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42 Articles

Politicians are fond of talking about the “new normal”. While such statements, and many of the people who make them, are to be treated with a degree of scepticism, it does indeed seem that the post-Covid world is close to some form of normal. Given recent geopolitical events, how that develops is anyone's guess. It is with a renewed sense of optimism that we take a look at the latest developments in the world of business travel. Our premium economy update reviews airline offerings in this increasingly popular and budget-friendly class of air travel, while airport lounges around the world get similar treatment. Tokyo and Shanghai feature as destinations in this issue – both compelling and dynamic cities. The former is sometimes bewildering, sometimes enigmatic – but always engaging. Shanghai, brash and…

STEVE WHITE Steve is a Hong Kong-based journalist with more than 25 years’ experience covering travel, lifestyle and business across the Asia-Pacific region for magazines and newspapers. On page 52 he brings us his insights on what to do in Hong Kong when you have half a day spare after business is concluded. HANNAH BRANDLER Hannah is features editor for Business Traveller‘s UK edition, and as such reports on all aspects of business travel for the magazine. In this issue, as well as reviewing various airlines and hotels, she explores Tokyo (see page 46), finding it both beguiling and full of surprises. LAURA MILLAR Laura is an awardwinning travel and food writer whose work has also appeared in The Telegraph, The Independent, the Daily Mail and City AM. Her favourite countries include France, Greece and…

Cathay Pacific to return to Chennai and Colombo

HONG KONG'S CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS will resume flights to Chennai and Colombo in February next year. The airline last offered a regular service to both cities before the pandemic. Cathay is gradually rebuilding its network and says its recovery remains well on track as demand for travel holds strong across its network. Cathay recently relaunched flights to Johannesburg and noted “a very positive response” from the market. The airline adds that it will continue to add more flights, in particular to the Chinese mainland. Its traffic figures for August 2023 show the oneworld carrier surpassed the milestone of carrying more than 10 million passengers in the first eight months of 2023. In August, the airline carried a total of 1.8 million passengers, an increase of more than 600 per cent compared…

Cathay Pacific to return to Chennai and Colombo

HYATT PLACE OPENS IN BUKIT JALIL, KUALA LUMPUR

HYATT PLACE KUALA LUMPUR, BUKIT JALIL, Malaysia's first Hyatt Place and the first international hotel in Bukit Jalil, has officially opened. The new property has 250 spacious guestrooms with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a cosy corner sofa-sleeper. It features an all-day dining restaurant with a wide array of international and local dishes. There's also The Market, offering a variety of grab-and-go snacks and quick bites available anytime, and a bar. The hotel has a rooftop swimming pool, and a full gym with yoga room. Situated in a well-connected area within reach of the national stadium, convention centres, golf courses and a recreational park, Hyatt Place Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Jalil offers direct access to major highways. The hotel is a 30-minute drive to Subang airport, and a…

HYATT PLACE OPENS IN BUKIT JALIL, KUALA LUMPUR

Air New Zealand to extend Covid credits by two years

AIR NEW ZEALAND will extend the expiry date for credits issued due to the impact of the pandemic. They were due to expire on January 31, 2024. All customers who have a Covid credit now have until January 31, 2026 to book travel for completion by December 31, 2026. At that time, given some of these credits are from early 2020, the airline will have provided customers with up to six years to use their credits. Air New Zealand chief financial officer, Richard Thomson, says customer feedback and the volume of outstanding Covid credits mean that more time is needed to help customers plan their travel. This will be the sixth time Air New Zealand has extended the expiry date for its Covid credits.…

