Business Traveler articles from January 2002

Business Traveler archives from January 2002

Editor's letter.(Business Traveler magazine)(President's Page)
January 1, 2002... IN THIS ISSUE, we present Business Traveler's annual Reader Survey Awards. On average, BT readers spend two months away from home on business per year and tend to be a rather opinionated lot. They sound off on the best and the worst they've...

New York story. (Letter Of The Month).(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2002... Several months ago The Conference Board had scheduled a program in New York City for September 20 and 21, and I had agreed to speak at it. Against the advice of the media, friends and even my travel agent, I decided to keep that commitment. I'm...

Airborne distress. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2002... As a Business Traveler subscriber and frequent traveler, I wanted to bring to the attention of your readers a recent experience where our passports and newly obtained visas were stolen while in the care of delivery service Airborne Express. We...

Delta defender. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2002... I forget the reader's name, but he had very unkind words to say about Delta Air Lines and not being able to obtain an upgrade. On Delta, I have flown as many miles as he has on the other airlines for each of the last two years. I have never...

Suite and sour. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2002... Over the past few months, I have begun to believe the hype about United's First Suite, and how it dominates the industry. As someone who flies over 200,000 miles per year, domestic and international, I finally had the opportunity to try this...

SAS cash. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2002... A few months ago, I was traveling from Stockholm to Copenhagen to London on SAS. When I checked in, the ticket agent advised me that I needed to go to the SAS Transit desk for the "adjustment," a term I had never heard of, even though I am a...

A bug's life. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2002... As an epidemiologist, I would like to make three comments on an interesting article in the October issue entitled, "Motion Sickness," by Mubarak Dahir: The author states malaria is caused by a virus. It is actually caused by a sporozoan...

Finally federalized. (Airports).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... AFTER DELIBERATIONS AND DEBATES THAT LASTED FROM THE DAYS JUST AFTER September 11 to mid-November, the House and Senate negotiators finally reached an agreement on aviation security legislation--including the hotly argued federalization of...

Get me to Miami. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... IF YOU THINK THAT OCEANFRONT vistas from your Miami hotel room window are beyond your business trip budget, check out the views from the new Fairfield Inn and Suites Hotel. A lower-priced alternative to big sister Miami Beach Marriott (rooms...

Candid camera. (Airlines).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... JETBLUE AIRLINES IS PLANNING to be the first airline to install video cameras in passenger cabins with surveillance equipment designed to allow pilots to scan flights for possible security problems before they occur. The airline already has...

Safe in Mexico. (Airports).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... AEROMEXICO HAS ANNOUNCED a fortified security program installed in tandem with Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City. Starting in December, all Aeromexico aircraft will be equipped with security bars. The second phase of the...

The eyes have it. (Airports).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... EVEN BEFORE THE TERRORISM of September 11, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport was looking for a new way to enforce identity-based security. They found it in the human eye. The airport, which sees an annual 40 million passengers pass through its...

Three by four. (Airlines).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... THREE NEW AIRLINES--Asiana, Sun Country and Ryan Air--have moved into the new Terminal 4 at JFK Airport, joining 35 other carriers currently at home in the $1.4 billion building. By January of 2002, all three airlines will have begun flights...

Turkish delight. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... THE OTTOMAN Empire may not have invented the bath, but the typical Turkish hammam, or public bathhouse, reinvented the concept in a dramatically sensual way. Now travelers to Istanbul can immerse themselves in the decadent delights of the...

Tiger in your think tank. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... IF YOU'D LIKE YOUR NEXT INCENTIVE meeting to resemble a Merchant Ivory film or a chapter out of Rudyard Kipling, consider holding it at the new Oberoi Vanyavilas, the new luxury tented camp located within Rajasthan's Ranthambhor tiger reserve....

Stay at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess before April 6 and get up to 50 percent off. (Hotel Deals).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Stay at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess before April 6 and get up to 50 percent off. A special bed-and-breakfast package includes full daily breakfast and starts at $169 a night. A three-night minimum applies. Visit www.fair mont.com or call...

The Pan Pacific Bangkok is offering a special package until January 31. (Hotel Deals).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Pan Pacific Bangkok is offering a special package until January 31. Stay in a superior room for $99 a night or a deluxe room for $135 a night, and receive various additional amenities, including breakfast, 20 percent off at the spa and late...

London's Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments is offering several packages this winter. (Hotel Deals).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... London's Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments is offering several packages this winter. Its "Fall Fantasy" rates, which consist of about 25 percent off all rooms, are now valid until January 31. A standard room, normally $350 a night, is now just...

The Leading Hotels of the World's "One More Night" promotion is now valid for all of 2002. (Worldwide).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Leading Hotels of the World's "One More Night" promotion is now valid for all of 2002. More than 180 hotels are participating in this program, which allows guests paying for three consecutive nights to receive a fourth free. Properties...

Heat detector. (Websites).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... LOG ONTO WWW.AIRSECURITY.COM, click on "Hot Spots," and you'll get a daily report on the status of travel security around the world. On any given day, you'll find info on various nefarious characters taken off domestic flights by federal...

