Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2024 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

WELCOME to this issue of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific. We hope it will strike you as being very different to previous ones. This summer the company joined Ink Global, which has a large stable of travel titles and media outlets such as Reach TV, meaning big things for the brand. What you'll find in the pages that follow is a completely revamped magazine, both in terms of content as well as a bold, contemporary design. Gone is the destination-driven approach, much loved in the days of yore. Instead you'll find content that's more focused and concise, enabling you to make decisions that are better informed. Our scope includes loyalty programmes, travel tips, business and new tech, as well as all-important sustainability issues. Our favourite opinion leaders are still with us: knowledge…

AVIATION Cathay unveils Aria Suite HOTELS Standard debut in Singapore TRAVEL Best-connected airports BUSINESS Unicorns born in 2024 BARBUDA UPGRADED its transport links last month with the opening of Barbuda International Airport and is prepped to receive a host of flights from around the world. Previously, guests could only reach the hotspot via a 90-minute ferry from twin-sister island Antigua, or by sporadic charter flights to the smaller (now permanently closed) Codrington Airport to the west of the island. The new US$14 million airport has a runway twice the size of Codrington's, allowing for larger aircraft including private jets and planes such as the Embraer E-170. It also has an LED lighting system for night landings. Additionally, Barbuda will welcome 23 luxury cruise ships for the upcoming winter season. Upon…

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WORKOUT SPACES are on the rise in airports. Both San Francisco and Dallas Fort Worth have introduced yoga rooms and meditation spaces to help travellers relax before the flight. But it's not just airports. Lounges are increasingly offering fitness spaces, too. Two well-known spaces include Cathay Pacific's The Wing business class lounge in Hong Kong, which features a quiet stretch and yoga area; and The Club SFO lounge, which offers innovative wellness features including bespoke fitness mirrors and unique Luminescence rooms with adjustable colour, temperature and lighting.…

Strange brews Say “ciao” to the Cosmopolitan and wave goodbye to daiquiris as savoury notes of umami are taking over in cocktails. At Hong Kong's The Savory Project, Jay Khan has blazed a trail, eschewing sweetness in favour of complex, multilayered concoctions like Thai beef salad – yes, really – where clarified peanut rum meets beef essence, coconut water, chilli and lime. In the heartland of umami, Tokyo's funky Azabujuban neighbourhood is home to Tokyo Confidential where Wakana Murata crafts a glizztini featuring gin, tomato, mezcal, onion brine – and MSG. Then down in Singapore's CBD, White Shades offer the forest Amazon with ingredients including gin, olive and rosemary. Breaking the rules Chef Hisashi Udatsu has rewritten the sushi rulebook as his Michelin-starred cuisine in Tokyo comes with music, contemporary…

TENNIS SUPERSTAR Novak Djokovic has been appointed as the new Global Wellness Advisor for Aman Resorts. Djokovic, who has 24 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic medal to his name, will join the company in a multi-year partnership. Guests can expect exclusive programmes and events from the world-class athlete, who plans to make use of his expertise from life on and off the court. Djokovic will also get involved with future product development for Aman Essentials – the company's collection of skincare, fragrances, clothing, homeware and wellness products. “Over the years, I have cultivated a comprehensive daily wellness routine, combining mental health, nutrition and fitness, that has enabled me to achieve sustained success on both the global stage and in my personal life. Sharing those learnings with Aman guests will…

IT'S HARD to keep active on the road, but aparthotel brand Citadines has come up with a useful solution. The brand, which belongs to The Ascott Limited, has launched a partnership with fitness subscription service ClassPass. Guests staying in Citadines properties, as well as those who are members of Ascott Star Rewards loyalty programme, can gain access to a one-month trial of ClassPass, allowing members to exchange credits for exercise classes at local wellness centres. There's something for everyone, from barre to Pilates, beauty treatments to boutique boxing gyms. The offer is running across properties in the UK, France and Asia-Pacific until December 14, 2024.…