Air New Zealand to extend Covid credits by two years

KOREAN AIR RESUMES ROUTES TO JAPAN AND CHINA

KOREAN AIR will expand its operations for the winter season in line with demand. It will resume routes and increase frequencies to Japan, Southeast Asia, China, North America and Oceania. After a hiatus of three years and seven months, Korean Air will resume services to three cities in China and Japan, respectively. Starting in late October, the airline has resumed routes from Seoul Incheon to Kagoshima, Niigata and Okayama with three flights a week each. On the China front, the carrier will relaunch Busan-Shanghai and Seoul Incheon-Xiamen (both daily), and Seoul Incheon-Kunming four times a week. In Southeast Asia and South Asia, the airline will increase flight frequencies on the Incheon-Bangkok route to five times daily from three; the Incheon-Manila route to three times daily from two; and the Seoul Incheon-Delhi and Seoul…

KOREAN AIR RESUMES ROUTES TO JAPAN AND CHINA

MARRIOTT OPENS W PROPERTY ON SYDNEY'S DARLING HARBOUR

THE W HOTELS brand has returned to Sydney for the first time since 2007, with the opening of a 588-room hotel overlooking Darling Harbour. W Sydney is situated within The Ribbon, a curved mixed-use development designed by Australian architectural firm Hassell. The complex also houses an IMAX theatre, retail space and serviced apartments. The hotel features four F&B venues including BTWN restaurant (so called because it is situated between the city's expressways), the brand's signature Living Room bar, and the two-level rooftop 29/30 bar. Other facilities include a 30m open-air infinity pool featuring a giant jellyfish motif crafted from glass mosaic tiles, as well as AWAY Spa, FIT Gym and 1,300 sqm of events space including the 592 sqm pillarless Great Room. Sydney was the first location for the W Hotels brand…

MARRIOTT OPENS W PROPERTY ON SYDNEY'S DARLING HARBOUR

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES ANNOUNCES LONG-HAUL WINTER SCHEDULE

MANILA-BASED FILIPINO FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) has finalised its long-haul schedule for the period to March 30. PAL will fly twice a day between Manila and Los Angeles this winter. Elsewhere in the US, the carrier will operate a daily service to San Francisco, and four times a week to New York's John F. Kennedy airport. Manila-Guam will see daily flights, while Manila-Honolulu will be five-weekly. In Canada, PAL will fly daily to Vancouver this winter, and twice a week to Toronto. PAL notes that, on its New York, Los Angeles and Toronto flights, a stopover or payload restrictions may be required on certain days due to airspace or weather conditions. In Australasia, the carrier will serve Sydney daily, and Melbourne and Brisbane five times a week each. The airline's recently…

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES ANNOUNCES LONG-HAUL WINTER SCHEDULE

Hotel Indigo debuts in Tokyo

IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS has opened its fourth property in Japan under the Hotel Indigo brand, located in Tokyo. The 272-room Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya is located within walking distance of the famous pedestrian crossing, Shibuya Scramble, with linear design features in the public spaces nodding to the landmark. The hotel's design is themed around “kaleidoscopic urban jungle”, with fashion-led artworks throughout the 12th floor reception adorned with denim and leather motifs. Rooms include a selection of vinyl records, reflecting the music culture in Shibuya, and have views of Tokyo Skytree and Mount Fuji on a clear day. Dining spaces include Gallery 11, which offers Mediterranean-Japanese fusion cuisine and walls adorned with artworks, and coffee shop Shibrewya. The hotel also boasts a terrace complete with a DJ booth. The Hotel Indigo brand debuted…

Hotel Indigo debuts in Tokyo

Air India adds third route from Bangkok

AIR INDIA has introduced a nonstop service between Kolkata and Bangkok. AI322 departs Kolkata at 2200 to reach Bangkok at 0205 the next morning. The return flight AI321 takes off from Bangkok at 0305 to land in Kolkata at 0410. The route, operated by narrowbody Airbus aircraft, offers a business class and economy class service. Kolkata-Bangkok is flown six times a week, from Monday to Saturday. Air India passengers may connect in Bangkok to ten popular destinations in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia on the network of Bangkok Airways, an Air India interline partner, as well as many other domestic and international destinations in the network of Star Alliance partner Thai Airways. Air India also operates daily nonstop flights to Bangkok from both Delhi and Mumbai.…

