Business Traveler articles from March 2005

Business Traveler archives from March 2005

This month.(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... There's a truly international feel to this month's Business Traveler as we jet around the world to offer an unrivalled series of destinations. First up is Belfast, for so long an undiscovered and unexplored city but now, at last, coming back...

Just not fare.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... At short notice I booked a multi-segment flight on a major carrier. But a change in plans required me to add a segment to the journey and delete one of my purchased segments. The cost of the added segment, as published on the carrier's website,...

Fat chance of flying.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I was outraged when I read the news article "Passenger Weight Gains Raise Fuel Costs" in the January 2005 issue of Business Traveler. I think overweight flyers should pay more, just as if their luggage was too heavy. An easy solution would be...

Out of line.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Until 2001, I had a Gold AAdvantage card with American Airlines, and was flying five or six times from Brussels to New York every year. When the direct flight was cancelled, I flew for a while via Chicago, then switched to Delta and...

Cabin fever.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Among the most unpleasant side effects of a long journey is the risk of getting ill. I am therefore increasingly appalled at the behavior of airline passengers who actively disregard this hazard and spread their germs throughout the cabin. ...

Seat deprived.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I just spent the last 45 minutes on the phone with a US Airways representative, trying to redeem miles for flights to send my just retired in-laws on a well-deserved vacation. I have over 100,000 miles, and their first choice was Hawaii. Guess...

Million mile smile.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Arriving in Baton Rouge after flights from Incheon, Narita and Atlanta, it was nice to hear the Delta stewardess announce that: "We have on board one million miler, X Platinum, X Gold and X Silver Medallion members". I was the tired million...

Dreaming up the future.(Up Front)(air travel)
March 1, 2005... FLAT-BED SEATS, ENHANCED in-flight entertainment systems, chauffeur-driven transfers: business class just keeps on improving. Which is fine if you can afford it, and irrelevant if you're in the back of the plane, but where does it leave first...

Airbus launches A380.(Airlines)
March 1, 2005... AFTER MONTHS OF anticipation, Airbus unveiled its long-awaited super-jumbo jetliner, the A380. The aircraft is the world's first commercial jet with twin passenger decks and is designed to hold 555 passengers in a multi-class configuration, or...

Onboard water still under scrutiny.(Airlines)
March 1, 2005... DESPITE ALL THE RECENT headlines, a second round of testing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that 17% of commercial airlines have contaminated water on board. The contamination is in the form of total coliform bacteria...

A new, upscale choice.(Hotels)(Cambria Suites)
March 1, 2005... A NEW HOTEL BRAND IS IN the pipeline from Choice Hotels International, which franchises hotels under the Comfort Suites, Quality and Sleep Inn brands. The brand is Cambria Suites and it's aimed at a more upscale business travel customer. ...

Song expands services.(Low-Cost Airlines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... SONG, THE LOW-FARE subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, has announced aggressive expansion plans and a series of upgrades to its onboard service, which will likely heat up competition with JetBlue on key transcontinental routes. Starting in May,...

Southwest enters major airports.(Airlines)
March 1, 2005... CHEAPER AIRFARES LOOK set to come to several major cities, including New York and Chicago, thanks to Southwest Airlines, the leading low-cost carrier in the U.S., gaining access to some of the largest airports in the country under its recent...

New Delta Shuttle seating policy.(Airlines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE DELTA SHUTTLE, which operates hourly flights from New York to Boston and Washington, ended all guaranteed seating as of February 1. The policy is part of Delta Air Lines' overall program to slash billions of dollars in operating costs while...

The Latham.(United States)
March 1, 2005... Business travelers staying at The Latham in Philadelphia can enjoy high-speed Internet connections, a fitness center and free parking included in the Winter Getaway Package. The package starts at $129.99 per night and is valid through March 31....

La Fonda.(United States)
March 1, 2005... Guests staying at Santa Fe's La Ponda hotel for two nights can receive their third night for free. The "Third Night Free" offer includes a meal (for one person in your party) at the La Plazuela restaurant. Room rates start at $219 per night and...

