Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2016 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

The calendar pages turn, and once again Business Traveller Asia-Pacific’s Reader Poll is open. This is the 25th year that we have offered you, our readers, the chance to tell us who you think deserves to be recognised in the travel industry: the best airlines, most efficient airports, most favourable cities or the hotel that makes you feel the most cared for, that fulfils your requirements and wishes more than any other in a specific destination. Your participation also helps us tailor the magazine to your needs, by giving us an insight into your aspirations, what practical travel issues concern you the most, leisure activities that make your bucket list or exotic destinations that fill your dreams. Of course, taking part also means a chance to enter our annual accompanying…

THE Ascott Limited has unveiled a new brand – Tujia Somerset – which is aimed at China’s growing middle class. The brand is the result of a joint-venture partnership with Tujia.com International, China’s largest online apartment sharing platform. Ascott is aiming to have 2,000 units under the Tujia Somerset brand by the end of 2016, with an overall target of offering 20,000 units in China and 80,000 units globally by 2020. the-ascott.com…

THE ASCOTT LIMITED has inked management contracts for its first two serviced residences in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Ascott Corniche Al Khobar (172 units) and Somerset Downtown Al Khobar (133 units) are due to open in 2018 and 2019 respectively. NH HOTEL GROUP, one of Europe’s leading hotel chains, will join forces with HNA Hospitality to enter the Chinese market. The group plans to develop up to 150 properties in the midscale and upscale segments by 2020. NEW WORLD HOTELS AND RESORTS will open the New World Guangzhou Hotel in 2018. The 279-room hotel will be part of a mixed-use development in the Baiyun District, comprising offices, serviced apartments and a shopping centre. ACCOR HOTELS has opened the midscale Novotel Ningbo East – the first Novotel property in Zhejiang province.…

While the Western world agonises over the recent spate of horrific terrorist attacks on European soil, and its citizens grapple with what appears to be an ever-present and increasing threat from Islamic State and other extremist groups, in Asia-Pacific the mood among the business community appears more nonchalant. The general perception seems to be that the extremists’ focus is clearly on “the West”, and thus the risks in Asia are small – even unworthy of more than fleeting attention. This is an ill-considered attitude, however, conveniently forgetting that terrorist attacks have occurred in Asia on a regular basis: consider the 2014 multiple stabbings at Kunming station in China, the bombing of Bangkok’s Erawan shrine last year, and the bomb and gun attacks in Jakarta in January this year. “The same…

Macau has gained a reputation as the“LasVegas of the East” or“Asia’s Monte Carlo”– and understandably so. Most people immediately associate the special administrative region with lavish casinos and the glittering Cotai Strip. Spectacular additions such as the Batman Dark Flight experience or the magic show at Studio City have grabbed recent headlines as Macau attempts to broaden its appeal as an entertainment haven, beyond its gambling hub status. But beyond the glitz and glamour of this relatively small area, there’s a wealth of cultural delights that ought not be missed. I started my exploration at Guia Hill – the highest point on the Macau Peninsula. At its peak stands the 16th-century Guia Fortress, a perfect symbol of Macau’s maritime, military and missionary history, and now a designated Unesco World Heritage…

ROGER CAVE is currently eating his way around the Italian province of Le Marche, where he is renovating a farmhouse and learning the language. When not in Italy he is based in Hong Kong, where he works as a food writer and editor for publications such as Condé Nast Traveler , Wine and Dine , Hong Kong Tatler and the South China Morning Post (see“An appetite for Italian”on page 72). JENNY SOUTHAN is the features editor of Business Traveller UK. In order to gather information for this issue’s story on travel security (see“Risky business” on page 34), she canvassed opinion through Business Traveller’s website forum, thus gauging our readers’overall reaction to the increasing risks of corporate travel in the face of rising terrorism and other threats. LARK GOULD covers business…

