Business Traveler articles from January 2005

Business Traveler archives from January 2005

Editor's letter.(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... Want to know whom your fellow business travelers say they'd rather fly with, drive with and sleep with? Then turn to page 30 for BT's 16th annual Best in Business Travel Awards. David Jones reports on the winners, chosen by our readers from...

Cell hell.(Letter of the Month)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I am writing in response to the News Report in your November issue about how Airbus, among others, is working on a way to allow passengers to talk on their cell phones in-flight. Am I the only one completely bothered by this? It's bad...

What's up, dock?(Letter of the Month)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I hate it when my plane arrives at an airport and, instead of pulling right up to the docking ramp so that I can just walk straight off and into the airport building, it stops out on the pavement and unloads passengers onto buses to take them...

Correction.(Letter of the Month)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2005... Correction: On page 14 of the September 2004 edition of Business Traveler, the photo caption that reads "Grand Hyatt New York" is incorrect. The image is of the Sky Lobby at the Conrad Miami.

Changes at Midway.(Airlines)
January 1, 2005... ATA'S OCTOBER CHAPTER 11 filing for bankruptcy protection has prompted changes among airlines that serve Chicago's Midway International Airport. However, Chicago airport officials say they are confident that the filing will not hurt...

Passenger weight gains raise fuel costs.(Airlines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... YOU MAY THINK THAT THE worst part of sitting next to a large fellow passenger is not being able to read a newspaper, but soon you may be paying extra for the privilege. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Roomier regional jets debut on United.(Airlines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE REGIONAL JET ARENA is getting more competitive. United Express, the regional affiliate of United Airlines, is rolling out a new fleet of Embraer 170 regional jets with United First and United Economy Plus seating, creating what the airline...

Blueprint for Indigo.(Hotels)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS is launching a new lifestyle chain in the U.S. called Hotel Indigo, the first of which is scheduled to open in Atlanta by the end of December. The design-led hotel will have 140 rooms with rates that will average $100...

Business Travelers still use agents.(Travel Agents)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... ALTHOUGH OVER HALF OF business travelers are using the Internet to book trips, one-third still use traditional channels, including travel agents, to book or change reservations. A recent study by Harris Interactive indicated that 49 percent...

InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, located on Peachtree Road, opened in November. The 422 rooms and 21 suites feature Southern decor with European linens, CD player, Wi-Fi connectivity, PC plugs, coffeemaker and fully stocked minibar. Other...

Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The $100 million Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, opened on Dec. 3 next to the Las Vegas Convention Center and has more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel features 548 rooms and 30 suites that offer high-speed Internet access and...

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, formally the Hyatt Newporter, will complete its $12 million renovation in January. The refurbishing of all 403 guest rooms and suites, with all-new furnishings, wall coverings, bedding, drapes, lighting and...

Hotel Crescent Court.(Hotel Update)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Nobu, the new-style Japanese restaurant with locations in New York, London, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Malibu, Milan, Miami and Paris, will open in Dallas at Hotel Crescent Court, a Rosewood Hotel, in March. Nobu will occupy the space where the Beau...

Mandarin Oriental New York.(United States)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Guests booking a suite at the Mandarin Oriental New York win receive one complimentary suite night at each of its sister properties in London and Hawaii. The complimentary nights at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London and Kahala Mandarin...

Radisson Lexington Hotel.(United States)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the Radisson Lexington Hotel in Manhattan is offering Sunday rates starting at $75. These rates are available from Dec. 19 through Feb. 13 and include access to the hotel business center. Call 800-448-4471 or...

Henley Park Hotel.(United States)
January 1, 2005... Starting at $129 a night, the "Winter Package" from the Henley Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., includes breakfast and morning limousine service. The offer is available through Jan. 31. Call 800-222-8474 or visit www.henleypark.com.

Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas.(United States)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... When guests spend two consecutive nights at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, they receive a third night for free. The resort is minutes from downtown Dallas and has a full spa and 18-hole golf course. The deal is...

Sofitel Wentworth Sydney.(Australia)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... After a $44 million makeover, the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney reopens with rates starting at $178. Located in the city's financial district, the Wentworth offers flat-screen TVs in every room and a business center. Available through Dec. 30, the...

Hotel de Russie.(Europe)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Located near Rome's historic Spanish Steps, the Hotel de Russie is offering the "Suite Temptation" package. Upon your arrival, a limousine will take you from the airport directly to the hotel, where you'll be privately checked into your suite....

Hotel le Lavoisier.(Europe)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Hotel le Lavoisier in Paris is offering a winter deal with single or double rooms starting at $224 a night. The offer is valid through Feb. 28 and includes breakfast. Call 866-376-7831 or visit www.lelavoisier.com.

Northwest Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Northwest Airlines began daily nonstop service between its hub at Minneapolis/St. Paul and Asheville, NC, on Dec. 15. Northwest currently offers two daily flights from Asheville to its WorldGateway hub in Detroit.

