proposition – 20 minutes from check-in to flight and 10 minutes from touch down to taxi or train. The Queen paid a visit to London City Airport when she was on her way to the Olympic Stadium, 10 minutes away.
Bird's-eye Barcelona
If you were staying in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona and had a few hours to kill, you could take a city tour by helicopter. The hotel has panoramic flights which will whizz you over Sagrada Familia, the Olympic Stadium, Camp Nou and more, lasting from 10 minutes to three hours from €100 to €350 per person.
Watch fares drop on the Dublin-London Heathrow route when British Airways increases flights to eight per day each way and seven on Saturday on the winter timetable. Aer Lingus already operates 12 flights a day to Heathrow, with 11 at the weekends, and price cutting is the only way to dominate the route.
British Airways may also be trying to win back east-bound long-haul traffic from the Emirates-based carriers. Watch out for good value long-haul fares. Passengers passing through Heathrow are not subject to the UK’s expensive Air Passenger Duty if travelling on a through ticket.
Dublin-London fare wars loom In a different class
Meanwhile, the ink is dry on the contract and staff have already begun taking bookings for one of the biggest travel accounts in the country – the Government. Carlson Wagonlit Travel won the contract after a rigorous bid process by the National Procurement Process. The six new staff will handle the travel arrangements for Government departments, bodies, offices and missions abroad.
The middle-class option is growing among US airlines, with more corporates downsizing on business and first-class seats for staff. Premium economy seats with more legroom and flexibility on tickets have been around for some time on international carriers such as British Airways, Air France and Japan Airlines. Now US carriers are beginning to add the extra class with names such as Economy Comfort on Delta, Main Cabin Extra on American and Economy Plus on United.
Air Berlin is Germany’s second airline and carried 35 million passengers on its 165 aircraft last year.
By royal approval
London City Airport, the only airport in London as it loves to stress, particularly since Southend Airport recently acquired the designation of London, is celebrating 25 years in business. There have been 35.5 million passenger trips through the boutique airport and more than one million flights.
Plans are being made to increase traffic movements from 70,000 to 120,000 per year and maintain the 20/10 proposition – 20 minutes from check-in to flight and 10 minutes from touch down to taxi or train. The Queen paid a visit to London City Airport when she was on her way to the Olympic Stadium, 10 minutes away.
Bird's-eye Barcelona
If you were staying in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona and had a few hours to kill, you could take a city tour by helicopter. The hotel has panoramic flights which will whizz you over Sagrada Familia, the Olympic Stadium, Camp Nou and more, lasting from 10 minutes to three hours from €100 to €350 per person.
Watch fares drop on the Dublin-London Heathrow route when British Airways increases flights to eight per day each way and seven on Saturday on the winter timetable. Aer Lingus already operates 12 flights a day to Heathrow, with 11 at the weekends, and price cutting is the only way to dominate the route.
British Airways may also be trying to win back east-bound long-haul traffic from the Emirates-based carriers. Watch out for good value long-haul fares. Passengers passing through Heathrow are not subject to the UK’s expensive Air Passenger Duty if travelling on a through ticket.
Dublin-London fare wars loom In a different class
Meanwhile, the ink is dry on the contract and staff have already begun taking bookings for one of the biggest travel accounts in the country – the Government. Carlson Wagonlit Travel won the contract after a rigorous bid process by the National Procurement Process. The six new staff will handle the travel arrangements for Government departments, bodies, offices and missions abroad.
The middle-class option is growing among US airlines, with more corporates downsizing on business and first-class seats for staff. Premium economy seats with more legroom and flexibility on tickets have been around for some time on international carriers such as British Airways, Air France and Japan Airlines. Now US carriers are beginning to add the extra class with names such as Economy Comfort on Delta, Main Cabin Extra on American and Economy Plus on United.
Road Warrior - Aug. 8
Ultimate travel card
In your wallet you may need to add a new card, the Delta Private Jets Card, with values from $50,000 to $200,000. The card offers locked-in pricing for two years with no fuel surcharges for chartered business jets. Using the dedicated concierge service you can book a private jet to get around North America. There are 5,000 airports accessible by private aircraft. See Deltaprivatejets.com.
Allocated seating
Easyjet is doing trials on allocated seating across its network and will review it after the end of August. In an effort to attract more business travellers, the airline may turn its back on the first come, first served dash for overhead lockers and aisle seats.
When it comes to beds and picking which one to sleep in, Ted Tang, chief executive of Leading Hotels of the World, said they are working on a booking tool that will allow guests to choose their favourite room. “The airlines do it, the cruises do it, so why can’t hotels do it.”
Ryanair is looking at packing planes quicker with the possibility of increasing door size to allow passengers enter in twos. A Chinese company is studying at a possibility of putting bigger doors on the airline’s Boeing fleet.
Trusted travellers
United States citizens and US lawful residents travelling through Dublin and Shannon airports will be able to join the Global Entry programme and take advantage of expedited clearance at the newly installed kiosks in both airports. Members of the Global Entry programme will have reduced waiting times and are usually processed in less than five minutes. See CBP.govfor details of how to join.
Presidential double at GBTA conference
Maybe it is because its combined 5,000 membership manages more than $340 billion of global business travel and meetings worldwide, that the Global Business Travel Association had two former US presidents address its annual conference last week in Boston.
George W Bush’s keynote speech was about leadership, his time in office and the decision-making process behind some of the memorable moments during his office and also about his first trip abroad.
Bill Clinton was the final speaker at the convention and said “the future looks good for business travel”. He went on to talk about the importance of meeting face to face to exchange ideas and spur innovations.
Watch out road warriors – at the GBTA convention, travel managers were urged to tackle the last frontiers of unmanaged travel, roaming charges, ground transportation and dining out. These charges can account for up to 35 per cent of trip spending.
Suggestions made were to send smartphone “trigger” messages to travellers to remind them to take the bus and eat in restaurants that give discounts on corporate cards. And as for roaming charges, the average bills for Fortune 1,000 companies’ frequent travellers is $500 per month.
Merged airlines keep own brands
A month after the merger of Tam and Lan airlines in South America, the two are still operating under their own brands with the parent company being called Latam Airlines Group. By the end of the year, network planning, sales and marketing and revenue management should be combined.
Tam is strong in Brazil and Lan in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Each airline belongs to a different alliance, with Lan in the Oneworld for more than 10 years and Tam only in Star Alliance only since 2010.
The merger means getting around South America will be easier and more cost effective. The two airlines’ combined fleet is now 240 aircraft with 220 more on order.
In your wallet you may need to add a new card, the Delta Private Jets Card, with values from $50,000 to $200,000. The card offers locked-in pricing for two years with no fuel surcharges for chartered business jets. Using the dedicated concierge service you can book a private jet to get around North America. There are 5,000 airports accessible by private aircraft. See Deltaprivatejets.com.
Allocated seating
Easyjet is doing trials on allocated seating across its network and will review it after the end of August. In an effort to attract more business travellers, the airline may turn its back on the first come, first served dash for overhead lockers and aisle seats.
When it comes to beds and picking which one to sleep in, Ted Tang, chief executive of Leading Hotels of the World, said they are working on a booking tool that will allow guests to choose their favourite room. “The airlines do it, the cruises do it, so why can’t hotels do it.”
Ryanair is looking at packing planes quicker with the possibility of increasing door size to allow passengers enter in twos. A Chinese company is studying at a possibility of putting bigger doors on the airline’s Boeing fleet.
Trusted travellers
United States citizens and US lawful residents travelling through Dublin and Shannon airports will be able to join the Global Entry programme and take advantage of expedited clearance at the newly installed kiosks in both airports. Members of the Global Entry programme will have reduced waiting times and are usually processed in less than five minutes. See CBP.govfor details of how to join.
Presidential double at GBTA conference
Maybe it is because its combined 5,000 membership manages more than $340 billion of global business travel and meetings worldwide, that the Global Business Travel Association had two former US presidents address its annual conference last week in Boston.
George W Bush’s keynote speech was about leadership, his time in office and the decision-making process behind some of the memorable moments during his office and also about his first trip abroad.
Bill Clinton was the final speaker at the convention and said “the future looks good for business travel”. He went on to talk about the importance of meeting face to face to exchange ideas and spur innovations.
Watch out road warriors – at the GBTA convention, travel managers were urged to tackle the last frontiers of unmanaged travel, roaming charges, ground transportation and dining out. These charges can account for up to 35 per cent of trip spending.
Suggestions made were to send smartphone “trigger” messages to travellers to remind them to take the bus and eat in restaurants that give discounts on corporate cards. And as for roaming charges, the average bills for Fortune 1,000 companies’ frequent travellers is $500 per month.
