Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

1 CONVENIENCE Being just 30 sq km in area, everything in Macao is within 20 minutes’ travel time or less. This helps minimise logistics and gives delegates more time to attend conferences, network, socialise and do business. 2 CHOICE Macao has Asia’s largest offering of integrated resorts, with more than 37,000 hotel rooms, 190,000 sqm of exhibition and meeting space, plus stunning entertainment, dining and retail options. Being able to host large-scale events under one roof also means easier coordination, fewer contract negotiations and lower costs. 3 NEW Macao is a relatively young destination with a constant stream of new venues, hotels and attractions, offering an appealing option for meeting and incentive planners looking for fresh options. 4 CONNECTIONS Macao is an open trading port with easy access to the…

BACKGROUND Vietnam Airlines began operating the Dreamliner on daily flights from Heathrow to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in September 2015, flying four times a week to Hanoi and three to Ho Chi Minh City. Flights to Hanoi operate on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, departing from Heathrow at 1110 and arriving at 0430 the next day, while the Ho Chi Minh service flies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, also departing at 1110 and arriving at 0520 the next day. These are the only direct services between London and Vietnam. CHECK-IN I had tried to check in online the night before and was able to get as far as seat selection a number of times, but no further, owing to a technical glitch. I tried calling customer support but…

Jet lagged in Jakarta, I open the curtains and look out on the sleeping metropolis. The roads, chock-full of crawling traffic during the day, are empty at this time. And even through the double-glazed windows of the 56th floor of the Westin (the tallest hotel in the country), I can hear the 4am call to prayer rising up among the darkened tower blocks. Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population (87 per cent of 261 million people), and there are hundreds of mosques all over the capital where devotees go to pray up to five times a day. The National Mosque is the largest in Southeast Asia, with space for 200,000 people, but Jakarta has also been experimenting with “mosque-mobiles”, to make worship during busy times, such as Ramadan, easier.…

In these complex modern times, there are people and animals all over the world in dire need of help, and the natural environment also needs serious protection. As individuals, there are limits to what we can do. But when large businesses invest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, they can have a major positive impact. As business travellers, the hotels you stay at usually have CSR initiatives designed to contribute to the local community or wider global issues, but these behind-the-scenes programmes often remain unsung heroes – particularly those on a smaller, local scale. Here we cast a spotlight on worthy programmes around the region to highlight some of the issues and celebrate the innovative and inspirational projects under way. CHILD CARE Education is one of the most powerful tools…

NEW In 2015, a swarm of new boutique hotels infiltrated Sydney, injecting an element of quirkiness into the slightly stagnant hotel scene. This included the dive-bar-turned-modern-gem The Old Clare Hotel in the Chippendale suburb, and the promise of “barefoot luxury” at the glamorous beachside 69-suite QT Bondi. Heritage lovers welcomed the Primus Hotel on Pitt Street, with its celebration of 1930s Art Deco glamour, along with Hotel Palisade, housed in a century-old building and boasting a rooftop with envious views over the harbour and Barangaroo. Two Ovolo hotels also opened (one in Darling Harbour, and one in Wooloomooloo) offering their unique modern take on hospitality. Last year, the bigger players took their turn. Hyatt Regency returned to Sydney in November 2016, following a major A$250 million (US$200 million) refurbishment of…

FASHION Travel in style LUXURY travel retailer DFS Group has launched a second collaboration with iconic designer Michael Kors. The exclusive capsule collection features 14 statement pieces for men and women, including coveted items such as the Mercer Bag (HK$4,800/US$613), the Sloan Editor Medium Chain Shoulder Bag (HK$3,800/US$486) and a Packable Puffer Jacket (HK$2,700/US$345). To celebrate the partnership, a new virtual reality in-store experience has also been launched at six locations, including Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. dfsgroup.com STAY Escape to Vietnam RADISSON Blu Resort Phu Quoc is set to open before the end of the year. The new 522-room hotel features an all-day restaurant and bar, fully equipped fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool, spa, VIP Lounge and Casino Phu Quoc – the first in Vietnam to permit domestic entry.…

Swaying lazily in a rope hammock strung between two palms, I gaze through half-closed eyes at the glittering South Pacific, mesmerised by the dramatic ombré effect of inky blues blending into an emerald lagoon. Add to this the perfect cerulean sky, a crescent of unblemished white sand and the fact that the only way to get here is a five-hour boat ride from Viti Levu (Fiji’s main island), and I’m basically living out my desert-island fantasies. In fact, for filmmakers, this is the archetypal island paradise, with blockbusters from Blue Lagoon to Castaway being filmed on neighbouring islets in the Yasawa and Mamanuca island archipelagos. Several seasons of the hit TV show Survivor have also been filmed nearby. The Yasawas and Mamanucas are hugely popular with tourists seeking a piece…