Delta Air Lines and Delta Connection.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Effective Jan. 31, Delta Air Lines and Delta Connection will offer service to 12 new cities from Salt Lake City. Delta Connection carriers Atlantic Southwest Airlines and SkyWest Airlines will add new service to Austin, El Paso and San Antonio,...

Icelandair.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Icelandair, whose current North American gateways include Minneapolis/St. Paul, Boston, New York-JFK, Baltimore/Washington International and Orlando, will launch service from Reykjavik to San Francisco on May 18 that will continue through Sept....

Midwest Airlines.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Midwest Airlines will offer daily nonstop service from Kansas City to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, or New Orleans from Dec. 4 through April 17. Midwest also offers nonstop service from Kansas City to Milwaukee, New York-LaGuardia, San Antonio and...

US Airways.(Flight Log)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... US Airways will launch four daily nonstop flights between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Atlanta on Feb. 6. The flights will be operated on a 72-seat Embraer 170 Regional Jet.

Le Meridien.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... With Le Meridien's "Stay and Save" package, guests who pay for four nights at 44 participating Le Meridien resorts worldwide will receive one night free; those who pay for five nights will get two nights free; and those who pay for seven nights...

Delta Air Lines and Boscolo Hotels have formed a partnership that allows Delta SkyMiles members to earn 4 miles every dollar spent at Boscolo Hotels throughout Europe.(Reward Roundup)
January 1, 2005... Delta Air Lines and Boscolo Hotels have formed a partnership that allows Delta SkyMiles members to earn 4 miles for every dollar spent at Boscolo Hotels throughout Europe. To celebrate the new partnership, SkyMiles members will earn triple...

American Airlines AAdvantage.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn up to 60,000 bonus miles on transatlantic flights between now and March 14. Bonus miles are awarded based on the booking class purchased. With one round-trip flight on a discounted economy ticket,...

Hyatt Gold Passport.(Reward Roundup)
January 1, 2005... Hyatt Gold Passport members will earn one free night at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts worldwide for every two stays when paying with a MasterCard with the "Faster Free Nights" promotion. Gold Passport members can earn unlimited free nights now...

American Airlines AAdvantage members and United Mileage Plus members can double their miles on qualifying stays at participating Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts worldwide through Dec. 31.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... American Airlines AAdvantage members and United Mileage Plus members can double their miles on qualifying stays at participating Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts worldwide through Dec. 31. Guests should present their AAdvantage or Mileage Plus...

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Hyatt Hotels and Resorts has joined the Rewards Network program, which includes more than 11,000 hotels and 10,600 restaurants in the United States and Canada. Rewards Network members can stay at 106 Hyatts and earn Cashback Rewards or up to 7...

Aer Lingus.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Aer Lingus has restructured its fares between the United States and Europe, including Ireland. The airline has published one-way fares starting as low as $124 from New York to Dublin or Shannon. These fares have no advance purchase, are...

Continental Airlines.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Continental Airlines is offering a host of BusinessFirst "holiday fares" that can be purchased on the airline's Web site or from select travel agencies authorized to sell these fares. Fares range from $1,550 to $2,150 with no advance purchase....

TAP Air Portugal.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... TAP Air Portugal is offering the "Companion Navigator Fare" from Boston to Portugal. This promotion allows you to take a companion along in business class at a 50 percent discount. When you purchase the full one-way fare of $1,847 from Boston...

British Airways.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... British Airways is offering deals on business-class and first-class fares from Europe to the United States. U.S. passengers can buy a ticket for travel to Europe and have their return issued as a separate ticket back to the U.S., or even as a...

Sofitel St. James.(Hotel check: London)
January 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? Since it opened in 2002, the Sofitel St. James has settled comfortably and, it appears, seamlessly into the historic 1923 building that formerly housed Cox's and King's bank. Designed by Pierre Yves-Rochon, the hotel's decor is...

Korean air Prestige Class.(Flight check: New York JFK to Seoul Incheon via Anchorage)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The check-in process at Terminal 1 took less than 10 minutes, as the business-class line was short. My flight was to leave just before midnight, and KAL's Morning Calm lounge offered a convenient spot for last-minute phone...

Radisson Lexington Hotel.(Hotel check: New York)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? Open since 1927, the Radisson Lexington was renovated last spring with a modern, design-conscious interior. WHERE IS IT? Lexington Avenue and 48th Street in midtown Manhattan--close to the subway, prime shopping and Times...

Sugar and spice: culinary adventurism is thriving in New Orleans. Yvonne Yorke samples some innovative interpretations of Creole classics.(Restaurants)
January 1, 2005... Restaurant August 301 Tchoupitoulas St. tel. 504-299-9777 Since Restaurant August opened in October 2001 in a converted 1860s tobacco warehouse in the central business district (CBD), chef John Besh has been making food...

