Luxury chain Fairmont Hotels & Resorts late last year appointed as president Jennifer Fox, who previously had served as InterContinental Hotels Group's COO of managed operations in Europe. Fox recently spoke with Business Travel News lodging editor Michael B. Baker about corporate travel trends, luxury's role in corporate travel and Fairmont's growth strategy—particularly in Europe.

With the recent opening of the Corinthia Hotel London, the brand's ninth property, chairman Alfred Pisani said the brand, which began as a single property in Malta, is nearing a point of "critical mass," when it could begin a more rapid expansion with third-party development. Pisani and Corinthia board director and former CEO Tony Potter recently spoke with Business Travel News lodging editor Michael B. Baker about expansion plans and the role corporate and group business will play in Corinthia's growth.

Carlson Hotels is in the midst of a program to grow by 50 percent within the next three years its hotel portfolio to at least 1,500 hotels globally. Thorsten Kirschke, COO for Carlson Hotels in the Americas, recently updated Business Travel News lodging editor Michael B. Baker on the company's progress, recent sales growth and distribution strategy.

AirPlus International and JPMorgan Chase will target large corporations with a co-branded global payment solution, which officials said the firms would introduce to North America-based multinationals this year. The companies last week announced a strategic partnership.

About a year after U.S. Bank's Corporate Payment Systems business started to issue commercial cards in Europe, bank officials last week announced plans to expand to emerging markets. To lead the charge, the bank promoted Alan Gibson to manager of emerging markets, in addition to his role as CPS senior European officer. Gibson joined U.S. Bank in 2010 after positions with TSYS in the United Kingdom, MasterCard International in Belgium and other banks in Europe. Gibson spoke to BTN's Mary Ann McNulty about the bank's new markets, staffing, partnerships and customer demands. An excerpt follows.