Innehållsförteckning för September 2022 från Business Traveller

BRITISH AIRWAYS IS LAUNCHING flights from London Gatwick to Guyana and Aruba in March 2023. The twice-weekly routes will be operated by the airline's B777-200 aircraft, and bring the number of Caribbean destinations served by BA to 17. Flights to Oranjestad in Aruba will operate via Antigua, with return fares starting from £599, while services to Georgetown in Guyana will operate via St Lucia, with return fares from £524. BA will also begin a three-times-weekly direct route to Port of Spain, Trinidad, in March. Return fares start from £503. The airline also announced plans to add a third weekly service to Grenada this winter. The carrier currently flies between Gatwick and Maurice Bishop International airport (via St Lucia) on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but will add a Sunday flight (via Antigua)…

AMERICAN AIRLINES HAS ANNOUNCED plans to redesign its Admirals Club lounges across the US. The new design will debut at Ronald Reagan Washington National airport this autumn, with lounges at Newark, Austin-Bergstrom and Denver airports “currently in the works” to feature the updated look. The lounges will be redesigned by Chicago-based firm DMAC Architecture and Interiors, featuring references from the local landscapes and landmarks “that tell the story of each city”. On the sustainability side, there will be branded elements made of renewable American walnut in every lounge. There is no timeframe yet for the entire US lounge network, but the airline says that it is a “multiyear project”. American Airlines has around 50 Admirals Club lounges worldwide. Customers can access the lounges through membership, AAdvantage status or select cobranded…

ALMA RESORT CAM RANH will this year start what it believes is Vietnam's most ambitious hotel solar power project, installing 5,634 solar panels totalling 12,500 sqm on the roofs of its 196 pavilions and two V-shaped towers. At 2,480 kW peak – the rate at which it generates energy at peak performance on a sunny day – the solar power system will fuel between a quarter to almost half of Alma's energy needs, depending on occupancy. The scheme will save the resort up to £13.95 million in energy bills and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 72,670 tonnes over the next 25 years.…

NOTHING GOES TO WASTE at The Discarded Terrace at The Pickled Hen bar. The open-air terrace, under a large tree outside the London Marriott Hotel Marble Arch, has been constructed from re-purposed and re-imagined waste materials, and serves drinks from Discarded Spirits, the sustainable spirits created by William Grant and Sons. As an added twist, the cocktails turn food waste into ingredients, either for garnishing drinks or building the cocktail around those ‘found’ ingredients. To take an example, there's a Pineapple Rind Negroni featuring Discarded Sweet Cascara Vermouth, Hendrick's Gin and pineapple rind-infused Campari using leftover pineapple rind from the restaurant's breakfast buffet. If negroni isn't to your taste, the Banana Mai Tai, includes Discarded Banana Peel Rum, Discarded Sweet Cascara Vermouth, Orgeat and a House-Made Used Citrus Cordial.…

LIFESTYLE RETREAT COMPANY Fforest [sic] has opened a hotel in the Welsh village of Cardigan. Housed in two Grade II-listed former warehouses on the River Teifi waterfront, The Albion is named after a brig which sailed 180 passengers from Cardigan to New Brunswick in Canada in 1819. Maritime-inspired interiors feature reclaimed wood-panelled cabins, 150-year-old beams, Aesop toiletries, custom-made furniture using Welsh-grown cedar, and blankets, cushions and bedhead covers made from wool woven at an old mill upstream. Only one warehouse is currently open, comprising 12 double bedrooms with river views, ‘The Gallery’ cocktail bar and a guests-only lounge/workroom. The Yr Odyn restaurant, an outdoor sauna and Japanese onsen will open in December, followed by 11 more rooms in the second warehouse in spring.…

