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Welcome to this month’s newsletter! This edition brings fresh ideas, smart planning tips and good news for business travel, meetings and events.
Expect a mix of practical updates and positive developments, from changes to rail ticket cancellations and air travel news, to end of year party ideas and takeaways from the BTA Autumn Conference. We hope you enjoy the read.
If you like to cut it fine at the airport, take note: from 10th November 2026, Ryanair’s airport check-in and bag drop desks will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes. The change applies across all airports served by Ryanair, so travellers checking in luggage should allow extra time. Passengers who check in online and travel with hand luggage only will be unaffected.
Clive Wratten will step down as Chief Executive of the Business Travel Association at the end of December, bringing his seven-year tenure to a close. The BTA will now begin the process of appointing his successor, with further details to follow.
Emirates has unveiled the world’s first electrically powered Premium Economy seat with a full-height adjustable privacy screen. The new seat also includes wireless charging and enhanced entertainment, giving travellers more privacy and comfort in the air.
A new government scheme now lets passengers whose trains are cancelled travel with another participating rail operator at no extra cost. Passengers can use a direct or reasonable alternative route within two hours either side of their original service, helping to reduce disruption and keep business travellers moving.
Radisson Blu has opened a new 401-room hotel at Medlock Square on Manchester’s Etihad Campus. Located beside the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live, it also offers access to more than 30 event spaces, strengthening the area’s appeal for business and event travel.
There’s even more choice when booking through Instant Book Meetings, with an expanded selection of Leonardo Hotels meeting spaces available through the platform. You can choose from 358 meeting rooms across 43 hotels in the UK and Ireland, available to book 24/7 for meetings of up to 30 attendees. Search live availability and pricing, select your meeting space and confirm your booking online in minutes.
Click to read more about how Inntel and Leonardo Hotels are working together to make booking meetings quicker and simpler.
Village Hotels has announced the completion of expansions at Village Manchester Ashton, Solihull and Leeds South, with over 80 additional bedrooms at each property, increasing capacity for larger conferences and groups. The hotels offer flexible meeting and event spaces, modern facilities and on-site accommodation, making them ideal for residential conferences and corporate events. Village Hotels has also introduced new wireless screen-sharing technology across its smaller meeting rooms, making presentations and collaboration even easier.
We’re delighted to have been named Business Travel Partner of the Year in the TMC category at the Business Travel Awards Europe 2026, securing the prestigious title for the third consecutive year! The judges recognised our commitment to combining innovative technology with highly personalised service. Click here for the details.
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to start thinking about your end-of-year celebrations. From choosing the right venue and format to inclusivity, theming and entertainment, Sharon Bannister‘s latest blog shares practical tips and inspiration to help you create an event people will genuinely enjoy. Click to read.
It is an industry full of opportunity, variety and progression, yet for many people, it is still a career they discover by accident rather than actively choose.
Following conversations at the BTA Autumn Conference, Daniel Mitchell explores what needs to change if we want to attract the next generation of talent and make business travel a career of choice. Click here to see the full story.
Elsewhere at the BTA Autumn Conference, Inntel’s Tiffany Casson joined a panel discussion exploring the barriers facing travellers with accessibility needs and how the industry can work together to overcome them. Tiffany shared practical insights into creating more inclusive travel experiences and the importance of understanding individual traveller needs. Click here to read Tiffany’s reflections on the conference.
In the meantime, if you’d like to explore how we help organisations meet, travel and rest better – we’d love to hear from you.