Business Traveler articles from May 2003

Business Traveler archives from May 2003

Editor's letter.(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... AS THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ AND THE emergence of SARS bring business travelers' anxieties to a head, the travel industry is responding with vigor and speed. Airlines have put into place additional safety, health and security procedures, and...

Same page? (Letter Of The Month).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... I was booked to fly on flight #668 from Newark to Las Vegas and had received confirmation from Continental the night before my flight that I had been upgraded from coach to first class, as I'm a Platinum Elite member of Continental's OnePass...

Pushing buttons. (Readers Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... I read John Luckacovic's letter in the March 2003 issue regarding Virgin Atlantic Airways with interest. I would like to share my recent experience flying with Virgin from London Heathrow to Boston Logan. I have flown with Virgin on numerous...

Air kiss. (Readers Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... I recently picked up a copy of Business Traveler. How did I do the past two years and 300,000 miles without this magazine?! The articles on different cities make this magazine a keeper. I've added to my "traveling checklist" to visit your site...

Grateful red. (Readers Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... It was interesting to see your report on Washington, D.C., in the April edition. I had a business trip there a short while ago and was upset when I found we were being booked in a boutique hotel, Hotel Rouge. Where was my Hilton? My Marriott?...

Eyes on the prize. (Readers Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Being of Scandinavian descent, the article about Stockholm in your April issue drew my attention. Being of Norwegian descent, I was astonished to read that Stockholm "came to the attention of many in the United States for the first time last...

What happens now? (Airlines).(war-related scenarios)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... IS THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING CONTINGENCIES FOR WORST CASE, war-related scenarios for the airline industry, upon which the entire U.S. economy depends?" asked Kevin Mitchell, president of the Business Travel Coalition, shortly after...

Flights in wartime. (Air Travel).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... WE'VE GOT CONTINGENCY PLANS for all kinds of scenarios," one senior official of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport told BT. "We have stocked bedding and supplies for stranded passengers so that if U.S. airspace is closed--as it happened during the...

SARS. (Health).
May 1, 2003... THIS SPRING SAW A NEW "MYSTERY illness" affecting travelers. Quickly identified by the World Health Organization and other agencies as SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, the illness is an atypical form of pneumonia--virulent and...

Renaissance redux. (Hotels).(Park Hyatt Milano)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... WHEN THE PARK HYATT MILANO opens in August 2003, it will be the luxury brand's first hotel in Italy. "We're giving it a refined, contemporary attitude," says interior architect and designer Ed Turtle (Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome). Milanese...

Noble House Hotels and Resorts, a group of 12 properties across the United States, is currently offering spring and summer packages (most packages are valid until June; some are valid until the end of May or through the end of the year). .(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Noble House Hotels and Resorts, a group of 12 properties across the United States, is currently offering spring and summer packages (most packages are valid until June; some are valid until the end of May or through the end of the year). Each...

Until December 31, stay at Clinton Hotel in South Beach, Miami, for rates as low as $110 on weekdays and $160 on weekends. (United States).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Until December 31, stay at Clinton Hotel in South Beach, Miami, for rates as low as $110 on weekdays and $160 on weekends. Special rate includes use of laptop computers and DVD players, rooftop fitness center and reserved chaises on the beach....

All Adam's Mark Hotels and Resorts are offering slashed rates during the entire month of May. (United States).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... All Adam's Mark Hotels and Resorts are offering slashed rates during the entire month of May. Stay in Philadelphia for $135 a night on weekdays or $99 on weekends, in Jacksonville, FL, for $94 weekdays/$74 weekends, or Denver for $129...

Four Le Meridien properties in London--Le Meridien Russell, Le Meridien Waldorf, Le Meridien Grosvenor House and Le Meridien Piccadilly--will offer a special all-inclusive package until further notice. (Europe).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Four Le Meridien properties in London--Le Meridien Russell, Le Meridien Waldorf, Le Meridien Grosvenor House and Le Meridien Piccadilly--will offer a special all-inclusive package until further notice. Guests who mention the "Assure Promotion"...