Merged airlines keep own brands
A month after the merger of Tam and Lan airlines in South America, the two are still operating under their own brands with the parent company being called Latam Airlines Group. By the end of the year, network planning, sales and marketing and revenue management should be combined.
Tam is strong in Brazil and Lan in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Each airline belongs to a different alliance, with Lan in the Oneworld for more than 10 years and Tam only in Star Alliance only since 2010.
The merger means getting around South America will be easier and more cost effective. The two airlines’ combined fleet is now 240 aircraft with 220 more on order.
Road Warrior - August 1, 2012
Charlie Shiel - GM of The Marker Hotel
Spare rooms on the cheap in London
SOME HOTELS in London have been caught out by overestimating demand for rooms during the Olympics.
Top class hotels are pushing spare rooms on to discount travel websites like Hotwire.com.
If you are prepared to book a room and not know the name of the hotel until the booking is completed you could be staying in a five-star hotel for under €200 a night or a four-star for €150.
Three-star hotels seem to be holding their own with rates of €120-€200.
Another side effect of the overestimations is that normally hard-to-book restaurants have tables available.
June was also the worst month for hotel booking, with the first fall in room rates for 32 months.
Dublin hotel puts down a marker
KNOWING THE general manager of a hotel always helps when you need that little bit of extra service.
So meet Charlie Sheil (left) who has been appointed general manager of the Marker Hotel in Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock.
Sheil was the opening manager of the Gibson Hotel, just across the river at the Point Village and also the Clarion Hotel in Cork.
The Marker will open its doors in early 2013 and promises to bring a large dash of style to the city’s business life.
Etihad on board to screen Irish films
HAVING AN airline chief executive officer with Irish roots is perfect for Irish film makers.
James Hogan of Etihad Airways made a commitment at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin to screen Irish movies on the in-flight entertainment system on Etihad’s flights and it will happen during August and September.
The four-film collection Encounters, made by award-winning director Declan Cassidy, will include Whatever Turns You On, which was nominated for an Oscar this year.
Airline changes tack on loyalty miles
MEMBERS OF the American Airlines Advantage loyalty programme, who hold the “Miles with No Expiration”, are in for a surprise later this year in November when the legacy miles are converted to regular airmiles.
American Airlines was the first airline to introduce a loyalty programme for frequent flyers.
These miles have been lurking around since before July 1989 and must be covered in dust by now.
American Airlines says loyalty programme members must now use these legacy miles within 18 months or they will lose them – see aa.com/mileconversion.
Irish hardest workers on holiday time
IN A Lastminute.comsurvey conducted across Europe, the Irish have topped the tables of the most work addicted.
Employees in Ireland spend on average 88 minutes a day working during their holidays, while 75 per cent also admitted they worked during their holidays and free time.
Across Europe, the average was 58 per cent.
High life at Four Seasons in China
THE FOUR Seasons Guangzhou Hotel (left) had its official opening ceremony last week in China’s third largest metropolitan area.
The top 30 floors of the 103-storey building on the banks of the Pearl River is the 88th Four Seasons Hotel to open.
Eight is an auspicious number in China and hopefully it will bring luck to the newest 302-room property.
SOME HOTELS in London have been caught out by overestimating demand for rooms during the Olympics.
Top class hotels are pushing spare rooms on to discount travel websites like Hotwire.com.
If you are prepared to book a room and not know the name of the hotel until the booking is completed you could be staying in a five-star hotel for under €200 a night or a four-star for €150.
Three-star hotels seem to be holding their own with rates of €120-€200.
Another side effect of the overestimations is that normally hard-to-book restaurants have tables available.
June was also the worst month for hotel booking, with the first fall in room rates for 32 months.
Dublin hotel puts down a marker
KNOWING THE general manager of a hotel always helps when you need that little bit of extra service.
So meet Charlie Sheil (left) who has been appointed general manager of the Marker Hotel in Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock.
Sheil was the opening manager of the Gibson Hotel, just across the river at the Point Village and also the Clarion Hotel in Cork.
The Marker will open its doors in early 2013 and promises to bring a large dash of style to the city’s business life.
Etihad on board to screen Irish films
HAVING AN airline chief executive officer with Irish roots is perfect for Irish film makers.
James Hogan of Etihad Airways made a commitment at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin to screen Irish movies on the in-flight entertainment system on Etihad’s flights and it will happen during August and September.
The four-film collection Encounters, made by award-winning director Declan Cassidy, will include Whatever Turns You On, which was nominated for an Oscar this year.
Airline changes tack on loyalty miles
MEMBERS OF the American Airlines Advantage loyalty programme, who hold the “Miles with No Expiration”, are in for a surprise later this year in November when the legacy miles are converted to regular airmiles.
American Airlines was the first airline to introduce a loyalty programme for frequent flyers.
These miles have been lurking around since before July 1989 and must be covered in dust by now.
American Airlines says loyalty programme members must now use these legacy miles within 18 months or they will lose them – see aa.com/mileconversion.
Irish hardest workers on holiday time
IN A Lastminute.comsurvey conducted across Europe, the Irish have topped the tables of the most work addicted.
Employees in Ireland spend on average 88 minutes a day working during their holidays, while 75 per cent also admitted they worked during their holidays and free time.
Across Europe, the average was 58 per cent.
High life at Four Seasons in China
THE FOUR Seasons Guangzhou Hotel (left) had its official opening ceremony last week in China’s third largest metropolitan area.
The top 30 floors of the 103-storey building on the banks of the Pearl River is the 88th Four Seasons Hotel to open.
Eight is an auspicious number in China and hopefully it will bring luck to the newest 302-room property.
Road Warrior - July 25
Inflight content on your laptop
Qantas is offering inflight entertainment to travellers on iPads or their own laptops, smart phones or tablet devices. On domestic flights fitted with the QStreaming inflight entertainment systems, each seat will come with an iPad with access to 200 hours of entertainment, including films, television and radio programmes. QStreaming works by picking up the wireless signal in the aircraft and accessing the content on the main server.
Bill Walshe to head Viceroy
Bill Walshe, the popular chief executive who transformed Jurys Doyle Hotels into the Doyle Collection, has been appointed chief executive of Viceroy Hotels.
The luxury hotel veteran, formerly with the Jumeirah Group and Kempinski Hotels, will bring his impeccable style to Viceroy’s 16 boutique and luxury properties.
Viceroy’s properties include hotels in New York, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Abu Dhabi, the Maldives, Bali and two pipeline properties in Istanbul and Bodrum.
Nothing to hide
John Brennan of Portland, Oregon, was cleared in court last week of public indecency. A frequent traveller, he reached boiling point when at the security checkpoint he had to go through the screening process a number of times. In frustration, he took off all his clothes to prove to the TSA agent that he was not carrying explosives, or anything else for that matter.
Aer Lingus does Best
Aer Lingus is moving its Belfast operation to George Best City Airport from October 28th, after five years at Belfast International. Two aircraft will be based there for the winter and three in summer. The key business routes of London Heathrow and Gatwick will have three return flights daily.
Fast lane for frequent flyers
Watch out for Black Diamond security lines in 51 US airports and you will be speeding on your way. Black Diamond lines are intended for frequent travellers and airlines will often direct experienced travellers to them. Black Diamond lines are for those who know to empty their pockets, take out laptops, don’t carry liquids, take off shoes and are moving fast. Other lanes are marked in blue for casual travellers and green for families and those who need help.
The Mickey Mouse approach to business
September is a strategic time for business and Disney wants to plan your tactics and experience business differently in Disneyland Paris. It brings a new meaning to thinking outside the box when team-building involves video games, ice rinks, dragon-boat regattas, Davy Crockett adventures or batucada. The half-board delegate rate is from €185 ar person. See DisneylandParis-business.com.
Qantas is offering inflight entertainment to travellers on iPads or their own laptops, smart phones or tablet devices. On domestic flights fitted with the QStreaming inflight entertainment systems, each seat will come with an iPad with access to 200 hours of entertainment, including films, television and radio programmes. QStreaming works by picking up the wireless signal in the aircraft and accessing the content on the main server.
Bill Walshe to head Viceroy
Bill Walshe, the popular chief executive who transformed Jurys Doyle Hotels into the Doyle Collection, has been appointed chief executive of Viceroy Hotels.
The luxury hotel veteran, formerly with the Jumeirah Group and Kempinski Hotels, will bring his impeccable style to Viceroy’s 16 boutique and luxury properties.