JAPAN Airlines (JAL) will introduce upgraded cabin products on its 11 B777-200ER aircraft. The new seats will debut in July 2016 on the carrier’s Tokyo Haneda–Bangkok route, before being rolled out on flights between Tokyo Haneda and Singapore, as well as those between Japan and Honolulu. The new business class product has been branded as the JAL Sky Suite III, and is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seat offers 20.5-inch width and 78-inch length when fully flat. Meanwhile, the JAL Sky Premium product (premium economy) will be configured in a 2-4-2 layout, and offer 19-inch seat width and a generous 42-inch pitch. Finally, economy class will have an unusual 3-4-2 configuration, with each seat offering 18.5-inch width and 34-inch pitch. jal.com…

AIR CANADA will launch wifi connectivity on its international services later this year. The flag carrier will begin fitting Gogo 2Ku satellite technology on its wide-body fleet this autumn, starting with its B777 aircraft. AUSTRIAN AIRLINES will add a five-times-weekly service between Vienna and Hong Kong from September 5. The new route will complement its current China-bound services to Beijing and Shanghai. DELTA AIR LINES will launch a non-stop service between Los Angeles and Beijing on December 16, which will mark its fifth daily non-stop flight from Los Angeles to the Asia-Pacific region. EVA AIR has added two flights a week to its Taipei–Singapore service. This increases the total frequency from 11 to 13 flights a week. GO AIR has started non-stop daily flights between Mumbai and Leh, a Himalayan…

Star letter CHANGE IS GOOD Being a frequent traveller to Asia for both work and leisure, I often fly Cathay Pacific – simply out of habit and because of their longstanding reputation for quality service. In March I had a business trip planned for Hong Kong, however my client booked my flight from Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic, not Cathay as requested. Nonetheless I had heardVirgin Atlantic are a good airline, so didn’t make a fuss. When the time came to fly on a busy Friday night, the Virgin staff at check-in were a pure joy. The baggage belt broke (not their fault) and instead of making polite awkward conversation at the counter, my attendant Claire chatted to me in such a normal, human way that I barely noticed the ten-minute…

A highlight in the lobby is the living green wall, which absorbs pollutants BACKGROUND The Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is the largest hotel in Canada. Previously known as the Eaton Chelsea, the 1,590-room property was rebranded in late 2013, undergoing a comprehensive renovation project that included the lobby, Market Green restaurant and meeting spaces, the hotel’s balconies and the addition of the E-Club – accessible only to Club room guests. WHERE IS IT? Located on the corner of Yonge Street and Gerrard Street West, the Chelsea is situated in the heart of Toronto, within minutes of the CBD. Toronto Pearson International Airport is a 30-minute drive away, while the proximity to College subway station means easy commuting to surrounding areas. Toronto’s largest shopping mall, Eaton Centre, is only three minutes’ walk…

Afair wind is blowing across the Hauraki Gulf towards the city of Auckland. In days long past that would have been good news for its population, who would have eagerly gathered at the waterfront Ferry Building as tall ships sailed in from distant lands to this remote corner of the British Empire. Today, it fares well as a metaphor for the city’s fast-paced growth, booming economy and increasingly positive reputation as one of the world’s best cities to live and work in. The age of the internet has brought global connectivity, while the rapid increase of airlines willing and able to fly to this Antipodean archipelago has also served to reduce its reputation as a beautiful but distant backwater. Foreign visitor arrivals at the end of February 2016 were 10.1…

“On November 7, 2015, I landed in Cairo a week after the [Russian A321 Kogalymavia] plane exploded soon after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh. With a consular crisis under way in Egypt, I had to balance the decision [before departure] of whether to fly there or not, knowing that our client, the UK government, had a crisis to deal with. “Keeping an eye on travel advice and the media gets you so far, but I was travelling [to Egypt] to launch a project, with meetings and calls arranged for the first week. This meant I was relying on people to be available to meet me, and that is difficult to judge when you are not in the country and your client is busy managing a crisis. In this case, I…