Travelers seeking relaxation and romance will appreciate the "Romance Package" at The St. Regis Shanghai. Starting at $400, the package gives deluxe accommodations for two people. (Asia).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Travelers seeking relaxation and romance will appreciate the "Romance Package" at The St. Regis Shanghai. Starting at $400, the package gives deluxe accommodations for two people. Complimentary extras include airport transfers via Mercedes...

Who's on first? (Air Travel).(All Nippon Airways First Class service)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... ON MAY 4, ANA (ALL Nippon airways) debuts a new First Class service on daily nonstop flights between New York and Tokyo. The airline will also move its JFK operations from Terminal 3 to Terminal 7, where First and Business class passengers will...

The stately homes of England. (Hotels).(The Grove)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... LAST YEAR'S FILM GOSFORD PARK proved that Americans still love the fantasy of spending a weekend in an English country house--with or without a murder to spice things up. This summer, one of Britain's oldest and grandest country houses--The...

Greek idyll. (Hotels).(Hotel Grande Bretagne)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... THIS MARCH, ATHEN'S HOTEL GRANDE Bretague reopened after a face-lift that would have made the Venus de Milo jealous. The hotel has been an Athens landmark since its opening in 1862, but the famous Athens' air and time had taken their toll....

British Airways. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... British Airways has extended the free companion ticket offer for British Airways Visa card members to March 31, 2004. If you don't already have this card, call British Airways at 866-255-3428 or visit the main Web site for this offer, which has...

Air France. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Air France has extended ticketing on its Concorde excursion fare to May 15, 2003. This promotion is offered in two parts. The first is a flat rate for round-trip Concorde travel from JFK to Paris for $6,519 plus tax. The normal Concorde fare is...

Indigo. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... INDIGO, "The Corporate Airline" traditionally offering private and corporate charters, is now taking individual reservations for its service between Teterboro Airport (seven miles from Manhattan) and Chicago's Midway Airport. All tickets are...

Thai Airways. (Airline Deals).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... THAI AIRWAYS is offering the "Royal Companion Package," which is basically a 2-for-1 free companion promotion, with a slight variation from the norm. This 2 for 1 applies one-way as well as round-trip. Round-trip tickets require both passengers...

The road less traveled. (Reader Offer).(Fodor's Great American Drives of the East or Great American Drives of the West )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... WHY NOT TAKE SOME TIME OFF AND SPEND IT on wheels? The new Fodor's Road Guide USA: Great American Drives of the East and Great American Drives of the West take you on scenic drives through apple orchards and cotton fields in the Blue Ridge...

Bay watch. (Hotels).(Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... NAUTICAL HISTORY BUFFS WILL soon have a new home-away-from-home in San Francisco. Kimpton Hotels and Restaurant's 252-room waterfront Argonaut Hotel, to open in an historic warehouse building in August, will feature maritime decor and...

Japan Airlines and Asian Hotels Alliance. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... A new agreement between Asian Hotels Alliance (AHA) and Japan Airlines' Mileage Bank program will allow travelers to earn miles and other JAL rewards by staying at any of the participating AHA hotels (over 50 hotels total). AHA is a...

Hilton Honors. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Existing hmembers with Hilton HHonors will earn 1,000 bonus points each time they update their profile at the HHonors Web site. Profiles can be updated as often as twice each quarter, for a possible total of 8,000 bonus points each year. ...

Air Canada. (Reward Roundup).(Air Canada Aeroplan Platinum Plus MasterCard)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Air Canada launched a co-branded credit card, the Air Canada Aeroplan Platinum Plus MasterCard, solely for U.S. Aeroplan members. Cardholders receive one mile for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. New cardholders will receive 5,000...

Wind resistance. (Airlines).(www.civilcity.org)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... ASKED TO IDENTIFY THE RUDEST behavior encountered in flight, a surprising number of travelers cite in-flight farters as their bete noire. "I'm sitting at the bar because my seatmate has no qualms about trans-Atlantic body gas" said one...

Marriott. (Reward Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Through June 15, Marriott Rewards members who stay five separate times at any more than 2,300 Marriott Hotels are eligible for a free two-weekend-night stay. Free weekend certificates must be redeemed by Dec. 30 and must be on a Thursday,...

