Business Traveler, November 2019

b u s i n e s s t r a v e l e r u s a c o m 8 SOFT TOUCH Mark James director and European brand leader explains what makes Autograph Collection one of Marriotts fastestgrowing and most popular soft brands ONE ON ONE BT Autograph Collection is referred to as a soft brand What does that mean JAMES A soft brand means that these hotels are grouped together as a collection of properties with their own stories to tell but each is unique While there are a few standards that hotels must follow mostly technical requirements for an internationally branded hotel they are otherwise free to choose things that set them apart Each can choose its own design direction and operational delivery of the unique guest experiences we create BT Autograph Collection carries the tag line exactly like nothing else Tell us about that JAMES Since all of our hotels are different and emblematic of their respective destinations they provide an experience that highlights a strong sense of place But we wanted each of these properties to be able to stand out in their own way through their own strengths Thats why we introduced the Mark of Craft concept that gives each member hotel in the Autograph Collection the chance to show off something that they do well and gives guests something especially local to enjoy BT What are some examples of Mark of Craft JAMES We give hotels the freedom to decide what they highlight for their travelers For example Bankside in London has a rotating artists in residence program where local artists can use public space to create their art which guests can view and later is displayed throughout the property The hotel also provides small guidebooks that walk guests and visitors through each piece to enjoy helping to show off how the emerging Bankside neighborhood is a cultural hot spot in its own right At Academia of Athens the hotel works with a local professor to recreate a modern interpretation of Platos Academy Through weekly Dialogue Soirees guests can engage with each other and local experts on a range of topics from architecture and history to romance and lifes greatest questions The idea is that guests can exchange ideas and discuss universal concepts like friendship and ethics BT Can Bonvoy members expect the familiar benefits they find at other Marriott properties JAMES Autograph Collection is a great brand for Marriott fans because it provides variety in the hotel experience around the world From The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to Domes of Elounda on the Greek island of Crete the experience runs the gamut from casual luxury to opulent settings Its one of the Marriott brands that delivers the most variety while still committing to popular elite status perks like free breakfast and the possibility of room upgrades BT Whats in the pipeline for Autograph Collection JAMES Autograph Collection is slated to surpass 200 hotels by the end of 2019 in global destinations including Switzerland France Singapore and Italy among others across the US N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9 PERUVIAN AIRLINES has suspended operations We deeply regret the inconvenience that our passengers are experiencing and we reiterate our commitment to provide a prompt solution the airline said in a release For 10 years the carrier operated a fleet of 8 Boeing 737s and 2 DC8s out of Limas Jorge Chávez Airport with routes to cities in Peru and Bolivia STARTING ON MARCH 1 2020 Alaska Air mileage plan members will no longer earn miles on AA international flights nor use miles for award travel on any American flights However fliers will still be able to garner mile formile value on American flights with Alaska codeshares to select destinations in the Midwest East Coast and parts of Canada Alaska Air still has partnerships with 15 international carriers Meanwhile American Airlines and Qantas are strengthening their strategic partnership rolling out improved frequent flier benefits and greatly enhanced connectivity with new codeshare destinations in the United States aa com alaskaair com qantas com LOT POLISH AIRLINES will begin operating non stop flights between its hub in Warsaw and San Francisco International Airport starting August 5 2020 The flights will operate four times a week on Mondays Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays aboard LOTs fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners which it uses exclusively on its long haul flights The new service may have had a push from the new Visa Waiver status the US has granted Polish nationals this summer lot com AIR CANADA has announced the introduction of new yearround service between Montreal and Bogotá Colombia beginning June 2 2020 Flights will operate three times weekly onboard Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767 300ER aircraft offering a choice of premium and economy service aircanada com