Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April - 2025 i Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

WELCOME TO THE latest Business Traveller Asia-Pacific. This is our third issue to feature not only a new design but also a new approach to content; we’re pleased with the results and hope you like it. Do let us know what you think. Our cover story looks at new hotels in Bangkok. The Thai capital has an astonishing variety of accommodation, not least at the upscale end of the range. Most of the world’s big names in hospitality have a presence here, and if not, will have soon. Infrastructural improvements have made the city a far more attractive proposition than before, and with a suite of top-end hotels it makes for a great place to both work and play. Standards of service and hospitality, generally superb in Asia’s main cities,…

AVIATION Route, airline & market updates HOTELS What’s new on the block TRAVEL Sage advice on loyalty points SUSTAINABILITY Greening it up in Japan CHEMNITZ (pronounced kem-nitz) may not have been on your radar (most of our team had never heard of it!) – but things are about to change, as the east German city has been named a European Capital of Culture 2025. The city also goes by another name: “Saxon Manchester”. Chemnitz was a powerhouse during the industrial revolution, earning the city wealth, status and ornate architecture. Visit the grand Kaßberg district to see the legacy for yourself, or head to the Industriemuseum to learn about Saxon textile and manufacturing history. Under the tagline “C the Unseen”, Chemnitz is collaborating with its Saxon neighbours for a year-long programme…

Qatar Airways has resumed flights to Damascus. The airline last served Syria’s capital 13 years ago, and is now operating thrice-weekly flights on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. China Airlines has launched flights between the cities of Melbourne and Auckland, with the five-times-weekly route operating as an extension of the carrier’s Taipei-Melbourne service. Juneyao Airlines has launched a thrice-weekly (daily in February) service between Shanghai and Melbourne, operated by the carrier’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. KLM Cityhopper will launch a new route between Exeter and Amsterdam Schiphol on March 30, with daily flights being operated by the carrier’s 88-seat Embraer 175 aircraft.…

THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA) has highlighted the challenges faced by airlines amid ongoing supply chain issues, but noted the continued high growth potential of Asia-Pacific (see our update on the region’s aviation sector on page 54). IATA warned that “severe supply chain issues” are expected to continue to impact airline performance into 2025, with the global aircraft backlog having reached a record 17,000 planes, and 2 per cent of the current global fleet parked for engine inspections. A total of 1,254 aircraft were anticipated in 2024 – a 30 per cent shortfall on predictions at the start of the year, and significantly down from the peak of 1,813 in 2018. The figure is forecast to rise to 1,802 deliveries this year, but this is still well down on…

Treehouse Hotels from SH Hotels & Resorts has made its stateside debut in Silicon Valley, US. The property has 111 rooms (with plans to expand to 252) and over 650 sqm of events space. As for food, there’s a beer garden serving 30 different craft beers and small bites, while Valley Goat restaurant offers a seasonally rotating menu of sharing plates, led by chef Stephanie Izard. Over in the UK, Treehouse Hotels’ Manchester property also opens this March, featuring low-waste restaurant Pip, with rooftop venue Sister Moon to follow.…

THE RESTAURANT La Maison 1888, Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is jaw-dropping in many ways – not least by virtue of its location on a mountain inhabited by monkeys, not to mention its own vertical tramway – but when it comes to French fare, few places in Southeast Asia can match it. Previous wearers of the chef’s hat at its fine-dining La Maison 1888 have included French culinary giants, the late Michel Roux (senior) and Pierre Gagnaire. Now Christian Le Squer from Paris’s three-Michelin-star Le Cinq is working his culinary magic in the French Indochine-style mansion created by star designer Bill Bensley. Proudly French with Vietnamese touches, his menus start with amuse-bouches such as smoked salmon tarts topped with caviar, before a stunning take on…

Hu This brand is one of the first chocolatiers to offer healthy, guilt-free sweets. Sold in more than 34,000 stores, this dark chocolate is made with three ingredients: cacao, coconut sugar and cocoa butter. hukitchen.com Alter Eco Alter Eco not only uses natural ingredients from plant extracts, spices, fruit bark and roots, but its packaging is also 100 per cent compostable. Products include organic quinoa and granola for added crunch and texture. alterecofoods.com Chocxo Cookies & Creme, dark chocolate peanut butter and peppermint are just a sampling of the flavours Chocxo creates. Products contain no artificial sweeteners and are all low in sugar. chocxo.com…

