Innholdsfortegnelse for July-August 2021 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

ACCORʼS NOVOTEL has chosen designs from four firms following a global competition that it says will “bring the brand’s new vision of modern 21st-century style to the world”. The four concepts (including that from Hypothesis, pictured) will make their debut “over the next several years” in select hotels in Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo before ultimately being rolled out worldwide.…

AIR NEW ZEALAND conducted a four-week review of its domestic catering in June, by offering a variety of new products to passengers for a “thumbs up, thumbs down" review. “We know our customers love the cookie and chip combo, but what if there’s something else?” said ANZ general manager Leeanne Langridge. Some of the changes included signage on trolleys so customers know what’s on offer, and the provision of alternative snacks, ranging from mandarins and popcorn to chips and unusual ice cream flavours.…

QANTAS is increasing its domestic services, with seven new routes and larger aircraft being added to selected destinations. Three new routes are being added from Townsville to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, with two routes from Adelaide to Cairns and Hobart, a Sydney-Uluru service, and flights from Perth to Gold Coast. The carrier is to roster its 236-seat B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft onto selected flights between Sydney and Perth featuring Qantas’ Business Suites.…

20% are more likely to pre-order and collect food and drink pre-departure 22% are more likely to fly short-haul 24% are more likely to use unmanned facilities, such as biometric passport kiosks 48% are more likely to use airport lounge access than pre-pandemic 54% are more likely to take private transport to and from the airport 74% said they would be happy to use a digital health certificate 72% see quarantining as a major deterrent for international travel Source: Collinson, March 2021…

The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked huge damage on the hospitality industry over the past year. To keep afloat, hotels have had to adapt quickly to new regulations – redesigning spaces and enhancing cleaning to keep guests and staff safe. Guests, too, have changed their behaviour. Whereas once they may not have thought much about the cleaning work that goes on behind the scenes, now travellers prioritise hygiene when choosing a hotel. According to a Skyscanner survey of travellers from the UK, the US, Australia, South Korea and Singapore, 55 per cent score sanitation and hygiene practices as “extremely important” when it comes to booking a room in future, compared to price (48 per cent) and location (45 per cent). Three-quarters of respondents agreed this issue has become more important since…

1 WAT SUTHAT Take advantage of the relatively calm mid-morning traffic with a cab ride to Bangkok’s old city (THB100/ US$3 from Sukhumvit or Silom) where you can explore the myriad royal and religious highlights. Kick off the stroll at the astoundingly beautiful Wat Suthat Thepwararam, home of Thailand’s biggest wi-hahn (main chapel), and the Giant Swing, a towering landmark formerly used for Brahman ceremonies. From there, it is an easy walk (or short tuk-tuk journey) to other big-hitting sights, including Wat Saket (Golden Mount), the Grand Palace, and temple complex Wat Pho – famous for its giant reclining Buddha. 2 ROTI MATABA Missing an opportunity to eat in Bangkok is woeful – so it’s time for lunch. Hip, upscale options near the royal sights include Nusara, an…

BACKGROUND Originally opened in 2001, the JW Marriott is co-managed and linked with the Marriott Cancun next door and so benefits from a huge range of bars, restaurants and leisure facilities while at the same time not appearing, at least on the face of it, to be a giant resort. The hotel has also had a renovation of most of its public areas, restaurants and rooms. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The lobby is very JW Marriott – there’s a large marble reception area on the left and a concierge desk on the right, with the space then leading on to the lobby bar, where giant double-height windows overlook the swimming pool and Caribbean Sea. Marriott Rewards guests have their own desk at one end of reception. A porter offered to take…

QATAR AIRWAYS is set to resume flight operations to Phuket from July 1, with a four times weekly service. The Doha-Phuket route will be operated by the airline’s modern and sustainable Boeing 787 Dreamliner, offering 22 seats in business class and 232 in economy class. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group chief executive, said:“With the resumption of flights to Phuket, Qatar Airways marks a significant milestone in the recovery of international tourism. Famed for its many exotic beaches, family-friendly atmosphere, turquoise waters, and delicious local cuisine, Phuket is an ideal destination for a summer getaway.”…

AN “OMAKASE COCKTAIL BAR” has debuted at The Aubrey, the eccentric Japanese izakaya that opened in Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong earlier this year. In Japanese tradition, omakase is a chef-led dining experience, in which diners enjoy a curated series of dishes. The new four-seater omakase bar will offer a unique beverage-led twist on the experience. Renowned mixoloist Devender Sehgal will take guests on a journey of original cocktails featuring premium lesser-known Japanese spirits, such as Shochu, Awamori and Umeshu. US$200 per person. mandarinoriental.com…

After months of lockdown, escaping to paradise sounds better than ever – and the Maldives is about as synonymous with paradise as it gets. Dreamy white sands, overwater villas and dazzling marine life are just for starters. Get ready to explore new luxury resorts, holistic wellness retreats and eco-sanctuary havens, with everything from oceanfront offices to James Bond-style water toys. Whether you’re working remotely or on holiday with family, one of these eight luxury resorts is bound to have the right getaway option for you. WFB (Work From Beach) VAKKARU MALDIVES Working from home is so 2020. Now, it’s all about combining work with inspiring scenery. Vakkaru Maldives, a pearl-shaped island located in the Baa Atoll, launched a dream ‘workation’ package in October 2020 that’s perfect for remote workers. Available…

