Innehållsförteckning för December 2023 / January 2024 från Business Traveller

VIRGIN ATLANTIC IS TO AXE its service to Austin, Texas early next year, blaming a lack of demand among corporates. The carrier began four-times-weekly flights between Heathrow and Austin in May 2022, but has confirmed that the service will end on 7 January, 2024. Several big name tech firms including Apple, Amazon and Tesla have relocated to Austin in recent years, but the sector has experienced significant cutbacks, as Virgin's CCO Juha Jarvinen explained: “We've adored flying our customers to Austin and experiencing this wonderful city of music and culture, but demand in the tech sector is not set to improve in the near term, with corporate demand at 70 per cent of 2019 levels. Therefore, sadly we made the tough decision to withdraw services.” The move will leave British…

THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT has suspended controversial plans to cap flights at Amsterdam Schiphol airport next year. The so-called Experimental Rule would have seen a cap of 460,000 flights imposed at the airport for 2024 (down from around 500,000) in a bid to reduce noise pollution. Earlier this year several airlines including KLM, easyJet, TUI and Delta went to court to challenge the plans, only for the court of appeal to rule in favour of the Dutch authorities. However the cuts meant that several US carriers were denied slots at Schiphol for summer 2024, which led to the threat of retaliation by US authorities, and could have resulted in Dutch flag carrier KLM's slots being affected at US airports. Amsterdam Schiphol has said it is “disappointed”, and claimed that “local residents…

MANCHESTER AIRPORT has reached an important milestone, with its passenger numbers overtaking pre-pandemic levels for the first time in October. The airport served 2.6 million passengers over the month, equivalent to 105 per cent of 2019 levels. Passenger levels were also up 14 per cent on October 2022 and brought the airport's rolling 12-month total to 27.6 million passengers. The airport said that demand had been driven by flights to destinations such as Dubai and an increase in city breaks to places including Amsterdam, Dublin and Paris. Manchester Airports Group's other two airports also performed well, with London Stansted registering its busiest October on record with 2.6 million passengers travelling through the airport. East Midlands airport, meanwhile, served more than 400,000 passengers across the month – a figure which represented…

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL HAS unveiled the first Southeast Asian hotel under its luxury lifestyle brand EDITION. The Singapore EDITION is located off the west end of Singapore's upper Orchard Road, and features architectural design elements including a bronze and glass facade, a domed ceiling in the lobby covered in gold leaf, and a conservatory with a curved glass roof and biophilic green wall. Facilities include 204 rooms and suites, sustainable seafoodfocused steakhouse restaurant FYSH at EDITION, signature bar Punch Room, and a timber-decked garden courtyard which leads into the property's event spaces. The hotel's rooftop features a bar and swimming pool, and there is also a second floor spa with seven treatment rooms, his-and-hers changing suites o&ering sunken vitality thermal pools, an ice fountain, relaxation lounge, sauna and steam room, as…

SHA WELLNESS CLINIC will open its Mexico outpost in January 2024, building on the success of its flagship clinic in Spain, which has seen more than 70,000 people visit in the last 15 years. Located in the state of (uintana Roo in the eastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula, the complex will include 35 residences and 100 oceanfront rooms and suites, each with private balconies. The indoor-outdoor design will incorporate Mexican ceramics, wicker, autochthonous textiles and marble, and minimise environmental impact through natural construction materials and renewable energy sources. Guests can pick between four programmes, ranging from four to 21 days: Rebalance & Reenergize, Detox & Optimal Weight, Well-Ageing & Prevention and Leader's Performance.…

LONDON'S BUSTLING BOROUGH MARKET has welcomed new Thai restaurant Kolae, ideally located for those jumping off at London Bridge for a business meeting fuelled by fiery flavours. Housed in a beautifully restored old coach house, Kolae is split across three floors draped in greenery, with an open fire kitchen, courtyard and private dining room. The restaurant takes its name from a cooking style in southern Thailand where ingredients are coated in a coconut marinade before being grilled over open flames. Waiters are rightly passionate about the menu, and we struggled to limit our order. Don't miss the supremely sticky fried mussel skewers, Southern Gati fish curry, and kale and herb fritters. If you subsequently find yourself in east London, continue your spice journey with a trip to popular sister restaurant…

