Cathay Pacific Airways announced a fifth daily return flight between its Hong Kong hub and London Heathrow, scheduled to debut in June 2013, including their new long-haul Business Class, winner of the Skytrax Best Business Class in the world award.

The new "Crossover Rewards" program will be the travel industry's only program that lets frequent travelers obtain seamless VIP perks. The new joint program will provide reciprocal benefits to members of both organizations' loyalty programs. The program allows members to earn additional miles and Starpoints and share program benefits. Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Diamond members will receive priority check-in, late (4 p.m.) checkout, and free in-room Internet access at Starwood hotels. All Delta Medallion members will earn one dollar per mile spent at Starwood above and beyond any Starpoints earned. Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum members will receive one free checked bag, priority check-in, and priority boarding when flying on Delta. SPG members with elite status will earn one Starpoint per dollar spent on flights on Delta in addition to SkyMiles earned. Link your SPG and Delta SkyMiles accounts here: Skymiles Crossover Rewards 

Airports are increasingly getting wise to the needs of their passengers and  becoming more and more defined by their amenities. 

Last year, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport now ensures every one of their restaurants had a low-fat, "healthy heart" option and introduced a 700-meter walking path and opened a yoga studio free for passengers. They were also one of the first airports to create a mobile app that can help users find a parking space, check out the nearest concessions, and use GPS to map the closest stores and food outlets. Hong Kong International is known for its nine-hole course, visitors to Seoul can take a spin on the ice skating rink at Incheon Airport, while travelers can take in an art exhibit or a classical piano lesson while on layover in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

Arguably, Singapore's Changi Airport spearheaded the trend back in the mid-1990s, when it introduced a rooftop swimming pool and free internet terminals. In recent years, Changi has continued to innovate, implementing a 24-hour complimentary movie theater, free gaming rooms as well as foot massage and napping stations. Two of their more off-beat recent additions include the world's largest kinetic sculpture and an indoor slide. Within a few years, the majority of airport revenue will likely be non-aeronautical.

While most business travelers still use car, limousine and shuttle van services provided by their hotel, there are a growing number of options.The Affinia Dumont and Shelburne hotels in Manhattan offer complimentary bikes, complete with helmets and front baskets to stow briefcases. Business travelers use the bikes to maintain their fitness regimen on the road, do some sightseeing and to commute to meetings, said Alex Spektor, general manager at the Dumont. "Some tell me that biking to the meeting instead of riding in the back of a taxi helps them arrive with a clear mind," he said.

Four Seasons hotels in Mumbai and Guangzhou also lend bicycles to guests, along with guidance about which roads to ride. For guests who want to move a bit faster, the Four Seasons Florence rents Vespas and the Circus Hotel in Berlin offers hourly and daily Segway rentals to its guests.

To transport guests to and from the airport, the luxury Peninsula hotel chain prefers Rolls-Royces whenever possible. However, their property in Bangkok features four riverboats and a tuk tuk, a three-wheeled open-air taxi outfitted with Wi-Fi, drinking water and cold towels. Helicopters can take guests to and from the airport from the Peninsula hotels in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Manila. The Peninsulas in Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York and Chicago offer Mini Cooper cars free to guests who book suites. At the Four Seasons in Los Angeles, guests who book the most expensive suites have free use of a car like a Maserati or Lamborghini. Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has rolled out "Meetings on Wheels," an eight-passenger Mercedes van outfitted with electrical outlets, Wi-Fi and plasma screen TVs so groups can get business done while sitting in Los Angeles traffic. The AKA brand, with properties in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and other locations, offers hourly or daily car rental at its properties through Zipcar and includes insurance, gas and reserved parking to streamline the rental process.

New York Times-Seasoned business travelers are used to booking a place to sleep. But a couch in the lobby? Hotel lobbies, business centers and the open space around meeting areas have long functioned as places to meet, network and get work done. Now, some hotels are starting to manage visitors' previously ad hoc use of seats, tables and nooks-and, in some cases, charging for it. Marriott offers what it calls Workspace on Demand at roughly three dozen Marriott Hotels & Resorts. Starwood Hotels & Resorts' Westin brand has introduced a similar concept of small-scale, nontraditional work space at two American hotels, in Boston and Arlington, Va., and at a hotel in Munich. Aside from wireless Internet and a casual atmosphere, the appeal of these spaces is that they are available on demand. Most reservations are made within 48 hours.

New research from the U.S. Travel Association shows that travel has a very positive effect on relationships, with 63% of those surveyed saying a weekend getaway is more likely to spark romance than gifts.

Among highlights of the survey: 

• While almost two-thirds saw travel as way to rekindle romance, while only 15% rated getting big gifts like jewelry as important to improving romance.
• More than 80% of those who travel as couples say the romance is alive in their relationships.
• Seven in ten couples believe traveling inspires romance.
• More than three quarters who travel as couples say they have a good sex life, compared to 63% who do not travel together. And 28% say their sex life improved after traveling together - and, of those, 40% say sex together is permanently better after travel.

Later this year, U.S. Travel will release three research reports on the effect of travel on business, health and education.

The 21 Club Restaurant

Book the 21 Club through your Protravel agent and receive preferred reservations, a complimentary cocktail, and a tour of the legendary wine cellar (based on availability.)