Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2024 i Business Traveller

We expect to encounter different languages when we travel and I think it's good practice to learn a few customary greetings of your host country. Even a simple ‘ni hao’ to greet business contacts in China or a ‘danke’ to thank your German colleagues can go a long way in showing respect and building rapport. It's a different experience altogether when you discover an entirely new lexicon at home – sometimes in your own living room if you have Gen Zs in your life. I'm talking about having good ‘rizz’ (charisma), whether you pass the ‘vibe check’ and getting ‘receipts’ (evidence for gossip or allegations – not the kind to put through your expense account). Most recently, I discovered poor Ohio has been hijacked. It now means something strange or…

HYATT HAS ANNOUNCED plans to acquire Standard International, the parent company of The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels lifestyle brands. The US$150 million acquisition is set to complete later this year and will add Standard International's 21 open hotels to Hyatt's collection, with a further US$185 million payable as additional properties enter the portfolio. The transaction will see Hyatt create a new “dedicated lifestyle group”, headquartered in New York City and led by Amar Lalvani, Standard International's executive chairman. Existing properties under The Standard brand can be found in locations such as London, New York, Miami, The Maldives, Hua Hin, Ibiza and Bangkok, while the group recently launched The StandardX in Melbourne. The company also has more than 30 properties under development, including The Standard hotels in Singapore, Pattaya, Mexico, Brussels,…

EMIRATES HAS TEAMED up with luxury Irish brand VOYA to create a collection of bespoke fragrances for its first and business class customers. The 50ml Eau de Toilette fragrances are offered on 400 daily flights across the carrier's network, available in the first and business class washrooms. The two companies examined international and industry trends, and set out to marry Ireland's lush landscapes with Middle Eastern scents. The result is a bergamot, pepper and white florals blend for men, and a honeysuckle, neroli and citrus concoction for women. Both are presented in muted glass bottles.…

UP FRONT THEO RANDALL is an English chef and chef patron of Theo Randall at the InterContinental in Park Lane. WHAT DREW YOU TO COOKING? I had a passion for food as a little one and ate everything. My family travelled a lot – holidaying in France and Italy. My first experience of working in a restaurant was at the age of 15, washing dishes in a local bistro. I loved the atmosphere, with chefs and waiters fighting. It was very theatrical. I got a job as a waiter at Chez Max when I was 18, and was then an apprentice for four years. It snowballed from there. WHY ITALIAN CUISINE? I originally trained in French cuisine, but I love Italian food. I'm an Englishman with an Italian soul. You…

B-CORP CERTIFIED outdoor clothing brand Kathmandu has unveiled its Autumn/Winter 2024 collection, with the tagline ‘Insulation for any Situation’. New this season is the Seeker jacket range (£180), designed for hiking and ‘high sweat’ activities. The jacket features lightweight, breathable Primaloft Active technology “which traps heat but expels moisture”, while the main fabric and lining are made from 100 per cent recycled materials. The Trailhead 2-layer jacket (£175) has also been upgraded with novaLOFT insulation to keep travellers warm, while an ngx 2-layer shell provides that waterproof quality. Available at kathmandu.co.uk…

26% of those with children who have left home want to increase their working hours or change career paths 33% view hospitality and travel as a popular choice of career change due to flexible working hours (45%), social opportunities (30%) and a desire to take on a more active role (35%) 34% cited burnout as a key driver for looking for a role change 44% want to move from desk jobs to something more active 60% said they can learn from working with the younger generation 64% want to work with people from different backgrounds 75% want to challenge themselves in a new environment 77% of Gen Z respondents said they can learn from older colleagues Source: Research carried out by Hilton and Savanta, August 2024…

DOMESTIC: BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL, 9-20 OCTOBER, UK-WIDE Film fanatics, this one's for you. The 68th edition of the world-class film festival in partnership with American Express takes place at its home hub BFI Southbank, along with partner cinemas in London's West End and venues across the UK. The festival kicks off with the world premiere of Sir Steve McQueen's Second World War drama Blitz, starring Saoirse Ronan, and will close with the UK premiere of Piece by Piece, a LEGO animated look at the life and work of Pharrell Williams. SHORT-HAUL: MONET AND THE IMPRESSIONIST CITYSCAPE, BERLIN, UNTIL 26 JANUARY, 2025 Berlin's Alte Nationalgalerie is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Claude Monet's three earliest paintings of Paris in 1867. Saint Germain l'Auxerrois, Jardin de l'Infante and the Quai du…

