Business Traveller

Welcome to the May issue of Business Traveller. Last month we were looking forward to travel returning in volume, and return it did. The relaxation of many rules and regulations (goodbye Passenger Locator Form, I hope I never see you again) promised hassle-free journeys for the first time in more than two years. Then came the Easter break when families headed off for well-deserved holidays, and airlines and airports looked forward to making some money. And it all went wrong… So who’s to blame? Well, as usual, probably just about everyone. The airlines have had an awful few years, and have made tens of thousands of their workers redundant; workers they are sorely missing now travellers have returned. The same applies to airports, ground-handling agents and ground transport companies (try getting…

JONATHAN THOMPSON Jonathan is an award-winning travel writer who contributes frequently to titles including The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Wall Street Journal. Based in Texas, he is also the host of the Discovery Channel’s newest travel show, Adventure Cities. In this issue he takes us to the lively Texan city of Austin; see page 26. DEREK PICOT Veteran hotelier Derek has worked in senior positions on five continents, most recently as regional vice-president for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts in Europe. He now consults for hotel owners and luxury developers. In this issue, he provides our readers with advice on the best way to make a complaint (and get a result!); see page 46. RICHARD TAMS Richard is a London-based airline consultant who has worked in markets in Europe, North America and Asia.…

EMIRATES SET TO RESUME FLIGHTS TO STANSTED FROM AUGUST GULF CARRIER EMIRATES has announced plans to restart its Dubai-London Stansted route from August 1. Flights will operate five-times-weekly using the airline’s B777-300ER aircraft, increasing to daily from September 1. Emirates currently operates eight-times-daily flights to London airports – six to Heathrow and two to Gatwick. Richard Jewsbury, divisional vice-president for Emirates in the UK, said Stansted was “a key hub for Emirates in the South and South East of the UK”, adding, “The UK is Emirates’ most important international market and bookings have continued to surge with the further easing of travel restrictions.” Travelodge reveals plans for “budget-luxe” revamp TRAVELODGE HAS UNVEILED what it says is the group’s “most radical transformation to date”, with a new “budget-luxe” design set to be rolled out…

SLOW DOWN IF YOU FIND YOURSELF rushing around on holiday, Slow Adventure might be for you – a new sustainable adventure travel company which aims to bring about positive change. The trips maximise time outdoors allowing you to reconnect with the natural environment and the company says all bookings support small, rural communities. Each ‘adventure’ has been designed by local people passionate about conserving and regenerating the environment. Its launch destinations include Scotland and Sweden, with Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Italy being added later this year. Five per cent of booking revenues go back to the communities where the adventure takes place and you can decide which project your money goes to. Rail travel to and from Europe 66% of business travellers would prefer to take a train rather than an aeroplane for travel…

POM HARRINGTON owns London’s rare book dealer Peter Harrington and fine book bindery The Chelsea Bindery. WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PROFESSION? My father, Peter Harrington, started the business in 1969. I began working at the shop in my teens and later realised I liked the sales side – what made one book more valuable, how to “read” what a customer liked. WHAT DOES THE SHOP SPECIALISE IN? We deal in collectables – rare first and early editions, inscribed and presentation copies, autographs, manuscripts and books that have a story to tell. We are very good at digging out amazing books. For example, a copy of The Screwtape Letters inscribed with a dedication from C S Lewis to Tolkien. WHAT ARE YOUR RAREST BOOKS? A 16th century account of Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe by…

PRE-TRAVEL 54% understanding Covid regulations and preparing required documents 44% rebooking in case of changes or cancellations 41% reconciling trip and personal life DURING TRAVEL 64% flight delays and cancellations 53% tight connections 40% economy class for long-haul flights POST-TRAVEL 51% catching up on office work 45% preparing expense reports 39% catching up on missed household or family duties Source: Traveler survey: Wellbeing, conducted between February 18 and March 4, 2022, BCD Travel 2021 STARZ ENTERTAINMENT…