Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

In today’s digital age, hotels and venues must join the technological boom to provide services fit for an online generation. Grand Hyatt Macau became an industry pioneer with the launch of its dedicated Events App. The user-friendly technology has paved the way for paperless events and better communication to all delegates. A plethora of digital solutions are available. The one-stop platform enables guests to register online and access specific information for their event, such as daily agendas or speaker profiles. Productive interaction during sessions can be achieved with live polls and real-time graph results, while valuable post-event information can also be easily disseminated. Recent upgrades to the app have embedded even more useful features: a new activity feed encourages further interaction between delegates allowing them to share photos and videos…

Qatar Airways launches world’s longest flight QATAR AIRWAYS’ new service between Doha and Auckland has taken the crown as the world’s longest commercial flight following its inaugural service, supplanting Emirates’ Dubai-Auckland service. The flight takes approximately 17 hours and 30 minutes and covers a distance of 14,535 kilometres. The B777-200LR that Qatar Airways is deploying on the route has a two-class configuration with 42 business and 217 economy class seats. The aircraft offers fully flat business class seating – a welcome feature on the ultra-long-haul flight – with a 78-inch pitch. qatarairways.com Garuda Indonesia to cut first class to London GARUDA INDONESIA will stop offering first class seating to London from June 20 onwards, as it looks to switch from a three-class to two-class Boeing B777-300ER. The configuration change for…

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Business Class Singapore–San Francisco BACKGROUND Singapore Airlines (SIA) began this non-stop service to San Francisco on October 23, 2016, using one of its new A350-900s. CHECK-IN Flight SQ32 leaves from Changi’s Terminal 3 building. Singapore Airlines’ Business class check-in is in row 6 and there are ten counters available. LOUNGE Turn left from immigration and up the first escalator to the lounges. The Silver Kris lounge is a huge space with varied seating sections, though many don’t have easy connection to a power port for mobile devices, which is unusual. However, there’s an extensive area of business desk booths near the entrance. Wifi is easy to connect and fast. The buffet food counters offer a typically varied range of hot and cold dishes, plus a good selection…

Emirates expands access to Dubai premium lounges Emirates Skywards members and their guests can now access the airline’s business class lounges at Dubai International Airport by paying an entrance fee, regardless of their class of travel. Eligible guests travelling on an Emirates flight can now access the business class lounges for a US$100 fee, along with the first class lounges for a fee of US$200. Business class customers can also now upgrade their access to include the first class lounge by paying a US$100 fee. The new paid access entitles guests to stays of up to four hours. emirates.com Hilton renames loyalty programme Hilton’s HHonors loyalty programme has been renamed and rebranded as Hilton Honors, with new features introduced including a “Shop with Amazon” feature. This is likely to be…

Years of travelling for business bring with them the realisation that experiences do in fact make you richer. For those fortunate enough to have the time and means for upmarket leisure escapes with the family, it doesn’t take long to understand that true luxury is always about privacy. In a world of constant communication and pressure, the price of lack of interruption and decadence is high. Yet the number of travellers willing to spend their hard-earned cash on lavish jaunts is on the rise, with disposable income being spent on exclusive experiences rather than material goods. India’s luxury market is expanding faster than any other BRIC nation, with an annual growth rate of 13 per cent. Luxury travel companies are now creating refined trips that appeal to both Indian travellers…

Let’s start with a few numbers: in 2015 outbound travel from China reached 120 million, and Chinese travellers heading out to explore the world are predicted to number 200 million by 2020, according to figures quoted by Travel Daily China in a presentation at ITB Asia 2016 in Singapore. Factor in the explosion of domestic air travel, as booming business in the Middle Kingdom creates a new middle class of between 300 and 400 million people, and it will come as no surprise that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects China to displace the US as the world’s largest aviation market by 2025. The latest figures from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) reveal that the Chinese aviation industry transported 436 million passengers in 2015 – an 11…

The traditional nine-to-five office environment may soon become a thing of the past. According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers titled The Future of Work: A Journey to 2022, only one in five staff want to work in a conventional office space, with its cubicles and corner offices. The majority prefer to use collaborative workspaces or log on from any location. Expected to represent 75 per cent of the workforce by 2025, millennials favour co-working spaces as ideas can flow freely and a community spirit pervades. In addition to the chance to network and bounce ideas around, co-working spaces usually offer workshops, talks and services ranging from secretarial to digital marketing. Already fairly well established in Europe and the US, co-working spaces are now becoming more prevalent in Asia-Pacific. Notable openings…

Sandwiched between Inner Mongolia and the Korean Peninsula, the northeast city of Shenyang has played an illustrious role in Chinese history. Its main claim to fame dates back to the 17th century, when the city (then known as Mukden) gave birth to the Manchu-led Qing dynasty – the last imperial dynasty of China – and enjoyed a spell as the centre of authority. The impressive Shenyang Imperial Palace – a mini replica of Beijing’s Forbidden City – still lies at the heart of the city and is the only other surviving Imperial Palace in China. Today, the capital of Liaoning province boasts a huge urban population of around eight million and is widely regarded as a “ 1.5-tier city”. It is certainly the most important city in the northeast and…

