Each business class cabin onboard the A330-300s and -200s will be equipped with beds that recline to lie fully-flat and come with individual built-in mood lighting controlled by LED lights. The A330-300 will have a total of 30 seats installed in the business class cabin, with 24 of these seats having direct access to the aisle for added ease and comfort. 10 of the business class seats will also have no seat adjacent to them.

via Brussels Airlines Upgrades Fleet and Business Class Cabins.

via Southwest Airlines upgrades its seats | Business | Dallas Business, Texas Business, Fort….

via T.S.A. Eases Security for Chosen Fliers – On the Road – NYTimes.com.

During the depths of the recession, fare rules that prevented business travelers from taking advantage of leisure oriented fares were relaxed in order to stimulate demand. Examples included reducing the advance purchase requirements from 50 days to as few as 7 days and removal of the Saturday night stay requirement. These rules are back, and most carriers have either raised or removed discounted business class fares when demand is seasonally strong to prevent cannibalization.

via 1st-Air.Net Reports Its Back to Business for Business Class Travel – MarketWatch.

“We are excited to enter new destinations like Siberia and see great potential for further expansion of our Courtyard by Marriott brand here in Eastern Europe,” said Amy McPherson, president and managing director for Marriott International in Europe.  “This is also the first branded hotel in Irkutsk, an important energy hub of Europe.”

via First Courtyard by Marriott Opens in Siberia – Marriott News Center.

via Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas Opens.

On some Frontier flights, one-third of all seats require extra fees or higher fares to reserve in advance. AMR Corp.’s American Airlines, which recently increased the number of seats it reserves as “preferred” seats requiring a fee or elite status, says a “majority” of its seats are still available unblocked. Delta Air Lines has been studying a preferred-seat fee plan, and an announcement is likely before the end of the year, industry officials said. Also coming next year, United Airlines will drop a perk that lets the lowest level of elite frequent fliers reserve Economy Plus extra-room seats in advance.

via Now, Even the Cheap Seats on Airplanes Come With a Fee – WSJ.com.

Fortunately it’s easier than ever to get a small dose of spa TLC, particularly at spas in business city centers and hotels, capture this segment of stressed and time-pressed customers with speedy treatments.

Spas have re-engineered their menus to offer 30-minute-or-less treatment options to attract business travelers, according to the the International SPA Association. About 75% of the spas surveyed by ISPA last year said they offer express treatments at 30 minutes or less. That’s compared to about 40% a decade ago, according to SpaFinder, an online spa directory that named express treatments as one of 10 top trends for 2011.

“The trend really started to skyrocket in the last recession,” says Susie Ellis, SpaFinder’s president, noting that business travelers and spa-goers alike are watching their budgets. Shorter treatments are cheaper.

via Short spa treatments redefine relaxation for business travelers – CNN.com.

Earlier this year, Westin opened its first hotel in Nanjing and Wuhan and its second hotel in Guangzhou. With the addition of the new hotels, Westin is set to have 16 hotels in China by April 2012 and is on track to double its footprint in the region by 2014.

“Westin is rapidly branching out across China, fuelled by growing enthusiasm among owners and developers who are eager to introduce the popular global brand to some of the country’s fastest growing cities,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. “Our emphasis on wellbeing is resonating with travellers across China and around the world. More than 90% of Westin hotels currently in development will open outside the United States.”

via Westin to open three new hotels in China | Hotel Management Asia.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal kicked off the festivities with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, including a host of dignitaries. The opening event culminated that evening with an exclusive gala featuring performances by notable Louisiana musical acts, including members of the LSU School of Music, and The Beat, a 10-piece band that lived up to its name by keeping party guests on the dance floor.

Guests were wowed by the Baton Rouge hotel’s exquisitely appointed guest rooms, including 63 luxury hotel suites, which are furnished with king or double queen beds, flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations and Aveda bathroom amenities. The Concierge level offers 28 spacious guest rooms with dramatic views, access to the hotel’s private Concierge lounge, plush bathrobes and slippers. Additional amenities include room service, valet parking, on-site parking, high-speed Internet access in all guest rooms and a state of the art business center.

via Marriott News Center: new hotels.