Grosvenor Travel Summer Newsletter 2014

WelcomeIf you can hear

the beat of

Samba music,

it’s all down to

the World Cup.

No doubt the

Tournament will

showcase Brazil and South America

generally, a region where we have

increasing traffic flows. Dare we

hope that England can punch above

their weight and keep us entertained

during the summer?

Speaking of international traffic

flows, we are trialling an exciting new

system which allows us access to

lower private airfares, specifically for

non-UK origin flights only, i.e., those

originating outside of the UK. More

of our Customers are opening up

International Offices and then asking

us to apply our own brand of Travel

Management expertise to assist

these new locations, thus opening up

new avenues in this area.

Our Focal Point Customer Survey

is an important opportunity for us

to hear your feedback. As Travel

Arrangers, Travel Budget Holders

and Travellers you remain at the very

heart of our business, so please do

take the plunge and let us know your

thoughts. For those who respond,

there is an added incentive to win a

prize or two.

Finally we wish Richard Boyd, our

Sutton Office Manager, the very Best

of British on his 1000 mile charity bike

ride the length of the UK, for more

details on this noble challenge please

go to www.3boyds3bikes.com

As always good luck with your

competition entries and thank you for

your continued support.

Richard Turpin – Sales Director

EXPRESSION OF A LIFESTYLEBAUR AU LAC, ZURICH/SWITZERLAND

A mere stone’s throw from the Paradeplatz, Zurich’s bustling financial district, the Baur au Lac serenely commands a privileged position in its own landscaped park, between the lake and the Schanzengraben river. The hotel has been owned by the same family for 170 years. Kings and conquerors, presidents and prelates have bedded under its venerable roof. Famous artists too regularly stay at the Baur au Lac, whose incomparable service has for generations been setting the standard in international hotel industry.

The distinctive elegance of its guest rooms and suites – coupled with legendary service and the excellent cuisine – have earned the hotel its enviable reputation.

Enjoy what one of the best hotels in the world has to offer.

DININGThe Restaurant PAVILLON draws Nature’s seasons into star architect Pierre-Yves Rochon’s ingenious design concept. Impeccable staff present the exquisite creations that have brought head chef Laurent Eperon not only 17 GaultMillau points, but his first Michelin star too. An encyclopedic wine list reflects the unrivaled expertise of the Baur au Lac’s own winery.

A sparkling blend of chic restaurant and bar, the RIVE GAUCHE gives straight onto the city center – the ideal place for hotel guests to mingle with Zurich’s youthful, cosmopolitan society. A modern Mediterranean grill whose purist lines are shot through with palpable sensuality. The Rive Gauche TERRASSE is indisputably the most exclusive place in Zurich to while away those hot summer days and lazy, hazy evenings.

CONFERENCES & PRIVATE EVENTSIn keeping with their image, the most highly respected companies and organisations in Switzerland’s foremost business and financial hub naturally regard the distinguished, cosmopolitan atmosphere of Zurich’s most venerable hotel as their meeting place of choice.

Outstanding designers have put a new face on these hallowed halls – a face of unsurpassed style and elegance. Whether you want to arrange a small family function in a private salon or a dazzling ball in the Petit Palais, the organisational skills of their service team and the Baur au Lac’s typically exquisite cuisine will guarantee a memorable occasion for all who attend.

A 170-year tradition speaks for their experience; and the success of your function is in the very safe hands of top-class people assisted by the very best in leading-edge equipment. Our team will give you sound advice throughout the preparatory phase and will walk you through the actual event from start to finish.

Baur au Lac – the place to stay in Zurich.

www.bauraulac.ch

• C O N N E C T I O N •

Grosvenor Travel Management - 46 Gillingham St, London SW1V 1HUTel +44 20 7233 9494 • Fax +44 20 7233 9495 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.grosvenortm.co.uk

Airlines

PartnerPlusBenefit – what it means for you.Now in its 10th year, PartnerPlusBenefit is the world’s largest travel rewards scheme for companies, helping over 100,000 organisations maximize on their travel budgets.

