LOUNGE UPDATES Qatar’s First Class Lounge in Doha Opens –

class lounge at Hamad International airport is scheduled to open at the end of April. The lounge has been delayed well beyond the opening of the airport. According to the carrier’s CEO Akbar Al Baker, the delays were the result of “very high standards and amenities” being installed.

class lounge will be restricted to those members continuing to have access to the Al Mourjan Business Class lounge. For details visit qatarairways.com for more information.

Emirates has opened its latest lounge at Los Angeles International airport. The $6.2 million facility, which is the Gulf carrier’s 37th lounge worldwide, is class passengers and to Platinum and Gold members of Emirates Skywards.

Located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, the new lounge is 9,000 square feet and seats up to 157 people. Features include free WiFi, a terrace view, a “choice of formal and relaxed seating,” a dining area, showers, a prayer room and a fully-equipped business center.

business class passengers within 60 miles of the airport.

United Airlines has announced improvements to its United Clubs with upgrades to the menu, as well as the renovation of the lounges.

The new complimentary food menu will include new morning food selections such as hot old-fashioned oatmeal with assorted toppings, scones, and assorted cereals and fresh fruit. In the afternoon, the menu includes such choices as fresh hummus with assorted toppings, Mediterranean salad, soup du jour and artisan

The new menu will be available at United Clubs in Houston, Denver, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington Dulles by the end of the summer, while all other lounges worldwide will follow by year’s end.

In addition, United will be renovating its lounges in Chicago O’Hare, Washington Reagan, Hong Kong and Tokyo Narita. The airline will also be adding new facilities in Atlanta and San Francisco, while making major changes to its lounges in Los Angeles.

“Our new fresh, tasty and healthy food offerings, overhauled service approach, and systematic investment in renovating the rest of our 49 clubs worldwide will give our customers an airport getaway for relaxing or being productive during the hustle and bustle of their travel day,” said Jimmy Samartzis, vice president of customer service.

For more information, visit united.com.

Enterprise Continues Global Expansion

Enterprise Holdings has expanded its global footprint into Central America and Australia and New Zealand. In Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua, Grupo ANC is Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s new franchise partner. The Enterprise franchise partner in Australia and New Zealand is Redspot, Australia’s largest family-owned car rental company.

In Costa Rica, airport locations are open in Liberia and San Jose. Enterprise also will open a downtown office at Momentum Lindora Plaza in San Jose. In Guatemala and Nicaragua, reservations made through Enterprise Rent-ACar channels will be served by Drive Alliance partner National Car Rental at its current airport locations in Guatemala City and Managua.

Enterprise, National and Alamo brands will debut at all major Australian airports later this year through the Redspot network, including the international gateways of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, as well as in key city centers. The Enterprise operations in New Zealand will come online in 2016.

For more information visit enterpriseholdings.com.

Slated for the Sheraton Brand

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has plans to open at least 20 new hotels under the Sheraton brand by the end of the year. In particular, strong demand across Asia-Pacific is helping to drive the brand’s growth, with Sheraton due to open more than one-third of its new hotels in the region.

Already the largest high-end hotel brand in China, Sheraton is growing in the primary cities, as well as expanding its presence in the country’s secondary and resort markets. This year, the brand will open its third hotel in Beijing, its fifth in Shanghai, and debut in five new markets including Bengbu, Chuzhou, Zhanjiang and Harbin. Altogether, there are more than 33 hotels slated to open in China over the next four years. The brand is also gearing up for 2016 openings in India and Sri Lanka.

For more information, visit starwoodhotels.com