Corporate e-Newsletter - October 2008

This month we would like to congratulate Celine Thiboeuf of Hachette Partworks in London, who has won the 3rd Quarter eNews Subscribers' Prize Draw.

Every quarter we draw a winning name from the list of all subscribers to both the Corporate and Leisure eNewsletters. The winner receives a £100 voucher, redeemable against any form of holiday booking (combination of travel and accommodation) made through us to the value of £500 or more, and is valid for a period of 18 months from the date of issue. It will be transferable, providing the winner advises Medway Travel of the name of the eventual recipient.

From a City break to a Cruise, from an all-inclusive package to a tailored holiday, the choice is yours. Just take a look at the Leisure section of our website to see the massive range of outstanding holidays on offer. Our team of consultants is highly qualified to research and advise on all aspects of your trip.

Free to enter, the odds are far better than winning the lottery, so anyone who has not already done so should subscribe to our free e-Newsletter, and be in with a chance of winning the draw for the 4th quarter 2008!

With the Corporate Manslaughter Act now in force, companies need to pay more attention to their Travel Policy and traveller compliance to this very important tool. Security measures need to be implemented to ensure that employees’ health, safety and wellbeing are all met when they are out of the office, especially when they are travelling on company business.

In case of natural disasters or terrorist attacks, companies need to have access to all travel information in order to establish firstly, if any of their employees have been affected and, secondly, to advise any who may be due to depart to the affected destination.

In addition to tracing your travellers, your Travel Policy will enable you to save money for your Company and time and hassle for your travellers.

Medway Travel will be happy to work with you in building and implementing a Travel Policy for your Company. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any assistance.

With the bmi routepass, regular travellers can benefit from savings of up to 10% when buying business or full economy tickets in advance when travelling on a particular route with bmi. Available on most bmi UK Domestic and Western European routes, although it is intended for travel on a particular route, with routepass you have the flexibility to change your choice of destination.

Benefits include:

• Routepass can be purchased for use by an individual or a company. There are no restrictions on the number of employees using the company routepass.
• Tickets are fully flexible and offer maximum availability
• Available in books of 10 one-way tickets for an individual or 20 one-way for use by up to 5 travellers within your company
• Business or economy travel options are available
• Every time you fly, you’ll have access to the bmi lounges at all key destinations where you can enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks and useful business facilities.
• Tickets are valid for 4 months from the first date of travel
• Routepass tickets are available for up to four months from your first date of travel meaning that business trips become flexible.
• A “part-payment” option enables change of route during the 4 month validity period and a method of using any out of date tickets

Bmi’s frequent flyer scheme - Diamond Club – offers members the rewards of free flights, exclusive Business Lounges and many other privileges by collecting destinations miles every time they fly.

By purchasing a Routepass, the individual traveller automatically qualifies for Silver Card membership. With a company Routepass, up to 5 nominated employees receive instant Blue Card membership and the opportunity to upgrade to Silver status faster by receiving 8,000 miles (16,000 miles qualifies for Silver membership so this can be earned in half the time).

For details of how buying in bulk can reduce your business travel bills, contact us now. We will also be able to provide details of bmi’s Diamond Club and other airline frequent flyer corporate membership schemes which may benefit your company.

If you or your colleagues are planning to visit any overseas trade fair in the future, please contact us as soon as possible about your arrangements for travel and accommodation. The earlier we can make the bookings for you, the lower the cost of the airfares will be, and the greater the selection of hotel accommodation available.

We also suggest you take a look at our website Trade Fairs page from time to time, to help with your forward planning, and then look to our APTT service to ensure you get the best accommodation rates and locations. 

Changes to Continental  Airlines' US Routes

Continental Airlines plans to launch a third daily non-stop flight between New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport, and London Heathrow, effective October 25th 2008 (subject to government approval and slot approval). On the same date, it will discontinue flights to London Gatwick from both New York and Houston.

Continental will continue to operate two daily flights from Houston to Heathrow in addition to the three daily flights from Liberty to Heathrow.

Continental operates a variety of Boeing jets (777, 767 and 757) on its routes from the U.S. to London, with ground operations at Heathrow Terminal 4. They also operate non-stop services from Liberty to Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester, as well as Dublin and Shannon -- more cities in the U.K. and Ireland than any other trans-Atlantic airline.

 

Kingfisher launches first International route

Having successfully met Indian airline licence regulations, Kingfisher has announced a new direct daily flight between London and Bangalore. The route, which commenced at the beginning of September, is the airline’s first international service.