Ticket to ride? Matthew J. Bennett reports on options for protecting your frequent flyer miles in uncertain times.(Loyalty Programs)
January 1, 2005... With the fates of several major airlines in question, travelers are asking what they should do with their frequent flyer miles. Under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws, an airline will keep flying as long as it can still obtain financing and pay its...

Seattle's fresh blend: Seattle's downtown core may have been homogenized, but its neighborhoods retain their character--and its wealth has bought the city some shiny new toys.(Seattle)
January 1, 2005... Little Seattle, tucked away in America's upper left-hand corner, doesn't spend much time in the spotlight. Its crimes are not lurid enough for Larry King, its sports teams never win and celebrities avoid the place. Even its earthquakes are...

The gold standard: our readers have spoken. David Jones reports on the results of the 2004 Best in Business Travel Awards.(Best in Business Travel Awards)
January 1, 2005... For the 16th consecutive year, Business Traveler's Best in Business Travel Awards showcase what our readers believe are the highest standards of excellence. The award winners were determined based on the results of a survey by Mediamark...

Cellars in the Sky: Roberts Joseph, Sarah Maxwell and Sam Caporn give the lowdown on BT's annual airline wine competition.(Wine Awards)(Business Travellerwine)
January 1, 2005... The Business Travellerwine awards first appeared in 1985 within the pages of our U.K. edition. Since then, we have tried to champion the best wines served in business class and first class by the world's airlines. This year's was the biggest...

A taste for change: although Mexico City is home to near-daily protests, a different kind of revolution is taking place in the Historic Center, thanks to a multimillion-dollar restoration. Meanwhile, the city's mood and attitude are changing.(Mexico City)
January 1, 2005... It was about midnight, and I was at a party of young Mexican politicos in one of Mexico City's swankier neighborhoods. A small crowd had strategically positioned itself between the bar and a deep fryer that was now cooking up quesadillas. My...

Smart eye for the art buy: as Madeleine Beckman, Claire Wrathall and Jimmy Yap report, buying art on the road can prove extremely rewarding, whether it's for love, money or both.(Art)
January 1, 2005... One of the perks of business travel is finding yourself in different parts of the world with occasional spare time. What you pursue with that time can be pleasure, profit or both--especially if you're interested in or knowledgeable about art....

4 hours in Las Vegas: whether you're enamored of neon or in the mood for the subdued, diversions abound in and around America's fastest-growing city. Allison Block reports from the land of lady luck and stunning Mojave Desert vistas.
January 1, 2005... [1] The Reading Room With its wood-coffered ceiling and cherrywood parquet floors, the Reading Room is a civilized addition to the land of brash and cash. From Homer to Hunter S. Thompson, the literary landscape is well represented in...

Golfing around Taipei.
January 1, 2005... When you consider the range of outstanding golfing getaways in Asia, Taipei may not spring instantly to mind. However, with 25 courses within a one-hour drive of the city center, it's an attractive and viable destination. If you have a...

Portable fitness: Skip Kaltenheuser checks out seven exercise accessories that travel well to help turn your hotel room and its invirons into your personal fitness center.(Tools)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2005... Unfold a Trikke cambering vehicle from your office closet or car trunk and get a low-impact, full-body outdoor workout at as challenging a pace as you like. Trikke is pronounced "trike," but the resemblance to your first wheeled transport ends...

Boston: avoid the traffic and get to Logan with ease by land and by sea.(On Track)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BOS) WEB SITE: www.massport.com AIRPORT NUMBER: 800-235-6426 LOST AND FOUND: 617-561-1714 LOCATION: About 5 miles east of the city, across Boston Harbor SERVICE: MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSIT...

Chicago: how to get to and from the city's two airports via rail, shuttle and taxi.(On Track)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ORD) WEB SITE: www.flychicago.com/ohare/home.asp AIRPORT NUMBER: 773-686-2200 GROUND TRANSPORTATION: 773-686-8040 PARKING INFORMATION HOTLINE: 773-686-7530 LOCATION: 17 miles northwest of...

InterContinental The Barclay New York save 15%.(Savings For Members)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... One of the city's premier business hotels, InterContinental The Barclay New York is located off Park Avenue in the heart of midtown Manhattan's East Side. The hotel is near exclusive Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue shopping, fine dining,...

Don't be a drag.(Reader Offer)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Tired of dragging your luggage behind you? Sick of bumbling down aisles with your carry-on awkwardly in tow? It's time to upgrade to first class with a Walkin'Bag[TM] by Swany[R] Luggage. Four independent wheels let the Walkin'Bag swivel 360...

Heavy breathing: looking for an active yet meditative vacation? Abby Ellin clears her head and works her body at a Brazilian yoga retreat.(Great escape: Ilha Grande, Brazil)(Body and Soul Adventures)
January 1, 2005... Here's the problem with most vacations: You eat too much, you drink too much, and you come home in need of more than a little R and R. But it doesn't have to be that way. It's almost impossible not to return from fitness and yoga retreat Body...