Air India adds third route from Bangkok

EMIRATES TO INTRODUCE PREMIUM ECONOMY TO SAO PAULO AND TOKYO NARITA

DUBAI-BASED CARRIER EMIRATES will introduce its premium economy cabin to two more points in its network over the coming weeks. It will be available on its São Paulo route from November 19, and to Tokyo Narita from December 20. Tokyo Narita will become the second gateway in Emirates’ Far East network to include the premium economy seats. With the addition of Tokyo Narita, the number of points on Emirates’ network offering premium economy will grow to 14. São Paulo will become the airline's fifth point in its North and South American network where flights will operate with the new cabin class. From November 19, travellers flying between Dubai and São Paulo can book Emirates’ premium economy seats on EK261/262, which will initially be available thrice a week, scaling up to daily flights…

EMIRATES TO INTRODUCE PREMIUM ECONOMY TO SAO PAULO AND TOKYO NARITA

SAS to switch from Star Alliance to SkyTeam

A STAR ALLIANCE FOUNDING MEMBER plans to defect to SkyTeam following a restructuring that will see Air France-KLM take a stake in the Scandinavian carrier. SAS confirmed that it had reached “a major milestone” in its Chapter 11 process in the US, with a consortium including investment manager Castlelake, Lind Invest, Air France-KLM and the Danish government set to take control of the airline. Under the new structure, Air France-KLM will hold approximately 19.9 per cent of the equity, with the option to take a controlling stake after two years. This will result in the carrier “eventually” joining the SkyTeam alliance, of which Air France is a founding member. Ahead of this, SAS said it would “seek to establish a commercial cooperation with Air France-KLM and its airlines (subject to customary approvals) to the…

SAS to switch from Star Alliance to SkyTeam

THE CHELSEA TOWNHOUSE boutique property in London has opened its doors. Located at 26 Cadogan Gardens, the hotel is the third London property under the Iconic Luxury Hotels collection and a stone's throw from its sister hotel, 11 Cadogan Gardens, and The Apartments at 20 Cadogan Gardens. Formerly the Draycott Hotel, the property has undergone an extensive transformation and now features 36 rooms across three Victorian red-brick townhouses, along with exclusive access to Cadogan Gardens. Designed to feel like a private, residential home, guests are treated to a Chelsea bun on arrival while Townhouse Hosts cater to their needs. There is no restaurant but instead a relaxed “dining salon”, while the hotel offers an “all-day, eat anywhere” menu. Original design touches include sweeping staircases, marble fireplaces and crown mouldings. Guest rooms and suites include…

LUFTHANSA TO REFURBISH A320S WITH NEW SEATS, USB PORTS AND TABLET HOLDERS

LUFTHANSA has announced plans to refurbish a large portion of its A320 fleet. A total of 38 A320 aircraft will be retrofitted with new interiors, including new seats from Italian manufacturer Geven. The carrier says the seats would offer more legroom with the same seat spacing, “thanks to the ergonomic shaping of the backrests”. The seats will also feature USB ports and new holders for tablets and smartphones that are separate to the seat table. The aircraft will be fitted with overhead bins that can hold twice as many bags as the current models can accommodate, while cases can be stored vertically. The refit is set to begin in spring 2025.…

LUFTHANSA TO REFURBISH A320S WITH NEW SEATS, USB PORTS AND TABLET HOLDERS

Japan tourist tax

THE WESTERN JAPANESE CITY of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima has introduced a tourism tax to preserve the nature, history and culture of the area. Since October 1 a levy of ¥100 (US$0.66) has been charged on each tourist to Miyajima Island in the city's southern region, home to UNESCO World Heritage site Itsukushima Shrine. The tax is included in the boarding ticket for ferries to the island, though tourists can opt for an annual ¥500 (US$3) charge should they want to make multiple visits throughout the year. The money raised will be used to maintain tourism information desks, preserve cultural assets and historical architecture, and promote ecotourism. The city is anticipating 4 million tourists this year.…

