Innholdsfortegnelse for October - December 2022 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

UPFRONT AIR FRANCE HAS ANNOUNCED plans to resume flights to New York's Newark airport. The French flag carrier last operated a nonstop service between Paris CDG and Newark in 2012. A daily year-round service will launch on December 12 using a B777-200 aircraft configured with 40 seats in business class, 24 in Dremium economy and 216 in economy Service AF062 will depart Paris CDG at 1230, arriving into Newark at 1500; AF063 will depart Newark at 1705, arriving into Paris CDG at 0605 the following day. Air France resumed flights between Paris CDG and New York JFK in March, and currendy offers a six-times-daily service, alongside twice-daily flights operated by its Skyteam partner, Delta. The resumption of flights between Paris CDG and Newark means Air France will serve a total…

PLAZA PREMIUM GROUP has opened the first in-airport hotel in Australia, located within the International Arrivals area of Sydney airport's Terminal 1. The hotel offers 15 solo and double rooms, bookable on an hourly basis, with free wifi and private bathrooms with shower and amenities. Customers also benefit from special rates on dining at the Plaza Premium arrivals lounge within the hotel, as well as buffet breakfast between 0600 and 1200. The opening of the hotel and lounge follows the unveiling of a Plaza Premium lounge in the International Departures area in 2020. The group also has Plaza Premium airport lounges at Brisbane and Melbourne, and is the operator of the Skyteam and American Express lounges at Melbourne and Sydney airports.…

LOW-COST US CARRIER JETBLUE launched flights from Boston Logan International to London Heathrow on September 20. The route is operated by the airline's A321 LR aircraft, configured with 24 Mint suites (business class) and 114 Core seats (economy). Flights depart Boston at 1832, arriving at 0630 in Heathrow the following morning. The return flight departs Heathrow at 0825 and lands in Boston at 1113. The route was initially set to launch on August 22 but was delayed due to late delivery of aircraft from Airbus. The new route is in addition to its flights from Boston to Gatwick, The airline also fliesjfom New York JFK to Gatwick and Heathrow.…

ANA IS OFFERING NEW, environmentally friendly inflight meals in its international first class cabin. The meals include a main course, kale focaccia, made using soft kale grown with compost recycled from inflight meal residues. The kale focaccia, kneaded with soft kale paste in the dough, is available on first and business class inflight meals on select international routes departing from Japan until November 30. The focaccia is made in-house at the inflight catering facility. Other environmental dishes includes Nobeoka bamboo shoots made from bamboo grown in Nobeoka, a city in Miyazaki prefecture. The dish was developed by Local Bamboo Inc in response to the issue of abandoned bamboo groves.…

UPFRONT AURORE ANKARCRONA HENNESSEY is director of art at The Arts Club in Londons Mayfair. WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE WORLD OF ART? Growing up I was fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful art and design. My parents were collectors with a particular interest in Scandinavian artists, so our house was filled with Einar John and Carl Larsson. After studying, I did various internships, my favourite of which was at Christies in San Francisco. My first day was spent inventorying Basquiats at Lars Ulrich's Marin home for a subsequent Christie's sale. WHICH WORK OF ART HAS LEFT A LASTING MEMORY? Rachel Whiteread'S 2017 takeover of the Duveen galleries at Tate Britain was particularly poignant for me. FAVOURITE ARTIST? American abstract expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler is an ongoing obsession of mine.…

Hotel management platform Mews reveals personalisation is key for hotel loyalty among British travellers 79% have returned to the same hotel or hotel chain 61% say they will return to the same hotel or chain if their loyalty is rewarded 59% have been overlooked as returning guests 49% look for personalised local activities based on their past booking history 47% will give hotels their personal data to receive a tailored service 39% say that hotels remembering their dietary preferences is key to rebooking 19% have taken their business elsewhere due to lack of recognition 15% are infuriated by the question, “Have you stayed with us before?” British hotel guests will pay on average £40 more per night for a hotel that makes their stay personalised Source: Censuswide study commissioned by…

DESTINATION Sydney's harbour is particularly serene this glorious morning. Watching the crests of waves from our bow catch the morning sunlight, the reflected sparkles are hypnotic. A body of water so big, at 55 sq km it could almost swallow the entire island of Manhattan. Also known as Port Jackson Bay, it has forever been a beacon of wonder for visitors and the source of a great sense of pride for residents. Speak to any Sydneysider who flies into the city after a prolonged absence and they'll tell you there's an indescribable feeling when the tentacled, arterial-like branches of Port Jackson come into view. I left the city a decade ago for a different life in Melbourne, but a cruise on an iconic Sydney ferry is a welcome recharge of…

