Business travel

The IHG Group is to launch its upscale lifestyle brand Voco in Singapore with the takeover of the Hilton hotel on the famous Orchard Road.

The SNCF's new leisure-oriented pricing policy, with a single Avantage card and a price ceiling, has also led to the launch of a dedicated teleworking package and an overhaul of the loyalty programme.

Los Angeles last April, Chicago just recently and soon New York and Washington: the luxury hotelier Pendry is multiplying its chic addresses in the United States.

Located in a fast-developing economic zone, the Hyatt Regency Shanghai Songjiang offers 256 rooms and a vast space dedicated to meetings and events. Its added bonus: a relaxing lakeside location.

Two Marriott brands, Moxy for lifestyle and Renaissance for top-of-the-range, are setting up shop in Bordeaux, revisiting the industrial past of the Bassins à Flot.

The Air France-KLM group is expanding its intercontinental routes over the coming months. However, these routes are mainly intended for leisure travellers rather than business travellers. There are, however, opportunities for business tourism. 

According to the latest barometer from consultants OAG, air capacity in Europe is on the up again with the lifting of travel restrictions in the European Union. They are likely to predict better summer months.

While Sheraton unveils its new face in Istanbul, InterContinental will open a luxury hotel in Ankara, the result of the renovation of the Turkish capital's oldest five-star hotel.

Poland, Albania, Romania, the Baltic States: the Accor group is strengthening its offering in Eastern Europe with a number of projects for its Mövenpick and ibis Styles brands and its long-stay Novotel Living brand.

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) will be expanding its network in 2022 with more trains on the main lines and to Europe.

Since 26 May, Lufthansa has been offering Economy Class passengers an in-flight service for a fee only on its European flights. This is a revolution in the German airline's service.

After Rome, The Hoxton brand is planning new developments in Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, London and Vienna. The programme includes hotels that are naturally lifestyle hotels, but also equipped for business meetings.

Yotel is rolling out its concept in the heart of major cities such as Washington, Glasgow and Porto, with cabin hotels enhanced by coworking and meeting spaces.

The forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Minsk, Belarus, on the false pretext of a bomb, resulted in the suspension of all international flights over Belarus. For its part, Russia, supporting its neighbour, is preventing airlines from landing on its soil if they take an alternative route.

The Deutsche Hospitality group, owner of the Steigenberger and Intercity brands, has unveiled its hybrid meetings offering, with four solutions ranging from studios to virtual 100 % events.

Air France-KLM has completed the first long-haul flight using sustainable jet fuel. A joint initiative with Total, Groupe ADP and Airbus, it demonstrates that French air transport is working on solutions that are more compatible with environmental protection. 

Austrian Airlines is increasing the number of its flights to leisure destinations this summer. But the airline is still aiming to strengthen the role of its Vienna hub for the winter.

Eurostar, Hertz, La Compagnie: these three players all had shaky finances after long months without much activity. Whether in the form of refinancing, loans or takeovers, solutions have now been found.