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Richard Alvin

There is a particular kind of restlessness that comes with running one of the world's largest hotel companies, and Sébastien Bazin wears it lightly.
Interview

The world according to Sébastien Bazin: Accor’s chief on luxury, loyalty and the lure of india

By Richard Alvin · July 1, 2026
 The European Union has introduced additional flexibility into the rollout of its new Entry-Exit System (EES), effectively allowing Schengen Area countries to delay full enforcement until late summer 2026 in order to manage peak-season border pressures.
News

EU gives Schengen states flexibility on EES rollout to ease summer border queues

By Richard Alvin · February 3, 2026
 For the modern business traveller, the boundaries between work and leisure have never been blurrier. As hybrid schedules, flexible working and wellbeing-led corporate travel policies take hold, bleisure, the art of extending a work trip with leisure has shifted from perk to priority.
Bleisure

Bleisure on the fairway: why Portugal’s Algarve is Europe’s smartest golf break for business travellers

By Richard Alvin · January 5, 2026
 By the time the Twin Otter banks away and its engine noise fades into the white, Darren Edwards and his team will be alone on the coldest, driest continent on Earth.
Features

‘I think I might cry’: Darren Edwards on sit-skiing to the South Pole

By Richard Alvin · November 27, 2025
 London’s hospitality and retail sectors face a double blow: the end of VAT-free shopping for international visitors and a proposed new nightly hotel levy. Richard Alvin explores how these “tourist taxes” risk driving travellers — and their spending — away from the capital.
Opinion

Is the government intent on killing London’s hospitality sector with its duo of Tourist Taxes?

By Richard Alvin · November 25, 2025
 Sir Richard Branson has announced the death of his wife, Joan Branson, sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram confirming she has passed away after their 50 years together.
News

Sir Richard Branson announces death of his wife Joan after 50 years of marriage

By Richard Alvin · November 25, 2025
 Discover how Northern Ireland transformed over the past two decades, with Belfast’s iconic Europa Hotel at the heart of its revival
Features

History over the last 20 years: Northern Ireland’s renaissance and the enduring allure of The Europa

By Richard Alvin · October 28, 2025
 British travellers are leading Europe in early holiday planning and are set to travel more often in 2026, according to new research from Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel programme of Marriott International.
News

British travellers plan earlier and travel more as passions and “lux-scaping” shape 2026 holidays

By Richard Alvin · October 24, 2025
 A new breed of British traveller is rewriting the rules of indulgence. Forget the week-long five-star escape or the blow-out spa weekend; 2026 will be the year of the “lux-scape” — a targeted burst of affordable luxury added to an ordinary trip.
Features

Lux-scaping: How British travellers are turning smart luxury into a holiday essential

By Richard Alvin · October 24, 2025
 Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company backed by Google’s parent firm Alphabet, has confirmed plans to roll out its self-driving ride-hailing service in London in 2026, marking a major step forward in the UK’s adoption of autonomous transport.
News

Waymo set to launch autonomous ride-hailing in London in 2026

By Richard Alvin · October 21, 2025
 Few careers in hospitality capture the spirit of Mediterranean elegance and international excellence quite like Giacomo Battafarano’s.
Profiled

Getting to Know: Giacomo Battafarano, Managing Director southern area, Rocco Forte Hotels

By Richard Alvin · October 14, 2025
 Set against the stunning backdrop of UNESCO-listed Halong Bay, InterContinental Halong Bay Resort is poised to redefine luxury travel in northern Vietnam. At the helm is Jesper Larson, a seasoned Danish hotelier with over 25 years of international experience across Europe and Asia.
Profiled

Getting to Know: Jesper Larsen, General Manager, Intercontinental Halong Bay Resort

By Richard Alvin · October 1, 2025