4 HOURS IN… 1 WAT UMONG Take a THB200 (US$5) taxi ride west from Chiang Mai's centre to this unique forest temple, built in the 13th century by a monk who taught the king meditation. The main chedi is surrounded by six hectares of woodland, but uniquely it stands on a broad knoll beneath which are a series of tunnels, supposedly built by the king with walls painted with jungle scenes, and Buddha statues at various dead ends. The murals have mostly faded away, but it's an atmospheric place. The local cityfolk come often to meditate in the peaceful grounds, feed the many catfish and turtles in its lake, and wander the grounds where many old and broken sculptures lie. Curiously there's also a replica of an ancient Ashok pillar…

BACKGROUND This Shoreditch hotel was announced in 2014 and opened in 2017, but closed during the Covid pandemic. It has fuiiy reopened, and now has the addition of a new sixth floor of 16 rooms in a slightly different stvle from the rest of the hotel. Nobu Hospitality was founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and director Meir Teper. It currently has 13 hotels, with the latest in Chicago and Warsaw opening in 2020. It has plans to add properties in locations including Santorini, Rome, Hamburg, Marrakech and Tel Aviv. WHERE IS IT? In the heart of Shoreditch on Willow Street, just off Great Eastern Road, a short walk from Old Street station. WHAT'S IT LIKE? Certainly striking. From the outside, viewed from the small garden at…

BACKGROUND Marriott International introduced its Moxy Hotels brand in 2014. There are now nearly 100 open, with more in the pipeline, including Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg and Moxy NYC Lower East Side. This property opened in February 2019. WHERE IS IT? In Chelsea, close to the corner of 6th Avenue and West 28th Street. You can walk to Penn Station in around five minutes and from there take the train to JFK, WHAT'S IT LIKE? As with many New York hotels, the only way of appreciating the size of the hotel is by crossing the street and looking up, from where you can see all 35 storeys of this thin slice of a building (see a video on the Business Traveller You Tube channel). It's fairly anonymous when viewed from a…

BOEING HAS RESUMED DELIVERY of its B787 aircraft, following approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration. Dreamliner deliveries had been suspended since May 2021 following concerns over production flaws and inspection processes, but the FAA confirmed that “Boeing has made the necessary changes to ensure that the 787 Dreamliner meets certification standards”. The administration said that it would inspect each aircraft before an airworthiness certificate is issued and cleared for delivery. American Airlines was the recipient of the first B787 delivery in more than a year, and hopes to take delivery of a total of nine Dreamliners this year, followed by four in 2023, and 12 in 2024. Boeing is understood to have built up a backlog of more than 100 constructed B787 aircraft that are awaiting delivery to customers,…

FINNAIR HAS ANNOUNCED plans to shake up its network as a result of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The carrier's Europe to Asia routes have been significantly affected by the closure of Russian airspace, which has forced it to suspend some services and take longer routings on others. Finnair has resumed flights to some destinations, including Guangzhou and Hong Kong, but admitted “flight times to Finnair's Asian destinations are now considerably longer, weakening the profitability of the company”. The strategy will see the airline move towards “a geographically more balanced network connecting Europe to Asia, India and the Middle East, and North America via Finnair's home hub Helsinki, including a continued strong domestic presence”. Finnair also confirmed plans to reduce its fleet, without giving specific numbers, and said it would…

MELIA CHIANG MAI has launched a ‘360° Cuisine’ concept, devised by executive chef Suksant Chutinthratip. Dishes include produce from the hotel's organic farm and a commitment to using every part of each ingredient before leftovers are returned to the farm as compost. The ‘farm to plate’ effort also sources organic produce that travels only a short distance with food waste going back to the farm as fertiliser. Under the programme, the hotel works closely with local farmers to help them farm sustainably and encourage ethical production.…

THE HARI HONG KONG is combining local community partnerships, sustainable practices and education with an energy-conscious and environmentally friendly hotel stay. The hotel is LEED (Silver), BEAM Plus (Silver) and BEEO certified, in recognition of its sustainable design, construction and energy-efficient performance. One example is its partnership with Swedish firm Nordaq, a provider of sustainable and automated refilling solutions for bottled water. Another scheme is the Orca waste solution that turns food waste into a liquid that is captured or repurposed by a wastewater treatment plant. The Nespresso and Eco-Greenergy sustainability programmes use coffee grounds for compost and for upcycling products, such as scrubbing soaps. Single-use plastic in the rooms is avoided by providing refillable dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion in The Hari's signature scent. The hotel…

