Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i Business Traveller

RAFFLES LONDON AT THE OWO Housed in London's historic Old War Office in Whitehall, the first Raffles property in the UK features 120 rooms and 85 branded residences, as well as signature restaurants helmed by chef Mauro Colagreco, two bars, a Guerlain Spa and a selection of event spaces including a grand ballroom. The eight-year restoration project has involved hundreds of artisans to restore the building to its former glory, with features ranging from hand-laid mosaic floors, oak panelling and magnificent chandeliers, to the centrepiece marble staircase. THE PENINSULA LONDON The group's first London hotel offers 190 rooms and 25 residences overlooking Hyde Park Corner, with features including rooftop restaurant Brooklands, serving modern British cuisine from Michelin-starred chef director Claude Bosi, and ground-floor Cantonese restaurant, Canton Blue. Leisure facilities include…

IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS has launched its latest conversion brand, Garner, which is aimed at the midscale segment. The group has an ambitious target of 500 Garner properties in the US over the next ten years, and 1,000 over the next 20 years, with “a goal to expand globally”. The first hotels are expected to open by the end of 2023. IHG says that the brand had been designed “for value-driven travellers of all ages who want a reliable and relaxed experience”, offering “an affordable price point” alongside “a convenient location, a sound night's sleep, and a great, complimentary hot breakfast”. Other features include a 24/7 Garner Shop for coffee and snacks, as well as “guest-influenced playlists; flexible lobby designs; and pet-friendly touches such as welcome treats, loaner items and…

AIR CANADA PLANS to operate 100 per cent of its peak summer 2019 transatlantic capacity next year, owing to “robust recovery” in the international market. The airline has announced an expansion of services to European destinations for summer 2024, which includes additional flights to London and Manchester. Toronto-London will increase to four-times-daily from April to October, while Toronto-Manchester will increase to six flights per week from June to September. The airline also revealed that the seasonal Toronto-Edinburgh service will begin earlier than originally planned, on 1 March, and run until January 2025. Air Canada will also bring forward its services from Montréal to Amsterdam (30 March) and Copenhagen (2 May), and from Toronto to Brussels (1 May). There's also a new year-round route between Montréal and Madrid, operating five-times-weekly from…

MARYLEBONE HOTEL, The Prince Akatoki, has launched a Japanese tea ceremony experience at its Malt Lounge & Bar, led by Japanese tea master Keiko Uchida. Guests will discover the history of green tea, its health and beauty benefits, and the philosophy and cultural background behind the ceremony. Plus they will learn about the expected manners of drinking in public and take a turn at making their own cup of matcha tea. The ceremony concludes with a refreshing Akashi-Tai sparkling sake, and a Japaneseinspired cream tea. The ceremony takes place monthly until December 2023; £75 per person. theprinceakatokilondon.com…

CAP KAROSO, A RESORT IN THE Indonesian island of Sumba, is set to fully open this autumn, with 44 rooms, 20 villas and a programme of art, cultural and culinary residencies. French owners Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara sought local advice and involvement from the indigenous community from the start, hosting a ceremony with the village heads for 600 locals to request ancestral approval. Guests can expect cultural workshops by local guides, sacred architecture, traditions and ceremonies, while the resort's three restaurants source almost all of the vegetables, eggs and dairy from the on-site organic farm. French artist Claire Prouvost takes up residency from 5-26 October, and will create a colourful mural in the neighbouring village of Waikaroko, inspired by the surroundings and Sumbanese culture. capkaroso.com…

BHUTAN HAS SLASHED its Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) by 50 per cent for the next four years. Visitors are now only required to pay US$100 per person, per night for the length of their trip (down from US$200 per person per night). The new rates will remain in effect until 31 August, 2027. This will also be applied to children, meaning new SDF rates will be US$50 for those aged 6-12, while those under six will be free. The 24-hour SDF waiver for tourists staying in border towns will continue. Earlier this year Bhutan introduced incentives to try to promote longer stays, though this has now been replaced by the new rates. Dorji Dhradhul, director general of the Department of Tourism Bhutan, said: “We have taken the decision to temporarily…

