Business Traveler articles from June 2002

Business Traveler archives from June 2002

Editor's letter.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
June 1, 2002... OUTSTANDING SERVICE CAN HELP MAKE even the most mundane business trip a pleasurable one. But getting that sort of treatment, especially on a regular basis, can prove elusive for many business travelers. In this issue, George Hobica offers tips...

First-class salute. (Letter Of The Month).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2002... I want to thank you for the complimentary copy of the March Business Traveler that I received in the mail. Your "Readers' Letters" inspired me to share this story. I fly at least once per week and have the opportunity to see many of our...

Food fight. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2002... As I read Thomas Kerver's letter (March 2002) regarding his disappointment with service in United Airlines' international business class, I was struck by the difficulty the airlines experience as they try to please their diverse customers. ...

The little train that Couldn't. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2002... I've always been impressed by the seamless integration of air-and-rail travel in Europe and Asia. When Newark International recently premiered its AirTrain, I was lured by the convenience of leaving from the heart of Manhattan at Penn Station....

Carded. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2002... I wish to thank not an airline, hotel or car rental agency, but another critical resource to the business traveler: financial institutions. In particular, my special thanks go to Citibank, where they truly lived up to their motto "The Citi...

Sometimes you feel like a nut. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2002... Seems it wasn't that long ago when the airlines were all in a tizzy about a militant movement by passengers who were allergic to peanuts. Suddenly you couldn't get a nut--except maybe the one who'd always wind up sitting next to you--on any...

A few choice words. (Readers' Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2002... As chairman of the Association of International Hoteliers Shanghai, we would like to express our gratitude for the feature article "Insider's Guide: Shanghai" that appeared in your January 2002 issue. All around, your journalist, Beverley...

Changing of the guard. (Airport Security).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Since Sept. 11, AIR TRAVELERS HAVE GOTTEN USED TO THE SIGHT OF NATIONAL Guardspeople protecting the nations airports in full battle fatigue with Rambo-like machine guns and other visible deterrents. After the end of May, airports may look a...

Pataki's plan. (Airport Security).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IF NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR George E. Pataki has his way, New York City's airports will soon have the most sophisticated security measures in the country. The plan, if approved, will see JFK, Newark and La Guardia airports far outstripping the...

A movable feast. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... FRENCH DESIGNER PIERRE YVES Rochon could have rested on his accumulated laurels after revamping Morocco's Mamounia Hotel restaurant or after his herculean makeover of the George V in Paris. Instead he turned his finely tuned French hand to...

Hungary for more. (Meetings).(corporate packages offering Hungarian fantasias)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... EVEN DURING ITS COMMUNIST regime, Hungary was known for its hedonistic delights. Steamy Turkish bathhouses, bull's blood wine and gypsy bands are not just cliches but part of everyday life. Now, as a central meeting place for Eastern and...

Park and fly. (Airports).(Newark Airport's new 3,200-space parking garage)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... AFTER THE ADDITION OF THE AirTrain, which debuted to mixed reviews, Newark Airport continues its self-improvement campaign with a new 3,200-space parking garage. The garage, near AirTrain Newark Station E, will join a four-level, 3,400-space...

Hot wheels. (Rental Cars).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IN L.A. AND LOOKING TO MAKE A splash? Budget Rent A Car of Beverly Hills has snapped up some of the first production new Mini Coopers released. With doors that open a full 80 degrees, a go-cart-like ride and highly touted grip and handling, not...

Ticket to ride. (Airlines).(new ticket kiosks at US Airways)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... US AIRWAYS HAS ADDED 25 NEW ticket kiosks domestically and will have 251 electronic ticket counter machines operating at 48 airports by this summer. The machines are designed to speed customer check-in by allowing customers to bypass...

Duse's muse. (Hotels).(Eleanora Duse)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF ASOLO IS best known to Italians as the home of the Sarah Bernhardt of Italy, Eleanora Duse. Surrounded by olive trees, Asolo was once part of the vast Venetian empire. Ocher-colored houses with Moorish windows line the...

Stress test. (Health).(passengers more tolerant)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... PASSENGERS ARE MORE TOLERANT of each other and of delays, post Sept. 11, says a recent study by the University of Washington. Researcher Jonathan Bricker conducted a study of post Sept. 11 flight stress using nearly 1,900 domestic and...

Renaissance Hotels. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites (a division of Marriott) will offer a $50 certificate for a future stay in exchange for proof of travel on ally of its partner airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines or Air Canada...

Dollar Rent A Car. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Dollar Rent A Car customers will earn triple Rewards Points every time they use a Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge Rewards Visa card. Tills program is valid until December 31. Rewards Points can be redeemed for tune-ups, purchases, down payment on a new...

