Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2024 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

THAI AIRWAYS has placed an order for 45 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as the Star Alliance airline looks to modernise and grow its widebody fleet and international network. The airline already flies two 787-9s and six 787-8s on regional and long-haul services alongside a growing fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft and its current 777-300ER fleet (counting 17 aircraft). “To accomplish our company's and the national carbon-neutral goals by 2050, the 45 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be equipped with GEnx engines, which are known for their cutting-edge technology and reduced environmental impact,” said Chai Eamsiri, CEO, Thai Airways. Boeing's 2023 Commercial Market Outlook for Southeast Asia projects that the region's widebody fleet will see a three-fold increase over 20 years, with growing demand for nearly 800 airplanes including passenger jets such…

HONG KONG'S CATHAY PACIFIC will resume its daily flights between Singapore and Bangkok, starting March 31. CX712 will depart from Singapore's Changi Airport daily at 1325 for arrival into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1515 local time. In the opposite direction, CX717 will leave Bangkok at 1155 and arrive in Singapore at 1525. Cathay has rostered a two-class Airbus A330-300 on the route, with 39 seats in 1-2-1 business class, and 223 in 2-4-2 economy class. In addition to this fifth-freedom service, Cathay Pacific currently operates up to eight flights a day from Singapore to Hong Kong. Separately, Cathay recently announced its return to Barcelona this summer, and recently resumed its services to Chennai and Colombo.…

EMIRATES HAS EXTENDED its complimentary chauffeur drive service at Hong Kong International Airport to include business class customers, not just first class passengers, travelling to or from the airport. Eligible customers can book their chauffeur service up to 12 hours before departure, with a car choice that includes Mercedes Benz S-Class and BMW Full Electric i7 vehicles. The service offers unlimited radius coverage, with the exception of restricted areas including Lantau Island, Ma Wan, Discovery Bay, Park Island, Huang Guang Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Port.…

BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS announced plans to move the Tier Point collection period for all Executive Club members to the start of April. Currently members have different collection periods depending on which month they joined the programme, but on April 1, 2025 the Tier Point Collection Year for all Executive Club Members will be aligned to start on April 1 and end on March 31. Ahead of the change there will be a transition period starting in April this year. For those members with collection periods ending on or before March 2024, the carrier says that “there will be no change to how you earn Tier status, and any status earned within this period will be valid for at least 12 months”. For those with collection periods starting from April, things…

ACCOR'S PLANS to open the first property under its Adagio aparthotels brand in mainland China have been announced. The company was established in 2007 as a joint venture between Accor and the Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs Group, and currently has a portfolio of nearly 130 properties. The majority of these are located in France and the rest of Europe, although Adagio is also present in countries including Brazil, Morocco, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The brand's first sub-Saharan property is also under development in the Ivory Coast, with the forthcoming opening of the 100-key Adagio Original Abidjan Marcory. The first mainland Chinese aparthotel will open in Chengdu by the end of 2025, situated in The Star Lane Urban Commercial Complex in Jianzhou New City, within the Eastern New District…

IBERIA IS INTRODUCING new sustainable amenity kits for business and premium economy customers on long-haul flights this summer. The toiletry bags have been designed by Catalan designer Teresa Helbig, with the blue, red and yellow kits inspired by her uniforms for Iberia. Contents include natural and vegan cosmetic products from Uvas Frescas, made with the surplus grapes from wines served on Iberia flights, as well as socks, an eye mask, a toothbrush, toothpaste and ear-plugs. Business class customers also receive lip balm and hand cream. A complete kit, or alternatively any of the products inside, can be requested by customers, with leftover unused products recycled for reuse. The bags were produced by Kaelis, and involved the recycling of 7.5 million 550ml plastic bottles, saving 1.2 million litres of water and…