Kingfisher Airlines operate a new Airbus A330-200 on the route with two classes of service. Food onboard will be provided by London's Chutney Mary's restaurant. There will be webchat and email, USB connectors and in-seat plug/chargers available throughout the aircraft. In Kingfisher First, guests will be offered in-seat massagers, a bar with bartender, a jacket pressing service, and spectacles cleaning.

Inflight entertainment will include live TV channels BBC World, CNN International, Bloomberg and Eurosport/ESPN via satellite to every seat, plus some 357 hours of programming on 36 channels.

Kingfisher started domestic flights in India in 2005 and has since become the largest privately-owned airline in the country following its merger with Air Deccan.

 

United abandons transatlantic BOB plans

From October 1, the US carrier was intending to scrap free food in economy class for flights between Washington’s Dulles airport and Europe. Passengers flying major routes from Washington DC such as those to London Heathrow, Paris CDG and Frankfurt would have had to pay extra for their in-flight meals.

But in an email sent to its frequent flyers, United’s chief customer officer, Graham Atkinson, writes, “Thank you for your direct and candid feedback. We heard you and have decided not to move forward with the test on certain transatlantic flights. We will continue to offer complimentary hot meals on those flights.”

However United says it will proceed with plans to test new and complimentary options for United business class passengers on domestic routes.

These start on October 1 covering 16 daily three-class flights and will feature fresh sandwiches and snacks depending on the length of flight and time of day. The results of the test will be evaluated at the end of the year.

 

Air France – London City flight changes

Air France now operate a new timetable from London City Airport:

To Geneva
Flights departing London City for Geneva have had a fifth flight added to the existing route. It leaves London at 1345 and arrives in Geneva at 1630; returning from the Swiss city at 1230 in order to arrive back in London at 1315.

 

To Edinburgh
The London City – Edinburgh route has 20% more seats with the introduction of two more Avro RJ85 jets, which replaced the smaller Dornier 328 turbo-prop aircraft. The Dornier flies on one of the seven daily flights only.

To Paris
Flights leaving London City for Paris’ Orly airport (located in the southwest of the French capital) have been reduced from six to five times a day.

To Strasbourg
The route from London City to Strasbourg has also been reduced – from three to two flights a day, to allow for the increased Geneva and Edinburgh routes.

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Air France flies to 10 destinations from London City Airport. These are: Dublin, Dundee, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Geneva, Nice, Paris Orly, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Strasbourg and Zurich. The airline also flies from Heathrow.
 

A company specialising in helping airline passengers get compensation says 1,000 people are entitled to £430 every day in the UK.

The company gathers and analyses flight data and uses the information to prove the cases of travellers who have suffered delays or cancellations and want compensation from the airlines.

It has based the figures on an average UK flight cancellation rate of 1.2% and concludes that £115m is going unclaimed. The company says few people know about the EC regulation 261/2004 introduced in 2005 which gives air passengers rights to compensation and help if boarding is denied, flights cancelled, delays suffered or downgrades made.

EU law states that airlines don’t have to pay out if flights are cancelled at the last minute due to extraordinary circumstances such as technical problems. But it seems that carriers use this loophole to their advantage as it is virtually impossible for passengers to object to airline statements about technical circumstances. As a result the airlines have been able effectively to hide behind the claim of extraordinary circumstance.

This specialist company says it monitors every aircraft of every airline 24/7 and uses this flight intelligence to prove successfully that airlines have delayed or cancelled flights for economic reasons rather than technical ones.

If you have complaints to make about a travel vendor’s performance, and Medway Travel has made the booking for you, please let us know and we will gladly take up your case on your behalf.

Commencing in 2009, East Midlands airport will install wind turbines, which it plans will generate 10% of its electricity.

In addition, there are plans for all ground operations to be carbon neutral by 2012. The airport has invested £3m in initiatives to reach the target, including using rainwater to flush toilets and channelling heat from deep below the ground for the airport’s western pier.

The airport has also set up a “roadmap in the sky” that leads aircraft away from highly populated areas. Aircraft that deviate are fined and the money is used to provide sound insulation for houses within a 3-mile radius of the airport.

Medway Travel has access to one of the largest portfolios of specially negotiated contract fares open to any travel agent in the country. This means we can - subject to availability at the time of booking - offer unusually low prices for many long-haul and certain European routes.

