Big hotel chains head to secondary Europe markets

Enjoy a stay at the new Hilton Gdansk in Gdansk, Poland.

By Joe Brancatelli

Big hotel chains looking to expand are increasingly looking around the world for opportunities. Major chains have long been fixtures overseas, of course, but the pace of expansion in recent years has picked up dramatically. And besides the obvious growth markets–China and India–the chains are beginning to penetrate what would normally be seen as secondary markets. For example, Hilton has opened a 150-room property in Gdansk, the chain’s second in Poland. And Marriott has opened its first two hotels in Sweden: a 278-room Courtyard in Stockholm and a 128-room Renaissance in Malmo. Marriott claims it will double its portfolio in Europe in the next five years.

Airline expansions

Alitalia is adding the so-called Classica Plus “premium economy” class on its new Airbus A330 jets. Premium economy service, a popular new class adopted by many airlines, offers more personal space and legroom than at standard coach seats and at slightly higher price. British Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, SAS Scandinavian and Air France already have this fourth type of in-flight cabin. You’ll find Alitalia’s version debuting on flights from New York and Miami late this summer.
OpenSkies, the British Airways all-business-class carrier that flies to Paris from Newark and Washington, is expanding. In a way. It has cut a deal with the French national railroad system to offer flyers connecting high-speed TGV rail service to Lyons and Nantes. The transfer is free until the end of the year if you purchase tickets by September 30.