Business Traveler articles from November 2003

Business Traveler archives from November 2003

Editor's letter.(Editorial)
November 1, 2003... WHAT'S A SUREFIRE WAY FOR HARD-charging business travelers to trip themselves up? By ignoring the need to control and detach from stress. World-class athletes know that recovering energy is as important as expending it. Why is if so hard for...

Six degrees of separation.(Letter Of The Month)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... While I very much enjoyed your recent article "25 Years of Business Class" and its accompanying survey, I must admit to confusion over your comparisons of seat recline. Your article variously stated recline in degrees and inches. While I fully...

Sit up straight.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2003... Once again, I applaud you for compiling a remarkably comprehensive Business Class issue. I also want to call your attention to inconsistencies in the Business Class Survey related to recline listings. The degree of recline is calculated...

Life in the fast lane.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I am a frequent flyer on Delta, at Platinum Level, flying mostly domestic from Atlanta. I am used to weirdness and ridiculousness, regarding airport security around the country. However, last week, I had the most ridiculous experience at Boston...

Correction.(Reader's Letters)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2003... I wanted to clarify something on page 58 of the 100 Years of Powered Flight: Class Distinction supplement that referred to SWISS Express, "a new regional subsidiary" of Swiss International Air Lines, "to begin operations with the start of the...

Is it safe?(Security)
November 1, 2003... RISK MANAGEMENT IS A TERM THAT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FAMILIAR TO business travelers. Firms that provide information and assistance to corporations with employees residing or traveling abroad regularly compile lists of hot zones for their...

A new fan.(Mandarin Oriental, New York)
November 1, 2003... COLUMBUS CIRCLE IS ONE OF THOSE places in New York that always seems to be under construction. The former home of the New York Coliseum convention center, the area has been under wraps for several years. This winter the wrapping comes off. ...

Antimissile budget green-lighted.(Security)
November 1, 2003... CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET NEGOTIAtors have agreed to give the Homeland Security Department $60 million in 2004 to begin developing antimissile systems for commercial aircraft. Homeland Security Department spokesperson Brian Roehrkasse told the press...

Sofitel swells.(Hotels)
November 1, 2003... BUSINESS TRAVELERS are seeing more and more Sofitel properties opening around the world. The luxury brand of European-based Accor hotels is growing by leaps and bounds. A new property in Buenos Aires is now one of the city's hottest...

Where to Wi-Fi.(Wilshire Grand Hotel, LA)(Bel-Ami, Paris)(Montalembert, Paris)
November 1, 2003... WASHINGTON, D.C.: THE WILLARD InterContinental Hotel, opened in 1850, where President Ulysses S. Grant coined the term "lobbyist," is offering free wireless Internet access, in, you guessed it--the lobby. Wireless high-speed Internet will also...

Incheon gains by yards.(Hyatt Regency hotel and Incheon lounge)
November 1, 2003... KOREA'S INCHEON Airport, which was designed to be a virtual sky city, has two new occupants. The airport has just opened its first Hyatt Regency Hotel--a joint project between Incheon and Korean Airlines. KAL has also unveiled its new Incheon...

Miami's new anti-deco.(Bentley beach hotel)
November 1, 2003... YOU WON'T FIND SHELL-PINK WALLS or Art Deco at the Bentley Beach Hotel. The new Euro-tech-inspired hotel, designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica was developed by Venetian-born hotelier Riccardo Olvieri to be a "welcome departure from the...

Flight log.(Airlines)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * ANA (All Nippon Airways) will add 13 flights per week to China in the 2003 winter schedule, which begins October 26, subject to approval by the Japanese government. Flights on the Tokyo-Shanghai route will be increased to three per day, from...

Stay at the Fairmont San Francisco now through December 31 and take advantage of the "Connectivity Package.".(United States)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Stay at the Fairmont San Francisco now through December 31 and take advantage of the "Connectivity Package." Priced from $189 per night, package includes high-speed Internet access and breakfast, either in the hotel's restaurant or in-room. For...

Save over 50 percent at the Bryant Park Hotel with the "Very Sexy" weekend package.(United States)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Save over 50 percent at the Bryant Park Hotel with the "Very Sexy" weekend package. For $269 per night. package includes accommodations in a deluxe room, with an upgrade to a suite at check-in, based on availability; in-room Continental...