Are you sitting comfortably? Once upon a time, this summed up airline expectations around premium air travel; a more generously proportioned seat and, if you were lucky, a spot of lunch and a glass of fizz. Fast forward a few decades and, thanks to a combination of innovation and competition, today's carriers are reimagining the concept of flying business class. Several sky-high perks – once the exclusive preserve of first-class passengers – are filtering into the business class cabin. This blurring of boundaries has led many operators to scrap first class altogether, while others have scaled back their top-tier offering to select routes and certain aircraft types. This trend shows no sign of slowing down. Over the following 12 months there are due to be more than a dozen new…

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, UK Opening date: Q1 2024 There will be just 50 rooms at this hotel when it opens on Hanover Square in early 2024. It's set to be one of London's most stylish new hotels, thanks to the input of architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Tokyo-based design studio Curiosity and UK-based Indigo. Amenities will include a spa specialising in treatments from the world's most luxurious skincare brands (along with biohacking-inspired therapies), and the hotel will have the UK's first Akira Back restaurant from the award-winning namesake chef. A fun fact? The bricks used in the hotel's construction are the longest and thinnest in the UK, and were made exclusively for the property. Rates: Deluxe room from £980 mandarinoriental.com/london/mayfair InterContinental Bellevue at The Avenue, Seattle, US Opening…

DESTINATION The summit of Table Mountain emerged as our plane descended into Cape Town, its rugged features and magnificent cloud-reaching stature a rather daunting introduction to the hike scheduled for the following morning. Capetonians in our cabin remarked on the rarity of such a crisp, clear view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is normally cloaked by the ‘tablecloth' – the nickname for the mist and cloud formations that drape over the plateau. Grateful for the clear weather conditions and free from jetlag – Cape Town is only two hours ahead of the UK – we set our alarms for 5.30am to avoid the heat of the day, and readied our stamina for the summit. There are several hiking routes, but the two-hour Platteklip Gorge trail o&ers a scenic…

1 WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL This magnificent structure is the centrepiece of DTLA, its sleek curves and sloping steel facade juxtaposed with the San Gabriel mountains behind. Designed by worldrenowned architect Frank Gehry, the building is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023. If you're more fascinated by architecture than music, opt for the free self-guided tour to explore the features of this architectural marvel – from the acoustic design to the oasis-like Blue Ribbon Garden perched 34 feet above street level. A QR code at the check-in table on the ground floor provides access to an audio guide with 26 chapters narrated by actor John Lithgow alongside contributors such as Gehry and Gustavo Dudamel, music and artistic director of the LA Phil. Signposts…

BACKGROUND Boutique offering Ion City Hotel is one of two Design Hotels members in the Icelandic capital, the other being 101 Hotel next to the Icelandic Opera House. A stylish bolthole in the heart of Reykjavik featuring gunmetal greys and grained woods, it was designed by the Santa Monica-based, Icelandic-run architectural studio Minarc. WHERE IS IT? Situated amid the restaurants, cafes, outdoor stores and Viking-themed giftshops on Laugavegur, Reykjavik's main shopping drag, off Bankastraeti. It's a 45-minute transfer from Keflavik airport on the Flybus coach (£32 single/£58 return). Catching a cab will set you back around ISK14,500-17,400 (£86-103) each way. WHAT'S IT LIKE? Hidden behind an unassuming entrance, the hotel exudes creative minimalism. The lobby sets the scene with a hanging seat padded with a flu!y pelt, a dystopian painting…

LUFTHANSA HAS ANNOUNCED plans to offer free inflight messaging for customers on short- and medium-haul flights. From mid-January 2024 passengers on A320 Family aircraft which have wifi connectivity will be able to send and receive an unlimited number of messages – including photos – on their smartphone or tablet. The only prerequisite for using the new service is logging into FlyNet with a Miles & More card number, or with an email address registered with the Lufthansa Group Travel ID. Those customers without one of these will be able to register inflight. Additionally, Lufthansa said that from mid-January it will reduce the cost of other inflight internet packages including streaming “by almost 50 per cent”, although it did not provide specific details of new prices.…

