Innholdsfortegnelse for July - August 2023 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

RADISSON HOTEL Group has significantly grown its presence in India with the signing of 11 new hotels across brands in the first quarter of 2023. Located in key gateway cities and emerging destinations, these new hotels are present across Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ujjain, Raipur, Sonamarg, Manali, Kerala and Visakhapatnam. The group also announced the debut of its luxury lifestyle brand, Radisson Collection, in India with the signing of the first hotel in Hyderabad, while expanding its portfolio across other brands, including Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Inn & Suites by Radisson, and Radisson Individuals Retreats, a brand extension of Radisson Individuals. With these new hotels in the pipeline, Radisson will operate more than 110 properties across 65 locations in South Asia. “India is an important market from a global strategy standpoint and…

ETIHAD AIRWAYS will launch a suite of new products and enhancements for its Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the third quarter of this year. These are an evolution of the airline's Business Studio product launched on the Airbus A350-1000 fleet in 2022. “Etihad's new 787 Dreamliner cabin interior showcases further enhancements to our award-winning and industry renowned cabins,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways. “Our new business class takes the guest experience to new heights with the second evolution of the Business Studio which was launched on the Airbus A350-1000 last year.” The Business Studio cabin features Etihad's unique, stylish interior, with a customised version of the Elements seat manufactured by Collins. Etihad is the first airline in the world to introduce the Elements seat on the Boeing 787. The new…

QANTAS will boost its international network with extra flights, more aircraft and new routes as it restores capacity in line with strong travel demand and the broader recovery of the aviation industry. From late October this year, the Australian national carrier will add around one million seats to its international network over 12 months compared to its current schedule, offering customers more choice to popular destinations across Asia, the United States and the Pacific. The additional capacity will be made possible through a combination of more Qantas aircraft returning to service, new aircraft joining the fleet and an arrangement with Oneworld partner Finnair to operate two Airbus A330-300 aircraft on two Qantas routes. The network changes will see the group's international capacity grow to around 100 per cent of pre-Covid…

KOREAN AIR HAS RELEASED a collection of name tags and golf ball markers, made from the fuselage of a retired Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with the registration number HL7715. The aeroplane had completed 11,274 flights to 95 cities around the world, with its last flight from San Francisco to Seoul Incheon taking place in March 2020. The colour of the products varies depending on the part of the fuselage used, but all are made from Duralumin and include engravings of the aircraft model and registration number as well as a unique serial number. Act quickly, with just 5,000 name tags (KRW45,000/US$34.5) and 2,000 sets of golf ball markers (KRW56,000/US$43) on sale via Korean Air's e-skyshop. This is the latest upcycling initiative by the airline, with previous projects including cosmetic pouches crafted…

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS (CX) will resume its seasonal flights to Christchurch during the Southern Hemisphere summer season commencing in December. The restart is CX's first since the pandemic and will prove a welcome boost to Christchurch and New Zealand's South Island regions, particularly tourism operators and exporters. The nonstop service will initially be operated by an Airbus A350-900, offering customers the choice of economy, premium economy and business class travel. Flights will depart Hong Kong on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Christchurch the following morning, and will operate between December 16 and February 29. Should the service prove popular, CX may look to increase capacity on the route by switching the aircraft from the A350-900 to the larger A350-1000, adding an additional 54 seats per flight. The Cathay Pacific…

READ: 1964: Eyes of the Storm, Paul McCartney This book features 275 of McCartney's photos taken on a 35mm camera during the eruption of Beatlemania from the end of 1963 through to the start of 1964. Expect photos from Liverpool, London, Paris, Washington DC, New York and Miami, and images of band members including this one of John Lennon (Paris, 1964). US$75; Allen Lane. WATCH: WHAM! This feature-length documentary captures the incredible story of 80s pop group WHAM! and its members, Andrew Ridgeley and the late George Michael. Sing along to the catchy hits and experience never-before-seen footage and previously unheard interviews with the duo. Available on Netflix from July 5. LISTEN: VS This new weekly podcast from Intelligence Squared discusses the little debates that spark big discussions. Hosted by…

