Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

I haven’t laughed so much in the office for quite some time. You see this year marks Business Traveller Asia- Pacific’s 35th anniversary, so I thought I’d look back through all the magazine’s yearbooks and see if I could put together a commentary of the changing world of business travel by highlighting seminal stories and reportage found within its more than 25,000 printed pages. Reading through some of the earliest issues caused more than a few loud explosions of mirth – in the early and mid- 1980s there was little sympathy for those with delicate sensibilities, and short shrift was given to many a politically correct attitude. The writing was both entertaining and good, but at times it could be sexist, bigoted and patronising – though to be fair this…

NOT VERY SMARTIUM… On April 17, I was travelling from San Francisco (SFO) to Hong Kong (HKG) via Incheon (ICN) on OZ211 and OZ745. I booked the flight last year and chose Asiana Airlines for the following reasons: 1. Flight OZ211 showed the new Business Smartium product from SFO to ICN – with a staggered layout providing direct aisle access to all, unobstructed movement around the cabin and a 180-degree lie-flat bed. For a long-haul journey, as a doctor, I required a business class that could provide a fully flat bed so I was left with enough spirit and energy to work the next day. 2. Asiana has been awarded a five-star rating by Skytrax for nine consecutive years, which is the highest ranking used to certify airline products and…

BACKGROUND The 34-storey Excelsior is one of the best-known hotels in Hong Kong and is gearing up to celebrate its 45th anniversary next year. It is emerging from a renovation of all 869 rooms, and the rebranding of some of its restaurants. Managed by Mandarin Oriental, it has all the advantages of that relationship but also a style of its own. The location is a historic one – it is built on the original “godown” of Jardine Matheson, directly behind the Noonday Gun on the harbour front. WHERE IS IT? In Causeway Bay. If coming from the MTR, take exit D1 and turn right at street level. It’s a hotel all taxi drivers know. It is connected to the World Trade Centre and Laforet shopping arcades, and is close to…

Three and a half decades is a fair amount of time to be reporting on a specific industry – especially one as diverse and far-reaching as business travel. The resulting compendium of information and knowledge provided by 35 years’ worth of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific (BTAP) yearbooks tells a fascinating tale of how corporate travel has evolved – and the Asia-Pacific region grown and come of age – since the early 1980s. By highlighting the most significant stories from each year, a brief but illuminating overview of that evolution emerges. Read on to see what elements of the corporate travel experience remain unchanged, and which factors have been transformed beyond recognition. 1982 When BTAP was launched, the world was a very different place for business travellers in Asia – something the…

Penang’s new SPICE Convention Centre, the flagship events space in the Setia SPICE complex, opened its doors in early March. The impressive new facility marks the first step in turning the Malaysian state, known for its multicultural identity and the heritage of its capital George Town, into an international business events destination. Penang has long done well with incentives and smaller meetings, due in no small part to the charms of George Town’s architecture and food. According to the Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s 2016 review, the state hosted 1,251 events over the year, with a total of 142,000 participants having an estimated economic impact of about RM808 million (US$184 million). Now it wants to up its game, to handle more – and bigger – events. In realising that dream,…

LUGGAGE Travel in style THE Tumi 19 Degree Aluminium collection is certainly a head turner. The unique, textured surface – available in matte black or silver – is wrapped in a special film that reflects light for an extra shimmer on the move. The lightweight, reinforced polycarbonate shell ensures durability, and other features include snap closures and die-cast corner caps for extra protection. The limited Rose Gold edition is a fabulous addition to any jetsetter’s collection. Available until July, snap one up before they’re gone. The Short Trip Packing Case in Rose Gold (pictured) costs HK$8,590 (US$1,103). tumi.com SAIL Unleash the dragon STEP aboard the newly launched Aqua Luna II and enjoy a cruise around Victoria Harbour to admire Hong Kong’s stunning skyline with cocktail in hand. The beautiful, authentic…

