Business travel

The almost certain departure of Qatar Airways from the oneworld alliance, the announced departure of China Southern from SkyTeam, and other possible developments: this is a time of major upheaval in the world of airline alliances.

Regus is opening a new site in Lille - its fifth - in the heart of Lille Flandres station, a strategic hub for business travellers.

Powwownow recently published a study comparing the business facilities at the world's 50 busiest airports. The telecommunications company drew up a list of hubs offering an ideal location for travellers wishing to work while waiting for their flight.

Emirates will be joining the Worldwide by easyJet network in the coming months, connecting the Dubai-based airline's network to London's Gatwick hub.

Other times, other stars: after the designer hotels of the last decade, it is now the footballers who are coming into play, like Cristiano Ronaldo with the Pestana CR7 brand, or establishments right in the heart of the stadiums.

Since October, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has been threatening to divorce himself from the Oneworld alliance. His departure would pave the way for the possible creation of a new alliance, under the aegis of the Qatari airline. A new offer for the business world?

A merger between the Logis and Citotel networks, a new name and a new brand strategy for the SEH group, now known as The Originals: the independent hotel sector is strengthening its offering.

With oil prices remaining at high levels, several CEOs are beginning to announce that their respective airlines will not be able to meet their profitability targets without a serious re-evaluation of their air fares. So 2019 could be a heavy year for travel companies...

Franck Monsauret, Head of Uber for Business in France, explains the timetable for the launch in France of the brand new Uber Rewards and Uber Eats for Business services, which have just been launched in the United States.

Since the beginning of November, Star Alliance has been trialling a new service for business travellers visiting the alliance's lounges: virtual reality headsets are available in terminal 1 at Paris-CDG.

Present in the United States and Europe with prestigious hotels such as the Carlysle in New York and now the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, the American chain Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has this year stepped up its presence in Asia.

The inauguration of the Marriott Athens hotel marks the brand's return to the Greek capital. An event not only for the brand, but also for the destination, where ambitious projects are once again being developed, and where business travellers converge.

Aeromexico's Commercial Director for France, Emmanuel Oswald, talks about the move to nine weekly flights between Paris and Mexico City, and reviews the airline's ambitions.

Although its future and the final date of its acquisition by the Jin Jiang group are still somewhat unclear, Radisson Hotel is no less ambitious, particularly in France, where the development of its flagship Radisson Blu brand is a priority.

Air France could soon be officially launching a site for buying second-hand tickets at reduced fares, with refund constraints. Will second-hand tickets be a thief among business travellers? Not so sure...

With a strategic location in the heart of Paris, a large number of offices and meeting rooms, and a coworking space called Le Spot, Multiburo is adding a prestigious address to its portfolio by setting up in the very heart of the Saint Lazare station.

From 2019, travellers departing from Marseille will see their airport offer diversify. Four daily flights to London and the addition of routes to Stockholm and Copenhagen are planned.

Lyft has acquired the services of Blue Vision Labs, a start-up specialising in augmented reality. The aim is to speed up the development of autonomous vehicles.

For the first time in its history, Hong Kong is now linked by land to Macau and beyond to the whole of Guangzhou province. A real technological feat, this infrastructure will change the way people move between the three entities and establish the island of Lantau as a business hub. Business travel will be much smoother.

Ector has just unveiled its ranking of the world's most accessible airports. Proximity to the city centre, car park capacity and the price of transport were among the factors taken into account.