February 25th, 2010
A third runway being planned at Heathrow has won the approval of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which estimates that the proposed construction would bring in a profit of £30.7bn for the UK economy.
According to BCC’s study, the £9bn Heathrow expansion, a part of the plan that includes 13 “crucial” transport projects, would cumulatively deliver economic benefits amounting to £85bn.
Businesses across the UK were asked to disclose names of the transport projects, which they think will be critical to the future growth and success of their local economies.
The research brought into prominence other vital projects such as an investment in the East Coast Mainline railway in Yorkshire, the Crossrail project in London and a replacement bridge for Edinburgh.
The Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, David Frost urged the government to abstain from reducing the spending on transport infrastructure. He reiterated that investments in these transport projects would ensure UK’s future economic success and also help bail the country’s local businesses and the construction sector out of its present crisis.
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February 19th, 2010
Travelocity’s latest Travel Confidence Report, which pits travellers’ present travel plans and inclinations against the trend that existed six months and a year back, bring to light a striking rise in traveller enthusiasm.
The report suggests that 49% travellers intend to ‘travel more’ in 2010 as compared to 21% six months back and 10% in 2009. The number of travellers planning to reduce their travel volumes was down to 7%. Around 44% travellers were content with their travel volumes and wished not to change it in 2010.
Reduced hotel charges also seem to have affected travel plans positively. Eighteen percent of the respondents opined that they would stretch their holidays, 30% expressed a desire to take an unplanned trip and 33% revealed their intentions of staying at a plush star-rated hotel.
Around 56% of the respondents divulged that they did not have on hand a prefixed travel budget for the year. Of these, around 34% were keen on boosting their travel budget. Around 76% hinted that they might book a vacation package, as it was more economical.
The findings were based on a survey of over 2,000 North Americans.
For the smart Business Traveller, Tudor Court Hotel meets all your needs!
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February 17th, 2010
CityPlus is the name of the premium economy cabin launched by short-haul carrier Cityjet. This is an advanced version of the business class, replete with superior facilities like cancellation reimbursement, priority boarding, free ticket name changes, free carriage of golf equipment, two pieces of hold luggage and twice the number of frequent flyer points.
Geoffrey O’Byrne White, the CEO of Cityjet informed ABTN that the middle seat of each premium row will be available for selling, a move that will translate into more revenues for Cityjet. Also, the greater volume of loyalty points will benefit the passengers. The premium rows on Avro RJ 85, Cityjet’s largest aircraft that operates out of the London City airport, has been reconfigured to resemble a 3-3 arrangement.
O’Byrne White said that whenever possible, Cityjet would, beyond any contractual accord, try to make available special seats to its premium passengers.
The Cityjet chief stated that his airline’s move was more of a reaction to the pragmatic stance adopted by companies trying to actively explore low cost, short-haul travel options in the current market scenario.
For the smart Business Traveller Tudor Court Hotel meets all your needs!
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February 17th, 2010
The union of British Airways (BA) and American Airlines (AA) moved one step closer to realization, after US regulators gave the deal a go ahead from their side.
The union will enable BA and AA to work together on services and pricing on profitable transatlantic courses, provided they abandon fair pairs of take-off and landing slots between Heathrow and the US. A planned union of the two airline companies was discarded in 2002 as regulators needed 16 pairs of slots to be forsaken.
The news comes as a relief for BA, which is reeling under the strikes planned by its cabin crew.
Rivals of the merger will have 45 days to explain their stance, after which the aspirant airlines will be given 15 days to counter the rival arguments. President of Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard Branson has condemned the merger.
Madrid will, meanwhile, host discussions related to abandoning the Open Skies agreement that prevents European airlines from owning more than 25% stake in their American counterparts.
For the smart Business Traveller Tudor Court Hotel meets all your needs!
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February 17th, 2010
Lord Adonis, the new Transport Secretary, is believed to be in favour of locating the hub station on the high-speed rail line connecting Euston to the Great Western Railway at central London in Acton, as opposed to the initial plans of positioning the hub at Heathrow airport.
It is anticipated that the Conservatives will resist a white paper to be tabled in this regard.
The Heathrow hub was originally conceived with the intention of replacing many short flights, thereby enhancing public transport to the airport. The new plans would connect Heathrow to the high-speed railway line through a distinct non-high-speed loop.
Theresa Villiers, Shadow Transport Secretary stated that the hub at Heathrow would simplify the switch from air to rail transport for passengers and also provide a “low carbon” substitute to flying.
Many who had resented the idea of a third runway at Heathrow were open to the concept of a high-speed rail at the airport. The Co-operative Travel Group was, in particular, against plans to add to Heathrow and had proposed high-speed rail as a practical substitute to flying.
For a hot hotel in the heart of London, Tudor Court Hotel is the perfect place.
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February 17th, 2010
In a poll of 550 people conducted by travel website Skyscanner, 78% respondents sided with the idea that airlines should impose ‘Fat Tax’ on passengers who don’t fit into a regular airline seat easily. Such passengers would thus be compelled to book a second seat, at a less expensive rate.
The debate over enforcement of a ‘Fat Tax’ was ignited by a false report claiming that Air France had started imposing this tax.
Skyscanner co-founder and director, Barry Smith remarked that imposing such a tax could estrange obese passengers. He, however, did not find it totally irrational for airlines to charge additional money from passengers who occupied extra space.
While a major chunk of the respondents voted in favour of the ‘fat tax’, most of them expressed the need for airlines to increase their seat dimensions to contain passengers of all sizes. Others opined that the charges should be based on the combined weights of the passenger and his/her luggage.
