Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2016 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

LEFT IN TATTERS As a very frequent traveller (Star Alliance Gold/Oneworld Emerald) I spend a considerable time on aeroplanes and in airports. I’ve seen the good, bad and ugly. But it was still a shock when I visited the Qantas first class lounge at LAX. The linen on my restaurant table had many holes in it the size of quarters. What made it worse was the staff attitude when I pointed it out; they acted like it was no big deal. When I asked for the supervisor, I was casually told that he was available at the exit and I could reach out to him there. While he did eventually walk up to me to apologise, the whole thing still makes me wonder how an airline like Qantas could let…

Last year, more than 23 million suitcases were “mishandled”during their journey through the world’s airports. We say “mishandled”because luggage is rarely lost entirely – according to the 2016 Baggage Report from SITA, an IT company for the air transport industry, only 6 per cent of misplaced baggage is never returned to its owner, while 79 per cent is simply delayed. Still, a delayed case is at best inconvenient or at worst costly in terms of time and money, a huge source of stress and damaging to an itinerary. I recently flew to Iceland with Easyjet only to find on arrival (after an hour’s wait at the carousel in Keflavik airport) that no one’s luggage had been put on the aircraft in London. After chasing down a member of staff, everyone…

Qantas partners with Airbnb Qantas has announced it will be collaborating with online accommodation marketplace Airbnb to offer Qantas Frequent Flyer members the ability to earn Qantas Points. Loyalty members will receive one Qantas Point for every A$1 (US$0.8) they spend on accommodation when they book Airbnb lodgings through the airline’s website, giving members the ability to earn points on a selection of about 2.5 million listed accommodation options across 191 countries. qantas.com Marriott improves its hospitality programme for Chinese travellers Marriott Rewards has unveiled new benefits for its Li Yu hospitality programme, designed specifically for Chinese travellers. The service provides a suite of Chinese-language services at 41 participating Marriott properties. Li Yu now enables guests to contact a concierge service assistant in Chinese via mobile app WeChat. Additional conveniences…

The ferry churns the water into a roiling mass of white foam as we pull away from the Downtown Ferry Terminal and the Auckland skyline diminishes behind us. Small yachts bob around us on the deep-blue water as we course south, past picturesque headlands and beaches, with verdant Rangitoto Island – Auckland’s youngest volcano – peaking gently on our left. After 40 minutes we reach our destination, Waiheke Island, renowned for its laid-back, alternative lifestyle – Kiwis everywhere are laid back so you can imagine how easygoing the pace of life is here – as well as its fine wine dining scene and gloriously accessible vineyards. Aucklanders love to pop over to the island for a wine tasting followed by some seriously good food cooked in vineyard restaurants with views…

Strolling through the departures terminal at Hong Kong International Airport is a shopaholic’s dream. Gleaming storefronts house luxury designer goods, the latest tech trends, premium luggage and unusual souvenirs. DFS Duty Free tantalises travellers with high-end cosmetics, perfumes, wines and spirits, and there’s a wide range of dining outlets ready to replenish you after a shopping frenzy. Add in a diverse number of leisure options, and you could almost forget why you’re there in the first place. It’s a phenomenon that’s being replicated at international hubs worldwide. The relationship between airports and retail is a natural fit; after all, brands have a captive audience of affluent customers with idle time on their hands. Sparks first flew in 1947, when businessman Brendan O’Regan introduced the revolutionary idea of duty-free shopping to…

Around 400 of Asia-Pacific’s movers and shakers gathered at the Conrad Hong Kong on September 23 to celebrate the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2016. The annual ceremony rewards the best players in the travel and hospitality industry, as judged by our loyal and discerning readership. Over a delicious menu of lobster and beef filet, a record number of 59 awards were presented by our special guest, Hong Kong’s Olympic swimmer Yvette Kong, while spellbinding magician Rob James provided entertainment. Here we get to know some of the winners in greater detail. SINGAPORE AIRLINES With a grand total of six awards, Singapore Airlines dominated in the airline categories once again, snagging big-ticket titles such as Best Asia-Pacific Airline , Best Business Class and Best In-flight Catering . It’s been a big…

In a continent strewn with balmy tropical isles, the typical“powder”escape means hitting a beach to savour talc-soft sand between your toes. But winter brings an alternative bounty of white gold to the mountains of North and Central Asia. From as early as December, well into spring and even later in some cases, snow lovers are spoilt for choice. There’s everything from the mildest of slopes for your family’s first foray on skis, to the wildest imaginable backcountry where full avalanche kit and years of experience are required. So switch your shades for goggles, the bikini for a beanie, and come dive into Asia’s snowy deeps. HOKKAIDO – Deep and crisp and uneven One resort has single-handedly put this northern island on the agendas of the world’s skiers and snowboarders. A…

