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The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is in talks with The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Egypt (TSFE) about the deal, said two sources with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be named. The fund is considering acquiring a stake of up to 30% in the hotels, the sources said, without naming them. Relations between Egypt and Qatar soured in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia has led efforts to rebuild ties with Qatar and, along with Egypt, re-established diplomatic relations in 2021. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Baghdad in August 2021 for the first time since ending the dispute.

Persons: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, St Regis Saadiyat, Egypt's TSFE, Agatha Christie's, Hosni Mubarak, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Hadeel El, Andrew Mills, Patrick Werr, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Abu, Abu Dhabi Executive Council, St Regis, United, United Arab Emirates, Read, Qatar Investment Authority, Sovereign Wealth Fund of Egypt, Regional, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Qatar, United Arab, DUBAI, Harrods, London, Aswan, Saudi Arabia, Thani, Baghdad, Ukraine, Hadeel El Sayegh, Dubai, Doha, Cairo

ZURICH/BERLIN/LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Urs Kessler, who runs Jungfrau Railways, a train that takes tourists up the highest mountain in Switzerland, was excited for the return of Chinese tourists after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted late last year. Chinese outbound flight bookings to Europe during March and August are only 32% that of pre-pandemic levels, according to travel data firm ForwardKeys. OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTUREMany tourist operators and retailers hope the second half will bring a relaxation in visa policies, more flights and the long-expected influx of Chinese tourists. Harrods launched branded stickers, including its iconic teddy bear, on China's popular WeChat messaging platform this year to attract Chinese tourists. Kessler believes his Lang Lang campaign was still worth it.

To compound the problem, British shoppers are themselves starting to spend more in the European Union, where they can also reclaim the value-added tax (VAT) charged on goods. OWN GOALBurberry BRBY.L, Britain's biggest luxury retail brand, warned last year that London was losing out to other European cities over the VAT rule. "That's why tax-free was so important for them, and now we are the only country in Europe that doesn't offer it." Cadogan, the main landlord in the west London districts of Chelsea and Knightsbridge, whose estate spans over 90 acres, also called on the government to act. He said he had not considered the VAT issue before, because he was generally spending his parents' money.

☆ China's luxury shoppers free to travel, but many buy locally
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Alessandro Diviggiano | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

As a result, Chinese residents have rushed to travel overseas. read moreDespite this, some experts argue that an increasing portion of China's luxury spending will remain inside the country's borders, even though consumers can now travel freely. "A portion (of luxury shoppers) will go back to the original pre-COVID overseas consumption," Yan said. "But, I think the local (luxury market) will be also important for most of the brands." Reporting by Alessandro Diviggiano in Sanya, writing by Josh Horwitz in Shanghai; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Premium sneakers marketplace The Edit LDN just raised $4.8 million in a round backed by PJ Tucker and Xavier McKinney. Check out the 14-slide deck it used to raise the funds.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A startup operating a marketplace for premium sneakers has raised $4.8 million from Regah Ventures. London-based The Edit LDN connects luxury sneaker sellers to buyers such as Premier League players. A startup that has built an online marketplace for premium and limited-edition sneakers has raised a $4.8 million seed round from Regah Ventures. London-based The Edit LDN, which launched in 2020, connects resellers of collectible sneakers to buyers via its online platform. The Edit LDN claims to set itself apart from competitors through its product curation, speed, and customer experience.

PARIS/MILAN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Gucci kicked off Milan fashion week on Friday with a lineup of slouchy, androgynous menswear styles, forging ahead with its latest collection while the industry waits for owner Kering (PRTP.PA) to name a new designer for the label. The question of who will steer Gucci's creative direction loomed over the megabrand's first men's show in the Italian fashion capital in three years. Events run through Jan. 17, drawing an audience that includes major retail buyers sizing up which styles might be future top sellers. Gucci held back on marketing investments during the pandemic, while larger rival LVMH's two biggest labels Louis Vuitton and Dior pushed ahead, a move that analysts say helped them gain ground on rivals. Despite the current turbulence at Kering, however, expectations are high given the group's strong track record nurturing brands, analysts say.

