Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

BACKGROUND The Hong Kong-based Langham Hospitality Group opened its eighth Chinese hotel in May last year on Hainan Island. The Haikou property is the group’s 20th worldwide, offering 249 guestrooms and suites. WHERE IS IT? The luxury business hotel is located in the Guomao district, in the heart of the city centre, and backs on to leafy Evergreen Park. It’s a 20-minute drive from Haikou East Station (where you can catch the high-speed train) and around 40 minutes from Haikou Meilan International Airport. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel occupies 14 floors of a mixed-use development – one of the tallest buildings in the district. On the ground floor is Palm Court, offering a calm, elegant sanctuary away from the busy streets, with high ceilings and a sophisticated setting to enjoy…

In 1998, a gleaming new Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) opened on the newly manmade island of Chek Lap Kok – an answer to the increasing congestion suffered at Kai Tak, with its single runway and cramped terminal facilities. Fast-forward almost 20 years, and HKIA has become the eighth busiest airport in the world according to the Airports Council International, with a record 70.5 million passengers in 2016. Projections for the next seven years expect passenger levels to hit up to 90 million. It also happens to be the busiest cargo airport in the world, shipping some 4.3 million tons last year worth HK$3.2 billion (US$410 million). However, like many airports, particularly around the Asia-Pacific region, a sharp increase in global air traffic is putting pressure on the infrastructure, and…

Among the many acronyms, phrases and travel industry jargon that business travellers have to contend with, perhaps the most common in recent years is “bleisure”, the slightly unseemly portmanteau indicating the combination of business trips with down time. The rise of this (irritating-to-many) term does have some basis. In a survey released earlier this year, Booking.com for Business found that 49 per cent of business travellers in 2016 extended a work trip to enjoy the destination more, with 27 per cent intending to do so again in 2017. One sector of the travel and hospitality industry ready to capitalise on this trend is independent hotels. An independent hotel is generally defined as a hotel that is owned and operated individually and not by a larger company. However, over the past…

Asia Miles promotions Shenzhen Airlines has become the latest airline partner of Asia Miles. Members of the reward programme can now accrue and redeem miles on a number of Shenzhen Airlines’ domestic routes, along with select services between mainland China and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. In related news, Asia Miles is also offering triple miles for stays at any Regent Hotels and Resorts property before October 31 this year. Bookings must be made by September 30. asiamiles.com Singapore Airlines unveils new corporate loyalty programme Singapore Airlines has launched a new business loyalty programme called Highflyer, designed to reward small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their employees. Businesses will earn five points for every S$1 (US$0.7) spent on Singapore Airlines or Silkair flights. These points can then be redeemed to…

It’s a source of amazement to me that people come to Beijing and don’t go to the Great Wall. It's a bit like going to Hong Kong and not seeing the harbour, or Sydney and not seeing the bridge. A lot has changed since the old days when you were forced to go on a bus tour and stop at the awful Ming tombs on the way. A number of boutique experiences have emerged to offer “off-the-beaten-track” adventures – the ultimate way to experience China’s most iconic attraction. British explorer William Lindesay (who once ran the entire length of the Great Wall alone and unaided), organises weekend walking tours from his farmhouse home. The kind of insight Lindesay is able to offer comes from three decades of studying, exploring, photographing…

BACKGROUND Hong Kong got its first direct service to Australia’s Gold Coast in January last year, when Hong Kong Airlines launched a three-times-weekly service. The return flight includes a stopover in Cairns. CHECK-IN I arrived at Gold Coast International Airport (OOL) at 6.45am for my 0940 HX16 flight. Despite there being separate business and economy lines, the staff directed all passengers to one queue. Fortunately, I completed the process within ten minutes. As Hong Kong Airlines doesn’t operate a lounge at OOL, I was given two A$15 (US$12) vouchers to redeem at the terminal restaurants. I moved to the second security scan for international departures at 0845. The immigration check was an impressively speedy affair, thanks to high-tech electronic self-scan passport stations – even for foreign passport holders. BOARDING Boarding…

A short hop south of Brisbane on Australia’s eastern coast, the 57km stretch of pristine beachfront coastline known as the Gold Coast is bathed in glorious sunshine for more than 300 days a year. Behind its beachfront visage, however, the once sleepy seaside town has grown into a booming metropolis – the sixth largest in Australia. Served by two international airports – Gold Coast International Airport (OOL) and Brisbane International Airport (BNE) – the city welcomed a record-breaking 1.1 million international travellers for business and leisure last year. In April, the Gold Coast will gain even more international exposure when it hosts the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The 11-day elite competition will be the second-largest sporting event ever held in Australia (after the Sydney Olympics in 2000), welcoming 6,600 athletes and…

Normally I hate taking taxis in China. The rides are plagued with congestion and tend to leave you white-knuckled. But driving between meetings in Xian, I was completely distracted by the views: ornate pagodas and temples stand on virtually every street corner, the roads are lined with statues of ancient poets and officials, and old bell towers and city gates surround the outskirts. I actually began to appreciate the traffic jams for the chance to soak up such an incredible display of history. Xian is the capital of Shaanxi province in northwest China and one of the oldest, most important cities in Chinese history. With the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Weihe River to the north, it enjoyed a natural geographic advantage in defending itself from invaders, and…

Protecting the oceans A powerful exhibition designed to raise public awareness on shark conservation is on display at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. The provocative On Sharks and Humanity collection features 36 contemporary artworks from international artists and emerging talents. Ranging from sculptures such as Chen Wenling’s Symbiosis to mixed-media installations like Wang Luyan’s Downward Force on Upward Moving Objects, the exhibition presents an interactive dialogue with the public on issues such as the shark fin trade. hkmaritimemuseum.org Balinese beach club HIDDEN in a white sandy cove in Jimbaran, the brand-new Kubu Beach Club has opened exclusively for guests of nearby Ayana resorts. The secluded beach club offers an authentic, rustic vibe, with natural elements such as shell, wood and bamboo featuring heavily in the architecture, and a roof made…

