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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Citi Prestige® Card, Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi® Double Cash Card, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, AT&T Points Plus® Card. Good Citi Airline Transfer PartnersSome Citi airline transfer partners can provide decent value, but only in certain situations. Citi Airline Transfer Partners That Aren't Great ValueThe rest of the Citi ThankYou airline transfer partners are generally not worth considering, except for extremely niche redemptions. Otherwise, with the Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, and Citi® Double Cash Card, the ratio is 5:4 (1,000 Citi ThankYou points = 800 Wyndham points). Other Rewards ProgramsIn addition to airline and hotel transfer partners, Citi ThankYou has one retail transfer partner.

Persons: Wyndham, Hilton, Lifemiles, Avianca, Eva, it's, It's, Accor, you'll, Howard Johnson, Travelodge —, you've, nonrefundable — Organizations: Business Insider, Citi, Premier, Card, Citi Prestige, Wyndham Rewards, JetBlue, Air France, KLM, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Citi Transfer, Citi Strata Premier, Citi Prestige ®, Partners, Turkish Airlines Miles, Turkish, Star Alliance, Miles, United Airlines, United, Blue Air France, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Singapore Airlines, Air, Lufthansa, Alaska Airlines, KrisFlyer, Virgin Atlantic Flying, Virgin, Delta, Flying, Ethiopian Airlines, Good Citi, Transfer Partners, Etihad Guest Etihad, Czech Airways, Etihad, Royal Air Maroc, Cathay, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Cathay, Oneworld, American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas, Transfer, Aeromexico, Premier Aeromexico, Emirates Skywards, Emirates, Qatar Airways Privilege, Gulf, American, Qatar Airways . Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Thai Airways, Raffles, Citi Premier, Prestige, Choice, Comfort, Radisson Hotels, Radisson, Wyndham, Vacasa, Sears, CitiTravel.com, EV, Aeromexico Club Premier Air France, Cathay Pacific Asia, JetBlue TrueBlue Qantas Frequent Flyer Qatar Airways Privilege Club Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Turkish Airlines Miles, Smiles, Atlantic Flying Club Wyndham Rewards, ℠ Locations: Hawaii, Europe, Air Canada, Singapore, Delta, Prague, Seoul, New York, JFK, Casablanca, Cathay Pacific Asia, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar, Fairmont, Sofitel, Clarion , Cambria, Canada, Caribbean, America, Chevron

☆ I spent my first night in Panama at a hotel in the heart of the historic district. The stay made me fall in love with the country in less than 24 hours.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Monica Humphries | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I spent my first night in Panama at the five-star Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo hotel. The property had luxury amenities and was located in the heart of Panama City's historic district. Good food, stunning architecture, and unbelievable views helped me fall in love with Panama. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA bellhop opened the door to the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, and I was transported out of Panama City's humidity and into a chilly hotel lobby brimming with excitement.

Persons: —, bustled Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Panama, Casco Viejo, Good, Casco, Panama City

☆ After a rough run, North Korea could at last find itself 'sitting pretty' in the new year with both Russia and China courting it, Korea watcher says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The result could be a very fortunate 2024 for North Korea, one in which Russia and China are both chasing after its attention. In that case, North Korea could be "sitting pretty," a top Korea watcher said last week. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un observes artillery fire competition in North Korea. North Korean military cadets hold a North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's flag during a perform of the Arirang festival which is a part of commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the Workers' Party of North Korea on October 6, 2005, in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea, on the other hand, has criticized, sometimes openly, China's disapproval of its testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Victor Cha, Cha, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Kim, North, Kim Jong, SAUL LOEB, Chung Sung, there's, Xi Jinping, Xi, Donald Trump's, Trump, Putin, MIKHAIL METZEL Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic People's, Center for Strategic, International Studies, CSIS, The Capital, North, Trump, Asian Affairs, White, National Security Council, REUTERS, Metropole, Getty, White House, Putin, Korean, Workers ' Party of North, Vostochny Locations: Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, China, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, COVID, Asia, Hanoi, North, Korean, Workers ' Party of North Korea, Pyongyang, Beijing, Amur

☆ A 34-year-old part-time influencer became a travel agent as a side hustle and sold $119,000 worth of trips in 8 months. She shares how she got started and makes money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

She's one of several people using their experience as travel creators to build lucrative businesses; some are becoming certified travel agents like her while others are organizing group trips. Certifications and commissions galoreWhen Cooper first explored the idea of becoming a travel agent in 2018, she was overwhelmed by the process. That's why travel creators don't have to have a lot of followers in order to be successful in this profession. A 'boom' in travel creators becoming agents could be the futureToday, Cooper mentors a few travel creators herself who are interested in getting their agent certifications. However, she thinks it will be a popular side hustle for travel creators since she said brand deals — the main way many influencers earn money — are often an inconsistent source of income.