AVIATION In recent months many airlines have started to offer corporate customers the opportunity to partner with them in sourcing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). For companies looking to lower their carbon emissions (20 per cent of Fortune 500 companies have set a climate commitment for 2030), it is a way of reducing the emissions caused by their employees travelling. For airlines it means they can reduce their Scope 1 emissions – meaning those stemming directly from its core business – while the corporate reduces their Scope 3 emissions caused by travel. But what effect will buying small amounts of SAF have on the overall emissions that aviation creates, and should you be pushing your company to do the same, or perhaps topping up those contributions by buying SAF as an…

BALEARIC ISLANDS My introduction to the Balearics came like many, through music. Growing up in Nottingham, we danced to a Balearic beat in the Midlands’ house music hotspot. So, my brother's choice of 21st birthday party was to celebrate at the origin of the source: the White Isle itself, Ibiza. In a head-scratching moment, we found we had been booked into family-friendly Portinatx in the north rather than banging San Antonio. This travel agent intervention turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We found chillout zones away from the superclubs, in the great outdoors. While these tranquil areas have always existed, they've become more conspicuous as the islands have embraced more diverse types of traveller. In broadening their appeal, the islands have consolidated their status as one of Europe's…

BACKGROUND This was the inaugural flight of Norse from London Gatwick to New York JFK on August 12. The exteriors have been repainted in a new ‘longship livery’ with each aircraft named after a national park – Redwood, Sequoia and Yellowstone, for instance. For this inaugural it was aircraft registration LN-FNI named Jotunheimen, which is a park in Norway. There are hopes for a double daily flight from Gatwick in the near future. You can watch a video review on the Business Traveller You Tube channel. CHECK-IN I arrived at London Gatwick South Terminal at 1000 for my 1335 departure on Norse N0701, a flight time of seven-and-a-half hours. Once there I went upstairs to departures and Zone H where there was a dedicated queue for Premium passengers. Norse has…

ACCOR HAS OPENED THE FIRST UK property under its midscale lifestyle brand Tribe, located five minutes' walk from Canary Wharf Underground station. The six-floor development features 320 rooms in three categories – 14 sqm Tribe Comfort rooms with city views, 14 sqm Tribe Comfort Atrium rooms above the atrium, and 21 sqm Tribe Comfort XL corner rooms overlooking Wood Wharf. Facilities include all-day dining restaurant Feels Like June for “Europe-meets-West Coast” cuisine including breakfast burritos and mezze platters, as well as a bar and 24-hour, grab-and-go counter for barista coffee and ready-to-eat meals. The Tribe brand was launched in 2019, and now falls under the Ennismore lifestyle division, with which Accor formed a joint venture in 2021. Recent openings include Tribe Paris La Defense, and Tribe Amsterdam City. Tribe aims…

UPFRONT TRAVELODGE HAS UNVEILED the first two new-build hotels featuring its recently launched “budget luxe” design concept. The 350-room London Docklands Travelodge, located next to East India DLR station, is the group's 78th property in the capital. The hotel features a number of sustainable elements, including solar panels, air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points. Meanwhile, the 69-room Hexham Travelodge is situated around 20 miles west of Newcastle, close to Hadrian's Wall, and is the second Travelodge property to open in the North East in recent months, joining Newcastle Cobalt Business Park Travelodge. The two new hotels bring Travelodge's UK, Ireland and Spain portfolio to 595 properties. The “budget luxe” revamp features a “timeless classic style” reception and contemporary Bar Cafe concept. New bedroom décor includes “a serene…

AIR FRANCE HAS ANNOUNCED plans to resume flights to New York's Newark airport later this year. The French flag carrier last operated a nonstop service between Paris CDG and Newark in 2012. A daily year-round service will launch on December 12 using a B777-200 aircraft configured with 40 seats in business class, 24 in premium economy and 216 in economy. Service AF062 will depart Paris CDG at 1230, arriving into Newark at 1500; AF063 will depart Newark at 1705, arriving into Paris CDG at 0605 the following day. Air France resumed flights between Paris CDG and New York JFK in March, and currently offers a six-times-daily service, alongside twice-daily flights operated by its Skyteam partner, Delta. The resumption of flights between Paris CDG and Newark means Air France will serve…