THE HONG KONG RUGBY SEVENS APRIL 5-7 The Sevens, as it's known locally, is the biggest sporting event in Hong Kong, taking place every year (bar Covid). The first tournament took place in 1976. On the pitch, expect world-class, fast-paced action from the likes of New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa, Samoa and Great Britain. Both men's and women's teams compete, and there's also mini rugby for the kids. Off the pitch, enjoy the greatest party of the year, This is the last time the event will be held at the Hong Kong Stadium, Next year it moves to Kai Tak, the site of the former airport. A three-day ticket costs HK$1,950/US$250.…

DESTINATION Doha aims to triple 2019 tourist numbers and reach 7 million visitors a year by 2030 The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will go down in history as far as football firsts are concerned. Not only did football legend Lionel Messi lift the World Cup for Argentina for the first time, but he also set the new FIFA World Cup appearance record at some 26 matches. The tournament saw 172 goals scored and attracted 3.4 million stadium spectators (up from 3 million in 2018), while the final captivated some 1.5 billion global viewers according to FIFA, topped up with 6 billion social media engagements. At that point in time, the eyes of the world were on Doha and its impressive 89,966-capacity Lusail Stadium – the largest stadium in the…

DESTINATION Taiwan had a good pandemic, if anyone did. A medicine-led approach won plaudits for its technical achievements and balanced approach. At the same time, Taiwan took time out to reboot its fading tourism facilities, both physical and administrative. As a result, there has been considerable change since 2019, when Taipei was incubating a reputation for boutique tourism and as a novel meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination. There is cause for business optimism in 2024 too, with 3 per cent growth predicted on the back of stronger exports and tech sales. In September 2022, the Tourism Bureau was given a much-needed makeover and turned into the rebooted Tourism Administration. This means more influence and a bigger budget to drive development of the convention, exhibition and tourism industries. Business…

BACKGROUND First opened in 1984, the Prince Hotel closed during Covid for a major three-year restoration, reopening in September 2023 with brand-new interiors. The property is operated by Wharf Hotels, which also owns Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel and Gateway Hotel, Hong Kong. Wharf Hotels also operates the Niccolo brand (which includes The Murray in Hong Kong) as well as the recently launched Maqo brand, which debuted in Changsha. WHERE IS IT? On busy Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It is part of the massive Harbour City shopping mall complex (with more than 450 shops and 70 food and drink outlets). The hotel is located close to the iconic Star Ferry for easy crossings to Central, plus cultural attractions such as the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Kowloon…

DELTA AIR LINES’ PLANS for the much-anticipated debut of its new “premium lounge” concept have been revealed. The JFK Terminal 4 lounge is set to open in June, followed by the LAX Terminal 3 facility and an additional premium lounge at Boston Logan International Airport in the fourth quarter of this year. The 3,530 sqm JFK facility will feature a full-service brasserie as well as dedicated wellness areas and a year-round terrace, while the LAX premium lounge will offer an outdoor terrace and will be directly accessible by lift from the Delta One check-in area. The Boston facility will be connected to the Delta Sky Club on the airport's E Concourse. Delta said that access guidelines for the lounges “are still being finalised”.…

SKYTEAM PARTNERS Virgin Atlantic and China Airlines have launched a new codeshare agreement to strengthen business and leisure ties in mainland China. Virgin Atlantic customers are now able to connect from the airline's London Heathrow to Shanghai service (which relaunched last May after restrictions were lifted) to other destinations in China on one ticket, including Chengdu, Changsha, Qingdao, Shenzhen and Xi'an. Subject to government approval, China Eastern customers will also soon be able to connect via Heathrow to Caribbean and African destinations, including Jamaica, Nassau, Lagos, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Since November, the two airlines have been co-located at Shanghai Pudong Terminal One, where Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Silver members and China Eastern Miles members can take advantage of SkyPriority services, including priority check in, boarding and extra…

