‘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

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)

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
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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