EVS FOR EDINBURGH

EDINBURGH AIRPORT has installed new electric vehicle charging points across three of its car parks, as part of a Low Carbon Energy Project. A total of 40 EV chargers have been installed, including five in the FastPark valet parking option, enabling passengers to book to have their car plugged in while they are away and return to a fully charged vehicle. Another 15 22kWh chargers are now located in the terminal parking facility close to the multi-storey car park (with a maximum stay of 24 hours), while 20 7kWh chargers have been installed in the Plane Parking facility, where there is no time limit. The airport says that EV charging costs £0.55 (US$0.66) per kwh, plus a £1 (US$1.2) connection fee. The chargers are part of a wider project to reduce emissions at…

EVS FOR EDINBURGH

Easyjet joins Airbus's carbon-removal initiative

EASYJET HAS BECOME the first airline to sign a contract with Airbus for its carbon-removal initiative known as the Airbus Carbon Capture Offer. The manufacturer first unveiled plans to offer a supply of carbon-removal credits last year, with carriers including Air Canada, Air France-KLM, easyJet, IAG, LATAM Airlines Group, Lufthansa Group and Virgin Atlantic all signing letters of intent. Airbus has partnered with 1PointFive, which is harnessing Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) technology to filter and remove CO2 emissions from the air using high-powered extraction fans, before storing it in underground reservoirs. The firm is developing a 500,000-tonne Direct Air Capture facility – expected to be operational in mid-2025 – with Airbus pre-purchasing 400,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits to be delivered over four years. EasyJet's credits will last from 2026…

Easyjet joins Airbus's carbon-removal initiative

EARLIER THIS YEAR HILTON introduced carbon labelling to menus across some 30 hotels in the UK, and recently unveiled additional low-carbon options. Hilton has worked with Klimato to develop menus and label dishes as low, medium or high impact based on the carbon footprint per serving, with almost half of the dishes served at participating hotels identified as “low impact”. Initial findings suggest that guests are making more informed choices. This has led to the addition of more low- and medium-labelled dishes in the autumn menu, with these items making up over 85 per cent of the menu. A three-course meal, consisting of gochujang cauliflower wings for starter, butternut squash risotto or a fish finger sandwich for main and salted caramel affogato for dessert, results in a total of 1.2 kg CO2e. According…

WILDLIFE WELLNESS

EMIRATES has partnered with charity United for Wildlife to launch a collection of amenity kits highlighting eight of the most endangered species on the planet. The kits, offered to premium economy and economy class customers on long-haul flights globally, feature the green sea turtle, African elephant, blue macaw, gorilla, hammerhead shark, lion, pangolin and the black rhino. The pouches are reusable and made from washable Kraft paper, while bespoke art of the animals is printed in non-toxic soy-based ink. Contents are also made from materials that reduce the use of virgin plastic. For instance, a toothbrush is made from a combination of wheat straw and plastic, and the socks and eyeshades are made from recycled plastic. United for Wildlife was founded by the UK's Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2014…

WILDLIFE WELLNESS

Sustainable practices on the road

BCD Travel discovers the most eco-friendly practices when travelling for work, with the majority relating to hotel stays 70% avoid frequent towel changes at hotels 69% go paperless with travel documents 66% recycle 63% support local restaurants/vendors 62% do not use daily hotel housekeeping 58% walk where possible 46% travel with hand luggage 43% bring their own water bottle 39% follow cultural norms of local communities 39% avoid single-use plastic 37% minimise the weight of their suitcase 29% minimise use of energy 22% minimise use of water 3% use bikes at travel destination Source: BCD Travel, September 2023, based on an online survey of 1,789 English-speaking business travellers worldwide conducted in July 2023.…