IT'S A BIT OF A mouthful, but the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44 in Horizon Blue is a stunning addition for any collector of seriously high-end watches. An 18k white-gold case hides the movement assembled from 385 parts, but the see-through sapphire glass back lets you look on in awe. The Double Moon display shows the moon as seen from both hemispheres, while it will only deviate from the moon's actual orbit by one day after 577.5 years. It has a seven-day power reserve, a blue Santoni calfskin leather strap and is also water resistant to 50m – but at a cool US$55,000, chances are you won't be sporting it at the beach.…

Q&A What is the purpose of Star Alliance? When you think about the origin of Star Alliance – the first alliance to be formed in 1997 – it was all on the back of the business traveller. It was about creating convenience, building a great network, offering recognition and loyalty – and we've got a proud history in that regard. I joined Star because I really believe in the mission and the vision of the organisation, and it's as relevant today as it was then. No carrier can serve every destination around the world, but through an alliance, airlines can leverage the networks of other member carriers to serve destinations they couldn't otherwise. That's the core role of an alliance. Now, our focus is all about how we enhance the…

THE WINNERS of the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards were announced in October by the publishers of Business Traveller, Ink Global. This year marks the 33rd edition of the awards, and saw Singapore Airlines walk away with four of them: Best Airline, Best Asia-Pacific Airline, Best First Class and Best Economy Class. Meanwhile Cathay Pacific won three awards: Best Chinese Airline, Best Frequent-flyer Programme, and Best Airport Lounge. Singapore Changi Airport won three awards: Best Airport in the World, Best in Asia-Pacific and Best for Tax-free Shopping For hospitality, Grand Hyatt won Best Business Hotel Brand in the World, while The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts won Best Independent Hotel Brand and The Peninsula Hong Kong won Best Business Hotel in the World. The Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards are voted for by…

TAMSIN COCKS Tamsin is the editor of Business Traveller UK and a former editor of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific. She has also previously edited Cathay Pacific's inflight magazine, Discovery. In this issue, she talks to the CEO of Star Alliance, Theo Panagiotoulias, about the departure of SAS, the future of the network, and the importance of technology. Turn to page 39. BEN CHIN Ben is a seasoned journalist based in Singapore, with bylines spanning prominent titles such as The Peak, SilverKris and Tatler Asia. Specialising in luxury, travel, and wines and spirits, his work has taken him across the globe – often on a train with a pint in hand. On page 48 he leads us on a culinary tour of his home city. JOSEPH PHELAN Joseph is a London-based writer…

SAY HELLO TO SLH CLUB, the new loyalty programme for loyal guests. The Club replaces the former scheme, INVITED, but retains the three-tiered structure that members climb with nights stayed in SLH properties – and will now plant two trees for every night booked as part of a partnership with TreeNation. New members are automatically entered into the lowest level, Club 01, which entitles them to flexible check-in and check-out, wifi and the preferential Club Rate. Members gain access to Club 02 once they have stayed four nights – with added perks including continental breakfast, upgrades, bespoke experiences and exclusive partner offers. The highest tier, Club 03, is reserved for those staying for 13 nights or more. Members will receive US$300 reward-night vouchers and invites to exclusive events. The app,…

ONEWORLD'S AI-powered travel service helps ambitious travellers book international trips with its member airlines. Oneworld's Round the World fares allow passengers to book up to 16 flights between at least three continents on a globe-spanning trip that lands back home up to a year later – but with 15 airlines, hundreds of destinations, millions of possible flights, constantly changing seat availability and varying fare rules, scheduling such a trip is beyond conventional airline booking engines and a daunting prospect for travellers. To simplify the process, Oneworld turned to AI start-up Elemental Cognition, which leveraged Google Cloud infrastructure to produce a robust booking system capable of handling airline schedules’ complexity. The tool includes a chatbot that asks customers about their home city, ideal destination and desired travel dates. It then produces…

