Corporate Travel News - September 2024

Airport updates

EU Commission reverts to previous 100ml liquid restrictions for hand luggage

The new guidelines taking effect from 1 September advise all EU airports, including those with new-generation C3 scanning equipment, to reinstate the rule restricting passengers to no more than 100ml of liquids in their hand luggage. This follows the reintroduction imposed by the UK’s Department for Transport in June, impacting London City, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Southend and Teesside Airports.

 

London City Airport to increase annual passenger cap by 2.5 million by 2031

The airport’s plans for its passenger cap to rise from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers has been approved by the UK government. It will also be able to fly three extra flights in the first half hour of operations during the week.

 

 

Airline updates

Delta’s free Wi-Fi rollout will include most transatlantic flights by the end of summer

Delta is bringing fast, free Wi-Fi to customers on select international flights. For the UK, Netherlands, Spain, and Italy, the rollout began in August. The rollout for Iceland, Ireland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland will begin this month, September. Read more

 

 

Air Canada resumes nonstop flights from Ottawa to London Heathrow

Air Canada has announced it will relaunch its non-stop service between Ottawa and London, beginning 31st March 2024. The flight will operate four times weekly onboard the airline’s Dreamliner fleet, which offers a choice of three cabins. Read more

 

 

British Airways adds additional daily service to Doha

British Airways is now offering a second daily service between London Heathrow and Doha. Operated onboard the carrier’s fleet of Boeing 777/787 aircraft, customers can enjoy BA’s luxurious First offering, which features a cabin with a private suite, access to exclusive lounges, fast-track security, and exceptional service.

 

 

Emirates to introduce newly retrofitted Boeing 777s on Geneva and Brussels routes

Emirates has announced that its newly retrofitted Boeing 777s will operate on services to Zurich and Riyadh. The airline will also layer on refurbished B777s to Geneva and Brussels. So far, 25 aircraft have been retrofitted, with 17 more to undergo refurbishments by December 2024. Read more

 

 

Qatar Airways now serves caviar in Business Class

Previously only available to First Class customers, Qatar Airways is now offering the luxury delicacy to its Business Class customers, with passengers travelling between Doha and London among the first to enjoy the new caviar service, which can be enjoyed as a standalone option or part of the onboard meal courses. Read more

 

 

Japan Airlines opens new lounge at Anfield Stadium

The Japan Airlines Lounge is accessible through purchased hospitality packages and will be open during Liverpool FC home matches, offering a vibrant space with a three-course menu and exceptional matchday service. Read more

 

 

ITA Airways launches new nonstop flight to Jeddah

ITA Airways has launched a new connection between Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport and Rome Fiumicino, operating onboard an Airbus A321neo aircraft with three weekly frequencies. The Airbus A321neo boasts 20% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat and is the first narrow-body aircraft configured with three separate cabins: Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy. Read more

 

Air France KLM opens new Plaza Premium Lounge for customers departing from London Heathrow Airport

Eligible Air France and KLM customers can find the new lounge opposite Gate 10a in Heathrow T4 Departures. It has been thoughtfully divided into distinct zones to cater equally to the needs of leisure and business travellers and features a range of services and facilities.

 

 

Singapore Airlines announces additional flight frequencies and increased capacity across network for 2025 Northern Summer season

From 30th March to 25th October 2025 SIA will operate a daily service to London Gatwick (up from five times weekly). Between 30th June and 28th August 2025, the airline’s Rome service will increase to five times weekly, up from four weekly flights. Read more

 

 

Hotel updates

Travelodge reveals plans for hotels in Skegness and Harwich

An 80-room, six-storey Travelodge on Skegness Seafront will open in time for summer 2025, it will feature the brand’s new premium look design and in-house restaurant on the top floor, offering sea views. Also expected to open for summer next year, a 68-room hotel is being developed next to Harwich Port and Enterprise Zone – it will operate alongside Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Howdens and Screwfix. Read more

 

Melia Hotels International’s partnership with Too Good To Go has saved 30 tonnes of food waste

In partnership with the surplus food marketplace app, Too Good To Go, Melia has announced a total of 30 tonnes of food has been saved from being wasted since the initiative began in late 2019 – equivalent to 81 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Read more

 

 