THAI Airways. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Upgrade your service on THAI Airways for reduced prices, and receive extra miles with Royal Orchid Plus at the same time. Book a flight for travel between now and October 31, then call THAI reservations within 10 days prior u[o your scheduled...

Hilton HHonors. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Hilton HHonors members in the U.S. can now earn 1,000 bonus points by requesting all auto insurance quote from GMAC insurance. Quotes are available in minutes, and members are not obligated to purchase insurance at any time. Call 877-325-7727...

Delta Air Lines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Delta Air Lines recently announced its partnership with E-LOAN Inc., an online lending company. SkyMiles members can earn 3,500 miles for every new or refinanced auto loan and 1,250 miles for every $10,000 borrowed for each mortgage purchase,...

Millennium Hotels. (Reward Roundup).(new customer rewards program)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Millennium Hotels and Resorts recently launched the Millennium PartnerCard, currently available at the company's hotels in Europe and the Middle East. Cardholders will benefit from discounts on the total amount they spend for every stay at a...

The road ahead. (Reader Offer).
June 1, 2002... RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MAP Corporation, the Business Travel Atlas is sure to make any direction-frenzied road warrior steer in the right direction. Road maps are of the U.S., Canada and Mexico and feature detailed city maps in...

Japan Airlines. (Airline Deals).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... JAPAN AIRLINES' "Welcome Fare," a program that offers travel within Japan at a flat fare of $97 per flight has been cut in half to $48 during the World Cup soccer tournament. This discount will be valid starting May 25 and ending July 2. The...

All Nippon (ANA). (Airline Deals).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... ALL NIPPON (ANA) business-class tickets for travel to Tokyo are being discounted by ANA Hallo Tours for departures during the month Of June 2002. Travel must only commence by June 30 and return travel must be completed within 30 days. Discounts...

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). (Airline Deals).(offers half-price tickets for business class for family members)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES (SAS) is continuing their 50-percent discount on round-trip business-class tickets for spouses and family members. This discount applies from the U.S. to Scandinavia and does not require any coupons, certificates or any...

"Split ticketing". (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... "SPLIT TICKETING" is the long-standing practice of issuing a separate ticket for the return portion of an itinerary to take advantage of weak foreign currencies and break up minimum fares imposed by airlines. A simple, yet common, example is...

Travelocity.com. (Airline Deals).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... TRAVELOCITY.COM preferred members, basic or elite, can receive one $50 rebate on flights of $500 or more, and a $25 rebate on flights of $250 or more (a total of $75) on flights booked at Travelocity.com. The coupons can be used anytime during...

Ground Control. (Hotels).(Inter-Continental Houston to be fully wired for computers)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... THE IMAGE OF HOUSTON'S NASA Ground Control maneuvering spacecraft back to earth gets an earthly incarnation as the new Inter-Continental Houston opens this April. The hotel's full-on Web connection ability will help maneuver business travelers...

Northwest Airways. (Flight Log).(check in requirements)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... * Northwest Airways Beginning April 6, Northwest Airlines started requiring passengers to check in 15 minutes before departure, rather than the previous 10-minute minimum. The time change is only for national flights. Flights to Hawaii will...

Singapore Airlines. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... * Singapore Airlines has introduced a new Internet check-in service that allows customers to choose seats in real time up to two days before departure. The service is available for customers who book their flights through the SIA Web site...

Air France. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... * Air France has added a daily nonstop flight between Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Austrian Airlines. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... * Austrian Airlines has resumed its nonstop flights between Vienna and both Montreal and Toronto three days a week.

Cathay Pacific. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... * Cathay Pacific will reinstate its double-daily, nonstop Boeing 747-400 service between Los Angeles and Hong Kong starting August 1. From July 1, the airline's service from Vancouver to Hong Kong will increase from seven to 10 flights a week,...

AeroMexico. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... * AeroMexico has added a fourth nonstop from Miami to Mexico City. Operating Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Flight 425 will depart Miami at 5:50 p.m. and arrive in Mexico City at 8:15 p.m. AeroMexico Flight 424 will leave Mexico City at 12:40...

American Airlines. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... * American Airlines will begin nonstop service between Miami and Medellin, Colombia, on June 15. The airline will serve the Miami-Medellin route five times each week, with 176-seat Boeing 757-200 aircraft featuring roomier coach cabins.

Through July 3, indulge yourself at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler with two specially priced spa packages. (Canada).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Through July 3, indulge yourself at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler with two specially priced spa packages. Save over $112 with the "Spring Tune Up" package, or over $142 with the "Ayurvedic Rejuvenation." For $209 per person (based on double...