AIRASIA, Southeast Asia's largest low-cost carrier, is resuming its services between Hong Kong and the Malaysian city of Penang. Flights will relaunch on August 10, initially operating three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. From Penang they depart at 0630 for a 1030 arrival into Hong Kong. On the way back, the flights leave Hong Kong at 1110 and get back into Penang at 1455. Penang is AirAsia's third largest hub. “We are confident that the addition of three weekly flights from Hong Kong will not only reinforce Penang's status as a top tourist hotspot in Malaysia but will also contribute significantly to the island's overall appeal,” said YB Yeoh Soon Hin, Penang EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy. There are currently no long-haul flights from the airport.…

SAN FRANCISCO'S WORLD-FAMOUS cable cars are celebrating 150 years of traversing the Californian city this August. First tested on August 2, 1873 by Andrew Smith Hallidie, a Scottish-born engineer and inventor, the cars entered public service on September 1 of the same year. Fast forward to 2023 and there are now three manually operated cable car lines: the Powell-Mason, Powell-Hyde and California Street Cable Cars. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is celebrating the national historic landmark with events such as the first-ever public tours of the Muni shop, where the cars are built and maintained, and an exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library featuring historic photos, original documents and ephemera. Visitors can also purchase a special US$5 unlimited day pass until the end of 2023, which enables…

The A380 was initially conceived back in the 1990s, when hub-to-hub travel looked to be gaining prominence. Able to carry up to 853 passengers if configured in all-economy, the plane offered attractive economics to airlines looking to maximise limited slots at busy airports. Roomy interiors and a novelty of engineering also made it particularly popular with passengers. The first A380 aircraft was delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2007, and there have been 14 customers for the double-decker superjumbo. Emirates is the biggest operator, having taken delivery of just under half (123) of the 251 superjumbos built. However, as the aircraft came to market, an industry shift towards lower-capacity, direct routes, coupled with the aircraft's expensive running costs, meant it quickly fell out of favour. In February 2019, Airbus began to…

It's rush hour when I arrive at Gate Gourmet's airline catering centre near Heathrow airport. A number of transatlantic flights have just landed and it's time to offload the equipment. Cars are replaced by bumper-to-bumper aluminium carts, while beeping horns are substituted by the cacophonous clattering of crockery. Trollies are wheeled towards industrial-sized dishwashers, where containers of all shapes, sizes and materials are deposited onto conveyor belts, not dissimilar to those at airport security. Within five minutes, they roll out spick and span (if only I could have one of these appliances at home). This might sound like the end of a story, but it's just the beginning. Washed and ready, these containers are about to embark on their next journey, carried in carts labelled with airport codes TLV (Tel…

BACKGROUND Korean Air's route from Seoul Incheon to London Heathrow is operated daily by a Boeing 777-300ER configured with 291 seats across three cabins: first class (eight seats), Prestige (business class, 56 seats) and economy (227 seats). Korean Air also operates a 277-seater version of the aircraft, with upgraded first and business class products. The carrier recently launched a codeshare with fellow SkyTeam member Virgin Atlantic, enabling customers to book through Virgin to travel directly to Seoul. CHECK-IN Flight KE907 departs Seoul at 1055. I completed online check-in 24 hours before the departure and received a digital boarding pass, but decided to check in my luggage. Korean Air has a large premium check-in zone to the far right of Terminal 2 departures, with ten counters for Prestige passengers, members of…

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAl will bring its Aloft brand to Singapore for the first time following the signing of a conversion deal with local developers for the 785-room Aloft Singapore Novena. The hotel is expected to open in the third quarter and will be the largest Aloft hotel in the world. Aloft Singapore Novena will be comprised of two towers and is strategically located in Zhongshan Park, a mixed-use development in the cultural district of Balestier. Guestrooms will feature comfortable Sealy beds, custom amenities, complimentary high-speed wifi, 55-inch LCD TVs and walk-in showers. Dining options at Aloft Singapore Novena will feature a modern Chinese and local seafood restaurant, and a Halal-certified buffet restaurant. On-site facilities will include an outdoor pool and a state-of-the-art gym. “With Aloft Singapore Novena's proximity to the city's…

PLAZA PREMIUM GROUP has opened a new bar at Hong Kong International airport. Intervals will be located on the recently opened, 200-metre-long Skybridge which enables travellers to connect between the airport's Terminal 1 and its satellite concourse T1S. The bar's concept was inspired “by the idea that the time of day becomes fluid while travelling, and that instead key actions are measured in intervals of time – whether it's how long it takes to clear security, the transit time, the time it takes to get to the gate, or the time between boarding time and final call”. The bar offers a range of “miniature sips” or “cocktail flights”, including a 15-minute flight of two cocktails, and the bar will serve tapas-style bar snacks including Hong Kong prawn toast with sakura…

IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS has announced a new collaboration with Apple, allowing guests to stream content onto their in-room TV using the AirPlay system. Customers can scan a QR code unique to their in-room TV, enabling them “to stream, control and share videos, photos, music and more from their iPhone or iPad to the big screen”. The new service will begin to roll out to selected IHG properties worldwide before the end of the year. This is the latest initiative to be offered through the IHG Studio “digital guest entertainment solution”, which originally launched in 2019. The group said that: “The streaming industry is projected to reach a value of US$330 billion by 2030, further emphasising the significance of providing guests with seamless streaming capabilities during their hotel stays”. Earlier…

BUSINESS TRAVELLER has teamed up with Myth Drinks to offer a lucky reader the chance to win a branded tote bag and 50cl bottles of its non-alcoholic spirits: Myth Dark Spiced and Myth Coconut. Myth Drinks is an award-winning zero-alcohol, vegan and gluten-free spirits company, which offers fun and sunshine whatever the occasion. Myth – a drink that thinks outside the bottle. For full terms and conditions and to enter, visit businesstraveller.com/competitions…

AVIATION According to market research firm GlobalData, there is currently US$700 billion worth of airport construction projects under way around the world. The Asia-Pacific region claims the highest levels of development, with US$240 billion worth of projects, followed by the Middle East and Africa (US$200 billion), the Americas (US$150 billion) and Europe (US$130 billion). Here we look at some major airport upgrades around the globe. John F. Kennedy International airport, JFK New York's biggest airport is undergoing a huge revamp totalling US$19 billion that will create four main terminals with a north and south hub. The first changes were unveiled last year, with British Airways moving into a revamped Terminal 8 alongside American Airlines and launching the co-branded Bridge Bar in the Greenwich Lounge (see businesstraveller.com). T8 will eventually host…

The cherry on top Delta is keeping its passengers cool with the return of its Delta One dessert cart on international flights where customers can build their own ice-cream sundaes, choosing from toppings such as whipped cream, cookie crumble, fruit compote and chocolate chips. United Airlines also offers this service to its business class passengers on long-haul routes. Sky-high tea You might be heading overseas, but Virgin Atlantic will cure any homesickness with its Mile High Tea, served in Upper Class and Premium. Passengers are offered three finger sandwiches along with a warm scone with cream and jam and mini patisseries, including a red, white and blue Battenburg, naturally. Custom cuisine JetBlue has partnered with New York's restaurant group Dig to provide its economy passengers on transatlantic services with a…

RICHARD TAMS AIRLINE CONSULTANT AND EXECUTIVE COACH Before long, it will be a legal requirement for companies to have a plan to reach net zero by 2050. Business travel is a significant, if not the largest, source of many companies’ carbon emissions. The task of achieving net zero business travel is a lofty one but one that many of us are simply overwhelmed by. In the ‘Top Priorities Survey 2023’ by the Institute of Travel Management, 48 per cent of travel buyer respondents noted that influencing sustainable travel practices was one of their biggest challenges. And Booking.com's 2022 Sustainable Travel Report found that while “sustainable travel is no longer the ambition of the few but of the many”, there is an increasing gap between what travellers say and what they…

BACKGROUND Air France launched its new long-haul business class product on the Boeing 777-300 earlier this year, featuring the “three Fs” – fully-flat, full aisle access and full privacy. So far six of its 12 777s have been retrofitted with the new product, with the remaining six due to be complete by the end of the year. Currently the upgraded product serves flights to New York JFK, Rio de Janeiro, Dakar and Johannesburg from Paris Charles de Gaulle, with upcoming destinations to include Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai. The carrier has also announced it will be introducing a new La Première (first class) product this year, with details yet to be released. CHECK-IN I arrived at JFK Terminal 1 at 1420 for the 1730 flight AF15 to Paris Charles De Gaulle.…

