Business travel

The partnership between Air France and Etihad is set to expand from next summer: the two airlines will be rolling out their codeshare on new routes in Europe, as well as in Africa, Asia and Australia.

EasyJet is currently trialling its new mobile boarding pass, which business travellers can download directly onto their smartphone via the easyJet application. The trial is being rolled out at six European airports, including Nice in France.

On 25 April, the IHG Group celebrated theinauguration of the Intercontinental Marseille - Hôtel DieuThe event was attended by a host of political and business leaders, as well as a host of international journalists. It's a major event for the hotel giant, but also and above all for the city, which is aiming to take a step forward as a leading tourist and business destination. All this in an extraordinary setting, and with the right timing: 2013 sees the city of Marseille become the European Capital of Culture.

The Hilton group will soon be making its entry into the Lisbon market, opening its first DoubleTree hotel in the Portual in summer 2013: the DoubleTree by Hilton Lisbon - Fontana Park.

Ducasse, Robuchon, Gagnaire, Alleno, Vongerichten... The world's top chefs are associating their names with the best in the global hotel industry. A trail to the stars where these luxury consultants cultivate a taste for excellence through contemporary concepts.

By Arnaud Deltenre

Yannick Alleno is the chef at the 1947 restaurant at the Cheval Blanc hotel in Courchevel and the founder of the Yannick Alleno group.

François Delahaye is Director of Operations for the Dorchester Collection and Managing Director of the Plaza Athénée.

Iberia's fast track service is now available to French business travellers departing from Orly airport in Paris.

On 23 April, Accor announced the departure of Denis Hennequin, CEO of the French hotel group for more than two years. Philippe Citerne, Sébastien Bazin and Yann Caillère are in charge of the transitional governance.

After a long period as the terra incognita Sub-Saharan Africa is a major player on the world hotel map, and the major international brands are now taking an interest in its potential. New local players are following suit, offering an alternative to top-of-the-range establishments.

Indigo will be making its Italian debut in the first quarter of 2014, when it opens its first boutique hotel in Rome city centre.

A major strike by ground staff launched on Monday 22 April is causing major disruption to Lufthansa traffic: almost all of the 1,650 or so flights scheduled in Europe have been cancelled.

Sweden and Turkey top the list of European countries offering the most free Wi-Fi access in hotels, according to a study recently published by HRS. France is a poor performer, ranking 16th.^th position in the rankings.

A major new destination will soon be added to the catalogue of W hotels: in 2015, the Starwood group will inaugurate the brand's first establishment in Israel, the W Tel Aviv - Jaffa. This is a major step forward for the brand, which has high ambitions for 2016.

The first Vueling-branded hotel has opened its doors in Barcelona city centre, in partnership with Hoteles Catalonia: an atypical hotel that immerses business travellers in the world of the airline, its aircraft and its destinations.

Marseille airport is affected this Friday 19 April by a strike by security staff, the impact of which on the network is limited according to airport management.

By car, but in the back seat this time, in chauffeur-driven saloon cars: neither the same rental rates, nor the same expectations from travellers, but a service that plays on the brand image.

American Airlines now flies daily to Düsseldorf airport from Chicago O'Hare. The airline will soon turn its attention to another European destination: Dublin.

Among today's most powerful airlines, those of the Gulf embody, better than anyone else, the global nature of our world, with hubs connecting the whole planet. After long being vilified by the competition, they have even become the financial guarantors of certain players in peril.

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce in France has concluded a partnership with IberiaAlvaro Delgado, Managing Director of Iberia in France, took the opportunity to review the current market situation, the airline's busy schedule - in particular the new long-haul Business Plus class - and its ambitions for France, Europe and Latin America.