With the number of obese people increasing by the day, it only seems feasible for airlines to readjust seat sizes or design aircrafts planned specifically for the obese sector.
If you are looking for a great Hotel while travelling Tudor Court Hotel is ideal and just minutes from Paddington.
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February 17th, 2010
London is a hustling, bustling city, packed with a diverse range of attractions and London hotels guaranteed to provide a myriad of possibilities for all tastes.
Firstly getting around is an issue. London is a large city and you will want to see as much of it as possible. The best way to get about is public transport, a travel card can be purchased (at all major stations and many newsagents) which can be used on all of London’s public transport; busses, trains and the tube (underground)
The culturally minded are spoilt for choice in London and it always surprises visitors that most of the major galleries and museums in the city are free entry (some special exhibitions require a separate admission) In South Kensington the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert are a great starting point; free entry and all within walking distance of each other. For art lovers the famous National Gallery, Tate Modern and Tate Britain and the Saatchi Gallery are also free entry.
All of this free culture leaves more of your holiday cash for shopping and the London is certainly the place to do that.
Take a stroll down the world famous Oxford Street, Carnaby Street or Soho and you are faced with the flagship stores of Britain’s most famous department stores and retail outlets as well as the smaller boutiques and specialist emporiums, all giving certain areas their unique flavour and distinctive look. Catering for all tastes and interests from haute couture to cutting edge technology to souvenirs to specialist interest and collectables London’s shops provide endless opportunities for bargains and unique buys.
The city boasts a plethora of Markets as well as its shops; next to the opera house central London houses Covent Garden Market where in the preserved old market halls you can peruse quintessentially English goods. Portobello Road market is the perfect place to peruse antique and vintage jewellery and artefacts and Camden Market has a more vibrant alternative ethos. This small selection is a good starting point but there many more for the avid bargain hunter to track down and explore.
A multicultural and ethnically diverse city London’s cuisine is as varied as its inhabitants. Every type of cuisine is available from the Michelin starred flagships of fine dining to the small family owned bistros and cafes offering a taste of numerous traditions and everything in-between. Many restaurants in the west end offer theatre specials for early dining where you can find quality fresh food and drink at very attractive prices.
London’s theatre district is famous the world over for the quality and innovation of its productions and the face price of tickets represents this; however there are also many combined dinner and theatre deals or just discounted show tickets available online. Alternatively for the hardy there is the half price ticket booth in Leicester Square Queuing can require wrapping up warm in winter but the discount on the quality shows available.
All of which is a great starting point for the first time visitor or the most well travelled anglophile and don’t forget that the most distinctive feature of London its historic and unique architecture and cityscape is free to experience, just remember to look up when you’re out and about.
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February 16th, 2010
British Airways plans to soon discontinue its short-haul business travel flights from Gatwick.
The airline’s Chief Executive, Willie Walsh opined that the market for business class had diminished considerably and that the demand for short-haul premium had shrunk to almost zero, owing to companies opting for economy class or non-fancy airlines.
The service changes would affect only Gatwick, which, according to Walsh, was a suspect spot since last July. Heathrow, however, would continue to experience the comfort of business class travel.
This news of the review in British Airways’ services comes in the wake of its statement last week, citing a pre-tax loss of £50 million for three months heading up to the end of December 2009. However, the airline had recorded losses worth £122 million, in the same quarter the previous year.
Close on the heels of this revision by British Airways is the news of Qantas designing plans to cut down its first-class seats by two-thirds, and thus enhancing its economy-class seating capacity by almost 20%. However, it is likely that the London-Los Angeles will preserve its first-class cabin.
For the smart Business Traveller, Tudor Court Hotel meets all your needs!
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February 15th, 2010
With the intention of mitigating the extended queues at the London City Airport, airport authorities will open two provisional security lanes from February 27. The airport’s chief operating officer, Darren Grover acknowledged that he was “extremely concerned” about the increased number of complaints from airline passengers, criticising the heightened security measures at the airport, since Christmas.
The smaller width of the existing lanes, coupled with the continuously surging volume of passenger trays every year, has contributed to longer screening time at the airport. Grover informed that a bar and a restaurant in the department lounge would be closed to house the new lanes, which is expected to boost capacity by 50%.
A permanent solution to the airport jamming is a £8 million project that involves the construction of a new first floor with expanded security lanes by October. However, some fresh roadblocks have forced the airport to invest in provisional resolutions instead. The temporary security lanes demand the deployment of additional staff and will cost the airport an amount close to half a million pounds.
Grover also quelled claims that blamed the irregular services on the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) for the airport congestion.
For a hot hotel in the heart of London, Tudor Court Hotel is the perfect place.
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February 15th, 2010
Agents who fail to comply with the new EU ‘place of supply’ rules could be fined up to £1,500.
The rules have deemed submission of an EC sales list that highlights the total commission earned by agents who contract with hotels or other overseas suppliers directly mandatory.
David Bennett, VAT partner at accountants Saffery Champness, urged all agents to start accumulating clients’ VAT numbers for use on the sales list.
While he agreed that setting up the systems to create a sales list was rather difficult, Bennett added that doing so was feasible only for agencies that were earning requisite commissions. He also warned agencies to steer clear of the £1,500 fine that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) was soon planning to impose for every missing list.
Bennett disclosed that a conference of the EU member states, organised on February 3, had sided with the idea of reviewing the Tour Operators’ Margin Scheme. The revamped scheme hopes to iron out the discrepancies in the present one. Another meeting of the member states is due to be held in this regard, possibly in April.
If you are looking for a great Hotel while travelling Tudor Court Hotel is ideal and just minutes from Paddington.
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