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Marriott International has announced that members on its Bonvoy loyalty program can now earn points via Uber, in an effort to diversify the hotel brand's loyalty offering amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the partnership, Bonvoy members can earn points toward free nights at Marriott properties, including home rentals, by ordering food delivery via Uber Eats or requesting select Uber rides. The perk is available in the United States, and those who sign up and have at least one qualifying transaction by May 31 will get 2,000 Bonvoy bonus points.

The country's government has announced an easing of the required COVID-19 quarantine period for fully vaccinated visitors from 14 days to seven days as part of an updated, phased approach to health protocols that aim to revitalise the island's economy. In addition from 1 July, all visitors entering Anguilla must be vaccinated; fees and quarantine requirements will be removed, although a negative COVID-19 test undertaken three to five days prior to arrival will still be required.

The airline has announced that it is planning to make Denver its newest U.S. gateway destination, with a three times per week service planned from 2 July; however, this is subject to the status of travel restrictions. If successful, the flight route would operate through to 29 October. In total, Air France hopes to serve 12 U.S. destinations this summer pending the easing of travel restrictions between the U.S. and France. The other 11 cities are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Washington.

The country's government has said that it will ease COVID-19 restrictions in many areas from 26 April, after strict curbs on business and movement have been in place for most of this year. From this date, the more lenient 'yellow' and 'white' zone classifications will be reinstated where infection levels are low - in these areas restaurants and bars will be able to serve clients at outside tables, and cinemas and theatres will reopen with attendance limits.

The country's prime minister announced in parliament on 13 April that France will shortly suspend all flights to and from Brazil in a bid to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 variant first detected there; services will be suspended until 'further notice'.

The country's government has announced that it will open its borders to COVID-19 vaccinated tour groups from 23 May; Israel has been closed to tourism since the start of the pandemic, and this announcement is part of an initiative to begin re-opening to travellers under a phased approach. Individual travellers will be welcomed in a later phase, likely to be in July, but is still to be determined. Visitors must undergo a COVID-19 PCR test before boarding their flight to Israel, and upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport must also undergo a serological test to prove their vaccination status.

The German low-cost airline, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, has announced that from July it will launch three new flight connections from its hub in Dusseldorf; this includes services to Russia for the first time – to Ekaterinburg in Siberia and Krasnodar in southern Russia. There will also be departures to Georgian capital Tbilisi.

The mayor of Colombia's capital of Bogota has announced that the city will repeat a three-day lockdown this weekend, 16-18 April, in a bid to slow COVID-19 infections; a similar lockdown last weekend has helped slow the transmission of the virus, reportedly. Residents must stay at home on Friday through to Sunday, and limits on when people can shop based on their ID number will continue.

The low-cost airline has announced today, 14 April, that it plans to resume flying at scale from late May 2021 onwards; easyJet said that most countries were planning to resume flying at scale in May, and it expected a ramp up from late May. It said that overall in its April to end of June quarter it would fly up to 20% of 2019 capacity levels.

The airline's regional British subsidiary, BA CityFlyer, has announced the launch of two new routes from London City Airport to Jersey and Gibraltar from 25 June; two flights per week will operate on Mondays and Fridays - offering important air links for business travellers, holiday makers and those visiting friends and relatives as COVID-19 regulations ease, as well as for cargo.

The country's government has announced that it will start to ease some restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and allow more people to gather from 16 April; residents will again be allowed to receive up to five guests in private homes, up from two currently, and restaurants can serve alcohol under certain conditions. A maximum of 100 people will be allowed to attend indoor events in for example theatres and sports arenas, provided there are fixed seating arrangements, and groups of up to 200 people can attend outdoor events.

The UK government has once again signalled intentions to ease restrictions on international travel from 17 May; a ‘traffic light’ system will categorise countries as red, amber or green, based on COVID-19 risk alongside restrictions required for travel. Presently, there is only a red list, which includes most countries in the sub-Saharan region, among others. Amber and green lists are yet to be compiled.

The Dubai-based airline has announced that, in line with Bangladesh government directives, passenger flights to and from Bangladesh are to be suspended with effect from 14 April 2021 until 20 April 2021; customers travelling to and from Dhaka will not be accepted for travel. The last flight Emirates will operate before the temporary suspension of services is EK585 that is scheduled to depart from Dhaka at 01.40 (local time) on 14 April.

The island-nation's government has announced that effective 8 May, COVID-19 vaccinated travelers entering Barbados will benefit from a reduced quarantine time after they arrive, if they can provide a vaccination certificate from AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. However, even vaccinated visitors still must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of three days prior to travel, take a second PCR test upon arrival and use designated transportation to their approved accommodation.

The government of the British oversea territory has issued a stay-at-home order from 05.00 (local time) on 13 April to 20 April due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, primarily attributed to the U.K. variant of the virus. Essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and COVID-19 testing and vaccine centres will however remain open. Guests at Bermuda hotels and resorts will not be permitted to leave the properties but can move about the premises; masks and social distancing are also required.

The airline has announced that it has removed all mileage expirations in its loyalty program; 'HawaiianMiles' members previously had to post account activity at least every 18 months in order to preserve their miles - although such requirements were already suspended for most of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government of the devolved UK administration of Scotland announced today, 13 April, that it plans to ease some COVID-19 lockdown restrictions for domestic travel and outdoor meetings ten days earlier than expected on 16 April. People will be permitted to travel anywhere within Scotland to see family and friends for outdoor meetings, and those meetings can from 16 April take place with six people from up to six households rather than four from two households.

The country's government announced yesterday, 11 April, that current COVID-19 'lockdown' measures including a night-time curfew will now remain in place until 28 April; the announcement followed the news of daily virus infections rising to a two-week high. Previously, the country's government had said they were looking at easing restrictions on 21 April by lifting the curfew and allowing bars and restaurants to welcome guests in outdoor spaces.

The government of Hong Kong announced today, 12 April, that it plans to loosen some COVID-19 restrictions locally for vaccinated residents from 29 April. Bars and pubs, which are currently closed, will be allowed to resume operations in phases provided all staff and customers have been vaccinated. Visitation to public hospitals and care homes could also be permitted for vaccinated people.

The government of Bangladesh has announced that it will suspend all international and domestic passenger flights between the 14-20 of April following a spike in COVID-19 infections. More than 500 flights will be cancelled, including chartered helicopter flights. However, exceptions will be made for medical evacuations and humanitarian relief.