LOW-COST US CARRIER JETBLUE is launching flights from London Heathrow to Boston Logan International on September 20. The route will be operated by the airline's A321 LR aircraft, configured with 24 Mint suites (business class) and 114 Core seats (economy). Flights will depart Boston at 1832, arriving at 0630 in Heathrow the following morning. The return flight will depart Heathrow at 0825 and land in Boston at 1113. The route was initially set to launch on August 22 but delayed due to late delivery of aircraft from Airbus. The new route joins its flights from Gatwick to Boston, launched last month, The airline also flies from Gatwick and Heathrow to New York JFK.…

‘We provide a sense of apartment-style living with access to hotel services and a private club facility’ Members clubs have departed from their 17th century origin as gentlemen's clubs. For one, they are no longer reserved for men, while stuffy dress codes have largely disappeared. What's remained, however, are the networking opportunities, expensive fees and exclusivity. While the past two years have seen such clubs either shuttered or pivoting to virtual formats due to the Covid-19 pandemic, interest is now booming for the industry. Here we look at the new concepts emerging in the wake of the pandemic, the international reach of such clubs and the criteria to join. Hybrid hotels Luxury hotels have begun to cross over into the private sphere, incorporating exclusive members clubs into their projects to…

The physical impacts of the Covid-19 virus are well-known but, by contrast, the mental toll is much more difficult to measure. For business travellers, while it's certainly good news that travel is returning, it's a different world with airport disruption, lost luggage, delayed or cancelled flights and complicated paperwork. Considered against a background where the pandemic triggered a 25 per cent increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is hardly surprising that anxieties exacerbated by the danger of the virus, and uncertainty from ever-changing rules and regulations, might cause problems. Here, we explore how travellers can best readjust and recover after a turbulent two years. Emerging from a crisis “Mental health and mental resilience are the biggest challenges for an…

4 HOURS IN… 1 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA On the shores of Lake Burley Griffin (the manmade lake that is the town's centrepiece) lies the National Museum of Australia. This showstopping collection of artefacts, interactive displays and gardens tells the story of Australia through the ages. Visitors learn about its history through innovative exhibits enhanced by lights, motion and sound. With free entry, you can easily spend an entire day here surrounded by life-size dinosaur skeletons, crocodiles bigger than a car, aboriginal paintings and photography that show the effect of climate change in the southern hemisphere. The newest addition is this summer's opening of the Great Southern Land gallery with more than 2,100 objects and experiences showcasing all that makes Australia what it is today. The museum's convenience to the…

BACKGROUND Hyatt's Thompson and Tommie hotels debuted under the same roof in Austin in January. Thompson is a luxury upper-upscale brand in Hyatt's portfolio. Tommie is under Hyatt's JDV brand and targets a younger traveller with a smaller budget. This dual-branded property has 212 Thompson rooms and suites, along with 17 residences, and 193 Tommie rooms. WHERE IS IT? At the intersection of San Jacinto Boulevard and East 5th Street in downtown Austin. It is close to music bars, such as Antone's nightclub, and a 20-minute drive to the airport. WHAT'S IT LIKE? The skyscraper has a split-level design by Bkl Architecture (see image), with a rooftop on the fourth floor. It neighbours several other high-rise hotels. The Thompson entrance features an oversized door, giving the impression that you're about…

EMIRATES HAS REVEALED its plan for a US$2 billion (£1.6 billion) investment in its inflight customer experience. The plan details upgrades to cabin interiors across all classes, with retrofitted or reupholstered seats, and new panelling and flooring. The works also include the continued rollout of the carrier's premium economy seating, which will eventually feature on more than 120 A380 and B777 aircraft. Emirates said the first aircraft is scheduled for retrofitting in November, with the “largest known fleet retrofit” project set to be complete by April 2025. The airline also announced inflight dining changes with refreshed first class menus rolled out in August, and new economy and business class menus launching this month. The new vegan menu features pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, jackfruit biryani and sliced kohlrabi garnished with burnt…

