Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

TAIWANESE start-up carrier Starlux Airlines has taken delivery of an A321neo, making it the first A321neo introduced into Taiwan. A pilot and an aircraft maintenance technician himself, Chang Kuo-wei, the chairman of Starlux Airlines, flew this new aircraft with the registration number B-58201 from the Airbus Delivery Centre in Hamburg, Germany to Taipei in person, via Dubai and Bangkok. The flight arrived at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at around 1120 on Monday October 28. The airline’s A321neo features the Airbus Cabin Flex (ACF) configuration, which the airline says enables “more flexible cabin configurations”, and allows for more seats while still providing a “roomy cabin” by modifying the fuselage. Starlux Airlines’ A321neo has 188 seats, including eight fully flat seats in business class and 180 seats in economy class. Business Traveller…

JAPAN AIRLINES (JAL) has introduced self-service bag drop machines and facial recognition technology at Tokyo's Narita Airport in an effort to shorten the time required to board an aircraft. The new services are in line with the airline’s “JAL Smart Airport” concept. A spokesman from JAL told Business Traveller Asia-Pacific that this concept is “based on the utilisation of IT to provide a smooth check-in process, and the company will add resources (human services) to areas in need”. With this new concept, JAL aims to “feature a calm and no-hassle airport experience and provide multiple options to match the needs of every customer and support desks where needed.” Beginning October 28, JAL’s passengers were able to check their baggage through the self-service baggage system at Counter O in Narita Airport…

AIR ASTANA, Kazakhstan’s national carrier, introduced its first Airbus A321LR at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport on October 9. These narrow-body planes are expected to replace the airline’s fleet of ageing Boeing 757 jets, which it has flown since 2003. The aircraft is configured with 166 seats, with 16 in business class and 150 in economy class – the same number of seats as the airline’s B757s. There are five rows in the business class cabin. Rows one, three and five are arranged in a 2-2 pattern; these seats are arranged in pairs but with a privacy divider in the middle. Rows two and four are 1-1; these rows have the cabin’s throne seats – one of the main improvements in the new business class cabin. While the legroom space is…

The City of Light is justifiably regarded as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, instantly recognisable for its Haussmann buildings and grand boulevards peppered with chic boutiques, brasseries and boulangeries. What most travellers miss, however, are the grittier arrondissements with arguably more character than the affluent picture-perfect centre of the city. Off the beaten track, these former working-class areas provide respite from the tourist-packed banks of the Seine. Becoming more gentrified by the day, the neighbourhoods have recently acquired a reputation as “Bobo” (bourgeois bohemian), a product of their burgeoning café and arts scenes. With this, however, has come rising house prices and the danger that such quarters will become uniform – a source of anxiety for residents. Here’s our guide to three up-and-coming areas worth exploring…

Why shell out for a spacious suite when you stay at a hotel, rather than just staying in a more budget-friendly standard guestroom? Different travellers have different reasons, but the consensus among frequent business travellers is that a standard room often does not quite provide everything you need to smoothly and seamlessly conduct your business when on a trip. Indeed, trying to conduct your business in too small a room can sometimes lead to embarrassing misunderstandings, as experienced by Business Traveller Forum user Nick Inkster – a UK-based retiree who worked in the hospitality business in CEO roles – during a Canadian hotel stay around the turn of the millennium. “In Montreal years ago – can’t remember which hotel – I had a colleague come to my suite for a…

After witnessing explosive growth in its hotel industry last year, Shanghai has continued to see new hotel openings in 2019. Some represent the very first properties in Asia for international luxury brands, others showcase how local culture can be integrated into hotel design and services. Then there are those that focus on enticing a new generation of travellers with more customised services. What’s more, most hotels now make an effort to mix business and leisure, so as well as meeting the demands of business travellers, they also cater for leisure and family guests. Here is our roundup of some of the newest hotels in Shanghai – a testament to the city’s rapid development as an international metropolis. MIXING ART AND LOCAL CULTURE HOTEL INDIGO SHANGHAI JING’AN Each Hotel Indigo property…

In the days before airlines used clever algorithms to select candidates for that elusive cabin upgrade, it was left to the discretion of the airline duty manager to bestow such an honour on a favoured passenger. I’m not saying that it was a free for all, but in those days, as a passenger, it was always worth asking, and many did. So what could you do to single yourself out to the check-in agent as someone who would not look out of place perched on a business class seat; as someone who could hold their own in that hallowed space that is first class? In my younger days as an airport manager, I came across just about every trick in the book when it came to blagging an upgrade. From…