Persons: —, Tia Cooper, Cooper, she's, they've, Cooper hasn't Organizations: Service, Business, Tourism Ireland, Sofitel, Visit, Travel, BI, Carnival Cruises, Marriott Locations: Instagram, Visit Dubai, Emirates

☆ The sexiest new hotels for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

This list tries to do just that – spotlight the hotels opening (or reopening, as one of them is) in 2024 that make us want to visit for the hotel alone. Properties with a little bit of oomph – the sexy hotels of 2024, as we like to call them. For spring 2024, Costa Rica’s on the cards, with this beachfront hotel at surfer central Santa Teresa, on the Pacific Coast. Existing ones have been refurbished, and new pool villas, suites and bungalows have been added to the mix. Pool villas are cute cabins with patio doors opening on the open-to-the-elements plunge pools, while the bungalows will be wood-clad, tropical spaces.

Persons: Will, ”, that’s, King Charles, Maria, Casa Lucia Argentina, swank, Kit Kemp, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, George, Gran, Palazzo Cordusio, Cordusio, There’s, Emanuele II, Mina Al, Ras, Anantara Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah, Mina Al Arab, Al Riffa, Mollie's, who’ll, KAI Akiu, Hoshino, Rupert Peace, Michel Rojkind, Moxy Banff, Marie, they’re, Philippe Kjellgren, It’ll, Aman, you’ve, you’ll, Roma, Romeo Roma, Romeo, starchitect Zaha Hadid, Rome’s Piazza, Costa Rica’s Organizations: CNN, Casa Lucia, Bacan, Leinster, Collins, Gran Meliá, Milan, Galleria, Tunisia –, Soho, Manchester TV, Beatles, Granada Studios, Old Granada Studios, Soho House, Resorts, Michelin, Guadalupe, Moxy, VW, Brisbane . Tourism, Queensland, Casa, Hoxton, Popolo, Princeton, Hotels, Ivy League, Mercure, Darwin, Training Academy Locations: Matca, Transylvania, Romania, Romanian, Brașov, Maria, Helsinki, Finland, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Retiro, Dublin, Ireland, Merrion, Georgian Dublin, Uganda, Rwanda, Queen, Edward, Milan, Italy, Meliá, Piazza, Duomo, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, Arabian, Dubai, Ras Al, Oman, Mina, Al, Tunisia, Douz, Sahara, Matmata, Manchester, Japan, Tokyo, Akiu, Sendai, superlatives, Kempinski, Dresden, Germany, grande, Taschenbergpalais, Baja California, Mexico, Valle, Mexican, Valle de Guadalupe, Canada, Banff, Brisbane, Australia, Brisbane ., Dios, Peru, Casa, Andina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peruvian, Folegandros, Greece, Santorini, –, Hoxton Vienna, Austria, Hoxton, Vienna, Ennismore, Landstrasse, Sainte, Marie, Madagascar, Aman Nai, Bangkok, Thailand, Aman, Nai Lert, Thai capital’s, Rome, Naples, starchitect, New Jersey, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, Morocco, Coast, Darwin, Larrakia, Northern Territory

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Hotels in Argentina and Uruguay reportedly rejected reservations for Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters over accusations of antisemitism leveled at the British singer known for his pro-Palestinian views. Hotels in Montevideo, in neighboring Uruguay, also refused to host him but did not provide a reason, a Pagina 12 story on Wednesday quoted Waters as saying. And I can’t go (…) because the Israeli lobby and whatever they call themselves have canceled me,” Waters told Pagina 12. Political Cartoons View All 1250 ImagesThe president of the Central Israelite Committee of Uruguay, Roby Schindler, sent a letter to the Sofitel hotel urging it not to host Waters, Pagina 12 said. The State Department said Waters has “a long track record of using antisemitic tropes to denigrate Jewish people.”Speaking to Pagina 12, he vehemently denied that.

Persons: Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Waters, “, José Mujica, ” Waters, Roby Schindler, ” Schindler, Glenn Greenwald, ” Organizations: RIO DE, —, Argentine, Central Israelite, U.S, State Department Locations: RIO DE JANEIRO, Argentina, Uruguay, British, Argentina's, Buenos Aires, Hotels, Montevideo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Central, Israel

☆ Polish police cordon off Warsaw square amid reports of bomb threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Police cordoned off Warsaw's Pilsudski Square and the surrounding area of the Polish capital on Saturday, with local media reporting that a man had climbed onto a monument in the square and threatened to blow himself up. Private broadcaster Polsat News reported that at around 1130 GMT the man surrendered to police. Its footage showed him climbing down from the monument, taking off his jacket and walking away with his hands in the air. PAP said several hundred officers were involved in an operation around the square. A guest at the Sofitel hotel, which faces the square, said they had been told to only leave the building by the back exit.