Apple AirTags These remain one of the most popular luggage trackers, partly because they do not require a subscription like other devices. Apple AirTags pair with any iPhone or iPad in seconds via the Find My app. While the item can only be connected to one Apple ID, this feature allows other family members to track items using a second device. £28; apple.com Eufy SmartTrack Link Users have been giving high marks to the iOScompatible Eufy SmartTrack Link for its ease of use and functionality, including the ability to call your phone from the tracker itself and an alarm that can be used to help locate your bag. £19.99; eufy.com Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 Samsung goes head-to-head with the Apple product, providing essentially the same functionality and experience using ultra-wideband (UWB)…

DEREK PICOT A HOTELIER FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND AUTHOR OF THE HOTEL DETECTIVE AND HIS LOVER I wonder how many readers have been offered a room upgrade as an atonement for a mistake made by the hotelier. For particularly egregious errors, perhaps you might even have been offered the holy grail of hotel accommodation – the penthouse. Steven Ruttenbaum is credited with creating the word ‘penthouse’ when he used it in his biography of Emery Roth, the famed American-Hungarian architect who created much of New York's skyline after the First World War. These fabled spaces in the sky have become the ultimate symbol of luxury, the most glamorous of accommodations occupying the top floors of hotels and apartment blocks where the rich and famous can enjoy life on…

BACKGROUND British Airways announced plans to upgrade its short-haul business class Club Europe product earlier this year as part of its £7 billion transformation plan. The British flag carrier has taken delivery of seven A321neo and A320neo aircraft fitted with the new product, with one more expected later this year. We review the upgraded seat on the A321neo service between London Heathrow T5 and Rome Fiumicino Airport T3, with references to the A320neo return service. The seats have been manufactured by Collins Aerospace in Northern Ireland, designed by London-based Acumen and feature fabrics sourced from England, Scotland and Ireland. CHECK-IN My flight (BA0552) departed at 0640 and was scheduled to arrive in Rome at 1015 local time. I checked in online, downloaded my ticket and pre-booked an Uber to the…

Mindful musings The iPhone Photography Awards has announced the winners of its 17th annual competition, after receiving thousands of entries from more than 140 countries around the world. US photographer Anthony Maureal was awarded second place in the overall Photographers of the Year award for his contemplative photograph, Pupils, captured on an iPhone 15 Pro in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The image depicts young monks meditating in the ancient Ta Prohm temple. The additional winning images across the competition's 14 categories can be viewed at ippawards.com…

TAMARA HINSON Tamara is a freelance travel writer based in Surrey. A keen scuba diver, snowboarder and mountain biker, she loves to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations. In this issue, she heads to Indonesia's popular holiday island Bali to discover the latest and greatest hotels to consider on your next trip – see page 28. TOM OTLEY Tom was the editor of Business Traveller for 20 years before leaving to pursue a career in sustainability, and is now Director, Sustainability at a multidisciplinary practice. He returns in this issue for a special report on Bratislava, the enthralling Slovakian capital. Head to page 36 to explore the best sights, meeting spots and top restaurants. HELEN DALLEY After living in Hong Kong for 12 years, freelance writer Helen swapped the concrete canyons for family…

VIRGIN ATLANTIC WILL FLY to Riyadh for the first time from 30 March, 2025, with a daily A330neo service. The carrier will join BA and Saudia on the Heathrow-Riyadh route. Saudia is a fellow SkyTeam member, and will offer onward connections to destinations such as Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Virgin's flights will depart Heathrow at 1445, arriving into Riyadh at 2335, and the return leg VS243 leaving the Saudi Arabian capital at 0125, landing in London at 0700. Meanwhile Virgin plans to return to Accra for the first time in over a decade. The carrier first launched flights to the Ghanaian capital in May 2010, but suspended the route three years later citing “exceptionally high fuel costs” in Ghana. The daily 787 Dreamliner service will launch on 1 May, 2025,…

