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New Marriott brand for the UK and Europe
Marriott has announced plans to introduce Series by Marriott in Europe following the signings of 11 projects across Italy and the United Kingdom in collaboration with the Amapa Group and Splendid Hospitality Group. Series by Marriott aims to deliver reliable, affordable mid-level accommodation complete with all the essentials.
The new brand itself was announced in May 2025, and is a new global collection brand that spans the midscale to upscale segments, but keeping a local flavour. Hotels in the portfolio are expected to feature:
- Modern, comfortable accommodation
- Essentials delivered well for a seamless experience
- Locally inspired design reflecting cultural cues and neighbourhood aesthetics
- Grab & Go options offering convenient food and beverage offerings for modern travellers
“There continues to be strong demand for affordable accommodation across the region, and our collaboration with Amapa Group and Splendid Hospitality Group allows us to bring an approachable, locally relevant experience to travellers across Italy and the United Kingdom while delivering on the essentials oa hotel stay,” said Neal Jones, President, EMEA, Marriott International. “We see strong potential to further expand the Series by Marriott brand across the continent, which has been created to bring established, regionally relevant brands and hotels into the Marriott portfolio with industry-leading revenue generation capabilities and affiliation cost structures. Owners will have the ability to maintain their portfolio’s independent identity while leveraging the power of our award-winning Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme with nearly 271 million members globally.”
Six-deal Agreement with Amapa Group in Italy
As part of its agreement with Marriott, Amapa Group plans to transform five of its existing properties in Montesilvano, Peschici, Pomezia, Rimini and Venice, and rebrand them under a new brand that will join the Series by Marriott portfolio. In addition, the deal also includes the development of a new build hotel in Valmontone.
Five-deal Agreement with Splendid Hospitality Group in the UK
Marriott plans to further strengthen its collaboration with Splendid Hospitality Group following an agreement to bring five hotels into the Series by Marriott portfolio. The existing properties are situated in Earls Court, Euston, Kings Cross in London and other prime regional locations. There are likely to be more in the future.
Splendid Hospitality Group has a diverse portfolio of 24 hotels with over 2,500 rooms across luxury, midscale and select-service brands. Splendid and Marriott collaborated to introduce the Four Points Flex by Sheraton brand in the UK in 2023. Their portfolio includes York’s only five-star hotel, The Grand, York and Hilton London Bankside.
The bad news is that Series hotels offer the same poor rates of points and elite night credits as the Four Points Flex brand,which is
- 5 points per $1 USD spent on qualifying charges.
- Elite Night Credits: 0.5 credits per night (half the usual rate).
Marriott up to £100 off with Amex
On the subject of Marriott, if you have a BA Premium Plus or Marriott Amex card, there are two new offers if you are planning to stay in a Marriott in the next few months.
Marriott Amex
£75 statement credit when you make one or more transactions totalling £200+ in participating hotels on checkout spend only by 15 June.
BA Premium Plus
£100 statement credit off £500 spend with details as the other offer.
You can use these offers at most Marriott brand hotels in the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
You can find the list of participating hotels here.
Upcoming bonus for Nectar to Avios points
If you are planning to convert Nectar to Avios points or vice versa, you’d be wise to hold off. Nectar has been teasing that there is a conversion bonus coming in April, but as yet we don’t know any further details.
If you have a Nectar account and have never connected it to Avios, now may be the time to do it. Simply link your British Airways Club and Nectar accounts and you’re ready to go. After that, you’re free to convert your points – starting from 400 Nectar points into 250 Avios, or 400 Avios into 400 Nectar points.
United announces 250 new aircraft and Polaris Studio Suite will fly to London from next month
Both American and United seem to be finally getting their act together to bring better offerings for premium passengers.
First, you can book seats on United’s new 787-9 Dreamliner with the United Elevated interior. The aircraft has been completely redesigned and marks the introduction of the airline’s new United Polaris Studio℠ suites: eight, lie-flat, all-aisle-access seats that are 25% larger than standard United Polaris® seats with privacy doors (which are not in use yet), an extra ottoman seat, exclusive entrée options, an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, new amenity kits with elevated skincare offerings, wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and a huge 27-inch, 4K OLED seatback screen – the largest among U.S. carriers. This is part of the trend of replacing true first class with larger seats at the front of the business cabin instead.