Crown Towers Sydney A luxurious new five-star hotel in Sydney's Barangaroo development, Crown Towers Sydney is the highest hotel building in the city, an imposing harbourside landmark with 349 guestrooms, an infinity pool with cabanas, poolside service and 14 restaurants. crownhotels.com.au/sydney/crown-towers Ace Hotel Part of the swanky, US-owned Ace Hotel group, this chic, yet casual, boutique hotel has been crafted inside Surry Hills’ former Tyne House brick factory. With 264 rooms (complete with your own in-room record player) and on-site restaurant Loam, Ace Sydney leads the charge in the surge of boutique hotels sprouting throughout the city post-pandemic. acehotel.com/sydney A by Adina Sydney This new boutique aparthotel near Wynyard train station offers studio, executive and two-bedroom apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the southern end of George Street. At 22 floors…

READER POLL RESULTS Although it's been another trying year, compared to the two years that came before it there has been definite improvement for the travel industry, with most countries dropping either all or most restrictions in what is generally seen as a post-Covid world. Whether that proves to be the case or there are more trials ahead, the reality is that both the air travel and hospitality industries have seen rising bookings over the past year – and everyone is hoping this trend will continue and precede a return to more normal revenues. This year we once again invited more than 30,000 of our loyal subscribers to voice their opinions on everything from their favourite hotel brand or preferred hotel in a specific city, to the best inflight experience…

BACKGROUND EVA Air has installed three different configurations on its B777-300ER aeroplanes. Both Royal Laurel Class and the premium economy seat products were introduced across these aircraft between 2014 and 2016, and the B777-300ER with the newest seats is most commonly used on the London route, CHECK-IN I arrived early at London Heathrow Terminal 2. Check-in took only a few minutes at the A1 priority desk, getting through security took only ten minutes via the fast-track lane, and I was quickly in departure area A. THE LOUNGE EVA Air Royal Laurel Class passengers can use any of three lounges: Singapore, Air Canada or Lufthansa, I chose the latter as I was warned the others might be busy (though of course they are much closer to the departure gate which was…

BACKGROUNG Aman Kyoto became the brand's third Japanese property when it opened in November 2019, following Aman Tokyo in 2015 and Amanemu hot-spring resort in Ise-Shima in 2016. EHERE IS IT? Northwest of Kyoto city, set in a garden in 32 hectares of forest close to two of Kyoto's most famous UNESCO-designated sites: the gilded Kinkakuji Temple is a kilometre away, while Ryoanji Temple and its famous Zen garden are three kilometres away, For anyone seeking a calming retreat, this quiet part of the city and Aman's serene vibe are ideal, although a drawback for some could be that it is removed from the main central sights, nightlife and business areas. Getting there from Kyoto Station takes roughly 30 minutes by taxi. WHAT'S IT LIKE? A peaceful and luxurious retreat…

BACKGROUND Hyatt's Thompson and Tommie hotels debuted under the same roof in Austin in January, Thompson is a luxury upper-upscale brand in Hyatt's portfolio. Tommie is under Hyatt's JDV brand and targets a younger traveller with a smaller budget, This dual-branded property has 212 Thompson rooms and suites, along with 17 residences, and 193 Tommie rooms, WHERE IS IT? At the intersection of San Jacinto Boulevard and East 5th Street in downtown Austin. It is close to music bars, such as Antone's nightclub, and a 20-minute drive to the airport. WHAT'S IT LIKE? The skyscraper has a split-level design by Bkl Architecture (see image), with a rooftop on the fourth floor. It neighbours several other high-rise hotels. The Thompson entrance features an oversized door, giving the impression that you're about…

EMIRATES HAS REVEALED its plan for a US$2 billion investment in its inflight customer experience. The plan details upgrades to cabin interiors across all classes, with retrofitted or reupholstered seats, and new panelling and flooring. The works also include the continued rollout of the carrier's premium economy seating, which will eventually feature on more than 120 A380 and B777 aircraft. Emirates said the first aircraft is scheduled for retrofitting in November, with the “largest known fleet retrofit” project set to be complete by April 2025 (see page 13). The airline also announced inflight dining changes with refreshed first class menus rolled out in August, and new economy and business class menus launching in October. The new vegan menu features pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, jackfruit biryani and sliced kohlrabi garnished with…

