Business Traveler articles from February 2001

Business Traveler archives from February 2001

Editor's letter.
February 1, 2001... EXPERTS WARN that business travelers could be prime targets for high-class swindlers. Mubarak Dahir follows the exploits of seven of the world's most wanted fugitives, the smartest criminals who can make you trust and like them as part of the...

Open door policy. (Letter Of The Month).
February 1, 2001... AFTER FLYING AROUND EUROPE this fall, I have to ask if European carriers have any regulations regarding "cockpit security." One case in point: KLM from Amsterdam to Zurich featured an open cockpit door for the first 30 minutes of the flight....

Roman ruins. (Letter Of The Month).
February 1, 2001... AFTER READING THE PUBLICITY about the new Forte deluxe Hotel de Russie in Rome, including a list of celebrities who have stayed there (Cruise, Spielberg, Deneuve and on and on), I decided to try it--I usually stay at the Eden or Hassler. I...

The La Guardian knot. (Airports).(reducing congestion at La Guardia Airport, New York, New York)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... NEW YORK'S La Guardia Airport is known to aviation insiders and consumers alike as one of the most delayed airports in the country. By the close of 2000, delays had been up 41 percent over 1999 and accounted for over 20 percent of delays...

Acela: finally up to speed. (Rail).(high-speed train service by Amtrak)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... IT TOOK A LONG TIME for this train to come in. Amtrak's much-anticipated and plague-delayed high-speed Acela train has finally pulled into the station. On October 17, Amtrak's Acela Express hurtled down its custom-made tracks from Boston to...

La dolce vita. (Hotels).(St. Regis Grand opens in Rome, Italy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... IF YOU'VE ALWAYS IMAGINED YOURSELF as a film star wading in an Italian fountain at midnight, you'll be glad to know that the St. Regis Grand has reopened in Rome. The 106-year-old Le Grand Hotel is now the St. Regis Grand, but maintains all the...

Luxury time. (Hotels).(Time Hotel, New York, New York)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... SAVVY BUSINESS TRAVELERS KNOW that "boutique hotel" is a buzzword that has lost its edge. Yes, the amenities are nice and the thread count on the sheets is high, but to quote Peggy Lee, "Is that all there is?" Not anymore. More and more...

Thai Airways. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THAI AIRWAYS is offering their frequent flyers, Royal Orchid Plus members, bonus miles for travel from January 15, 2001 through March 15, 2001. Business-class travelers will receive 250 percent of their miles flown, and first-class travelers...

The Mercosur Airpass. (Airline Deals).(flight pass offered by South American airlines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THE MERCOSUR AIRPASS is a multi-coupon fare for travel within Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. This fare is offered jointly by several airlines including Varig, Aerolineas Argentinas, Lan Chile, Vasp Airlines, Transbrazil, Rio...

Virgin Atlantic Airways. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS together with AARP is offering AARP members discounts of either 20 percent or 25 percent, depending on their date of travel. The 25-percent discount applies from December 25, 2000 to March 31, 2001. The 20-percent...

Tokyo Rose. (Hotels).(Hotel Sofitel in Tokyo, Japan remodeled)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THE FRENCH HAVE ALWAYS HAD A YEN FOR ASIA. Now the famed Parisian-based hotel designer, Pierre Yves Rochon, has planted a French flag in Japan through his complete renovation of the Sofitel, Tokyo. Rochon is best known for his stylish...

Air Access. (Airlines).(foreign airlines must comply with Air Carrier Access Act)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation has put foreign airlines servicing the United States on notice. They are now subject to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which protects airline passengers with disabilities. The legislation was enacted in...

The Regent Sydney Hotel, which played host to the International Olympic Committee last September, is offering one free night for every three nights' stay until April 30. (Australia).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Regent Sydney Hotel, which played host to the International Olympic Committee last September, is offering one free night for every three nights' stay until April 30. Rates for this offer start at $240 a night for any guest mentioning the...

The Maxwell Hotel in San Francisco is catering to shoppers until March 1. (United States).(San Francisco, California)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Maxwell Hotel in San Francisco is catering to shoppers until March 1. A Deluxe Room is $139 a night, and a Junior Suite is $169. In addition, guests will receive numerous shopping-related perks (including coupons to local stores and free...

Take advantage of Saddlebrook Tampa Resort's Golf and Spa packages until May 10th. (United States).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Take advantage of Saddlebrook Tampa Resort's Golf and Spa packages until May 10th. A sample package includes daily complimentary breakfast, 18 holes of golf and spa admittance, starting at $217 a night. Call 800-729-8383.

The Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver is offering slashed rates and special accommodations until April 30. (Canada).(Vancouver, British Columbia)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver is offering slashed rates and special accommodations until April 30. A deluxe room is $119 a night and includes perks such as golf, spa services and dining (packages vary). Call 604-682-5511.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is offering special rates on the Hotel Raphael and Hotel Lancaster, both in Paris. (Europe).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is offering special rates on the Hotel Raphael and Hotel Lancaster, both in Paris. One night is reduced to $327, which is almost 25 percent off the regular rate. Call 800-223-6800 and ask for LOFF05.

