Innehållsförteckning för November 2022 från Business Traveller

MARRIOTT HAS OUTLINED PLANS to bring its US-focused Fairfield brand to Europe and the Middle East for the first time. The select-service Fairfield offering is the group's second largest brand with more than 1,230 hotels, but it remains relatively unknown in Europe. Fairfield hotels are set to open in Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland and France, as well as Saudi Arabia. The first hotels to open in Europe will be the 175-room Fairfield by Marriott Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and the 234-room Fairfield by Marriott Copenhagen North Harbour, both of which are expected to open in the third quarter of 2023.…

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES HAS ANNOUNCED plans to expand the number of economy and premium economy seats on its B777 aircraft. Work will be carried out from early next year to add 16 additional premium economy seats, increasing capacity from 24 to 40 seats. The aircraft's economy cabin will also be expanded, with the addition of 14 seats. Expected to be completed by May 2023, it will boost total capacity across Austrians fleet of six B777s by 144 seats. To accommodate the additional seating, Austrian has confirmed that it will remove a row of business class seats. Austrian said premium economy class “has become a product highlight which enjoys increasing popularity among both leisure and business travellers”.…

LONDON CITY AIRPORT HAS OUTLINED plans for a £12 million upgrade of its departure areas, including more seating and expanded toilet facilities. The works are being funded by LCY alongside airport catering and retail operator SSP, Lagardère Travel Retail and WHSmith, and will be unveiled in phases, with existing F&B and retail units remaining open. Once completed the lounge will offer 30 per cent more seating - a total of 950 - new and upgraded food and drink outlets, and a larger area in front of a new 200 sqm flagship WHSmith store.…

UPFRONT AMERICAN AIRLINES WILL DEBUT new business class and premium economy cabins on all A321 XLR and B787-9 deliveries from 2024. The business class product, known as the Flagship Suite, will comprise suites with fully-flat seats, a privacy door, direct aisle access, a lounge seating option and more personal storage space. There will be 51 of these seats in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration on the B787-9 aircraft, and 20 suites in a 1-1 herringbone configuration on the A321 XLR aircraft. Additionally, AA will retrofit its B777-300ER fleet to include the Flagship Suite seats, with the process set to begin in late 2024. American will also install a new premium economy onboard its aircraft, with 32 seats on the B787-9 and 12 on the A321 XLR.…

FRENCH FAMILY-RUN GROUP Barrière has opened its first hotel in the US, with an address in New York's Tribeca neighbourhood. Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York is located at 456 Greenwich Street and features Art Deco-inspired interiors by Martin Brudnizki which blend “the modern industrialism of Tribeca and the elegant classism of Paris”. The hotel has 97 luxurious guest rooms and suites, featuring quilted headboards, European-style chandeliers and Toile de Jouy wallpaper designed by Schumacher Hospitality. Dining venues include an outpost of the wellknown French brasserie Fouquet's, vegetarian cafè/restaurant Par Ici and intimate bar, Titsou. The hotel also has a spa with treatments by French brand Biologique Recherche, a fitness centre by gym brand Dogpound, and a deluxe inhouse movie theatre in the basement, which can be privatised.…

UPFRONT SUSTAINABLE TRAVELLER RADISSON HOTEL GROUP HAS expanded its electric car charging network with its first Ultra-fast Electric Charging Hub in Frankfurt. It takes around 20 minutes to charge a car. The hotel group has more than 220 hotel locations with a total of 510 EV chargers across Europe in partnership with Allego, a provider of EV charging solutions. In India, Radisson has partnered with Sunfuel to install EV chargers in its portfolio of more than 100 hotels. Inge Huijbrechts, global senior vice-president, sustainability, security and corporate communications for Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We can help drive the e-mobility movement forward by providing automotive brands with everything they need for sustainable events, starting with the right EV charging solution for each location.”…

