First Great Western
is increasing standard class capacity on all of its high-speed trains, by converting some of its first class carriages. The rail operator will create almost 3,000 more standard class seats per day across the network, delivering nearly 16 per cent more capacity in standard class.
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP
(IHG) and franchise partner Dominvs Group are to start construction on a new Holiday Inn hotel in Manchester. The 306-room property, due to open in 2016, will be located in the centre of the city, close to Manchester Piccadilly train station.
ONEWORLD SAW ITS LARGEST
single-day expansion for the airline alliance since its inception 15 years ago, when US Airways and TAM completed their moves to become full members in April, adding 120 million annual passengers. Meanwhile, members BA, Finnair and JAL began their joint business on flights between Japan and Europe.
12 BBT MAY/JUNE 2014
The Royal Crescent hotel
in Bath has completed a two-year, multimillion-pound upgrade. The 45-room Relais and Chateaux member was acquired by investment firm Topland Group in 2012, following the bankruptcy of the Von Essen hotel group. The interior decor, by Jane Clayton and Co, remains faithful to the Grade 1-listed building’s Georgian heritage.
SERVICED APARTMENT PROVIDER
Oakwood Worldwide has opened a London property in the City. Oakwood 7 Ludgate Broadway houses eight one- and two-bedroom furnished apartments. It is located a short distance from City Thameslink, London Blackfriars and St Paul’s Cathedral.
NO. 1 TRAVELLER
is opening a lounge at Edinburgh airport in May. It will be located just after security and will be “the most central lounge-location at the airport, convenient for all gates”. No. 1 Edinburgh will be the company’s fifth UK airport lounge.
Stobart Air
(formerly Aer Arann) will launch six new routes from Southend Airport as part of a new partnership deal with Flybe. The agreement will see Stobart Air operate Flybe-branded aircraft on routes to Belgium, France, Germany and Netherlands from June. The routes are expected to carry 100,000 passengers in 2014. The airline is part of the Stobart transport group, which runs the Eddie Stobart haulage firm.
Marriott Hotels’ London
Grosvenor Square property has been sold for £125.1 million to a Hong Kong- based investment firm. It will continue to be a Marriott-branded property under an existing long-term management agreement. The lease on the building has been sold to private equity firm Joint Treasure by its current owner, Strategic Hotels and Resorts. The market for buying London hotels has been booming in 2014, with £527.8 million spent purchasing hotel properties in the first three months of the year.
CATHAY PACIFIC
has launched a four-times weekly direct Hong Kong-to-Manchester service. The airline will start flying to the UK’s third largest airport from December 8.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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