InterContinental’s first-half room revenue inches up August 6, 2019 InterContinental Hotels has reported a slightly increased first-half room revenue, but a drop in business travellers in China and protests in Hong Kong have dented demand in the region. The figures The FTSE100 group, which owns brands including Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, said revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose 0.1 per cent during the [...]
July 2019 worst on record for retail sales growth August 6, 2019 Last month was the worst July on record for retail sales growth, according to new data published today in the latest blow for the struggling industry. Total sales growth was 0.3 per cent in July – compared to an increase of 1.6 per cent last year- the lowest level recorded for the month since records [...]
Chaos averted as union calls off tomorrow’s Heathrow strike August 5, 2019 The 24-hour strike that was due to force Heathrow into shutdown has been called off. Unite the union had been engaged in talks with senior Heathrow personnel about averting the strikes, which would have been carried out by more than 4,000 workers, including security guards, firefighters and engineers. A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Unite has chosen [...]
Donald Trump admits ‘more has to be done’ in wake of mass shootings August 5, 2019 Donald Trump has admitted that “perhaps more has to be done” to tackle America’s gun problem after two mass shootings took place over the weekend. The president was speaking after two separate incidents in the US claimed the lives of 29 people. Read more: Far-right website 8chan down as Cloudfare pulls support after mass shootings [...]
Drinks giant Diageo invests £180m in greener African breweries August 5, 2019 Guinness owner Diageo has announced £180m of investment to improve the green credentials of its African breweries. The investment will be directed towards 11 of the drinks giant’s brewing sites across seven African countries and will deliver solar energy, biomass power and water recovery initiatives. Read more: Gin sales boost Diageo profits Diageo’s African portfolio [...]
Heathrow and Unite locked in last-ditch talks to halt tomorrow’s strike August 5, 2019 Heathrow and Unite the union are engaged in last-ditch talks to prevent strikes planned for tomorrow from going ahead. Unite has postponed the strike that was set for today, in which more than 2,000 workers, including security guards, firefighters and engineers, planned to “shut down” the airport in a dispute over pay. Read more: Union [...]
UK summer strikes: Your guide to the airline strikes that could wreck your holidays August 5, 2019 You’re all set to go on your summer holiday. You’ve booked your hotel, filled every minute of the family itinerary with sight-seeing adventures, and you’ve sorted your flights. Then you get the dreaded news – your airline, or airport, is going to be hit by UK summer strikes. And what’s more, they’re right on the [...]
Seven ‘football fans’ arrested after brawl on Tube before Community Shield August 5, 2019 Seven men, thought to be football fans, have been arrested after a large fight broke out on a central London Tube train yesterday. The brawl took place at 2pm while the train was at Great Portland Street station, ahead of a match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Wembley. All seven men are being held [...]
Quilter to sell life assurance arm for £425m as it reports operating loss August 5, 2019 Asset managers Quilter Plc has announced that it intends to offload its life assurance business to ReAssure for £425m, as it reports a £40m operating loss. The figuresQuilter reported a first-half operating loss of £40m, but said adjusted pre-tax profits rose 5 per cent to £115m. £26m of Quilter’s profits came from Quilter Life Assurance [...]
Remain-backing MPs say there is still time to block a no-deal Brexit August 4, 2019 Remain-supporting MPs have rejected reports that they have missed the chance to block a no-deal Brexit. Dominic Cummings, the architect of the Vote Leave campaign who is now the Prime Minister’s top adviser, is believed to have told ministers that MPs have run out of time to prevent the UK leaving the EU without a [...]