Sabena. (Flight Log).(files bankruptcy)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Sabena, the Belgian national carrier, has suspended all flights indefinitely after announcing bankruptcy. In the wake of Sabena's demise, the Belgian government is planning to work with Belgian bank partners and Virgin Atlantic to coordinate...

Air Canada. (Flight Log).(service from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Canada)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Air Canada has announced the launch of nonstop service between Las Vegas and Vancouver, and Las Vegas and Calgary. Flights on both routes will operate twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays.

Shuttle American Inc. (Flight Log).(service changes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Shuttle American Inc., a US Airways Express affiliate carrier began nonstop service in November between Boston's Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA, and both Philadelphia and Trenton/Princeton, N.J.

All Nippon Airways. (Flight Log).(service to Chicago, Illinois)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * All Nippon Airways has suspended its daily nonstop service between Chicago and Tokyo. The suspension of Chicago flights is in effect until March 30.

Frontier Airlines. (Flight Log).(service changes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... * Frontier Airlines will increase frequencies from its Denver hub to Chicago/Midway, Las Vegas, Orlando and Salt Lake City, starting January 17. Frontier will offer three daily round-trip flights to Chicago, two to Orlando and four each to Salt...

American Airlines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... AAdvantage Members are in for a double treat--30 percent off each stay plus double miles--when they stay at Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels in participating properties in Hawaii through May...

EL AL. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Through March 14, EL AL is offering Matmid Members 400 bonus points and Loyal Club Members 800 bonus points when the member purchases a round-trip ticket to Israel. As an added incentive, members receive a free, round-trip "H" class ticket for...

United Airlines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Mileage Plus Members receive 5,000 bonus miles with their first purchase using their new Mileage Plus Visa Card. At united.com, they can earn up to an additional 4,000 bonus miles (based on their Mileage Plus level) with their first purchase,...

Virgin Atlantic. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Through February 28, passengers flying round-trip in Upper Class from any U.S. gateway (Boston, JFK, Newark, Dulles, Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles) to London will receive a $250 Sharper Image gift certificate when they...

Delta Airlines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SkyMiles members earn double miles for round-trip flights between Brussels and New York (JFK) from December 16, 2001 through March 31, 2002. BusinessElite and economy fares earn base miles toward Medallion status. All other fares receive double...

Breathing room. (Hotels).(Orient-Express Monasterio Hotel, Cuzco, Peru, adds oxygen into building)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... AT THE ORIENT-EXPRESS MONASTERIO Hotel in Cuzco, Peru, guests are breathing a little bit easier. That's because the 123-room hotel has added extra oxygen to some of the suites in the 16th-century converted monastery. Guests who previously...

Air France. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... AIR FRANCE has brought back the Concorde between JFK and Paris (Charles De Gaulle Airport) and is offering passengers who purchase a full-fare round-trip ticket the opportunity to bring a companion along for half price. The full normal fare of...

Olympic Airways. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... OLYMPIC AIRWAYS is offering a business-class upgrade between New York or Boston and Athens for a one-way surcharge of $450. This upgrade is allowed in one direction only for travelers who have a confirmed round-trip economy-class ticket to...

Lufthansa. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... LUFTHANSA has introduced a 2-for-1 offer to Europe in economy class for travel between November 1, 2001 and March 24. All tickets must be purchased by February 15. A free companion ticket will apply when purchasing a qualifying round-trip...

Off track. (Rail).(financing for Amtrak)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... AMTRAK, THE BELEAGUERED NATIONAL railway, got a shot in the arm in the fall as more and more passengers turned to train travel in the wake of terrorism. But the leg up did not go far enough. The Amtrak Reform Council (ARC), a federal oversight...

New York. (Top Of The Town).(recommended bar and restaurants)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... RESTAURANTS New York Opia Habitat Hotel 130 E. 52nd St. tel. 212-688-3939 This 4,000-square-foot second-floor space is open and comfortable, with arched windows, high ceilings and a number of areas offering a variety of ambiences....

Sites for sore eyes. (News Report).(web sites)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ON TRACK Airline delays and updated flight information are essential when you have to be at a particular place at a certain time. Calling the airline before you arrive at the airport has become a hassle, as you risk waiting interminably on...

Claridge's London. (Hotel Check).
January 1, 2002... CLARIDGE'S IMPOSING REDBRICK exterior evokes the seven-story building's late 19th-century origins as a modern hotel. The attention to detail, which was evident from the moment I entered, presaged the remainder of my stay. Doormen in top hats...

The Culloden Belfast. (Hotel Check).(Belfast, Northern Ireland)
January 1, 2002... THE CULLODEN IS Northern Ireland's most prestigious five-star hotel, and a clear first choice for celebrities and corporate executives visiting Belfast. Situated just outside the town of Holywood, six miles from the city center of Belfast, the...

Air France business class. (Flight check: New York, JFK, To Paris).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... First Impressions: The business- and first-class stations were overflowing with flowers and smiling staff members; not one person waited for check-in. I held only an economy ticket and the hope of an upgrade, so I waited half an hour in line...

