Business Traveler articles from March 2002

Business Traveler archives from March 2002

Editor's letter.(Editorial)
March 1, 2002... WHILE SOME BUSINESS TRAVELERS might imagine bringing their children along on business trips as a nightmare in waiting, a growing number are doing just that and actually enjoying prime family-bonding time in the process. In this issue, starting...

A nod to Northwest. (Letter Of The Month).
March 1, 2002... I wish to thank and applaud the good services of Northwest Airlines. Near the end of January 2000, I booked a business-class flight from Singapore to San Francisco. I was on the waiting list and didn't expect to secure business class, since an...

Bad for business. (Readers' Letters).
March 1, 2002... The letter "Suite and Sour" (January 2002) didn't go far enough in blasting United Airlines for its supposedly "premium" international service. I took a round-trip to Paris in United's business class in November and found the service...

Up to baht. (Readers' Letters).
March 1, 2002... I was reading through the magazine and came across the "Readers' Letters" section. I found it to be very interesting--so much so that I would like to share a brief experience I had when I first traveled to Thailand. Upon arriving in the...

Check, mates.(more security checks at airports)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... YOU'RE FLYING TO EUROPE. ASIDE FROM YOUR CARRY-ON, YOU CHECK IN A LARGE suitcase, a small duffel bag and a box of baby food. Every one of them will be screened before accompanying you on the plane. As of January 18, the new Aviation and...

Small change. (Surveys).(less corporate meetings, less business for hotels)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BUSINESS TRAVELERS ARE TRIMMING the fat in all directions of meeting land convention travel, says a new survey by Benchmark Hospitality Resorts and Hotels. Companies are holding meetings closer to home and signing meeting contracts at the very...

Fit for a doge. (Hotels).(The Palazzo Sant' Angelo Sul Canal Grand opens for business in Venice; Italy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... IT'S BEEN OVER 100 YEARS SINCE the most serene Republic of Venice had its serenity ruffled by the addition of a new hotel on the Grand Canal. This spring, Sina Hotels will do just that. The Palazzo Sant' Angelo Sul Canal Grand will open between...

Celebrity death match.(airlines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... THE HEAD-TO-HEAD DEATH MATCH began late last year when Virgin's Richard Branson challenged American Airlines to put its air slots where its mouth was and fork over 10 pairs of Heathrow slots, for which Branson was prepared to pay $30 million to...

On the Radio.(Radio Perfecto restaurant offering discounts to boost business)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... IN AN EFFORT TO GET BUSINESS travelers back downtown, Radio Perfecto restaurant--located in New York City's Lower East Side--is offering deep-dish discounts to road warriors who don't get the bends south of 14th Street. "We'll cut 20 percent...

America West.(airline adds new charges for paper tickets)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * America West, which offers e-tickets for all its flights, will now charge $10 to issue most paper tickets. GK

Alaska Air.(airlines announces new non-stop flights)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Alaska Air begins nonstop flights between Seattle and Boston on April 4. GK

Austrian Airlines.(airline offering new schedules to Canada)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Austrian Airlines rejuvenates its regularly scheduled nonstop service to Canada. Toronto-Vienna and Montreal-Vienna service begins May 1. Toronto-Vienna service is offered Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Montreal-Vienna is offered Monday,...

Singapore Airlines. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Singapore Airlines has resumed service to Pakistan. Flights will depart from Singapore on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Destinations in Pakistan are Lahore and Karachi. GK

China Southern Airlines. (Flight Log).(airline contracts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * China Southern Airlines and Garuda Indonesia have signed a new codesharing agreement and have inaugurated the agreement by flying a new Jakarta/Guangzhou route both sold and operated by the two airlines. GK

Arabia Ayurveda. (Hotels).
March 1, 2002... CHECK OUT THE NEW TAJ PALACE Hotel Dubai and wash the desert dust from your feet with ancient Indian Ayurvedic spa treatments. The newest five-star Taj property in Dubai, located in the Riqqa Al Buteen area of Deira, offers two pools and a...

Without a Net. (Airlines).(internet in the sky)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... IN-FLIGHT INTERNET: AN IDEA whose time has come--and gone--post-Sept. 11. Both Boeing and Tenzing, the two largest in-flight Internet providers, have shifted their gaze to the ground as they look for new non-airborne business to supplant the...