UPFRONT INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES GROUP has published its results for the second quarter of 2022, showing an operating profit of some €293 million (US$291 million). The figure compares to a loss of €967 million (US$960 million) for the same period in 2021, and follows “strong recovery in demand across all airlines”. Q2 passenger capacity was at 78 per cent of 2019 levels, up from 65 per cent in the first quarter. “By the end of quarter two, premium leisure revenue had almost fully recovered to 2019's level, despite capacity being significantly lower,” IAG said. Business channel revenue continued to lag, reaching 60 per cent of 2019 levels by the end of the second quarter. However, the group said its key US market was expected to be close to 2019 capacity levels…

UPFRONT EMIRATES HAS OUTLINED plans to upgrade its fleet of 120 aircraft, describing it as the “largest known fleet retrofit” project. The work is set to begin next month as part of a multi-billion dollar investment in the carrier's inflight customer experience. Emirates plans to retrofit four aircraft “from start to finish” every month, continuously for over two years, with a completion date of April 2025. The project will begin with the refresh of 67 A380s. The airline will then turn its focus to upgrading 53 B777s. The works will see nearly 4,000 of the airline's new premium economy seats installed, which are already available on A380 routes to London, Paris and Sydney. Emirates plans to introduce the product on flights to New York JFK, Auckland, Melbourne, San Francisco and…

IAG CARGO IS TRIALLING an electric cargo vehicle at London Heathrow airport. The electric terminal tractor, known as a Terberg YT203EV, saves approximately 30 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of planting more than 1,250 trees or taking more than seven cars off the road. The tractor can deliver the same capability as the current diesel units in a more environmentally sustainable way, allowing drivers to carry out their work while avoiding diesel engine emissions. In addition to its electric solution, Terberg is exploring the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, having placed a unit to test an off-airfield application.…

UNITED HAS INVESTED a total of US$15 million in Eve Air Mobility and signed a conditional purchase agreement for 200 four-seat electric aircraft plus 200 options, expecting the first deliveries in 2026. The flying taxis – or eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles) – are designed to be ‘air taxis’ in urban markets. Eve's design uses conventional fixed wings, rotors and pushers for a ‘lift-pluscruise’ prototype that has a range of 60 miles (100 km). Eve is also creatinga new air traffic management software designed for the urban air mobility industry to scale safely.…

LEISURE TRAVEL The Asian elephant has been an icon for tourism, perhaps nowhere more so than Thailand. The country has tourist camps and parks ofFering rides, treks and opportunities to bathe with or watch elephants play football or even paint pictures. I have been to many of these attractions over the past 30-odd years – I even have ‘mahout driving licence’. Times move on, however, and in more recent years the concept of what is actually good for the elephants has rightfully gained ground. Some 100 years ago there were roughly 100,000 elephants in Thailand; today that number is about 3,000 wild elephants, and 3,000-4,000 domesticated beasts. Our modern, human-dominated world has taken its toll on natural wildernesses and their inhabitants. In addition, as there has been a new and…

BACKGROUND EVA Air was the first airline to offer a premium economy seat to the UK market. The airline is expanding its Taiwan-Europe route network – most recently to Milan and Munich – but all its Europe routes stop en route in Bangkok. CHECK-IN I arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport three hours prior to my 1250 flight, as advised by the airline and my hotel. However, check-in took just 25 minutes, then security and immigration only another 20 minutes, and I was through to the departures area with a couple of hours to spare before boarding. This was perhaps due to the relatively slow return of foreign travellers to Thailand – the airport certainly wasn't as busy as usual. LOUNGE Premium economy passengers do not get lounge access, but…

BACKGROUND The Queen Elizabeth hotel first opened in 1958 under the Hilton group, but joined Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in 2001 (an Accor brand since 2016), This property closed in 2016 for a year-long C$140 million (US$102 million) renovation. WHERE IS IT? On René Lévesque Boulevard West in Downtown. The lobby is connected to the underground shopping arcade at Place Ville Marie, which is linked to the Central railway station. WHAT'S IT LIKE? The 21-storey hotel is a huge presence occupying almost a whole block. It's not the most attractive fagade, with slit-like windows and a beige exterior, but dazzles towards the bottom with a gold sparkling pattern. The open-plan lobby is vast. During my visit, the hotel was filled with guests attending meetings and events – there are two…