DESTINATION I'm standing on the Grade II-listed Castlefield Viaduct, the Victorian railway bridge that played a key role in Manchester's industrial history. Built in 1892, the vital transport link carried heavy freight and passengers for 77 years until it was finally abandoned in 1969. Fifty years on, the disused site has been spectacularly transformed into a modern urban sky park, with blooming flora and neatly kept community gardens covering half of the 330-metre stretch. Through gaps in the graffitied steel frame, I catch glimpses of Manchester's changing skyline, populated by cranes, hazard lights and red-brick warehouses that have been repurposed to house museums and cultural centres. Thenew community park perfectly encapsulates the Manchester of today: a city breathing life into old infrastructure to make way for new opportunities. Located to…

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,…

BACKGROUND Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo was originally built in 1886 and 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, steps from the casino. It's on the most dangerous bend of the F1 racetrack 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 and 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…

AIR FRANCE WAS OFFICIALLY inaugurated on 7 October, 1933. To mark this milesone, the carrier has commissioned Xavier Ronze, head of the costume design workshops at the Paris Opera ballet, “to create a collection of five iconic dresses embodying the company's legendary history”, which will be the focus of a window display at the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann store until 10 October. The design of each dress has been inspired by different hallmarks of the airline – aircraft and technology; uniforms and fashion; iconic posters; fine dining and tableware; and design and architecture. Customers can also visit pop-up concessions within the store, featuring aircraft models and baggage tags, and purchase original tableware used in La Première and business class cabins between 1966 and the 2000s, signed by the painter Jean…

THE SUPERJUMBO CONTINUES to make a comeback, with Lufthansa and Qantas both set to bring more of their A380 aircraft back into service. Qantas confirmed in a recent capacity update that it will reactivate the last of its superjumbos by next summer. The carrier originally took delivery of 12 superjumbos, but has since retired two of these, leaving a total of ten in the fleet. Meanwhile, Lufthansa has also confirmed plans to reactivate two more A380s. The German flag carrier brought the first of its superjumbos back into service earlier this year, and has now confirmed that it will operate a total of eight A380s from its Munich hub by 2025. The announcements follow Etihad bringing the first of four superjumbos back into service this summer, initially operating on Abu…

LONDON HAS A GLOSSY new viewing platform, providing panoramic vistas of the capital's skyline from a height of 254 metres. Horizon 22 is the highest free viewing gallery in Europe, located within the mixed-use 22 Bishopsgate building in the City of London. Guests will be whisked up to Level 58 in just 41 seconds, from where they can spot landmarks including the Gherkin, St Paul's Cathedral and the Shard. Triple-glazed windows have been specially treated to maximise daylight and improve energy efficiency, and the gallery is fully accessible and free of charge. The attraction is open daily 10am-6pm on weekdays, though it shuts slightly earlier on weekends (5pm on Saturdays and 4pm on Sundays/bank holidays). Advance booking is recommended. horizon22.co.uk…

EUROSTAR IS LAUNCHING A SKI SERVICE from London to the Alps via Lille, starting on 16 December. ‘Eurostar Snow’ will transport travellers from St. Pancras International to ski resorts such as Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers and Aime-La Plagne before arriving in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The service will run for eight weekends from 16 December until 3 February, with trains departing London on Saturdays and returning from the Alps on Sunday mornings. One-way fares start from £99 in standard and £149 in standard premier for off-peak dates, increasing to £149 and £199 respectively for peak dates. Eurostar previously ran a direct service to the Alps in partnership with Travelski, but passengers will now need to change at Lille to reach the ski resorts. The duration of the trip is approximately 8 hours 30 minutes.…

CATHAY PACIFIC IS OFFERING a new range of plantbased dishes to premium economy and economy customers. Developed in collaboration with Hong Kong-based plant-forward restaurant, VEDA by Ovolo, the options are available on selected long-haul flights departing Hong Kong until June 2024, with a rotating selection of dishes. Premium economy appetisers include Bombay carrot salad with cashews, raisins and cherry tomatoes, an Indianinspired slaw with a lime, coriander powder and ginger dressing, and hummus with harissa-roasted cauliflower and picked red onions. Mains include roasted vegetable tagine with halloumi and pearl couscous, and Thai Panang dry curry tofu with cashews and coconut rice.…

