Corporate Travel News - June 2025

 

Airline updates

Delta introduces new two services, New York to Sicily and Boston to Barcelona

Delta has introduced its first ever flight to Sicily, a new daily nonstop service between New York JFK and Catania which will be operated using a 216-seat Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The carrier has also strengthened its presence in Spain, launching a three times weekly service between Barcelona and Boston with a 218-seat Airbus A330-900neo. Read more

 

 

Air Canada’s first flight to Naples, Italy touches down

Air Canada’s new Montreal-Naples service now operates on four days each week, between 16 May to 25 October this year. This marks Air Canada’s fourth non-stop connection between Canada and Italy. Read more

 

 

United unveils Elevated interior for new Boeing 787-9 aircraft

The United Elevated interior will be on all future Boeing 787 deliveries, and will include two new business class suites, an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, Starlink connectivity and even larger 4K OLED seatback screens. Delivery of the first 787-9 with the Elevated interior is expected by the end of the year and it’s expected that the first international passenger flights from San Francisco to Singapore and London will take place in 2026. Read more

 

Emirates further refines First Class experience with new enhancements

Emirates has unveiled a newly designed keepsake menu, unlimited caviar served in elegant Emirates engraved bowls, an improved First Class cheeseboard, and refurbished First Class Check In area in Dubai International’s Terminal 3. Read more

 

 

Lufthansa reopens Munich First Class Lounge following design refresh

First Class passengers can find the stylish lounge in Terminal 2 at Munich Airport. It features a modern design and comfortable ambience with approximately 1,000 square metres of space, an “a la carte” restaurant, front cooking buffet and bar area. Read more

 

 

SWISS adds extra flights to Krakow in winter schedule

SWISS has announced that its services on the Zurich-Krakow route will increase from seven to nine weekly flights in its 2025/26 winter schedule. Read more

 

 

Etihad confirms order for 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft

As part of the Etihad’s strategy to double its fleet size by 2030, the airline has agreed an order for a mixture of Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft. These aircraft are expected to join the fleet from 2028 onwards. Read more

 

 

Air France unveils redesigned check-in area for SkyPriority customers

Offering passengers a faster and smoother experience, the revamped check-in area is located at Terminal 2E in Paris-Charles de Gaulle’s airport. In November, automatic gates will be added to allow fully autonomous access for eligible guests. Read more

 

 

ITA Airways reopens newly renovated Runway Lounge at Milan Linate Airport

The lounge has undergone a complete renovation. New features include a scenic display of Campari bottles, an exclusive Runway Shakerato cocktail created for the airline by Campari, and illycaffè brand coffee. Within the lounge, there is also the Silent Room – a reserved, scenic area inspired by aircraft cockpits. Read more

 

 

Hotel updates

Leonardo Hotels adds new hotel to portfolio in Germany’s Rhine-Main region

The new Leonardo Mainz will undergo extensive renovations before welcoming guests from 1 August. It will feature 217 stylish rooms and suites, an inviting lobby, sleek bar, and a restaurant with terrace. There are 13 conference rooms with 225 square metres of space in total, as well as a health and beauty area with a pool, two saunas and a whirlpool. Read more

 

Village Hotels £82m refurbishment project continues with Village Manchester Ashton

756 rooms have already been refurbished in the first phase of the project, across hotels in Cardiff, Chester, and Swansea. As part of this, the hotel extension project at Village Manchester Ashton is now underway, adding 48 new rooms by 2026. Read more

 

 

New NYX Hotel Berlin Köpenick by Leonardo Hotels opens with 190 rooms

The waterfront hotel offers 190 rooms, one of which is fully disabled-accessible. It features a spacious open lobby with a bar, chill-out area, restaurant and panoramas of the River Dahme and Köpenick Palace. For meetings and events, there are 14 flexible spaces with natural daylight, modern conference technology and some opening directly onto an outdoor terrace. Read more

 

Travelodge completes Barcelona Poblenou refurbishment

Travelodge’s flagship hotel in Spain has been upgraded to offer guests a more premium look and feel. New features include 45 inch TVs, minibars, USB ports and updated bathrooms for all rooms, the reception and common areas have been modernised, and a new 85 Bar Cafe has been introduced for dining, relaxing or working. Energy efficiency and sustainability features have also been enhanced through out the property.