HELEN TOOMER is a veteran in the creative and cultural industries, with 15 years’ experience of organising events, exhibitions and residencies. WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE WORLD OF ART? It wasn't a choice really, it just happened. Seeing Francis Bacon's Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion when I was a teenager changed my life. It stopped me in my tracks – I could feel all this pain and sorrow. WHERE HAVE YOU TRAVELLED FOR WORK? Since January I have been to London, Paris, Dallas, Miami, Chicago and New York. WHAT WAS THE KEY TO LAUNCHING PHOTOFAIRS NEW YORK IN SEPTEMBER? It was a mammoth task and a sprint to launch. New York hasn't had an art fair solely dedicated to contemporary photography and new media before. I was so nervous, but it…

TECH COMPANY NETGEAR has launched a new hotspot router providing ultra-fast 5G internet for business travellers on the road. The Nighthawk M6 Pro supports worldwide roaming, working with most major 5G and 4G LTE network operators. Most importantly it provides a secure and private wifi connection in public places such as airports, hotels and trains. For those concerned about cybersecurity, it can also connect to public wifi and encrypt your personal data while you roam. Work on the go with internet speeds up to 4Gbps and a 13-hour battery life. US$999.99…

WIN A TWO-NIGHT STAY AT THE PARKROYAL COLLECTION KUALA LUMPUR

BUSINESS TRAVELLER ASIA-PACIFIC has teamed up with the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur to offer a lucky reader the chance to win a two-night stay, including breakfast, for two people. PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur is a new eco-chic icon in the heart of happening Bukit Bintang. The hotel's salt-water swimming pool is free of any chemicals, while the St. Gregory Spa favours sustainable skincare brands, including Elemis, Bio Essentials and Malaysia's very own KU EM Royal Heritage. Those attending business events will also appreciate the one-of-a-kind Tree House, a creative space for intimate meetings. PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur puts you in the enviable heart of Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle, where shopping, entertainment and commerce all come together. Sight-seeing? The hotel is just minutes away from premier destinations such as the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Petronas…

WIN A TWO-NIGHT STAY AT THE PARKROYAL COLLECTION KUALA LUMPUR

WIN A TWO-NIGHT STAY AT ANDAZ SEOUL GANGANAM

BUSINESS TRAVELLER ASIA-PACIFIC has teamed up with Andaz Seoul Gangnam to offer a lucky reader the chance to win a two-night stay in a Deluxe Room, including Jogakbo breakfast and Meat & Co. Steakhouse set dinner for two people. Andaz Seoul Gangnam is the first Andaz property in Korea, representing the luxury lifestyle brand of Hyatt International. Reflecting its name, Andaz, meaning “personal style” in Hindi, Andaz Seoul Gangnam provides genuine service tailored to each guest's lifestyle. Based on the brand's philosophy that the only true way to experience a destination is by immersing oneself in all senses, the hotel provides creative services allowing guests to experience local culture through their senses within the hotel. Andaz Seoul Gangnam features 241 guest rooms and suites designed with a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Korean…

WIN A TWO-NIGHT STAY AT ANDAZ SEOUL GANGANAM

Join the debate

BUSINESSTRAVELLER.COM/FORUM ADULT-ONLY AREAS ON PLANES HANNAH BRANDLER Corendon Airlines is set to trial adult-only zones on its flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao, in the Caribbean, from November 3. The carrier's ‘Only Adult’ zone will be available to passengers aged 16 and above, with a total of 102 seats at the front of an A350-900. The child-free zone will be separated by walls and curtains, with seat reservations starting at €45 one-way. Singapore Airlines’ subsidiary, Scoot, already has a similar offer in place, with its ‘Scoot-in- Silence’ cabins available for passengers aged 12 and above. What are readers’ thoughts on such initiatives? CWOODWARD I've been seriously bothered only a couple of times in the several decades that I've been flying, and I estimate a couple of thousand flights. My view is that such schemes are unnecessary and possibly, if tested, illegally…