Emirates. (Flight Log).
May 1, 2003... Emirates is boosting its services in the Gulf and Middle East region with extra flights to be introduced between now and July. Doha will eventually have four flights daily, Muscat flights will increase to twice daily, Tehran will get an extra...

Continental Airlines. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Continental Airlines begins nonstop service to four destinations from Houston on June 12. They are Asheville, NC; Hartford/ Springfield, CT; Fort Walton Beach, FL; and Morelia, Mexico. Continental also begins daily nonstop service between Salt...

Song. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Song, Delta's new low-cost carrier, begins flying June 1 between JFK and Atlanta.

Lufthansa. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Lufthansa will offer dedicated business jet service to travelers flying between Chicago and the German business center city of Dusseldorf. The airline will also add a second business jet flight from Newark to Munich. The 48-seater nonstop...

Korean Air. (Flight Log).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Korean Air has introduced DVD (Digital Video Disk) for the first time to first- and business-class passengers in an effort to enhance the quality of in-flight entertainment services.

West end wireless. (Hotels).(One Aldwych )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... THIS SPRING, ONE ALDWYCH, ONE OF London's first boutique hotels, became the first in the city to offer WiFi wireless Internet technology to its largely business traveler clientele. Guests can now purchase "Liberty" access cards from the hotel...

San Cristobal Tower Santiago. (Hotel Check).(Hotel Review)
May 1, 2003... BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY when you direct your taxi driver to San Cristobal Tower. This member of Starwood's Luxury Collection rises 22 stories above its shorter sister hotel, the Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center. Though the hotels...

Alitalia Magnifica Class. (Flight check: New York JFK to Rome).(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2003... First Impressions: Only one other person was ahead of me at Alitalia's intimate business-class check-in area at JFK. My bags were tagged, and I was sent to the temporary lounge upstairs in lieu of the new dedicated Alitalia lounge, which had...

Air New Zealand business class. (Flight check: Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia).(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2003... First Impressions: Quitting smoking radically alters one's pre-boarding rituals. Instead of fondling my cigarette packet outside the terminal until minutes before final boarding announcements were made, I raced to the check-in counter hours...

Spot check. (Consumer Checks).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... We asked popular golf courses around the world what they charge for a full day of green and cart fees for those who are not resort guests or members. Here's what we found: DORAL GOLF RESORT $125-$150 Miami ...

66. (New York).(Restaurant Review)
May 1, 2003... 66 241 Church St. at Leonard St., tel. 212-925-0202 Overview: Inspired by Chinese teahouses, chef-owner Jean-Georges Vongerichten's sixth New York City restaurant, complete with hopping dim sum and noodle bar and lounge, is drawing...

Re Sette. (New York).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... 7 W. 45th St., tel. 212-221-7530 Overview: Smack in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, this new restaurant and lounge serves comforting fare that's both rustic and refined. Re Sette means "the seven kings" in Italian. Cuisine:...

Oleana. (Cambridge, MA.).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... OLEANA 134 Hampshire St., tel. 617-661-0505 Overview: Just a short ride from Boston to outlying Cambridge, Oleana is more than worth the cab fare, and belongs on the must-see list for any gourmand passing through Boston. Chef Ana...

Party's over? Although tourism remains an important part of its economy, Fort Lauderdale is outgrowing its Spring Break image. (HomeFront: Fort Lauderdale).
May 1, 2003... MILES OF PALM-FRINGED BEACHES, THOUsands of luxury megayachts and a year-round tropical climate have made Fort Lauderdale, just 40 miles from both downtown Palm Beach and downtown Miami, one of the most visited places in the country. However,...

Workouts on the edge: some hotels go to extremes to please active guests. (Adventure Sports).
May 1, 2003... SOME BUSINESS TRAVELERS BLOW OFF STEAM after a tough day on the road by diving into a steak dinner. For Michael Weissman, stress relief means diving out of a perfectly good airplane at 13,000 feet. Weissman, 35, a self-employed military...

It takes a thief: business travelers' secrets can be coveted quarry for foreign governments and competing businesses. (Corporate Espionage).
May 1, 2003... The executive returned from meetings at his European offices, safely bringing back the sensitive and confidential report that laid out his Fortune 1000 company's business strategies for developing products and services designed to outmaneuver...