BACKGROUND Four Seasons debuted in Kyoto in 2016 with this 123-room property, which also has 57 residences. The hotel group has two additional hotels in Tokyo (see businesstraveller.comfor reviews). WHERE IS IT? The hotel lies at the foot of a mountain in the city's Higashiyama district. The main entrance is on Onna-zaka hill, though this is closed from 8am to 9am in line with Kyoto Prefectural Road Traffic Regulations, during which time guests must use the residential entrance along Higashioji Street. The hotel is ten minutes from downtown Kyoto, within walking distance of various temples, and a seven-minute drive from Kyoto station, where you can get the Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo. Osaka International airport is an hour's drive by car. WHAT'S IT LIKE? Incredibly serene. The property has been…

Over the last three years the aviation industry has experienced turmoil, with Covid-19 and travel restrictions grounding airlines’ fleets worldwide, which led to huge bailouts and several carriers going out of business. Pent-up demand and gaps in the market resulted in opportunities for new airlines to emerge, only for the war in Ukraine, the closure of Russian airspace and soaring fuel costs to put several spanners in the works. Nonetheless, the list of potential start-up carriers continues to grow, and here we round up some of the contenders. As we have learnt with the airline industry, nothing is ever certain and some of these carriers may never see the light of day. The following information was correct at time of writing, but we will keep the online version up to…

UPFRONT BRITISH AIRWAYS (BA) has resumed flights from London to Beijing Daxing Airport – the route was suspended in January 2020 due to the pandemic. The resumption reclaims the airline's exclusivity as the only British carrier operating a direct service between Beijing and the UK. BA and joint business partner China Southern both operate from Daxing, giving customers greater connectivity between the UK and China, with easier transfers, a wider choice of onward flights and enhanced benefits. When British Airways first announced the resumption earlier this year its flight maps showed an older cabin configuration. This, however, has been updated and now customers travelling between the two cities can enjoy the airline's newly designed Club Suite (business class) cabin, with direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy and luxurious…

IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS has reopened the InterContinental Bangkok after a year-long, multimillion-dollar renovation project. Located in the city's CBD next to the BTS Chidlom Skytrain, the property closed for refurbishment in May 2022, and has now officially reopened with all 381 guestrooms renovated, as well as a reimagined rooftop pool with views of the city, and interior design featuring “artistic nods to the beauty of Bangkok's magnificent palaces and cultural attractions as well as the city's famous skyline”. A new California-inspired restaurant, SoCal, offers “over 50 California wine selections as well as cuisine and mixology with a variety of fresh flavours and sustainable seasonal produce”. Other F&B options include all-day dining restaurant Espresso with live cooking stations inspired by the street markets of Bangkok, Fireplace Grill and Bar, and…

JAPAN'S ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS (ANA) will resume its services to Perth from Tokyo Narita starting October 29 – the only airline flying between the two cities. Initially, the Star Alliance member will operate the Perth route three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. ANA will deploy a premium-heavy Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Perth, featuring 48 business class seats in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, 21 premium economy recliners and just 146 economy seats. In other schedule updates, the airline confirmed that its Narita-Dalian flight frequency would increase to daily from July 3, up from four flights a week. Flights to Dalian will be on board long-haul configured 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft too, although in a less premium-heavy configuration with 40 in business, 14 in premium economy and 192 in economy…

OPENING ON AUGUST 1, Jawakara Islands Maldives is the latest luxury resort from Crown & Champa Resorts, a Maldivian/Swedish property group that places a focus on authentic Maldivian experiences provided in the most sustainable way. Desalination plants provide fresh water, solar panels are used extensively to reduce the need for diesel imports, no single-use plastics are used on-site, and appropriate food waste is used to fertilise vegetable gardens that supply the resort's kitchens. Located in an undeveloped part of Lhaviyani Atoll, Jawakara is spread over two islands connected by a 700-metre bridge, and offers 290 villas – including two –and three-bedroom family villas – as well as a nine-hole golf course, padel tennis courts, a futsal field, volleyball court and over-water spa. jawakara.com…

IT HAS THE WORLD'S HIGHEST tourism tax at US$200 per adult, per night, but the Kingdom of Bhutan is now encouraging longer stays by launching incentives for travellers forking out the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). Visitors booking stays until December 31, 2024 can now gain four additional nights without the daily levy if they book for four nights – and the same goes for seven nights. Those paying the levy for 12 nights will receive up to 18 additional nights without the daily levy. Travellers will now have ample opportunity to discover the Kingdom's 20 provinces, which include highland communities, remote villages and hiking hotspots. An SDF calculator (visit.doi.gov.bt) enables visitors to find the best deal for the number of nights they wish to visit. Each visitor will also be…

