Covid-19

Slowly but surely, the routine of business travel and its obligatory points of passage are regaining their rights. Admittedly, the routine has changed, you now have to come forward masked, and access procedures have evolved, but little by little business travellers are regaining access to these premium offers, which tend to reduce the impact of a busy flight schedule....

Now that the recovery has begun after these months of confinement, what is the current status of the Ascott Group's residences in France and Europe? Ngor Houai Lee - We're in the phase of reopening our residences and implementing health protocols. In July, 85 % of our residences in...

Despite the gradual reopening of borders, the meetings and events market is still in a state of uncertainty, and professionals across the Channel are no exception. ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) decided to survey just under a hundred of its members in the UK and Ireland. The aim was to find out what these professionals are thinking, and how they see the future...

Plexiglas protecting the reception area, masked staff, gloves for those carrying luggage: there's nothing very glamorous about the sanitary measures needed to combat the current pandemic, nor are they in line with luxury hotel standards. "It's a bit the antithesis of our hospitality business. And yet, if...

Since 8 June, Appart'City has reopened almost a third of its hundred or so apartment hotels in France and Belgium. The other establishments are due to reopen on 26 June. Naturally, this reopening is accompanied by health measures, including more frequent cleaning to disinfect the various areas...

It was one of the sectors most rapidly paralysed by the health crisis, and it will be one of the very last to be able to resume its activity: the events industry will finally be back in action on 1 September, as the National Defence and Security Council recently made official. Viparis is Europe's leading conference and trade show host...

Now that the recovery has begun, is the upturn in activity noticeable in the La Défense district? Franck Boucher - The return is gradual, but things are starting to move. We can see it in the figures for people leaving the transport network, but also in the number of people visiting the shops and the restaurant terraces. The Cœur Défense building,...

After having had to close its 70 houses in 6 European countries, starting in France in mid-March, Châteauform is gradually relaunching its events and training activities. More than forty residences are already in operation. To reassure companies, the group has sought the advice of Socotec to develop a charter for the...

Why did you launch hubtobee? Benoit Rabourdin - We started from a number of observations, in particular the number of times we bump into colleagues by chance, people we rarely see because they're geographically far away, whereas today, with digital technology, we can predict who will be where and when. And...

From July 7, business travellers will once again be able to visit Dubai, provided they meet certain eligibility criteria and have taken out an appropriate international insurance policy covering Covid-19-related risks for the duration of their stay. They must also be able to present a recent certificate of negative testing, or...

With the reopening of Europe's borders, rail companies are resuming their international services. In particular, the SNCF and its subsidiaries operating between Paris and Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Good news for business travellers who need to get away. There is one major exception, however, with the...

Will the new phase of decontamination announced on Sunday by the French President speed up the recovery of your hotels? Franck Gervais - Today, half of our hotels in France are open. And we're reopening at a significant rate, with 70% of our hotels worldwide expected to have opened by the end of the year.

International SOS surveyed more than 1,000 professionals responsible for the health, safety and well-being of their employees, whose responses have been compiled in the "Return to Operations" study. According to the survey, a large majority of professionals fear the disruption caused by a possible second wave of...

Known for its sense of efficiency, Singapore is the hub of the business world in South-East Asia, particularly in terms of finance and international trade. The city, which has no territory other than its metropolis, is more dependent than its neighbours in the region on its relations with the outside world. With the crisis...

When will the capital be holding another trade fair? This is the big question that prompted the managers of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau (OTCP) to carry out a survey. Its first Barometer on the outlook for business tourism in Paris targeted seven priority markets, namely the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Italy and the United States.

Already an essential part of the business traveller's toolkit, the smartphone is acquiring a new status in these times of health crisis. Just as catering services are turning to digital ordering, hotels are using mobile tools to protect their customers by limiting the number of interactions required. The trendy citizenM brand has...

Updated on 19 June When it reopens on 1 July, the 25Hours Paris Terminus Nord will be offering a concept in France that has already been introduced in Germany by hotels owned by the German chain, which includes Accor among its shareholders. The establishment, located just opposite the Paris train station, will be offering the possibility of using its rooms as...

Chateauform is reviewing the sanitary aspects of its offer in order to ensure a safe return to business. "Safety and hygiene are an integral part of our obligations, and COVID-19 has led us to adapt and strengthen our protocols to offer our customers even greater pleasure and safety", said Gérald Coutaudier, CEO of Chateauform.

What type of traffic is Delta Air Lines expecting on the Paris-New York JFK flight, with entry restrictions still in place? Béatrice de Rotalier - We expect a mix of different types of travellers on this flight, including mainly business and essential travellers. Maintaining the...

"To find out the dish of the day, scan the QR code". Adding to the multitude of functions it already fulfils, the smartphone is now being enriched with a new function, that of maître d'. While the cards and menus passed from hand to hand between diners could fall victim to the pandemic, the service should tend...