Companies of any shape or size can fly on any of 10 international airline brands, including Lufthansa, United Airlines, Air Canada & SWISS to name a few, to over 500 destinations around the world and pool BenefitPoints in one easy to manage online account. Points can then be spent by the company on many different exclusive awards including award flights, upgrades, eGiftcards valid in over 70,000 hotels worldwide, the Heathrow Express train or on Purple Parking at all major airports.

For more information or to join the scheme contact Grosvenor Travel Account Manager today [email protected]

Introducing a new class of travel – Premium Economy!Air Canada’s new Premium Economy cabin is now available on the London Heathrow to Vancouver route, operated by the brand new B777-300ER aircraft. The B777 features a three cabin configuration, offering International Business Class complete with fully lie flat seats, Premium Economy and International Economy Class. This new aircraft is also available on the London Heathrow to Montreal route until September 2014.

Premium Economy offers

• Superior comfort in a dedicated cabin

• A larger seat and extra legroom with a generous 38” seat pitch

• Adjustable headrest

• A comfortable pillow and blanket

• Personal amenity kit

In-flight service will include complimentary wines and spirits as well as premium cuisine and a hot towel with every meal service on international flights. Each seat is equipped with a new state-of-the-art entertainment system featuring personal 10.4” touch-screen TVs with in-seat power at every seat, including a USB port for charging. A single-pin audio jack is offered for your own headset or complimentary earphones that are yours to keep after the flight.

A range of priority airport services will also be offered, including priority boarding, priority check- in and priority baggage handling. Take advantage of the extra baggage allowance of two free checked bags weighing up to 23KG per person.

So treat yourself to a little luxury with Air Canada’s Premium Economy!

Competition TimeFor your chance to win Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at The Ritz, courtesy of the Lufthansa Group Air Canada and United Joint Venture, please answer the following 3 questions correctly:

1) Name one of the international airlines in the PartnerPlusBenefit rewards scheme.

2) Name one of the priority airport services offered with Air Canada's new Premium Economy

3) How much sleeping space does the United Business First 180 degree flat bed seats provide?

Please send your answers to [email protected] by 1st August 2014. Good luck!



Airlines

Competition TimeFor your chance to win a Fortnum & Mason Grosvenor Hamper, courtesy of Air France, KLM and Alitalia please answer the following two questions correctly:

1. What is the name of the Brazilian airline with whom Air France KLM have a new strategic cooperative agreement?

2. Which 3 UK airports does Alitalia fly from?

Please send your answers to [email protected], by 1st August 2014. Good luck!

More routes and comfort with Air France and KLM

Extra Frequencies From London CityAlitalia has recently introduced 6 extra weekly flights from London City to Rome Fiumicino, in addition to the 6 weekly flights already in operation.

Furthermore, Alitalia has just launched 5 extra weekly flights to Milan Linate, bringing the overall number of flights from London City to Milan Linate to 21 per week.

Alitalia also offers up to 41 weekly direct services from London Heathrow to Rome and Milan Linate.

New Destinations From London GatwickAlitalia has launched new seasonal services from London Gatwick to Sicily.

The new schedule has started with the introduction of flights between London Gatwick and Catania, and London Gatwick and Palermo. There are 3 weekly flights to Catania and 3 weekly flights to Palermo, operational until 25 October 2014.

The flights are operated by Air One with Airbus A320 aircraft.

Every corner of South America is within your reachAir France and KLM offer you an expanded network and greater frequency to South America for 2014. Fly from over 20 UK airports and connect seamlessly via hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

What’s more, they now offer an extended service to Brazil with the choice of 3 destinations:

• Rio de Janeiro: Air France and KLM offer daily services to the Brazilian city.

• Sao Paulo: Fly to the largest city in Brazil via Amsterdam and Paris.

• Brasilia: Air France operates 3 weekly services to the capital of Brazil.

Additionally Air France and KLM serve the main cities of most countries in South America:

• Bogota (Colombia)

• Buenos Aires (Argentina)

• Caracas (Venezuela)

• Lima (Peru)

• Montevideo (Uruguay)

• Panama City (Panama)

• Quito and Guayaquil (Ecuador)

• Santiago (Chile)

New partnership with GOLThe new Air France and KLM partnership with Brazilian carrier GOL offers a further 50 destinations in GOL’s extensive domestic network, including Belo, Horizonte, Recife, Salvador, Curitiba, Porto Alegre and Vitoria.