Flight of the Phoenix. (Airlines).(Ariana Airlines, Afghani carrier, flies again)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AS U.N. ECONOMIC SANCTIONS against Afghanistan lift, so does the country's national carrier, Ariana Airlines. The Kabul-based carrier test-flew a one-route-only flight this past winter, and may plan more flights in the future. After mine...

And crab cakes, too. (Hotels).(Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina opens for business)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... THE NEW 400-ROOM HYATT REGENCY Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina opens on June 1--Maryland's Eastern Shore's first luxury resort. Featuring an 18,000-square-foot European spa, an 18-hole championship golf course and a 150-slip marina,...

Malaysia Airlines. (Airline Deals).(AccessAsia Pass, new program offered to the public)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... MALAYSIA AIRLINES has introduced the "AccessAsia Pass." This program is similar to the "All Asia Pass" on Cathay Pacific. For a low flat rate of $747 (plus taxes that range $55-$150 or more), you can fly round-trip from Los Angeles to Kuala...

Codeshare. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... CODESHARE flights can offer you deals on your favorite airlines so that you avoid paying their high prices or avoid booking their codeshare partners who charge much more. For example, Continental operates nonstop between Newark and Madrid...

Air France. (Airline Deals).(two for the price of one)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AIR FRANCE is offering a free companion ticket in business class with the purchase of a full business fare round-trip from Los Angeles to Papeete at a cost of $4,400 plus tax--about $60 per passenger. Restrictions apply. No advance purchase;...

Totally accessible. (Reader Offer).(traveler guide)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... COLORFUL, EASY-TO-READ AND extremely detailed briefly describes Access Press's new travel guides. All cities and destinations are clearly marked with up-to-date information on hotels, restaurants, shops, museums and parks, plus details on...

Needle's eye. (Hotels).(Threadneedles opens for business in London; England)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... THIS MONTH "THE OLD LADY OF Threadneedle Street" (The Bank of England) gets a trendy new neighbor. Threadneedles is the first luxury boutique hotel in London's City Square Mile. The former Midland Bank headquarters, built in 1856, features...

The Roger Williams Hotel in Manhattan, on a quest to create a soothing escape for travelers to the area, is offering a special package through the end of this month. (United States).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Roger Williams Hotel in Manhattan, on a quest to create a soothing escape for travelers to the area, is offering a special package through the end of this month. It includes a semiprivate yoga class, aromatherapy amenities and complimentary...

Through March 31, visitors to San Francisco's Union Square can take advantage of special rates at four Personality Hotel properties. (United States).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Through March 31, visitors to San Francisco's Union Square can take advantage of special rates at four Personality Hotel properties. Rates at the Hotel Union Square and Hotel Metropolis start at $99; rates at the Hotel Diva and Kensington Park...

Stay at the recently restored Warwick Hotel in Midtown Manhattan for $199 a night during the week and $220 a night on weekends. (United States).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Stay at the recently restored Warwick Hotel in Midtown Manhattan for $199 a night during the week and $220 a night on weekends. Rack rates for similar rooms start at $285. Call toll free 800-223-4099, or visit www.warwickhotels.com GM

The Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston is offering several packages throughout this year. (United States).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston is offering several packages throughout this year. The "shopping escape" package, good during weekends only and valid until May 11, offers shop coupons, health club access and breakfast for two. Rates are based on...

Leading Hotels of the World is offering savings of up to 50 percent at its New York properties until April 7. (United States).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Leading Hotels of the World is offering savings of up to 50 percent at its New York properties until April 7. Rates vary according to location; participating properties include The Lowell, The Mark, The Peninsula, The Plaza, The New York Palace...

Park Hyatt Hotels is making it easy to enjoy the weekend with its "Weekends in the Park" promotion. (United States).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Park Hyatt Hotels is making it easy to enjoy the weekend with its "Weekends in the Park" promotion. Until March 31, per-couple rates at Park Hyatt properties across the United States are offering reduced rates, a $100 dinner credit and two...

Several Pan Pacific properties throughout Asia are featuring drastically reduced rates until the end of May. (Asia).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Several Pan Pacific properties throughout Asia are featuring drastically reduced rates until the end of May. A night in a deluxe room at the Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur, for example, starts at $85. In Pangkor Island, the rate is $158, and in...

Battery-powered Ritz. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AFTER CLOSING UP SHOP ON CENTRAL PARK IN 1997 BECAUSE OF "management differences," the New York City Ritz-Carlton re-emerged this February to re-energize The Battery in Lower Manhattan. Housed in a 39-story glass and brick tower within siting...

