Welcome to the May edition of bta first’s newsletter
The Oldest Railway Bridge
Built in 1825, the oldest railway bridge is located in Darlington, England. Spanning just over 12 meters, it crosses the River Skerne. Remarkably, the bridge is still in operation today, 201 years later. The same applies to Switzerland’s oldest railway bridge: the Waldshut–Koblenz Rhine Bridge was opened in 1859 and, following the refurbishment completed in 2025, it is planned to remain in use for another 50 to 60 years.
KrisFlyer Elite Gold Status Match
Are you considering booking more of your business trips with Singapore Airlines? For eligible top-tier members Singapore Airlines offers a Status Match review for KrisFlyer Elite Gold (KFEG) – subject to the applicable criteria.
All applications are subject to verification and evaluation by Singapore Airlines. If you would like to request the status match form and submission instructions, please contact your bta first travel representative.
Here are the benefits of Singapore Airlines Elite Gold.
Stronger Together: bta first travel and Kuoni Business Travel
With the registration in the Zurich Commercial Register on 13 May 2026, the merger of MTCH AG (Hotelplan) with DERTOUR Suisse AG became legally effective. At the same time, the gradual integration of Kuoni Business Travel into the bta first travel brand begins.
As communicated in December 2025, Kuoni Business Travel and bta first travel are joining forces and will operate under one shared brand in the future. Kuoni Business Travel will gradually be integrated into the well-established bta first travel brand, which has been active for more than 40 years.
Our collaboration with you remains unchanged:
• Existing contracts remain valid and do not require any amendments – the Merger Act governs the automatic transfer to DERTOUR Suisse AG.
• Your contacts, contact details, processes, and services remain unchanged.
• In the coming weeks, branding adjustments to bta first travel will gradually be implemented.
We sincerely thank you for your trust and look forward to continuing to support you personally with the planning of your business travel.
If you have any questions, our bta first travel teams will be happy to assist you.
New Headquarters also for bta first travel
As a result of the merger of MTCH AG (Hotelplan) into DERTOUR Suisse AG, and following a comprehensive location analysis, the decision has been made to share the headquarters in Zurich-Altstetten in the future. The move from Glattbrugg is planned for the second half of 2026 – further information will follow.
These Are the Most Luxurious Train Stations in the World – Switzerland Leads the Way
Stress, crowds, or simply grabbing a quick coffee – that is probably what many Swiss people associate with Zurich Main Station. However, a new study sees it very differently: in a global comparison, Zurich HB ranks as the absolute number one in terms of luxury.