The business of travelling for work
Spare rooms on the cheap in London
SOME HOTELS in London have been caught out by overestimating demand for rooms during the Olympics.
Top class hotels are pushing spare rooms on to discount travel websites like Hotwire.com.
If you are prepared to book a room and not know the name of the hotel until the booking is completed you could be staying in a five-star hotel for under €200 a night or a four-star for €150.
Three-star hotels seem to be holding their own with rates of €120-€200.
Another side effect of the overestimations is that normally hard-to-book restaurants have tables available.
June was also the worst month for hotel booking, with the first fall in room rates for 32 months.
Dublin hotel puts down a marker
KNOWING THE general manager of a hotel always helps when you need that little bit of extra service.
So meet Charlie Sheil (left) who has been appointed general manager of the Marker Hotel in Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock.
Sheil was the opening manager of the Gibson Hotel, just across the river at the Point Village and also the Clarion Hotel in Cork.
The Marker will open its doors in early 2013 and promises to bring a large dash of style to the city’s business life.
Etihad on board to screen Irish films
HAVING AN airline chief executive officer with Irish roots is perfect for Irish film makers.
James Hogan of Etihad Airways made a commitment at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin to screen Irish movies on the in-flight entertainment system on Etihad’s flights and it will happen during August and September.
The four-film collection Encounters, made by award-winning director Declan Cassidy, will include Whatever Turns You On, which was nominated for an Oscar this year.
Airline changes tack on loyalty miles
MEMBERS OF the American Airlines Advantage loyalty programme, who hold the “Miles with No Expiration”, are in for a surprise later this year in November when the legacy miles are converted to regular airmiles.
American Airlines was the first airline to introduce a loyalty programme for frequent flyers.
These miles have been lurking around since before July 1989 and must be covered in dust by now.
American Airlines says loyalty programme members must now use these legacy miles within 18 months or they will lose them – see aa.com/mileconversion.
Irish hardest workers on holiday time
IN A Lastminute.comsurvey conducted across Europe, the Irish have topped the tables of the most work addicted.
Employees in Ireland spend on average 88 minutes a day working during their holidays, while 75 per cent also admitted they worked during their holidays and free time.
Across Europe, the average was 58 per cent.
High life at Four Seasons in China
THE FOUR Seasons Guangzhou Hotel (left) had its official opening ceremony last week in China’s third largest metropolitan area.
The top 30 floors of the 103-storey building on the banks of the Pearl River is the 88th Four Seasons Hotel to open.
Eight is an auspicious number in China and hopefully it will bring luck to the newest 302-room property.