Friday morning at 7.30am, the Crawford hotel, downtown Denver. I am in the epicentre of the city; the elegant hotel forms part of the recent redevelopment of the historic Union Station terminal, at one time the main railway hub for the Colorado capital. I’m waiting for the lift to take me down for breakfast in one of the 1914 Beaux-Arts building’s many buzzing cafés and restaurants. Because of the hotel’s unrivalled location, and the hour, I expect the doors to open to a fellow business traveller, or maybe a jet-lagged tourist. I do not expect to see a young couple in full, colour-coordinated ski gear, complete with skis, poles, boots, gloves, goggles, helmets and Go Pro cameras. They look like they’ve stepped off a ski lift in Switzerland’s upmarket Gstaad…

▪ Farther afield Concealed on the edge of the Kadavu Island Group, a new luxury private island resort encapsulates the essence of barefoot luxury. Sweeping across 57 hectares (140 acres), Kokomo Private Island boasts an abundance of lush rainforest, fine white-sand beaches and the azure waters of the Great Astrolabe Reef. Each luxury suite boasts its own personal infinity pool and private walled garden. Kokomo Island is a 45-minute flight from Nadi airport, with a private seaplane or helicopter transfer for all guests. Rates start from US$1,995 per night for a two-person Private Beachfront Villa. kokomoislandfiji.com ▪ Island escape Occupying a secluded bay on Malolo Island – part of the Mamanucas – Six Senses Fiji is due to open this year. The exclusive resort will offer 26 spacious bures with…

My induction to Third Space gym in London’s Soho involves standing on a futuristic-looking weighing machine and gripping two metal prongs while an electric current passes through me (thankfully, I can’t feel it). On the screen, the outline of a figure begins to fill in, and readings show what percentage water, protein, mineral and fat I am. I won’t share the numbers, but it was certainly enlightening. Weight is a crude reading of one’s physical make-up, while BMI (body mass index), derived from your weight divided by your height, is not much better. Using this calculation, someone muscular could be considered obese because muscle is heavier than fat. The InBody Analysis machine is more scientific, giving comprehensive readings of your entire physiology – whether your skeletal muscle mass is normal,…

• 160bpm: use the “beats per minute” your heart is pumping to reach optimal fat burning (the number depends on your age and how fit you are) • 180bpm (HR Max): measures the maximum number of beats per minute your heart should pump when fully exerting yourself (the standard formula is 220 minus your age) • 200 metres (elevation gain): a measurement of elevation using a built-in altimeter to show how hard you have worked going uphill or upstairs • 8.12km/h: your average pace is measured by the time it takes to run 1km • 185spm: your “steps per minute” or “cadence” is vital to showing how efficient your running form is (tracking allows you to target an optimal number) • 250 milliseconds (ground contact time): the amount of time…

1 KHAN SHATYR Begin your exploration at the northwestern end of the massive two-kilometre-long quadrangle of buildings that house the Kazakhstani government and major business institutions. In a young city filled with impressive architectural edifices, the Khan Shatyr is perhaps the most striking. A tent-shaped cone 150 metres tall, this enormous shopping and recreation centre was designed by Norman Foster’s architect firm and uses a transparent plastic compound that absorbs the sunlight and protects from the steppe winds, keeping the interior at a regulated balmy temperature throughout freezing winters and boiling summers. Three floors of designer shops, cafés and food outlets follow the standard “mall” pattern, but on the uppermost floor is the “Sky Beach”, a leisure park where you can lounge under palm trees on a real sand beach…

Qantas sets sights on world’s longest route QANTAS has ambitions to launch the world’s longest commercial flight within the next five years, with non-stop services from the east coast of Australia to London and New York. A non-stop flight between Sydney and London would take 20 hours and 20 minutes – almost three hours longer than the world’s current longest commercial flight: Qatar Airways’ Doha-Auckland service. Currently, no aircraft has the capability to make this journey, however Qantas hopes that by announcing its intentions it has “issued a challenge” to manufacturers Airbus and Boeing to successfully extend the range of new aircraft by 2022. qantas.com Dubai International trials free movie streaming DUBAI International Airport has launched a new service allowing travellers to stream the latest films and TV shows to…