Booting up. (Airlines).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... IMAGINE A MOHAMMED Atta trying to commandeer a jet plane, only to find that it's been "booted," just like an illegally parked car. "Jet Lock" works much like an auto "boot." The new product, developed by Israeli-based Magal Security...

ANA takes it lying down. (Airlines).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... THE 180-DEGREE RECLINE IN business class is an idea whose time has come. Pioneered by British Airways business class several years ago, it offers road warriors the luxury of a good night's sleep without the costs of other technical...

American Airlines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Through May 23, AAdvantage members who rent a full-size or larger vehicle for two days or more will receive 100 miles per qualifying rental day at all Dollar Rent a Car locations. Members must ask for promo code AADEC when making the...

Delta Air Lines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Through June 30, SkyMiles members earn 1,000 miles per stay at more than 150 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts throughout North America and the Caribbean once you become a Wyndham ByRequest[R] member. Call 800-WYNDHAM. SkyMiles members must have their...

Qantas Airways. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Through March 31, Qantas frequent flyer members can earn 1,000 points for using Internet booking or the online award booking service to book flights on www.qantas.com. Call 800-227-4220. GP & GM

Asiana Airlines. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Through March 31, Asiana Club members will receive bonus points when flying on any Cathay Pacific flight. Members will receive 1,000 bonus points for travel on economy class, 2,000 points for business class and 3,000 points for first class....

Hilton. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Through March 31, Hilton HHonors is offering double airline miles for stays at any of its family of hotels. Hilton is partnered with more than 50 airlines, including Northwest, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, United and...

Pan Pacific. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts is offering room savings in conjunction with enhanced airline miles until April 30. Guests can earn 5,000 miles per night for staying in a suite, and up to 25,000 miles per night in a Bungalow room at The Mauna...

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts/Air Canada. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Through April 30, guests staying at any one of 35 participating Fairmont Hotels and Resorts will receive double Air Canada Aeroplan miles for qualifying stays (500 base Aeroplan miles + 500 Aeroplan Bonus Miles). Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in...

Water world. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... IN AN EFFORT TO BRING BUSINESS travelers and others back to the sunnier side of life, San Juan's only boutique-on-the-beach hotel has significantly cut rates for the winter and spring months. Located in tony Isla Verde, five minutes from the...

Get fit. (Sites For Sore Eyes).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Are you working 16-hour days and eating leftover moo-shu pork for breakfast? Do you find yourself indulging in fat-laden foods while away from home? If so, check out these sites for healthy eating tips and simple exercises when traveling, and...

New York. (Restaurants).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Patroon 160 E. 46th St. tel. 212-883-7373 For over six years, Patroon has been a favorite midtown haunt for media barons, business executives and Wall Street tycoons. Now the restaurant is sporting a new look--lighter wood floors,...

SFO's upscale food court--adjourned? (Airports).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WHEN SAN FRANCISCO INTERnational Airport's International Terminal concourse offered space to local restaurants before Sept. 11, they envisioned upscale restaurants drawing locals, as well as travelers. "They would come to the restaurants, eat...

St. Regis Hotel Shanghai. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WHEN I WALKED INTO MY 37th-floor room at the brand-new St. Regis Hotel in Shanghai, several details jumped out at me at once, wing for my attention. The room was spacious, furnished with a firm king-size bed piled with pillows and a stylish...

America West first class. (Flight check: Newark to Albuquerque, via Phoenix).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... First Impressions: Terminal A at Newark International Airport was calm and quiet before dawn on this weekday morning. Only a few passengers were waiting in line at check-in, with one line for both first- and economy-class ticket holders. I held...

Hotel de Russie Rome. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ONCE TWO INNS, WHICH WERE joined over time, the Hotel de Russie became known for hosting international aristocracy, such as Gerolame Napoleon, the emperor's nephew, who lived and died there in 1891, as well as artists such as Picasso. The...

The Bentley New York. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... THIS FLAGSHIP PROPERTY OF THE Amsterdam Hospitality Group is located on the corner of York Avenue and 61st Street, just north of the Queensboro Bridge on the margins of Manhattan's exclusive Upper East Side. The glass-covered exterior reflects...

American Airlines business class. (Flight check: Paris Charles De Gaulle to New York JFK).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... First Impressions: I arrived at the airport two hours in advance, and check-in was smooth. There was a delay in the security checkpoint, which resulted in a large line over 120 people in length. Airport personnel soon informed us that there was...