As first impressions go, the Wanda Reign Wuhan’s “Imperial Welcome” service is definitely memorable. Two tuxedo-clad chauffeurs greeted me at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in a sleek black Bentley replete with seat massagers, wifi and a jazz playlist. The smooth drive to the city centre took just 30 minutes, thanks to ring roads that provide congestion-free passage. The luxury arrival set a high standard – but the city continued to impress. Divided by the Yangtze and Han rivers, Wuhan has long been an important inland port for both Chinese and foreign merchants, and thus boasts stunning colonial architecture as well as amazing modern sculptural edifices, creating a unique urban landscape. Hundreds of surrounding lakes provide natural beauty, while 3,500 years of history present plenty of cultural interest. Modern commercial areas,…

Many watch underwater documentaries on TV with open mouths, marvelling at the cornucopia of colour on coral reefs, and the amazing cast of marine critters that play out their lives in front of the camera lens. Much more exciting – and satisfying – is to observe it in all its glory not through the thick glass of a TV screen, but with only the thin, tempered glass of a face mask between your goggle eyes and the action. The underwater world is a truly awe-inspiring place, but if you want to make the most of it – and believe me, it’s worth the effort – then here are a few tips to set you on the right course. First, diving isn’t a one-experience wonder – it offers a huge variety…

1 THE BUND Once a muddy riverbank where boats unloaded and took on heavy bales of merchandise via rickety wooden planking, this 1.5-kilometre stretch of the Huangpu River has morphed into one of the most visited of China’s many tourist sites – in fact, foreigners will feel distinctly outnumbered as they wander down the broad pedestrian promenade that fronts onto the river, dodging hawkers and snapping photos of groups of Chinese ballroom dancing or doing the fan dance. Starting at Suzhou Creek and the iron arcs of Garden Bridge, you’ll pass through Huangpu Park – originally open to foreigners only – and its Monument to the People’s Heroes, a concrete pyramid that seems more suited to the modern architectural jungle of the Pudong district on the river’s far side. Lining…

SERVICED apartments provider Oakwood Asia-Pacific has opened a property in Queensland – its first offering in Australia. Oakwood Apartments Brisbane will offer 162 rooms with a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Each comes with a fully equipped kitchenette, flatscreen TV and wifi connectivity. One- and two-bedroom apartments also feature washer and dryer facilities. A single dining outlet is available on site, the Alto Restaurant and Bar, catering for both breakfast and dinner every day. Guests also have access to a full suite of recreational facilities, including a tennis court, outdoor pool and spa, sauna and gymnasium. oakwoodasia.com…

CATHAY Pacific (CX) and Dragonair have introduced a new self-service bag drop facility at Hong Kong International Airport. The new process includes printing the baggage tag, tagging the luggage and dispatching the luggage accordingly. The system can be used by those who have completed their check-in process online or used the self-service check-in kiosks. Currently, the service is limited to CX premium economy and economy customers travelling to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and also Dragonair economy passengers travelling to Chiang Mai, Fukuoka, Kota Kinabalu, Okinawa, Penang and Phuket. This will be gradually expanded for other destinations in phases. cathaypacific.com and dragonair.com…

UNITED Airlines will implement a tight ten-abreast economy class seating configuration on 19 of its existing 74 B777 aircraft. These 19 aircraft will be deployed on domestic routes, as the airline is gradually replacing its long-haul B777s with the more fuel-efficient B787 Dreamliners. At present, the domestic B777s feature a 2-5-2 layout with 344 seats. The retrofit programme, which will begin this month, will result in a 3-4-3 seating configuration with overall capacity increased to 364. united.com…

HK Express has launched its frequent flyer programme, “reward-U”. The scheme allows members to earn ten points for every HK$1 spent on fares as well as payable add-on services, such as pre-booked meals, advanced seat selection, pre-ordered checked baggage, and pre-booked priority check-in. Accumulated points are valid for three years from the date flown, and can be used to redeem for any fare, any time. Members who do not have the required amount of points to redeem fares can choose to mix points with cash to purchase the tickets instead, as long as they have a minimum of 40,000 points. HK Express is working to extend its opportunities to other services, which may include cooperation with U-Fly, the first low-cost carrier alliance. hkexpress.com…