These days, whether travelling for business or leisure, nobody wants a “cookie cutter experience”. That’s why THE PLAZA Seoul, Autograph Collection has unveiled its “Delight Seoul” package – a unique offering for the independent traveller curious to discover more of the exciting metropolis by combining sightseeing, shopping, beauty and transport benefits. Firstly, guests will enjoy stylish accommodation at THE PLAZA Seoul. Designed by Italian architect Guido Ciompi, all 410 spacious guest rooms feature distinctive designs and colour schemes, customised eco-friendly furniture and captivating views over central Seoul. The chic accommodation includes complimentary wifi and modern touchpad room control systems. The package also includes tickets for Seoul City Tour Bus, giving travellers the freedom to visit key cultural attractions such as N Seoul Tower, the Blue House, Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung palaces;…

International news channel France 24 was launched in December 2006 in English and French. Shortly afterwards, the channel also began broadcasting in Arabic. September 26, 2017 marked a new phase in France 24’s development with the launch of a fourth channel in Spanish. Today, as a global multimedia news broadcaster, France 24 boasts 160 correspondent bureaus worldwide and delivers 24/7 international news coverage to 333 million households across the world. In Asia, more than 60 million households receive the channel in either English, French or in both languages. France 24 offers viewers comprehensive coverage of world events, with a focus on cultural diversity and contrasting viewpoints via news bulletins, reports, magazines and debates. The diversity in origin and background of its journalists gives the content a unique touch, and helps…

Regal Hotels stays now earn Reward-U points Members of budget airline HK Express’s frequent flyer programme, Reward-U, can now earn bonus points when booking an eligible stay at participating Regal Hotels International properties in Hong Kong and mainland China. Reward-U members can earn 2,000 points on stays at a Regal Hotels property and 1,000 points for stays with an Iclub Hotels property. Regal Hotels currently has properties in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dezhou, Foshan and Xian, with hotels in Chengdu, Jiangmen and Kunshan set to join its portfolio next year. regalhotel.com; hkexpress.com Singapore Airlines and Alaska Airlines begin codeshare Singapore Airlines is expanding its footprint in North America with a new codeshare and frequent flyer agreement with Alaska Airlines. The Singapore carrier will begin placing its SQ code on Alaska’s flights…

It’s only when you leave the city that you realise the sprawling metropolitan area is but a speck in the monumental Midwestern landscape: to the west is the soaring backdrop of the magnificent Rocky Mountains, while to the east lie the big skies and slow, flat, endless slide of the Great Plains. Here are three ways to get a whole new perspective on the Mile-High City: ▪ Hire a car and head about half an hour west to the naturally formed Red Rocks Amphitheatre (open 7am-7pm April-Oct, 8am-4pm Nov-March; free; redrocksonline.com), the striking 9,000-seat location of U2’s Under a Blood Red Sky concert video. Tens of thousands come here every year to work out, hike, visit the museum, or simply to relive meaningful musical moments. The long view back to…

1 V&A MUSEUM AND KENSINGTON GARDENS Not as widely known as the British or Natural History museums, the Victoria and Albert Museum is a favourite among Londoners, focusing on human creativity through art and design, and staging regular exhibitions on a diverse range of subjects, from plywood to Pink Floyd. A short walk north on Exhibition Road brings you to Kensington Gardens, one of London’s royal parks, whose peaceful green spaces contain statues ranging from the grand Albert Memorial to the cutesy Peter Pan beside the Long Water. Other popular stopping points are The Orangery Restaurant in Kensington Palace, and the princess Diana Memorial Fountain. Access via South Kensington station on the London Underground. 2 TOWER OF LONDON AND ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL Few cities have a castle as historic as…

Now 50 years old, the “Baby Boeing” is arguably the most successful and versatile commercial aircraft ever made. Originally intended to be a short-range 107-seater, the B737 has developed over the past half-century into a 180-seater jet (the B737 Max) capable of crossing the Atlantic. What made the B737 special was its wider cabin (the same as the long-range B707). It enabled airlines to install six-across (3-3) seating and carry more passengers per flight, at a time when rivals such as the DC-9 and BAC1-11 offered 2-3 accommodation. As a teenager in June 1968, my first B737 flight was Zurich-Frankfurt with Lufthansa. Over the decades, I’ve flown B737s countless times with conventional and low-cost carriers over a variety of routes. Before the end of this summer, it will even be…