The Biltmore Hotel.(United States)
March 1, 2005... Treat yourself and a partner to a 50-minute Swedish massage at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, through April 30. Starting at $189 per person, the "Poolside Paradise" offer also includes deluxe accommodation, welcome cocktail and a...

InterContinental New Orleans'.(United States)
March 1, 2005... Take it easy in the Big Easy with the InterContinental New Orleans' "It's a Gas of a Package." The hotel is offering free self-parking, a $20 gas card and rooms starting at $129 a night. The deal is available through March 31 and requires a...

The Time Hotel.(United States)
March 1, 2005... Throughout March, The Time Hotel in Manhattan is offering a "Bridge & Tunnel" package starting at $225 a night, which includes one night's accommodation in a superior room and overnight parking. For more information call 866-376-7831 or go to...

Comfort Inn Airport South.(United States)
March 1, 2005... Just outside San Francisco, the Comfort Inn Airport South has a nightly rate of $55. Guests also receive complimentary continental breakfast, parking, airport transportation and access to the business center. The offer is valid through March...

Intercontinental Toronto Centre.(Canada)
March 1, 2005... With rooms starting at $190, the Intercontinental Toronto Centre offers deluxe accommodation, breakfast at the Azure Restaurant and valet parking. The package is valid through March 31. For details call 416-597-1400 or visit...

Conrad London.(Europe)
March 1, 2005... The Conrad London is offering room rates starting at $346 a night, including an English breakfast, and a bottle of wine upon arrival. The offer is valid through March 31. For more information call 44-20-7823-3000 or visit www.conradhotels.com.

Hotel Antik.(Europe)
March 1, 2005... Located in Prague's Old Town Square section, the Hotel Antik is offering rooms starting at only $119. The rate is valid until March 23. For more information call 420-244-003-203.

Continental to Nigeria.(New In The Air)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Continental Airlines has received approval from both the U.S. and Nigerian governments to begin service between New York and Lagos. The U.S. is Nigeria's second-largest trading partner, primarily due to Nigerian oil exports, and Continental...

American to Ireland.(New In The Air)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... On May 1, American Airlines will introduce two new nonstop routes between the U.S. and Ireland with flights from Chicago to Dublin and Boston to Shannon. The daily flights will be offered from May 1 to October 31, with five weekly flights...

Delta to Moscow.(New In The Air)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Delta Air Lines has requested permission from the Department of Transportation to begin service to Moscow from its Atlanta hub. Pending DOT approval, Delta aims to begin an outbound service from Atlanta on June 1 with return service from Moscow...

JetBlue expanding.(New In The Air)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... JetBlue Airways is adding a number of new coast-to-coast flights in anticipation of the busy summer travel season between California and New York, Washington DC and Boston. On May 3, JetBlue will launch daily nonstop services from Boston to...

In partnership with Premier Bags, Continental is offering first class passengers flying from Newark Liberty to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle, a gift bag with high-end fragrances, including Prada and Carolina Herrera, Ghirardelli chocolates, Caudalie Lip Conditioner, one of five Bantam Book titles and Iredale's D20 Hydration Spritz.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... In partnership with Premier Bags, Continental is offering first class passengers flying from Newark Liberty to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle, a gift bag with high-end fragrances, including Prada and Carolina Herrera,...

American Airlines now sells snack boxes and sandwiches on over 600 routes.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... American Airlines now sells snack boxes and sandwiches on over 600 routes. Travelers on select domestic routes over three hours, plus transcontinental and Hawaii flights, can buy a $3 morning snack box from 6 a.m. to 9:59 a.m. that includes a...

InterContinental Hotel's new lifestyle chain, Hotel Indigo, which opened its first property in October 2004 in Atlanta, has broken ground on its first new-build property in Sarasota, FL.(New On The Ground)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... InterContinental Hotel's new lifestyle chain, Hotel Indigo, which opened its first property in October 2004 in Atlanta, has broken ground on its first new-build property in Sarasota, FL. The property will have 95 rooms, including 30 suites, and...

