By Bev Fearis, published 04/11/20

Here’s a round-up of other business travel news this week:

Hyatt Hotels will open its first hotel in Sweden after signing a franchise agreement with First Hotel Reisen. The 144-room Hotel Reisen in Stockholm’s old town will be available on Hyatt’s booking systems, on an unbranded basis, from December 1 with plans to join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand after refurbishment in the first quarter of 2021.

Heathrow Express has launched a portal which it claims will make it faster and easier for third party booking platforms to integrate the train service’s tickets into their own systems. The rail operator says it has begun migrating current partners across to the new platform and has attracted interest from new travel-tech partners, airlines operating to London, traditional travel companies and corporate travel buyers.

Accor has launched a new service allowing guests to order food and drink from their hotel’s digital menu with their own mobile phones. Fully integrated with Accor’s hotel systems, guests have the choice to either pay up front or charge to their room and pay on check-out. The Order and Pay technology is currently available in four hotels across the UK- ibis Styles Edinburgh St Andrew Square, Mercure Telford, ibis Styles London Gloucester Road and ibis Styles Manchester Portland Street. Accor plans to expand it to 150 hotels across Northern Europe.

Hard Rock International has rolled out its Meet SAFE + SOUND programme into conference and event spaces. The plan was developed in collaboration with public health and sanitisation specialists and requires venues to pass a rigorous 262-point inspection as part of an independent assessment by NSF International.