Innholdsfortegnelse for January - February 2018 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

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…

MATCH YOUR blood type to your treatment with Immunetra Spa Treatments at Bangkok’s Athénée Spa. The unique French-Siam approach is grounded in the principle that blood type is vital to determining individual physiological and personality characteristics. Blood type O is the Hunter; A is the Cultivator; and B is the Nomad. Therapists use this blood coding to employ specific herbs, spices, oils and even finely ground gemstones in customising a range of treatments from skin purification to massage. theatheneehotel.com…

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2018 The world’s best tennis players hit the global stage in Melbourne to battle for the first Grand Slam title of the season; Jan 15–18; Melbourne Park; from A$49 (US$37); ausopen.com SINGAPORE ART WEEK This massive art festival will see dozens of exhibitions, walking tours, talks, art fairs and after-parties happening across precincts, galleries and museums; Jan 17–28; various locations; ticket prices vary; artweek.sg CATS (MUSICAL) Following its triumphant season in London’s West End, the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical CATS comes to Hong Kong for a limited season; Jan 6–Feb 11; Lyric Theatre; from HK$445 (US$57); hkticketing.com…

The cliché about getting lost in translation is one thing. Simply getting lost is another. Tokyo has always been notoriously difficult to get around, from the confusing address system (not based on street addresses) to a mind-boggling network of train lines. Wifi hotspots, accessible data and English-language apps have also typically been few and far between. Short of a personal guide, a good GPS system (and a stellar sense of direction) used to be the only hope for foreigners to the city. However, with the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, and not forgetting the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Tokyo is seeing a swathe of tech infrastructure and service industry upgrades that promise to make the city more accessible and easier to navigate for the growing number of…

‘The “hub-busting” B787 enables airlines to fly between new city pairs economically’ There’s something unique about a brand-new aircraft. It’s not just the fresh-out-of-the box smell, or the sight of an interior as the designer intended it, rather than following the wear and tear of hundreds of passengers. It’s not even the specially selected crew accompanying you on the inaugural flight, or the senior pilot chosen to fly it home. It’s the difference of approach. Geographically, this is because you are flying directly from the factory, whether it’s Boeing at Everett, Washington, or North Charleston, South Carolina, or Airbus at Toulouse or Hamburg. Mentally, it’s because when you board an aircraft already in service, your excitement will be reserved for the destination; the aeroplane is just a means of conveyance.…

Two MacDonnell Road is more than an aparthotel: it’s a place to relax, a place to feel tranquil, a place to re-energise, a place with room to think, a place to feel right at home. Our convenient location in the heart of Hong Kong’s upmarket Mid-Levels residential area offers guests the best of both worlds, with fast access to Central CBD and Hong Kong Park and the Zoological and Botanical Gardens next door. This ideal spot offers stunning views encompassing both the cityscape and peaceful green surroundings. All 215 guestrooms and suites are generously sized, ranging from 336sq ft to 750sq ft, and all offer fully equipped kitchenettes with microwave ovens, electric stoves and refrigerators for you to rustle up your favourite dishes at leisure. To truly give our residents…

AS BUSINESS TRAVELLER ASIA-PACIFIC enters its 12th year of association with the Chi Heng Foundation (CHF), we are proud that our efforts, and those of our many partners in the hotel and airline industries, are making a real difference to the lives of so many young people in China. At the same time, we are humbled by the hard work and dedication of CHF’s staff and volunteers, who deserve our greatest respect and admiration. Over the past 15 years, CHF has fulfilled a long-running commitment to provide educational sponsorship and psychosocial support to AIDS-impacted children in China, from primary school through to university. In spite of the large number of students spread over a vast geographic area, Chi Heng doesn’t use intermediaries, preferring to disburse funds for the children directly…

The Oriental Club Lounge on the sixth floor is a smart, spacious area with an adjoining outdoor terrace Mandarin Oriental Taipei BACKGROUND The Mandarin Oriental Taipei opened in 2014, adding a luxury urban retreat to a city predominantly served by upscale business brands. WHERE IS IT? Located in Songshan district, a five-minute cab ride from Songshan International Airport or a 40-minute drive to Taoyuan International Airport. Songshan is a major financial centre, with many banking institutions on Dunhua North Road. Entertainment options will most likely require a cab journey. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The grand exterior is inspired by classic European architecture, with a large circular driveway surrounding an ornate fountain (and a steady stream of taxis). The extravagant style continues throughout the property, from the giant 1,400kg butterfly-shaped chandelier in…

It begins with a Rolls Royce limousine, whisking you from the airport in total comfort to our exclusive West Kowloon oasis. You arrive in an extravagant lobby, defined by a cascading crystal chandelier, where you’ll enjoy a seamless, personalised check-in with our Guest Relations Ambassador. Dedicated to meeting your every whim, our attention to detail is the hallmark of our service, from preparing your morning cappuccino exactly how you like it to crafting unique itineraries that meet your particular desires. Clever interior design adds to the luxurious sense of space in our generously sized rooms, with soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a lush, green waterfront. All rooms offer premium facilities from elegant walk-in showers to smart LED TVs. You’ll notice the thoughtful details that blend traditional Chinese elements with…