Air Canada executive class. (Flight check: Toronto To London heathrow).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... First Impressions: The roomy Maple Leaf Lounge at Toronto's Pearson Airport offered generous spreads of snacks and drinks and numerous English and French periodicals. The lounge itself was kept immaculate by staff; however, two stalls in the...

Spot check. (Consumer Checks).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... We asked seven of the most popular steakhouses in the U.S. the price of a house salad, N.Y. strip steak and a glass of wine for one (tax and gratuity not included). Here's what we found: PETER LUGER $60 Brooklyn, NY...

Trouble in paradise: overdependency on a one-market economy hits Hawaii hard as tourism figures plunge. (HomeFront: Honolulu).
January 1, 2002... PERFECT PALM-FRINGED BEACHES and carefree tan people may be the image of the 50th state on the recent flesh-baring Baywatch Hawaii TV series, but just like the fate of the show--which was canceled in 2001--Hawaii is struggling to keep from...

Essentials: Honolulu.
January 1, 2002... HOTELS Aston Executive Center 1088 Bishop St., Downtown, tel. 808-539-3000, fax 808-523-1088 This is Honolulu's main hotel specifically aimed at the business traveler. You may not even feel you're in Hawaii in this geometric glass...

Mile-high anxiety: afraid to fly? BT asks the experts for tips on coping with and overcoming your fears.
January 1, 2002... FEAR OF FLYING, long the bane of a nervous few, has suddenly become a palpable part of the everyday lives of millions of business travelers. The collective psyche of airline passengers received a one-two punch this fall: First, the horrific...

Top of the world: the 12th Annual Business Traveler Reader Survey Awards. (The Best of 2001).
January 1, 2002... With the surveys tallied, Business Traveler readers have once again weighed in on their favorite travel partners, whether it's the airline with the most comfortably reclining seat or the hotel with the firmest beds or the cell phone that's most...

Home on the road: thought you knew all about cell phones and wireless services? Even seasoned, high-tech road warriors must scramble to keep up with the latest innovations that can boost their productivity. (Special Advertising Section).(Product Announcement)
January 1, 2002... Wireless Services Worldwide traveiers in particular are paying close attention to expanding wireless services, opting for tools specifically designed for use all over the globe, no matter how remote the location. Global users can now roam...

Shanghai surprise: with Shanghai on the brink of massive modernization, China's entry into the WTO is expected to speed the city's economic growth. (Insider's guide: Shanghai).
January 1, 2002... ON THE TOP FLOOR of the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall in Shanghai's Renmin Square, there is a scaled model of how the city will look in 20 years. It's a truly formidable sight. If everything goes according to plan--and with the Chinese...

Game time: Athens gears up for the 2004 Olympic Games and morphs into a 21st-century city. (Destination report: Athens).
January 1, 2002... THERE'S A NEW ADDITION to the Athens skyline these days. Drag your eyes away from the Acropolis, and you'll see them in their hundreds--construction cranes are everywhere. The city of Athens, host to the 2004 Olympic Games, is very, very busy....

Suite drinks: a look at the nation's best hotel bars. (Special Advertising Section: Close-up: hotels).
January 1, 2002... SEATTLE THE GEORGIAN COURT--the name alone invokes palatial, regal thoughts. Seattle's Four Seasons Olympic (206-621-1700) lives up to those images in every way, from the guest rooms to the majestic lobby--to the hotel's bar. In the Garden...

Four hours in Lyon.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Established in 43 B.C. on Fouviere Hill, ancient Lyon expanded down to the banks of the River Saone during the Middle Ages, with construction centering around St. Jean Cathedral in the Renaissance quarter of Vieux Lyon. From here development...

Out in the open: as shopping malls spring up and hotel construction booms, Paraguay struggles to shrug off isolation and woo foreign investors. (Focus: Asuncion).
January 1, 2002... A FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ASUNCION SAID that Paraguay was the most isolated country he had ever visited. Few people could point to it on a map, and for years the only thing that the world seemed to know about Paraguay was that it was a safe...

The New World Renaissance Hotel. (Offer Of The Month > Hong Kong > Hotels).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Situated in the heart of Tsimshatsui's business, dining, shopping and entertainment districts, the New World Renaissance Hotel is near trains, Mass Transit Railway and the cross-harbor tunnel, which provides easy access to almost every part of...

Mix business and pleasure at the New Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa. (Savings For Members > Florida > Hotels).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The days of glamorous soirees, world-class accommodations and celebrity performances are being brought back to South Florida on a grander scale with the new Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa. With a 1,000-room resort tower, 60-room Italian...

The Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston. (Savings For Members > Boston > Hotels).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston has been a symbol of Boston's rich tradition of elegance and hospitality since its gala opening in 1912. Designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who also designed the Copley Plaza's sister hotel, The Plaza in New...

Paradise found: visitors to St. John vacation like Rockefellers at Caneel Bay Resort. (Great escape: Caneel Bay Resort).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ST. JOHN, THE SMALLEST, MOST UNSPOILED of the U. S. Virgin Islands, is a popular refuge for overworked executives, the rich and famous and families. Here, visitors flee their hectic schedules and indulge in the island's pristine beauty, with...