UPFRONT SUSTAINABLE TRAVELLER THE IBEROSTAR GROUP is using artificial intelligence (AI) in more than 100 hotels to reduce food waste. The group's goal is to reduce food waste by 50 per cent in the first year using the Winnow technology system. The technology aims to stop the waste of 1,600 tonnes of food per year, equating to five million meals, which represents some 8,000 tons of CO2. Kitchen staff, trained to work with the Winnow technology, use a tablet to identify surplus food. It sends a message to the chef indicating the cost, weight and quantity of food discarded. The data is uploaded to a cloud, where the food waste from each day is recorded and analysed. Using daily, weekly, and monthly reports, Iberostar kitchens are able to promote improvements…

DANISH AUDIO BRAND Bang and Olufsen has designed a new headset for hybrid workers. The Beocom Portal (£459) includes a wireless dongle to enable improved connectivity, with the headset certified for Zoom compatibility. Beamforming microphones isolate and amplify the voice of the user while excluding background noise. The headset has memory foam ear cushions, and the headband features a high-quality textile chosen for its durability and breathability, as well as padding to relieve pressure. The lightweight Scandi design makes it a comfortable option if you're on calls all day.…

Back in January 2021 the UK was in the grips of a third national Covid-19 lockdown, along with stay-at-home orders and the controversial introduction of hotel quarantine for travellers arriving from red list countries. Fast forward to November 2022 and Covid-19 restrictions have long since been removed, but the last two years have taken its toll on Londons hotel industry, with several properties being forced to close, others changing hands, and many new projects having been delayed. Nonetheless, the UK capital remains one of the worlds most visited cities, and this round-up includes more than 30 hotels which have opened since April 2021 (when restrictions started to lift). Adagio London Stratford The sixth London property under Accor's joint venture with the Pierre and Vacances Center Parcs group opened in April…

CTNEMANIA, NOVEMBER 2-13 Francophone films are on show across the city's screens in the 28th edition of this cinematic festival, but fret not, there are English subtitles. The event includes films across a range of genres, including a preview of the France/Québec co-production L'Origine du mal, plus masterclasses and special events. MTLÀTABLE, NOVEMBER 3-13 Montréal's famous restaurant week celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, with an 11-day celebration of its gastronomy across 100 participating restaurants - from French and Indian to Japanese cuisine. Each venue will offer a three- or four-course set-price evening menu, with prices from CAD$35 to CAD$75. SEEING LOUD: BASQUIAT AND MUSIC, UNTIL FEBRUARY 19, 2023 The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts hosts the first large-scale multimedia exhibition dedicated to the role of music in the work…

BACKGROUND The Sheraton brand has been in Tel Aviv since 1961. The original hotel was about a mile north of the current one, which was built in 1977 and has had several renovations in the intervening years, with the most recent being completed this year. WHERE IS IT? On the beachfront overlooking Shlomo Lahat Promenade. Ben Gurion airport is around a 30-minute drive away (traffic permitting). WHAT'S IT LIKE? From the outside the hotel is a fairly anonymous rectangular tower, but the lobby opens up to an atriumlike space with a branded café (&more by Sheraton) serving Illy coffee as well as alcohol. The interiors are by HBA design. To the left is the concierge desk and reception, while to the right is the new Sheraton lobby with its long…

JEREMY TREDINNICK Jeremy recently returned to his UK homeland after 27 years living and working in Hong Kong, but remains a consulting editor on Business Traveller Asia-Pacific. After more than 30 years as a travel journalist and editor, including dozens of visits to Thailand, he returned to Bangkok with EVA Air. See his verdict on the Royal Laurel Class cabin on page 74. MARK CASWELL Business Traveller's online editor Mark has covered aviation and hospitality for more than 15 years. In this issue he explores the hotel scene in London, following the challenges of the pandemic, and provides a promising round-up of new openings - including the debuts of the Pan Pacific and Westin brands. Turn to page 48. LINDSEY GALLOWAY Lindsey is an American journalist covering the intersection of…