1 BROOKLYN BRIDGE Standing majestically over New York’s East River, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the US, opened in 1883 to link Manhattan with Brooklyn. With its Gothic towers and spider web of steel cables it is one of the most iconic structures in the city. Enjoy the historic architecture and magnificent skyline with a 30-minute walk between the two districts – for the best views, start in Brooklyn and wander back towards the island. The pedestrian entrance starts at the intersection of Tillary Street and Adams Street, accessible via Clark Street station. 2 9/11 MEMORIAL Giant twin pools make a stunning tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack, with the names of every person who lost their life poignantly inscribed around the…

1 MOSTEIRO SAO VICENTE DE FORA The centre of Lisbon isn’t large – even including its suburbs, the city’s population is only 600,000 – but it is hilly, and can get crowded with visitors. To make the most of your time, consider booking a guide – insidelisbon.com is good, with tours ranging from two hours to day trips outside the capital. Use public transport to save your feet – the metro is excellent but the trams are best, taking you to Belem (your third stop), or from Baixa all the way to Campo de Ourique, passing through the historic districts of Graca and Alfama and making light of the hills (tram 28). If you are staying longer, the Lisbon card (e18.5/US$22 for 24 hours) offers discounts on attractions as well…

Changi Airport unveils T4 SINGAPORE’S Changi Airport has completed work on Terminal 4 with an official opening expected before the end of the year. Facial recognition technology will be used across self-service check-in, baggage drop, immigration and boarding gates, making this Changi’s first fully automated end-to-end terminal. Two massive LED screens (one in the security screening area and one airside) offer unusual entertainment. Disguised among a collection of traditional shophouse-style storefronts, the screens showcase a series of beautifully animated videos featuring traditional life in Peranakan-style houses. Terminal 4 also has a decidedly green theme, with 186 trees dotted throughout – more than the other three terminals combined. For an in-depth look at T4’s offerings, visit businesstraveller.com/asia-pacific. changiairport.com Etihad’s Dreamliner now flies to Seoul ABU Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is now flying…

A waterfront development whose architecture combines both the historical and contemporary, The Fullerton Heritage comprises a myriad of dining, hospitality and lifestyle establishments across The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Waterboat House, One Fullerton, The Fullerton Pavilion, Clifford Pier and Customs House. Together with the two hotels’ nine dining destinations, an array of 29 restaurants, bars and cafés in the precinct make it a vibrant focal point of lifestyle offerings for both hotel and city guests to enjoy. The precinct is strategically positioned in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, minutes from the city’s iconic cultural landmarks and close to the main shopping belts of Suntec City and Orchard Road. It is also well linked to various transportation hubs, with Changi International Airport less…

■ Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise Located between the CBD and famous Surfers Paradise strip, the hotel offers 370 guestrooms, suites and self-contained studio or one-bedroom apartments. Other facilities include two swimming pools, a tennis court, four restaurants and a range of meeting facilities. Special meeting offer: A$179 (US$140) per room (including breakfast). Free one-hour cocktail reception. crowneplazasurfersparadise.com.au ■ Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa One of the key conference destinations on the Gold Coast, the Marriott property offers 2,000 sqm of event space. This ranges from the grand ballroom and boardrooms to a stunning poolside venue, all serviced by on-site audiovisual company Microhire. The hotel offers 304 rooms, plus two signature restaurants including a Japanese teppanyaki establishment. Special meeting offer: From A$299 (US$235) per room (including breakfast). Free coffee cart.…

The night flight down from Hanoi passes unremarkably until we begin our descent and I look out of the window. Below us Nha Trang Bay is outlined by what looks like a golden necklace of yellow dots – the coastal road’s street lights cradling the land, while out on the inky-black water, bright-white lights signal the presence of fishing boats luring squid to their lines. We land at Cam Ranh International Airport, located near the southern end of the peninsula, which is essentially one massive sand bar hence its simple name: Long Beach. Though small and compact, the airport receives direct flights from Hong Kong, Guangzhou and other regional destinations, but many come via transfers through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City – both relatively painless affairs as you switch…

Beats Solo3 Wireless US$299.95 beatsbydre.com iPhone users should be especially eager to get their hands on these headphones by Beats, one of only three non-Apple branded sets to include the new W1 chip for seamless syncing – the others being Beats’ Powerbeats3 and BeatsX wireless in-ear headphones. Convenience isn’t the only reason to consider them – they are also a cracking all-round option, whether you’re bowling down Oxford Street, listening to a podcast or running a cable out of them to watch La La Land during a flight. Beats seems keen to move away from its blingy image of yore, with the gloss black and gloss white versions dominating the ad campaigns, but they also come in rose gold, gold, silver, red and ultra violet. The battery lasts an astonishing…

These days the raft of in-flight entertainment (IFE) is vast. Simply touch your personal seatback TV and you can select new blockbusters, entire seasons of your favourite TV show and music from Mozart to Justin Bieber. But it’s not enough! Today’s consumers want to be connected in real time. Onboard wifi and live TV are currently two of the biggest game-changers in the IFE field, but the first attempt to stream live TV in the air actually came more than 50 years ago. In 1959, US carrier Continental Airlines advertised its pioneering new live TV service on board its “Golden Jet”, the brand-new Boeing 707 that flew from Los Angeles to Chicago, Denver and Kansas City. One single television set was installed in the first class Rendezvous Room, a lounge…