Innholdsfortegnelse for July - August 2016 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

In May I participated in the 2nd Global Tourism & Hospitality Conference in Hong Kong, coordinated and run by students of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM). It was held at Hotel Icon in East Tsim Sha Tsui district – a property also operated exclusively by SHTM and its students. This type of endeavour is praiseworthy, because it provides young people, who are just starting their careers in the tourism and travel industry, with real experience in a fully functioning, professional set-up – an excellent place to learn your craft. The creative input that comes both from the top down and bottom up has allowed Hotel Icon to become a pioneer in Hong Kong’s hotel sector – especially in the areas of technology and…

CHRISTOPH MUELLER, THE DEPARTING chief executive of Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), is happy to leave the carrier on a high note. He confirmed that the restructuring effort – which saw the airline trim a third of its workforce, scrap unprofitable routes and renegotiate supplier deals – has yielded positive results and Malaysia Airlines is ahead of schedule to be sustainably profitable by 2018. Having posted its first positive return in years, the Oneworld member is now in a position to consider adding aircraft to its fleet. However, Mueller revealed that the airline is mainly considering narrow-body aircraft to boost its regional network. MAB’s hub in Kuala Lumpur does not suffer from capacity shortage, which means the carrier can afford to operate additional frequencies on routes – giving customers increased flexibility…

CHINA HAS IMPLEMENTED “Female Only” security lines at Beijing Capital International Airport, following a successful three-month trial. The service has also been extended to Shenzhen, Kunming and Wuhan. The initiative was launched in an attempt to ease congestion and protect women’s privacy during security checks – the lines will be staffed solely by female security officers. According to airport officials, efficiency improves by about 25 per cent when the lines are segregated, since women generally have more cosmetics, etc, requiring luggage inspection. Female passengers wishing to take advantage of the service should look out for bright pink signs that say “Female Only” in English and Chinese. en.bcia.com.cn…

AIR INDIA will introduce a non-stop link between London and New York (Newark) from August 15, as a fifth-freedom service that originates from Ahmedabad. ASIANA AIRLINES will increase the frequency of its non-stop Seoul Incheon–Delhi service from three to five times weekly on July 3. Flight times will remain the same. CATHAY PACIFIC’S newly delivered A350 will begin services to Düsseldorf on September 1 and London Gatwick on September 2. Later in the year the fuel-efficient aircraft will be deployed to Auckland (October 30), Paris and Rome (both October 31). CHINA AIRLINES’ first A350 has been delayed until September, due to a backlog of aircraft at Airbus’s final assembly plant. The aircraft was originally scheduled for delivery in July. EVA AIR will launch a four-times-weekly service between Taipei Taoyuan and…

CHECK-IN The premium check-in area (next to zone A) offers self-service kiosks as well as two staffed check-in counters. The process was swift and efficient, although I struggled with the e-passport channel. LOUNGE The Air New Zealand Lounge is a cavernous place, split into various sections. The buffet had a fairly meagre“hot”food offering (the pasta was barely warm), but a much better cold plate selection. Other lounge amenities included a cinematic screen showing sport, capacious shower facilities, a family room and an“alfresco” area with a green wall of plants and swing hammocks. BOARDING The flight was called 30 minutes before scheduled take-off. Once on board I was offered champagne, water or orange juice and my jacket was hung up. A flight attendant explained the seat’s functions and pointed out useful…

When a luxury hotel like this opens in a city, its competitors must up their game or lose out BACKGROUND Four Seasons’first foray into Korea, this 317-room hotel opened on October 1, 2015, filling an entire 29-storey, new-build tower. WHERE IS IT? Just off the main boulevard that runs from City Hall north to Gyeongbokgung Palace, at the western end of the CBD, it is diagonally opposite Cheonggye Plaza. Gwanghwamun station (line 5) is on the doorstep. WHAT’S IT LIKE? A tall, angular building, there are four entrances all leading to a stylishly modern lobby area in predominantly dark grey. Staff are plentiful, polite, friendly and forthcoming; there is a sense that whatever your need, someone will be there to attend to it. On the accommodation floors the décor becomes…

Oneworld axes interline benefits Oneworld has updated its ticketing policy, eliminating interline benefits for customers who have booked multiple legs of their journey on separate tickets. Previously, connecting Oneworld passengers were entitled to have their baggage checked through to their final destination. Under the new ruling, this benefit is no longer an entitlement and will be left to the discretion of the operating carrier. The controversial update seems to go against the principles of a global aviation alliance – to create and offer a seamless travel experience for customers flying with member airlines. oneworld.com Aeromexico offers status match Travellers who hold an elite status with an airline can now use it to get the equivalent tier status on Aeromexico’s Club Premier programme. The Skyteam member is offering status match for…

