Bits: bizarre new Marriott ‘no desk’ policy, more BA Shanghai flights, IHG ‘buy points’ last day

News in brief:

Is Marriott really getting rid of desks because young people don’t find them cool?!

In my articles on the takeover of Starwood by Marriott, I made a couple of observations about the perceived lack of cultural fit.  The team that created ‘W’ hotels is unlikely to sit happily in a Mormon dominated institution that still insists on bibles in every bedroom and a big photo of Bill Marriott in the lobby.

Exhibit B on ‘how Marriott just doesn’t get it’ is in this article from Slate.  As Marriott-branded hotels are refurbished, Marriott is ripping out the desks.  They’ve seen all those kids in Starbucks with laptops on their knees and they have decided that desks are just so not cool.  The business traveller of today prefers to sit in bed with a chai latte (although it is unclear where you would get a chai latte at your average Marriott) with their Macbook on their lap.

If you are under 30, I blame you!  You were asked at some focus group why you refused to stay at Marriott hotels and you said ‘because they have desks in the rooms’.   You’ve screwed it up for the rest of us now ….

British Airways increases Shanghai frequencies – should be good Avios availability

British Airways has announced that it is adding three additional flights per week to Shanghai from 20th February.  These will be coded BA160/161.

As always with new BA routes, Avios availability will be excellent as the flights will have been loaded with two Club World seats and four World Traveller seats on every service.

From 1st August, the main daily Shanghai flight will be switched to a new Boeing 787-9.  The additional three weekly flights will remain on a Boeing 777-200.

100% ‘buy points’ bonus back with IHG Rewards Club

Finally, a reminder that today is the last day for this offer.  Literally just days after finishing their last 100% bonus, IHG Rewards Club relaunched it!

Buying IHG points can be an excellent deal if you like staying at luxury five star hotels.  I ran this full analysis last month so I won’t repeat it again.

The bottom line is that for £189 you can buy enough points for a night at the InterContinental Times Square New York (photo below), Park Lane London, Le Grand Paris etc – hotels which very, very rarely sell for as little as £189.

The link to buy is here.  The offer closes today.