New Air France and KLM Business ClassBoth Air France and KLM are gradually introducing new fully flat beds. You can enjoy comfort, attention to detail and personal care in intercontinental flights in their new Business Class cabins.

Air France

Air France has recently unveiled its new Business Class seat continuing its move upmarket for a completely renewed travel experience:

• FULL FLAT – the seat converts to a horizontal bed, for crossing time zones without fatigue.

• FULL ACCESS – direct access to the aisle, thanks to a 1-2-1 seat configuration.

• FULL PRIVACY – a protected area through the seat’s enveloping curves provides a true bubble of privacy in the sky.

The new seats will be installed between June 2014 and summer 2016 on 44 Boeing 777s, the core of Air France’s long-haul fleet.

KLM

KLM is gradually introducing the brand new World Business Class cabin across its long haul fleet offering a brand new stylish interior and fully flat seats:

• More sleeping comfort with a fully-flat seat that reclines to a bed position

• Added legroom and less seats in the cabin to allow for more personal comfort

• Seats in a privacy canopy with in-seat power and more storage

• Personal entertainment system with 17” screens

• New modern “feel-at-home” atmosphere

• Sustainable design using recycled materials

*All information correct at time of broadcast. Subject to change without prior notice



Airlines

More good reasons to fly British AirwaysOneworld continues to grow and grow.Together with oneworld® alliance partners Japan Airlines and Finnair, British Airways has opened up the three airline networks between Japan and Europe, giving customers more freedom to mix and match flights between all three carriers and creating more convenient scheduling at the best price. And with the British Airways code now added to selected Qatar Airways’ flights, eight new routes from Doha are now also accessible to customers.

As of May, Sri Lankan Airlines became the first ever carrier from the Indian subcontinent to be part of a global airline alliance when it joined oneworld. This is great news for customers who will soon be able to enjoy seamless connections across a global network serving almost a thousand destinations in more than 150 countries, with first rate connections between some of the world’s leading business centres.

First. The next generation.When British Airway's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners arrive next year, they will feature their next generation First cabin; which will be exceptionally elegant and beautifully British in keeping with BA's signature style. Special attention has been paid to the materials and technology used. The current 787-8s offer three cabins – Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller, so their new aircraft will give customers the chance to experience the luxury of our First cabin for themselves.

Connectivity trials start on a Boeing 747-400 aircraft.To support the growing desire to stay connected, British Airways is running a trial on a single aircraft offering streaming media and live TV directly to customers’ own personal devices. Customers will be able to browse onboard internet content and view selected websites for free. Through live TV, customers will be able to keep up with the latest sporting events and world news. On payment of a fee to T-Mobile, they will be able to buy internet access for either one hour or the duration of flight, offering further opportunities to access their device.

LHR Terminal 2 Now OpenLondon Heathrow's brand-new Terminal 2 opened for business on 4 June 2014. United Airlines was the first carrier to move in.

Terminal 2, also called the Queen's Terminal, will eventually be the Heathrow home for 23 Star Alliance member airlines, as well as Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic 'Little Red' and Germanwings.

Key airline moves• 04 Jun - United Airlines from T1 and T4

• 18 Jun - Air Canada from T3

• 09 Jul - British Airways codeshare partner, Aer Lingus, will move from T1

• 10 Sept - Virgin's UK domestic services, 'Little Red', move from T1

• 01 Oct - Lufthansa Star Alliance member move from T1

The new terminal has a similar 'wave' design as Terminal 5, with customers passing through self-service check-in, bag-drop and security. A passenger tunnel connects the satellite from the main terminal building.

The departure area will have 62 shops and restaurants, including the first airport store for John Lewis and a 'cafe' operated by celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal.

A new multi-storey car park has been built next to the terminal and all public transport will link directly into a striking central courtyard.