 Competition for the humble laptop comes in many forms – smartphones, “phablets” (phone-tablet hybrids), tablets and even smartwatches. But manufacturers continue to up their game. The most interesting laptop trend for 2016 is mechanical – some boast a 360-degree hinge so that the screen can be completely folded back on itself. This lets you prop the device up for presentations and movies but, more impressively, allows it to become a tablet. The hinge allows you to use it in a variety of positions – as a laptop, folded back on itself for use as a tablet, or at an angle for watching movies When buying, whatever your size preference, look for a screen with as many pixels as possible – some have 4K ultra high-definition displays or better. Apple’s Macbook…

For most men, the daily shaving routine is a rushed five-minute affair with a safety razor before heading to work, but enter the classy, art deco entrance of The Mandarin Barber in Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, and a vastly different experience awaits. A woman takes your jacket, seats you in one of the plush, red leather armchairs and offers coffee or tea. Interesting books line the walls, but soon you’re shown past a coloured glass screen and seated in one of half a dozen traditional old barber chairs in black leather, attended by a uniformed master barber. Smooth vocal jazz plays in the background. First, sideburns are cut to your preferred length, then you’re tipped back into prone position; a warm towel is placed over the eyes, then a hot…

PITT CUE has moved from its Soho premises to a larger venue on Devonshire Square in the City. The American barbecue specialist, which started life as a food van, has expanded its menu (although no more pulled pork) and now takes reservations. pittcue.co.uk SOSHARU is the seventh London venture from Jason Atherton’s the Social Company. Launched last month, it’s a Japanese izakayastyle restaurant serving casual yet high-end small dishes. It’s located in the Turnmill building in Clerkenwell. sosharulondon.com PHARMACY 2, the second incarnation of Damien Hirst’s restaurant, which closed in Notting Hill in 2003, opened in the artist’s new Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall in February. Launched in partnership with Mark Hix, it serves classic British and European dishes. pharmacyrestaurant.com 100 WARDOUR STREET opened in the Soho space formerly occupied…

CATHARINE NICOL has been writing stories in Asia and further afield for nearly 20 years. Even though she has been to Australia a number of times, this was her first trip to Perth (see p28), of which she says:“I loved the emerging creative energy of the city. It’s a great destination for business trips, with work days followed by inventive local cuisine washed down with a craft beer or glass of Margaret River wine… or two.” DOMINIC ELLIS is the editor of Business Traveller Middle East, based in Dubai. Although he focuses on the hotel and aviation sectors in that region, he enjoys reporting from other parts of the world whenever possible. On a recent trip to Singapore, he was pleasantly surprised to find the range of leisure and cultural…

CARLSON REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP has signed a management contract for the Radisson Suzhou in China, which will boost the number of hotels in the Asia-Pacific pipeline to 87 properties. The 155-room hotel, slated for a Q4 2017 opening, will be part of a mixed-use development that also features an office tower. It will be located in the Suzhou Science and Technology Town, about 30 minutes from Wuxi Sunan Shuofang Airport and a 90-minute drive from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. “We aim to have 50 hotels in operation in China by 2019, and grow our presence to deliver an even stronger growth trajectory,” said Thorsten Kirschke, the group’s president, Asia Pacific. carlsonrezidor.com…

JET AIRWAYS HAS BEGUN operating an A330-200 for one of its twice-daily flights on the popular Mumbai-Singapore route. The switch to a widebody aircraft from the B737 previously used comes in response to rising demand in this sector, particularly from business travellers. A new route is also planned between Singapore and Bengaluru (Bangalore) starting in November this year. This growth in connectivity between Singapore and India is part of a larger picture for the Indian airline, which has seen a massive turnaround from loss to profit in the last year (see businesstraveller.asia for more on this), and is now looking to expand its Asia-Pacific network, with Shanghai and Australia of particular interest. jetairways.com…

HYATT HOTELS HAS AGREED to manage a new Hyatt Regency property in Sydney, Australia. The hotel is currently operating as the Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Darling Harbour, but will be rebranded as Hyatt Regency Sydney on November 30. As part of the management agreement, the hotel will undergo a A$250 million (US$184 million) redevelopment and refurbishment, which will see it add a new 24-storey tower and 222 additional guestrooms – making it the largest full-service hotel in Australia with 892 rooms. Additionally, the hotel will debut a 272-seat, all-day dining restaurant, as well as the only hotel rooftop bar in Sydney. hyatt.com…