1 xAI: Artificial intelligence looms large with this year's unicorns. xAI was founded last year by Elon Musk “to accelerate human scientific discovery”. It's already worth US$24 billion and has a chatbot called Grok to rival ChatGPT. The company wants to develop “truthful” AI systems that don't create misleading information. 2 BillionToOne: The genetic testing company's slogan is: “Detect disease one molecule at a time.” With 3 billion letters making up the human genome, the company says its molecular diagnostics can measure tiny DNA fragments, leading to advances in everything from prenatal screening to oncology. 3 Wayve: Earlier this year, British autonomous vehicles (AVs) start-up Wayve raised US$1.05 billion – the largest round of funding for an AI start-up in Europe. It's currently building software for AVs with what it…

Dispatch SUSTAINABLE TRAVELLER Both partnerships will see customers able to combine rail trips with medium- and long-haul flights in single reservations. For instance, a passenger can fly from New York JFK to Rome Fiumicino, before continuing their journey with Trenitalia's high-speed Frecciarossa. While the Eurostar announcement hinted at SkyTeam benefits, frequent flyers will be able to earn and redeem miles on Frecciarossa services, and CartaFRECCIA members will similarly be able to earn and burn points on eligible SkyTeam flights. At present no date has been given for the expected launch of the Trenitalia partnership – SkyTeam's agreement with Eurostar is slated to start in the first half of 2025.…

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to visit Cambodia's capital. New developments include the December 2024 opening of the Shangri-La Phnom Penh (we recommend heading to its rooftop bar, 228m up), while recent infrastructure improvements to Norodom Boulevard, which connects the airport to the city centre, have made key landmarks more accessible. Getting to – and from – the city will soon become even easier. Techo International Airport, 30km south of the city, will open in 2025, replacing Phnom Penh International Airport, while the US$4.2 billion Phnom Penh-Siem Reap-Poipet Expressway, which will stretch to the Thai border, is expected to get the green light by the end of this year. Here's how to spend a day in Cambodia's riverside capital. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIA This enormous museum, famous for…

The 19th-century composer Rossini memorably called them “the Mozart of mushrooms” and the annual autumn launch of white truffle season, around the small Italian town of Alba, gets global gastronomes aquiver. This year's haul is one of the best in recent memory and these four spots make it rain with shavings of the fragrant but pricey subterranean fungi: GRISSINI, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong – A luxurious dish of homemade tagliolini with artisanal butter and Alba white truffle manages to celebrate simplicity to beautiful effect. OSTERIA MOZZA, Singapore – Chef Nancy Silverton offers seasonal truffle atop pastas such as ricotta and egg raviolo. LE NORMANDIE, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok – Chef Alex Dilling's take on the ethereally light classic of soufflé Suisse uses aged Comté and Saint Nectaire cheeses, topped with generous…

Virgin Atlantic is jumping on the wellness wagon with the launch of various initiatives at its London Heathrow Clubhouse. The luxury lounge has opened a yoga retreat in partnership with Peloton, complete with strength and balance equipment for customers to stretch, meditate (and even sweat, if they so wish) ahead of their long-haul flights. Additionally, the lounge is now stocking soothing Roller Balls from Aromatherapy Associates. These pocket-sized, travel-friendly amenities are packed with a blend of essential oils, which enhance your mood and reduce your stress levels when applied to pulse points (on your wrists or behind your ears) Plus, they come with a QR code, which provides access to guided breathwork exercises that you can practise in the air.…

Explore LITTLE LUXURIES Fancy a splurge? Treat yourself to luxury hotel stays or a stunning timepiece with this month's pick of lavish indulgences THE SEXY AND SLEEK riverside retreat of Capella Bangkok just took the coveted top spot in the World's 50 Best Hotels, with judges calling it “a masterclass in serenity and calm”. Each of the 101 rooms, suites and villas overlooks the Chao Phraya River, but it's the 595 sqm two-bedroom Presidential Villa that allows for the ultimate in luxury, thanks to its garden, Jacuzzi plunge pool, living and dining room. What else sets it apart? Its “spa sanctuary” Auriga is a haven of Thai wellness that soon has you floating away in carefree bliss, while Mediterranean dining from superstar chef Mauro Colagreco and no-holds-barred Thai flavours at…