MARK GRAHAM, a Beijing-based freelance writer, was training for a half marathon while researching our Beijing restaurant feature (“In-house haute cuisine”, page 76). Which was just as well, given the kilo-loading potential of the superb fare he sampled. “Naturally, it’s the best place on the planet for Peking duck,” he says. Western food has raised its game, too, as he discovered on his (full) marathon culinary mission. JENNY SOUTHAN is the features editor of Business Traveller UK. For her article on DNA testing (“All in the genes”, page 72), she submitted herself to a number of tests freely available to consumers. According to her genes, she is best suited to resistance training, has an increased sensitivity to carbs and is 1 per cent Sardinian – which came as a surprise.…

BACKGROUND Conrad Seoul became the brand’s first property in South Korea when it opened in November 2012 and has since become one of the city’s main business hotels with convenient access to all parts of the city. WHERE IS IT? Near the waterfront in Yeouido, an island hard up against the south bank of the Han River about an hour from Incheon airport and 20 minutes from Gimpo airport. Yeouido is one of the city’s key financial districts; Conrad Seoul is connected to the International Finance Center Seoul. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel is high-tech, with a slick, modern aesthetic to go with the high levels of comfort and service. Some of its F&B spaces and leisure options have recently received refreshes. ROOM FACILITIES Room size is generous – the…

Q: As an experienced hotelier in China, what do you think the future holds for the country’s hotel sector? A: The hotel industry in China will continue to bloom due to rapid economic development and increasing consumption levels. In particular, China has become the preferred destination for numerous international large-scale events, exhibitions and trade shows, including Formula One, ATP, the auto show… and a great number of hotels are required to accommodate these events. Additionally, the young generation is now the dominant consumer demographic in the market, and millennials expect a higher quality of lifestyle, service and experiences from a hotel. The result will be that hotel types will become more diversified than ever before, with resorts, leisure and boutique hotels increasing in popularity. Q: Grand Hyatt Shanghai is celebrating…

▪ The Habitat Penang Hill’s newest attraction offers education and adventure in a natural setting. Later additions may even extend to a transparent, air-conditioned marquee sitting squarely in the jungle – for board meetings with a difference. thehabitat.my ▪ Tropical Spice Garden Surrounded by forest and overlooking the beach, the venue offers a new pavilion that suits small groups and hosts regular cooking classes. tropicalspicegarden.com ▪ The Majestic Theatre A 1920s venue reborn, with a funky vibe and a 2,400 sqm pillar-free interior and stage. majesticpenang.com ▪ Hin Bus Depot An unconventional indoor and outdoor art space boasting a gallery, deck, lawn and garden options, with capacity for 1,000 people. hinbusdepot.com ▪ Suffolk House The former home to Penang’s colonial governors now offers an elegant venue for meals and small…

HONG KONG TOP PICK The newly opened Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong is running an Introductory Offer. The package includes two complimentary drinks at Red Sugar per stay, complimentary minibar upon arrival, and a choice of complimentary upgrade to the next room category, complimentary breakfast buffet for two per day, or 20 per cent off the Best Available Rate. Rates start from HK$1,900 (US$244) and the offer is valid until July 31, 2017. shangri-la.com/hongkong/kerry TOP PICK Regal Airport Hotel has a Day-Use Package offering a stay in one of the six room types for a maximum of ten consecutive hours between 9am and 9pm; complimentary in-room broadband internet access; free access to the fitness centre; as well as a 55-minute massage at OM Spa. Rates start from HK$1,150 (US$148) and the…

Over the past few weeks I have made some interesting discoveries about myself – my risk of developing type-2 diabetes is 5.4 times higher than the average person; I am unlikely to be gluten intolerant; red wine is good for me (but gin and champagne are bad); I’m best suited to short bursts of high-intensity training; and I am 16 per cent Scandinavian. Home DNA testing is set to revolutionise our understanding of ourselves – we no longer have to feel bad about why we find yoga so difficult (I am genetically inflexible) or worry about whether our unborn child will have cystic fibrosis. Today, a simple saliva sample can reveal what kind of diet or fitness regime will be most effective for you, where your ancestors came from and…

