The week in business: 1 April
Africa and North America priority for Brussels Airlines when airport opens, Kinepolis must sell two Utopolis cinemas and an overview of the rest of the week's business news
Air – Brussels Airlines
Cinemas – Kinepolis
Cinema chain Kinepolis must sell off two cinemas belonging to Utopolis in order for its takeover of Utpolis to be approved by competition authorities. The cinemas, in Mechelen and Aarschot, need to be sold to prevent the new group becoming too dominant.
Fitness – Basic Fit
The Basic Fit chain is the latest to sign on to consumer affairs minister Kris Peeters’ code of conduct for fitness centres, bringing the number to 320 out of a total of 800 in the country. The code covers matters like automatic prolonging of membership and the ability to rescind a contract on medical advice.
Hotels – BHA
The Brussels Hotel Association has called for the government to take urgent measures as hotel occupancy in Brussels dropped below 20% during the Easter holidays, following the terrorist attacks and the closure of Brussels Airport.
Retail – Metro
Germany’s Metro group, parent company of Makro and Media Markt, is to split in two, the company said. Metro will continue to operate wholesale and food activities, including Makro, while consumer electronics – Media Markt and Saturn – will be hived off under a new company.
Temping – Accent Jobs
Management at the temp agency has succeeded in convincing its staff not to stand in union elections. As the deadline for nominations passed, no-one from Accent had put their name forward, earning each member of the company’s 800-strong workforce a new smartphone and an extra day’s holiday.
About the author