Viceroy’s properties include hotels in New York, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Abu Dhabi, the Maldives, Bali and two pipeline properties in Istanbul and Bodrum.
Nothing to hide
John Brennan of Portland, Oregon, was cleared in court last week of public indecency. A frequent traveller, he reached boiling point when at the security checkpoint he had to go through the screening process a number of times. In frustration, he took off all his clothes to prove to the TSA agent that he was not carrying explosives, or anything else for that matter.
Aer Lingus does Best
Aer Lingus is moving its Belfast operation to George Best City Airport from October 28th, after five years at Belfast International. Two aircraft will be based there for the winter and three in summer. The key business routes of London Heathrow and Gatwick will have three return flights daily.
Fast lane for frequent flyers
Watch out for Black Diamond security lines in 51 US airports and you will be speeding on your way. Black Diamond lines are intended for frequent travellers and airlines will often direct experienced travellers to them. Black Diamond lines are for those who know to empty their pockets, take out laptops, don’t carry liquids, take off shoes and are moving fast. Other lanes are marked in blue for casual travellers and green for families and those who need help.
The Mickey Mouse approach to business
September is a strategic time for business and Disney wants to plan your tactics and experience business differently in Disneyland Paris. It brings a new meaning to thinking outside the box when team-building involves video games, ice rinks, dragon-boat regattas, Davy Crockett adventures or batucada. The half-board delegate rate is from €185 ar person. See DisneylandParis-business.com.
Road Warrior - July 18
Aer Lingus and JetBlue get closer
The relationship between Aer Lingus and JetBlue is about to become closer when EI moves into JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at JFK early next year. The newest terminal at JFK will have shorter connections times for passengers transferring to internal flights. Minimum connection times from European arrivals to US departures will be 60 minutes and US to Ireland as fast as 40 minutes.
Aer Lingus and JetBlue have been working together for the past four years and have integrated timetables and ticketing for flights on each other’s networks. Advantages of Terminal 5 include free wifi and a good range of food and beverage outlets.
Merger in the air
We are only getting used to the merger of United and Continental Airlines when another merger is appearing on the horizon.
Tom Horton, chief executive of AMR Corporation, American Airlines’ parent, said recently in a letter to employees that “it now makes sense to carefully evaluate a range of strategic options, including potential mergers”.
He probably means American Airlines and US Airways, something US Airways has been lobbying creditors and unions for as an option for American Airlines to exit bankruptcy.
In recent years, Delta merged with Northwest and with the United/Continental merger now controls 60 per cent of the market in the US. A merger with US and AA would make them competitive together.
Flying in the future
Airbus has been speculating about what we may need from aircraft in 2050 with two billion more people on the planet. By 2050, aircraft will be bigger, look different, fly more efficiently, have bigger windows, even sunroofs.
Two-thirds of travellers will be obese, so seating has to change and it will probably morph to suit individual body shapes. Passengers may be pre-loaded airside to reduce time, aircraft may fly in formations like birds to increase energy efficiency, body heat could be harvested to power some applications and aircraft may fly on solar power.
Entertainment may be provided by ultra-thin monitors and you may be using holographics to connect with business colleagues on the ground.
Shannon goes VIP
Quintessentially Aviation has signed an agreement with Shannon Airport to open a VIP lounge for private jet clients by the end of the year. It will principally be used for clients coming from the Middle East who will have the advantage of using the unique business aviation pre-clearance for immigration and customs to the United States.
Quintessentially Aviation has introduced a new online quoting programme to help you find a private aircraft to suit your journey with an estimate of prices for the route.
Log on to QuintessentiallyAviation.com, enter the details and you will be given a series of aircraft options. When you choose the most suitable, you will be sent a quotation.
SAS looks for ideas
Getting your airline to arrange dry-cleaning and having adult-only flights are just some of the ideas from passengers using the new SAS Scandinavian Airlines ideas website.
The airline has launched an online “crowdsurfing” site for customers to share ideas on how SAS can improve services. The users can vote for their favourite idea. Leading the ideas this week is the option to upgrade to a higher class for a special price. Flysas.com/mysasidea.
The relationship between Aer Lingus and JetBlue is about to become closer when EI moves into JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at JFK early next year. The newest terminal at JFK will have shorter connections times for passengers transferring to internal flights. Minimum connection times from European arrivals to US departures will be 60 minutes and US to Ireland as fast as 40 minutes.
Aer Lingus and JetBlue have been working together for the past four years and have integrated timetables and ticketing for flights on each other’s networks. Advantages of Terminal 5 include free wifi and a good range of food and beverage outlets.
Merger in the air
We are only getting used to the merger of United and Continental Airlines when another merger is appearing on the horizon.
Tom Horton, chief executive of AMR Corporation, American Airlines’ parent, said recently in a letter to employees that “it now makes sense to carefully evaluate a range of strategic options, including potential mergers”.
He probably means American Airlines and US Airways, something US Airways has been lobbying creditors and unions for as an option for American Airlines to exit bankruptcy.
In recent years, Delta merged with Northwest and with the United/Continental merger now controls 60 per cent of the market in the US. A merger with US and AA would make them competitive together.
Flying in the future
Airbus has been speculating about what we may need from aircraft in 2050 with two billion more people on the planet. By 2050, aircraft will be bigger, look different, fly more efficiently, have bigger windows, even sunroofs.
Two-thirds of travellers will be obese, so seating has to change and it will probably morph to suit individual body shapes. Passengers may be pre-loaded airside to reduce time, aircraft may fly in formations like birds to increase energy efficiency, body heat could be harvested to power some applications and aircraft may fly on solar power.
Entertainment may be provided by ultra-thin monitors and you may be using holographics to connect with business colleagues on the ground.
Shannon goes VIP
Quintessentially Aviation has signed an agreement with Shannon Airport to open a VIP lounge for private jet clients by the end of the year. It will principally be used for clients coming from the Middle East who will have the advantage of using the unique business aviation pre-clearance for immigration and customs to the United States.
Quintessentially Aviation has introduced a new online quoting programme to help you find a private aircraft to suit your journey with an estimate of prices for the route.
Log on to QuintessentiallyAviation.com, enter the details and you will be given a series of aircraft options. When you choose the most suitable, you will be sent a quotation.
SAS looks for ideas
Getting your airline to arrange dry-cleaning and having adult-only flights are just some of the ideas from passengers using the new SAS Scandinavian Airlines ideas website.
The airline has launched an online “crowdsurfing” site for customers to share ideas on how SAS can improve services. The users can vote for their favourite idea. Leading the ideas this week is the option to upgrade to a higher class for a special price. Flysas.com/mysasidea.
Road Warrior - July 11
Andaz to Amsterdam
LOVERS OF the Andaz lifestyle boutique hotel brand from Hyatt Hotels will be happy to hear the Amsterdam hotel will open in the autumn. Located on the site of the former public library on Princengracht in the heart of the fashionable Jordaan district, the hotel will have 122 rooms. Designed by Dutch interior designer Marcel Wanders, it will be edgy, whimsical and interesting. Andaz amenities like free wifi, complimentary mini-bar snacks and drinks and paperless check-in will be standard. Reservations are due to open shortly ( andazamsterdam.com).
Productivity through dance
LUNCH MAY have been for wimps in Gordon Gekko’s day but now the business lunch is for dancing to Lunch Beat. Born in Stockholm about two years ago, when a group of workers decided to dance during their lunch break, the trend has spread across the world. Lunch Beat is dominated by the Scandinavian cities, but has spread to Edinburgh, Manchester, Antwerp, New York, Berlin, Paris and Porto.
Microsoft’s HQ in Washington will have its first Lunch Beat tomorrow. Details of Lunch Beat events on LunchBeat.org.
Beat the Games
IF YOU have to be in London during the Olympic Games and the Paralympics there is a new website with advice on travel hotspots, backlogs and getting around quicker. See GetaheadoftheGames.com.
Virtual assistants
BOSTON’S LOGAN airport has come up with an innovative way to remind you of what you need to do before going through security. Carla, the video projected virtual assistant, is at the main security checkpoint reminding you to remove belts, take out laptops, how much 3.4oz of liquid looks like and to prompt you to have your travel documents ready. Over in Washington Dulles, Paige is making an appearance – she is a life-size hologram greeting arriving passengers and reminding them to have travel documents ready.
LOVERS OF the Andaz lifestyle boutique hotel brand from Hyatt Hotels will be happy to hear the Amsterdam hotel will open in the autumn. Located on the site of the former public library on Princengracht in the heart of the fashionable Jordaan district, the hotel will have 122 rooms. Designed by Dutch interior designer Marcel Wanders, it will be edgy, whimsical and interesting. Andaz amenities like free wifi, complimentary mini-bar snacks and drinks and paperless check-in will be standard. Reservations are due to open shortly ( andazamsterdam.com).