The Le Grand Lodge Mont-Tremblant in Quebec is offering special weekend and weekday packages for golf lovers. (Canada).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Le Grand Lodge Mont-Tremblant in Quebec is offering special weekend and weekday packages for golf lovers. The two-night weekend package starts at $180 per person and includes two rounds of golf, a buffet breakfast at the hotel's Chez...

Hawaii's Kahala Mandarin Oriental is offering a "Tee for Two" golf package until December 17. (United States).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Hawaii's Kahala Mandarin Oriental is offering a "Tee for Two" golf package until December 17. Starting at $1,155, the package includes three-night luxury accommodations, welcome amenity, transportation and two rounds of golf at Luana Hills...

Between now and December 31, take advantage of Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel's "Paradise Plus" packages. (United States).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Between now and December 31, take advantage of Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel's "Paradise Plus" packages. The packages include accommodations with rates starting at $169, or $239 for deluxe ocean-view rooms. Each package includes either a...

The Conrad Centennial Singapore is offering a "Conrad Super Saver" business package for $120, executive floors for $140. (Asia).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Conrad Centennial Singapore is offering a "Conrad Super Saver" business package for $120, executive floors for $140. This package includes access to the executive-floor lounge, daily buffet breakfast, butler service, in-room registration,...

Make reservations at the Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas in Tortola by June 30 for your stay December 21 to January 4, 2003, and receive 20 percent off the regular rates. (British Virgin Islands).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Make reservations at the Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas in Tortola by June 30 for your stay December 21 to January 4, 2003, and receive 20 percent off the regular rates. Rooms start at $316, rather than $395, and are good for stays of five...

Until August 31, Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts is offering a "Summer Magic" program where guests can receive 30 percent off the summer rates at over 100 properties in 37 countries. (Worldwide).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Until August 31, Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts is offering a "Summer Magic" program where guests can receive 30 percent off the summer rates at over 100 properties in 37 countries. For $82 a night, guests can stay at the Radisson SAS Royal...

No running. (Airlines).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IT'S A BUSINESS TRAVELER'S NIGHTMARE: MAKING CLOSE connections between codesharing flights and having the connecting airline at another terminal far from the arrival gate. The Star Alliance (the global network made up of United, Lufthansa,...

Fat breakfast. (Hotels).(Internet access through FatPort for breakfast)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... THIS SPRING, GUESTS AT THE WESTIN GRAND VANCOUVER can log onto high-speed Internet access through FatPort, Wireless technology while having breakfast in the hotel's Aria Restaurant, taking coffee in the lounge or faxing a brief in the business...

The Hay-Adams Washington, D.C. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... PROMINENTLY LOCATED ON Lafayette Square, within shouting distance of the White House, The Hay-Adams Hotel positively quivers with power and history. At night, from some suites, you can spot the sharpshooters on the roof of the White House, dark...

Austrian Airlines grand class-business class. (Flight check: New York JFK to Vienna).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... First Impressions: The limousine service called me that morning to confirm my address and desired pickup time, then arrived right on time. (Austrian Airlines' Grand Class provides complimentary limousine pickup service for departing passengers...

Delta express. (Flight check: New York JFK to Fort Lauderdale).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... First Impressions: Security officers were checking the IDs and tickets of passengers coming into the terminal, causing people to line outside in the cold. It took about 10 minutes to get inside, where still more security officers waited. Each...

Spot check. (Consumer Checks).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... We asked a selection of major hotels around the world what type of house car they made available for guest use, how far they would chauffeur guests in it and if they charged for the service. Here's what we found: FOUR SEASONS ...

Power up: you can feel the electricity in the air, but do you know how to tap into it? (Tools: in-flight power).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... WHEN FLYING, I CAN stare at clouds for hours. And a convenient rationalization for doing so, besides their innate beauty, is that my Sony laptop's battery lasts about an hour, so working in the air is out of the question. But as laptop power...

New brew: after years of living in Chicago's shadow, a newer, more cosmopolitan Milwaukee is poised to emerge. (Homefront: Milwaukee).
June 1, 2002... ONCE REFERRED TO AS THE "GATHERING PLACE BY the waters" by the Algonquian Indians, Milwaukee lies on the Milwaukee River and the western shore of Lake Michigan. The 1800s attracted primarily German, Irish and Scandinavian immigrants for jobs in...

Clubbing it: post 9/11, business travelers are finding airport lounges more valuable than ever. (Airport Lounges).
June 1, 2002... WITH "HURRY UP AND wait," the new reality at the world's airports, business travelers say airline VIP lounges are more valuable than ever for providing respite from the madding crowds and a quiet work space that makes terminal "downtime" more...