AMERICAN AIRLINES HAS CONFIRMED plans to resume flights to Scotland for the first time since 2019. The carrier will launch a daily seasonal service between Philadelphia and Edinburgh on 24 May, 2025, running through until October. Flights will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, and will depart Edinburgh at 1135, arriving into Philadelphia at 1400, with the Scotland-bound leg leaving Philadelphia at 1905, landing into Edinburgh at 0700 the following day. There are currently no nonstop flights between the two cities – both AA and its oneworld and joint venture partner British Airways operate year-round services between Philadelphia and London Heathrow.…

SUSTAINABLE TRAVELLER LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL GROUP THE PIG has secured B Corp certification, 13 years since it arrived on the scene with its New Forest property and shortly before its new Cotswolds property opened its doors in September. In order to receive the certification, companies undergo an audit of their entire social and environmental impact. THE PIG's ten properties across the UK countryside boast several eco initiatives, including 25-mile restaurant menus – showcasing homegrown and locally sourced produce – alongside partnerships with local charities and community groups. The group commented: “B Corp Certification isn't an award – it's the beginning of a journey towards continuous improvement and collective action.”…

LOGANAIR IS MAKING the case for the use of hybrid electric aircraft across its regional network, partnering with Swedish airplane manufacturer Heart Aerospace which is currently developing the ES-30 – an aircraft with the capacity to carry up to 30 passengers. The aircraft, expected to enter service in 2028, has a range of 200km and an extended range of 400km when power is supplemented by reserve-hybrid generators which can run on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The aircraft also has the potential range of up to 800km if there are only 25 passengers on board. The two companies will “explore use cases” for the ES-30. Loganair joins airlines including Air Canada, United Airlines and Finnair in working with Heart Aerospace.…

BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS has unveiled the top 25 most searched for destinations for travel in 2025. New York and Orlando have retained the top spots, followed by Las Vegas in bronze position – swapping spots with the Maldives, which has fallen to fourth place. Barbados, meanwhile, has climbed the list from sixth to fifth place. Grenada in the Caribbean, meanwhile, is the biggest mover on the list – jumping five places following its appearance in reality TV show, The Fortune Hotel. New additions to the list include Bangkok at 20th, with BA restarting its service to the city this month, followed by Nashville at number 22, owing to the resurgence of country music. Corfu also joins the list at number 23, along with Australia making the cut at number 25.…

INBOX YOUR LETTERS AND COMMENTS STAR PRIZE This month's Star Letter writer will receive a Business Traveller-branded Timothy Spirit carry-on case – the perfect travelling companion. For your chance to win, email your letter to editorial@businesstraveller.com including your full postal address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. THOUGHTFUL BEHAVIOUR As a flight attendant with years of experience, there are moments that stand out, reminding us of the incredible kindness that can exist even in the most stressful situations. One such moment happened on a flight from Munich to Los Angeles aboard a double-deck A380. We had just completed boarding and were preparing for take-off when a young family approached me. The mother, carrying a newborn twin in each arm, had a look of both exhaustion and…

MÖVENPICK HOTEL JAKARTA CITY CENTRE This hotel (pictured top) has 256 rooms in five categories. It has seven F&B outlets, including Wilde Cut steak house and the Indonesian restaurant Ginger Flower. It is close to the Merdeka Presidential Palace and several prominent office towers. movenpick.accor.com SWISSÔTEL JAKARTA PIK AVENUE Swissôtel's first venture in Indonesia offers 412 rooms and suites (including the pictured St. Gallen Presidential centre page). Head to The Chinese National for Cantonese fare, or the Brownmilk 24-hour deli. It's also close to a highway exit. swissotel.com/hotels/jakarta THE WESTIN JAKARTA With 255 rooms and suites, The Westin Jakarta, atop the 285m Gama Tower (pictured above), is close to government ministries, embassies and offices. It has fabulous views from its rooftop bar. westin.marriott.com PARKROYAL JAKARTA Set to open in Q4…