Productivity through dance
LUNCH MAY have been for wimps in Gordon Gekko’s day but now the business lunch is for dancing to Lunch Beat. Born in Stockholm about two years ago, when a group of workers decided to dance during their lunch break, the trend has spread across the world. Lunch Beat is dominated by the Scandinavian cities, but has spread to Edinburgh, Manchester, Antwerp, New York, Berlin, Paris and Porto.
Microsoft’s HQ in Washington will have its first Lunch Beat tomorrow. Details of Lunch Beat events on LunchBeat.org.
Beat the Games
IF YOU have to be in London during the Olympic Games and the Paralympics there is a new website with advice on travel hotspots, backlogs and getting around quicker. See GetaheadoftheGames.com.
Virtual assistants
BOSTON’S LOGAN airport has come up with an innovative way to remind you of what you need to do before going through security. Carla, the video projected virtual assistant, is at the main security checkpoint reminding you to remove belts, take out laptops, how much 3.4oz of liquid looks like and to prompt you to have your travel documents ready. Over in Washington Dulles, Paige is making an appearance – she is a life-size hologram greeting arriving passengers and reminding them to have travel documents ready.
Road Warrior - July 4 from The Irish Times
City is the business
PROVO, UTAH has been ranked as the best US city for business by Forbes. The
third largest city in Utah, the home of Brigham Young University (above) topped
the list due to a strong economy and a low crime rate.
Elements considered in the research were job growth, living costs, ranked
educational establishments, crime rate and cultural opportunities. The bottom
five cities included three in California, the last of which, Stockton city,
filed for bankruptcy last Tuesday.
Counting the cost of travel stress
CARLSON WAGONLIT Travel is developing the CWT Travel Stress Index to support
companies in their duty of care responsibilities. It will help to quantify the
cost to organisations of the stress employees can suffer when travelling, such
as reduced productivity, absenteeism, injuries and illness, and assist companies
to make better travel policy decisions. More details on CWT-solutions-groups.com.
Meanwhile, an announcement is expected this week that CWT Ireland has been
appointed to handle the Government business travel account. The account has been
with Club Travel for more than 20 years. CWT manages travel in 150 countries
with annual billing of more than $90 billion.
Research last week in the US and Europe show there will be little or no
growth in business travel in 2012. The Global Business Travel Association Europe
report says that only the UK and Germany will be showing growth in business
travel, and even then, it is less than one per cent.
In the US, Delta and United Airlines have begun reducing capacity for the
latter end of the year by one per cent due to the weakening economic outlook.
However, the news is not all bad. The GBTA report notes that business travel is
expected to grow by on average four to five per cent in 2013.
Room to expand
MARRIOTT REWARDS members will be happy to hear that the global hotel operator
plans on having 4,000 hotels in 90 countries across the 14 brands by 2014 with
115,000 rooms in the development pipeline. One hundred of the hotels will be in
China. Marriott has one million Chinese members in its 38 million guest loyalty
programme.
Olympic bargains
DOWN TO THE last 20 days to the Olympics and “prices are falling in all
classes of hotels”, says Seamus Mac Cormaic of Hotels.com.
“We are seeing promotional prices start to come through and expect the trend
to continue. People should not be put off travelling to London,” he
continued.
The London organising committee has released rooms back into circulation,
many hotels have lifted length-of-stay restrictions and demand has not been as
strong from groups.
PROVO, UTAH has been ranked as the best US city for business by Forbes. The
third largest city in Utah, the home of Brigham Young University (above) topped
the list due to a strong economy and a low crime rate.
Elements considered in the research were job growth, living costs, ranked
educational establishments, crime rate and cultural opportunities. The bottom
five cities included three in California, the last of which, Stockton city,
filed for bankruptcy last Tuesday.
Counting the cost of travel stress
CARLSON WAGONLIT Travel is developing the CWT Travel Stress Index to support
companies in their duty of care responsibilities. It will help to quantify the
cost to organisations of the stress employees can suffer when travelling, such
as reduced productivity, absenteeism, injuries and illness, and assist companies
to make better travel policy decisions. More details on CWT-solutions-groups.com.
Meanwhile, an announcement is expected this week that CWT Ireland has been
appointed to handle the Government business travel account. The account has been
with Club Travel for more than 20 years. CWT manages travel in 150 countries
with annual billing of more than $90 billion.
Research last week in the US and Europe show there will be little or no
growth in business travel in 2012. The Global Business Travel Association Europe
report says that only the UK and Germany will be showing growth in business
travel, and even then, it is less than one per cent.
In the US, Delta and United Airlines have begun reducing capacity for the
latter end of the year by one per cent due to the weakening economic outlook.
However, the news is not all bad. The GBTA report notes that business travel is
expected to grow by on average four to five per cent in 2013.
Room to expand
MARRIOTT REWARDS members will be happy to hear that the global hotel operator
plans on having 4,000 hotels in 90 countries across the 14 brands by 2014 with
115,000 rooms in the development pipeline. One hundred of the hotels will be in
China. Marriott has one million Chinese members in its 38 million guest loyalty
programme.
Olympic bargains
DOWN TO THE last 20 days to the Olympics and “prices are falling in all
classes of hotels”, says Seamus Mac Cormaic of Hotels.com.
“We are seeing promotional prices start to come through and expect the trend
to continue. People should not be put off travelling to London,” he
continued.
The London organising committee has released rooms back into circulation,
many hotels have lifted length-of-stay restrictions and demand has not been as
strong from groups.
Road Warrior - June 6
Waiting in the wings
GOLD CIRCLE applicant members may be eligible for the elusive Gold Circle Card from Aer Lingus if they are existing members of BMI’s Diamond Club.
In an effort to win over former BMI customers, now British Airways customers, Aer Lingus will match Blue members for Gold Level and Silver members for Gold Circle Prestige, while Gold members will be offered the benefits of Gold Circle Elite. If you are not a Gold Circle applicant, and have a BMI membership, you can still join. See aerlingusgreendiamond.com.
Doing DC direct
UNITED AIRLINES’ direct Dublin to Washington DC service arrives on Friday morning to the delight of business travellers and politicians.
Links between the two cities have always been strong and the direct service will cut hours off travel time. Flight UA127 leaves Dulles at 10.02pm and arrives into Dublin at 9.55am, the next morning, departing again at 11.25am arriving into Washington at 2.25pm, allowing for plenty of time to do business.
United will be using a Boeing 757-200 with 169 seats, 16 in BusinessFirst with flat-bed seats, 45 economy plus with extra legroom and personal space, and 108 in economy.
Fares are from €760 return in economy and €2,212 in BusinessFirst.
Cleared for take-off
HAVING FLOWN thousands of miles, you may have wondered how the pilots do it. Now you can find out with a special package from the Crowne Plaza that includes a flight simulator session.
In conjunction with SimTech in Dublin’s Logistics Park, your package will include a 30-minute safety briefing followed by a 30-minute flight simulator session. You can also bring a passenger, and the two of you can stay overnight in the hotel with breakfast from €221. Book on (01) 862 8888 and crowneplaza.com.
Africa joins club
FOLLOWING A REPORT by Goldman Sachs on investing in Africa and the upcoming US-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum this month, it looks like the BRIC countries are headed towards becoming the BRICA countries.
“Africa is something investors have to think about for long-term growth and its economic implications for the world in order to supply it with scarce resources,” says the company’s report.
The forum’s theme this year will be “enhancing Africa’s infrastructure for trade”, particularly in the areas of transportation, energy, water and sanitation. The transport theme will be on the agenda at the Routes Africa Aviation Forum in July in the Seychelles, attended by airlines, airports and tourism bodies.
London early openers
LONDON’S NEWEST hotel opened its doors on Monday, May 28th, a few days ahead of the official opening date last Friday. The 85-room Bulgari Hotel is on the site of the old Normandie Hotel in Knightsbridge.
With solid silver chandeliers, marble baths, luxury amenities, and a holistic spa, opening rates are from £528 with VAT. At the other end of the scale, Paddington’s Tune Hotel will open ahead of schedule too on June 25th, with room rates from £60. Towel hire and
Wi-Fi will cost an additional £4.50 per day.
GOLD CIRCLE applicant members may be eligible for the elusive Gold Circle Card from Aer Lingus if they are existing members of BMI’s Diamond Club.