Star letter STOP DAYDREAMING I recently took my first flight on a new B787 Dreamliner, and I’m wondering if that name was dreamt up because some airline operators want you to sleep/ dream through the whole flight, irrespective of your internal body clock. I boarded United flight UA804 in Singapore at 0600, landing in Tokyo Narita at 1400. Therefore, for the whole flight I was in daytime mode where, as most people would agree – and certainly my circadian rhythm concurred – you need to stay awake and alert by reading, eating, talking or enjoying the in-flight entertainment (IFE). The new 787 no longer has manual window shades; instead, they are controlled by a somewhat complicated switch on the cabin wall that, as I found out, can be overridden by…

CHECK-IN I was on an overnight layover for this flight so stayed in the excellent Niranta Airport Transit Hotel, which opened in mid-May. After checking out at 0715 for the 0955 departure of flight 9W10, it was a short elevator ride and walk to the GVK lounge on Level 4 of Terminal 2. LOUNGE The GVK Lounge is like a grand palace, with high, gold-accented ceilings and marble floors, plus enormous windows. Access is for first and business class passengers of all airlines, plus upper-tier cardholders. On the right hand side is a first-class only seating area, as well as the dining area. The hot and cold food offerings are not huge but of excellent quality, from spinach frittatas to steamed idlis (lentil rice cakes). The bar area is glitzy,…

Over-the-top luxury is the name of the game... every element is designed to impress BACKGROUND Opened in March 2014, the Wanda Reign Wuhan was the flagship property of the group’s top luxury brand, followed by Wanda Reign Chengdu in December 2015 and Shanghai’s Wanda Reign on the Bund, which opened last month. WHERE IS IT? Situated near the beautiful East Lake Scenic Area in Wuchang district, the hotel also sits at the head of the“new downtown”– an entertainment and commercial complex developed by the Wanda group that contains shops, restaurants, Madame Tussauds and the Wanda Movie Theme Park. It’s about a 30-minute drive to the airport, and 15 minutes from Wuhan railway station. WHAT’S IT LIKE? Over-the-top luxury is the name of the game, from the tuxedo-clad Bentley chauffeur who…

Moisturiser and facials were once a woman’s domain – bar a handful of image-conscious dandies. Times change though, and today such products and services for men are big business, with the male grooming market estimated to be worth US$21.4 billion globally according to online statistics portal Statista. More than half of men (52 per cent) consider their appearance to be either important or very important, and 29 per cent touch up their looks throughout the day, according to Datamonitor Consumer’s Global Survey 2014. “Men are putting higher stock into looking good. It’s about self-confidence as much as anything else, and the desire to feel more attractive, more successful and, increasingly, more youthful,”says Chris Bonnefoy, director of male grooming space Gentlemen’s Tonic (gentlemenstonic.com), which has seven locations globally including London and…

1 WESTSIDE Birmingham is big but its centre is small. Everything in this four-hour guide can be seen easily on foot. Start at Gas Street Basin, the Spaghetti Junction of the UK’s canal network. Once grimy, it has now been smartened up, but it is still charming – with its working locks and narrowboats – and harks back to an older“Brum”, as the city is affectionately known. Brindleyplace sits just above the basin (north of Broad Street, the city’s main nightlife area) and comprises offices and shops around a pleasant plaza. Its most important attraction is the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham’s prestigious art venue, which hosts rotating exhibitions by contemporary artists working in print, video, paint and photography. From July 6 through September 11 it is showcasing the work of renowned…

HYATT PLACE HAS DEBUTED in the UK with the opening of the 170-room Hyatt Place London Heathrow/ Hayes. The select-service property is conveniently located just 16km from Heathrow airport, and guests can also connect to central London within 20 minutes via the Heathrow Express. All guestrooms come with the brand’s signature Hyatt Grand Bed and include a media centre with a 42-inch TV and sofa-sleeper. Complimentary wifi is available throughout the property. F&B options consist of the all-day dining Gallery Café, the grab-and-go Gallery Market (open 24/7), and the Coffee to Cocktails Bar. Other facilities include the Stay Fit Gym and more than 191 sqm of flexible meeting space. hyatt.com…

QANTAS HAS STARTED REDESIGNING its Brisbane International First and Business lounges, with the new International Premium Lounge scheduled to open in October. The new lounge will follow the same design as the airline’s Hong Kong and Singapore lounges, offering 25 per cent more space for passengers. The facility will provide seasonal menus by Qantas chef Neil Perry, a bar serving Rockpool-designed cocktails and all-day barista coffee by Vittoria. Domestic terminal lounges at the airport are also set for a redesign in the coming months, with a new Business Lounge and refreshed Qantas Club planned for launch from early next year. qantas.com…

