Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2015 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

BACKGROUND Fairmont’s debut in Indonesia came as recently as 2014, with an all-suite and villa property in Bali. Another Fairmont is scheduled to open on the holiday island in 2016. Earlier this year, the brand became the flagship hotel in Senayan Square – a one-stop complex in Jakarta’s business district, where the Fairmont Jakarta was soft-opened in January and officially launched in August. WHAT’S IT LIKE? You know you’re in a prestigious part of town when you spot a fleet of black Mercedes-Benz from the Silver Bird taxi service in the driveway. The lobby is magnificent and expansive, with the Barong Bar to the right and the Peacock Lounge to the left. After the luggage x-ray and security check, which is carried out with the utmost courtesy and is a…

Co-ordinating Changi’s daily operations, which incorporates more than 200 organisations and 40,000 staff, is a tough call, but one relished by Steve Lee Hee Kwang, CAG’s chief information officer and senior vice president, technology corporate IT and technology. With a passion for analytics, Lee has introduced a variety of systems with catchy acronyms based on a simple concept. “The idea is we take feedback and collaborate with our partners to constantly improve our service with a common IT system so that everyone in the 200 organisations can see the same picture,” he explains. This translates to innovative touchscreens scattered throughout Changi for passengers to register their iconic smiley or sad face on everything from toilet cleanliness to immigration services. It’s empowering and it enables instant feedback to areas (e.g. a…

Seoul has stolen the limelight as an international conference and events destination in recent years. While in 2008, it was rated 17th as a global events centre by the Union of International Associations, by 2010 it had sprung to 5th place, where it has remained ever since. This is undoubtedly related to a number of projects that have helped to transform the city into a magnet for meeting planners. The obvious name to drop is Coex, the city’s unofficial main space, located in the fashionable Gangnam district – and forming part of the much-lauded MICE cluster. The massive arena holds four exhibition halls, a convention hall, 54 meeting rooms, and sits astride Asia’s largest underground shopping mall. Major conferences have included the G20 Summit in 2010 and the Nuclear Security…

Business travellers are often faced with planning events in unfamiliar locations, or arranging last-minute meetings with new contacts. At The Westin Bund Centre Shanghai, travellers can rest assured that a choice of comfortable, well-equipped meeting facilities are ready to fulfil their every need. Boasting a prime location, the 26-storey hotel is situated near the historic Bund, strategically placing it within a 5-minute walk of Shanghai’s magnificent waterfront and key business districts. In an area where building heights are restricted, The Westin Bund Centre Shanghai offers fabulous city views, with glimpses of the Huangpu River. Meeting and banquet venues cover 1,842 square metres in total, ideal for all kinds of functions. The Diamond Ballroom and 17 function rooms are located on Level 2, 3 and 5, and include a newly-renovated Topaz…

It’s a unique feature of this city that you can, within minutes of leaving the airport, be driving through a wildlife reserve in the company of lions, ostrich and giraffe. Set against a skyline of hazy blue towers, the 117 sq km Nairobi National Park is a tranquil stop-off for anyone with free time before or after meetings. You can either do a self-drive or guided tour (recommended) with Gamewatchers Safaris. Arriving on a Sunday morning, I opt for an overnight stay in the reserve’s camp. There are nine well-appointed tents for guests with comfy king-size beds, electric lighting and zip-up en suite bathrooms. There are proper toilets, too, but if you want to have a shower you have to book a slot and staff will fill the tank outside…

ASIA-PACIFIC China Shanghai International Arts Festival Shanghai, China October 16-November 16 This is one of the largest art festivals in China, a month of music, dance, theatre and exhibitions including a Chinese version of the play War Horse and a performance by the Taiwan Philharmonic this year. Ticket prices vary and are available online. artsbird.com Sculpture by the sea, Bondi Sydney, Australia October 22-November 8 The 19th annual Bondi exhibition will transform the 2km coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama Beach into a sculpture park, showcasing more than 100 sculptures by local and international artists from more than 40 countries. As one of the largest outdoor art exhibitions in the world, Sculpture by the Sea attracts an annual attendance of approximately 500,000 people. To learn more about the…

1 SYDNEY FISH MARKET Get started with some fresh seafood. Sydney Fish Market is the third-largest in the world, trading an average of 50 tonnes of seafood every day.You can find a wide range of oceanic treasures including mussels, crabs, yellow fin tuna, lobsters and oysters. Chefs are on hand to prepare your catch into delicious sashimi, or cook in a style of your choice, which you can enjoy sitting outside the market, overlooking Blackwattle Bay. However, beware the“flying thieves” (seagulls) who will steal your food given half a chance! The site features numerous restaurants and cafés, a bakery, gourmet deli, greengrocer, bottle shop, fishing supplies store and gift shop. Open 7am-4pm daily, Fri-Sun until 5pm; Bank Street, Pyrmont, NSW 2009; sydneyfishmarket.com.au 2 PITT STREET MALL AND SYDNEY TOWER EYE…