Hotel Indigo is projected to open its second property, in Chicago, in the second quarter of 2005.(New On The Ground)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Hotel Indigo is projected to open its second property, in Chicago, in the second quarter of 2005. The 160-room Indigo Chicago will be located in the prestigious Gold Coast district in what was formerly the Claridge Hotel.

InterContinental's expansion doesn't stop there.(New On The Ground)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... InterContinental's expansion doesn't stop there. In January, Oklahoma City received its first Crowne Plaza Hotel. The 215-room property offers high-speed Internet access, express checkout, an outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour...

Travelers to Denver should take note that after a $15 million renovation, the Hyatt Regency Denver has been upgraded to become a Grand Hyatt Denver.(New On The Ground)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Travelers to Denver should take note that after a $15 million renovation, the Hyatt Regency Denver has been upgraded to become a Grand Hyatt Denver. All 511 rooms now boast a Hyatt Grand Bed, high-speed Internet access and workstations with...

American Power Conversion (APC) has introduced a suite of mobile accessories designed to make business travel a little easier.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... American Power Conversion (APC) has introduced a suite of mobile accessories designed to make business travel a little easier. The slim, lightweight (weighing just 28 ounces) Universal Notebook Battery provides up to eight hours of continuous...

APC has also introduced a compact optical travel mouse with a two-foot retractable cord, five-foot retractable network and telephone cables, and a surge protector that provides telephone, fax, Internet, DSL, modem and network protection.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... APC has also introduced a compact optical travel mouse with a two-foot retractable cord, five-foot retractable network and telephone cables, and a surge protector that provides telephone, fax, Internet, DSL, modem and network protection. All...

United airlines economy plus versus first class.(Flight check: New York Laguardia to Chicago O'Hare)(Column)
March 1, 2005... OUT IN ECONOMY PLUS FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I arrived at LaGuardia Central Terminal at 4:50 a.m. for my 6 a.m. flight 667 to O'Hare. The terminal was quiet and I had a choice of self check-in or desk check-in. I chose the desk as I was keen to...

American Airlines economy class.(Flight check: New York Laguardia to Chicago O'Hare)(Brief Article)(Column)
March 1, 2005... FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Of the 26 airlines that fly out of LaGuardia, 16 depart from the Central Terminal Building, including American Airlines which offers ten daily weekday flights to Chicago O'Hare. I arrived at 7 a.m. to catch flight 311 at...

New York Marriott East Side.(Hotel check: New York)(Hotel Review)
March 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? A restored historic hotel that was formerly the Shelton Towers Hotel, the Marriott East Side was built in 1924 by Arthur Loomis Harmon, who later contributed to the design and construction of the Empire State Building. The...

Cathay Pacific business class.(Flight check: Hong Kong-New York JFK)
March 1, 2005... FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Chek Lap Kok Airport was not busy on arrival and there was no line at the business class desk. I checked in and went straight through security, which only took about five minutes. Since July 1,2004, Cathay has offered two...

Malmaison Belfast.(Hotel check: Belfast)(Hotel Review)
March 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? The new Malmaison building was originally built as two seed warehouses, though it spent recent years as the McCausland Hotel. Now refurbished, the hotel has become a stunning, design-led, extremely chic hotel. WHERE IS IT?...

Conrad Miami.(Hotel check: Miami)(Hotel Review)
March 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? The latest hotel in Hilton's luxury brand, the Conrad opened in July 2004 and occupies 10 floors of a new 36-floor, mixed use building. The bottom floors are offices, while above the hotel are apartments let by the hotel for...

Wi-Fi in the sky.(Technology check: wireless internet)
March 1, 2005... SAS WI-FI WEB PRODUCT It's been a long time coming, but finally air travelers are getting real-time access to the Internet, email and company intranet via their own virtual private network (VPN). Connexion by Boeing uses a worldwide system...