HYATT HAS ANNOUNCED a new strategic cooperation agreement with Hangzhou Trade and Tourism Group, and Zhejiang Dragon Hotel Management Group Co Ltd, to develop dozens of new hotels in mainland China. The deal will see Hyatt expand its Independent Collection and select service brands in the country, at the same time as fostering “the strategic development of The Dragon Group and visibility for its boutique hotel brands”. The parties plan to develop more than 60 Chinese properties over the coming decade, with the first expected to be a Hyatt Place hotel in Hangzhou. Hyatt's Independent Collection brands include The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination by Hyatt and JdV by Hyatt, while its select service portfolio includes Hyatt Centric, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place and Caption by Hyatt. Hyatt said that the…

THE NAGASAKI MARRIOTT HOTEL has opened, marking the flagship brand's debut on the island of Kyushu, and the ninth Marriott Hotel to open in the country. Nagasaki, a destination with a blend of Japanese, Chinese and Dutch culture, was the only port city open to foreign trade in 16th-century Japan. Directly connected with JR Nagasaki station, the hotel provides guests with access to Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen and local JR lines. For international travellers, the hotel can be reached by car in less than two hours from Fukuoka Airport. Nearby landmarks include the new Dejima Messe Nagasaki convention hall and the iconic UNESCO World Heritage-listed Glover Garden, as well as the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. Nagasaki Marriott Hotel offers 207 guest rooms and suites, with two-thirds of the rooms…

KLM IS USING artificial intelligence as a tool to combat inflight food waste, with the technology employed to help determine the number of meals that need to be loaded for any particular flight. The Dutch carrier said that “Depending on the class, between 3 and 5 per cent of booked passengers do not show up [on time] for the flight”, and it is therefore using the technology to predict the number of passengers that will board a flight “based on historical data”. The Meals On Board System receives the expected passenger numbers per flight with separate forecasts for business, premium economy and economy classes. AI technology TRAYS begins predictions 17 days before departure, refining them up until 20 minutes before the flight departs. The airline said the technology achieves up…

BRUSSELS AIRLINES HAS LAUNCHED new uniforms for its 2,600 cabin, cockpit and ground operation staff. Designed by Gabrielle Szwarcenberg of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, the range has been inspired by uniforms of the 1960s, with options including turtleneck tops and the A-line dress. The uniforms are being introduced this spring, and include unisex pieces, and trainers as an alternative, alongside vegan-leather shoes, from brands including Atelier Content and Ambiorix. On the sustainability side, materials include BCI-certified cotton, mulesing-free wool and leather made from cacti and grapes.…

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL has signed an agreement with Beijing North Star Company to open the third Ritz-Carlton and the first Marriott Marquis Hotel in Beijing. Both properties are expected to open in 2026 at China National Convention Center Phase II, a large complex with hotels, shops, offices, leisure facilities and conference venues. Leisure and cultural attractions such as the National Stadium (Bird's Nest) and the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) are within walking distance. Beijing Capital International Airport is approximately 20km from the two hotels. The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, North is expected to feature 282 guest rooms and suites. Guests will be able to enjoy refined dining experiences across six distinct venues. The hotel will offer well-equipped conference and event facilities totalling 968 sqm. Meanwhile, Beijing Marriott Marquis Hotel is anticipated to…

Andaz Doha Launching later this year, Andaz Doha is a lifestyle hotel located in West Bay, one of the city's major arts hubs. Close to most embassies, financial institutions and luxury shopping malls, it looks set to be a foodie hotspot, with signature restaurants including Salt Road, a venue showcasing South African cuisine with a salty edge; Mr & Mrs Hawker, serving Singaporean street food; and Mumble Jungle, an Afro-Cuban inspired bar. There will be 256 rooms, 36 suites and for longer stays, 56 residences, plus a spa, fitness centre, pool and meeting facilities. Pets are welcome, too. hyatt.com Rixos Qetaifan Island Doha Arguably one of Doha's most anticipated hotels, the Rixos Qetaifan Island North Doha is now open. Aside from playing host to the Meryal waterpark with 21 rides…