Minimum connecting times to/from BA servicesT2 to T1 - 1hr

T2 to T3 - 1hr 15mins

T2 to T5 - 1hr 30mins

For the full list of planned airline moves please call your contact your Grosvenor Travel Account Director [email protected]



Airlines

Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel – Quintessentially English style in the heart of MayfairLocated in the heart of Mayfair, Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel boasts one of the most prestigious addresses in the city. Throughout the years, since its opening in 1837, Brown’s has welcomed numerous famous guests and is steeped in fascinating history. Alexander Graham Bell made the first UK telephone call from the hotel in 1876, Rudyard Kipling wrote ‘The Jungle Book’ whilst staying at Brown’s, Queen Victoria visited the hotel regularly, as did crime writer Agatha Christie, who even based her novel, “At Bertram’s Hotel” on Brown’s Hotel. Today Brown’s remains in fashion and is frequented by artists and fashionistas including Tracey Emin, Paul Smith, Lulu Guinness and Nicholas Kirkwood, as well as from the wider art, music and literary world.

The 117 guest rooms (including 15 magnificent suites together with 4 signature suites) are stylish and sophisticated, while retaining much of their original, quintessentially English elegance. The soft colour schemes, natural materials and light fabrics blend perfectly with the contemporary artworks specially selected by Director of Design, Olga Polizzi, making each room unique and welcoming with homely touches.

The property features three dining options; HIX Mayfair, The English Tea Room and The Donovan Bar. HIX Mayfair, overseen by Director of Food Mark Hix, specializes in the finest quality British cooking, using only carefully sourced local seasonal ingredients. HIX Mayfair is home to an amazing collection of work by leading British artists, including Tracey Emin, Michael Landy and Bridget Riley, which alongside its beautiful wood panelling, vaulted ceiling and elegant green banquettes offers a truly glamorous and authentic British dining experience.

The English Tea Room serves one of the most famous award-winning afternoon teas in London and a selection of lighter meals throughout the day. The stylish Donovan Bar pays homage to the celebrated British photographer Terence Donovan, and the walls are lined with over 50 of his iconic black and white prints while the backdrop to Bill Amberg’s leather bar is the original St George’s Hotel stained glass window, a harmonious juxtaposition of old and new. Also within the hotel is an intimate spa sanctuary from which to escape the pressures of urban life in the most tranquil surroundings.

Competition TimeFor your chance to win a one night stay for two with breakfast* at Brown's Hotel, please answer the following question correctly:

How many Signature suites are there at The Brown's Hotel?

Please send your answers to [email protected] by 1st August 2014. Good luck!

* valid for one year from 31May 2014, subject to availability.



Airlines

Connecting With.....

From left: Richard, Paul and Darren

3 Boyds 3 BikesAlong with his two brothers, Sutton Office Manager Richard Boyd is about to embark upon a 1000 mile cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Having lost their father to Myeloma two years ago, it’s a charity that is close to their hearts and it’s a challenge that Grosvenor Travel are delighted to support, albeit one that is slightly mad!

If you feel you’d like to follow their progress or support their fundraising efforts, more information is available on their website www.3boyds3bikes.com . We wish them every success when the challenge kicks off on June 22nd.

Focal Point

Stay Connected: Remember to look out for our regular G Bulletins, providing invaluable up to the minute news and

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For further information on any of the articles featured in this newsletter please contact your Grosvenor Travel Account

Director [email protected]

We value your opinions.....At Grosvenor our aim is always to offer the very best service possible to you, our clients. It would therefore be of great help to us to get some feedback about our performance - not only from bookers, but also from travellers and accounts departments.

We would be very grateful for a short paragraph commenting on where we excel and where we could improve across the various areas where we interact with you.

Below are some areas which you may like to consider.

• Speed of our response

• Experience/competence of consultant

• Helpfulness/commitment of consultant

• Itinerary options provided

• Fare levels provided

• Presentation of information – options, itineraries, invoicing

• Communication of information – G bulletins, reports, health and visa requirements

• Enforcement of travel policy, purchase orders, cost centres

• Changes, amendments and re-routings

• After hours service

• Refunds procedures

• Resolution of invoicing queries

• Hotel booking service, visa service, currency service – do you use them? If not, why not?

• Account Management

We will be offering two pairs of Eurostar tickets (to Paris or Brussels) and three bottles of champagne for the best entries.

Finally, if you are delighted with Grosvenor, do you know of other companies which would benefit from our services? If so, please contact your Account Director [email protected]



Documents

Grosvenor Travel Summer Newsletter 2014