EMIRATES has unveiled its new B777 interiors. First class has fully enclosed private suites in a 1-1-1 layout and a design “inspired by Mercedes-Benz”. The new business class is in a 2-3-2 configuration – unpopular because the passenger seated in the middle is required to climb over the aisle passenger when the seats are fully reclined. Economy is ten-across, in a 3-4-3 configuration, but all cabins have outstanding in-flight entertainment with more than 2,500 channels. emirates.com…

PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS has added 25 new member hotels and resorts across eight countries. Joining Asian properties such as Harbour Grand Hong Kong and One Farrer Hotel & Spa, are The Primus Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao, Wanda Reign Wuhan and Connect Busan. Members of the iPrefer loyalty programme can enjoy exclusive rates when booking a hotel under the group. Small Luxury Hotels of the World has also introduced four members globally, including Ovolo Woolloomooloo, which stretches along the longest timber-piled wharf in the world and looks out over iconic Sydney Harbour. preferredhotels.com and slh.com…

Amid the soaring glass towers and modern buildings of Shenzhen’s Futian CBD is a rare pocket of idiosyncratic low-rise buildings. The ramshackle structures of Gangxia village are colloquially known as “handshake buildings” after their densely packed formation, meaning neighbours could literally shake hands through the windows. Crammed full of tiny apartments, independent shops, food stalls and more, the “urban village” is bustling with life and atmosphere, providing affordable accommodation for the massive influx of migrants and low-income workers, a melting pot of street food cuisine from Hunan to Sichuan and shops catering to every possible need and want. This charismatic settlement is one of the last of its kind, a symptom of the rapid changes that have seen Shenzhen turn from a collection of traditional fishing villages with some 30,000…

The wings Passengers often don’t want to think about the wings, since it seems a miracle that an aircraft can fly without them flapping. But those of the B787 are a thing of beauty. The aircraft is identifiable to even the most inept planespotters by virtue of its raked wingtip (where the wing sweeps upwards at the end). The wings are designed to give the aircraft greater fuel efficiency and allow it to climb more effectively. They also flex. At the Boeing factory I was told that they had a machine that tested how strong the wings were by lifting them upwards until they broke. In the case of the B787, its wings broke the machine instead. Reduced turbulence Fly often enough and you will inevitably encounter turbulence. But with…

1 St Louis Cathedral New Orleans is back on its feet in a big way. Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, but the following decade saw investment and repairs, and a renewed focus on tourism. The city remains one of the most culturally intriguing and visually arresting places in the US. The streets of the French Quarter have retained a unique blend of influences stemming from its French, Spanish and African roots. The St Louis Cathedral – or the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, to give it its full name – is the standout building. The oldest cathedral in the US and the third building on the site, following earlier churches dating back to 1718, it was rebuilt in 1850. It is beautiful both inside and out, with the…

The UAE’s capital lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Arabian Gulf, with hundreds of smaller islands dotted across the seascape. Such a setting makes for some stunning backdrops, in particular when the sun goes down – from marina and canal to sea and rooftop vistas. Here are eight of Abu Dhabi’s best restaurants with a view. INAKAYA The capital’s Venetian Village, part of the sprawling Ritz-Carlton complex, mimics a charming neighbourhood with Renaissance-style buildings. Restaurants dot the courtyard, one of which is the Japanese transplant from Japan and New York, Inakaya. Its quaint terrace offers uninterrupted vistas of the canal and the rippling waters. Round the corner you can catch a glimpse of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in all its glory, a stunning architectural masterpiece that rivals…

‘Instead of a nap we went upstairs to the lounge area... we were more social in the days before social media’ My first trip in first class was on a BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) flight in 1973, just before the long-haul airline merged with its shorter-haul stablemate BEA (British European Airways) to form British Airways. It was pure chance, and possibly a spot of overbooking by the airline, that saw me, in those days a young reporter, upgraded from the depths of economy to the heady heights of the premium cabin (no Club World or business class existed at that time). As now, there were separate check-in desks for first class passengers at Heathrow Airport. “Where would you like to sit, sir,” I was asked, “an aisle or window…

Mixcder MS301 These over-ear headphones connect to the sound source over Bluetooth, which I’ve always avoided in the past for three reasons: first, Bluetooth can often be quite complicated; second, the sound quality often suffers; and third, there is sometimes a slight delay, which is annoying when watching something on your iPad or laptop and there are lip-synch problems. With the Mixcder MS301, these problems seem to have been addressed. The connection was very easy. I simply turned on the devices in the correct order (headphones first, then device) and the items paired instantly, with my phone, iPad and laptop. I found that on returning to the iPad at a later date I occasionally had to ask the iPad to forget the headphones and then re-pair them, but that’s the…

The age of commercial supersonic air travel may return in the next decade. Japan Airlines ( JAL) recently invested US$10 million in Boom Supersonic with the goal of developing a new commercial aircraft capable of flying at speeds of up to Mach 2.2. According to JAL, the aircraft could “cut f light times in half ” and is currently expected to enter service sometime in the mid-2020s. Details of the aircraft are slim at present, but it is expected to have between 45 and 55 business class seats. The investment is something of a gamble for JAL – supersonic commercial f light was last a reality in 2003, when British Airways retired its Concorde jet because it had proven financially unviable.…