Guests come away from the Gran Meliá Jakarta with the feeling that the award-winning, five-star luxury hotel in the capital’s Golden Triangle area is an urban oasis. The great impressions when arriving and viewing the stunning architecture and the greenery of the lobby continue at the high level of service, luxury and exquisite F&B offerings. That service is underlined by the timeless luxury and avant garde flair of the Gran Meliá brand’s Red Glove service. High-quality service, superb facilities and F&B are values integral to Gran Meliá Jakarta, one of Meliá Hotels International’s high-end brands. Meliá is Spain’s leading hotelier with 350 hotels worldwide, so business travellers are assured of high standards. Harmony with the local culture and environment is also assured throughout, from that hand-on-heart Red Glove greeting through…

CHECK-IN My flight from San Francisco to Taipei was scheduled to take off at 0140. Having arrived at San Francisco International Airport’s International Terminal early at 2200, I made my way to the China Airlines check-in counter, where I was assigned my boarding pass. I proceeded to the security checkpoint at 2210 and was cleared within five minutes. BOARDING Flight CI003 began boarding procedures at 0050, with priority given to business class passengers, Skyteam Elite/Elite Plus cardholders, as well as Gold, Emerald and Paragon members of China Airlines’ Dynasty Flyer programme. THE SEAT Premium economy represents a new class type by China Airlines, and the carrier has delivered a product that represents a significant step up from an excellent economy offering on the B777-300ER. Taiwanese designer Ray Chen has incorporated…

BACKGROUND Amara Bangkok is the upscale Singapore brand’s first foray into Thailand, managed by Amara Hotels & Resorts, Singapore. Amara debuted in Singapore in 1986 with Amara Singapore and broadened its scope with Amara Sanctuary Resort, Sentosa in 2007. The hotel underwent a soft launch back in March but had its official launch in July. Amara Signature Shanghai is scheduled to open next year. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The city escape concept incorporates elements of Thai culture with the brand’s Singaporean heritage. The hotel’s exterior highlights 597 timber ‘fins’ that create a sedate and sophisticated feel. Inside, the spacious foyer is filled with natural light and a warm welcome from staff exudes that special Thai hospitality. Concierge facilities are excellent and well versed on everything from local transport knowledge to the…

The management of funds can be a tricky business for travellers. Questions are raised every time there’s a need to travel overseas: How much foreign currency should one carry? Where’s the best place to convert cash? And when is it advantageous to use credit cards? The front pages of Asian newspapers in recent weeks have been dominated by reports of the depreciation of the renminbi after China’s central bank devalued the currency, resulting in its greatest one-day loss in two decades. The effects of a 3 per cent decline in the value of the renminbi over the course of three days was also felt in other foreign financial markets, and sent Asian currencies tumbling. It’s a demonstration of how quickly things can change and, in a region where cash is…

Security is tight as I arrive at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) – we are stopped at the gates while guards search the jeep, scan underneath it and ask who I am meeting. After a couple of calls I am able to walk through the airport-style metal detector to the car park, where my contact is waiting. Extra precautions are being taken as President Uhuru Kenyatta (son of former premier Jomo Kenyatta, after whom the centre is named) is paying a visit. I’m here to interview Fred Simiyu, the KICC’s managing director, but am spontaneously whisked into one of the auditoriums to hear the president speak at the Forum for Young Women Entrepreneurs. The room is bedecked in the red, black, white and green of the Kenyan flag, with…

Our packed train is chugging slowly up the Alishan Forest Railway, straining under throngs of standing Chinese tourists, in order to catch the sunrise behind the 3,952-metre Yushan (Jade) Mountain opposite, the tallest peak in east Asia. It’s 5.20am and I rose two hours earlier – which must be a record for anything work related, at least outside an airport – along with most of the guests at the remote Alishan House. Catching the sunrise is one of the 139-room hotel’s key draws and there can’t be many properties that tick to such a nocturnal beat. Walking bleary eyed into the busy lobby, I thought someone had pressed the fire alarm. The sunrise took all of 20 minutes and once it was up, normality soon returned and we all ambled…