BY HENRY A. KISSINGER, CRAIG MUNDIE AND ERIC SCHMIDT (OUT 21 NOVEMBER) One of the most polarising politicians of the 20th century, Kissinger, the late US Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, waded into an equally controversial topic for his final book: artificial intelligence. He teamed up with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and former Microsoft executive Craig Mundie to tackle questions about technology's rapid rise and what it means for the future of humanity. In the book, they write that AI has the power to radically transform society and revolutionise our relationship with reality and the divine. How can we harness AI and make smart decisions without letting it change humanity for the worse?…

MILESTONES 1997 Star Alliance is founded in Frankfurt, becoming the first airline alliance with five members: United Airlines, SAS, Thai Airways, Air Canada and Lufthansa 2001 Star Alliance opens its first branded lounge at Zurich Airport 2012 Star Alliance opens the first alliance-branded ticket counter at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport 2020 Star Alliance Biometrics is launched at Frankfurt and Munich airports 2024 SAS leaves Star Alliance to join SkyTeam. Star Alliance has 25 member airlines serving more than 1,100 airports across 187 countries…

Q&A Tell our readers about the Concorde experience. I was on the inaugural Concorde flight from Washington Dulles to London Heathrow on May 25, 1976. When I first saw it, I thought, “Bloody hell, it looks like a rocket.” Concorde was like a bus to work. I was living and working in the US, so would catch Concorde from New York in the morning, land in London at 6pm and be on the Nairobi flight within three hours. I commuted every weekend for three years. My company allowed me to fly on Concorde, not because they were good-hearted, but because they got 24 hours more work out of me. My first flight across the Atlantic took 19 hours and four stops, as opposed to Concorde which was around three hours.…

1 Barcelona, Spain Average download speed: 217.52 Mb/s Average upload speed: 162.94 Mb/s Average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment: US$1,060 2 Krakow, Poland Average download speed: 154.51 Mb/s Average upload speed: 48.39 Mb/s Average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment: US$830 3 Athens, Greece Average download speed: 50.22 Mb/s Average upload speed: 9.69 Mb/s Average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment: US$850 4 Zagreb, Croatia Average download speed: 105.39 Mb/s Average upload speed: 49.02 Mb/s Average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment: US$700 5 Budapest, Hungary Average download speed: 217.83 Mb/s Average upload speed: 40.22 Mb/s Average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment: US$800 6 Skopje, North Macedonia Average download speed: 51.18 Mb/s Average upload speed: 28.77 Mb/s Average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment: US$370…

MITCH EPSTEIN is a celebrated American photographer who documents the wild areas of the United States and the relationship we have with them. His photographs are a poignant look at what remains of the great American wilderness, exploring the tension between society and nature within the context of climate change. His exhibition, Mitch Epstein. American Nature has just opened at the Intesa Sanpaolo Gallerie d'Italia in Turin, running until March 2, 2025. In this picture Maple Glade, shot at Hoh Rain Forest, Washington, lichen- and moss-covered trees have an ethereal and almost spectral quality that hints at the forest's ancient origins.…

LASTING MEMORY I have probably flown with BA at least a dozen times in the last 12 months (mostly long haul). No matter how great the check-in, lounge, flight or service is, I always leave Heathrow with the feeling of, ‘How come it can't get the simple things right?’ and ‘Why do I continue to fly with BA?’. Every trip I have done this year has seen me waiting over an hour for my ‘priority’ luggage to appear. Compare this to Hong Kong (45 minutes from landing to getting on the train to the city) or Singapore (25 minutes to get to the taxi). Why is BA at Heathrow T5 consistently so poor? After an hour, I suggested the baggage team made an announcement to passengers. They always seem surprised.…