DELTA HAS ANNOUNCED a raft of new and resumed transatlantic routes for summer 2023, including the launch of flights from New York JFK to London Gatwick and Geneva. The US carrier will add a seasonal daily service between Gatwick and JFK from April 10, 2023; a route it has not operated since 2008. It will be the airline's first flights to Gatwick since 2012, when it switched its Atlanta-Gatwick service to Heathrow. Delta will join an increasingly crowded field on the Gatwick-JFK route, including British Airways, Jetblue (which launched its flights in September 2021), and new entrant Norse Atlantic Airways, which commenced flights from Gatwick in August. Delta will also launch flights from New York JFK to Geneva on April 10, 2023 - the first time it has flown the…

UPFRONT AER LINGUS HAS ANNOUNCED plans for a new transatlantic route to the US city of Cleveland. The four-times-weekly service will launch on May 19, 2023, and at present will be the only nonstop route between Europe and the Ohio city. Flights will be operated by the carrier s A321 LR aircraft, with fares starting from £249 each way. Aer Lingus has also confirmed plans to resume flights to Hartford, Connecticut, for summer 2023. The Irish carrier first launched flights between Dublin and Bradley International airport in 2016, but the route was suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A daily service will resume on March 26, 2023, and initially run until the end of October. Flights will be operated by Aer Lingus' A321 LR aircraft, with fares…

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP Transport and Environment has published new research which shows that airline offset schemes are ‘greenwashing'. The campaign group assessed offsets offered through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO - the UN body tasked with cutting global aircraft emissions. The offsets add, on average, just €2.40 to the price of a one-way, long-haul flight, according the research. The campaign group instead proposes using a ‘polluter pays' principle to incentivise airlines to reduce their carbon footprint. The EU has implemented such a mechanism with the carbon market for aviation (EU ETS), whereby airlines pay for their emissions, but only intra-EEA flights are currendy covered by the EU ETS. The airline can then decide if part or all of this cost is passed on to passengers. The study showed that if…

BUSINESS TRAVELLER has teamed up with Adagio to offer one lucky reader and guest the chance to experience the new Adagio Glasgow Central property, which opens at the end of the year. The aparthotel is within five minutes' walk of Glasgow Central station and St Enoch's underground station. The property has 162 fully furnished apartments with kitchens, a gym, laundry room and a guest library. For full terms and conditions and to enter visit, businesstraveller.com/competitions MUSICAL SCENTS WHO KNEW THAT THE lead singer of Icelandic band Sigur Ros also has a passion for perfumery? Jonsi Birgisson, his sisters Lilja, Inga and Rosa and their partners Sindri and Kjartan, are behind the family-run business Fischersund, which sells fragrances featuring Iceland's wild herbs and oils. The Discovery Set is ideal for frequent…

Welcome to our round-up of the long-haul business class seats currently available on European airlines. Last issue we looked at premium economy seats - see Business Traveller, October 2022. This is the first part of a series on business class seats - so Asian carriers, Middle East, as well as US, will be forthcoming. Here we are focusing on the seats available rather than service elements, such as food and drink, inflight entertainment, amenity products and whether there is wifi available onboard. In part this is because these elements change frequently, and often depend on the length of the flight sector, and also for reasons of brevity. If you visit businesstraveller.com you will find numerous reviews of most of the airlines here, and those aspects are discussed and assessed. The…

1 SKOLAVORDUSTIGUR STREET The pedestrianised shopping area is a prime spot for photo opportunities. The street was initially painted in the colours of the rainbow to mark the 17 th edition of Reykjavik Pride in 2015, but has since become a permanent fixture and unsurprisingly been dubbed Rainbow Road thankfully easier to pronounce than its real name. Iceland is considered one of the world's most LGBTQ+ friendly countries, with its annual Pride parade drawing in tens of thousands of people. On either side of the rainbow are artisan shops, which include ceramic galleries, record shop 12 Tonar, which also hosts concerts and events at its in-store bar and café, one of the oldest coffee shops in Reykjavik, Mokka, and a former prison - the grey-stone building Hegningarhusio (‘the penalty house').…

