NEWS — DIGEST
“By embedding sustainability into their operations,
hotels reap rewards while benefiting the environment” Nikki White, page 28
GAZETTEERS.COM POLL RESULT
WHAT MOST STOPS CUSTOMERS BUYING RESPONSIBLE HOLIDAYS? 18% Lack of awareness 54% Price 28% Indifference
Cheval Three Quays overlooks the Tower of London
Glasgow airport reports busiest July for six years Glasgow airport recorded its busiest July for six years, with 840,000 passengers handled in the month of the Commonwealth Games. Numbers were up 1.1% on the same month last year – the airport’s 18th consecutive month of growth. Ryanair starts flying from Glasgow on October 26.
Etihad leases Heathrow slots back to Alitalia as part of €560m investment
Etihad Airways is to buy five pairs of Alitalia slots at Heathrow for €60 million and lease them back as part of a multimillion-euro rescue plan.
The Abu Dhabi-based carrier is investing €560 million in
exchange for a 49% stake in the beleaguered Italian airline. The investment is part of a wider €1.76 billion investment
in Alitalia, which also includes €300 million from existing shareholders and €598 million from financial institutions. Etihad president and chief executive James Hogan stressed the London slots would continue to be used by the Italian carrier. Alitalia is the eighth carrier in which Etihad has invested, having already taken stakes in airlines from Australia to Ireland.
Mr & Mrs Smith seeks funds to expand Hotel booking site Mr & Mrs Smith is reportedly searching for fresh investors after moving into the black. The London-based business was reported to be looking to raise
several million pounds to boost international expansion after opening offices in New York, Hong Kong and Melbourne. The company has hired financial advisory firm Raymond James to assess funding options. Founder James Lohan said it was trading profitably this year,
growing at 40% and on track to record £50 million total transaction value. Mr & Mrs Smith takes commission from hotels listed on its site. It features more than 850 hotels. In 2012 it posted losses of £1.3 million after generating £28 million of bookings.
BA aims to get passengers purring with delight British Airways has launched an inflight channel featuring footage of cats and dogs. The Paws and Relax channel aims to improve relaxation levels among passengers. British Airways inflight entertainment manager Richard D’Cruze said: “It might sound barking but research suggests that watching pets can enhance overall wellbeing. We have sniffed out some fantastic content that is cute, comforting and sure to appeal to travellers of all ages.” The channel includes footage of some of the residents of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
Apartment firm pledges £10k to WW1 charities
Cheval Residences plans to donate more than £10,000 in profits from one of its apartments to military service charities.
The company, which
operates eight luxury serviced apartment properties in London, has pledged to donate all profits from room 7P at Cheval Three Quays, by the Tower of London, for bookings made until November 11. It is supporting the Tower of London’s World War One art installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, a sea of more than 888,000 ceramic red poppies, each commemorating a British or colonial military fatality from the Great War. Profits from the Cheval
Alfie the pug with BA ambassador Helena Flynn
Three Quays room, which costs from £291 a night, will go to the six charities supported by the project: the Confederation of Service Charities, Combat Stress, Coming Home, Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and the SSAFA. Cheval Three Quays will also leave guest cards in every room explaining the project, plus details about the purchase of poppies.
14 August 2014 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 9
PICTURE: NICK MORRISH
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