BACKGROUND Last renovated in 2012, this property is one of four Somerset serviced apartments in the Vietnamese capital. The other three are Somerset Hoa Binh, Somerset West Lake and Somerset West Point. Somerset is a subsidiary of The Ascott, which itself is a subsidiary of Singapore-based real-estate company Capitaland. WHERE IS IT? Ten minutes’ walk from Hanoi Railway Station and 45 minutes’ drive from Noi Bai International Airport. The property is within walking distance of the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. The central location is great; you can reach most of the main areas either on foot or with a short taxi or motorcycle taxi ride. WHAT’S IT LIKE? Somerset Grand Hanoi has 185 serviced apartment units, from one- to three-bedroom layouts. The property is housed in a skyscraper…

JAPANESE AIRLINE ANA will reduce the use of single-use plastics inside its cabins and lounges by replacing the plastic straws, stirring sticks and cutlery with eco-friendly materials from February 2020. The airline said the stirring sticks, currently made from polypropylene and used in ANA’s cabins and lounges, will be replaced with ones made from wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international non-profit organisation aiming to “promote the responsible management of the world’s forests”. From March 2020, cutlery made from polystyrene offered to passengers in economy class with meals served on international routes will also be replaced with wood certified by the FSC. Plastic straws used in ANA's cabins and lounges made from polypropylene will also be replaced with bioplastic or paper from April 2020. According to the…

K11 Artus This ultra-luxury serviced residence on Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront offers long-stay guests a selection of three palatial penthouse residences. One was designed by Fiona Barratt-Campbell, the wife of English professional football manager and former player Sol Campbell, and features furniture like the “Sol chair”. The penthouses range from a generous 283 to 344 sqm. The Middle House Shanghai While many hotels have large numbers of suites in their room inventories, others opt for very few or even just a single suite. The Middle House Shanghai has just one suite in its entire portfolio of rooms (excluding the penthouse). The 110 sqm Gallery Suite offers special in-room amenities such as a yoga mat from Canadian athletic apparel retailer Lululemon, and a Native Union x La Boite Bluetooth…

AS BUSINESS TRAVELLER ASIA-PACIFIC enters its 14th 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 17 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…

BACKGROUND KLM’s Amsterdam-Hong Kong route operates once a day. BOARDING I was connecting from London Heathrow (to read reviews of that flight plus the new KLM Crown Lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol, visit businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested). We boarded at Gate 22 at 1620 for the 1700 departure on KL887 from Schiphol to Hong Kong International, a flight time of 11 hours. I was greeted on board and directed to my seat, 1K, at the front of the cabin by the window. My jacket was taken and I was offered water, orange juice or champagne, although there were also small cans of Heineken as an extra offering. Very Dutch. THE SEAT KLM uses a number of aircraft types on this route, including B747, B777-200ER and B777-300ER planes, with this flight being operated by a…

BACKGROUND An extensive renovation of this 511-room property was completed in December 2018. WHERE IS IT? A few minutes’ walk from Orchard MRT station. The Grand Hyatt is across the street, and The Tanglin Club and The American Club are both within walking distance. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The lobby looks fresh and welcoming following the refurbishment, with two carpeted staircases leading upstairs to the left and right and a chandelier hanging overhead. By the guestroom lifts is a small internet lounge in case you don’t have your computer with you. ROOMS I stayed in a Royal Club Premier room on the 14th floor with access to the Royal Club Lounge on Level 15. The bed pillows, yellow armchair and paintings above and next to the bed lend a freshness to…

Flying can be a source of anxiety for people with nut allergies. The risk of a reaction in a contained environment, 35,000 feet up in the air, is a very real concern, and fears are not allayed by the varying policies of airlines. Many carriers follow the IATAs (International Air Transport Association) recommendations for allergen-sensitive passengers as a framework. Note, however, that there are still no clear-cut rules governing the in-flight serving of nuts. As a result, airlines state that they cannot guarantee a totally allergen-free environment, as it is not possible to ban passengers from bringing nut-based products on board or stop them from consuming them. Here is what you can do. CARRY AN EPI PEN IN YOUR HAND LUGGAGE Bring an adrenaline auto-injector on board and carry an…

