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APD to rise for flights
In an unsurprising move, the Chancellor has announced that APD tax will rise for flights. Once touted as an eco-tax but in effect, just another money earner for the government, it has not been confirmed how much it will rise by yet. Mr Hunt said that the increase would be on “on non-economy” ticket sales “to accommodate for high inflation in recent years”.
The official Treasury documents do not specify how much the increase will be, but say it will raise an extra £110 million next year (2025/26), plus a further £10 million a year for each year after.
“The 2025/26 APD rates for economy passengers will increase in line with forecast RPI [Retail Price Index], rounded to the nearest pound.
“Rates for those flying premium economy, business and first class, and for private jet passengers, will also increase by forecast RPI and will be further adjusted for recent high inflation to help maintain their real-terms value.”
This could mean that rates rise by as much as 12% for long haul according to Virgin’s estimates.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “UK Government has failed to acknowledge that by increasing Air Passenger Duty (APD), the highest aviation tax in the world, they are penalising families travelling in Premium, as well as business travellers. An increase to the standard rate of APD undermines the competitiveness of UK economy, discouraging leisure travellers who have been crucial in aiding the industry’s recovery. UK Government should not underestimate the importance of leisure travel and the adverse impact this will have on hard working Brits, in its rush to raise yet more revenue from the sector.”
Hyatt Announces that the Rio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, has Joined World of Hyatt Amid Multi-Million-Dollar Renovation
Hyatt Hotels and Rio Hotel & Casino have announced that World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem points for qualifying stays at the Hyatt-affiliated hotel, which is in the midst of a multi-phased, $340 million transformation. Phase one of the hotel’s two-phase renovation is expected to be completed in fall 2024 when the all-suite hotel will move into Hyatt’s Independent Collection under the Destination by Hyatt brand. Rio has long been overdue redevelopment, so it is good news that when the hotel is updated, you will be able to earn and burn Hyatt points. Until recently Hyatt was partners with MGM and allowed you the chance to earn and burn Hyatt points on all its hotels as well as status match.
“We’re proud to collaborate with Rio Hotel & Casino on this transformational project to revitalize the iconic hotel as a Destination by Hyatt Hotel,” said David Tarr, senior vice president of development, Americas, Hyatt. “Destination by Hyatt hotels are individual at heart and embody the true spirit of the destination. Rio Hotel & Casino will be no exception. This renovation will serve as a gateway for guests to experience a place of purposefully crafted entertainment and immersive experiences infused with authentic design and warm and welcoming service. We look forward to providing World of Hyatt members and guests an authentic and unforgettable experience in Las Vegas.”
Rio Hotel & Casino will be the first Destination by Hyatt Hotel in Nevada and the third Hyatt Hotel in the Las Vegas area.
Phase one renovations began in 2023 and are near completion with extensive upgrades and enhancements to the 1,501-room Ipanema tower, arrival area, building exterior, lobby, gaming floor, sports book, multiple food and beverage outlets, meeting spaces, and outdoor pool area.
Phase two will include fully renovating and redesigning the hotel’s 1,012 Masquerade Tower guestrooms and associated public areas. The hotel is slightly off strip but walkable to the strip or a short Uber away.
The hotel will have spacious suites with floor-to-ceiling views of the Las Vegas Valley.
Rio Hotel & Casino now fully participates in the World of Hyatt program, allowing members to earn and redeem points for eligible stays in Las Vegas. To provide World of Hyatt members even more ways to be rewarded, World of Hyatt is offering members 500 Bonus Points for every qualifying night at Rio Hotel & Casino from April 1 to June 30, 2024, as part of the new hotel bonus point offer. Additional participating hotels and their offer stay periods can be found at hyatt.com/newhotelbonus.
No registration is required, and members can earn on top of other offers.
To learn more about Rio Hotel & Casino, please visit HyattRioLasVegas.com.
Qatar Airways Showcases World’s First AI Virtual Cabin Crew and increases frequency on routes
Qatar Airways has launched its holographic virtual cabin crew, Sama 2.0. Qatar Airways is the world’s first airline to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) digital human cabin crew to assist its passengers in designing curated travel experiences.
Sama 2.0 is ready to answer questions in real-time, such as Qatar Airways FAQs, destinations, support tips, and more. It will be accessible through QVerse, Qatar Airways’ immersive digital platform, and the Qatar Airways app.
Qatar Airways Vice President Marketing Babar Rahman said: “Sama 2.0 represents our relentless pursuit of innovation and embodies Qatar Airways’ values of exceptional service and hospitality. This is a monumental point in spearheading the successful synergy between technology and human connection – not only for Qatar Airways but also for the industry at large. Qatar Airways affirms its commitment to leading and collaborating with innovation experts to create pioneering products and services for its customers.”
Owing to its marked success in introducing and implementing the latest technologies to enhance passenger experiences, Qatar Airways has been continually lauded for its innovative efforts, with the latest recognition received from the World Travel Tech Awards for the World’s Best Airline Website.
Qatar Airways recently also unveiled its Generative AI experience for personalised travel planning. The experience utilises comprehensive visual interactions and an interactive 3D map to understand customers’ travel preferences, thereby eliminating the need for manual searches. Customers will get suggestions for their dream trips across Qatar Airways’ network.
An increase in frequencies was also announced at Europe’s biggest travel trade show. Particularly of note was a doubling of Qatar’s service from Oslo, which is usually my preferred starting point for Qatar trips due to the low pricing of business class. They also use the new Premium Suites on the B787-9 on this route.
Here is the full list of changes which may be handy if you have been looking for Avios availability:
Destinations served by Qatar Airways will receive the following year-on-year flight frequency this summer:
Barcelona – increased from 14 weekly flights to 21
Boston – increased from seven weekly flights to 10
Brussels – increased from seven weekly flights to 10
Copenhagen – increased from four weekly flights to seven
Kuala Lumpur – increased from seven weekly flights to 14
Manchester – increased from 18 weekly flights to 21
Miami – increased from seven weekly flights to 10
Nice – increased from four weekly flights to seven (to increase in May ahead of the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival)
Oslo – increased from seven weekly flights to 14
Paris – increased from 21 weekly flights to 28
Rome – increased from 18 weekly flights to 21
Seoul – increased from seven weekly flights to eight
Tunis – increased from seven weekly flights to 10
Warsaw – increased from 10 weekly flights to 14
Destinations served by Qatar Airways will receive the following year on year flight frequency this winter:
Berlin – increased from 14 weekly flights to 18
Kuala Lumpur – increased from seven weekly flights to 14
Paris – increased from 21 weekly flights to 28
4 comments
The government effectively makes the case for long haul J class out of Europe, not the UK.
Exactly. It’s already cheaper anyway and this just adds to the case.
Yet another nail in this government’s electoral coffin………..
The conservatives appear to be working for Reform party these days
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