A brand by The Ascott Limited, The Crest Collection was launched in 2016. The Crest Collection is created with the luxury jetsetter in mind, offering modernity and premium comfort in prestigious locales, blending heritage with modern luxury. Bespoke luxury living is the defining trait of The Crest Collection. The Crest Collection is where contemporary design and European grandeur meet, where luxury knows no limit. Comprising a handpicked collection of elegantly designed serviced residences, each luxurious serviced residence offers a feel of home with plush living environments, modern facilities and unparalleled services. Over in France, two options are available for short and extended stays in the City of Light. Clad in an Art Nouveau-style façade, La Clef Louvre Paris is just steps away from its namesake museum, and only a few…

Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen is a welcoming luxury retreat in the heart of Futian, the central business district of Shenzhen. The hotel is steps away from the newly opened Futian Station on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link – the largest underground station in Asia – and provides convenient access to both Shenzhen and Hong Kong’s international airports. Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, Central Walk and Coco Park are all within walking distance, and the hotel is surrounded by shopping malls, bars, cinemas and supermarkets. The 40-storey luxury hotel houses 528 guestrooms and 53 serviced apartments offering impressive city and park views and the legendary Shangri-La hospitality. For business events, the hotel’s extensive 4,800 sqm of conferencing and catering facilities can host all kinds of functions for 20 to 2,000 delegates.…

‘Sunrise at Angkor Wat is one of those rare bucket-list activities that truly deserve the hype’ Catching the sunrise at Angkor Wat is one of those rare bucket-list activities that truly deserve the hype. The mystical experience began with a 4.30am wake-up call and a short trek through pitch-black jungle. As dawn filtered into the night sky, a trio of soaring monolithic structures emerged from the darkness. The sheer size of the ancient towers was way beyond my expectations: more than 200 metres of intricately carved sandstone. Entering the 200-hectare (500-acre) complex from the deserted Ta Kou east entrance (most people arrive from the west gate) afforded me a rare tourist-free moment to absorb the magnitude of the thousand-year-old site – a faint chorus of chanting from Buddhist monks providing…

Disconnecting from everyday pressures gives you time to reboot. Physically, your body lets go of chronic tension, initiating a mini-detox and essential self-healing. Mentally, your brain de-stresses, and this psychological space can throw up solutions to problems, bring creative ideas to the fore and maximise sleep quality. Relaxing is good for your heart and immune system, memory and decision-making, mood and weight loss. However, like all valuable skills, relaxing needs to be practised, and when you’re on the road, spas are your secret weapon. Book in for a little – or a lot of – guided relaxation targeted to your specific needs, and ideally learn some new habits to take home. UNWIND IN BANGKOK The city’s most anticipated hotel opening of 2017, the flawlessly stylish Park Hyatt Bangkok includes the…

The topper enhances the comfort levels, as there is something between you and the seat cushion British Airways B747-400 Club World LONDON–NEW YORK BACKGROUND British Airways is rolling out a new service in its Club World (long-haul business class) cabin. This includes changes to the food and drink service, along with new bedding and amenities by The White Company. The upgraded service debuted between London Heathrow and New York JFK, and will progressively be rolled out across the network in 2018. My flight was on a B747-400 configured with the “super-high-J” cabin – that is, 86 business class seats split across the main deck and the upper deck. BOARDING I was directed to my seat 20A, towards the rear of the middle (main) cabin of the three Club World cabins.…

Terroir Parisien Parisian super-chef Yannick Alléno opened his first Hong Kong establishment in August 2017. The cheerful bistro-style eatery is surprisingly affordable given its high-end location in Central’s Prince’s Building. There’s an open kitchen, island bar and two seating areas with booths and tables. Stylish black-and-white photos line the walls, while stainless-steel tables and paper table mats reminded me of my favourite café-bistros in Paris’s Montmartre district. Starters include obvious staples like onion soup and oven-roasted Camembert alongside some more intriguing choices. We opted for Caviar de lentilles et blinis (“Beluga” lentils with nutmeg crème fraîche and warm blinis; HK$88/US$11) and Bouchées de champignons de Paris aux escargots (snails baked in a Paris mushroom cap with parsley and garlic butter; HK$158/US$20). The flavours were smooth and delicate, the snails fantastic,…

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been in operation for almost 20 years, since international f lights were moved from Kai Tak Airport, in the middle of the chaotic Kowloon Peninsula, to the newly reclaimed Chek Lap Kok Island – located to the west of Hong Kong’s largest outlying island Lantau. While the new location is farther away from the city centre, thanks to Hong Kong’s excellent public transport system there are a number of ways to get into town. Here we help you plot the most efficient course to your destination. HKIA has two terminals (T1 and T2), but all arrivals come into Terminal 1, and it is from here – through two customs channels, A and B – that all transportation is accessed. Unless you are being met…