 

First Hyatt branded hotel opens in Croatia, near Zadar Airport

Hyatt Regency Zadar has opened a short distance from Zadar Airport and the city’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, with 133 guestrooms and suites. Rooms feature panoramic views of the coastline, a 65-inch HDTV and fast wi-fi. Guests can enjoy a range of different cuisines at the hotel’s food and beverage venues, a 12,432 square-foot spa with heated indoor and outdoor pools, and more than 7,965 square feet of flexible event space including a 350 capacity pillarless ballroom. Read more

 

Travelodge announces opening of new 43-room hotel in Bromsgrove

Located a 6-minute walk from Bromsgrove Station and a 30-minute drive from Birmingham Airport, the new Travelodge Bromsgrove has opened doors to guests. The property was acquired and converted into a Travelodge as part of the brand’s rebrand acquisition strategy.

 

 

New Mercure hotel opens in Saudi Arabia’s Aseer region

Just 15 kilometres away from Abha International Airport, Mercure Khamis Mushait opens with 93 contemporary rooms. The hotel is designed for business and leisure travellers – guests can enjoy an all-day dining restaurant, gym, indoor swimming pool, meeting room, and laundry services. Read more

 

 

Kimpton Main Frankfurt opens within city’s financial district

The hotel’s 155 guest rooms feature designs inspired by the 20th century Bauhaus design movement and the building’s previous life as Deutsche Bank’s headquarters. There are three destination dining and social spaces (including a rooftop venue) and a variety of signature Kimpton touches, such as in-room yoga mats, complimentary bikes, and more. Read more

 

125-room Hotel Astoria Vienna, Curio Collection by Hilton opens in historic 1st district of the city

Following extensive renovations, the Art Deco-style hotel is once again welcoming guests. It’s just a short walk away from St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the State Opera, which makes it an ideal location for both leisure and business travellers. The hotel features a stylish bar and restaurant, one Beletage Suite, seven Junior Suites and four meeting rooms. Read more

 

Hilton York completes refurbishment project, upgrading 131 rooms

Refurbishments have been completed across all 131 of the hotel’s rooms, with works including replacing the carpets, lighting, wall vinyl, mirrors and desks. 50-inch HDTVs, USB charging ports, contemporary headboards and new easy chairs have also been added.

 

 

Marriott International signs agreement for five Austrian properties

Marriott International has signed an agreement to open five properties in Austria, including the anticipated debut of Four Points Flex by Sheraton. The signed projects are expected to add more than 1,100 rooms to its portfolio. Read more

 

 

Ground updates

LNER completes works to improve mobile connectivity on East Coast Main Line

Due to a collaborative project between LNER, Network Rail, and the private sector, thousands of O2 customers will now experience a more reliable mobile signal and on-train Wi-Fi connection as they leave and approach London King’s Cross Station. Read more

 

 

Eurostar’s redesigned Premier lounge opens doors in outside Paris Gare du Nord

The refreshed Premier lounge has reopened for Premier passengers as well as Carte Blanche and Etoile members of the Club Eurostar loyalty programme, travelling on intercontinental routes. The lounge’s design is inspired by Parisian cafes, with black and white tiled floor, curved walls, and a view of the courtyard. Guests can enjoy a continental breakfast, mid-morning snacks, and sweet and savoury treats throughout the day. Read more

 

LNER adds more than 36,000 extra seats to services between Bradford and London

LNER has increased its services between Bradford Forster Square and London King’s Cross by 250%. There are now seven trains per day in each direction, up from the previous two per day, and the first weekday train from London to Bradford will arrive at 09:52 rather than 19:30. Read more

 

 

Avanti West Coast timetable changes add more seats and services 

Beginning 18 May, Avanti West Coast’s timetable will include 12 additional services each week between Holyhead and London and two extra services from London to Chester on the weekends. The North Wales route will utilise Avanti’s £350m Evero fleet. There will be an additional 20 services each week on the Liverpool-London route with additional calls at Lichfield, Trent Valley and Tamworth. Passengers in the West Midlands will benefit from three extra weekday services between Birmingham and London, plus two extra trains on Saturdays and Sundays. Read more