Spot check. (Consumer Checks).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... We asked hotels around the world how much they charge guests to receive faxes and discovered wide disparaties. Here's what we found: MARRIOTT MARQUIS New York, NY per page $1 CROWNE PLAZA Washington, D.C. ...

Portland's high-tech tumble: Portland, Oregon is full of contradictions. Gina Masullo reports on the city that is struggling to redefine itself in uncertain times. (Home Front: Portland, OR).(business travel guide)
March 1, 2002... STROLLING THROUGH PORTLAND'S ROSE GARDEN or driving through its bustling downtown area, an unsuspecting visitor would probably have no inkling of any of the problems Portland is facing of late. On the surface, this looks a lot like a city on...

Family business: mixing work and play on the road brings busy parents and kids together.(business travel with family members; related services)
March 1, 2002... Joe Lane travels 20 weeks out of the year, meaning he's sometimes absent at birthday parties and other important events in the lives of his children. But while Lane's 11-year-old daughter, Katie, may feel a pang or two when Daddy is not in the...

Secret city: with its economy and population burgeoning, Madrid holds fast to traditional ways of doing business. (Insider's guide: Madrid).(business travel guide)
March 1, 2002... MADRILENOS LIKE KEEPING THEIR city secret. So what if Barcelona gets feted for its architecture and its lifestyle, they are happy with the little-known gem that is the Spanish capital. The way international tourist brochures go on about...

Pioneering spirit: Paul Gains reports on a little-known Canadian city whose residents are developing a reputation for stubborn determination in the business world. (Focus: Edmonton).(business travel guide)
March 1, 2002... WHILE THE REST OF CANADA IS MIRED in economic uncertainty, Edmonton--Canada's fifth-largest city--is enjoying a spurt of growth, with many economists predicting it will continue to outpace all other major cities in the country for years to...

Power port: efforts are underway to diversify Oman's economy away from petroleum and to maximize the country's brain power. (Focus: Muscat).(business travel guide)
March 1, 2002... IF YOU ARRIVE AT SEEB AIRPORT AT NIGHT, the 15-minute neon-lit taxi ride to your hotel could fool you into believing that Muscat is just a smaller version of Dubai. It isn't. Muscat is an example of how low-rise is just so much nicer than its...

Four hours in Delhi.(sightseeing in India)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Westerners are still regarded with some fascination in much of Old Delhi. Women, particularly, will attract a lot of attention, especially if alone. Do not let this put you off; dress modestly, slip on your most comfortable shoes and enjoy...

2001 Best in Business Travel Awards. (Award Roundup).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... On Nov. 2, 2001, the travel industry came together at the legendary Plaza Hotel in New York City to celebrate leaders in the travel industry who excel with their products and services. These accolades were chosen by our readers--frequently...

Silent Auction.(travel industry's fund-raiser to benefit The Mentor Foundation, New York Police, Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund)
March 1, 2002... This year, proceeds from the Silent Auction will benefit both The Mentor Foundation and the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund (last year, our subscribers successfully raised $56,646 for the National Theatre Workshop...

Save 46% at the Hotel Lotte in downtown Seoul. (Offer Of The Month Korea Seoul Hotels).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Centrally located near the financial, business, government, entertainment, shopping and sightseeing districts of downtown Seoul, the Hotel Lotte is a leader in Korean hospitality. The property's 1,486 rooms offer world-class service and...

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. (Savings For Members Chicago Hotels).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Located on the scenic Chicago River and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers has 1,209 beautifully appointed guest rooms, including 33 suites. The property is close to Navy Pier as well, and features five...

Dubai's dazzling skyline is setting for a Fairmont jewel. (Savings For Members Dubai Hotels).(special offer from hotel The Fairmont Dubai)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A distinctive landmark on an ever evolving city skyline, The Fairmont Dubai is an icon in the business heart of the metropolis. This property incorporates cutting-edge design characteristics and more traditional symbols, personified by the...

My little town: Eva Leonard relishes the serene delights of an archetypal New England small town. (Great escape: the Inn at Stonington, CT).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... I WAS THE LONE PASSENGER TO GET OFF AT THE Mystic, Connecticut, station just two and a half hours after the early evening train had rattled out of Manhattan's Penn Station. A voice over the intercom directed me to go to a specific car to exit...