MARITIM HOTELS is to open two new-build properties in eastern China next year – the 335-room Maritim Hotel Hefei and the 300-room Maritim Hotel Hangzhou. REZIDOR has announced plans for its first Radisson Blu property in Durban. The 207-room hotel, scheduled to open in 2019, will be located within the 90,000 sqm Oceans Umhlanga mixed-use development. LANGHAM HOSPITALITY GROUP has celebrated the opening of The Langham, Haikou – the group’s eighth property in China and its 20th worldwide. The luxury property is located in the Guomao district in the city centre. BEST WESTERN has expanded its presence in Bangkok with the opening of the Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel. The hotel is located close to a number of key venues including the Impact Exhibition & Conference Centre, the Thai…

You enter a huge colonnaded lobby area, lavishly furnished with teak easy chairs and sofas upholstered in royal purple BACKGROUND This venerable hotel started life as the Bangkok Peninsula in 1982, became the Regent, then a Four Seasons – under owner-management by the Minor Hotel Group – until March 2015, when it was rebranded again as the Anantara Siam. WHERE IS IT? A very central location on Ratchadamri Road facing the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. The Siam and Sukhumvit shopping and dining districts are ten minutes’ walk to the north, and Ratchadamri Skytrain station is right on the hotel’s doorstep. WHAT’S IT LIKE? This hotel has a lot of history, as is clear when you walk through the entrance into the huge colonnaded lobby area, lavishly furnished with teak easy…

Oakwood Asia Pacific Ltd manages a portfolio of award-winning properties providing move-in-ready furnished accommodation that caters to the needs of global organisations as well as individual travellers. As an understanding of the benefits of serviced apartments over traditional hotel rooms grows, Oakwood can use its expertise and capacity to capitalise on this changing trend. An affiliate of Oakwood Worldwide, the leading global provider of corporate housing, Oakwood Asia Pacific has set its sights on aggressive growth in the region and beyond – in 2016 alone it has scheduled 35 per cent growth in its portfolio. Key milestones in 2016 • The opening of Oakwood Premier Tokyo, the only serviced apartments in the Marunouchi district; • The grand opening of Oakwood Apartments Brisbane, with more Australian properties to follow; • The…

CHINA TOP PICK As part of its 15th anniversary celebrations, Grand Hyatt Beijing at Oriental Plaza is offering a Summer Welcome Accommodation promotion. For just RMB1,500 (US$228) guests can stay in a Grand Suite and enjoy the following benefits: breakfast for two adults (plus two children under 12) at the Grand Café, as well as access to the Club Oasis fitness centre with its indoor resort-style swimming pool. A stay of two or more nights is required, and the package is valid until August 31, 2016. beijing.grand.hyatt.com HONG KONG The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong has an Essential Delights room package. The offer includes one night’s accommodation in an L600 signature guestroom with high-speed internet access and a pantry stocked with unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, as well as daily…

The grooming travel kits of the modern male jetsetter can be as extensive as those of the most stylish ladies, believes The Mira’s Gerhard Aicher. Produced by leading spa brand Aromatherapy Associates, The Refinery skincare collection available at Mira Spa combines highly concentrated essential oils with plant extracts. “The products are compact, light and easy to travel with,” he says. Gentlemen’s Tonic offers its own range of natural products made in the UK based on the essential oils of babassu and bergamot that contain no parabens or chemicals and leave no residue, which is particularly good for those with oily skin. “We would recommend a three-step routine of foaming cleanser, facial scrub and daily moisturiser to ensure a consistent skincare regime while away,” says director Chris Bonnefoy. The Strand’s Tamara…

SEXY FISH Probably the most talked-about restaurant opening in the past 12 months, Sexy Fish is the new Mayfair opening from Caprice Holdings (behind the likes of the Ivy and J Sheekey). Unveiled in October, the spectacular project is said to have cost £15 million (US$21.7 million), and you can see why. Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the interiors feature swirling green marble floors, a Matisse-style seaweed ceiling mural by Michael Roberts, and sculptures of ocean-dwelling creatures by both Frank Gehry and Damien Hirst. Downstairs is a 48-seat lair walled in by luminous tropical fishtanks. In the evening, the main 190-cover dining room is bathed in golden light just low enough that everyone looks good but you can’t Instagram your food (deliberate, no doubt). Frequented by celebrities, bankers and other wealthy…