☆ U.K. Braces for Biggest Strikes in Years Over the Holiday Period
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Max Colchester | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Unions in the U.K. argue that workers can’t afford to see their inflation-adjusted wages fall. LONDON—The U.K. is set to face some of the worst strikes in at least a decade, raising fears that a “winter of discontent” will hit the country as workers push for bigger pay raises amid double-digit inflation and a gloomy economic outlook. University professors, teachers, railway staff and even security guards at the luxury department store Harrods have held strikes recently. Nurses for Britain’s state health service are threatening their first-ever strike on selected days near Christmas and ambulance drivers have also voted to walk out, for the first time in 30 years. Passport-control officials also announced a strike in December at several U.K. airports.

☆ Qatar reviewing London investments after transport ads ban -FT
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Qatar has launched a review of its investments in London after the city’s transport authority this week banned the Gulf state’s tourism advertisements on the capital’s buses, taxis and Underground train system, Saturday’s Financial Times reported. The paper said the move by Transport for London (TfL) was triggered by concerns over the soccer World Cup host’s stance on LGBT+ rights and its treatment of migrant workers. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) owns Harrods, the department store, the Shard skyscraper and is co-owner of Canary Wharf. TfL said advertising which promotes travel to Qatar, tourism in Qatar, or portrays Qatar as a desirable destination would not be considered acceptable. Under the spotlight as it hosts the World Cup, Qatar has defended itself against criticism, saying it is a welcoming country that does not discriminate against people and has denied accusations of abuse of workers.

Climate activists across Europe and the United States blocked entrances to airports Thursday to protest emissions from the aviation industry and call for a ban on private jets. Activists with three groups — Extinction Rebellion, Scientist Rebellion and Guardian Rebellion — descended on the airport terminals as part of organized actions in at least 13 countries. In the U.S., activists gathered at King County International Airport in Seattle and blocked entrances to a private jet terminal at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina and at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. The activists targeted private jets because they represent the contributions of the ultrarich — and their lifestyles — to global greenhouse gas emissions. “The planet is on fire and people are still flying private jets.

[1/5] Gingerbread themed decorations presented as part of ‘The Fabulous World of Dior’ installation hang from the facade of the Harrods store in London, Britain, November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Henry NichollsLONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - French fashion label Christian Dior kicked off the holiday shopping season in London on Thursday, unveiling a Christmas spectacle at Harrods – with tennis star Emma Raducanu presiding over the event. The LVMH-owned (LVMH.PA) brand outlined the London department store's façade with lights, emblazoning the entrance with an enormous star and filling the windows with sugar sculptures and merchandise. The elaborate holiday set up comes as the luxury sector grows strongly, with wealthy locals and deep-pocketed tourists splashing out on designer fashion despite soaring prices. Reporting by Hanna Rantala and Mimosa Spencer, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Insider asked 12 top VCs what ad and marketing tech companies excited them the most this year. Check out the 19 most promising adtech startups, and what they do that makes them unique. It hopes to raise a Series A funding round in the coming months. Emperia is currently raising its next funding round. Why it's on the list: Tech companies are being scrutinized for their wasting energy consumption, and the digital advertising industry is no exception.

☆ Cinemas will screen the Queen's funeral. Here's what else is open on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Anna Cooban | Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London (CNN Business) Much of Britain will come to a standstill on Monday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II . A company spokesperson told CNN Business that its venues would open on Monday "for communities to gather to mourn and reflect together on the life of the Queen." Travelodge, which has 78 budget hotels in London, said its staff were working "around the clock" in preparation for the Queen's funeral. Most major supermarkets — which normally remain open on public holidays for a reduced number of hours — are planning to close for the funeral. Apple AAPL confirmed to CNN Business that it would close all of its 39 stores in the country on Monday.

