Business travel

The opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Residences Dubai - Al Barsha marks the brand's arrival in a major new business destination.

Enterprise has just formalised new partnerships with a number of key players in the European business travel industry, including American Express Travel and BCD Travel, two Travel Management Companies (TMCs) that are key players in the business travel sector.

SriLankan Airlines officially joined the oneworld alliance on 1 May 2014.

Qatar Airways has just partially lifted the veil on the new facilities planned on board its A380s, in particular the lounge dedicated to First and Business classes.  

The Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo hotel has just opened its doors in the heart of Korea's new technology hub.

The National Council of the SNPL National union voted by more than 95% to lift the strike notice, which was due to disrupt Air France operations from 3 May. 

The Starwood group will be opening two new hotels in July: Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre and the Westin Bahrain City Centre will add 460 rooms to the American hotelier's offering in Manama, the kingdom's capital.

The Dubai-based airline will be launching a daily flight between the emirate and the European capital at the beginning of September.

This summer, Eurostar's Business Premier passengers can look forward to a new gastronomic offering. On the menu: a revised breakfast, seasonal dishes and a wine list.

The French group is playing the technology card and rethinking the way it welcomes its customers by deploying a new digital solution. 1,000 hotels worldwide will be equipped by the end of 2014.

Low-cost aviation is undoubtedly the biggest revolution in air travel in the last twenty years. Initially aimed at leisure travellers, low-cost airlines are now openly targeting business passengers. And they are being copied by the "classic" airlines...

Kayak has published an international study on the connectivity offered in hotels, noting that 90% of establishments worldwide now offer WiFi access. However, the booking site points out that this does not necessarily mean that a connection is offered in the room: free access in the lobby is enough to be included in this "free Wi-Fi" category.

Iberia will resume operations between Madrid and Montevideo from 1 January.^er September, with timetables adapted to facilitate connections for French business travellers.

On 17 April, Etihad Regional inaugurated its new flight between Toulouse and Geneva. The pink city has become the airline's first permanent French destination, enabling business travellers from Toulouse to reach Etihad's vast international network via its new Swiss hub.

Volotea will be making its debut at Marseille airport on 27 November with the inauguration of the new Marseille-Strasbourg flight.

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Thalys, Franck Gervais, Managing Director of Thalys International, gives his analysis of business travel between France and its European neighbours. A market in which the rail company has been able to grow in strength over the last few years, emphasising its strong points - service, flexibility, comfort - while working on the network of destinations and train punctuality. Interview. 

Eurostar has just completed a successful first quarter, with an increase in sales and traffic driven in particular by business travellers.