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL HAS UNVEILED the second Scottish property under its AC Hotels brand. The 245-room AC Hotel Glasgow forms part of the £100 million Love Loan development off the city's George Square, which when complete will also feature bars, restaurants, Scotland's first Soho House private members club, and Cheval Collection's debut of its MY Locanda aparthotel brand. The hotel combines the restored 120-year-old Grade A listed former city Parish Halls with a brand new building designed by Hoskins Architects. It features 22 heritage suites with period features, as well as the brand's signature AC Lounge with a seating area and bar, all-day dining Hazel restaurant, a fitness centre, yoga facilities and a self-service business centre. The property joins the recently opened AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness as the brand's second…

RECENTLY LAUNCHED hospitality management company Kinsfolk & Co has unveiled details of its first property. Earlier this year the group announced plans to open three luxury boutique hotels – two of them in central London and one in an as-yet undisclosed European location. It's now been confirmed that the first London hotel will open in winter 2024 at 50 Newman Street in Fitzrovia. The Newman will feature 81 rooms and suites – some with private balconies – as well as a European brasserie, cocktail bar, a spa with hot and cold experience cabins, an active salt therapy room and a hydrotherapy pool, plus two private event and dining rooms. The hotel is being designed by Pernille Lind Studio and Richy Almond of Lind + Almond interior design, and will include…

ITALIAN AIRLINE SKY ALPS is launching flights from London Stansted to Bolzano in South Tyrol on 13 December, with 60-minute transfers to ski resorts surrounding the Sella Ronda. The service will be operated using the airline's fleet of 76-seater Dash DHC-8-Q400s aircraft, with one-way fares starting from £160. The service will run on Wednesdays and Sundays until 14 April, 2024. “Until now, those visiting South Tyrol have had to take lengthy, two hour-transfers from major airports such as Verona, Milan, Venice or Innsbruck. The new route provides a quick and convenient solution for reaching the Dolomites, allowing travellers to maximise their time on the slopes,” explains SkyAlps president, Josef Gostner.…

EASYJET HAS COMPLETED a multi-million-pound fuel-saving tech installation on its entire fleet. All easyJet aircraft are now operating with Airbus' Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO) and Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) software, which significantly reduces carbon emissions and fuel costs by enabling “more efficient descents”. DPO updates the Flight Management System and allows the aircraft to remain in the cruise phase longer, which reduces carbon emissions. CDA, meanwhile, works in tandem with DPO to minimise noise, which is key considering the enforcement of tighter noise regulations. According to the low-cost carrier, the fleetwide investment enables it to make a permanent fuel saving of up to 1 per cent or 88,600 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually – equivalent to driving a car around the world 16,100 times. These figures are based on…

MUNICH AIRPORT HAS has announced a target of reaching net zero by 2035, 15 years earlier than previously planned. The target involves reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions – those the airport can directly influence – by a minimum of 90 per cent. The airport said measures were planned in four areas: Energy supply; airporttechnical facilities; construction; and mobility. The remaining ten per cent of emissions will be removed from the atmosphere through measures including turning a commercial forest into a ‘climate forest' and enabling “carbon dioxide to be removed from the atmosphere and subsequently captured for the long term when the timber is used in construction or furniture”. The airport also recently signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus and Lufthansa for “a broad-based research collaboration on Power-to-Liquid (PtL)…

SWISS Switzerland's flag carrier is eyeing a 2025 launch for its new business class cabin. The revamp coincides with the expected delivery of its first A350-900s, with five due to join the fleet before the end of 2026. As a Lufthansa Group airline, the multi-faceted Allegris platform is the basis for the upgrade but look out for distinctly Swiss twists when it comes to furnishings and the soft product. swiss.com QANTAS Antipodean aviators should also count 2025 as a year to watch. Qantas is due to unveil its new business class suites to mark the launch of nonstop flights linking Sydney with London and New York. A dozen of the carrier's specially modified Project Sunrise A350-1000s will ply the ultra long-haul routes, which can carry up to 52 business class…