Weigh 10.5g of coffee. Grind the coffee beans and place in a cup. Shake each cup before smelling the variety. Fill each glass to the top with 220ml of hot water. Have another sniff and wait for it to cool. The coffee is brewed for four minutes. Break the crust and skim the foam from the surface. Grab a spoon, fill with some coffee and then slurp like you’re drinking soup. Assess the coffee flavours – for example, if you can associate the flavour with chocolate, nutty or fruity notes. Jot down your thoughts.…

AMAN NAI LERT Opening date: by summer 2025 Details are incredibly scarce about Aman Nai Lert, set in the heart of leafy Nai Lert Park, though it’s been confirmed that there will be 52 suites and 33 residences alongside a 1,500 sqm Aman Spa & Wellness Centre. SIX SENSES THE FORESTIAS Opening date: 2027 Six Senses The Forestias will comprise a hotel and residences perched on the edge of a forest-fringed lagoon. The forest will be a purpose-grown one in Bang Na, and treetop canopy walks will connect the hotel, residences and amenities. THE LANGHAM, CUSTOMS HOUSE Opening date: 2026 The Langham Customs House Bangkok, a 78-room hotel in the city’s former customs house, will have a riverside location in the heart of Bang Rak district. THE PLAZA ATHÉNÉE NOBU…

WINNERS SPARKLING BUSINESS CLASS GOLD Korean Air Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésimé, 2013, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France 95.5 points “Elegance and complexity, with a smooth texture and great length on the palate” SILVER EVA Air Champagne Castelnau Brut Millésimé, 2006, Champagne, France 95 points “Wonderful grilled and toasted notes with an intense aromatic harmony. Citrus notes bring a superb freshness” BRONZE Lufthansa Taittinger Champagne Brut Millésimé, Vintage 2016, Champagne, France 94 points “Floral aromas of hawthorn and pleasant notes of pear, kumquat, verbena, gingerbread and white flowers, underpinned by a subtle minty note” FIRST CLASS GOLD Singapore Airlines Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, 2012, Champagne, France 96 points “Sweet orchard fruit, buttery croissants, peach and hazelnuts” SILVER Cathay Pacific Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, 2007, Champagne,…

TAMARA HINSON A freelance journalist based in the UK, Tamara loves to snowboard, scuba dive and watch Formula 1. She spends much of her time in Asia, and says pretty much anywhere in the continent is her happy place. On page 48 we find her heading to Bangkok to check out new and noteworthy hotels – of which, as she discovers – there are many. GAVIN GREENWOOD Gavin has worked for a wide range of publications in Asia, including the launch of Asian Aviation, as well as Reuters and the Far Eastern Economic Review, before becoming a consultant with a number of political and security risk companies. On page 54 he examines the aviation sector in Asia-Pacific. TAMSIN COCKS Tamsin is the editor of Business Traveller (UK) and a former…

HOW HAS THE LOYALTY LANDSCAPE EVOLVED? Loyalty is becoming more automated and personalised. Loyalty programmes are also more interconnected, with loyalty currencies becoming tradeable. HOW IMPORTANT ARE TRAVEL BENEFITS? Travel benefits (anything that makes travel smoother, more comfortable or more special) are one of the most aspirational rewards. Analysis of payment card data shows that the more people use travel benefits on their payment card, the more they use their card. The popularity of airport lounge programme Priority Pass as a key travel benefit for credit card propositions underlines this. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST TURN-OFFS FOR CUSTOMERS WHEN IT COMES TO LOYALTY PROGRAMMES AND REWARDS? As with all relationships: unfulfilled promises and breaches of trust (especially around data use and protection). Devaluing loyalty rewards is seen as a failure to…

IN EARLY January 2025 Hong Kong’s Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, announced that the territory’s administration would bolster efforts to attract so-called “family offices” in a bid to boost its status as a global financial hub. Family offices are private companies that handle investment, wealth management, succession planning and sometimes philanthropic endeavours for wealthy families. A successful applicant will be required to invest a minimum of HK$30 million (US$3.9 million) to obtain residency and favourable tax status. The offer is likely to attract those from jurisdictions concerned over the security of their financial assets. Singapore already operates a similar programme that’s proved popular with investors from mainland China, while Hong Kong’s Hui noted that the territory may now offer an alternative for investors concerned that Switzerland,…