PASSENGERS flying on Cathay Pacific's long-haul and select regional routes will have more entertainment content to sift through while they're up in the air. The Hong Kong-based carrier says it is giving passengers four times the entertainment currently available on its flights. The airline says that passengers can look forward to more newly released movies, sports coverage, complete TV box sets and more Asian content. Sports fans flying on the Airbus A350 aircraft will be able to watch live coverage of the latest games on the flight as the airline has partnered with the Sport 24 channel to offer customers real-time coverage of sporting events. The airline has also paired up with streaming service and independent entertainment specialist MUBI in an effort to source “remastered classics and films that never…

HYATT is set to open its first Andaz-branded property in Macau in the first half of 2021. The property will have over 700 rooms and suites, a lounge, a bar and restaurant, a fitness centre and an indoor pool. Hyatt says the hotel will be connected to the Galaxy International Convention Center and a 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena with a dedicated private lounge catering to large meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) groups. The hotel is also part of the Galaxy Integrated Resorts precinct – an area with entertainment options, over 200 luxury brands, leisure attractions and more than 120 dining options. Hyatt paired up with the Galaxy Entertainment Group, a resorts, hospitality and gaming company to introduce the property in Macau. hyatt.com…

PASSENGERS travelling with Taiwanese carrier Eva Air in its Royal Laurel and Premium Laurel classes now receive brand-new Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kits. Since November 15, those travelling in the above-mentioned classes on long-haul flights departing from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport are provided with a set of hard-case amenity kits that resemble a mini suitcase. The airline began giving Ferragamo soft-bag amenity kits to Royal Laurel and Premium Laurel class passengers on long-haul inbound flights to Taipei at the end of 2018. It now gives passengers the second-generation version of these amenity kits, which feature both Taiwan’s aboriginal rhombus totems and Western cultural elements. The airline says the amenity kits will also come with exclusive Ferragamo key chains, available for passengers in mid-December. evaair.com…

Many countries are ancient, but Armenia is unusual in having been known as such for at least 2,500 years Wherever you are in Yerevan, Mount Ararat is watching you. Shimmering on the horizon, snow-capped even in summer, it is more than 17,000 feet (5,181 metres) high and only 60km away, yet is unreachable from the city. Lost to Turkey in 1921, when national borders shifted, it is now totem-like to the millions of diaspora Armenians, a symbol of the sadness of this historic yet, to the rest of the world, almost forgotten nation. For those living in Armenia’s capital today, however, it is less of a concern. Yes, the mountain is ever-present, and features on the country’s coat of arms (along with Noah’s Ark, a reference to the Biblical boat’s…

Forty-six kilometres south of Beijing’s city centre lies a golden phoenix, its wings spread as though ready to soar into the sky. This is the Chinese capital’s hugely anticipated second international airport, which finally began operations on September 25 and is poised to absorb the surging demand for air travel to and from the Chinese capital. In 2018, the passenger volume of Beijing Capital International Airport – which since its opening in 1958 has been Beijing’s main commercial airport – reached over 100 million. Even with the benefit of three terminals and several rounds of expansion, this volume far exceeds the 83 million passengers per year for which the airport was designed. Indeed, Beijing Capital, located in the city’s northeast, is now the second busiest airport in the world by…

BACKGROUND Pan Pacific Hanoi opened in September 1998. It was first managed by Meritus Westlake Hotel, then rebranded as Sofitel Plaza Hanoi. In October 2016 it was rebranded again to become Pan Pacific Hanoi. Various parts of the hotel have undergone refurbishment in recent years. Most recently was the fitness centre in 2018, and before that the lobby, Pacifica restaurant, Song Hong Bar and smaller meeting rooms in 2016. WHERE IS IT? On the edge of gorgeous West Lake, the largest lake in Hanoi and a popular spot for recreation. The Sheraton Hanoi and Intercontinental Hanoi West Lake are less than a 20-minute walk away. Pan Pacific Hanoi is a half-hour walk or ten-minute drive from the Old Quarter. WHAT’S IT LIKE? This is an impressive property with an enviable…

BACKGROUND Opened in 1990, The Sherwood Taipei counts itself among the first luxury hotels to open in the Taiwanese capital. (The Grand Hyatt Taipei also opened the same year.) During that decade, The Sherwood Taipei played host to foreign dignitaries including former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and US President George HW Bush. Taipei’s luxury hotel market has now matured and high-end accommodation is no longer a novelty in the city. WHERE IS IT? In the Minsheng Dunhua financial district, a five-minute drive from the inner-city Songshan Airport, serving domestic and some regional routes, and 40-60 minutes’ drive from Taoyuan International Airport. The hotel offers easy access to the rest of the city via the MRT’s Wenhu Line. Zhongshan Junior High School MRT station is around six minutes’ walk away,…