Persons: Lech Kaczynski, Maria, Thomas Holdstock, Kuba Stezycki, Alan Charlish, Sharon Singleton, Helen Popper, Mark Potter Organizations: Police, Polsat, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Smolensk

☆ Man surrenders to Polish police after incident that closed Warsaw square
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Polish police negotiators persuaded a man to come down from a monument in a central Warsaw square, a spokesperson said, putting an end to an incident that had seen part of the capital cordoned off amid reports of a bomb threat. Private broadcaster Polsat News reported that at around 1130 GMT the man surrendered to police. Police spokesperson Sylwester Marczak told reporters officers had seen the man climbing onto the Smolensk monument at around 0800 GMT. quoted by the state-run PAP news agency, did not confirm the reports that the man was threatening to blow himself up. A guest at the Sofitel hotel, which faces the square, said they had been told to only leave the building by the back exit.

Persons: Sylwester Marczak, Lech Kaczynski, Maria, Thomas Holdstock, Kuba Stezycki, Alan Charlish, Sharon Singleton, Helen Popper, Mark Potter Organizations: Polish, Polsat, Police, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Warsaw, Smolensk, Poland

☆ I was scared of flying and took a course to help me. Here are 6 things every nervous passenger should know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

I took British Airways' Flying with Confidence course to help me overcome my fear of flying. And I know I'm not alone: up to 40% of Americans have a form of aerophobia, otherwise known as the fear of flying. So, in an effort to face my fears head-on, I recently attended British Airways' Flying with Confidence course. But in the same way that pilots always prepare for the worst kind of turbulence, aircraft designers do too. Breathing is keyOne of the main takeaways from the course was how to control my fear of flying through breath control.

Persons: I'm, Steve Allright, Allright, Sophia Ankel Organizations: British Airways, Heathrow Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, US Airways, Pilots Locations: London, Hudson

☆ Citi has added Accor Hotels as a transfer partner, making ThankYou points more useful for stays at brands like Fairmont, Raffles, Sofitel, and Ibis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Jasmin Baron | Credit Cards Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

You'll receive 500 Accor points for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou points you transfer (a 2:1 ratio). Examples of popular Accor brands are:Banyan TreeFairmontIbisRafflesSLSSofitelSwissotelAccor has now been added to the list of Citi ThankYou Rewards points transfer partners, bringing Citi's number of partners to a whopping 17. For every 1,000 Citi ThankYou points you transfer, you'll receive 500 Accor points. That's significantly lower than Insider's valuation of Citi ThankYou points at 1.6 cents apiece, on average. The best way to use Citi ThankYou points for maximum value is usually for award flights instead of free hotels.

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest hotel group Accor (ACCP.PA) on Thursday forecast higher revenue per available room (RevPAR) for 2023 as Chinese travelers are expected to return, after its annual core profit beat expectations on strong December activity. Hotel chains were hit hard by China's strict pandemic restrictions and are now hoping for a recovery in the Asia-Pacific region, Accor's second biggest market pre-pandemic. Boosted by demand for shorter trips, European hotel chains have seen bookings recover to levels comparable to those in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded international flights. Accor's RevPAR, a key gauge of performance for the hotel industry, last year exceeded the 2019 pre-pandemic level by 2%. It posted core profit of 675 million euros ($716.72 million) for 2022, while analysts in a Refinitiv poll had expected 640.3 million euros.

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest hotel group Accor (ACCP.PA) on Thursday forecast higher revenue per available room (RevPAR) for 2023 as Chinese travelers are expected to return, after its annual core profit beat expectations on strong December activity. Hotel chains were hit hard by China's strict pandemic restrictions and are now hoping for a recovery in the Asia-Pacific region, Accor's second biggest market pre-pandemic. The group, which runs chains such as Sofitel, Pullman and Ibis, said it expected 2023 RevPAR to increase by between 5% and 9% from the previous year. Boosted by demand for shorter trips, European hotel chains have seen bookings recover to levels comparable to those in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded international flights. It posted core profit of 675 million euros ($716.72 million) for 2022, while analysts in a Refinitiv poll had expected 640.3 million euros.

☆ Hotel group Accor beats profit estimates on strong December activity
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest hotel group Accor (ACCP.PA) on Thursday reported annual core profit ahead of market expectations and its own guidance, citing "very good" activity in December. Boosted by demand for shorter trips, European hotel chains have seen bookings recover to levels comparable to those in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded international flights. The group, which runs chains such as Sofitel, Pullman and Ibis, posted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 675 million euros ($716.72 million) for 2022, above its outlook range of 610 million to 640 million euros. Analysts on average had forecast EBITDA of 640.3 million euros in a Refinitiv poll. Accor's revenue per available room (RevPAR), a key gauge of performance for the hotel industry, came 2% above the 2019 pre-pandemic level.