Guests booking U.S. dollar rates before March 31 at the Athenaeum in London can take advantage of special reduced rates. (Europe).(hotel rate)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Guests booking U.S. dollar rates before March 31 at the Athenaeum in London can take advantage of special reduced rates. Prices range from a Standard Room at $265 to a Deluxe Town House at $675 a night. Visit www.athenaeumhotel.com or call...

Spend the night at Palazzo Arzaga in Lake Garda, Italy for $434 and receive a complimentary dinner, local wines, massage in the spa, full use of the spa facilities and other such accommodations free of charge. (Europe).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Spend the night at Palazzo Arzaga in Lake Garda, Italy for $434 and receive a complimentary dinner, local wines, massage in the spa, full use of the spa facilities and other such accommodations free of charge. This offer is valid until February...

The deluxe five-star Tanjong Jara Resort in Malaysia will match every night's stay with a free night until March 31. (Pacific Rim).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The deluxe five-star Tanjong Jara Resort in Malaysia will match every night's stay with a free night until March 31. Rates vary from $200 to $269. Call 877-757-5288 for reservations.

Sky highs. (Airlines).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... VIRGIN ATLANTIC'S new $100 million "Upper Class Service" is finally off the ground. Branson and Co. want to soften stiff upper lips of business traveling passengers around the world with cushy new services like in-flight beauty salons,...

Pole vaulting. (Airlines).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... IF YOU BLANCH WHENEVER a flight takes you over the snowy wastes of Greenland, brace yourself. You might be peering down at the North Pole on your next international jaunt. NavCanada, Canada's privatized civil air navigation service, and the...

Camelot, Inc. (Hotels).(Amberley is a 900-year-old castle that offers executive accomodations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... EXECUTIVES CONCERNED with security during business retreats might consider an old-fashioned remedy--a portcullis. Amberley, a 900-year-old privately owned and managed castle in West Sussex, offers "safe and secure" accommodations and meeting...

Dying to fly. (Health/Airlines).
February 1, 2001... BUSINESS TRAVELERS flying coach to Asia and other long hauls may expect some discomfort and stress but may not be aware that flying economy can be fatal. In October, a 28-year-old British bride-to-be collapsed after getting off a 12,000-mile...

Delta is ready, is JFK? (Airports).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... DELTA HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS to embark on a $1.6 billion terminal expansion and redevelopment project at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. Upon approval by the Port Authority of New York, construction will begin in June 2001 with projected...

Not so far away. (Reader Offer).("The Business Traveling Parent: How to Stay Close to Your Kids When You're Far Away")(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... CAREERS THAT DEMAND an extensive amount of travel can strain relationships between parents and children. A book by business traveler, and first-time author Dan Verdick, The Business Traveling Parent: How to Stay Close to Your Kids When You're...

Hotspots.
February 1, 2001... FEBRUARY 2001 5 : Pakistan Annual day of solidarity with Kashmiris campaigning for secession from India: business shutdowns likely. 11-19 : China Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) I and related...

New York. (Top Of The Town).
February 1, 2001... The Rocky Horror Show Circle in the Square, 1633 Broadway tel. 212-239-6200 The cult-classic movie that put Transylvania on the map has touched down on Broadway. A powerhouse cast, eclectic costumes and audience involvement bring the...

Green party. (Hotels).(The Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai, China)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... IF SIPPING a Singapore Sling in the midst of lush green foliage and waterfalls sounds like an ideal way to unwind after a hectic morning business meeting in Asia, then the Shangri-La's recently refurbished Garden Wing has your number. Located...

A byte with lunch in Boston. (Hotels).(The Colonnade Hotel offers high speed Ethernet access)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... SEVENTY PERCENT of our business travelers bring laptop computers," says David J. Colella, Vice President and Managing Director of Boston's venerable Colonnade Hotel. The Back Bay property decided to address those needs by wiring the hotel for...

Delta BusinessElite. (Flight Check: JFK/New York-Istanbul).
February 1, 2001... First Impressions: After a swift and painless check-in, I headed to meet my traveling companions at the BusinessElite lounge, which was more complicated than it sounds. Finding the right Delta business-class lounge was something of a shell...

Spot checks.
February 1, 2001... We asked car rental companies how much they charged customers who neglect to fill up the gas tank prior to returning the car. Here's what we found. Budget Rent a Car, NYC $4.59 per gallon Alamo, Philadelphia Airport $4.05...

Hotel Barcelo Nervion, Bilbao. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... SINCE THE OPENING of Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao has been a popular destination. This 700-year-old industrial city in Spain's Basque country is easily accessible by high-speed train and has its own airport. Hotel Barcelo...

The Conrad International Hotel, Instanbul. (Hotel Check).
February 1, 2001... ASWIFT TWENTY MINUTES from the gleaming new Istanbul International Airport, the Conrad International Hotel has location, location, location. Perched on the top of a small hill, fringed by leafy trees and ancient wooden houses, it overlooks what...

Homefront: San Francisco: bigger, faster, better?
February 1, 2001... THE DOTCOM BUBBLE may have burst, but despite the recent hail of pink slips in cyberland, the San Francisco area's growth shows little sign of abating. Twenty-four Fortune 500 firms are headquartered in San Francisco, and the Bay Area is...

