16.04.2026
100th Hotel in Accors Central and Eastern European Network - Opening of the first Novotel in Lithuania
The Novotel Vilnius, the first hotel of the brand in Lithuania, opended on April 1. The Hotel is operated by Polish tourist company Orbis, in which Accor currently holds a nearly 36% stake.

Situated on the Baltic Sea, at the crossroads between such strategic economic regions as Scandinavia, Russia and Central Europe, Lithuania is expected to experience rapid growth, both as a business and tourist destination.

The Novotel Vilnius is located on Gedimino Avenue in the historic center of the Lithuanian capital, which is known as the Rome of the Baltic. The hotels proximity to tourist sites and the business district and its range of services and amenities make it ideal for tourists and businessmen alike.

The hotels 159 rooms feature the innovations of Novotels latest-generation room - called Novation. They include a bathroom designed as a living space, exposed to natural light and equipped with bathtub and shower. The decoration combines wood with pale hues and bright colors, creating an atmosphere that is both relaxing and invigorating.

The Novotel Vilnius also includes 4 conference rooms that can seat up to 125 people, with audiovisual and technical equipment suitable for the latest business applications.

The Garden Brasserie restaurant features French and international cuisine, while the bar offers a splendid view of Gedimino Avenue. Other amenities include a fitness room, sauna and Turkish bath where customers can unwind.

100th hotel in Accors Central and Eastern European network
Accors development in Central and Eastern Europe began in 1973 with the construction of six Novotel in Poland, in association with Orbis. Partnerships forged with local hotel companies - Orbis in Poland and Pannonia Hotels in Hungary - have enabled Accor to quickly establish a strong presence in the region.

Today, Orbis, of which Accor is the core shareholder, operates 67 hotels in Poland, including 1 Sofitel, 12 Novotel, 10 Mercure, 9 Ibis, and 35 Orbis. Most are located in Polands 15 largest cities, usually in the city center, as for example in Gdansk, Poznan and Wroclaw, or else in business districts and in the historic centers of Warsaw and Krakow. In Hungary, Accor Pannonia has 18 hotels (1 Sofitel, 4 Novotel, 8 Mercure, 4 Ibis and 1 Etap Hotel), mainly in Budapest.

Elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe, Accor operates: - 5 hotels in the Czech Republic (2 Novotel, 1 Mercure and 2 Ibis), most of them in Prague. - 2 hotels in Romania (one Sofitel and one Ibis in Bucharest). - 2 Novotel in Russia, one near the Moscow airport and the other in downtown Moscow. - 1 Ibis in Slovakia in Bratislava. - 1 Novotel in Bulgaria in Plodiv.

Many of these countries will soon join the European Union, which, in addition to being the worlds number one tourist market, is one in which we are committed to maintaining our leadership, said Jean-Marc Espalioux, Chairman of the Accor Management Board. Of all the markets in Europe, the Central and Eastern countries are among those that offer the most promising outlook. This was apparent in 2003, when they were among the rare markets in Europe to experience an increase in the number of international visitors. 15 new hotels are already being built in Central and Eastern Europe for opening in 2004 and 2005. The first will be the Ibis Praha Smichov (260 rooms) in the Czech Republic on March 26, 2004.

By the end of 2004, Continental expects all of its travelers will be using convenient eTickets, which will reduce loss, theft and paperwork hassles for the airline and its customers. "Because of the cost savings opportunity, we are quite serious about our paperless objective and are doing everything we can to make one hundred percent paperless travel on Continental a reality," said David Grizzle, Continental's Senior Vice President - Corporate Development. Currently, 95 percent of Continental's domestic customers are traveling on eTickets and 88 percent systemwide. eTickets are currently valid at all of the 266 airports served by Continental around the world. After this year, Continental plans to eliminate issuing and accepting paper tickets entirely, including for travel on all international flights.

Continental is an industry leader in interline eTicket technology and currently has 20 eTicket partners. Continental currently has more than 180 interline ticketing and baggage agreements with other airlines worldwide, permitting customers to create travel itineraries involving two or more carriers with a single ticket. Continental looks forward to bringing eTicket technology to each of its interline agreements.

14.04.2026
SRS-Worldhotels upgrades five newly renovated members to Deluxe and First Class Collections
After putting the finishing touches on extensive renovations and refurbishments, five European hotels in the SRS-Worldhotels portfolio have been upgraded to the Deluxe and First Class Collections of this global sales, marketing and reservations organization.