In an effort to win over former BMI customers, now British Airways customers, Aer Lingus will match Blue members for Gold Level and Silver members for Gold Circle Prestige, while Gold members will be offered the benefits of Gold Circle Elite. If you are not a Gold Circle applicant, and have a BMI membership, you can still join. See aerlingusgreendiamond.com.
Doing DC direct
UNITED AIRLINES’ direct Dublin to Washington DC service arrives on Friday morning to the delight of business travellers and politicians.
Links between the two cities have always been strong and the direct service will cut hours off travel time. Flight UA127 leaves Dulles at 10.02pm and arrives into Dublin at 9.55am, the next morning, departing again at 11.25am arriving into Washington at 2.25pm, allowing for plenty of time to do business.
United will be using a Boeing 757-200 with 169 seats, 16 in BusinessFirst with flat-bed seats, 45 economy plus with extra legroom and personal space, and 108 in economy.
Fares are from €760 return in economy and €2,212 in BusinessFirst.
Cleared for take-off
HAVING FLOWN thousands of miles, you may have wondered how the pilots do it. Now you can find out with a special package from the Crowne Plaza that includes a flight simulator session.
In conjunction with SimTech in Dublin’s Logistics Park, your package will include a 30-minute safety briefing followed by a 30-minute flight simulator session. You can also bring a passenger, and the two of you can stay overnight in the hotel with breakfast from €221. Book on (01) 862 8888 and crowneplaza.com.
Africa joins club
FOLLOWING A REPORT by Goldman Sachs on investing in Africa and the upcoming US-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum this month, it looks like the BRIC countries are headed towards becoming the BRICA countries.
“Africa is something investors have to think about for long-term growth and its economic implications for the world in order to supply it with scarce resources,” says the company’s report.
The forum’s theme this year will be “enhancing Africa’s infrastructure for trade”, particularly in the areas of transportation, energy, water and sanitation. The transport theme will be on the agenda at the Routes Africa Aviation Forum in July in the Seychelles, attended by airlines, airports and tourism bodies.
London early openers
LONDON’S NEWEST hotel opened its doors on Monday, May 28th, a few days ahead of the official opening date last Friday. The 85-room Bulgari Hotel is on the site of the old Normandie Hotel in Knightsbridge.
With solid silver chandeliers, marble baths, luxury amenities, and a holistic spa, opening rates are from £528 with VAT. At the other end of the scale, Paddington’s Tune Hotel will open ahead of schedule too on June 25th, with room rates from £60. Towel hire and
Wi-Fi will cost an additional £4.50 per day.
Road Warrior - the business of travelling for work - May 30
Asia flying high in world's busiest airline routes
IT IS NOT HARD to guess that seven of the 10 busiest airline routes are now in Asia and the BRIC markets showed impressive growth too. The airline market intelligence report from Amadeus, the airline reservation system, analysed traffic across the globe for 2010 over 2011.
Traffic between Asia and Europe and between Asia and North America grew by
9 per cent, and with the Middle East by 6 per cent. Traffic between North America and Europe remains the busiest with 60 million passengers, closely followed by Asia to Europe with more than 53 million travellers and Latin America to North America with 47 million passengers.
The strongest growth is led by the BRIC counties with China adding an extra 19 million, Brazil 12 million, India eight million and Russia six million passengers. Chile, Philippines and Indonesia are also showing strong growth.
The fastest shrinking markets were Egypt and Japan due to the Arab Spring and the Tsunami.
Snooze away the journey IT MAY NOT be the shortest way to England, but the P&O Ferry service ( poferries.com) for business travellers from Dublin to Liverpool allows you eight hours on board to relax, have a meal, go to bed, bring your car, cram in lots of luggage/samples and be on the motorway network in no time.
Fares from €182 return for car and driver include two meals and there are up to three sailings a day. Cabin accommodation is available for overnight sailings at an extra charge.
Putting down a Marker Snooze away the journey
HOTELIERS IN Dublin will be rubbing their hands with glee when they hear that The Marker hotel at Grand Canal Dock, due to open next February, will not be dumping rates and discounting. The Marker believes that business will pay for luxury rooms and service and sees no need to go in cheap. Four- and five-star hotels rates have been the best value in Europe for years and the Marker’s decision will be a sign that rates are improving. TheMarker.ie
Jurys sale in a flash
Get ready to click today for a flash one-day sale from Jurys Inn. Hotel room rates in cities across its network will be discounted by 25 per cent off the best available rates. Edinburgh and Heathrow are not taking part, but rooms in Newcastle and Newcastle Gateshead will be offering 50 per cent off. There are 32 Jurys Inns across Ireland, the UK and one in Prague. The booking period is from June 1st to September 9th with rooms in London being available from August 13th. Book on JurysInns.com.
Shhh . . . it's a Virgin flight
ON THE DIRECT service from London to Vancouver with Virgin, launched by Richard Branson (above) last week, if you are in the Upper Class Dream Suite, don’t worry, the staff will not disturb you. Virgin crew has been trained by a “whispering coach” in tone, volume and sentiment they should use to passengers.
In other Virgin news, the carrier is returning to the Mumbai on the winter timetable and its new Clubhouse airside at JFK has opened. It is inspired by Manhattan and has a cocktail bar, brasserie, spa and a hair salon.
Asia flying high in world's busiest airline routes
IT IS NOT HARD to guess that seven of the 10 busiest airline routes are now in Asia and the BRIC markets showed impressive growth too. The airline market intelligence report from Amadeus, the airline reservation system, analysed traffic across the globe for 2010 over 2011.
Traffic between Asia and Europe and between Asia and North America grew by
9 per cent, and with the Middle East by 6 per cent. Traffic between North America and Europe remains the busiest with 60 million passengers, closely followed by Asia to Europe with more than 53 million travellers and Latin America to North America with 47 million passengers.
The strongest growth is led by the BRIC counties with China adding an extra 19 million, Brazil 12 million, India eight million and Russia six million passengers. Chile, Philippines and Indonesia are also showing strong growth.
The fastest shrinking markets were Egypt and Japan due to the Arab Spring and the Tsunami.
Snooze away the journey IT MAY NOT be the shortest way to England, but the P&O Ferry service ( poferries.com) for business travellers from Dublin to Liverpool allows you eight hours on board to relax, have a meal, go to bed, bring your car, cram in lots of luggage/samples and be on the motorway network in no time.
Fares from €182 return for car and driver include two meals and there are up to three sailings a day. Cabin accommodation is available for overnight sailings at an extra charge.
Putting down a Marker Snooze away the journey
HOTELIERS IN Dublin will be rubbing their hands with glee when they hear that The Marker hotel at Grand Canal Dock, due to open next February, will not be dumping rates and discounting. The Marker believes that business will pay for luxury rooms and service and sees no need to go in cheap. Four- and five-star hotels rates have been the best value in Europe for years and the Marker’s decision will be a sign that rates are improving. TheMarker.ie
Jurys sale in a flash
Get ready to click today for a flash one-day sale from Jurys Inn. Hotel room rates in cities across its network will be discounted by 25 per cent off the best available rates. Edinburgh and Heathrow are not taking part, but rooms in Newcastle and Newcastle Gateshead will be offering 50 per cent off. There are 32 Jurys Inns across Ireland, the UK and one in Prague. The booking period is from June 1st to September 9th with rooms in London being available from August 13th. Book on JurysInns.com.
Shhh . . . it's a Virgin flight
ON THE DIRECT service from London to Vancouver with Virgin, launched by Richard Branson (above) last week, if you are in the Upper Class Dream Suite, don’t worry, the staff will not disturb you. Virgin crew has been trained by a “whispering coach” in tone, volume and sentiment they should use to passengers.
In other Virgin news, the carrier is returning to the Mumbai on the winter timetable and its new Clubhouse airside at JFK has opened. It is inspired by Manhattan and has a cocktail bar, brasserie, spa and a hair salon.
ROAD WARRIOR: THE BUSINESS OF TRAVELLING FOR WORK - May 23
Ritz up your mobile
RITZ-CARLTON, ONE of the world’s leading luxury brand hotel, has introduced an app that goes beyond the basics. The new app recognises when a guest arrives at an RC location and provides specific advice and exclusive offers. It will also provide ideas on local area culture and customs and the concierge’s tips.
There are also tips from Herve Humler, Chief Operations Officer of Ritz-Carlton. Humler has stayed in all the hotels and has ideas about things he has found marvelous and memorable. See ritzcarlton.com/app
Bring your meeting to Ireland next year
The LIST of organisations on board for The Gathering Ireland 2013, including Google, Facebook, Chambers Ireland, ICA, IFA, Microsoft, is growing fast. KPMG and PwC will be holding their international alumni events in Ireland, bringing 1,000 visitors.