Take advantage of savings at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, with the "The Club Floor" package for $129 per night.(United States)
November 1, 2003... Take advantage of savings at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, with the "The Club Floor" package for $129 per night. Valid through December 30, package includes Club Floor accommodations and access to the Club Lounge, which provides...

The Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington, D.C., is celebrating its birthday with the "75th Anniversary Package," which includes deluxe accommodations as well as a cocktail and food and beverage items at 1928 Hay-Adams prices.(United States)
November 1, 2003... The Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington, D.C., is celebrating its birthday with the "75th Anniversary Package," which includes deluxe accommodations as well as a cocktail and food and beverage items at 1928 Hay-Adams prices. The cost is $275 per room...

Through December 31, the Regent Wall Street, New York, is offering a "Discover Downtown" package.(United States)
November 1, 2003... Through December 31, the Regent Wall Street, New York, is offering a "Discover Downtown" package. Package includes deluxe accommodations, either breakfast or parking and two tickets to a downtown museum of your choice. Friday and Saturday...

The Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa is offering the "Executive Package" through December 31.(Canada)
November 1, 2003... The Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa is offering the "Executive Package" through December 31. Package includes accommodations, buffet breakfast or in-room dining, valet parking, high-speed Internet access and late checkout. Rates start from...

Through December 19, Le Meridien Le Domaine and Le Meridien L'Habitation on French St. Martin are offering a Celebration Weekend getaway package.(Caribbean)
November 1, 2003... Through December 19, Le Meridien Le Domaine and Le Meridien L'Habitation on French St. Martin are offering a Celebration Weekend getaway package. Priced at $254 (double) and $218 (single) per night, package includes three nights accommodations,...

Built-in Wi-Fi.(Technology)(Column)
November 1, 2003... ROAD WARRIORS WERE THE FIRST consumers to make cell phones part of their daily business lives more than 10 years ago, and Wi-Fi is following a similar life cycle," says Sean Maloney, executive vice president, Intel Corporation. "Right now we...

ANA gets passengers off the hook.(All Nippon Airways)
November 1, 2003... THE BANE OF BUSINESS TRAVELLERS around the world is a cell phone that is supposed to work in a destination country--but doesn't. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has partnered with WorldCell to provide an Asian mobile phone rental which will solve that...

Quickbook.com.(Reward Roundup)
November 1, 2003... To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Quickbook.com is rewarding customers with $15 L.L Bean gift certificates. Customers will earn one $15 gift certificate for every three stays through December 31. To enroll, visit www.quickbook.com/enroll.asp...

Air Canada and Hyatt Gold Passport.(Reward Roundup)
November 1, 2003... Through November 30, registered HyattGold Passport holders can earn 1,000 bonus Aeroplan Miles per night at participating Hyatt Hotel and Resorts. Join Hyatt Gold Passport at www.goldpassport.com/ae. To make reservations, call 800-228-3360 and...

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.(Reward Roundup)(Fairmont Hotel and Resort )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Stay at any Fairmont Hotel and Resort worldwide and earn double miles, now through December 31. For each stay, guests can receive 500 bonus air miles on either American Airlines AAdvantage, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan or Air Canada Aeroplan....

MTR Corporation and Asia Miles.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Through December 31, Asia Miles members can earn 500 miles whenever they purchase the special "two round-trips ticket" on Hong Kong's public transport provider, Airport Express. Asia Miles members can enjoy this offer simply by presenting their...

Super 8.(Reward Roundup)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Now through December 31, guests that stay at participating Super 8 motels in the U.S. and pay with any MasterCard will receive a booklet of savings, offering a variety of discounts for Loews Cineplex Entertainment, Pizza Hut, Bennigans...

Mile-high meditation.(Reader Offer)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME IN THE AIR TOSSING AND turning, yearning for another cocktail? From delayed flights to cramped seats, air travel can be highly stressful, but it doesn't have to be. You can make your time in the sky relaxing with Airplane...

Cathay Pacific.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... CATHAY PACIFIC "All Asia Pass," which allows you 21 consecutive days of travel to as many as 17 Cathay Pacific destinations, is being offered for departures through December 1, 2004, with no increase in fare levels since 2001. The basic economy...

Northwest/KLM.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... NORTHWEST/KLM is offering a real deal on business class from Honolulu (HNL) to various destinations in Spain, including the Canary Islands. Like many airlines nowadays, they offer more than one fare in business class. For example, from HNL to...