Premium economy update

Premium economy has become a given on most long-haul carriers these days, increasingly sought after by airlines for the favourable yield benefits, and a popular choice for business travellers looking to reduce costs in the current economic climate. In the last year we've seen new carriers enter the market, while others have completely revamped their existing offerings. There's also been a focus on improving the overall experience, with numerous airlines enhancing dining options, IFE and amenities. Here we look at the latest updates to premium economy cabins in the last 12 months. For a full up-to-date list of premium economy offerings, visit businesstraveller.com AIR FRANCE Air France's original premium economy product featured a fixed-shell design offering 40 per cent more space than economy, available on long-haul A330, Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft. This…

Premium economy update

The economic impact of the pandemic was felt all over the world as countries grappled with various measures to contain the disease. In China, efforts to deal with the pandemic were among some of the most severe, with extensive lockdowns, closed borders and a zero-Covid policy. Perhaps nowhere was this more apparent than in Shanghai, China's economic powerhouse, which accounts for up to 4 per cent of the country's GDP. Sitting strategically within the Yangtze River Delta, it has the busiest container port in the world, and is a huge exporter of parts for automobiles, electronic equipment, machinery and more. The city made headlines when the Omicron variant struck in March 2022 and an ensuing 70-day strict lockdown obliterated access to the city's seaports and airports. The strict Covid policies caused a major…

Pre-flight respite

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, San Francisco Air Canada opened its 28th airport lounge in July, with the unveiling of the carrier's Maple Leaf Lounge at San Francisco International. The 165-capacity lounge is located in Terminal 2, and features an outdoor terrace with views of the runways – a first for the airline. Facilities include shower rooms with Molton Brown toiletries, private workstations, a VIP room for up to ten guests, and a hot and cold buffet featuring local dishes such as San Francisco's famous Cioppino fish stew, and art including a mural by California artist Amos Goldbaum. The lounge is open daily from 4.15am to 10.15pm (4.15am to 8.45pm on Mondays) for business class ticket holders, Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite members, Star Alliance Gold members, premium Aeroplan credit card holders,…

Pre-flight respite

BTAP AWARD WINNERS 2023

This year's Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards, now in its 32nd edition and widely recognised as a benchmark for the industry, signals a return to near-normal for the travel business and the wider business community in general after the mass disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our print magazine and online readers were asked to take part in the poll in the summer of this year. It was conducted by independent research firm Business Intelligence, with the results being posted on our website on October 18. We asked you to give us your opinions about hotels and serviced apartments, airlines (their lounges and business class offerings), airports and the best cities for business – not just in the Asia-Pacific region, but around the world. Your responses are listed on the following pages. This year,…

BTAP AWARD WINNERS 2023

Time out in Tokyo

Getting lost in foreign cities has always been a thrilling part of exploring new destinations, but my visit to Tokyo provided me with a new level of disorientation: my first experience of getting lost underground. The sprawling subterranean world of Tokyo station proved to be a maze that I could not master. Passageways through the 182,000 sqm complex connect some 28 platforms to different metro lines and train lines (run by multiple operators), as well as hundreds of shops and restaurants – including a dedicated area of noodle spots aptly known as Ramen Street – while walkways also link the station to shopping centres and office buildings. Despite the bewildering layout, the underground behaviours are far more familiar and reminiscent of metro stations elsewhere, with up to 450,000 travellers a day walking…

Time out in Tokyo

There's been an exciting array of luxury accommodation openings in the Japanese capital. See businesstraveller.com/features to see what's ahead. Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi Four Seasons opened its second hotel in Tokyo in September 2020, which occupies the top six floors of the 39-storey Otemachi One Tower in business district Otemachi. The 190-room hotel has four F&B venues, including the Michelin-starred Est, a spa and ample meeting and events space. For a full review, see businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested. fourseasons.com Tokyo EDITION Toranomon The Marriott brand debuted in Tokyo in October 2020 with this 206-room hotel, complete with three restaurants, three lounge bars, a spa, gym and events space. Designed by Kengo Kuma, the hotel has views of the Tokyo skyline. A second EDITION hotel will open in the commercial district of Ginza before the end…