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES GROUP has published its results for the second quarter of 2022, showing an operating profit of some £248 million. The figure compares to a loss of £817 million for the same period in 2021, and follows “strong recovery in demand across all airlines” in the group. Q2 passenger capacity was at 78 per cent of 2019 levels, up from 65 per cent in the first quarter. “By the end of quarter two, premium leisure revenue had almost fully recovered to 2019's level, despite capacity being significantly lower,” IAG said. Business channel revenue continued to lag, reaching 60 per cent of 2019 levels by the end of the second quarter. However, the group said its key US market was expected to be close to 2019 capacity levels by the…

PLAZA PREMIUM GROUP has opened the first in-airport hotel in Australia, located within the International Arrivals area of Sydney airport's Terminal 1. The hotel offers 15 solo and double rooms, bookable on an hourly basis, with free wifi and private bathrooms with shower and amenities. Customers also benefit from special rates on dining at the Plaza Premium arrivals lounge within the hotel, as well as buffet breakfast between 0600 and 1200. The opening of the hotel and lounge follows the unveiling of a Plaza Premium lounge in the International Departures area in 2020. The group also has Plaza Premium airport lounges at Brisbane and Melbourne, and is the operator of the Skyteam and American Express lounges at Melbourne and Sydney airports.…

MELIA CHIANG MAI has launched a ‘360° Cuisine’ concept, devised by executive chef Suksant Chutinthratip. Dishes include produce from the hotel's organic farm and a commitment to using every part of each ingredient before leftovers are returned to the farm as compost. The ‘farm to plate’ effort also sources organic produce that travels only a short distance with food waste going back to the farm as fertiliser. Under the programme, the hotel works closely with local farmers to help them farm sustainably and encourage ethical production.…

THE HARI HONG KONG is combining local community partnerships, sustainable practices and education with an energy conscious and environmentally friendly hotel stay. The hotel is LEED (Silver), BEAM Plus (Silver) and BEEO certified, in recognition of its sustainable design, construction and energy-efficient performance. One example is its partnership with Swedish firm Nordaq, a provider of sustainable and automated refilling solutions for bottled water. Another scheme is the Orca waste solution that turns food waste into a liquid that is captured or repurposed by a wastewater treatment plant. The Nespresso and Eco-Greenergy sustainability programmes use coffee grounds for compost and for upcycling products, such as scrubbing soaps. Single-use plastic in the rooms is avoided by providing refillable dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion in The Hari's signature scent. The…

BACKGROUND Citizen M has around 30 hotels in Europe and the US, and is expanding quickly. This is its fourth London hotel. Construction began in May 2020, following demolition of Denison House on the site. It was built using modular construction where rooms are built and furnished in an offsite factory before being moved to the site and assembled. Interiors have been designed by Amsterdam-based Concrete, with furniture from Vitra. WHERE IS IT? On Vauxhall Bridge Road, a few minutes' walk from Victoria train station. WHAT'S IT LIKE? Impressive, even from the outside, where a fairly traditional looking new-build has been brightened by a colourful artwork by London-born artist Lakwena Maciver with a near floor-toceiling strip along the left-hand side of the building and then artwork on the exteriors of…

BACKGROUND This Shoreditch hotel was announced in 2014 and opened in 2017, but closed during the Covid pandemic. It has fully reopened, and now has the addition of a new sixth floor of 16 rooms in a slightly different style from the rest of the hotel. Nobu Hospitality was founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and director Meir Teper. It currently has 13 hotels, with the latest in Chicago and Warsaw opening in 2020. It has plans to add properties in locations including Santorini, Rome, Hamburg, Marrakech and Tel Aviv. WHERE IS IT? In the heart of Shoreditch on Willow Street, just off Great Eastern Road, a short walk from Old Street station. WHAT'S IT LIKE? Certainly striking. From the outside, viewed from the small garden at…