BACKGROUND Open since May, following an initial launch in December 2020, the Mayfair Townhouse is part of Iconic Luxury Hotels, which includes prestigious properties Cliveden House and Chewton Glen in its portfolio. The site formerly housed the Hilton London Green Park and has been gutted and refurbished. WHAT’S IT LIKE? Some 15 Georgian townhouses on Half Moon Street have been combined to create 172 individually designed rooms and suites. In the Victorian era the street was popular with bachelors, bohemians and artists, and so the townhouses were split into apartments for singletons – in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Algernon Moncrieff resided in one. Design firm Goddard Littlefair has drawn on this heritage to create flamboyant interiors that pay homage to both real and fictional personalities – from…

The shared living space in the lobby has a large kitchen and plenty of seating designed for working, dining and socialising BACKGROUND Adagio is a joint venture between Accor and the Pierre and Vacances Center Parcs group. Open since April for essential stays and May to all, this is the brand’s sixth UK property. A London Sutton property is due to open in July 2021. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The four-star aparthotel is set in the former London Olympics Athletes Village. Now called East Village, the area is home to more than 2,000 apartments, numerous independent food and drink outlets, and hotels including the Stratford and, opening next March, the Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton. The 16-floor new-build’s design incorporates geometric shapes in teal, pink, grey and blue, and contemporary…

With the gradual reopening of international travel, the past few months have seen the introduction of rapid or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at airports around the world. Pre-flight Covid-19 testing – and testing upon landing – are becoming routine for travellers, as increasing numbers of countries demand proof of negative results before departure and upon entry. The good news is that several airports in Asia-Pacific now offer testing centres with rapid tests. Here’s a round-up of testing facilities at major regional airports, where to find them, and how soon you can expect your results. Note: Many Asia-Pacific countries are currently closed to foreign nationals, regardless of vaccination status or a negative test. AUCKLAND AIRPORT How does testing work? A pre-departure PCR test can be booked at The Airport Doctors.…

UNITED HAS SIGNED an agreement with Boom Supersonic to buy 15 of its Overture aircraft. The deal – which includes an option for a further 35 aircraft – would see the carrier purchase the aircraft “once Overture meets United’s demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements”. Overture is scheduled to be rolled out by Boom in 2025, take flight in 2026 and carry passengers by 2029. It is designed to fly at speeds of Mach 1.7 – twice the speed of current commercial jets – which would potentially halve the journey time on United’s New York Newark-London route to three-and-a-half hours. United is the first US airline to sign a commercial agreement with Boom Supersonic – the company also has pre-orders from Japan Airlines and Virgin Group.…

SINGAPORE AIRLINES PLANS to restart services from Manchester on July 17, with three-times weekly flights operated by an A350-900 aircraft. The carrier said it also hopes to resume onward flights from Manchester to Houston. Manchester airport’s managing director, Karen Smart, said: “Singapore Airlines is one of our longest-serving airlines and its routes have been extremely popular with passengers from across the north over the years. “We look forward to working with our colleagues at Singapore Airlines to make this returning service a success, especially given the destination’s inclusion on the UK government’s green list. Together, we hope to be able to relaunch the Houston service as soon as possible once travel to and from the United States is opened up.”…

‘Border controls, quarantine, lockdowns and track-and-trace systems were put into place early on’ Many of us haven’t set foot on a plane in well over a year – and we’ve become far too comfortable conducting Zoom meetings at home in our pyjamas. But with vaccination programmes starting to roll out, alongside initiatives such as travel bubbles and vaccine passports, could it soon be time to dig out our carry-ons? LOCKED DOWN Asia-Pacific nations handled the initial Covid-19 outbreak more effectively than Western counterparts. Fast responses by governments saw border controls, quarantine procedures, lockdowns and track-and-trace systems put into place early on, with preventative measures, such as masks and social distancing policies, implemented widely in local communities. The hard-line strategy proved successful, with lower case numbers across most of Asia. But…

BACKGROUND This new property from SBE Hotels opened in February. SBE is now owned by Accor after the French group bought 50 per cent of the brand in 2018 and then bought the rest while also merging with Ennismore. Among the SBE brands are Mondrian, Delano, Hyde Hotels and SLS. They are all very fashionable, or, as SBE would have it, they represent “a global tribe of individuals, partners and progressives”. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel is located on the first four floors of a 20-storey L-shaped building facing the Caribbean Sea and the entrance to the marina. The other levels contain luxury apartments. These have a separate entrance around the corner from the hotel so you don’t mingle with the owners in the lifts, although they do have the…

BACKGROUND Open since May, this is the eighth outpost for the design-focused aparthotel brand Locke, which has properties in the UK, Ireland and Germany. It is part of the Edyn group, which also includes Saco serviced apartments. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The new-build draws inspiration from its surroundings and is aimed at younger business travellers. The design, by Red Deer Architects, features industrial-style elements, bold prints and glass walls that let in light and give a sense of a shared environment. Sustainability is a focus, with eco-friendly amenities and plenty of greenery. To the left of reception is Shaman coffee bar, followed by a co-working area with communal tables, lounge seating and plenty of plug sockets. This space has its own street entrance and an oval bar. Stairs take you down…

An ocean of talent This year’s United Nations World Oceans Day took place in partnership with Oceanic Global and Blancpain, and focused on the theme “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods”. Winners of the eighth UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition were announced at the virtual event on June 8, with photos across six categories curated by underwater and wildlife photographer Ellen Cuylaerts. US photographer Renee Capozzola’s beautiful action shot, taken on Adonara island in the Solor Archipelago of Indonesia, won in the “Ocean, Life and Livelihoods” category. The photo shows two local fishermen paddling in a traditional canoe along a shallow coral reef, looking for a good place to put down their lines. The men were practising handline fishing, a type of sustainable fishing without poles or nets. To view…