DESTINATION Anotification from my pedometer flashed up on my phone, congratulating me on completing more flights of steps in the last two days than in the past month. The tech was largely redundant in this case, with my aching thighs proof of the fact I'd been marching up and down Edinburgh's dramatic topography. Thankfully I was visiting between peak seasons, avoiding the crowds that come for Edinburgh's internationally renowned summer festivals, and who brave the icy weather for raucous Hogmanay parties. But VisitScotland, the country's national marketing organisation, is keen to make Edinburgh a year-round destination, spreading its appeal beyond fairytale winters and lively summers. “In years gone by there was quite a gulf between February and August, but we want visitors to have a high-quality experience throughout the year,”…

BACKGROUND Air France launched its new long-haul business class product on its Boeing 777-300ER in early 2023, featuring the “three F's” – fully flat, full aisle access, and full privacy. The retrofit is being extended to all 12 of the airline's long-haul 777-300 fleet, plus the A350-900s, with routes served including New York JFK, Rio de Janeiro, Dakar, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai. The carrier will also launch a new La Première (first class) product next year. CHECK- IN I arrived at JFK Terminal 1 at 1420 for the 1730 flight AF15 to Paris. The check-in counters were directly in front of the entrance and there was a short queue in both SkyPriority and normal counters. We used a private expedited security lane (open 9am-10pm, US$35, reserve via flyvipone.com) and…

BACKGROUND This property first opened its doors in late 2021 – unfortunate timing for the long-awaited addition to Bangkok's luxury hotel landscape. Since then, however, its popularity has skyrocketed. This marks the fourth hotel for the group in Thailand; its portfolio includes a resort in Koh Samui, a tranquil escape in Chiang Mai and the Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai. It's also a homecoming of sorts for the brand after the former Four Seasons Bangkok was rebranded as the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel and Spa in 2015. WHERE IS IT? Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the hotel is housed within the Chao Phraya Estate, a luxury mixed-use development that's also home to the 73-storey Four Seasons Private Residences and Capella Bangkok. The 5.6-hectare site…

UP FRONT BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS OPENED a new Club check-in area at Zone A/B towards the north end of Heathrow T5, replacing the previous facility at Zones H/G. The new area is located close to the entrance of the terminal building from the London Underground and Heathrow Express, and is available to Club Europe and Club World customers, as well as Silver and Bronze Executive Club members (and the equivalent oneworld Sapphire and Ruby status levels). Announcing the move, BA said that “both self-service bag drop and customers service desks are still available, and the nearest security fast-track is North security, which also o&ers a larger space”.…

UP FRONT GATWICK AIRPORT HAS UNVEILED its upgraded station facilities, with the £250 million project including the creation of a second concourse and airport entrance, with eight new escalators, five new lifts, four new stairways and widened platforms. The existing station concourse has also been expanded, with new customer information systems, more ticket gates, and a dedicated passenger assistance point. The new concourse now acts as the entrance for people accessing the airport terminal, with the existing concourse being used for those exiting. Gatwick is also undergoing a multi-million-pound revamp of its North Terminal, including a modernised departure lounge with “contemporary seating” with power points, local artwork, and improved wayfinding.…

PLAZA PREMIUM HAS OPENED a new lounge at Denver International airport, partnering with Capital One. Located on Concourse A near gate A34 and open daily from 0500 to 2100, the facility features shower suites, a full service bar, private workspaces, dine-in and grab-and-go food options, a family room and a relaxation room with EnergyPod nap chair. It's the third Capital One airport lounge, joining locations at Dallas Fort Worth and Washington Dulles, with access for Venture X, Venture, Spark Miles and Venture X Business cardholders. Entry is also available on a paid-for basis for US$65.…

SINGAPORE CHANGI airport is offering free bike hire for two hours to passengers with a layover in Singapore. Travellers can explore attractions in the vicinity, including the Jurassic Mile and nearby beaches along Singapore's East Coast, and can pay to extend the bike hire should they wish to venture further afield. Changi airport has provided four different routes, lasting from two to six hours, and the bicycle return point at the airport features pay-per-use shower facilities and an al fresco cafe and bar, so you can feel refreshed before your onward journey. Advance booking is available at changi.me/free-bicycle and on the Changi app. Bike hire takes place at the GoCycling bicycle rental facility at Hub & Spoke (located next to Terminal 2). Note that passengers must have at least 5.5…

