Business travel

Business travellers in New York will soon be able to book the famous yellow taxis via the Uber app.

The Pavillon Faubourg Saint Germain in April, the Grand Mazarin in autumn in the Marais district: the Paris hotel scene is being enriched by new chic addresses full of charm.

Markus Keller, Accor's Senior Vice President Sales and Distribution, looks back at the latest news concerning business travel, the return of seminars, a dedicated offer for SMEs and online meeting bookings, and its importance to the French group.

London Gatwick airport is enjoying a revival, particularly on routes to and from France. Easyjet has announced the launch of new flights to Limoges and Rennes. The first flights are scheduled for May.

With 17 daily return services between France and Switzerland starting on 28 March, Lyria's Managing Director believes that the lower carbon emissions of its TGVs and the useful time spent on board compared with air travel are the 2 criteria that will change the way companies make choices about their travel policies.

Qatar Airways has officially introduced the Avios used by the airlines in the IAG group (British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling) as its new frequent flyer programme. Avios will replace Qmiles.

To mark its tenth anniversary in France, car rental company Enterprise is launching the Car Share car-sharing service for businesses in early 2022.

The surge in oil prices, which now appear to be well above the 100 dollar a barrel mark, is inevitably leading to an increase in air fares. This includes a return to fuel surcharges.

In the run-up to the strike on 25 March, RATP is expecting little disruption on the Paris metro and RER network overall. Buses are likely to be more affected.

Starting with its mid-range Comfort brand, the Choice Hotels group has embarked on a vast plan to refresh its brands across Europe. At the same time, it is adding a new lifestyle brand, Sleep, to its offering.

Flights to over 90 destinations with 25 airlines: this is the programme for the summer season at Mulhouse/Basle airport, marked by the return of several major routes (Athens, Montreal) and the opening of two new destinations.

London City Airport anticipates a return to normal, with business customers returning in the same proportions as before the health crisis.

Yotel is continuing to grow, with a new establishment due to open in Geneva at the end of the year, complete with a vast space dedicated to meetings and work, and another planned for April in the London district of Shoreditch.

The summer 2022 season will see Munich regain its status as a major European hub. This will include the return of a dozen intercontinental routes - and not just from Lufthansa.

The Louvre Hotels group is to deploy hubs of ultra-fast recharging stations with the operator Electra, for use by hotel guests as well as private individuals and visiting professionals.

LATAM is launching its "Ready to Fly" service, enabling business travellers to send their health documents via WhatsApp ahead of their business trips.

A new agreement running until 2031 has been signed between the SNCF and the Ministry of Transport to develop day and night Intercités services on cross-border routes and key routes from Paris to Limoges, Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand.

Gone are the days of soulless hotel restaurants: Ian di Tullio, Accor's Sales Director for Southern Europe, explains how the French group is placing a new emphasis on restaurants based on attractive lifestyle concepts.

The Ascott group is expanding its portfolio in Europe with the opening of Citadines South Vienna, the brand's first franchised residence in Austria.

While opening their establishments to refugees outside Ukraine, in addition to donations and financial support, the world's leading hotel companies have suspended their development in Russia. But they have not completely stopped doing business there.