OLD SPRING MOON Spring Moon is the Cantonese restaurant of The Peninsula Hong Kong, established in 1986. The area is designed with stained glass, wood panelling and flooring, and Art Deco features, creating a vintage feel that is fitting for such a veteran establishment. Special features include a tea counter offering more than 25 Chinese teas, complete with trained tea masters and Chef’s Table dining in the kitchen with a front-row seat to the kitchen action. Led by chef Frankie Tang, the restaurant offers an extensive menu featuring the best of traditional Cantonese specialities, including an array of seafood, dim sum and the acclaimed XO sauce made from a secret recipe. Dim sum at the outlet is a timeless classic, where diners can indulge on expertly crafted favourites from steamed…

BACKGROUND Singapore Airlines (SIA) invested about US$80 million in launching its new premium economy product on the nation’s 50th anniversary (SG50). The product will gradually be introduced on 19 A380s, 19 B777-300ERs and 20 A350s. It was first launched on flights to Sydney, Hong Kong and London in August, with destinations such as Frankfurt, New York and Shanghai to follow. CHECK-IN Having departed from Hong Kong with a four-hour stopover in Singapore, I didn’t need to check-in again, as I’d already been issued with my ticket on flight SQ221 to Sydney in Hong Kong. BOARDING My flight was scheduled to depart at 2015 and was parked at Gate B7 at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3. Every passenger is required to undergo a security scan and passport check before entering the boarding…

Planning ahead is embedded in the Singaporean psyche, and nowhere is this more evident than at the city-state’s front door – Changi Airport, a shining example of long-term development in anyone’s book. Back in 1975, when the decision to build Changi was made, planners included large parcels of reclaimed land that have since lain fallow awaiting development options. Terminal 1 opened on July 1, 1981, followed by T2 in 1991 and T3 in 2008. The airport was corporatised the following year and Changi Airport Group formed, which subsidises airport operations from the profits it makes from retail. CAG chief executive officer Lee Seow Hiang says that despite a challenging operating environment in the 2014/15 financial year, Changi Airport maintained passenger traffic of 54 million for the year. “Net operating revenue…

Since opening on September 14, 1990, the five-star Conrad Hong Kong has provided travellers visiting Hong Kong with access to a world of luxury and inspired travel experiences. Patrons visiting the Conrad Hong Kong this year are set to experience an unforgettable affair, as the hotel commemorates 25 Years of Prestige with a series of special events and promotions. First up is a spectacular gourmet celebration, guest-starring a series of world-renowned chefs. Having already had three Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy visit back in September, the hotel will also welcome two-starred Korean chef Jung Sik Yim from October 15 to 17, and one-star Japanese chef Shinya Maeda from November 4 to 7 – both of who will create special multi-course menus for lunch and dinner. Also on offer is a new…

East Africa’s regional hub, Jomo Kenyatta International (JKIA), is about 50 minutes’ drive from downtown, traffic permitting. Since the arrivals terminal caught fire in 2013, a temporary facility has been created in the ground level of the JKIA Parking Garage. Kenya Airways’ Terminal 1A opened last year, and the new Chinese-made prefab Terminal 2, which has an annual passenger capacity of 2.5 million, was unveiled in May. It is being used for international and domestic flights for about five to seven years until a bigger, better facility is opened. (Terminal 1D, which it replaced, is being revamped in the meantime.) The largest terminal in Africa, T3, is set to be completed in 2018 with space for 20 million people a year (up from 7.5 million today).…

STAY Balinese bliss REJUVENATE your mind, body and soul in the new Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve that opened in Ubud last month. Situated against a backdrop of temples, rice terraces and the Ayung River, the luxurious retreat offers a range of spiritual, wellness, health and detox programmes. Guests can choose from 35 spacious suites, or 25 private pool villas designed in a contemporary Balinese style, while four restaurants offer up a range of authentic Indonesian cuisine, Mediterranean dining, and tailored health-conscious menus. The spa complex features eight treatment rooms, plus a fitness centre, sauna, riverfront yoga studio, vitality pool, and relaxation areas. Rates start at US$570 per night. mandapareserve.com Singapore sanctuary OPENING this month, Villa Samadhi Singapore is a charmingly restored colonial residence, offering a peaceful respite from urban living.…

The world’s ten largest hotel chains now offer a combined 113 brands, 31 of which didn’t exist a decade ago, it was recently reported. A portion of these, such as Hyatt’s Andaz and Marriott International’s Edition, are“lifestyle”concepts that are designed to appeal to urbane, 21st -century travellers – cultured, young, tech-savvy mobile workers. And the trend is gathering momentum, as the number of new brands being unveiled is reaching a crescendo – this year there are a flurry of arrivals, from Canopy and Even, to Vib and Jaz in the City. What are they? Lifestyle properties embody a more boutique feel than their traditional“cookie cutter”counterparts, and are a way for multinational chains to express a sense of individuality and personality that people are looking for, along with – to a…