The Taoiseach (above) launched The Gathering two weeks ago and already it is beginning to gain momentum. In the business community, people who can influence or plan meetings are being asked to bring them to Ireland next year. The wider community will also be involved in inviting family and friends home. Business planners can get advice from the Conference Ambassador programme run by Fáilte Ireland.
Shaun Quinn, chief executive of Fáilte Ireland said, “the Gathering has the potential to be a real game-changer, not just for Irish tourism but for Ireland as whole”. For more, see thegatheringireland.com.
Watch out for wireless
THE FBI INTERNET Crime Center has issued an Intelligence Note about malware being installed on travellers’ laptops through software updates on hotel wifi connections. There have been instances recently of laptops being infected while using hotel internet connections. When a guest arrives in a hotel and begins to log on to the wireless network, a pop-up notifying them of an update for a widely used software product appears. Don’t click on it – it’s not what it seems. You can see a list of internet frauds on IC3.gov. jscales@irishtimes.com
Ritz up your mobile
RITZ-CARLTON, ONE of the world’s leading luxury brand hotel, has introduced an app that goes beyond the basics. The new app recognises when a guest arrives at an RC location and provides specific advice and exclusive offers. It will also provide ideas on local area culture and customs and the concierge’s tips.
There are also tips from Herve Humler, Chief Operations Officer of Ritz-Carlton. Humler has stayed in all the hotels and has ideas about things he has found marvelous and memorable. See ritzcarlton.com/app
Bring your meeting to Ireland next year
The LIST of organisations on board for The Gathering Ireland 2013, including Google, Facebook, Chambers Ireland, ICA, IFA, Microsoft, is growing fast. KPMG and PwC will be holding their international alumni events in Ireland, bringing 1,000 visitors.
The Taoiseach (above) launched The Gathering two weeks ago and already it is beginning to gain momentum. In the business community, people who can influence or plan meetings are being asked to bring them to Ireland next year. The wider community will also be involved in inviting family and friends home. Business planners can get advice from the Conference Ambassador programme run by Fáilte Ireland.
Shaun Quinn, chief executive of Fáilte Ireland said, “the Gathering has the potential to be a real game-changer, not just for Irish tourism but for Ireland as whole”. For more, see thegatheringireland.com.
Watch out for wireless
THE FBI INTERNET Crime Center has issued an Intelligence Note about malware being installed on travellers’ laptops through software updates on hotel wifi connections. There have been instances recently of laptops being infected while using hotel internet connections. When a guest arrives in a hotel and begins to log on to the wireless network, a pop-up notifying them of an update for a widely used software product appears. Don’t click on it – it’s not what it seems. You can see a list of internet frauds on IC3.gov. jscales@irishtimes.com
Road Warrior - The Business of Travelling for Work - May 16, 2012
What has the humble club sandwich got to do with business travel?
Getting to London . . . via Southend-on-Sea
DOING BUSINESS in the southeast of England got easier with the opening of the Dublin to Southend, three times daily service from Aer Lingus operated by Aer Arann. With 15 minutes from plane to train and four minutes queuing for security, it could beat other airports in the London area on timings. Aer Lingus will be promoting this route as an easy option for passengers from the UK travelling to the US with immigration and customs pre-clearance in Dublin.
The train journey from Southend to Liverpool Street takes 50 minutes and the station is at the airport. In the 1960s, Southend was one of the busiest airports in the UK. Easyjet will be operating 70 flights per week into Europe from there.
C'est combien pour le club?
THE HUMBLE club sandwich, a staple of road warriors across the world, is being used by hotels.comas a barometer of affordability – and Paris is the most expensive place to grab one. The standard chicken, bacon, egg and lettuce sandwich was priced in 750 hotels in the five-, four- and three-star categories in 26 countries.
The survey found that le club in Paris can cost as much as €40.10 in a five-star hotel and €16.45 in a three-star property. The second most expensive city was Geneva in Switzerland, with an average cost of €24.72.
Ireland was one of the cheapest countries on the list, with an average price of €11.82. The cheapest city worldwide was New Delhi in India at an average price of €7.27.
Average price in cities across the world were Beijing, €11; Moscow, €12.44; New York, €12.85; and London, €14.21.
Busiest airport just got busier
THE WORLD’S BUSIEST airport, with 92 million passengers last year – Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International – becomes even busier from today with the opening of the Maynard H Jackson Jr International terminal.
The new terminal will the first point of arrival for international passengers. Construction on the 1.2 million sq ft site began in 2008 and cost $1.4 billion (€1.09 billion).
Delta Airlines will have priority use of six of the 12 new Concourse F gates and passengers will be able to connect via train to the other concourses. Inside the new terminal there will be a Delta Sky Club with 12,000sq ft of space for 300 passengers. The Sky Club will have views across the airport.
Every day, Delta operates more than 1,000 flights to over 200 destinations from ATL. Delta passengers from Ireland will benefit from onward connections to about 150 destinations in the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Fly north to go east
FINNAIR OPENED a direct service to Chongqing in western China last week. It is a fast-growing city of 32 million people on the Tibetan plateau in an area the size of Austria, where the population is expected to double of the next five years. This is the 11th route to Asia/Australasia from Helsinki, joining services to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul, Bangkok, Delhi, and Sydney.
Bigger Boeing arrives ahead of schedule
FOLLOWING THE resounding success of the Dublin-Dubai route, Emirates again brought forward the introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER wide-bodied aircraft to the route from July 1st to May 1st. With 52 per cent extra capacity, the aircraft carries 358 people in three classes. Cargo capacity will also increase from 15 to 25 tonnes. Emirates has also announced the 24th consecutive year of profits – $629 million (€492 million) net – and carried 34 million passengers.
What has the humble club sandwich got to do with business travel?
Getting to London . . . via Southend-on-Sea
DOING BUSINESS in the southeast of England got easier with the opening of the Dublin to Southend, three times daily service from Aer Lingus operated by Aer Arann. With 15 minutes from plane to train and four minutes queuing for security, it could beat other airports in the London area on timings. Aer Lingus will be promoting this route as an easy option for passengers from the UK travelling to the US with immigration and customs pre-clearance in Dublin.
The train journey from Southend to Liverpool Street takes 50 minutes and the station is at the airport. In the 1960s, Southend was one of the busiest airports in the UK. Easyjet will be operating 70 flights per week into Europe from there.
C'est combien pour le club?
THE HUMBLE club sandwich, a staple of road warriors across the world, is being used by hotels.comas a barometer of affordability – and Paris is the most expensive place to grab one. The standard chicken, bacon, egg and lettuce sandwich was priced in 750 hotels in the five-, four- and three-star categories in 26 countries.
The survey found that le club in Paris can cost as much as €40.10 in a five-star hotel and €16.45 in a three-star property. The second most expensive city was Geneva in Switzerland, with an average cost of €24.72.
Ireland was one of the cheapest countries on the list, with an average price of €11.82. The cheapest city worldwide was New Delhi in India at an average price of €7.27.
Average price in cities across the world were Beijing, €11; Moscow, €12.44; New York, €12.85; and London, €14.21.
Busiest airport just got busier
THE WORLD’S BUSIEST airport, with 92 million passengers last year – Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International – becomes even busier from today with the opening of the Maynard H Jackson Jr International terminal.
The new terminal will the first point of arrival for international passengers. Construction on the 1.2 million sq ft site began in 2008 and cost $1.4 billion (€1.09 billion).
Delta Airlines will have priority use of six of the 12 new Concourse F gates and passengers will be able to connect via train to the other concourses. Inside the new terminal there will be a Delta Sky Club with 12,000sq ft of space for 300 passengers. The Sky Club will have views across the airport.
Every day, Delta operates more than 1,000 flights to over 200 destinations from ATL. Delta passengers from Ireland will benefit from onward connections to about 150 destinations in the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Fly north to go east
FINNAIR OPENED a direct service to Chongqing in western China last week. It is a fast-growing city of 32 million people on the Tibetan plateau in an area the size of Austria, where the population is expected to double of the next five years. This is the 11th route to Asia/Australasia from Helsinki, joining services to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul, Bangkok, Delhi, and Sydney.
Bigger Boeing arrives ahead of schedule
FOLLOWING THE resounding success of the Dublin-Dubai route, Emirates again brought forward the introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER wide-bodied aircraft to the route from July 1st to May 1st. With 52 per cent extra capacity, the aircraft carries 358 people in three classes. Cargo capacity will also increase from 15 to 25 tonnes. Emirates has also announced the 24th consecutive year of profits – $629 million (€492 million) net – and carried 34 million passengers.
