INFORM


WORDS MOLLY DYSON


NEWS


A round-up of the latest stories in business travel


BUSINESS TRAVEL AWARDS’ ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENDED


THE ENTRY DEADLINE FOR the Business Travel Awards 2019 has been extended until Friday, 21 September. The awards recognise and


celebrate the achievements of organisations, teams and individuals in the business travel industry over the past 12 months. You can enter as many


categories as you wish, subject to eligibility. As always, the awards are free to enter. There are 22 categories


covering every aspect of the industry, from accommodation to air travel, technology products to travel teams, as well as the rising stars of the year. The shortlist will be announced


on Thursday, 25 October, and the winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony – dubbed the “Oscars of the travel industry” – on Monday, 21 January. ■ Turn to pages 60-65 to find out how to enter and book your place at the awards ceremony


14 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018


IHG REVEALS UK KIMPTON AND VOCO LOCATIONS


INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP (IHG) has revealed the debut UK locations for its boutique Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants and upscale Voco Hotels brands following a deal with Covivio. Formerly known as Fonciere des Regions, Covivio acquired


properties from Starwood Capital Group, including the Principal brand. IHG struck a deal with Covivio to rebrand and operate 12 existing hotels and one in the pipeline. The flagship Principal London in Russell Square will become the


capital’s first Kimpton Hotel, while the Principal Manchester will rebrand to Kimpton in 2019, along with the Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square and the Principal Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow. Marking the Voco Hotels


debut in the UK, the Principal St David’s Hotel in Cardiff (pictured right) will rebrand and the Principal Met Leeds Hotel will rebrand in 2020 under the Hotel Indigo umbrella. Meanwhile, De Vere Wotton House near Dorking will operate unbranded as Wotton House.


Air France KLM appoints its first foreign CEO


AIR FRANCE KLM HAS APPOINTED its first non-French chief executive, Benjamin Smith.


A Canadian, Smith was Air Canada’s president and chief operating officer, and was with the airline for 20 years. His appointment to Air France KLM followed the resignation of Jean- Marc Janaillac in May. He stepped down after striking Air France staff rejected his pay deal and the airline faced significant losses. Smith has been charged with “revitalising” Air France. He will take up the position by 30 September. Air France KLM said it wanted to announce Smith’s appointment “with the full support of the French state”, which owns a 14.3 per cent stake in the group. Smith’s appointment caused controversy – unions protested the possibility of foreign governance for the first time in the airline’s 85-year history.


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