This month's examples (all in £) are:

Economy Fares:

Route	Airline	Fare	Taxes
Singapore via Paris	Air France	281.00	340.50
Hong Kong	Air New Zealand	163.00	286.35
Beijing via Amsterdam	KLM Royal Dutch	184.00	283.45
Seoul via Frankfurt	Lufthansa	205.00	326.35
Bangkok via Paris	Air France	259.00	343.70
Sydney via Bangkok	Thai Airways	453.00	582.05
Perth via Bangkok	Thai Airways	453.00	530.75
Auckland via Bangkok	Thai Airways	486.00	584.85

 

Business Class Fares:

Route	Airline	Fare	Taxes
Singapore via Paris	Air France	1566.00	380.50
Hong Kong via Frankfurt	Lufthansa	1391.00	360.85
Beijing via Vienna	Austrian Airlines	1292.00	360.25
Seoul via Amsterdam	KLM Royal Dutch	1566.00	390.25
Bangkok via Bahrain	Gulf Air	1404.00	342.65
Sydney via Seoul	Asiana Airlines	2160.00	294.25
Perth via Bangkok	Thai Airways	2352.00	570.75
Auckland via Bangkok	Thai Airways	2547.00	624.85

 

Each month we bring you a small selection of the 10 million such fares we have available, to illustrate the level of fares you can enjoy as a result of our extensive connections and research.

So if your next destination isn't on the above list of examples, please do contact us. There is every chance we will have a real bargain to offer you!

P&O Ferries plans to introduce the largest ever cross channel ferries on the Dover-Calais route.

The first of their 2 new ships will enter service in December 2010 and the second in September 2011, replacing the Pride of Dover and the Pride of Calais. P&O has placed an order with the Aker shipyard in Finland worth more than 350 million Euros for the two new vessels.

Weighing 49,000 gross tonnes and measuring 210 metres long, the two ferries will be the largest ships capable of fitting into existing facilities in the channel ports and will be the first Channel ferries designed to manoeuvre under their own power in 50 knot winds.

They will double the freight carrying capacity of the ships they are replacing with a capacity for 180 freight vehicles whilst additionally providing a third deck for 195 tourist vehicles. They will be capable of carrying up to 2,000 passengers.

The ships will be as environmentally friendly as possible, offering significant advances in fuel efficiency through a hydro-dynamically efficient hull form that will optimised vessel performance with minimum fuel consumption.

With this investment, P&O Ferries is planning to capture growth in the freight market, whilst also serving the tourist market with a superior on-board offering.

Hilton has opened its first mid-market Garden Inn hotel in the UK, a 157-room property near London Luton airport – the Garden Inn Luton North.

The Hilton Garden Inn (HGI) brand follows the concept of “focussed or bundled services”, with its 5 key “brand pillars” being:

Sleep Deep – all HGI properties feature the signature Garden Sleep System bed, a design originally used in hospitals to eliminate pressure points enabling guests to adjust the firmness of the mattress.

Work Smart – free Wifi access is available in all rooms and public spaces, and guests are able to print directly from their laptop or Blackberry to printers in the 24-hour self-service business centre, again on a complimentary basis. Meeting space at the Luton North property includes a boardroom and ten meeting rooms, holding between 20 and 120 delegates theatre-style. There is also free parking on-site.

Eat Well – An empty fridge in every room can be topped up with items from the hotel’s 24-hour Pavillion Pantry, including snacks which can be heated in the available microwaves.

Stay Fit – HGI properties feature complimentary gyms with fitness equipment, and guests can also request a Stay Fit Kit for use in-room.

Treat Yourself – Many of the HGI hotels (although not Luton North) have swimming pools or spa baths, and rooms include 26-inch high-definition flatscreen TVs with in-room movies.

Although new to the UK, HGI is well established in the US and Canada. It recently opened its 400th Hilton Garden Inn property – in 1997 there were just four, which shows how far the brand has come in just over ten years.

Hilton plans to expand the brand within the UK with another 15-20 properties opening in the next 5 years.

According to latest figures, budget chain Premier Inn has been boosted by cost-conscious business travellers.

“Strong demand has been maintained in the commercial market as corporate buyers are increasingly attracted to Premier Inn’s value for money price and facilities," the company said.

The company has opened 14 new hotels in 2008 to date, adding 1,157 rooms, and said it remained on course to add more than 4,000 new rooms this year.

Whitbread, which also runs pub restaurants and the Costa coffee shop chain, said it continued to be resilient in a period of consumer uncertainty.

Please remember to ask our Consultants to research and book the most convenient and suitable hotels for your trips. We provide this service free of any fee, if you request bookings to be made at the same time as we are booking your related air travel.

The London Heathrow Renaissance Hotel has completed its long-awaited and extensive £2m-plus renovation. The hotel is now a much brighter, more contemporary version of its former self whilst still being true to its era.

The hotel has 649 bedrooms and 28 meeting rooms spanning 32,000 sq ft including a tiered auditorium accommodating 262. Whether you need a small meeting room for 5 people or a conference for 500, Renaissance guarantees to deliver!

