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‘The Travel Brief’, the weekly Head for Points travel trade newsletter

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Welcome to your weekly trade round-up of UK business travel and travel loyalty news as well as our latest reviews and features.

This newsletter is the successor to Malcolm Ginsberg’s Business Travel News which Head for Points acquired. If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up here to receive this free newsletter in your inbox every Monday. Please forward it to any colleagues who you think may be interested.

Malcolm’s new monthly forward-looking Travel News Update is available at travelnewsupdate.co.uk.

Special interviews:

What can you expect from InterContinental’s ‘global brand evolution’? We talk to Tom Rowntree, Vice President of Luxury Brands at IHG, to find out more

We chat to Star Alliance CEO Theo Pangiotoulias about why he launched an alliance-wide credit card in Australia – and whether it will come to the UK

Air France economy snack

The latest UK business travel news:

British Airways relaunches flights to Abu Dhabi from April 2024

British Airways goes aircraft shopping – what will replace its Boeing 777 fleet?

Aspire unveils plans to refurbish and expand into BA’s old lounge at Newcastle Airport

Last chance to provide feedback on Gatwick’s northern runway plans

British Airways vs Air France: who has the best short haul economy snacks? The Air France option is pictured above.

Luxury ridehailing app Wheely adds ‘New First Class – easily the smartest way to get to the airport

Priority Pass adds four London airport restaurants to its offer – except for Amex cardholders

Save up to 10% on Malaysia Airlines flights from London

You can now pre-book Priority Pass lounges in Stansted, Manchester, East Midlands and Bristol

How do British Airways boarding groups work?

Get excellent airport parking and hotel stay packages via this little-known IHG hotels link

Business travel stories we recommend from other sites:

VINCI announces £100 million investment plan for Belfast International (Business Traveller)

…. and Leeds Bradford to begin work on its own £100 million upgrade (Business Traveller)

Aer Lingus celebrates two years of transatlantic flights from Manchester (UK Aviation News)

Heathrow’s new CEO plans stronger hub for UK (Heathrow media centre)

Luxtripper ceases trading (Travel Weekly)

Competition watchdog confirms CAA decision on Heathrow charges (FlightGlobal)

Hotel Alfonso XIII Seville

Our latest reviews:

Rob reviews Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville – an iconic hotel, part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, that doesn’t always work as well as it should but should still be on your bucket list

The latest UK travel loyalty news:

Should British Airways Executive Club introduce Lifetime Silver status?

NEW: Use IHG ‘Confirmable Suite Upgrade’ vouchers on reward bookings

No more Avios from TopCashback from the end of the year

40,000 POINTS BONUS OFFER: How to earn miles with 40 different airlines with the Marriott Bonvoy American Express

What is the best American Express travel card application strategy if you earn less than £35,000?

Get a 20% bonus transferring points from HSBC Premier credit cards to Flying Blue

Thank you for reading

Please drop me a note at rob@headforpoints.com with any feedback. See you next Monday.

Rob, Rhys and Sinead @ Head for Points

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