☆ An ultra-luxury Orient Express superyacht featuring a 15,000-square-foot presidential suite will set sail in 2026. Take a look.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Orient Express brand is taking to the high seas with a 720-foot superyacht. The Orient Express Silenseas will have 54 suites as well as a huge presidential suite. The Accor Group, the hotel giant that also owns Sofitel, Mercure and Novotel, said the Orient Express Silenseas will be able to accommodate up to 120 guests. A rendering of the Orient Express Silenseas. Martin DarzacqThe superyacht, set to sail in 2026, is a partnership between Accor and Chantiers de l'Atlantique, a French shipbuilder.

"It's not a question of if it will happen, it's now just a matter of how many and how fast." As the Lunar New Year holiday - typically a peak travel period for Chinese tourists - starts on Jan. 21, some businesses are already gearing up. Japan, however, is being cautious about Chinese tourism due to the rapid spread of the virus in China. Australia, Germany, Thailand and others, however, said they would not impose additional rules on Chinese travel for now, with France taking to social media platform Sina Weibo to emphasise it welcomed Chinese friends "with open arms". "I suspect any meaningful rebound will have to wait until the travel boom in June or July next year."

SummarySummary Companies Q3 RevPar up 14% from same period in 2019Average pricing in Q3 was 23% above 2019 levelDemand in Asia will "correct itself"Oct 26 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest hotel group Accor (ACCP.PA) reported higher than expected third-quarter revenue per available room (RevPAR) on Wednesday, continuing a sharp improvement in activity since the start of the year after a "gorgeous" summer season. U.S. tourists travelling to Europe took advantage of the dollar's strength against the euro and other currencies, Chief Financial Officer Jean-Jacques Morin said on a call with journalists. Accor's average pricing in the third quarter has been 23% above 2019 levels, the CFO said, adding the capability to earn more fees through inflation needed to be accounted for. However, the situation in Asia will "correct itself", with recovery in China and Southeast Asian countries next year possibly making a difference to the group's performance, Morin added. ($1 = 0.9930 euros)Reporting by Diana Mandia and Dina Kartit; Editing by David Holmes, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ London, Paris, Frankfurt and beyond: CNBC names Europe's best hotels for business travel
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( Monica Buchanan Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

CNBC Travel and the market data firm Statista today release a ranking of the "Best Hotels for Business Travelers" in Europe. FrankfurtSofitel Frankfurt Opera JW Marriott Hotel Frankfurt Best Western Premier IB Hotel Friedberger Warte Le Meridien Frankfurt Steigenberger Airport Hotel FrankfurtSofitel Frankfurt Opera Source: Sofitel Frankfurt OperaThe Sofitel Frankfurt Opera is on Opera Square, or the Opernplatz, near the city's famed opera house. ParisLe Bristol Paris Les Jardins du Faubourg Kimpton - St Honore Paris Pullman Paris Center-Bercy Le MeuriceLe Bristol Paris Source: Le Bristol Paris | Claire CocanoGuests of Le Bristol Paris can count President Emmanuel Macron as a neighbor — Elysee Palace, the official residence of France's president — is just steps away. StockholmGrand Hotel Stockholm Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel Stockholm Hotel At Six Bank Hotel Lydmar HotelGrand Hotel Stockholm Source: Grand Hotel StockholmTying for No. ViennaPalais Coburg Hotel Residenz Hotel Sans Souci Wien The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna The Harmonie Vienna Grand Hotel Wien This grand hotel built in 1845 is the former home of Austrian royalty.

☆ After a month in Morocco, I can tell you the last place you want to stay is in a hotel or Airbnb
▼ + stars: | 2019-02-01 | by ( Harrison Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Take, for example, Riad Mimouna in the seaside city of Essaouira, where I stayed around New Year's. Like almost all riads — and unlike most hotels and Airbnbs in Morocco — Riad Mimouna was in the heart of the old medina of the city. The sitting room in Riad Mimouna. Harrison Jacobs/Business InsiderAs with most riads, each room of Riad Mimouna was designed differently. The seaview suite in Riad Mimouna.

Persons: —, Cyrus Bozorgmehr, Riad, Riad Mimouna, Harrison Jacobs, Mimouna, Dar Akal Organizations: Service, Fairmont, Marrakech riads, Brit, CNN, Business Locations: Morocco, Moroccan, riads, Marrakech, New York City, Essaouira, New Year's, Airbnbs, medina, Riad Mimouna, seaview, Mimouna, Fez, Dar, Dar Akal

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