‘The Travel Brief’, the weekly Head for Points travel trade newsletter
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Welcome to The Travel Brief, your weekly trade round-up of UK business travel and travel loyalty news as well as the latest reviews and features from the Head for Points team.
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.
How was the Head for Points Summer Party 2025?
Thanks to everyone who joined us last week at the Head for Points Summer Party 2025.
Despite being the hottest day of the year we had a record turnout. A big thanks to Heathrow Express for sponsoring and Malaysia Airlines for providing the headline raffle prize. You can read more about what happened here.
Want to sponsor our next event? Get in touch with Sinead at sinead@headforpoints.com
This week’s top travel news stories:
Why has Virgin Atlantic removed the upcoming new route to Seoul from sale?
SAS launches flights from Copenhagen to Mumbai
Five new UK airport lounges are opening this summer – in fact one, in Edinburgh, will be open by the time you read this
Leeds Bradford Airport opens two new lounges with the UK’s biggest Priority Pass ‘buy up’
IHG opens a low-cost Garner hotel in Edinburgh via a conversion
DoubleTree Sheffield Park is leaving Hilton
A new Radisson Red is to open in the City of London
Hilton opens a Tapestry Collection hotel in Portrush
Get £250 cashback with Virgin Atlantic Holidays
Get £100 back on Korean Air flights with the latest Amex offer
American Express brings back its Wimbledon lounge – here’s what to expect
Stories we recommend from other sites:
TfL announces delay of new Piccadilly line trains (Business Traveller)
Air Canada launches new route from Edinburgh (UK Aviation News)
The Hoxton Edinburgh opens as first Scottish site for Ennismore brand (Boutique Hotelier)
Heathrow to ‘closely monitor’ key transatlantic traffic amid economic uncertainty (Travel Weekly)
Escape unveils Edinburgh lounge (Business Traveller)
Our latest reviews:
The Standard, London joins World of Hyatt – what can you expect from this brand? Rhys stayed the night to find out. Image above.
Plus a brief look at the new Corinthia Brussels: stunning, but …. Image below.
The latest UK travel loyalty news:
Iberia devalues its reward chart by up to 20%, but good value remains – the 40,000 Avios one-way business class flights to the US East Coast are a particularly good deal
Register for Radisson’s interesting but weak multi-brand promotion
Spend the day on Brilliant Lady, the new Virgin Voyages ship, for 7500 Virgin Points!
Virgin Atlantic increases redemption taxes for flights originating in the USA
Get 10 Avios per £1 spent at Heathrow Express, including Advance tickets
How to use small ‘orphaned’ amounts of frequent flyer points miles and hotel miles
Delta opens a lot of business class seats for Virgin Points …. but the taxes and fees are insane
Why IHG One Rewards ‘bonus points packages’ get you elite status quickly – and almost free
20 questions about the Barclaycard Avios credit cards answered
Why Hyatt brands do not upgrade Globalists or Explorists or allow suite redemptions?
How to earn miles with 39 different airlines using the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
Thank you for reading
Please drop me a note at rob@headforpoints.com with any feedback.
If you are booking a hotel this week, click here to read our summary of the best bonus points offers for July from the big chains.
See you next Monday,
Rob, Rhys, Sinead and Katie @ Head for Points
PS. If you were forwarded ‘The Travel Brief’ by a colleague, you can sign up for a free email subscription by filling in the form here.
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