Beyond Hospitality BWH Hotels is revolutionising sustainability, paving the way for complete guest satisfaction BWH HOTELS IS A HEAVYWEIGHT IN hospitality, the powerhouse behind WorldHotels™, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts and SureStay® Hotels. With approximately 4,300 hotels across every chain scale segment, in over 100 countries and territories worldwide, it caters to all calibre of guests. Its commitment to green policies has seen it gain traction with ecoconscious travellers the world over. The People’s Choice In 2025, holiday budgets and travel tastes are more dynamic than ever. If there’s a positive to take from this, it’s that travellers are more empowered to be selective with their escapes. They can filter out the vacation options that are not aligned with their values. For many, this includes their approach to sustainability. Future…

TOKYO An Sólás Will Ryan proudly bills his pub An Sólás – Gaelic for “solace” – as the only Irish-owned watering hole in all of Tokyo. The Shibuya institution is beloved by Irish expats, never more so than come the big day. instagram.com/an_solas HONG KONG Captain’s Bar, Mandarin Oriental A legendary bar in a legendary hotel, Captain’s Bar has been pouring perfect pints since it opened in 1963. Ireland’s most famous export is served in chilled silver tankards to ensure a consistent temperature. mandarinoriental.com SINGAPORE The Penny Black Sitting in a heritage building overlooking the water at Boat Quay, Penny Black bills itself as a Victorian London pub. Guinness is on draught and is one of the city’s best pours, while Kilkenny, another Guinness brand, also features. pennyblack.com.sg BANGKOK Scruffy…

TIPS HAVE SURELY existed since the exchange of services began – but modern tipping culture has morphed into another beast. We can blame the Americans for the expectation of leaving no less than 20 per cent on the plate, regardless of superior service. But it was hoteliers and restaurateurs who introduced the ubiquitous “service charge”, a device that emerged to ensure the kitchen staff were included as well. Previously, cash tips were either kept by the server or more usually handed over to the head waiter who held it in a “tronc” to distribute. The consequence of this is well known to anyone who has served at the bottom of the hierarchy… Of course, it wasn’t long before some unscrupulous operators decided that the service charge was a useful way…

AIR TRAVEL, engaging countless moving parts with almost every one vulnerable to known as well as unanticipated systematic risks, is probably the closest commercial equivalent to warfare in terms of planning and logistics outside the military and defence sectors. As a result, for the commercial aviation sector to operate smoothly, thrive and return value, a wide range of components must operate in sync. This ideal state is rarely, if ever, achieved, reflecting the vagaries of geopolitics, weather, conflicting economic priorities and “black swan” events that occupy the menageries and creativity of the industry’s senior executives. Passengers generally give little thought to the overall technical and organisational mechanics of how they are processed and conveyed to their destinations. For most passengers, cost and reliability remain their priorities. The key question, therefore,…

STAR LETTER Have we got news for you… MY HUSBAND and I are frequent travellers, so we usually book our flights in business class. This is partly because my husband has a habit of bringing along large piles of old newspapers and magazines – titles he hasn’t had time to read at home but insists on travelling with! On a recent trip from Hong Kong to Vancouver we settled into our business class seats as usual. My husband pulled out his stack of old newspapers and placed them on the floor beside him. To our surprise, another passenger noticed the pile and casually grabbed one of the newspapers. We both stared at him, shocked by the audacity! After a few moments, the passenger realised the paper he’d taken was from 2022. He…

APPLE HAS introduced a new iOS feature called Share Item Location, enabling users to securely share the location of their AirTag or Find My network accessory with airlines. The technology allows customers to generate a location link for their device, leveraging the Apple Find My network, a crowdsourced network of over 1 billion Apple devices that use Bluetooth wireless technology to detect missing devices or items nearby. Apple said that 15 airlines would begin accepting the links in the coming months as part of their process for locating mishandled or delayed bags. These include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling. Location sharing can be stopped by…

Alaska Air Group is launching Seattle as a global gateway for widebody flights this year with new nonstop service on Hawaiian Airlines between Seattle and Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon. Daily nonstop flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita start on May 12 on Hawaiian’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft. From Narita, passengers have onward connectivity to other Asian destinations on Oneworld alliance partner Japan Airlines. Meanwhile, nonstop service between Seattle and Seoul Incheon is scheduled to begin in October 2025. Alaska completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in the final quarter of last year, but despite the merger both Alaska and Hawaiian will maintain their distinct brand identities. Alaska Air Group’s Seattle hub is the largest on the West Coast of any carrier, serving 104 nonstop destinations across North America. Including Tokyo…

