Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i Business Traveller

Our cover story celebrates an exciting milestone this issue – a return to China, the first time in three years since the you-know-what. Following some of the strictest Covid-19 restrictions in the world, the opportunity to travel to Shanghai offers a real sense of closure and that we’re finally back to normal. Turn to page 34 to see for yourself how the Chinese commercial centre is thriving. We’ve also got some other firsts to celebrate this issue. On page 40, our Birmingham feature kicks off a new series profiling British cities. It’s easy to become London-centric, but there’s major business developments and crucial transport links outside of the capital that deserve a share of the spotlight. We also launch a new column featuring candid chats with industry leaders. First up…

TOUR THE GLOBE WITH COCKTAILS at the Churchill Bar & Terrace, located at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill on Portman Square. The UNITY cocktail menu brings together different cultures, ingredients and stories of the Americas, Asia and Europe, from where bar manager Gaston, head mixologist Mitsuhiro and team leader Vitor respectively originate. The 12 drinks are divided into the three chapters, with a UNITY cocktail at the end of each merging two of the locations. Start off in Central America with the peppery Mexica Empire, featuring Copalli rum – a sustainable Belize spirit crafted from heirloom sugar cane and rainforest-canopy water – mixed with the bar’s ‘Limonada Especial’, which uses the entire cucumber and lime skin. Stop off in Asia with the theatrical gin-based Ikigai cocktail. Much like a…

BUSINESSTRAVELLER.COM/FORUM WIFI ON TRAINS → MARK CASWELL What are your experiences of wifi provision on UK rail services? I’ve rarely had a good experience, and a recent experience has been particularly frustrating. I was travelling from London to Plymouth with GWR and the connectivity was very slow – not unusable but certainly not great. A lot of fellow passengers resorted to tethering their phones to access data. Do you find some operators/train types/ routes are better than others? And how about abroad – which countries do train wifi well? → SOUTHERNOCEAN My recent experience is limited to services on Southern from Surrey into London. Wifi on these services is free and reasonably good. Not the fastest but okay for email, browsing and so on. → STOWAGE222 If you are able…

ACCESSIBLE AIR TRAVEL Imagine being stranded at an airport, not being able to use the bathroom on an aeroplane, or lacking access to the IFE system. For many travellers, such instances would prompt a flurry of outrage, but for those with accessibility needs – which includes people with mobility issues, visual and hearing impairments, neurodivergencies such as autism or ADHD, and other special requirements – it’s all too often a normal part of the travel experience. British TV presenter Sophie Morgan is no stranger to the issues faced by travellers with accessibility needs. After her wheelchair was broken on a flight between London to Los Angeles in March this year (for the second time), she become the face of Rights on Flights, a national campaign to reform the industry and…

MGM Shanghai West Bund Located further down the Bund from landmarks such as the Customs House and the Peace Hotel, the MGM Shanghai nonetheless has a central feel and sits right on the Huangpu riverfront. Occupying the 43rd – 56th floors of AI Towers, it offers 161 opulent guest rooms, several restaurants and a sky bar on the 57th – 59th floors. There’s also a rooftop infinity pool and gym, all offering breathtaking views of the skyline. From £245 per night, mgmshanghai.com UrCove by HYATT Shanghai Wujiaochang Wujiaochang is one of ten dedicated business hubs in the city, so is ideal for anyone travelling for work. The slickly designed UrCove has all mod cons, including self-service check-in, air quality monitors and a state-of-the-art air filtration system. There are 199 spacious,…

You are seconds from landing, thinking about where your passport or car keys are, when suddenly the aircraft engines go to full power and a steep climb is initiated. From a passenger perspective this can be quite alarming, particularly if you are a nervous flyer. You might be thinking: what happens next and why has the pilot said nothing? What you’re experiencing is known as a go-around. For pilots, it’s something that we practice in the simulator every six months and occasionally on the aircraft for real, so it’s quite a routine manoeuvre. There are numerous reasons why a go-around occurs, which generally fall into four categories. These are weather-related, air traffic control (ATC), technical issues or an unstable approach. We never just land and hope for the best –…