BACKGROUND The Waldorf Astoria opened in 2014. It was a completely new hotel at that date, although it is behind the fagade of the former Palace Hotel, which opened in 1929 and closed in 1935. The Palace Hotel had just three storeys, while this one has a larger block behind it which is nine storeys high, and with three storeys beneath, including one for parking. In a passageway on one of the subterranean levels you can see some 'before and after' pictures to appreciate the extent of the rebuilding. Across the road is another building with 30 Waldorf Astoria residences. WHERE IS IT? On the corner of Gershon Agron and Ben Shim'on streets near Malmilla shopping mall, which gives access to Jaffa Gate and the Old City. It is a…

Airports are busy, airlines are advising arriving early and some lounges have yet to reopen, Here is our round-up of the current situation with lounges at Gatwick North Terminal. One bit of advice - if lounge access is important to you, book in advance. Don't leave it to luck on the day or rely on membership of a programme. If the lounges are busy, they will not accept your Priority pass card, for instance. We will provide an update on lounges in Gatwick airport's South Terminal in the December/January issue of Business Traveller. NO1 LOUNGE NORTH TERMINAL Where is it? Airside. Once through security follow the signs to Airport Lounges. Once through the glass double doors, the lounge is directly in front of you. Who can use it? Paid access…

UPFRONT LUFTHANSA HAS UNVEILED its new 'Allegris' long-haul concept, which will see the carrier offer suites with closing doors in both first and business class for the first time. The first class product will feature “nearly ceiling-high walls that can be closed for privacy”, as well as a lm-wide seat, a personal wardrobe, and the option of sharing a meal with a guest, thanks to a large dining table and second seat. In business class, there will also be a suite option with sliding doors in the front row of the cabin, along with a monitor up to 27 inches and storage space including a personal wardrobe. There will be a further six seating options in the business class cabin - details will be confirmed next year, but all will…

UPFRONT UNITED AIRLINES PLANS to boost its transatlantic schedule next summer, following recent “historic levels of demand” for travel to Europe. The carrier will launch a second daily summer seasonal flight between Los Angeles and Heathrow in March 2023, meaning it will offer a total of 23 daily flights between London and the US next summer, all of which will feature United's Polaris and Premium Plus seating. United will also become the only US airline to offer nonstop flights from the US to Dubai, with a daily service departing Newark starting in March next year. This will be followed by a three-times-weekly route from Newark to Malaga in May 2023. United has also announced plans to return to Stockholm - the airline previously served the Swedish city from 2005 to…

UPFRONT NH HOTEL GROUP has opened the eighth property under its lifestyle Nhow brand, located on Brusseler Strasse in Frankfurt's western banking district. The 375-room Nhow Frankfurt occupies 14 floors of the 47-floor, mixed-use One Tower, and features Kantine restaurant, Rich Barista cafe, Gold Bar, spa facilities, a VIP Insider Lounge and 18 meeting rooms. NFT Skybar and Restaurant will open soon and will be Germany's highest rooftop bar. Interior design is by Spanish studio Rafael de La-Hoz, inspired by the motto ‘The Art of Money'. Design elements include a golden staircase in the entrance lobby. Nhow Frankfurt joins the existing Nhow Berlin, as well as six other hotels under the brand in Amsterdam, London, Milan, Rotterdam, Marseille and Brussels.…

SKYTEAM HAS CONFIRMED Virgin Atlantic will join its alliance next year, further cementing the carrier's partnership with existing members Delta and Air France-KLM. An exact joining date has yet to be announced, but Skyteam's chief executive Kristin Colvile, said, “Day 1 will be early January 2023.” Virgin Atlantic will be the first UK airline within the Skyteam alliance, which currently consists of 18 full members. Virgin Atlantic Silver cardholders will benefit from Skyteam Elite privileges, while the carrier's Gold cardholders will become Elite Plus members. Skyteam said that it was “working closely with Virgin Adantic” regarding access to both the carrier's Clubhouses and Upper Class Wing at Heathrow. Delta, Air France and KLM are already co-located with Virgin at Heathrow T3, and the carrier flies to 12 destinations in the…