My Lounge at London Luton Airport Airport Dimensions and Swissport opened this facility in June, rebranding a former Aspire lounge. The 135-seat lounge overlooking the airport's main concourse is open to Priority Pass and LoungeKey holders, with prices starting from £34. Facilities include a games room, fully tended bar and buffet, which switches from continental and hot breakfast options to afternoon dishes like jacket potatoes, salads and nachos – plus a pancake station. Open daily, 0400-2100. Plaza Express, London Gatwick Airport, North Terminal Plaza Premium Group opened this lounge in August, located next to the group's existing Plaza Premium Lounge on the fourth floor of the North Terminal, close to gates 45-55 and 101-103. Targeted at leisure travellers, facilities include a pool table, children's play area and a buffet breakfast…

Public House Young chefs like Anne Knepper are putting Luxembourg's culinary scene on the map by championing local ingredients and organic wine producers. Beautifully presented in a minimalist dining room softly lit by a cool neon installation, the vegetarian tasting menu features a sourdough crisp made with leftovers, light-as-a-feather carrot meringue with fig leaves and tomato four ways (burnt cherry tomato, stewed tomato, tomato crumble and tomato foam) topped with marigold oil. publichouse.lu OekoSoph A tranquil, cosy oasis in Pafendall with a view of the Alzette river reached in ten minutes on the panoramic lift OekoSoph's sunny terrace is just the spot to unwind over a lazy lunch. Like Knepper at Public House, chef Lou Steichen uses as much organic, local produce as he can and runs the restaurant with…

Who is the typical traveller for Raffles and Fairmont? In Raffles, we're all about glamour, butler service and personalisation. Raffles is a bit more about escaping the daily routine. When you enter Raffles Singapore, you automatically transition from the busy city to an oasis. When you visit Raffles London, you experience the same thing. Time slows down and the attention is focused on you. In Fairmont, it's a place to connect and to celebrate. We like buzzy lobby bars. It's a gathering place and connector for people from different backgrounds and cultures. We also have Fairmont Gold – we call it another layer of a hotel – and that dedicated floor has services and personalisation. At Fairmont, we are also putting additional focus on our urban hotels. So, if you…

BACKGROUND New French bistro Henri is the latest restaurant from British chef Jackson Boxer. It is located within Experimental Group's Henrietta Hotel, on the namesake street in Covent Garden. We dined here on a Saturday night – the quiet dining room offered a pleasant contrast to the hectic streets outside. THE VENUE Designed by Dorothée Meilichzon, the restaurant occupies a narrow space with a glimmering cocktail bar towards the front and an open kitchen at the back. Between these bookends are a few booths, a single round table, a ten-seater chef's table, and two-seater tables which almost adjoin – prepare to cosy up to your neighbours on the blue banquette. It's a warm setting with a live pianist, dark wooden panelling, mirrored panels and romantic candle-lit tables. For private dining,…

THAI GROUP DUSIT HOTELS AND RESORTS wants to expand into new destinations including London and New York, following the signing of a strategic partnership with hybrid hostel / boutique hotel brand Generator and Freehand Hotels. The agreement will see the parties “synergise their development resources to pursue sustainable international growth for their respective brands”. Generator and Freehand – owned by London-based Queensgate Investments – will leverage their networks and strength in Europe and the US to seek opportunities for Dusit properties in key destinations including London, Paris, Rome, New York, Miami and Los Angeles. Dusit will also leverage its presence in Asia and the Middle East to help Generator and Freehand expand into Bangkok, Manila, Kyoto, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Phuket and Bali.…

READ: The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead From the Inside Out, Hans-Werner Kaas, Dana Maor, Ramesh Srinivasan, Kurt Strovink Got your eye on the top job? This book might provide the key. Senior partners at the well-known management consulting firm McKinsey & Company provide insight into the development of leaders in this publication. The firm holds a CEO leadership programme, The Bower Forum, which has counselled more than 500 global CEOs over the past decade. Read stories from leaders including Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta, Reeta Roy, CEO of Mastercard Foundation, and Makoto Uchida, CEO of Nissan Motor Company. Portfolio; £19.59 LISTEN: Origins with Cush Jumbo This new podcast hosted by stage and screen actor Cush Jumbo OBE chronicles coming-of-age stories from celebrated entertainment figures including Dame…