Anantara Kihavah Maldives – has a solar system providing 26 per cent of its energy needs, an orchid garden, a coral regeneration programme, and a biomass system for food waste. Coco Collection – is home to the ORP Marine Turtle Rescue Centre and a team of resident marine biologists in charge of ocean restoration. Dusit Thani Maldives – has extensive solar panels on the roofs of its main buildings. Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giraavaru – uses 3,105 solar panels, has a marine rehabilitation programme with resident marine biologists, and works with NOW Force for Good Alliance and Earth Check. LUX* South Ari Atoll – has a floating solar power plant at sea, and a marine biology centre that works to safeguard whale sharks. Patina Maldives, Fari Islands – has…

1 MUSÉE D'ORSAY Housed in the magnificent former Orsay railway station, this grand museum on the banks of the Seine has the largest collection of Impressionist art works in the world. Pick up an audio guide (€6) for commentary on more than 300 works, and take in the impressive architecture in the great hall, including the beautiful arched ceiling and giant clock. The ground floor pays homage to the Opéra Garnier, exhibiting a cross-section of the monument and a 1:100 scale model below your feet of the surrounding district as it was in 1914. Impressionist aficionados should head to the fifth floor for oeuvres by artists including Claude Monet (don’t miss the Water Lillies) and Edouard Manet, along with a gallery of Van Gogh’s works including Starry Night. Next month…

Patchwork coast The annual Drone Photo Awards, which is part of the Siena Awards festival, returned this year with incredible aerial photos across nine categories. Among the commended images in the Urban category is Marco Bottigelli’s Mosaic Aloft, depicting a bird’s-eye view of Tenerife’s coloured terraces in the Canary Islands. “They are a result of a tax system that encouraged building on top of existing structures, as well as the region’s architectural and cultural influences, resulting in vibrant and practical outdoor living spaces,” says Bottigelli. The winning shots will be on display at San Galgano Abbey in Siena, Italy from 30 September until 19 November, or you can check out the images at droneawards.photo…

MATT COOPER has been a golf journalist for 15 years working for the likes of ESPN, Sky Sports, NBC, Forbes and Global Golf Post. He has travelled to all of the obvious golfing hot spots, but also written about the sport from more unusual locations such as Finland, Nepal, Kazakhstan and the Seychelles. On page 62 he rounds up some of the best courses in Europe. LAURA MILLAR is an award-winning 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 Italy, which all happen to feature epic cuisine. In this issue, she travels to Shanghai to explore the economic heart of China now that the country has reopened its borders – see…

RGIN ATLANTIC HAS ANNOUNCED plans to ate the world’s first transatlantic flight using 100 per ustainable aviation fuel (SAF) later this year. Pending regulatory approvals and further testing, irgin intends to operate a flight between Heathrow and New York JFK on 28 November, using a Boeing 787 aircraft powered by 60 tonnes of SAF. The fuel, which will be a blend of 88 per cent Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) and 12 per cent synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK), will be supplied by Air bp and Virent. Commercial aircraft are currently limited to a maximum blend of 50 per cent SAF and 50 per cent conventional jet fuel, but ongoing tests will assess the viability of 100 per cent SAF operations.…

GREEN ENERGY ENTREPRENEUR Dale Vince will launch new airline, Ecojet, using planes retrofitted to run on hydrogen-electric power. The founder of renewable energy supplier, Ecotricity, and owner of Forest Green Rovers football club, plans to offer domestic, European and long-haul hydrogen-electric flights. Vince intends to launch flights between Edinburgh and Southampton in early 2024, using a fleet of 19- and 70-seater turboprop aircraft, operating under the tagline “Flag carrier for Green Britain”. Services will initially be fuelled by conventional jet fuel, so that the carrier can secure routes and a license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), but the aim is to retrofit the aircraft with hydrogen-electric power trains “as they become approved for service by the CAA”, which Vince hopes will be in 2025. Ecojet said that: “The decision…

ONE SLOANE, LONDON London’s Chelsea neighbourhood welcomes a new boutique hotel this month, located at 1 Sloane Gardens just off Sloane Square. The 30-room One Sloane hotel is a collaboration between Parisian hotelier Costes, designer Francois-Joseph Graf and the 300-year-old Cadogan Estate. Design features include ceiling cornices, wood wall panelling, stained glass windows, and William Morris wallpaper, plus 21 carpet designs, 19 curtain designs and 50 custom-made fabrics. A restaurant offers all-day French dining on the top floor, while a speakeasy-style lounge features cocktails, wines and a resident DJ. LE GRAND MAZARIN, PARIS This 61-key hotel opens on 4 September, marking the fourth property in the Maisons Pariente collection. Located at the corner of Rue des Archives and Rue de la Verrerie in the quaint Marais district, Le Grand Mazarin…

