Business travel

Known more for dressing elegant women than designing their rooms, a number of fashion designers have made their mark on hotel lobbies. It's a new trend that's gaining momentum, affecting both integrated chains and independent hoteliers.

Secondary airlines are growing up in the shadow of the mega-carriers that now dominate international aviation. Sometimes alternatives to the national leaders, these airlines, often positioned in niche markets, are proving irreplaceable for business travellers.

While Thalys TGVs have been allowing passengers to surf the Internet via WiFi since spring 2008, SNCF, despite being a shareholder in this carrier, is still waiting for feedback on its Internet offering, which has been on board the TGV Est since last year.

"We have shown great flexibility."

After two years of abysmal losses, Air France - KLM is back in the black. In 2010-2011, the group posted a net profit of 613 million euros, compared with a record loss of 1.23 billion euros the previous year. Turnover rose by 12.5 1Q3 to 23.62 billion euros.

A legend in the Paris business hotel world, Le Meridien Montparnasse has become Pullman Paris Montparnasse. A change, to be sure, but one of continuity.

"We have the feeling that more and more attention is being paid to employee well-being".says Florence Rouah, seminars and incentives manager at Thalassa Sea & Spa.

The "jasmine revolutions that have shaken the Arab world have had only a limited effect on most of the major companies in the Persian Gulf. Their strength? Particularly extensive air coverage, excellent quality of service both on the ground and in the air, and a dynamism that never falters...

If you're a fan of standardised hotels, don't bother! Personalisation and noble materials: these seem to be the common watchwords for the design of the 54 rooms in this atypical four-star hotel located just between Madeleine and Saint Lazare.

At Radisson Blu, the top end of the market has developed a delicate habit of not getting carried away.

A former industrial port converted into a bridgehead for the new economy: the story is known throughout Europe, from London's Canary Wharf to Hamburg's Hafen-City.

No revolution at the top of the chain hotel industry: that's what emerges from the 2011 ranking of the world's hotel groups published by MKG Hospitality.

Park & Suites is one of many serviced apartment brands that have sprung up in France over recent years. How do you differentiate yourselves...

Launched in September 2009, Cityzenbooking, France's only real-time online booking site for urban tourist residences, intends to step up its international expansion. It will be expanding from four to six languages, with the forthcoming launch of versions in German and Chinese.