United Airlines.(Airline Deals )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... UNITED AIRLINES is now allowing their Mileage Plus Premier Executive 1K, Premier Executive and Premier members a free one-class upgrade when purchasing a full-fare coach ticket (usually fares coded as "Y" or "B" class). These upgrades are...

Continental (CO) and Singapore (SQ) Airlines.(Airline Deals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... CONTINENTAL (CO) AND SINGAPORE (SQ.) AIRLINES jointly offer the ever-popular "Round The World Apex" (RTW) type fare starting at only $4,411 for business class. Compared to Northwest/KLM at $5,309, Oneworld at $6,600 and Star Alliance at $6,370,...

The Metropolitan: London.(Hotel Check)(Hotel Review)
November 1, 2003... TUCKED IN AMONG SOME OF THE larger chain hotels on Park Lane, this sleek little slip of a hotel epitomizes the image-conscious boutique property. Upon check-in I found the contemporarily furnished white and beige lobby filled with crisply...

Icelandair business class.(Flight check: New York JFK to Reykjavik Kef)
November 1, 2003... First Impressions: Icelandair shares a terminal with British Airways, and while the BA lines were daunting, there was no one in front of me when I checked in at Icelandair. I was initially told by the woman at the check-in counter that I would...

The Eastern & Oriental: Penang.(Hotel Check)
November 1, 2003... I STUMBLED OUT OF CUSTOMS, swept up in the flood of people, searching hopefully for my name on one of the three or four signs held up by drivers. Not finding it, I was just starting to worry when an Indian man in a light suit, carrying a...

Spot check.(Consumer Checks)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... We asked a number of hotel spas around the world what they charge for a jet lag treatment and what the treatment consisted of. Here's what we found: THE METROPOLITAN LONDON Aromatherapy, full-body massage with essential oils ...

Clarion Hotel Royal Christiania: Oslo.(Hotel Check)(Hotel Review)
November 1, 2003... THE WELCOME WAS FRIENDLY AND efficient. The lobby, scheduled for a revamp, was fairly standard and belied the treat awaiting me. It was incredibly convenient for the train station and the Airport Express, which whizzes you to the city in...

LanChile executive class.(Flight check: New York JFK to Buenos Aires Ezeiza)
November 1, 2003... First Impressions: I arrived at JFK's Terminal Four at 8:30 p.m. for my 11:30 flight to Buenos Aires. The huge new terminal was blissfully empty. I checked in and made my way to the business-class lounge shared with Air Lingus. Everything is...

Table tops.(restaurants)
November 1, 2003... TOKYO FRENCH KITCHEN Grand Hyatt Tokyo, 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku. tel. 81 3 4333 1234 Overview: Overlooking the new Roppongi Hills mega-entertainment, cultural and shopping complex, the French Kitchen caters to Tokyo's...

Lone Star Superstar: international trade is playing an increasingly pivotal role in Dallas--Fort Worth's economy.(Homefront: Dallas/Forth Worth)
November 1, 2003... DALLASITES HAVE A REPUTATION FOR SUPERSIZING everything: big cars, big mansions, big money and big hair--they also conduct business in a big way. The Dallas Fort Worth region has one of the highest concentrations of big business and Fortune 500...

Miami by moonlight: a spicy nightlife caters to all styles and tastes.(Night out: Miami)(skybar(hotel))(norman's(hotel))(b.e.d. miami(hotel))
November 1, 2003... WHAT GOES ON AFTER SUNSET is as important to Miamians as soaking up the hot Florida sun. The city's reputation as a party town is well-deserved. You'll find many restaurants morphing into nightclubs and lounges after 10 p.m., so book a...

Getup to go.(Holiday 2003)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2003... Flying High Sentient, a leader in private jet travel, has introduced the Sentient GiftCard, available in denominations of $10,000, $25,000 and $50,000. Perfect for business travelers who need flexibility and convenience. ...

Out of balance: chronic stress without recovery ultimately undermines performance. John Briley reports on recognizing and overcoming executive burnout.(Health)(U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... Where is your mind right now? Is it engaged in this article or swirling with preoccupations, from client meetings and deadlines to your hectic schedule and financial health? A scattered mind is one of the warning signs of stress, and stress...

Cheap trips: cost-cutting in the world's most expensive cities.(Budget Travel)
November 1, 2003... SO YOUR COMPANY'S SLASHING COSTS AND YOU'RE HEADED FOR A week on business in one of the most expensive cities in the world. How can you stay within your budget when four- and five-star hotels and restaurants seem to loom like cash-gobbling...