■ In July, United launched new tactile signage to help people with visual disabilities better identify row numbers, seat assignments and lavatory locations independently. Some aircraft have already been equipped with Braille, with the entire fleet expected to be outfitted by 2026. The airline has also improved its inflight app to accommodate visually impaired travellers, with increased contrast colours and better integration with screen reader technologies. ■ British Airways partnered with Learning Rose in March to launch a visual guide designed to assist customers with autism, with simple icons and texts to describe the sights, sounds and smells passengers can expect from each part of flying. The partnership also includes staff training to help ensure team members can best assist passengers. ■ In April, Virgin Atlantic launched a partnership with…

DESTINATION By the 19th century, Birmingham had earned its reputation as “the workshop of the world”, dominating manufacturing across the globe with everything from toys and guns, to jewellery and silverware. Today, the city is still one of the UK’s manufacturing and engineering powerhouses, accounting for 20 per cent of the UK output. Key specialisations include metal works and the automotive and aviation industries, with the likes of Jaguar, Land Rover and Rolls Royce being major employers in the region. Pre-pandemic the city experienced a surge in exports and business development: “We called it the Golden Decade between 2009 and 2019 because of the levels of growth that we saw,” says Raj Kandola, director of external affairs at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. This included welcoming a raft of Fortune…

What do you consider the three key ingredients to creating a successful luxury hotel? It all comes down to comfort, first-rate service and a classic aesthetic. It’s never about hopping on the latest design trends. Service must be non-intrusive and at the same time highly professional, efficient and delivered in a friendly way. The staff are the service. They are the ones creating the luxury experience and making it all happen. What is your latest opening and what makes it stand out? Our last opening was Villa Igiea in June 2021. It is an iconic building which, like its original owner Franca Florio, is a grand lady of charm and elegance and a symbol of hospitality. It has been the focal point of the city of Palermo for more than…

Rolex Oyster Perpetual There were so many major announcements from Rolex at Watches and Wonders this year that it was genuinely difficult to decide which one warranted the most attention. Was it the all-new Perpetual Collection with the very classy Perpetual 1908 model, or the 40mm GMT-Master II statement pieces in yellow gold and Rolesor (both offered with a jubilee bracelet)? Surely, there’s no overlooking the Daytona, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and has introduced a new calibre – the 4131 – after a gap of nearly 23 years, or even the ultralight titanium Yacht-Master. But we’re going to perhaps go against the grain here and select the new Oyster Perpetual (available in 31mm, 36mm and 41mm) with colourful dials that showcase a playful side to Rolex…

BACK GROUND Dutch brand Zoku is a long-stay aparthotel concept, with guests able to stay from one night to a year. The brand, launched in 2016, is named after the Japanese word for tribe or clan and focuses on fostering a sense of community. Zoku has properties in Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Vienna, while Zoku Paris opened in April 2023 with 109 apartments known as lofts. WHERE IS IT? Just within the Boulevard Périphérique (the ring road that surrounds central Paris) in the 17th arrondissement, a five-minute walk from Porte de Clichy metro. WHAT’S IT LIKE? Zoku occupies the top three floors of the glass Stream Building, a mixed-use structure that also houses offices, co-working spaces and retail outlets. There’s a discreet, narrow entrance for Zoku, with a pair of lifts…

UPFRONT FRANK GRILLO is managing director of Altamura Distilleries, which produces vodka from wheat in Puglia. WHY SWAP ATLANTA FOR PUGLIA? My whole family is of Italian American descent and I always wanted to live in Italy. It hit me one day that no one really cared where I was as long as I showed up on the Zoom work call. We settled on Puglia because it has good weather, great beaches, good airport access, and great financial incentives for non-EU citizens to move here. WHAT INSPIRED THE CREATION OF ALTAMURA DISTILLERIES? I love to cook so started to read about Pugliese recipes and came across pane di Altamura, a bread made from Altamura wheat with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. I found Altamura flour in Whole Foods…