The top 10 most popular international travel routes BY ANNUAL SEATS (2024) LAST YEAR’S BUSIEST international flight route was a 105-minute journey between Hong Kong and Taipei, Taiwan. However, the number of seats between the two cities remains below pre-pandemic levels, according to a report by aviation analytics company OAG. In total, seven carriers, including Cathay Pacific, Taiwan’s China Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines, offered 6.78 million seats between the two cities last year. More than 30 flights take off each way daily, with multiple departures every hour during peak times in the morning and evening. Capacity was up 48 per cent on this route compared with 2023, reflecting a widespread recovery in the Asia-Pacific market (see our feature on page 54). However, available seats remained 15 per cent below…

Customers are no longer putting up with poor return on their loyal custom 25% have noticed rewards value being diluted over time 20% are frustrated by a lack of redemption options 15% resent a lack of personalisation which means they receive irrelevant and poorly targeted offers 33% are happy and content with their loyalty programme 6% of customers belong to more than six schemes. Those belonging to multiple schemes are more likely to have concerns The top 3 changes consumers would make is to increase reward value, have more experiential and partner benefit options, and have more ‘surprise and delight’ perks SOURCE: Figures come from Collinson’s UK Loyalty Landscape research…

MADRAS LANE Tucked away in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s bustling Chinatown, Madras Lane is a historic street known for its authentic Malaysian hawker fare. Known locally as “Wet Market Lane” or “Lorong Madras”, this narrow alley has been serving hungry patrons for generations and is particularly famous for its curry laksa, yong tau-fu (bean curd stuffed with ground meat or fish paste) and chee cheong fun (stuffed steamed rice rolls) – dishes that have been perfected over decades by dedicated hawkers who guard their secret recipes closely. Despite its modest appearance, with its weathered walls and simple plastic chairs, Madras Lane attracts both locals and tourists who brave the heat and crowds for a taste of authentic Malaysian cuisine. The atmosphere is genuinely local – ceiling fans whir overhead…

HONG KONG Hong Kong Sevens March 28-30 This seven-a-side rugby tournament is an important fixture on the sporting calendar. It’s also one huge three-day party. Teams come from all over the world to compete, with 12 men’s teams in the main competition. There are also competitions for women and regional sides. This year the tournament will take place at the Kai Tak Stadium (the site of the old international airport) for the first time, after three decades at the beloved Hong Kong Stadium. NETHERLANDS Tulip Festival, Amsterdam March 20-May 11 This spring, the annual festival celebrates the capital’s 750th anniversary, with displays at 85 points across the city, including floating tulips in Vondelpark pond. Keukenhof Gardens, just outside Amsterdam, is a must see – boasting 7 million spring-flowering bulbs. UNITED…

Q & A What attracted you to the world of coffee? Coffee is not that popular in Taiwan, so 11 years ago I came to London to learn from Australian people opening cafes here. I really enjoy the hospitality and community aspect. When people come to a cafe, I feel like they’re in my living room. They’ve come to relax and I like being part of that. I’m also sharing something that I’m proud of because I’ve sourced the coffee. Tasting coffee was also a way of finding myself. It marked the beginning of my recovery from depression and bulimia. The more I began to focus on taste, the more I recovered. I felt more connected and fully present. You hold a Q Grader certification. What does this mean? It’s…

For the best dining and nightlife in Toronto, head to King Street West. This area, comparable to New York’s SoHo, offers a selection of upscale restaurants and bars. Vaulted ceilings and Art Deco glitz create an impressive dining spot for authentic Italian eatery Oretta. Explore all the Italian classics, with most dishes available as gluten-free versions. Can’t choose? Try the chef’s seven-course tasting menu – C$78 (US$55). Paris Paris, meanwhile, is a cool, modern bistro offering a relaxed yet refined setting with urban-chic decor and long sharing tables. The menu is based on seasonal, local ingredients, with everything from cheese and charcuterie to fresh seafood – the lobster spaghetti is a must. Come for light afternoon bites and stay to dance the night away. Alternatively, Mexico meets the Mediterranean at…