Back in the saddle? will new fiscal policies and development of the country's natural resources provide the stability that Argentina needs?(Insider's guide: Buenos Aires)
November 1, 2003... THE CROWD OF DESCAMISADOS (SHIRTLESS ONES) pours over the cobblestoned streets, demanding jobs and "a new Argentina." It is not a scene from Evita. This is the everyday reality of post fall-of-the-peso Buenos Aires. After decades of...

Getaway: Parana Delta, Argentina.
November 1, 2003... I'M SITTING IN A TWO-PERSON kayak, gliding though the muddy waters of Argentina's Parana Delta. The forest canopy shields me from the light spring drizzle as I savor the sound of water whooshing around my trusty plastic vessel. I'm trying not...

Back to business: a confident Asia-Pacific awaits business travelers who know that gracious hospitality is a keystone of cultures throughout the region.(Eye On Asia-Pacific)
November 1, 2003... The "Asian Miracle" is back. After swift and decisive management of the SARS crisis, and the subsequent "all clear" by the World Health Organization, Asia-Pacific countries are welcoming back business travelers in substantial numbers. "The...

High hopes: contrary to media reports, Taiwan's economic base is upgrading. Brent Hannon upends the myths.(Doing Business in Taipei)
November 1, 2003... I HAVE BEEN A TAIPEI-BASED correspondent for eight years, and am often approached by newsweeklies to write articles about Taiwan. There is a pattern to these inquiries: the magazines say they want articles about Taiwan, but what they really...

World: a high standard of living, low taxation and a central location make Geneva popular with multinationals.(Focus: Geneva)
November 1, 2003... GENEVA IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE WORLD'S MOST international city. Four in 10 of its residents are not Swiss, and the people of more than 200 nations are represented here. There are large communities of Portuguese and Italians, while in summer the...

Four hours in South Beach: fancy cars, Cuban coffee and Art Deco gems abound in Miami's hottest neighborhood. Jaclyn Ignall explores South Beach's art and design heritage and hot spots, and gets a nice tan in the process.
November 1, 2003... (1) OCEAN DRIVE Stroll along this seaside block with clear blue water on one side and sherbet-colored Art Deco hotels, restaurants and bars on the other. This is a great spot to people-watch. Walk along the sand and take in the balmy...

Going laptopless: you can leave the heavy hardware in the office.(Tools: PDAs)
November 1, 2003... DO YOU REALLY NEED to bring a laptop on your next business trip? Maybe not. Personal digital assistants are becoming so powerful that they're now mini-laptops capable of running PowerPoint presentations, downloading and displaying Microsoft...

Readers' writes: it's time for BT readers to share their most memorable airline experiences. Here's what they have to say.(Special Advertising Section)(business traveller)
November 1, 2003... SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES Class: First Class Route: New York JFK-Jeddah Online: www.saudiairlines.com Reservations: 800 472 8342 Passenger: Joseph Meuller In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt...

Save Over 40% at the Magnolia Hotel.(Offer Of The Month > Dallas > Hotels)
November 1, 2003... The Magnolia, in the heart of downtown Dallas, provides casual elegance for both the business and leisure traveler. A historic landmark, restored to its original grandeur, The Magnolia is surrounded by the city's top entertainment and dining...

Upgrade your room at the Fairmont Dallas.(Savings for Members > Dallas > Hotels)
November 1, 2003... The Fairmont Dallas, located in the downtown Arts District, offers unsurpassed elegance and service for the discerning business traveler. The hotel has been highly regarded since 1969, when it opened to guests as the first luxury hotel in the...

Hotel Hesperia Madrid business in style.(Savings For Members > Madrid > Hotels)
November 1, 2003... Sophisticated and chic, the Hotel Hesperia Madrid is Madrid's leader in contemporary luxury. The Hesperia Madrid is perfectly placed on Paseo de la Castellana and offers easy access to the main shopping areas, the Prado Museum and the Royal...

Hot shots: if golf in the Gulf is something you've always wanted to try, then Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer some stunning courses. Minty Clinch puts four of the best to the test.(Great Escape: Golfing Abu Dhabi & Dubai)
November 1, 2003... WITH OIL RESERVE DUE TO RUN OUT IN THE next 30 years, Dubai has begun to diversify into top-level golf with amazing success. Meanwhile Abu Dhabi, with reserves that will last well beyond the foreseeable future, has been sitting on the sidelines...