DOMESTIC: YORK FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL, 22 SEPTEMBER - 1 OCTOBER This free annual foodie event celebrates the best of local food and drink with a programme of chef demonstrations, cookery workshops, markets, live music and even a self-guided cookie tour. There are around 100 market stands on Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square and St Crux, while bands perform music nightly in the entertainment marquee and a number of events are city-wide. Some events are ticketed – check the website for details. yorkfoodfestival.com SHORT-HAUL: EDVARD MUNCH: MAGIC OF THE NORTH, BERLIN, 15 SEPTEMBER 2023 - 22 JANUARY 2024 The Berlinische Galerie is hosting this exhibition on the Norwegian artist and pioneer of modernism, examining his impact on the Berlin art scene at the end of the 19th and beginning of…

THE FIVE-STAR Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa in St Andrews has launched a gin in partnership with local distillery Darnley’s in East Fife. Named Fearann, Mar, which is Gaelic for “the Earth, the Sea,” the gin is made from natural botanicals grown locally and foraged ingredients such as sea buckthorn, milk thistle and sugar kelp, as well as juniper, coriander seeds, angelica and marigold petal. It is exclusively available at the hotel’s bars and restaurants and packaged in sustainable pouches that can be reused and recycled. These also weigh less than glass bottles, allowing more to be transported at once and reducing the carbon footprint.…

READ: The Art of Explanation, Ros Atkins Public speaking will become far less nervewracking after reading this book by BBC presenter and journalist, well-known for his snappy ‘Ros Atkins on…’ videos covering current affairs. Atkins teaches readers how to best articulate themselves in front of an audience, keep people’s attention during a presentation, perform well during an interview, and boost your confidence in general. Published on 14 September. £20; Hachette. LISTEN: A Life More Wild Famous figures are interviewed while on nature walks in this fortnightly podcast from luxury glamping company Canopy & Stars. The latest series includes a chat with wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in Scotland, and a discussion with Charlotte Church at her Welsh wellness retreat The Dreaming. WATCH: Mark Cavendish: Never Enough This…

Aparthotel Birmigham Due to open this autumn, the city centre property is a redevelopment of the Royal Angus Hotel in St Chads Queensway that will be managed by Switch Hospitality. It will offer 161 apartments, comprising 84 studios, 71 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments across nine floors. Additional facilities will include onsite parking, in-room Alexa devices, keyless entry and pet-friendly rooms. swhm.co.uk Aloft Birmingham Eastside Opened in 2021, this Aloft property from Marriott offers a vibrant design and techforward approach. F&B facilities include the Wxyz Bar, dining at Tempo! restaurant, and 24-hour gourmet snacks at Re:Fuel by Aloft. It also offers 23 event and conference spaces right in the city centre. marriott.com Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham Following the recent rebrand of Jury’s Inn, the Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham on Broad…

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM The sand is warm and soft between my toes, a balmy breeze ruffles the leaves in the palm trees, my stomach is full after an exquisite dinner, and the sky is putting on a colour-saturated show as the sun sinks below the horizon. It’s easy to see why the Maldives is considered to be the island holiday of a lifetime. Since its tourism industry began in 1972, the Maldives has become possibly the most glamorous and famous destination for affluent holidaymakers. But the growing awareness of climate change has brought into focus how industries such as resort tourism need to adapt their business models toward greater environmental sustainability. The unavoidable truth is, of course, that a tropical island holiday can never be environmentally beneficial if you have to…

TRIED AND TESTED HOTEL BACK GROUND Hôtel Dame des Arts opened in February 2023, following an extensive renovation of a 1950s-built Holiday Inn property. It belongs to EQ Hotels and is a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts. WHERE IS IT? On Rue Danton in Paris’ sixth arrondissement. Set within the Latin Quarter on the left bank of the Seine, attractions within walking distance include the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Notre-Dame. The nearest metro is Odéon (lines 4 and 10) or you can get the RER from Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (lines B and C). WHAT’S IT LIKE? While the facade is not as attractive as the surrounding buildings, the interiors have been revamped by Israeli designer Raphael Navot. A sleek wave-like awning gives way to a moody, dimly lit reception,…