Overcoming pre-flight frights

GORDON SMITH UK-BASED AVIATION JOURNALIST AND FORMER EDITOR OF AIRLINER WORLD MAGA ZINE “Cabin crew: doors to automatic and cross-check.” For most frequent flyers it's a phrase so ubiquitous it blends into the white noise of pre-departure preparations, part of a reassuring rhythm alongside inflight safety demonstrations and warnings about smoking in the toilets. For me, it had the opposite effect. Hearing this benign instruction on the PA system would send my already jittery body into overdrive. It was the point of no return. Multiple studies suggest around a third of the adult population find flying nervewracking for one reason or another. Travellers in this category are unlikely to relish the experience, but it's not enough to stop them getting on board. The same cannot be said for those with aerophobia – a…

Overcoming pre-flight frights

Purposeful business travel

RICHARD TAMS AIRLINE CONSULTANT AND EXECUTIVE COACH There's a new buzzword doing the rounds in business travel circles and it's “purposeful”. According to those in the know, we should all be bracing for “an era of purposeful business travel”. At first glance, this concept rather assumes that up until now we have all been embarking on business trips without purpose, but bear with me while I explain. Last year, in this column, I referred to a white paper from American Express Global Business Travel entitled, Why Business Travel is the Centre of the New Company Culture. That paper made the case that business travel should be seen as a strategic investment in people rather than a cost to a company. Travel industry consultants, Festive Road, who coined the purposeful travel term, have now…

Purposeful business travel

1 VICTORIA PEAK Known simply as The Peak, this is an almost inevitable stop – stellar views of the city and sea made accessible by the Peak Tram, minibus or taxi ride. Add another dimension, though, by getting up there early (first tram is 7:30am daily, single HK$62/US$8), return HK$88/US$11). The real summit lies higher still but walk a circuit following Lugard and Harlech roads to soak up the views without the crowds. With luck, you'll hear the gibbons singing in the Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Gardens below. Yes, they're captive and not native to Hong Kong but they are an enthralling reminder that you are in the tropics. thepeak.com.hk 2 TAI KWUN A short walk from the tram's terminus back down in Central is this award-winning heritage and arts centre converted…

Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 business class SINGAPORE-DENPASAR (BALI)

BACKGROUND Singapore Airlines (SIA) launched Boeing 737 Max flights in late 2021. The event marked a milestone in the flag carrier's history, for it had not operated single-aisle, or narrowbody aircraft, for many decades. With passengers used to SIA's much larger long-haul configured aircraft, even on short hops across the region, the question was whether the airline could still deliver the same premium experience on the small 737 Max. We put the product to the test on the two-and-a-half-hour hop from Singapore to Denpasar on the SQ948 service, the last of six daily SIA flights to Bali. In the current winter schedule to March 30, 2024, SIA also has its 737 Max aircraft rostered to destinations including Male, Darwin, Cairns and Busan, with the latter two exceeding six hours’ flight…

Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 business class SINGAPORE-DENPASAR (BALI)

Delta Air Lines A330-900 neo Premium Select LONDON-LOS ANGELES

BACKGROUND Delta's premium economy product, Premium Select, launched on its A350 aircraft in 2017, rolling out on its A330 and Boeing 767-300 fleet in 2021. By summer 2022 the cabin had been rolled out on all European flights, and its dining service and amenities were enhanced in autumn 2022. The LHR-LAX route is operated by the A330-900 neo, configured with 281 seats across three cabins. The outbound flight departs at 1620 and lands at 2015 local time. This flight complements transatlantic partner Virgin Atlantic's double daily services from London to LA. We have also published a video review on our YouTube channel. CHECK-IN I did online check-in 24 hours before departure and received a digital boarding pass. There are various desks on the ground floor of T3, and Premium Select passengers can use…