HYATT HOTELS has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into management and related agreements with LFG Property for a Caption by Hyatt hotel in Sydney, Australia. Slated to be completed in early 2025, this development will mark the debut of the Caption by Hyatt brand in the country, which aims to remix hospitality by combining the design and comfort of an upscale, lifestyle hotel with the flexibility and self-guided options of a select-service property. The hotel will be centrally located in Haymarket, a vibrant multicultural neighbourhood at the southern end of the Sydney CBD. Construction has begun on a purpose-built 174-guestroom hotel building design developed by GCCV architects featuring eclectic interior design courtesy of Mitchell & Eades. The first Caption by Hyatt hotel debuted in Memphis, Tennessee in 2022,…

CHINESE CARRIER XIAMEN AIRLINES, a member of the global SkyTeam alliance, has accepted its sixth Airbus A321 neo aircraft. Before the arrival of the A321 neo the airline was an all-Boeing operator, flying both 737 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. But it has now committed to 15 A321 neo aircraft, alongside 40 smaller A320 neos. Xiamen Airlines will deploy its new-technology Airbus aircraft on its vast domestic network and across destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. The new A321 neo aircraft comes in a dual-class configuration with eight recliners in the premium cabin and 200 economy seats. The 2-2 configured premium cabin is sold as first class on domestic flights and business class on international sectors, with the recliners featuring 42 inches of legroom. Xiamen Airlines, which currently has about 160 aircraft…

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL is the latest major hotel group to announce plans for a new extended-stay concept. Hot on the heels of Hilton's “Project H3” lower-midscale concept, and the upper midscale Hyatt Studios offering (both unveiled this year), Marriott says it will launch an “affordable midscale extended-stay brand” in the US and Canada. With a working title of Project MidX Studios, Marriott said the brand has been designed “for guests in search of affordable, flexible accommodations for an extended stay, typically 20+ nights”. Rates would be around US$80 per night, depending on the market and demand. Features will include on-site laundry facilities and a fitness centre, while suites will come with in-room kitchens. Marriott plans to partner with Concord Hospitality for the first three properties, which are expected to open in…

Strike up a conversation with a family member, friend or colleague and it's likely that their view of luxury travel will differ. For some, it may be ostentatious hotel rooms dripping with bling. For others, it may be the peace and quiet found in a cabin in the woods. Does luxury mean Michelin-starred dining in the city or a rustic meal with a Bedouin tribe? No-expense-spared shopping trips or a chance to rebuild coral reefs? According to Lauren Alba, VP of global marketing and communications at Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), “luxury is in the eye of the beholder”. Not only is individual preference at play, but luxury is also shaped by circumstance. The pandemic prompted a reassessment of priorities and values, and for many, the result was a…

DEREK PICOT A HOTELIER FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND AUTHOR OF THE HOTEL DETECTIVE AND HIS LOVER Picture yourself sitting at a restaurant on a sidewalk of Manhattan. You're searching for a menu, but none are on the table. You flag down a waiter and with a dismissive smile he points to a square box with a pattern of black pixels. Sighing, you retrieve your smartphone, point the camera, and wait for a connecting signal. But there's no signal where you are seated. Nor if you raise your arm in the air. You end up wandering into the middle of the street, tangoing with taxis and avoiding the glare of the sun, but finally a tiny digital menu appears on your screen. Straining your eyes, you can just about…

BACKGROUND The 40-room boutique hotel is located on the site of a former military barracks, housed in two conserved colonial buildings that date back to 1904. These blocks served as a British artillery outpost during the Second World War. The hotel opened in 2019 and is part of the Far East Hospitality group, which has 26 properties in Singapore. WHERE IS IT? On Sentosa, an island resort off the city-state's southern coast. The hotel is located on Gunner Lane in the Palawan area within beautifully manicured grounds. Singapore's central business district is a 12-minute drive away and Changi airport is a 25-minute drive by taxi. WHAT'S IT LIKE? The hotel has a calming ambience, in part owing to the design, which favours open-air spaces and symmetry. In the Living Room,…