DESTINATION How many cities in the world have a population of millions, yet have protected more than 40 per cent of their land area? Where forests of concrete towers are backed by hillsides more tree-covered today than at any time since the Second World War? Where one of the world's most important port cities won its first Olympic medal - a gold - in windsurfing, and has a vibrant and culturally important paddling scene and, since a trawling ban was enacted, increasing areas of recovering coral reef? For a place whose name conjures images of bustling streets flanked by jutting skyscrapers, Hong Kong offers surprising opportunities for a lover of the outdoors. That starts with the ease of access. Much of the countryside is cheek-by-jowl with city blocks, and the…

BACKGROUND Philippine Airlines operates flights from Singapore Changi Airport to Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, using A321ceo aircraft. My flight (PR502) was a morning departure at 1035, arriving 1425 local time in Manila. CHECK-IN Visitors to the Philippines must have proof of a departure ticket and have registered with the digital eTravel system up to 72 hours prior to their arrival in the country. Travellers receive a QR code via email once completed, which may be required at immigration. I checked in online, however, and was not able to download my boarding pass, so staff needed to confirm I had a departure ticket. I arrived at the airport at 0725 for my 1035 departure. The airline's check-in desks were located at lane 14 – right at the end of the…

BACKGROUND The opening of Regent Hong Kong in November 2023 was an exciting homecoming for the brand, which was the original incarnation of the popular Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront hotel in 1980. It became the InterContinental Hong Kong in 2001, before closing in 2020 for a refurb and rebrand. With IHG having acquired the Regent brand in 2018, the group has reinstated it to its former glory. WHERE IS IT? Enviably located on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront above the Avenue of Stars. The avant-garde K11 Musea shopping destination and Hong Kong Museum of Art stand either side of the property, with other luxury hotels such as the Rosewood and The Peninsula nearby. It's a five-minute walk to the Star Ferry or East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station, with plenty…

UP FRONT HILTON HAS SIGNED a new partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), which will see selected properties become available to book through Hilton's channels, as well as offering Hilton Honors members new earning and redemption opportunities. SLH has had an agreement in place with Hyatt since 2018, but rival group Hilton says it has now signed “an exclusive strategic partnership” with the collection of independent luxury hotels. SLH's portfolio comprises 560 properties across 90 countries – it's not clear how many of these will participate in the new Hilton partnership, other than it will be “hundreds”. It's also not yet clear when the agreement will take effect (or when the existing deal with Hyatt will end), nor what rates will be in place for points earning…

ADELAIDE AIRPORT has welcomed Emirates’ announcement in February confirming that the UAE carrier will resume daily services to Dubai from October 28 this year. The route will be serviced by Emirates’ Boeing 777-200LR offering passengers business and economy class cabins. Emirates’ EK440 will arrive in Adelaide at 2050, while flight EK441 will depart from Adelaide at 2235. Arrival and departure times in Dubai are timed to maximise connections with Emirates’ bank of flights and minimise connections times to onward flights to one-stop city pairs. Brenton Cox, Adelaide Airport managing director, said the facility is busy looking for additional airlines to serve the city. “Adelaide Airport is focused on unlocking the state's potential and is working to support our current carriers, recover our mainland China and Hong Kong customers and open…

AVIATION ANALYTICS FIRM OAG has published its report on the busiest airline routes for 2023, with Kuala Lumpur International Airport-Singapore Changi Airport topping the list of international routes. The route had a total of 4.9 million seats last year, pushing Cairo-Jeddah down to second spot with 4.8 million seats. Seven of the top ten busiest international routes involved Asia-Pacific destinations, with Hong Kong-Taipei taking third spot with 4.6 million seats (down around 43 per cent on 2019 levels). New York JFK-London Heathrow came in eighth, with 3.9 million seats. However, these figures are far smaller than those for the busiest domestic routes for 2023, with Jeju International-Seoul Gimpo seeing 13.7 million seats, followed by Sapporo New Chitose-Tokyo Haneda (11.9 million) and Fukuoka-Tokyo Haneda (11.3 million). OAG's data shows that Atlanta…