FELIX at The Peninsula Hong Kong – the grande dame puts on an epic New Year's Eve show with stunning harbour and firework views, flowing Champagne and sublime plates. TIAO at Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing – the newest MO includes two-storey Tiao, a cocktail bar which has quickly become Beijing's hottest night spot. With sensational cocktails, locally inspired eats and DJ sets, tickets will be seriously sought-after. MIYUKI, Hotel Chinzanso, Tokyo – Toshikoshi-soba are always on New Year's Eve menus in Japan – try them at Miyuki, then visit a local shrine on New Year's Day to welcome 2025 in reflective style. NIMITR, 137 Pillars, Bangkok – With a menu available from 5pm, you'll have plenty of time for five courses of Thai cuisine including Isaan pigeon curry and pan-fried…

SITTING 2,700M above sea level, Nepal's Mustang region redefines remote, as it was previously inaccessible and the gateway to the country's Forbidden Kingdom. Today it's home to Shinta Mani Mustang, a typically colourful resort created by design alchemist Bill Bensley. All-inclusive experiences across five-night programmes blend cultural exploration, spiritual growth and adventure in a jawdropping Himalayan setting. Wilderness trekking and horse-riding all draw on local Sherpa knowledge, while an 11thgeneration doctor offers herbology and healing massages. Genuine sustainability impacts every area of operations and experiences, while support goes to local non-profit organisations such as the Pasang Lhamu Foundation, which empowers marginalised women and children through healthcare, scholarships and more.…

EUROPE Picasso: Printmaker, London November 7, 2024 – March 30, 2025 The British Museum is home to the UK's largest collection of Picasso prints. This exhibition provides a deeper look at his most intimate moments – including pieces from the 347 Suite, named after the number of prints created towards the end of his life. EUROPE Cindy Sherman – Anti-fashion, Antwerp until February 2, 2025 Antwerp's photography museum FOMU is hosting an exhibition that oversees the four-decade-long career of prolific artist Cindy Sherman – and it's quite the treat for fashion lovers. Expect to see her work for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and fashion houses Balenciaga and Comme des Garçons, plus an eclectic mix of self-portraits, dramatic black and white film stills and contemporary, tactile shots of clowns. USA Illuminate SF…

AS THE year comes to a close, many of us find ourselves in a familiar predicament: struggling to requalify for elite status or feeling frustrated by the lack of meaningful perks from the airline or hotel programme we've stayed loyal to. If this sounds like you, now is the perfect time to rethink your loyalty strategy and consider whether your current programme is truly working in your favour. Here's our advice: shop around for a new loyalty programme. You might be surprised to find that switching could unlock more valuable benefits, even if it means leaving behind some of the perks you're used to. The power of status matches IF YOU ALREADY have elite status, switching programmes doesn't have to mean starting from scratch. Many airlines offer status match programmes,…

SINGAPORE FOOD Renowned for its diversity and sheer quality of food, there's nowhere in the world quite like Singapore – and all who live there know this to be true. In fact, wining and dining is so central to life in the city that the Malay word makan (eat) has itself become a staple, and can be used as verb, noun or part of a greeting. In these pages, we give you our man-on-the-spot's top recommendations. LUMO A rare gem for refined wood-grilled dishes and unpretentious cocktails Located at the end of Carpenter Street, where Chinatown meets the vibrant Boat Quay district, this modern European restaurant is popular with the young, in-the-know crowd. The sleek, minimalist space puts the spotlight squarely on its well-executed, sharing-friendly plates. Head chef Dex Tew,…

See if this sounds familiar: You arrive at your airport gate five minutes after boarding has begun, and the passenger line already stretches a long way back from the air bridge. You're sitting in 18A, and while inching towards the plane door, you're hoping the overhead storage above your row is not stuffed to full capacity. Here's another scenario: your carry-on is snugly tucked into the overhead, while you're happily tucked into your window seat. The plane pushes back from the gate on time, but after 20 minutes on the taxiway, your flight has barely budged amid an endless procession of jets awaiting take-off. That's when you realise much-needed items remain in your carry-on – a phone charger, the headphones for the music that keeps you relaxed during the climb-out,…