Northern delights: Belfast's cuisine is thriving as a new generation of chefs experiment with local produce.(Belfast)
March 1, 2005... Belfast is getting busier. Last year saw a 25 percent increase in visitors from the U.S. and numbers are still growing. This shouldn't come as a surprise: Belfast is a city with something for everyone, with bars, shops and restaurants for the...

A laughing matter: comedy and business seem unlikely partners but Julian Gregory tests out a new course to see if humor is a valuable asset at work.(Training)
March 1, 2005... Like most business people, I view public speaking as a necessary evil, so anything that makes it easier is good news. The Professional Presentations and Comedy course, by UK-based company Positive Comedy, claims to do just that by offering a...

Thai temptation: from traditional curry staples to more daring combinations, Beverley Fearis finds Thai dishes for every palate in Sydney.(Sydney restaurants)
March 1, 2005... Longrain 85 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, tel. 61 2 9280 2888 Housed in a vast warehouse among the forward-thinking media and design companies of Surry Hills, Longrain is full of chic but casual 20 and 30-somethings, day and night....

The future of flight: the way we fly has never been in such crisis. David Jones looks at what business travelers can expect from their favorite carriers.(Airline Forecasting)
March 1, 2005... Since 2001, the airline industry has lost almost $35 billion worldwide during a series of global crises including the Iraq war, SARS, high security costs and record oil prices. As a result, many carriers have had to completely rethink the way...

Shades of Greene: Paul Gogarty sets off to explore the Vienna of Graham Greene's The Third Man and discovers a surreal side to the Austrian capital.(Vienna)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2005... Over the centuries, Vienna's collective unconscious has dreamt up sumptuous imperial palaces, waltzes, chocolate cake, the Vienna Philharmonic and the equestrian perfection of the Lipizzaners. But this is also the city where Freud discovered...

Buying loyalty status: gone are the days of slowly notching up miles. Now frequent flyers can pay up front for elite status.(Loyalty Programs)
March 1, 2005... There's nothing new about loyalty cards; most frequent flyers have a bundle of them in their wallets. But United has come up with something new, a card that carries a cost up front but buys instant recognition in the program. The United Mileage...

British Airways.(Loyalty Deals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... British Airways first class and Club World passengers traveling between the U.S. and Europe will receive a minimum of 50,000 regular and bonus miles. New and existing Executive Club members traveling between January 13 and April 30 on...

American Airlines.(Loyalty Deals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... American Airlines travelers can receive more than 50,000 AAdvantage miles for a single roundtrip. In a similar deal to that offered by British Airways, American is offering business and first class customers 42,000 bonus miles on flights...

Amtrak Guest Rewards.(Loyalty Deals)
March 1, 2005... Rail passengers buying two round-trips (or four one-way tickets) on Amtrak's Acela Express or Metroliner will receive a free round-trip business class ticket on either one of the premium service lines. To qualify, travelers need to join the...

Alitalia's MilleMiglia Club.(Loyalty Deals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... New members of Alitalia's MilleMiglia Club will be credited with a 1,000-mile bonus after their first flight. Registration must be completed by December 31 and the initial flight must be taken within the first three months of registration. For...

Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards.(Loyalty Deals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program is giving double credits on all flights to and from Chicago Midway. Members of the program have until March 31 to collect their bonus credit. Visit www.southwest.com for more details.

America West Airlines' Flight Fund.(Loyalty Deals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... America West Airlines' Flight Fund members can earn up to 2,500 miles after four qualifying stays at any Best Western hotel. Valid through April 30, the offer is open only to travelers who register with Best Western's Gold Crown Club, which is...

US Airways.(Loyalty Deals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... US Airways is offering double Dividend Miles for travel on nonstop flights between Reagan National Airport in Washington and Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit and Houston. Through June 30, the offer can be found at...