American Express finds that Gen Z employees (aged 18-24) view business travel opportunities as key to their career development 44% combine business and leisure into a single trip 48% are actively working with their employer on improving the sustainability of their organisation's business travel 59% say they will be travelling more for work in the next 12 months 74% typically work longer hours when on business trips 81% believe travel opportunities increase their attractiveness to prospective employers 83% believe travel opportunities enhance opportunities for promotions 85% of UK businesses are looking to increase or maintain business travel spend over the next year Source: Fieldwork conducted by Retail Economics in June 2024 on behalf of American Express, amongst 500 business travellers and 500 senior business travel decision makers…

ARE AIRPORTS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF SENIOR TRAVELLERS? → CWOODWARD By 2050, an estimated two billion people will be aged over 60 and an increasing number of this group has the financial means and desire to travel for leisure. Seniors are anticipated to become one of the largest groups of global travellers and forecast to account for some 25 per cent of all air travellers. Airports and airlines seem ill-equipped and uninterested in catering to the needs of these travellers, of which I am one. Much needed initiatives include improving and widening walkways, adding handrails and creating priority lanes in queue areas. Even some new airports require travellers to walk vast distances, often without moving walkways. The shortening of these walking distances is vital, as is improving navigation by adding…

BAGGAGE TRACKING There's nothing quite as frustrating for a traveller – especially a frequent flyer on a tight schedule – as the moment you're standing by the luggage carousel and your bag fails to arrive. Cue the torture of heading to the baggage office, filling out tedious forms, and waiting – often with no immediate resolution in sight. Last year, 36.1 million bags were ‘mishandled’ (lost/stolen, damaged or delayed), according to the Baggage Insights Report 2024 by SITA, a multinational company that handles IT operations for most global airlines. The majority of these (77 per cent) were delayed, meaning they were returned to their owners within 21 days. Lost and stolen bags meanwhile accounted for 5 per cent, while damaged or tampered-with bags made up 18 per cent. COMMON CULPRITS…

Wellness wearables have become increasingly commonplace as we seek to count the number of steps we've taken, monitor our sleep patterns, or track our heart rate and stress levels. The first wireless heart rate monitor – the Polar Sport Tester PE2000 – made its debut back in 1982, but it wasn't until the Fitbit hit the shelves in 2007 that fitness trackers really took off. Thanks to advancements in technology and AI, the wellness wearables market has evolved considerably, with the latest offerings including smart rings that track respiration or skin temperature and headsets that zoom in on emotional wellbeing and even help alleviate depressive symptoms. Here's seven of the best gadgets to track and boost your physical and mental health. 1 MUSE S If you struggle with sleep or…

BACKGROUND Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs opened on the Left Bank of Paris in November 2023, following an extensive renovation of a former Holiday Inn property – like its sister property, Hôtel Dame des Arts (see our review at businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested). The two properties belong to EQ Group, a European hospitality group based in London. WHERE IS IT? On the corner of Rue de Vaugirard and Rue de l'Abbé Grégoire in the quiet neighbourhood of Saint-Placide, located in the sixth arrondissement. It's a beautiful area filled with galleries, boutiques, bijou restaurants and Le Bon Marché department store on Rue de Sèvres. Saint-Placide metro is a few minutes’ walk away and served by Line 4, which takes you directly to Gare du Nord in 20 minutes – or get off at Saint-Michel Notre-Dame…

Business travellers based in London will be familiar with the speedy and compact nature of London City Airport, but the departure lounge has had a £12 million upgrade over the past two years to appeal to its existing corporate and growing leisure audience. Here we outline its new dining outlets, enhanced retail offerings and 30 per cent increase in seating. BACKGROUND The transformation began in 2022, with the introduction of next generation CT security scanners – which have since halved queuing times – and culminated with the opening of pub-meets-brasserie Hithes in July 2024 (more on this later). Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, explained that the team had “stripped everything back to really deliver what we think is a great customer experience”. FitzGerald also spoke about the rise…