Qantas opens sales on Perth-London “Kangaroo Route” QANTAS is now selling tickets on its upcoming 17-hour “Kangaroo Route” between Perth and London Heathrow. The route is set to take off on March 24, 2018 and will form part of a longer Melbourne-Perth-London return service. The new QF9/QF10 flights will replace Qantas’s current Melbourne-Dubai-London services. Year-round prices for the upcoming Perth-London leg start from A$2,270 (US$1,700) for a return economy fare, while a return premium economy fare will cost A$4,250 (US$3,180) and return business class tickets from A$9,725 (US$7,280). qantas.com.au United lists “changes to improve customer experience” UNITED AIRLINES has had its feet held to the fire over the past two months, ever since video footage emerged of airport security personnel forcibly removing a passenger from an overbooked UA flight on…

In a world increasingly focused on technology, it’s easy to forget one of the most important aspects of any airline’s passenger offering: high-quality service. At Austrian Airlines – also known as myAustrian – we understand that our employees are direct contributors to our success. They show huge personal commitment, inspiring our customers every day with Austrian charm and a unique service that’s been recognised three years in a row as the “Best Airline Staff Service Europe” at the World Airline Awards. Austria’s largest carrier, myAustrian currently flies to 130 destinations around the world. Its homeport, Vienna, makes an ideal hub for travellers from Asia to connect to any of its 37 destinations in Central or Eastern Europe. Passengers travelling in myAustrian Business Class will do so in comfort and style,…

BACKGROUND This 208-room luxury property opened in December 2015, located in the top floors of a modern tower in the city’s Zhujiang New Town area. It is the sixth Park Hyatt in China. WHERE IS IT? Behind the International Finance Center one block back from Huacheng Square, the quadrangle that is the focal point of Guangzhou’s new CBD. Line 3 of the Metro underground network is just across the road, the airport a 50-minute drive, and Guangzhou East Railway Station 15-20 minutes away by car or subway. WHAT’S IT LIKE? Designed by Japanese firm Super Potato, the attractive blend of modern aesthetics with traditional materials and furnishings centres around four elements: wood, iron, brick and copper. Throughout the hotel the wall coverings switch between brick tiling, wood panelling and carvings,…

▪ Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi One of Southeast Asia’s oldest hotels, the beautiful colonial exterior houses two wings, one with more modern, business-friendly facilities, the other a historic wing for those who appreciate some character. Seven distinctive F&B outlets cater to all tastes. sofitel.com ▪ Hilton Hanoi Opera Another landmark hotel in the French Quarter, the Hilton Hanoi Opera offers 268 guestrooms decorated in authentic Vietnamese style. Not to be mistaken with Hoa Lo Prison – dubbed “the Hanoi Hilton” by American POWs during the Vietnam War. hilton.com ▪ Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Situated to the north of the city on the banks of Hanoi’s biggest lake, the hotel offers a respite from the frantic Old Quarter. Popular with business guests, the hotel has a large ballroom and four meeting rooms.…

For all the excitement generated by the flurry of new, freestanding restaurants in Beijing, many of the dining destinations set within the city’s long-established hotels continue to thrive, maintaining their reputations by tweaking, rather than changing, their classic menus. The following selection are more often than not solidly booked every night – and for good reason. (Prices in brackets show the average cost of a meal for two people, without alcohol.) Two of the veteran players, Made in China in Grand Hyatt Beijing (beijing.grand.hyatt.com, RMB700/US$102) and Paulaner Brauhaus in the Kempinksi Hotel, Beijing Lufthansa Center (kempinski.com, RMB800/US$116), were there at the very dawn of the Beijing culinary boom two decades ago, a time when a meal in a restaurant was considered an extra-special treat for the capital’s residents. Not any…