Hilton HHonors.(Loyalty Deals)
March 1, 2005... Hilton HHonors lets you "Double Dip" to earn HHonors points toward free nights and Delta SkyMiles for the same stay. Just provide your HHonors and SkyMiles account numbers when you make a reservation and upon check-in. To make reservations or...

London's grand hotels: are London's famous names resting on their laurels or are they still at the cutting edge? Business Traveler tests their claims to greatness.(London Hotels)
March 1, 2005... Nowadays, we think of London's grand hotels as traditional places, where guests have been visiting for years, and change is resisted rather than welcomed. Yet for much of their history, the opposite was true. Both The Savoy and the Ritz were...

Chile's warmfront: since the dark days of Pinochet, Santiago has blossomed into a sophisticated city but, as Wayne Bernhardson reports on a return trip, the quiet courteousness of the locals is still in evidence.(Santiago)
March 1, 2005... "What would you like, caserito?" asked the woman at the simple eatery in Santiago's Mercado Central. Addressing me in a Chilean peasant's deferential vernacular, she had recited the day's menu and, when I heard ensalada de pollo, I envisaged a...

Rewarding excellence: the travel industry celebrates service achievements at the Business Traveler 2004 Best in Business Travel Awards.(Awards)
March 1, 2005... The Business Traveler 2004 Best in Business Travel Awards were held on November 23, 2004, in the Grand Ballroom of the legendary Plaza Hotel in New York. This year's guest of honor was Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who spoke on behalf of SOS...

After the storm: hurricane Charley hit the Florida islands of Sanibel and Captiva hard, but Ginny McGrath finds treasures in its wake.(Sanibel and Captiva)
March 1, 2005... Last year's Hurricane Charley battered the Florida island communities of Sanibel and Captiva, leaving residents without power and many without homes. Six months later the islands still bear the scars, with shattered windows boarded up,...

Charity Auction 2005: to benefit SOS Children's Villages.(Charity Auction)
March 1, 2005... This year's Charity Auction will benefit SOS Children's Villages, the world's largest independent, non-political, non-denominational child welfare organization. SOS provides stable homes for more than 52,000 abandoned and abused children in...

4 hours in Hamburg: it may be one of Germany's lesser-known cities, but Hamburg has plenty of action to offer, from boat trips and bustling markets to a lively and hedonistic nightlife.
March 1, 2005... [1] FISCHMARKT This traditional fish market on the banks of the River Elbe has taken place every weekend since 1703. Starting at 5 a.m., visitors can buy fish, fruit and vegetables, plants, clothes and bric-a-brac from the mainly Turkish...

Boston: avoid the traffic and get to Logan with ease by land and by sea.(On Track)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BOS) WEB SITE: www.massport.com AIRPORT NUMBER: 800-235-6426 LOST AND FOUND: 617-561-1714 LOCATION: About five 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)(Directory)
March 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...

Mandarin Oriental, Miami.(Offer Of The Month)
March 1, 2005... Ideally located on prestigious Brickell Key and the only beach resort in the area, Mandarin Oriental, Miami is just minutes from Miami's international financial district and close to Miami International Airport, South Beach, Bayside and Coconut...

Quorum Hotel, Tampa.(Privilege Club)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The newly-flagged Quorum Hotel in Tampa, Florida is an ideal business resort but with plenty of leisure bonuses. The 272-room property, located in the bustling Westshore business district, recently completed a $5 million renovation. The new...

Crunch time.(Reader Offer)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Do you find it hard to maintain your workout routine when traveling? Check out the new BodyWedge21, an inflatable portable exercise accessory, ideal for travelers who just can't seem to make it to the gym. The wedge has 21 specific...

Jungle fever: while tourists flock to Cancun's glamorous beaches, Todd Pitock discovers hidden delights inland.(Great escape: Yucatan)(Yucatan Peninsula)
March 1, 2005... Beyond a vast coastal playground of sprawling all-inclusive resorts lies the dense rugged jungle of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, 20 minutes south of Cancun. The region's natural beauty is compelling and the jungle, a prolific growth of...