Business Traveller COMPETITION BUSINESS TRAVELLER has teamed up with The National Hotel Miami Beach to offer a lucky reader and guest the chance to win a two-night stay. Centrally located in Miami's South Beach, the National Hotel Miami Beach is one of the area's original Art Deco landmark beachfront hotels built by architect Roy F. France in 1939. The adults-only hotel combines the nostalgic spirit of its iconic heritage and culture with modern comfort for a true sanctuary away from home. For full terms and conditions and to enter, visit businesstraveller.com/competitions…

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…

4 HOURS IN… 1 SUMMIT ONE VANDERBILT There are plenty of dizzying heights from which to survey the suburban sprawl of Manhattan, but Summit One Vanderbilt (which opened in late 2021) adds something different to the mix of observation decks. The 6,000 sqm, four-level entertainment space offers a mind-bending range of interactive exhibits and instalments paired with iconic views. Start your journey with Air, a sequence of four immersive art experiences created by Kenzo Digital. In Transcendence 1, you'll enter a room where every surface is covered in mirror or glass, offering a disorienting perspective of the surrounding views. If you're brave enough, step out onto Levitation – a series of glass boxes hanging 324 metres above Madison Avenue. Follow the shrieks of delight to Air: Affinity, where large silver…

LUFTHANSA GROUP HAS UNVEILED the new name for its leisure subsidiary – Discover Airlines. The carrier was launched in 2021 as Eurowings Discover, and initially operated long-haul leisure services to destinations including Panama City, Salt Lake City, Cancun and Las Vegas, before adding several Mediterranean and mid-haul routes. The rebranded subsidiary will grow its fleet to 28 aircraft in 2024, with ten A320s and 13 A330s being based at Frankfurt operating routes to 33 short and medium-haul, and 17 long-haul destinations plus five A320s being based at Munich, offering flights to 23 destinations next summer. The carrier also plans to resume long-haul flights from Munich at the beginning of 2025. Lufthansa says that the Discover Airlines brand stands for “the joy of travelling and rediscovering beautiful places”. The new livery…

UNITED AIRLINES HAS OPENED its largest airport lounge to date, with the unveiling of a 3,250 sqm facility on Denver's B Concourse. The new Club overtakes the carrier's Newark Terminal C3 lounge – which opened in 2022 – as the largest in United's network, and is part of plans to have more than 9,300 sqm of lounge space at Denver airport by the end of 2025. The new B Concourse Club is located near gate B44, and offers more than 600 seats across three levels, with facilities including a bar with ten local and craft beers on tap. The design has been inspired by Denver's urban areas, with details including concrete flooring, exposed ceilings, locally-sourced furnishings and artwork, a mural by visual artist Charlo Garcia Walterbach, and a sculpture made…

MARRIOTT HAS LAUNCHED its Four Points by Sheraton brand in Scotland, which is located in Edinburgh's city centre. Four Points by Sheraton Edinburgh features 69 guest rooms over four floors, plus an onsite bar and Amalfi-inspired restaurant, Amalfino, complete with a pizza oven. The hotel is located on Haymarket Terrace, and is within walking distance of Haymarket train station and one tram stop from the airport. The property will also offer Four Points' Best Brews programme, which showcases local craft beers such as Innis & Gunn and Ossian on tap. This marks the second property under the brand in the UK, joining the existing Four Points by Sheraton near Gatwick airport.…

DELTA HAS OPENED ITS FIFTH new Sky Club of 2023, located within the new Terminal A at New York's Newark airport. The new facility follows the carrier's recent move from Terminal B to Terminal A at Newark. The lounge has a capacity for more than 200 guests – 50 more than the previous Terminal B facility – and features a premium bar, a buffet food offering, four private all-gender restrooms, and design inspired by Newark's history of industry, with “warm leather textures and metallic finishes”. Delta will operate 29 peak-day departures from Newark to Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Raleigh-Durham and Salt Lake City airports this autumn.…

BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT (BHX) has announced plans to install thousands of solar panels, to help reach its target of net zero operations by 2033. A total of 12,804 photovoltaic panels will be installed on the ‘Alpha Bund’ – a 1.5km-long, six-metre-high noise-blocking embankment flanking the northeastern edge of the runway beside the West Coast main line railway. The work is set to finish by May 2024, with the 6.8-megawatt configuration to provide at least 20 per cent of the airport's on-site electrical power. The airport is also in the midst of a £40 million project to create a new security hall, with part of the work including the installation of solar panels to provide power for its new-generation CT scanners.…