I haven’t got a natural head for heights, so leaning over the edge of Victoria Falls and gazing into the boiling chasm already has my heart racing. Then I spot a double rainbow crisscrossing the gorge below just as something nibbles at my feet and I feel a surge of adrenaline. There’s nothing like a magical moment combined with a near death experience to really feel alive. The aptly named Devil’s Pool is the ultimate thrill-seeker’s infinity pool. It’s just off Livingstone Island, the place where the Scottish missionary turned explorer Dr David Livingstone first glimpsed the falls.You can only visit it in the dry season – September to December – when the water level drops enough to expose the rocks at the top of the falls. The buzz of…

W e’re sitting aboard a Beneteau Oceanis 55 in Hong Kong’s Aberdeen Harbour. Even to a complete landlubber like myself it’s clear this is a beautiful boat. From the smooth, streamlined hull to the spacious, tan deck and buttery cream sofas, the design resonates with classic French elegance in every detail. A quick snoop below reveals smartly appointed cabins and a surprisingly luxurious living space. Three double-bed cabins feature glossy mahogany panelling and en-suite bathrooms, while the main galley boasts a fully functional kitchen and large entertaining area. With a flurry of activity the crew hoists the anchor and we ease out of the marina past the iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant. High up on our left, the brightly coloured roller coasters of Ocean Park cling to the rocky mountainside, while…

• This month’s prize comes from The Ascott Limited. Guests staying at any of the group’s Ascott, Citadines and Somerset serviced residences are able to enjoy a myriad of personalised experiences through its Ascott Lifestyle programme, from cultural and wellness to gastronomic and community living. Customised itineraries include tours of the city’s sights as if you were a local, workshops offering the chance to learn local handicrafts, and even language classes. All these and more can be booked ahead of your stay by visiting the Ascott Lifestyle website, ascottlifestyle.com • This month, two vouchers are up for grabs, each entitling the winner to three nights’ stay in a Studio Apartment at any Ascott, Citadines or Somerset serviced residence in Asia-Pacific. The competition runs until March 31, 2017. DECEMBER’S ONLINE COMPETITION…

The first time I visited the small Portuguese colony of Macau, more than 25 years ago, I hired a Mini Moke open-top car and drove across the single bridge from the Macau Peninsula, through the quiet island of Taipa, then down a long causeway – breakwater boulders and broad expanses of open sea on both sides – to sleepy Coloane. Today, that causeway is the main drag of the Cotai Strip, the focal point of the massive area of reclaimed land that has merged Coloane and Taipa (hence “Cotai”) into one huge“island”, a casino and leisure destination unlike any other in this part of the world – and one that against the odds is still growing apace. HOTEL GOLD RUSH The Cotai district was born from the astute business mind…

Aimed at providing entrepreneurs with the space and equipment they need to develop products, “maker spaces” are also becoming increasingly popular in Asia-Pacific. Opened last January, Maker Bay (makerbay.org) in Hong Kong’s Yau Tong district was set up to give the creative community the tools, equipment and space to work so they can experiment, collaborate and build a maker space ecosystem in Hong Kong, says managing director Fiona Ching. It has a 100 sqm workshop with equipment for 3D printing (pictured right), laser cutting, woodwork and metalwork, among others. Wood and metal workshops are very popular, as this is one of only a few places in Hong Kong to offer such courses to the public. Another new addition is Maker Lab (whub.io/startups/ maker-lab-hong-kong), which focuses on the application of digital…

DINE Fresh take on US steak BALANCED flavours and textures are the name of the game at Hong Kong’s new American brasserie, Bizou. Conceived by Michelin-starred chef Magnus Hansson and star mixologist Joseph Boroski, the menu offers classic twists on comfort food favourites. Housed in Hong Kong’s luxury mall Pacific Place, the walnut-wood coloured interiors are ideal for casual lunches and shopping breaks. diningconcepts.com Balinese bounty A new culinary destination has opened in Bali’s popular Kuta district. Waroeng Dadong (meaning “hut” and “grandmother”, respectively) offers authentic local flavours housed in a traditional architectural style. Diners can enjoy Balinese favourites such as pork-based babi guling and the chicken creation ayam betutu, infused with aromatic spices from the “Island of the Gods”. waroengdadong.com WEAR Tight fit PREMIUM Australian sports gear producer 2XU…

1 THE FERRY BUILDING We start at San Francisco’s most famous downtown landmark, opened in 1898, whose iconic clock tower has been a focal point for those arriving in the port city by sea or train for more than 100 years. As the city grew, the Ferry Building became the conduit for commuters from points all round the Bay, with up to 50,000 people passing daily under its many attractive interior arches and skylights. In 1999, the somewhat rundown two-storey building began a four-year renovation project, and today it has been turned into a busy public food market based around a vibrant indoor street called the Nave, where local farmers and artisans sell fresh produce, and bistros and cafés draw tourists, lunch crowds from the nearby financial centre – and…

The position of airline cabin attendant was not a woman’s job in the early years of commercial aviation. In 1922, Britain’s Daimler Airway hired the first “cabin boys”, who served no refreshments but whose presence added a comfortable formality to a flight. For a while this continued, as few people believed women were suitable for work in aviation. In 1930, however, a registered nurse named Ellen Church persuaded Steve Stimpson, manager of Boeing Air Transport (the predecessor to United Airlines), to hire female flight attendants, believing that a girl with training as a nurse would do a better job looking after passengers on a plane. Including Church, eight nurses were hired and the“sky girls”were paid US$125 a month to fly a minimum of 100 hours. Their initial flight was on…