Delta Air Lines A330-900 neo Premium Select LONDON-LOS ANGELES

Conrad Los Angeles

B A C K G R O U N D The 28-storey, 305-room luxury hotel opened in July 2022, marking the debut of the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand in California. It is housed in the multi-use The Grand LA building designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. WHERE IS IT? On South Grand Avenue in downtown LA. Attractions include the Walt Disney Concert Hall opposite and The Broad contemporary art museum. You enter via a covered walkway with a living wall, and a set of lifts takes you to the tenth floor lobby. The street entrance is known as Level 4, which is a bit confusing, and a valet parking area is on level 3. It's impossible not to notice the poverty in downtown LA. The hotel works with FoodCycle LA to package…

Conrad Los Angeles

Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection – Ho Chi Minh City

BACKGROUND Situated in Landmark 81, Vietnam's tallest building, Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection by Marriott opened earlier this year in the country's financial hub, Ho Chi Minh City. WHERE IS IS? Landmark 81 is located on the west bank of the Saigon River in the city's Binh Thanh District. It can be easily spotted and is a short distance from major landmarks including the Independence Palace and the Opera House. The hotel is nestled between the 47th and 71st floors of the building whose tip is 470m above the ground. WHAT'S IT LIKE? The hotel has a refreshing design that blends bold lines, warm tones and plenty of natural light across its spaces. Its lobby, on the 48th floor, opens up to an expansive space with marble floors and a grandiose chandelier…

Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection – Ho Chi Minh City

1 Hotel Mayfair, London

BACKGROUND 1 Hotels is a sustainable luxury hotel brand belonging to SH Hotels and Resorts, which also owns Treehouse Hotels and Baccarat Hotels and Resorts. The brand launched in 2015 and currently operates ten properties. This marks the brand's foray into Europe, with further hotels under development in Paris, Copenhagen and Crete. The hotel opened in July, taking over a former Holiday Inn property and retaining more than 80 per cent of the existing structure (though it is unrecognisable), which saved approximately 4,200 tonnes of carbon. As a result, the hotel has been awarded BREEAM Excellent for its sustainable construction. WHERE IS IT? On Berkeley Street in Mayfair; near to Piccadilly, luxury hotels including The Ritz, and attractions such as The Royal Academy. Green Park station, served by the Piccadilly, Victoria and Jubilee…

1 Hotel Mayfair, London

Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, Monaco

BACKGROUND Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo was built in 1886 but had a multimillion-dollar renovation by French designer Jacques Garcia in 2004. It's the only independent hotel in Monaco and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. WHERE IS IT? Within the Carré d'Or (Golden Square) area of the Principality of Monaco, close to the casino. It's on the most dangerous bend of the Formula One circuit, giving guests the opportunity to watch cars whizz past from the restaurant Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac. The hotel is a 45-minute drive from Nice Côte d'Azur International airport, or you can arrive by boat or helicopter. WHAT'S IT LIKE? A sports car-lined driveway flanked by Italian cypress trees sets the scene for a palatial experience, complete with a Belle Epoque façade and picturesque Tuscan-style…

Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Our guide to… Wifi in the air

Taking a flight used to mean being out of comms for the duration of the journey, but things have drastically changed. Not only do most airlines now offer wifi connectivity, many are also starting to offer this service for free, meaning it probably won't be long before they all do. Until then, we've compiled a list of wifi packages on-board some of the main carriers. (See businesstraveller.com for a full, up-to-date list). To access, passengers need to open their device settings and select the wifi network when on the aircraft. If there are paid packages available, you can choose the one you want and enter your payment details. Wifi providers often vary between aircraft, so packages and services provided by an airline may differ. Coverage and speeds may also change…

THE BIG PICTURE

Fairy floss The Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year award, now in its 12th iteration, celebrates food photography and film from around the world. Open to amateurs and professionals, the competition has more than 25 categories. British photographer John Enoch was named this year's overall winner for The Candy Man, which depicts candyfloss seller Pappu Jaiswal holding his display of brightly coloured confectionery on the streets near Versova Beach in Mumbai. “The streets are packed, so they need height so people can see them. The beaches are also long and wide, so the sellers have evolved these lovely ways of displaying the candy,” he says. pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com JOHN ENOCH/PINK LADY® FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR…

THE BIG PICTURE

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