The Angleterre Hotel in St Petersburg has risen in ranks to the Deluxe Collection. The hotel, which boasts an impressive location near St. Isaac’s Cathedral, has undergone a comprehensive restoration and modernization supervised by the renowned English hotel designer Olga Polizzi, who has also given it a completely new style. The individual ambience of the rooms and suites offers guests a refuge from the rigors and stress of daily life. The hotel’s Borsalino Brasserie is among the city’s most modern restaurants, and its interior décor is a perfect complement to its European cuisine. The gallery, decked out with a variety of plants, is an inviting place to sit while enjoying a drink and snacks. Other hotel features include a modern fitness studio, night club and casino.

In the very heart of Geneva lies the traditional Hotel Bristol, which has now been upgraded to the Deluxe Collection. All rooms and suites have been renovated in a classically elegant style, and offer every modern comfort for today’s sophisticated traveler. Even the hotel’s fitness studio, with its whirlpool and sauna, sparkles anew. The Swiss hotel continues to be a popular choice for meetings and offers a variety of special conference packages.

The innate charm of the Antares Hotel Concorde in Milan has been enhanced with a refurbishment, the success of which is already apparent in the lobby. Corporate travelers in particular can relax after a stressful day in the comfy armchairs, read one of several newspapers, or take advantage of free Internet access. The rooms have been SRS-Worldhotels upgrades five newly renovated members to Deluxe and First Class Collections 2 comfortably furnished in shades of Bordeaux, beige and lemon and are oases of calm to which guests will look forward to retiring after a conference or shopping tour in Milan. The hotel is now part of the First Class Collection.

The newly renovated Steigenberger Airport Hotel, Frankfurt now joins the Deluxe Collection. Completely modernized, the hotel has also added two new wings. Four restaurants treat guests to a variety of culinary styles. The theme restaurant Faces serves an innovative range of dishes from around the world; the Lobby Bistro-Bar Con.nexion caters to hotel guests and travelers passing through the airport with refreshment 24 hours a day. A generous breakfast buffet is served in the Five Continents restaurant, while traditional local fare is the specialty of the Unterschweinstiege. In addition, with 570m² of floor space, the hotel’s wellness area is now the largest available at the airport. Among its rejuvenating appeals are sub-aqua massages in the pool, water cascade showers and a fitness studio with the latest equipment. The hotel also offers 1,400m² of conference space.

Not far from London, in the town of Weybridge, is the Oatlands Park Hotel, newly upgraded to the First Class Collection. A blend of castle and country house, the hotel offers lovely views over park-like gardens. The aura of nobility is also reflected in the interior design, from the four-poster beds to the spectacular chandelier in the lobby. The setting lends itself perfectly to unforgettable weddings. Thanks to the latest technology, as well as the range and size of its function rooms, the hotel is also an ideal location for conferences and meetings. Guests can enjoy play on the hotel’s own golf course, which blends in delightfully with the garden setting.

13.04.2026
Air France and Delta Air Lines Launch Electronic Ticketing for their Flights
Within the context of the SkyTeam Alliance, Air France passengers now have access to electronic ticketing - a substitute solution to the traditional paper ticket - on virtually all DL flights, operated by Delta Air Lines and its franchisees. Conversely, Delta customers can take advantage of electronic ticketing on eligible AF flights, whether operated by Air France or one of its franchised subsidiaries - Brit Air, Régional or City Jet.
For instance, an Air France customer can use the same electronic ticket for a Paris/Atlanta/Tampa trip, and a return flight on Delta, either on an AF/DL code-share or just on an DL code.

To begin with, only passengers having purchased their ticket directly through Air France (agencies in the city or at the airport, Air France Internet sites, etc.) will have access to electronic ticketing on Delta. This service will be extended to travel agencies in the fall of 2004.

In the end, Air France plans to extend the implementation of this agreement to its other SkyTeam partners, in order to broaden the possibilities of electronic ticketing. Already, customers greatly appreciate the benefits of this service: no risk of misplacing or forgetting one's ticket, possibility of purchasing a ticket and modifying a trip (where conditions apply) in the comfort of one's home.

Currently, close to one million electronic tickets are used every month by Air France customers. This fast-growing number is expected to increase significantly.