The royal treatment: secrets for getting better service good service can make travel less grueling; But getting it isn't always easy. (Service).
June 1, 2002... Are we really getting ruder? That's the conclusion of a recent survey conducted by Public Agenda, a New York City-based research group. Its report (Aggravating Circumstances: A Status Report on Rudeness in America) states that a surprising...

Night & day: which hotels offer the amenities and services that bring road warriors back? BT sizes them up. (Hotel Survey).
June 1, 2002... TURNDOWN SERVICE AND flesh coffee aside, hotel chains vary in their strategies for keeping business travelers happy. While it may seem that some older, established properties rely on reputation alone, the hotel industry is, indeed, constantly...

Fusion frenzy: Thai food in London, Italian, Cajun and French in Asia, and a global hodgepodge in St. Augustine. (Table Tops).(food service)
June 1, 2002... HOTEL RESTAURANTS LONDON NAHM The Halkin Hotel, Halkin Street SW1, tel. 020 7333 1234 Overview: Last summer, Christina Ong, The Halkin's owner, decided to ditch the hotel's (very good) Italian restaurant and install...

Mixed signals: Paris traffic is still a nightmare, and unemployment hovers in the stratosphere, but commercial development points to a gradual upturn in the French economy. (Insider's guide: Paris).
June 1, 2002... FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT, AND TRAGICALLY FOR a city internationally renowned for its architecture, culture and style, first impressions of Paris are more likely to be of its traffic congestion. Despite its wide streets, avenues and...

A very warm welcome: two of London's most prestigious hotels, The Carlton Tower and The Lowndes Hotel, are now under the management of luxury hotel group Jumeirah International. (Advertisement Feature).
June 1, 2002... The group is already well known for its high profile and award-winning Dubai properties, including Burj Al Arab, Emirates Towers and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and has embarked on a multi-million pound renovation of the 220-room Carlton Tower,...

String of pearls: having received the green light to pursue economic development some two decades ago, the cities around the Pearl River Delta have never looked back. (Doing Business in The Pearl River Delta).
June 1, 2002... WELCOME TO THE NEW BOOMTOWNS of China's Pearl River Delta, where economic miracles are taken for granted and nothing is impossible. Chrome and glass glitter as skyscrapers soar upward. Enticing shops overflow with expensive international brand...

China Southern Airlines.
June 1, 2002... CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES IS THE largest airline in The People's Republic of China with worldwide headquarters located at Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou--the economic and cultural heart of Southern China. From its transportation...

Four hours in Bologna.(Italy)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Bologna has variously been nicknamed La Dotta (the learned), La Grassa, (the fat) and La Rossa (the red). It is home to Europe's oldest university, and its food is the best in Italy, but the radical politics that characterized the city for so...

Getting down to business in the Middle East.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... From photocopiers to suvs and razors to cell phones, American businesses in the Middle East are burgeoning. Not only do these countries offer an abundance of natural resources, but a wealth of economic opportunity for foreign investment as...

Shopping Seoul & Bangkok: looking for something? You'll be surprised at what you can find on the streets of Asia's thriving business meccas.
June 1, 2002... SANDWICHED BETWEEN YOUR FAVORITE blue suit and your toiletry bag, you vividly recall placing your lucky the in its allotted space. The phone was ringing, the kids were running and the taxi driver seemed to have a great affinity for his horn;...

The Park Central Hotel & The Hotel. (Offer of the month: Florida Miami Beach hotels).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... When Tony Goldman turned the corner onto Ocean Drive in 1985, he saw beyond the dust and grime that dulled the bright pastel-hued Art Deco buildings. He saw the American Riviera, a place where people from around the world could bask in the...

Pounds for dollars plus 20% off. (Savings for members: London hotels).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Discretion, luxury and an innovative mix of fine, traditional British hospitality makes "41" one of the best five-star club-style hotels in London. "41" takes the Red Carnation Hotel motto of "No request too large, no detail too small" to a...

The Fairmont--San Jose's only grand hotel. (Savings for members: California hotels).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... In celebration of the completion of the new $67 million tower at the Fairmont San Jose, the city's premier luxury hotel, Business Traveler Privilege Club members will be able to enjoy a special package now through the end of the year. San...

Climb every mountain: Victoria George schusses the Austrian Alps. (Great escape: Bad Kleinkirchheim and Flachau, Austria).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IN AUSTRIA'S SOUTHERN ALPS, WHERE THE MAJESTIC peaks of the Tauern Mountains meet the high hilltops of the Nock Mountains, lies the ski resort of Bad Kleinkirchheim. Here outdoor enthusiasts will find a preserved village cradled in the Nock...