The hotel’s excellent dining establishments are the foundation of its offering BACKGROUND The Lebua brand began in 2003 with the creation of a drinking and dining“destination” on the roof of one of Bangkok’s highest buildings. Once the Sky Bar and Sirocco restaurant had built a reputation as a local hotspot, they took over the Meritus hotel in 2006 to create the Lebua at State Tower property, before launching the all-suite Tower Club at Lebua in 2009. WHERE IS IT? The hotel is located on the upper floors of the State Tower, minutes from Chao Phraya River at the end of Silom Road. It is 30-60 minutes’drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport depending on traffic but less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Saphan Taksin BTS (Skytrain) station. The hotel offers a…

HONG KONG Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel’s Premium Stay-and-Dine Experience package includes HK$200 (US$26) dining credit per night (which can be accumulated) for use at Cucina Italian Restaurant or Café Marco, 20 per cent discount on laundry services, and complimentary handy smartphone with unlimited 3G mobile internet plus unlimited calls to China, the Philippines, Japan, the US and UK. Internet rates start from HK$2,050 (US$264), and the offer runs until July 15, 2016 (available from Sunday to Thursday only). marcopolohotels.com PHILIPPINES Makati Shangri-La, Manila has a Value Rate package with benefits that include complimentary buffet breakfast at Circles Event Café, round-trip Toyota Camry transfers to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, unlimited laundry and dry-cleaning services, as well as late checkout until 6pm. Rates start from Php10,900 (US$236) and the…

ASIA-PACIFIC The 24th Great Chefs of Hong Kong Hong Kong May 12 This annual fundraising dinner brings together top chefs, hospitality leaders and patrons in support of Heep Hong Society, an organisation dedicated to helping children with special needs. Held at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, the event will showcase premium cuisine from the city’s best dining institutions, including Namo Avant Thai and Porterhouse by Laris. heephong.org/greatchefs Vivid Sydney Sydney, Australia May 27-June 18 Vivid Sydney is a 23-day festival of light, music and ideas. The world’s leading light artists, sculptors and creative innovators join forces with synth-pop legends, folk bands and jazz artists to create this huge, free outdoor music and art event. Look out for projections onto the exterior of Sydney Opera House. vividsydney.com Ubud Food Festival Ubud, Indonesia…

Hong Kong Otto e Mezzo Shop 202, Landmark Alexandra, 18 Chater Road, Central; tel +852 2537 8859; ottoemezzobombana.com Flagship of three-Michelin-star truffle czar Umberto Bombana, regularly rated one of Asia’s top restaurants. Tosca Level 102, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon; tel +852 2263 2270; ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/china/hong-kong/dining/tosca The action in Pino Lavarra’s open kitchen competes for attention with the panoramic view from the 102nd floor of Hong Kong’s second tallest building. Bangkok, Thailand Enoteca Soi Sukhumvit 27, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110; tel +66 2 258 4386; enotecabangkok.com Born in Naples, Marco Pacetta attended the prestigious culinary school of Gualtiero Marchesi before working with a series of high-profile chefs including Guy Savoy and Gordon Ramsey. Tokyo, Japan Il Ristorante Luca Fantin Ginza Tower…

Few people these days have any idea what their carry-on luggage weighs as they approach the check-in counter. Why? Because virtually everyone now pulls or pushes their bag courtesy of either two or four small wheels attached to its base. Amazingly, this seemingly simple invention is not as old as you might imagine… but who actually came up with the idea? In 1970, frequent traveller Bernard Sadow – the former president and owner of US Luggage – was on his way back from the Caribbean island of Aruba with his wife and kids, lugging two heavy suitcases. While passing through customs at the airport, he watched a worker moving a machine on skids equipped with wheels. An inspired Sadow went home, crudely attached four wheels under a suitcase and added…