Hotels and airlines offering customers incentives to maintain business

Frequent fliers are suddenly finding themselves with extra perks.  Because the airline industry is currently struggling to survive, many airlines are offering their business class passengers extra incentives to continue flying with them.  But the trend does not stop with the airlines.  Hotels are offering incentives for guests as well.

Malmaison and Hotel du Vin have started a promotion which focuses on prices as well.  The chief executive officer of the hotel group, Robert Cook, notes that “We have flexible room rates and we’re nimble on our feet.”  Cook also made it clear that business travel provided a large amount of business for hotels and airlines. 

Airlines have begun offering stays at select hotels when purchasing certain flights.  Other airlines in the UK are offering free train tickets for the flights return when the airline ticket is purchased at full price.  One Russian airline reduced fares nearly 5 per cent after the price of oil dropped slightly.

Many businesses are partnering together to help boost one another’s sales. The InterContinental Hotels group has partnered to supply discounted foods from BT at all of their hotels.  The business travel manager for BT, Jan Tucker-Jones, said “We’re asking all our supplier base for more discounts.  We will push more business their way. It shows commitment to us.”

Virgin Atlantic and Qantas both offer a premium economy class.  Benefits include additional leg space, easier check in for flights, and power for laptops at each seat.

www.hotelduvin.com