In July this year Boeing celebrated its 100th anniversary. Aeroplanes weren’t American entrepreneur William Boeing’s first great idea, however. Boeing made his fortune in the timber business, but he became fascinated by the relatively new world of aviation, and after finally hitching a flight, Boeing immediately decided he could build a better aeroplane using his own green-wood timber. On July 15, 1916, Pacific Aero Products Company was launched, and this was renamed the Boeing Airplane Co in 1917. Boeing’s first aircraft was a B&W seaplane – named Bluebill – and this and its second aircraft were sold to New Zealand in 1918. The Boeing company went on to build a wide range of products, from satellites and spacecraft to missiles, but its main focus was always passenger planes. In 1947…

British Airways to axe services to Chengdu BRITISH AIRWAYS (BA) WILL drop its Heathrow-Chengdu route from mid-January. In a statement the carrier said: “We regret that we have decided to suspend the Heathrow to Chengdu route. We have a proud tradition of flying to China but despite operating this route for three years it is not commercially viable.” The final flight will depart Chengdu for Heathrow on January 13, 2017. BA launched flights to Chengdu, its fourth Chinese destination, in 2013. The route started as a three times-weekly service, rising to five times-weekly in summer 2014 when it switched operations from a B777 to a B787 aircraft, although this was cut back to three times-weekly during the winter schedules. ba.com Raffles Hotel Singapore to undergo restoration SINGAPORE HERITAGE PROPERTY Raffles…

 BACKGROUND Following the opening of a Mercure, Ibis Styles and two Ibis properties in Suzhou, Accorhotels has now introduced its midscale Novotel product here. The Novotel Suzhou SIP opened in March this year. An indoor balcony area behind a glass partition provides pleasant views over the park and lake WHERE IS IT? The hotel is located in the Suzhou Industry Park (SIP), overlooking the famous Jinji Lake and Moon Harbour. Suzhou SIP Railway Station is about 3km away, while Suzhou Railway Station (the largest of the three railway stations in the city) is about 20 minutes by car. It takes roughly 45 minutes driving from Wuxi Airport, or one and two hours’ drive from Hongqiao and Pudong Airport in Shanghai, respectively. It is within walking distance of popular sites such…

Astana is an architectural playground. The Kazakh Steppe’s vast terrain has been used as a canvas to showcase an eclectic mix of engineering feats, with avant-garde marvels ranging from the space-age Khan Shatyr shopping mall – a giant transparent tent – to the cycling helmet-shaped velodrome, both projects by eminent British architect Norman Foster. Filled with contemporary masterpieces, the new capital of Kazakhstan delivers a clear message of modernity from the leading Central Asian nation. Not yet 20 years old, Astana has been somewhat overshadowed by the former capital Almaty, which continues to reign as the financial and cultural centre and home to the primary international airport. But things are set to change. Driving in from the airport, my first glimpse of the surreal cityscape is an idiosyncratic trio of…

CHINA Regent Beijing has a Regent Refined Executive Luxuries package. The deal includes complimentary Audi A6 round-trip airport or train station transfer, free minibar, complimentary wired and wireless internet, access to the Regent Club lounge, as well as late checkout at 4pm. The package rate starts from RMB2,150 (US$320) and is available until December 31, 2016. regenthotels.com HONG KONG The Excelsior Hong Kong is running an Executive Travellers package. The offer includes a three-hour lounge visit to the airport’s Plaza Premium Lounge on departure for two persons, express check-in and checkout service, complimentary daily breakfast, afternoon tea, snacks and cocktails in the executive lounge, 20 per cent discount on facial and body treatments in the Excelsior Fitness Centre and 20 per cent discount in designated F&B outlets. A minimum two-night…

SPA Taipei oasis GRAND Hyatt Taipei has launched its first ever spa. The Oasis Spa combines ancient Eastern wellness with luxury European-inspired skincare treatments and Taipei’s signature hot spring culture in the form of thermal baths. The facility features contemporary Taiwanese décor with grey slate stone, mood lighting and a tranquil rock garden. The signature three-hour Calm treatment (NT$15,000/US$472) uses “moor mud” from Hungary’s Heviz Lake for a circulation-boosting body wrap, followed by a deep tissue massage and moisturising facial to finish. hyatt.com WEAR First class nightwear QANTAS has launched new Martin Grant pyjamas and slippers for international first class passengers. The unisex navy and black trim Qantas First pyjamas are 100 per cent cotton and feature a tailored neckline and tapered silhouette. Grant has also designed new male and…