THE ELLINIKON IS GREECE'S largest-ever development project. The site of the former Ellinikon International Airport, which was decommissioned in 2001, has been vacant since it housed temporary facilities during the 2004 Olympic Games. Lamda Development, along with an international team consisting of design firm Sasaki, Arup, Doxiadis, Atelier 10, Fluidity and Langan, is working on the €8 billion project which will reuse 28,720 sqm of the existing airport runways and create a 243-hectare coastal park at its centre. Master landscape architect Sasaki is designing both the Metropolitan Park and Coastal Front spaces. The park will include more than 86 tree species, as well as one million plants, 70 per cent of which are native to the region. The park will be connected to the retail district and other areas of…

EASYJET WILL DROP automatic offsetting of its flights at the end of 2022. The airline started offsetting flights in 2019 and says that up to June 2022, it has offset some 8.7 million tonnes of emissions. Easyjet's decarbonisation scheme has been validated by the ScienceBased Targets Initiative (SBTi). SBTi asks airlines to decarbonise within their own operation and does not take into account the use of out-of-sector carbon offsetting, or other market-based mechanisms, such as the EU Emissions Trading System or Corsia. As a result, the airline says it will “transition its investment from out-of-sector carbon offsetting, which it has always been clear is a short-term measure, into supporting and facilitating the individual elements of its roadmap to make net-zero a reality, as demonstrated by the investments undertaken to-date.” The…

READER EVENT Familiar faces and newcomers gathered at the exclusive Haberdashers' Hall in Londons Farringdon on an autumnal evening in September for a wine tasting and pairing dinner in association with Singapore Airlines. Following two-and-a-half years of suspended events, it was great to welcome readers back with a selection of Singapore Airlines' fine wines, many of which were winners of Business Traveller's prestigious 2021 Cellars in the Sky awards. Customers travelling with Singapore Airlines enjoy wines from the very best vineyards, with blind tasting by the carrier's three wine consultants: Jeannie Cho Lee, Michael Hill Smith and Oz Clarke. The airline's cabin crew are also taught the essentials of wine appreciation during their training, with some progressing to become Singapore Airlines' Air Sommeliers. The evening kicked off with a networking…

DESTINATION A sea of blue and white flags wave in time to the beat at the Place des Festivals in Montréal. While it was my first evening in the city, it would be far too vain to assume that the welcome party was designed for me. My visit coincided with the start of La Fête nationale on June 23, Québec's national holiday, observed across the city with parades, bonfires, fireworks and street parties. My trip to Québec's largest city had been long overdue; initially booked and planned for May 2020 and cancelled due to the ensuing pandemic. What followed were some of the strictest Covid-19 restrictions in North America, with a state of emergency renewed more than 100 times over the course of the pandemic. The Québec government officially lilted…

BACKGROUND EVA Air has installed three different configurations on its B777-300ER aeroplanes, Both Royal Laurel Class and the premium economy seat products were introduced across these aircraft between 2014 and 2016, and the B777-300ER with the newest seats is most commonly used on the London route. CHECK-IN I arrived early at London Heathrow Terminal 2. Check-in took only a few minutes at the A1 priority desk, getting through security took ten minutes via the fast-track lane, and I was quickly in departure area A. THE LOUNGE EVA Air Royal Laurel Class passengers can use any of three lounges: Singapore Airlines, Air Canada or Lufthansa. I chose the latter as I was warned the others might be busy (though of course they are much closer to the departure gate which was…

BACKGROUND Fraser Suites is an extended-stay brand from Singapore-based serviced apartment and residence company Frasers Hospitality, which comprises five-star properties in more than 70 cities, including Singapore, London and Sydney. This Paris property opened in 2006 and occupies the Le Claridge building, built in 1914. Renovations began in August and will be completed in January. WHERE IS IT? On the Champs-Elysées in the city's 8th arrondissement, on a section close to the Arc de Triomphe. There are four metro stations within a ten-minute walk, and it is within walking distance of the Place de la Concorde and Tuileries Garden. WHAT'S IT LIKE? The renovations meant that, at the time of my visit, I was unable to appreciate the Belle Epoque façade, which was wrapped in film. The welcoming doormen, however,…