Simon F. Cooper. (Special Executive Spotlight).(Interview)
May 1, 2003... Simon F. Cooper Age 58 President and Chief Operating Officer, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company L.L.C. Ritz-Carlton hotels are known for consistency. When you check into a Ritz-Carlton property, you know the service is going to be...

Paul McManus. (Special Executive Spotlight).(Interview)
May 1, 2003... Paul McManus Age: 59 President and Chief Executive Officer, The Leading Hotels of the World Ltd., and Hotel Representative Inc. (HRI) Starting as a sales assistant Waldorf=Astoria fresh out of college, Paul McManus is a career...

Back to the future: Hong Kong's heyday may have passed since it returned to Chinese rule, but as local resident Jonathan Wall points out, the city still has much to offer as a business base. (Insider's guide: Hong Kong).
May 1, 2003... CAN IT BE JUST FIVE YEARS AGO THAT THE FLIGHT path into Hong Kong International Airport brought you so low above Kowloon that the plane's wingtips seemed close enough to snag the clothes from the rooftop washing lines? And when you emerged from...

Work force: despite Sao Paulo's hectic pace and serious work ethic, informality is the norm. (Doing Business In Sao Paulo).
May 1, 2003... BRAZILIANS FROM OUTSIDE OF SAO PAOLO, and particularly from the rival city of Rio de Janeiro, often joke of the programa de paulista. It's a catchall phrase that refers to a certain type of behavior that is emblematic of apaulista, a resident...

Magnetic poles: it's been a bumpy ride for the people of Warsaw since 1989 and the introduction of the market economy, but their ability to adapt is deeply ingrained. (Focus: Warsaw).
May 1, 2003... IT'S THE LAST THING THE PEOPLE OF WARSAW WANT YOU to associate with their city, but the first thing that will strike you as you enter the Polish capital--the legacy of Uncle Joe. Soaring head and shoulders above the inescapably ugly buildings...

Hear this: what do you look for in a mobile phone? George Hobica goes back to the basics. (Tools: Mobile Phones).
May 1, 2003... IN LATE MARCH MOBILE PHONE manufacturers pulled out all their bells and whistles at the annual CTIA Wireless show. Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, LG, Sanyo and their ilk introduced dozens of new models, many of them sexy, cute little numbers....

Four hours in Santiago: Michael T. Luongo takes in the dramatic views of Santiago and traces its history, stopping along the way for some excellent seafood.
May 1, 2003... (1) PLAZA DE ARMAS See where the city began, the Plaza de Armas, Santiago's colonial heart. Little besides the Cathedral has survived from that time, and the scars of numerous earthquakes are visible inside the church. Just down the...

Offer of the month Puerto Rico hotels. (Privilege Club).(Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort & Golf Club,)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort & Golf Club, northeast Puerto Rico's newest resort, bestows guests with the utmost in private luxury. Its new Royal Beach Club level provides personalized concierge, fresh orchids, personalized amenities and...

The new wing at Lotte Hotel Seoul--save up to 40 percent. (Savings For Members South Korea Hotels).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The 1,486-room Lotte Hotel Seoul is located in the heart of downtown Seoul. A landmark on the Korean hospitality scene, it has welcomed a host of dignitaries and celebrities. Its amenities include 15 restaurants, coffee shops and bars, banquet...

Upgrade your room at the Clinton Hotel. (Savings For Members Miami Beach Hotels).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The just-reopened Clinton Hotel is rewriting the rules of South Beach style with its high-design take on Art Deco. After a $12 million renovation, the property--which was originally built in 1930 by architect Charles Neidler--combines the...

Uncommon sense: Nick Perry leaves his laptop at home and immerses himself in the sights, sounds and aromas of the idyllic Hilton Maldives Resort and Spa. (Great escape: Maldives).(Hotel Review)
May 1, 2003... I BELIEVE A BREAK SHOULD PRESENT YOU WITH THE opportunity to experience sensations as far removed, both geographically and emotionally, from your usual orbit as possible. Lying facedown on a glass floor and listening to classical music while...