London Bermondsey Travelodge opens as the brand’s 82nd hotel in the capital

Located near Tower Bridge and The Shard, the 73-room property is a great base for business travellers visiting the city. It has been developed to Travelodge’s new premium design standard, which includes a redesigned reception, next-generation guest rooms, and its new restaurant concept, 85 Bar Cafe. There are also new Travelodge hotels in Chiswick and Stratford currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2025. Read more

 

The QHotels Collection’s Norton Park Hotel, Spa & Manor House in Hampshire unveils refurbishments

Norton Park Hotel, Spa & Manor House, located just outside of Winchester and set amongst 54 acres of Hampshire countryside, has refurbished its restaurant, lounge and bars to better suit the needs of its guests. The Scene Restaurant has a new contemporary look, incorporating multi-level tables, neutral textures and a dedicated coffee bar and has introduced a hot and cold buffet area to accommodate extra guests for breakfast. The 13-bedroom 16th Century Manor House has also added a luxurious new Shaker Style Kitchen.

 

Radisson Individuals’ The View Hotel Folkestone opens, 20 minutes from the Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover

The newly affiliated hotel features 46 elegant bedrooms, offering a range of options from classic to ground-floor apartments – equipped with large ensuite bathrooms, cosy lounge seating and luxury amenities. The hotel is designed to embody the serene charm of the Kent coast, with calm blue interiors and many of the rooms offering sea views, it also features an on-site restaurant with panoramic views of the sea. Read more

 

The Bolton Stadium Hotel (formerly Bolton Whites Hotel) joins Radisson Individuals brand

The 125-room hotel is attached to the Toughsheet Community Stadium, which is the home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. Perfect for sports fans and event travellers, the property features 19 rooms with pitch-side views, an all-day dining restaurant, bar and lounge, and events space for around 4,000 delegates with a total of 57 meeting rooms.

 

 

Hilton announces redevelopment plans for Munich Park property

A premier destination since it opened for the Munich Olympic Games, Hilton Munich Park will be redeveloped. The transformation will see the addition of a rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic views of the nearby English Gardens, along with restaurants, a central bar, and retail space on the ground floor. All renovations are scheduled for completion in 2029. Read more

 

Hilton reveals plans for three new hotels in Portugal in 2025 and 2026

Canopy by Hilton Vilamoura Marina is expected to open in 2026 with 155 rooms, a restaurant and bar, a spa, an outdoor pool, and a fitness centre. Santo André Beach Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is set to open in 2025 as the first Hilton property in the Santiago do Cacém region. This Tapestry Collection by Hilton property will have 44 guest rooms, a restaurant and bar, a gym and a rooftop pool with sea views. Read more

 

The Baltic Liverpool joins the Countrywide Hotels portfolio

Countrywide Hotels has announced it has taken over the management hub for The Baltic Hotel, situated within Liverpool’s independent, creative and digital district, The Baltic Triangle. The property features 52 musical-themed bedrooms designed with a unique mix of style and comfort. Read more

 

 

Ground updates

Enterprise Mobility continues growth in Ireland with new Flex-E-Rent depot in Limerick

The opening of a new state-of-the-art Enterprise Flex-E-Rent depot in Limerick sees Enterprise expand its footprint across Ireland, adding to existing sites in Dublin and Cork. The depot provides commercial and accessible vehicle solutions for businesses and the public sector, with tailored services for diverse business needs. Read more

 

 

Meetings and events updates

Radisson’s new hotel in the Champagne region features three versatile event spaces

Radisson debuts in France’s Champagne region with the opening of Radisson Hotel Reims. The new hotel offers 102 stylish rooms, a ground-floor restaurant and bar with all-day dining, a rooftop bar with panoramic views of Reims (including the city cathedral), and a 24-hour fitness room with state-of-the-art equipment. Its location makes it perfectly positioned for incentive trip travellers. All three event spaces feature natural daylight and modern facilities, with a capacity for up to 80 attendees. Read more

 

National Gallery invests in creating visionary spaces for venue hire

After celebrating its 200th year in May 2024, the National Gallery has announced an £85 million investment in build projects, including enhancing and modernising commercial event experiences with exciting new venue hire options. These include a reconfiguration of the group floor entrance, the creation of new spaces, new technologies, and a new mezzanine level with a statement bar as the focal point. The 322-seat lecture theatre will also reopen with a fully accessible main stage and state-of-the-art AV facilities.