ONEWORLD HAS OFFICIALLY opened its first fully branded lounge, located on the fourth floor of Incheon International Airport's Terminal 1, close to Gate 28. The 555 sqm facility seats up to 148 customers and has a full-service bar and private shower facilities, with décor that “incorporates subtle nods to South Korean culture, capturing the colourful Lantern Festival in mesmerising glass art and the ‘Gat’ hat in a welcoming bar”. Oneworld celebrated its 25th anniversary last month, and was formed by founding members American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines (which merged into Star Alliance member Air Canada in 2001), Cathay Pacific and Qantas. At the time of going to press, Oneworld was set to open a second branded lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.…

VISITORS TO LONDON can get a taste of Relais & Châteaux's gastronomy at Fortnum & Mason in March and April. The luxury hotel and restaurant association has teamed up with the department store for a series of supper clubs, hosted in the interactive Food & Drink Studio. On March 13, chef George Blogg will showcase a six-course plant-based tasting menu. This will be followed by a nine-course British-inspired menu with a twist by chef Hrishikesh Desai of Cumbrian property Farlam Hall on April 17. Tickets start from £145 (US$180).…

AVIATION More than ever before, cases are being made for the necessity of a bigger, balanced talent pool It's 2018. At the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) annual conference in Sydney, Qatar Airways’ former CEO Akbar al Baker declares that only a man could lead his airline, “because it is a very challenging position”. That same year, journalist Angela Epstein appears on one of the UK's most watched morning shows to discuss the topic: Would you trust a female pilot?’ “If there's someone in a position of absolute power and control,” she said, “then I'd like it to be a man”. TUI Airways, meanwhile, takes heat for handing out “future pilot” stickers to boys and “future cabin crew” ones to girls. And while it's true that no formal barriers prohibit…

Understandably, most of Hong Kong's legion of hotels are clustered in the major commercial districts. Many are still viable choices for accessing the countryside of Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula but there are a handful of options in further-flung locations too. On the south side of Hong Kong Island, the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong (pictured top right) is ideal for families bound for Ocean Park, a home-grown theme park with rides and an ecological focus, but it's also handy for beaches and hikes including the 50km Hong Kong Trail, which traverses the island. fullertonhotels.com WM Hotel (pictured right) in Sai Kung, in the eastern part of the New Territories, is a luxury stay with great views out over the islands off the coast. Nearby are a…

BACKGROUND SriLankan Airlines operates seven A330-300s, configured with 269 seats in economy and 28 fully flat seats in business class. These are mainly operated on medium- and long-haul routes, including the Colombo-Singapore service. Flight UL308 is scheduled to depart Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport at 1215 and land at Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal 3 at 1845. CHECK-IN I checked in online, which allowed me to request a special meal (vegetarian Hindu) and choose my seat free-of-charge. All passengers (including Singapore residents) must complete an electronic SG Arrival Card in the three days before they enter Singapore. Seat reservation is complimentary for Platinum members of the carrier's FlySmiLes loyalty programme, Oneworld Emerald members, business class passengers, passengers with an economy flex ticket (myself included) and those travelling with infants or eligible for…

Over the years, airlines have partnered with chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants and TV shows to treat passengers on-board. We round up some of the latest initiatives on offer. AIR FRANCE The airline has a long tradition of working with chefs at the helm of Michelin-starred restaurants for its on-board menus. Last year Air France worked with 19 chefs, focusing on fresh, seasonal and local produce with a vegetarian dish in all travel cabins. Most recently, Emmanuel Renaut has been entrusted with menus for La Première (first class) on flights departing Paris, where passengers can expect dishes such as farmhouse chicken confit with mushrooms and vegetable millefeuille, followed by a mango, citrus and cognac baba from pastry chef Angelo Musa. Anne-Sophie Pic, meanwhile, is behind the long-haul business class cabin, with…