Road Warrior - The Business of Travelling for work - May 9
The business of travelling for work
Jurys Inn makes the cut for meetings
THE MEETINGS Industry Association will give Jurys Inns in Dublin, Cork and Belfast the AIM kitemark for accredited venues and service providers for meetings, conferences and events.
Jurys Inns complied with a detailed inspection of their hotels in providing suitable and efficient spaces for meetings and events.
Each Jurys Inn has a dedicated event co-ordinator, free wireless and wired internet, projectors, flipcharts, blackout facilities, and other stationery needs associated with meetings from five to 400 people. If the hotel fails to deliver on agreed service points, customers will be offered a 20 per discount on the final invoice.
New Air Canada services to Toronto
AIR CANADA WILL be returning to the Dublin-Toronto route from June 8th with up to seven flights per week. From June 18th, they will provide an Executive First Service from Dublin on Mondays and Wednesdays. On other days of the week the Comfort Plus service will be available.
The service will continue until September 30 and Executive Plus passengers will have the use of the Business Lounge in Dublin and the Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto. Executive First fares cost from €1,507 return.
Figures look good for Hyatt Hotels
IS IT A SIGN of optimism when three major hotel corporations are reporting higher room occupancy and rising rates?
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has seen global occupancy rise by 2.7 per cent and strong corporate demand pushing rates in North America, up by nine per cent. The average daily rate at Choice Hotels International increased by 2.5 per cent and at Millennium and Copthorne Hotels occupancy increased by three percentage point. Singapore and London were the strongest growth markets with 7.7 and seven per cent increases.
Willy Brandt postponement
BERLIN’S NEW airport, Willy Brandt, has postponed the opening on June 3rd to a date in August due to fire safeguards that will not be completed in time.
BA returns to Dublin route after 21 years
TWENTY-ONE YEARS after they ended their Irish routes, British Airways will again be flying the Dublin to Heathrow route. Following the completion of the purchase of bmi (British Midland International) from Lufthansa last month, British Airway livery will again be seen in Dublin. The integration process is currently underway and flights will be bookable on BA.comshortly.
British Airways had been flying from Heathrow to Dublin for 44 years when the route was terminated in 1991 because of significant losses. The Cork and Shannon routes were also ended. At that time there were three airlines on the Heathrow corridor, British Midland had arrived on the scene in 1989 and reduced the cost of business class fares by about £100 return, with the introduction of the D class fare.
It will be good news for business travellers seeking a seamless service to onwards destinations on the British Airways network. It will also be seamless in collecting Avios – BA’s frequent flier awards. Flights from Ireland will continue to go into Terminal 1. Members of the bmi Diamond Club will be automatically enrolled in the BA programme.
Freddies 2012 - who came top
IN THE ANNUAL Freddie Awards – given for the best frequent flyer/guest loyalty programmes – two of the overall winners in the aviation category operate from Ireland – American Airlines and Turkish Airlines. AA Advantage programme took the award for the Americas and Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles programme for Europe and Africa.
In the hotels category, the winners of the overall awards in the Americas were Marriott Rewards, in Europe/Africa, Starwood Preferred Guest and in the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, the overall winner was Taj Hotels’ Inner Circle programme.
Other category winners operating from Ireland were Etihad with the best redemption ability and Lufthansa with the best customer service and earning promotion,
The Freddies are named after aviation pioneer Freddie Laker and were founded in 1988 by Randy Petersen of Inside Flyer magazine. More than a million votes were cast by business travellers for their favourite airlines and hotels.
Stay in Heathrow with Staycity
STAYCITY, THE IRISH serviced apartment company, is opening a new development at High Point Village near Heathrow on June 1st.
The apartments are a brand new development and come with free wifi, parking, Sky Sports channels, and
24-hour reception. Opening prices are from £50 per night. The apartments are located next to Hayes and Harlington Station, only five minutes from Heathrow via Heathrow Connect service and 15 minutes from Paddington.
Operating for the past eight years, staycity.comhas serviced apartments in Dublin, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Paris. Central reservations is in Dublin on 01-67766600.
The business of travelling for work
Jurys Inn makes the cut for meetings
THE MEETINGS Industry Association will give Jurys Inns in Dublin, Cork and Belfast the AIM kitemark for accredited venues and service providers for meetings, conferences and events.
Jurys Inns complied with a detailed inspection of their hotels in providing suitable and efficient spaces for meetings and events.
Each Jurys Inn has a dedicated event co-ordinator, free wireless and wired internet, projectors, flipcharts, blackout facilities, and other stationery needs associated with meetings from five to 400 people. If the hotel fails to deliver on agreed service points, customers will be offered a 20 per discount on the final invoice.
New Air Canada services to Toronto
AIR CANADA WILL be returning to the Dublin-Toronto route from June 8th with up to seven flights per week. From June 18th, they will provide an Executive First Service from Dublin on Mondays and Wednesdays. On other days of the week the Comfort Plus service will be available.
The service will continue until September 30 and Executive Plus passengers will have the use of the Business Lounge in Dublin and the Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto. Executive First fares cost from €1,507 return.
Figures look good for Hyatt Hotels
IS IT A SIGN of optimism when three major hotel corporations are reporting higher room occupancy and rising rates?
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has seen global occupancy rise by 2.7 per cent and strong corporate demand pushing rates in North America, up by nine per cent. The average daily rate at Choice Hotels International increased by 2.5 per cent and at Millennium and Copthorne Hotels occupancy increased by three percentage point. Singapore and London were the strongest growth markets with 7.7 and seven per cent increases.
Willy Brandt postponement
BERLIN’S NEW airport, Willy Brandt, has postponed the opening on June 3rd to a date in August due to fire safeguards that will not be completed in time.
BA returns to Dublin route after 21 years
TWENTY-ONE YEARS after they ended their Irish routes, British Airways will again be flying the Dublin to Heathrow route. Following the completion of the purchase of bmi (British Midland International) from Lufthansa last month, British Airway livery will again be seen in Dublin. The integration process is currently underway and flights will be bookable on BA.comshortly.
British Airways had been flying from Heathrow to Dublin for 44 years when the route was terminated in 1991 because of significant losses. The Cork and Shannon routes were also ended. At that time there were three airlines on the Heathrow corridor, British Midland had arrived on the scene in 1989 and reduced the cost of business class fares by about £100 return, with the introduction of the D class fare.
It will be good news for business travellers seeking a seamless service to onwards destinations on the British Airways network. It will also be seamless in collecting Avios – BA’s frequent flier awards. Flights from Ireland will continue to go into Terminal 1. Members of the bmi Diamond Club will be automatically enrolled in the BA programme.
Freddies 2012 - who came top
IN THE ANNUAL Freddie Awards – given for the best frequent flyer/guest loyalty programmes – two of the overall winners in the aviation category operate from Ireland – American Airlines and Turkish Airlines. AA Advantage programme took the award for the Americas and Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles programme for Europe and Africa.
In the hotels category, the winners of the overall awards in the Americas were Marriott Rewards, in Europe/Africa, Starwood Preferred Guest and in the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, the overall winner was Taj Hotels’ Inner Circle programme.
Other category winners operating from Ireland were Etihad with the best redemption ability and Lufthansa with the best customer service and earning promotion,
The Freddies are named after aviation pioneer Freddie Laker and were founded in 1988 by Randy Petersen of Inside Flyer magazine. More than a million votes were cast by business travellers for their favourite airlines and hotels.
Stay in Heathrow with Staycity
STAYCITY, THE IRISH serviced apartment company, is opening a new development at High Point Village near Heathrow on June 1st.
The apartments are a brand new development and come with free wifi, parking, Sky Sports channels, and
24-hour reception. Opening prices are from £50 per night. The apartments are located next to Hayes and Harlington Station, only five minutes from Heathrow via Heathrow Connect service and 15 minutes from Paddington.
Operating for the past eight years, staycity.comhas serviced apartments in Dublin, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Paris. Central reservations is in Dublin on 01-67766600.
Road Warrior - May 2, the business of travel for work.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0502/1224315453908.html New Berlin airport
In a month’s time Berlin’s newest airport will open, replacing the existing three airports. June 3rd is the opening day for the new facility, built on the site of the existing Schönefeld airport, though Schönefeld will operate up to the last minute. Tegel has closed this year and Tempelhof closed in 2008. The airport will be called Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt, and will have the IATA code BER. Traffic is expected to comprise about 30 million passengers per year. There will be integrated transportation links to the city and surrounding areas.