The Heathrow hotel strip surrounding the Renaissance London Heathrow boasts a myriad of diverse hotels but with no destination bar and restaurant; the property has taken the opportunity to fill this gap. The hotel has both the space and the customer base to create a funky exciting bar concept visible from the lobby and entrance. Combined with a friendly and welcoming team, the Heathrow Renaissance provides the atmosphere and service to ensure guests relax, without leaving the hotel. By creating curved seating alcoves upholstered in rich leathers to the ceiling and with ultra-contemporary globe pendant lights, the whole bar and restaurant area has created a 60’s poptastic vibe.

The Heathrow Renaissance has the perfect location, being the closest to Heathrow terminals 1, 2 and 3 and the only hotel to offer uninterrupted runway views. The hotel has fantastic links to international destinations and cities within the UK, especially its proximity to downtown Central London. With a large number of bedrooms and meeting rooms it is seen as the only convention hotel at Heathrow.

If you are interested in booking the Renaissance London Heathrow for your next meeting / conference or as an overnight stop before an early morning flight, please do not hesitate to contact our Consultants.

While business in Vegas may be dropping due to the recent economic recession, business travel is still booming.

The Signature at MGM Grand, a non-gaming, non-smoking all-suite resort offers a sophisticated and serene, yet productive retreat for the business traveller and is the only Las Vegas property awarded five stars, the highest possible rating.

Without the 24/7 casino crowd and noise, The Signature is fully equipped with all the high end luxury bells and whistles. The spacious accommodations feature state-of-the-art technology including two phone lines, high-speed Internet access with wireless capabilities, flat-screen high-definition televisions, DVD/CD players and iHome clock radios for iPods. Full-size custom-designed office desks with hidden flat screen televisions also can be found in The Signature’s one- and two-bedroom suites.

Signature suites can also be used for small business meetings or an entire floor can be closed to accommodate larger groups, using each of the 16 suites per floor as individual stations. A selection of meeting space can accommodate groups of up to 130 while executive boardrooms are available for groups of up to 16. The Signature also offers a well equipped Business Centre and 24-hour concierge service.

As convenience and accessibility are paramount when it comes to business travel, The Signature is conveniently located, just steps from the MGM Grand Conference Centre, one of Las Vegas’ most elegant and versatile meeting facilities. Self-contained and on three levels, it offers 16 Certified Meeting Planners and can accommodate up to 10,000 people. Access is also available to the Las Vegas Monorail, a four-mile track that connects MGM Grand to the Las Vegas Convention Centre and eight major resorts along the Las Vegas Strip.

Medway Travel will be pleased to book all your hotel requirements, both within the UK and throughout the world, and have a dedicated Groups & Events Department should you wish to organise a large company event.

For travellers not offered an inclusive executive lounge facility by the airline they are travelling with, Medway Travel can offer pre-bookable Airport Lounge access. This is available at both the outward and homeward ends of your journey, providing a tranquil environment where you can relax before you fly or freshen up at the end of your trip, for a small fee.

With an airport lounge, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the airport for up to 3 hours before your flight whilst enjoying:

• Complimentary drinks and snacks
• TV, Fax, Email and Internet Access
• Screens showing up to date flight information
• Local and International Newspapers and Magazines
• A quiet area to relax before your flight

With 128 airport VIP lounges worldwide at almost 100 airports, including 18 in the UK, you can add an extra touch of luxury to your next trip and make the travel experience far less stressful.

You don’t have to travel Business Class to enjoy first-class relaxation ahead of your flight. Prices start from as little as £ 13.50 per person and average around £17 or £18. Whether you want to work or just escape the crowds, airport lounges offer you space and comfort at value-for-money prices.

Ask your Consultant for details when you book your next trip.

We were sorry to see the recent failure of airlines such as Zoom and XL. It is clear that the high cost of oil played a significant part in bringing these companies to their knees and it is likely other airlines will face similar problems in the coming months.

Medway Travel is pleased to advise that all clients booked with these airlines at the time of their failure were successfully re-booked onto alternative flights. Furthermore, their tickets were covered by our Airline Failure Insurance and we have lodged claims for reimbursement for all the holders of unflown tickets. The processing of these claims may take a while, but we are confident that these travellers will not have lost out.

With the possibility of other airlines suffering the same fate, we strongly advise our readers not to be tempted to book their own flights directly with airlines or through impersonal intermediaries.

Medway Travel applies Airline Failure Insurance on all scheduled flights booked on behalf of our clients. This ensures that ticket holders will be compensated if the airline on which they are about to travel, or on which they have partly completed their journey, ceases to be able to fulfil the remaining obligation to provide the transport for which the traveller has paid (or committed to pay).

If you have any questions regarding the AFI we provide to protect our travellers, please speak with your Consultant.