NEWS: Birmingham & some Gatwick Airport strikes suspended, Emirates new meal preordering onboard and Global Hotel Alliance partners with Regent cruises

Global Hotel Alliance partners with luxury cruise company

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands,  has launched a partnership with Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Regent).

GHA DISCOVERY members, who have access to 800 hotels, resorts and palaces operated by 40 hotel brands, including Anantara, Corinthia and Kempsinki in 100 countries can earn rewards currency, DISCOVERY Dollars (D$1 equal to US$1). I find the program pretty generous, so it is worth signing up if you stay in any of their brands. They also do some good discounts in their sales of up to 40%. 

The program’s 24 million members will now enjoy the additional benefit of earning D$ by reserving a voyage with Regent and will be able to redeem those benefits in any GHA hotel, resort and palace.

GHA DISCOVERY members who reserve a Regent cruise will also be fast-tracked to GHA DISCOVERY Titanium status, which provides a number of benefits at GHA hotels and resorts worldwide.

In addition, GHA members will receive a special welcome gift of champagne and chocolates once on board their reserved voyage.

The partnership benefits are as follows:

For every Regent booking made by a GHA DISCOVERY member, guests will be rewarded:

• Between D$750 and D$2,500 for every Regent cruise reservation made, which can be spent at any GHA hotel or resort worldwide, valid for 12 months.
• Fast-track upgrade to GHA DISCOVERY Titanium status, valid for over 12 months, offering benefits such as double room upgrades, special amenities, early check-in, and late checkout at GHA hotels and resorts worldwide.
• On-board welcome gift of premium chocolates and Champagne with any Regent voyage reserved by a GHA DISCOVERY member.

To celebrate the launch of this partnership, GHA DISCOVERY members can collect triple rewards of up to D$7,500, redeemable at any participating GHA hotel or resort. The offer is valid for bookings until 30 September 2023 and cruises departing on or before 31 December 2023.

Birmingham and some Gatwick Airport strikes suspended

Unite has called off strike action at Birmingham Airport. The union said 150 members working as airport security officers and terminal technicians will be balloted on an improved pay offer.

Unite said: “All-out indefinite strike action, which was due to begin tomorrow (18 July), has been suspended as an act of goodwill to allow Unite’s members to be balloted on the new offer.”

Birmingham Airport said: “The union is consulting its members of a revised proposal, which we hope is accepted, so we can focus on serving customers.”

If the offer is rejected, then indefinite strike action will begin on Tuesday 1 August.

Meanwhile, at Gatwick, the expected strike is partially suspended as Easyjet contractors at DHL are being balloted on a new deal by their union Unite. Should the members reject the offer, further strikes will be announced. 

However, action by around another 450 ASC, Menzies, and GGS workers at Gatwick is still scheduled to take place from 28 July to 1 August, and then 4-8 August.

Strikers include ground handlers, baggage handlers, check-in staff, ramp agents, and dispatchers for airlines including British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Tui, Wizz Air and Westjet.

Emirates introduces onboard Meal Preordering Service

Emirates will allow customers to preselect their hot main meal between 14 days and 24 hours in advance of their flight. I am always in favour of this and don’t understand why BA doesn’t start this again properly since so many airlines are now doing this, including Singapore, Virgin and Air France.  It’s a win-win for everyone, with people getting their first choice and the airline having less waste so better for the environment and their bottom line. 

The initiative will be rolled out from 25 July onwards in Business Class, on all flights between Dubai and London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and London Stansted. Meal preordering will be added to the existing AI-enabled customer preference tracking data and cabin crew reports, which facilitate menu planning and optimal food loading to deliver the premium ‘restaurant in the sky’ inflight dining experience.

Up to 14 days before a flight, passengers will be able to browse the onboard menu on Emirates.com or on the Emirates app and choose from a selection of regionally inspired dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Passengers can also pre-order special meals if required.

On the aircraft, cabin crew will use a custom-built application on a device to view the meal selection and serve the passenger their choice of hot dish. Emirates plans to expand the meal preorder initiative to more routes and classes in the near future and is closely monitoring customer feedback from the initial rollout phase.