Let's make a deal: 2001 rings in a slew of new deals and revamped offers designed to help corral your expenses and ease the stresses of travel with some body and soul-pleasing amenities.
February 1, 2001... Cathay Pacific's All Asia Pass is the mother of all great air deals. Consider this: Travel to 17 Asian cities on one ticket for $999 (plus taxes) economy class. Pay only an additional $1,099 for one-way Trans-Pacific Business Class upgrade...

Four hours in ... Rome.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Rome wasn't built in a day, so you stand no chance of covering its major sites in four hours. Leave the Vatican for another time and concentrate instead on some of the Eternal City's greatest ancient monuments as well as a taste of the baroque...

The stranger beside you: the world's most wanted fugitives.
February 1, 2001... WAITING FOR THE PLANE TO DEPART, you sip your cocktail and gaze out the window. You've already read the paper, and it'll be at least half an hour before you can switch on your laptop. Your destination is many hours away, and you've probably...

Airport food: lifts off.
February 1, 2001... THE WORDS AIRPORT FOOD do not conjure up the most exciting of culinary images--an unexciting hamburger, a mouth-numbing cup of coffee or a sad sandwich. Hands up all those who can remember being stuck in an airport departures lounge only a few...

Soul savior: Richard Burton and Deborah Kerr put Puerto Vallarta on the map. Jane O'Callaghan takes time out of the office and follows in their footsteps. (Great Escapes).
February 1, 2001... DOING BUSINESS IN MEXICO CITY can be challenging. The city's unique cocktail of high altitude, thick pollution and air of corruption is enough to poison the body and mind of the most seasoned travelers. Those seeking an antidote will be glad to...

Who's who in Latin America. (Special Advertising Section).(executives)
February 1, 2001... Gustavo Cisneros Venezuela Venezuelan media mogul Gustavo Cisneros is chairman and chief executive officer of the Cisneros Group of Companies. Headquarters in Caracas, Cisneros Group consists of more than 70 companies operating in 40...

Viva Las Vegas: they're new, they're big, they're brash, but they're also pretty good places to stay. John Gammon checks into Vegas's newer hotels.(Las Vegas, Nevada)
February 1, 2001... LITZ, GLAMOUR, EXCESS: Las Vegas has the lot. The city boasts 18 out of 20 of the world's largest hotels, and all of the top 10, from the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino at 5,005 rooms, down. More than two-thirds of visitors to Las Vegas stay on The...

Kiev reborn: Ukraine is now a self-governing country for the first time in 1,000 years. Kiev is shaking off decades of communist oppression and restoring its cultural heritage.(Kiev, Ukraine)
February 1, 2001... IN 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kiev was a gloomy city with filthy streets, one supermarket, shabby buildings and a general air of dereliction. Nearly 10 years on, the capital of democratic and independent Ukraine has been...

Beirut calling: nothing is certain in recession-plagued Beirut, except uncertainty.(Beirut, Lebanon)
February 1, 2001... BEST TO GET THE CLICHES out of the way first. Beirut never was the Paris of the Middle East, and it certainly isn't now. Nor has it emerged shiny and new a decade after the civil war into a bright new dawn of opportunity. The truth is that...

Readers writes: special advertising section.(opinions about airlines by business travellers)
February 1, 2001... ALL AIRLINES ARE DIFFERENT, some offering better seats, food, inflight entertainment and airport lounges. Frequent business travelers adding up their miles know the difference between a good carrier and an outstanding carrier. That is why we...

Johannesburg's great divide: Johannesburg's international image sports more than a few blemishes, but Rachael Jolley finds complexity within the true character of the city.(Johannesburg, South Africa)
February 1, 2001... THE SCENE: An organic market with stalls scattered through cobbled paths underneath trees. It is busy with wandering shoppers, some munching homemade scones, and grasping bags full of crafts and locally made food. Sellers display giant woven...

Raffles International Hotels & Resorts: Merchant Court Hotel, Sydney. (Hotels).(Sydney, Australia)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Merchant Court Hotel is located in the heart of Sydney's premier retail, residential, corporate, and cultural enclaves, atop Sydney Central Plaza commanding panoramic views of one of the world's most vibrant cities. Guests will enjoy...

St. Helen's Hotel: Dublin. (Hotels).(Dublin, Ireland)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Save 25% until the end of February 2001, Privilege Club members can take advantage of a very special offer at the Radisson SAS St. Helen's Hotel. This includes: Overnight accommodation for $142 ($187) single or double occupancy Upgrade to...

Radisson Edwardian Hotels. (New Hotel Offers).(hotels in United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Save up to 50% Until the end of February 2001, Radisson Edwardian Hotels is offering Privilege Club members half-price accommodation at the properties listed below. These luxurious hotels are located in the center of London, close to the...

Shrangri-La Hotel: Kuala Lumpur. (New Hotel Offers).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The 720-room Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur is located in the heart of the city's business and entertainment district. Facilities at the hotel include: A fully equipped business center Nine food and beverage outlets ...