Power dining
MAKE THE most of your lunchtime at Dukes St James Hotel in London. When you dine in restaurant Thirty Six on the Power Lunch menu midweek, you can leave a to-do list with the concierge. Need travel reservations, a suit pressed, theatre bookings, letters mailed, shoes shined, flowers delivered, or indeed stamps, batteries, greeting cards, gift vouchers or even nail polish? All will be done while you get the most from your lunch meeting; two courses from £21 and three courses from £28 ( dukeshotel.com).
Travel workshop
CARLSON WAGONLIT Travel Ireland will be hosting a half-day business travel event in the Westbury Hotel on May 21st that will be of interest to business travel managers and organisers. It will begin with a round-up of the latest industry trends by Carlson Ireland director Lisa Whelan. Piotr Szewczyk, travel manager with eBay, will give an insight into how it manages an extensive travel programme to and from HQ in Dublin.
Susan Hayes will take a look at the economy and how business travel is often a market indicator.
And a session on using technology to enhance travellers’ experiences will cover smartphones, apps and other tools to make a road warrior’s life easier.
Book with CWT on 01-2199656, sales@carlsonwagonlit.ie.
In a month’s time Berlin’s newest airport will open, replacing the existing three airports. June 3rd is the opening day for the new facility, built on the site of the existing Schönefeld airport, though Schönefeld will operate up to the last minute. Tegel has closed this year and Tempelhof closed in 2008. The airport will be called Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt, and will have the IATA code BER. Traffic is expected to comprise about 30 million passengers per year. There will be integrated transportation links to the city and surrounding areas.
Power dining
MAKE THE most of your lunchtime at Dukes St James Hotel in London. When you dine in restaurant Thirty Six on the Power Lunch menu midweek, you can leave a to-do list with the concierge. Need travel reservations, a suit pressed, theatre bookings, letters mailed, shoes shined, flowers delivered, or indeed stamps, batteries, greeting cards, gift vouchers or even nail polish? All will be done while you get the most from your lunch meeting; two courses from £21 and three courses from £28 ( dukeshotel.com).
Travel workshop
CARLSON WAGONLIT Travel Ireland will be hosting a half-day business travel event in the Westbury Hotel on May 21st that will be of interest to business travel managers and organisers. It will begin with a round-up of the latest industry trends by Carlson Ireland director Lisa Whelan. Piotr Szewczyk, travel manager with eBay, will give an insight into how it manages an extensive travel programme to and from HQ in Dublin.
Susan Hayes will take a look at the economy and how business travel is often a market indicator.
And a session on using technology to enhance travellers’ experiences will cover smartphones, apps and other tools to make a road warrior’s life easier.
Book with CWT on 01-2199656, sales@carlsonwagonlit.ie.
Road Warrior - THE BUSINESS OF TRAVELLING FOR WORK: J OAN SCALES - April 25, 2012
Rent a car with an app
AVIS HAS launched an app for Android and other smartphones that will allow users to book rental cars in real time throughout the United States and Canada in airport and downtown locations.
Negotiated corporate rates will be available through the app – and it is the first one to support all four major mobile platforms.
The app will also allow you to manage your reservation, view past rentals, email receipts and find Avis locations ( avis.com).
The only way is up
THE RACE to be the tallest hotel in the world will see the Rose Rayhan by Rotana in Dubai displaced by the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai in the last quarter of this year.
The Rose Rayhan is the tallest hotel, at 333m, but will be topped by the Marriott at 355m.
There are taller hotels, such as the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong at 484m, but the building is not completely a hotel – just from the 102nd to the 118th floors.
Heathrow handles over 70m passengers
IN MARCH London’s Heathrow airport broke through the 70 million passenger mark for a 12-month period for the first time. LHR is operating at 99 per cent capacity and the campaign for a third runway is gaining ground. Traffic to Brazil was up 62.3 per cent.
Transatlantic traffic was also strong – up 13.6 per cent. Paris CDG, with four runways, handled almost 61 million passengers in 2011, and Amsterdam Schiphol, with six runways, handled almost 50 million.
With fewer than 100 days to the Olympics, PWC is estimating that London hotels will achieve 92 per cent occupancy for the third quarter of 2012, at an average rate of £156 (€190).
Research company Euromonitor says that no clear picture is yet emerging about the impact of the Olympics on inbound and outbound travel.
Rent a car with an app
AVIS HAS launched an app for Android and other smartphones that will allow users to book rental cars in real time throughout the United States and Canada in airport and downtown locations.
Negotiated corporate rates will be available through the app – and it is the first one to support all four major mobile platforms.
The app will also allow you to manage your reservation, view past rentals, email receipts and find Avis locations ( avis.com).
The only way is up
THE RACE to be the tallest hotel in the world will see the Rose Rayhan by Rotana in Dubai displaced by the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai in the last quarter of this year.
The Rose Rayhan is the tallest hotel, at 333m, but will be topped by the Marriott at 355m.
There are taller hotels, such as the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong at 484m, but the building is not completely a hotel – just from the 102nd to the 118th floors.
Heathrow handles over 70m passengers
IN MARCH London’s Heathrow airport broke through the 70 million passenger mark for a 12-month period for the first time. LHR is operating at 99 per cent capacity and the campaign for a third runway is gaining ground. Traffic to Brazil was up 62.3 per cent.
Transatlantic traffic was also strong – up 13.6 per cent. Paris CDG, with four runways, handled almost 61 million passengers in 2011, and Amsterdam Schiphol, with six runways, handled almost 50 million.
With fewer than 100 days to the Olympics, PWC is estimating that London hotels will achieve 92 per cent occupancy for the third quarter of 2012, at an average rate of £156 (€190).
Research company Euromonitor says that no clear picture is yet emerging about the impact of the Olympics on inbound and outbound travel.
Do something different for the May bank holiday and enjoy walking and talking on Cape Clear island. It is a mixture of walking, friendly and informative chat, spiced up with a little music, craic and good food, Walkingtalking.info.
April 18, - Happy birthday Lufthansa who are celebrating 40 years on the Dubln - Frankfurt route. From small beginnings, two flights a week via Manchester to 21 direct fligths a week. Last year Lufthansa's route grew by 19 per cent and alreayd this year they are into double digit growth with March alone growing year on year by 21 per cent. Lufthansa.com/
April 11 - For all my readers who have been asking me about the Cinque Terre, here is a great blog that will fill you in on how the Cinque Terre is recovering after the terrible floods and mudslides last autumn.
http://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/cinque-terre/vernazza-monterosso-trails-open-to-visitors
http://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/cinque-terre/vernazza-monterosso-trails-open-to-visitors
April 4, Road Warrior, hotels using Food Trucks for dining options. What's a bizcation? Doing business in Kilkenny good vlaue room and office rates. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0404/1224314347924.html
March 28, Road Warrior - Airlines still flying high but profits come down to earth, New Hotel in London
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0328/1224314009097.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0328/1224314009097.html
See my video of the new Titanic Belfast visitor centre on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHAb5RNmhk8 - Titanicbelfast.com
Wednesday March 21, Road Warrior - Evenhotels.com new chain to keep you fit on the road, business class to Hong Kong from Gatwick from 1,800 euros and Mogadishu is back, first time in decades with Turkish Airlins.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0321/1224313640883.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0321/1224313640883.html
Wednesday March 14, Road Warrior - Hiton will have 115 new hotels in Europe, EU improving passenger rights, American Arilines brings back Dublin to Chicago flight from this month. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0314/1224313271638.html
Wednesday March 7, Road Warrior - the Saatchi Suite in London's Churchill Hotel, hotel rates on the rise and Etihad launch Shanghai - http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0307/1224312912814.html
Friday, March 2 - Goodbye Twohigs - there will be many people who will feel sad to hear that Twohigs Travel in Dublin are closingup shop after 30 years in business. Many a honeymoon couple explored exotic destination thanks to the great staff in Twohigs. Good luck to you all. Classic Resorts will take over current bookings from Twohigs.
Spain and Ireland - a Love Affair. visitor numbers from Ireland to Spain increased in 2011 by nine per cent with 1.28 million visits from Irish people. We love Spain.
Road Warrior - The business of travelling for work - United and Continental Merger the final integration is on March 3, http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0229/1224312522499.html
Tuesday, Feb, 29, The Grosvenor Hotel in London will celebrate 150 yearsx in business with a sale of 400 rooms for March 30 - April 30 at £18.62 per night. Fingers on the mouse at 11am March 1, www.thistle.com/thegrosvenor.
Wednesday, February 22, Road Warrior - the business of travelling for work, a new column in The Irish Times Business Supplement on Wednesday.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0222/1224312169214.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0222/1224312169214.html