The aircraft will take its inaugural international flight for customers from San Francisco to Singapore, UA1, on 22 April. It will launch its second international route from San Francisco to London, UA901, later next month on April 30. It may also appear on select domestic routes between San Francisco and Houston as the plane prepares for international service.
“The new era of premium air travel is coming soon with our first Elevated aircraft taking flight next month. Our new aircraft redefines international long-haul flying, providing travelers upgraded amenities and experiences in every cabin,” said Andrew Nocella, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at United. “We’re constantly pioneering new ways to differentiate our customers’ experience in every seat, and we’re confident they will love it.”
Eight new United Polaris Studio suites
- United’s most spacious business class seats
- Fully lie-flat seats
- Ottoman with a seatbelt for companions in six of the eight seats
- Massive 27-inch 4K OLED seatback screen – the largest of any U.S. airline – with Bluetooth connectivity
- Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, including duvet, day blanket, large pillow and cooling gel pillow
- Exclusive hoodie-pajamas and slippers
- New noise-cancelling headphones powered by Meridian technology
- Amenity kits featuring clinically formulated Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ elevated skincare products
- United-branded playing cards – perfect for passing time with someone in the ottoman seat
56 United Polaris® seats
- Fully lie-flat seats
- Choice of seats that face the window or the centre of the aircraft for individuals or joint travelers
- 19-inch 4K OLED touchscreens with Bluetooth connectivity
- United Polaris snack bar
35 United Premium Plus® seats
- Roomier seats with added privacy dividers and built-in reading light, a first for United Premium Plus
- 16-inch 4K OLED touchscreens with Bluetooth connectivity
- Wireless charging
- Upgraded dining and amenities
United plans to have at least 30 787-9’s with the Elevated interior flying by the end of 2027.
The airline has also announced the next phase of its long-term plan to win loyal customers and differentiate itself from competitors.
The airline expects to take delivery of more than 250 new aircraft by April 2028 – the most by any airline in a two-year period – to further modernise its fleet.
- New “Coastliner” Airbus A321 subfleet and A321XLR are United’s first narrowbodies with the Elevated interior and feature a new, all-aisle access lie-flat seat in United Polaris with a patented design that offers more elbow and shoulder room and lower suite walls that protect privacy while maintaining an open feel in the cabin. United has 100 of these new aeroplanes coming into its fleet, and they’ll replace 40 older, less efficient Boeing 757s. This will provide a more comfortable and upscale transcontinental product which is wider at the shoulders than competitors. The aim is to give a wide-body experience even on a single-aisle aircraft.
- The Coastliner will have a specially designed livery and fly exclusively between United’s west coast hubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and Newark/New York, and will introduce the United Polaris cabin experience to domestic travellers. For the first time, customers travelling in United Polaris on these routes can also get access to the United Polaris lounge.
- United’s A321XLR gives travellers access to 32 premium seats – 16 more than the 757 it replaces – and will start flying later this year.
- There will be a snack bar at the rear of the aircraft and premium customers will receive similar amenities to long haul business class customers. You will even get lounge access when flying these new premium aircraft.
“For more than a decade, we’ve invested billions of dollars in our product, service, and technology as part of our plan to be the best brand loyal airline in the world, and the result is that more and more customers are choosing to fly us every day,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “Today we accelerate our plans and elevate our offerings to the next level, creating an even more consistent, premium onboard experience for every customer and delivering value across every cabin of service.”
“These new planes and products not only complement our fleet and network plans, but they also give our customers more premium amenity and seat choices – whether they bought a basic economy ticket to fly from Chicago to Ft. Wayne or are flying Polaris between San Francisco and Singapore,” said United Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella. “United is setting the pace and innovating for our customers at a scope and scale unheard of in aviation history – and we’re not taking our foot off the gas.”
New aeroplanes joining United’s fleet between now and April of 2028 include:
- 47 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with the Elevated interior
- 33 will be configured with additional premium seats
- 40 Airbus A321neo Coastliners out of 50 total on order
- 28 Airbus A321XLR out of 50 total on order
- 119 Boeing 737 MAX
- 18 Airbus A321neos