THE 25HOURS HOTELS BRAND has partnered with Zurich-based firm Soeder to stock eco-friendly toiletries in its 15 hotels around the world. Soeder produces organic skin products, with all components sourced, developed and produced on-site in Soeder's factory in Zurich, while the energy generated during the soap-making process is harnessed to power the rest of the production line. The refillable glass bottles will also be available to purchase in the 25hours shops. Additionally, Soeder has installed refill stations in the majority of the brand's lobbies and shops, enabling locals to refill their bottles at the hotels.…

DOMESTIC: SPIES, LIES AND DECEPTION, LONDON, UNTIL 14 APRIL, 2024 The Imperial War Museum is hosting a free exhibition dedicated to espionage, with stories from the First World War right up to the recent Salisbury poisonings and present day mysteries. The exhibition showcases over 150 objects, including gadgets, oficial documents, and newly digitised film and photography – the image here shows women making papier-mâché dummy heads in France, which were used in the trenches to draw enemy fire and locate enemy snipers during the First World War. iwm.org.uk SHORT-HAUL: TECHNOCOOL - NEW TRENDS IN HUNGARIAN ART IN THE NINETIES (1989-2001), BUDAPEST, UNTIL 11 FEBRUARY, 2024 The Hungarian National Gallery explores the generation of artists who kicked off their careers in the 1990s and saw art as a form of self-expression,…

TRENDS Meaningful journeys “Psychographics” – the study of traits such as values, goals and lifestyle choices – will increasingly inform the curation of meaningful journeys and is set to take the lead in luxury travel, according to a recent forecast from Globetrender, commissioned by luxury tour operator cazenove+loyd. Within this will be a rise in social and environmentally responsible travel experiences. Example itineraries include indigenous experiences where travellers can immerse themselves in remote cultures with local tribes, such as in Papua New Guinea. Those looking to understand their own heritage may embark on ‘DNA pilgrimages’, to learn more about who they are or their ancestry. One itinerary on offer features a visit to Nepal to retrace the steps of a family member who served in the Royal Gurkha Rifles. “Pioneering…

FOOD AND DRINK When it comes to celebration and indulgence, there is perhaps no drink that embodies luxury quite like Champagne. Every pop of the cork signi!es joy, every sip a toast to life's grandest achievements, its finest moments, and love's milestones. But what makes Champagne so special? Is the answer in the bubbles? The complexity of the terroir? The historical associations with decadence? I travelled to the region to discover the secrets behind what makes a great Champagne. Champagne can only be called as such if it's been grown and produced in the namesake region – it has a unique terroir, with chalky soil and a temperate climate that create the perfect conditions for growing Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Meunier grapes. But not all Champagnes are the same. There…

BACKGROUND This property marked the European debut for Virgin Hotels when it opened in June 2022, and was followed by a Glasgow property in August 2023. Virgin Red and Virgin Hotels' The Know members can link their profiles to earn Virgin Points when booking a stay. WHERE IS IT? In Edinburgh's Old Town within the city's landmark India Buildings on Victoria Street. There's also a separate entrance on Cowgate via the all-day dining space Eve. Transport options include the Edinburgh tram stop at Princes Street, which takes you to the airport, or a 15-minute walk uphill via North Bridge and the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Waverley railway station. WHAT'S IT LIKE? While the bright red Virgin branding at the doorway stands out on the bend of Victoria Street, the rest…

Route networks have been bouncing back fiercely in the past year, with flight statistics across the board approaching pre-Covid levels. Here we look at some of the new routes launching in 2024. AIR CANADA: STOCKHOLM Air Canada will launch two seasonal routes to Stockholm in June 2024, with three weekly flights from Montreal and a twice-weekly service from Toronto. Both routes will be served by three-class Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. There are currently no other airlines flying between Montreal and Stockholm, while the Toronto-Stockholm route is also served by SAS. QANTAS: PARIS Oneworld member Qantas is adding another direct service between Australia and Europe with the launch of a new route between Perth and Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. From 12 July, 2024, the 17-hour Perth-Paris…