☆ Cinemas are screening the Queen's funeral. Here's what else is open on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Anna Cooban | Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London (CNN Business) Much of Britain came to a standstill on Monday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II . A company spokesperson told CNN Business that its venues would open on Monday "for communities to gather to mourn and reflect together on the life of the Queen." Travelodge, which has 78 budget hotels in London, said its staff were working "around the clock" in preparation for the Queen's funeral. Most major supermarkets — which normally remain open on public holidays for a reduced number of hours — are planning to close for the funeral. Apple AAPL confirmed to CNN Business that it would close all of its 39 stores in the country on Monday.

☆ British business is grinding to a halt on Monday for the Queen's funeral, with most big chains closing
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Supermarkets, fast food chains, gas stations, and cinemas across Britain will close on Monday. Sign up for our newsletter to receive our top stories based on your reading preferences — delivered daily to your inbox. Gas stations operated by the supermarket chains will also close, with some reopening after 5pm. KFC will also close many of its restaurants until after the funeral has taken place, it said on its website. The British Retail Consortium has published a list of chains not opening on Monday here.

☆ King Charles: How Duchy Originals became a top organic food brand
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In the year through March 2021, Duchy Originals earned nearly £3.6 million ($4.1 million) before taxes. Control of the Duchy Originals brand is up in the air during a period of national mourning culminating in the Queen’s state funeral on Monday. Packets of Prince Charles' brand of products line shelves at a Waitrose supermarket in central London. The first Duchy Originals product was an oaten biscuit sold in 1992. Johnny Green/Pool/ReutersCharles has access to vast personal wealth through his portfolio of land and property, but he has never directly profited from the Duchy Originals business.

☆ I made $500,000 in revenue in under 2 years from my candle business. Here's how I did it without any paid ads.
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-10 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Gaby Jones, 26, made her first candle in 2020 after she and her partner bought $725 of materials. Here's how Jones grew her business by scoring major department-store deals, as told to Kiera Fields. I made a basic website for "Caia Candle" on Squarespace and put the website live in June 2020. We hired our operations manager in January 2021 to oversee the London studio so I could focus on the business side of things. We want to develop deep DTC branding, so we are using the money to get content creation, paid ads, website updates, and more staff.

☆ I started my business after struggling to sell my best watch as a cash-strapped student. Now, I resell luxury watches worth up to $7.6 million.
▼ + stars: | 2021-11-10 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Silas Walton struggled to sell his watch as a student when he was strapped for cash. It sparked the idea of an online watch resellerI wanted to offer a smooth system for clients buying and selling via the platform. Coincidentally, a friend of my family happened to sell watches. I wanted to pitch him my idea, but I decided to pitch it to an online watch forum first. Six years ago, if you bought independent watches, you were expected to lose money.

☆ «Новый бургер от Гордона Рамзи стоимостью 8000 рублей» — что в нем «такого» рассказал сам шеф Рамзи
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Mld Media Srl | ) noi.md time to read: +2 min

На прошлой неделе 54— летняя звезда «Адской Кухни» объявил в видео в Twitter, что теперь открыты заказы в его новом ресторане «Gordon Ramsay Burger» в лондонском универмаге Harrods. «Вкус Америки без трансатлантического путешествия», — говорит Harrods о новом ресторане. «Я абсолютно заплачу 106 долларов (8000 рублей) за гамбургер, если Рамзи подойдет ко мне и накричит на меня», — пошутил один человек в Твиттере. В ресторане также будут молочные коктейли, смешанные с пудингом, а также вегетарианские и веганские блюда, куриные крылышки Hellfire и картофель фри с трюфелем. «Я много лет совершенствовал гамбургеры в Америке, и теперь в Harrods мы выходим на новый уровень», — продолжил Рамзи.

Persons: Gordon Ramsay Burger, Рамзи Organizations: Gordon Ramsay Burger » Harrods, Harrods, Адская Кухня, Твиттер Locations: —, Harrods, Великобритания, ЛасВегаса, Америка, США

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