LOGANAIR HAS JOINED FORCES with the Met Office and aviation hardware specialists FLYHT Aerospace to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and reduce flight emissions. The project will see all 13 of Loganair's Embraer 145's, which operate three to four flights daily across the UK, equipped with FLHYTWVSS-II atmospheric water vapour sensors which will measure weather data for the Met Office. It is hoped that the project will increase the industry's understanding of non-CO2 effects of aviation, such as the emissions of nitrous oxides and sulphur dioxide, which are estimated to contribute around 48 per cent of the environmental impact of flying. The readings will also help the Met Office to better predict extreme weather events and improve local forecasting of conditions. This will enable Loganair to better prepare for…

LIO LONDON, a Mediterranean-inspired immersive restaurant and cabaret-style show experience, returns for its second season in the former Café de Paris venue. Artists, acrobats, singers and dancers take to the stage in the ‘Besos, Beats and Beauties’ show, with dining by former Kensington Palace executive chef Attila Kalanyos and a cocktail menu inspired by the event – including the signature ‘Billionaire's Kiss’ which features Johnny Walker Blue with notes of hazelnut and coffee. The brand has sister venues in Ibiza, Mykonos and Palma de Mallorca. Tickets start from £50. Open 7.30pm-3am Thursday-Saturday; liolondon.co.uk…

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH COMPANY Ordo has launched a set of stylish travel cases to make it easier to transport those brushing essentials overseas. The compact cases come in five colours, including the pictured rose gold, and have a strong magnetic closure so the brush is kept secure and hygienic during even the most turbulent of travels. Most importantly, you can charge the toothbrush on the go thanks to a built-in USB-C slot and provided cable. An LED indicator on the toothbrush, visible through the window on the case, enables you to keep track of the battery status. The Ordo Sonic+ Electric Toothbrush offers 40,000 sonic pulses per minute and four brushing modes: clean, white, massage and sensitive. The toothbrush and case can be purchased together for £64.99 or it costs £20…

TRAVEL REWARDS For business travellers, air miles are not just an enticing bonus but a valuable currency that can elevate your travel experience. One of the best ways to maximise this form of “currency” is by using a co-branded credit card linked to your preferred airline (or hotel brand – but we'll look at that in a separate feature). In this guide, we delve into the best co-branded credit cards in the UK for air travel and outline what each card has to offer. What are the benefits? 1. Sign-up bonuses Most co-branded cards offer generous sign-up bonuses to get you started. For example, the American Express (Amex) Preferred Rewards Gold offers 20,000 Amex points if you spend £3,000 in the first three months. That's a strong incentive, not least…

BUSINESS TRAVELLER AWARDS Every year, we ask our readers to vote for their favourite travel providers in an online survey. These votes are then counted and verified by an independent auditing company. A fixture of the business travel and hospitality calendar for over 30 years, the awards are a true reflection of our readers' experiences, and recognised as the market's benchmark for excellence. The 2023 Business Traveller Awards were announced over a lunch ceremony in London's Royal Garden hotel on 13 September, attended by more than 200 industry leaders. Winning trophies were presented by guest star Hugh Dennis, comedian, presenter, actor, impressionist, writer and patron of the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, a cultural education charity that gives young people across the UK the confidence to succeed in life, and which…

DESTINATION 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 those in London, with up to 450,000 travellers…

BACKGROUND Air France is upgrading its Boeing 777-300 aircraft with its latest premium economy product, already seen on its A350. The retrofit of its 12 Boeing 777-300s is due to be complete by the end of the year. The 777-300 features 48 seats in the premium economy cabin, arranged in a slightly staggered 2-4-2 formation. CHECK - IN I stayed in the Pullman Paris Roissy CDG Airport the night before to make the early morning flight. It was easy to hop on the automated people mover and get to Terminal 2E for 0620. There were seven Sky Priority lanes at Zone 5. I printed a boarding pass and went through the fast track immigration lines, arriving at the lounge by 0650. THE LOUNGE We were given SkyTeam priority access for…