Business Traveller Middle East articles from June 2003

Business Traveller Middle East archives from June 2003

This issue.
June 1, 2003... Do you remember a few years ago when people really liked receiving email? It was fun and exciting. These days most of us get back to the office after a weekend away and find hundreds of these little messages flickering at us. The excitement...

Rates crash as hoteliers feel the heat. (Hotels).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Middle East hotels are dropping prices to bargain-basement levels and introducing more special offers this summer as the heat continues to rise on all sides of the travel industry. The Iraq war legacy, ongoing SARS and terror alerts,...

Fly by Dubai during September. (Business).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... If you're thinking of planning a business trip to Dubai in the middle of September, then think again. Around 20,000 delegates are arriving for the annual IMF/World Bank conference at the Dubai International Convention Centre on September...

A world apart. (Development).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... After you've laid the ground for giant palm-tree shaped water resorts visible from space, it's probably time to come back down to earth. Nakheel Corporation--builders of the two Palm islands--now plan to reproduce the global map in an...

Gulf Air speeds up business service. (Exclusive: airlines).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... It's one of the regular moans of life on the road: why do I have to spend so long in the airport? If you like to skip through check-in and only spend five minutes browsing through duty-free, then you might be glad of Gulf Air's new Business...

Loyalty scrap. (Hotels).(two London hotels offer deals to patrons showing membership cards from other hotel groups)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Forget about loyalty points--the latest idea from two London hotels is to reward your disloyalty. If you show up at the swanky five-star Carlton Tower hotel in Knightsbridge or near-neighbour The Lowndes and show a loyalty card from any other...

Emirates beds down for the long haul. (Airlines).(flat beds available on Emirates Airlines)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Flatbeds are finally making anappearance on Emirates' flights. The Dubai-based airline will be introducing the lie-fiat seating on flights to Sydney, Osaka and London Gatwick from October this year. Previously Emirates had resisted...

New Bahrain villas. (Hotels).(Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Next time you're in Bahrain on business unwind in one of The Ritz-Carlton's 22 luxurious villas--where spacious three-bedroom rooms are complemented by private pool and personal butler. If you find the tranquil environment to your liking then...

Attacks trigger travel dilemma. (Security).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Commercial opportunities and security risks continue to be weighed up by executives planning business trips to Saudi Arabia following the Riyadh expatriate compound bombing which claimed at least 34 lives. Faced with US, British, German...

By Royal charter. (Airlines).(Royal Jet services)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... High-flying executives looking for quick connections and the flexibility of unscheduled services can now board Royal Jet's chartered aircraft operating out of Abu Dhabi International Airport. The fleet comprises a 42-seat B737-700 Boeing...

Accor is also opening the 412-room Novotel World Trade Centre Hotel. (Hotel Updates).(Accor S.A. location in Dubai)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Accor is also opening the 412-room Novotel World Trade Centre Hotel and budget Ibis World Trade Centre in Dubai in June. Reservations: (9714) 306 5903

The Metropolitan Palace Hotel Beirut has posted discounted GCC rates with single rooms costing US$110 and doubles $125 (plus 10% VAT) before June 30. (Hotel updates).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * The Metropolitan Palace Hotel Beirut has posted discounted GCC rates with single rooms costing US$110 and doubles $125 (plus 10% VAT) before June 30. Loyalty card members receive double points for bookings made before June 15. Tel: (96) 11...

The Four Seasons Riyadh has had its soft opening in the architecturally striking Kingdom Centre and the official opening is scheduled later this year. (Hotel updates).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * The Four Seasons Riyadh has had its soft opening in the architecturally striking Kingdom Centre and the official opening is scheduled later this year. The 249-room hotel occupies 10 floors and contains 52 suites. Reservations:...

The InterContinental Whole World Half promotion valid until September 21. (Hotel updates).(Intercontinental Hotels)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * The InterContinental Whole World Half promotion valid until September 21 has rates starting from $97 a night at the InterContinental Dubai and $105 a night at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi. Six Continents' reservations: Bahrain (800...

Sheraton's Travelite programme enables guests to leave their clothes for washing, pressing and dry cleaning in the hotel. (Hotel updates).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Sheraton's Travelite programme enables guests to leave their clothes for washing, pressing and dry cleaning in the hotel and pick them up on their next visit, providing they plan to return within 60 days. www.starwood.com

The Regency InterContinental Bahrain has renovated three floors and two new Royal Suites. (Hotel updates).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * The Regency InterContinental Bahrain has renovated three floors and two new Royal Suites following a three-year US$1.7 million investment. Reservations: (973) 227 777

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts recently announced it has completed the installation and verification of wireless internet access. (Hotel updates).(Fairmont Hotel Management L.P.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Fairmont Hotels & Resorts recently announced it has completed the installation and verification of wireless internet access in all of its 41 properties. www.fairmont.com.

Book three nights at any of 120 Hilton hotels worldwide and receive the fourth free as part of the joint Visa-Hilton For Free promotion valid until the end of September. (Hotel updates).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Book three nights at any of 120 Hilton hotels worldwide and receive the fourth free as part of the joint Visa-Hilton For Free promotion valid until the end of September. Stay for five nights and receive two nights free, check in for a week...

Al Sondos Suites by Le Meridien, Dubai has a summer-long weekend promotion with rates costing Dh350 (plus tax and service) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. (Hotel updates).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Al Sondos Suites by Le Meridien, Dubai has a summer-long weekend promotion with rates costing Dh350 (plus tax and service) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. Book the three-night package and and stay the third night for free....

Quicker to NYC. (Transfers).(new AirTrain system at John F. Kennedy International Airport)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Transfers between New York's JFK airport and downtown Manhattan should become more reliable this autumn. A new $1.9 billion AirTrain system will provide shuttle trains between JFK terminals and nearby Howard Beach and Jamaica Beach suburban...

Asian travel plummets as executives cancel trips. (Sars).
June 1, 2003... The Sars crisis in Asia has caused fresh disruption for business travellers hoping international air travel would return to normal following the Iraq war. Despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting that the deadly flu-like virus...

Virgin Blue territory. (Airports).(Virgin Blue Airlines' pay-per-use lounge at Brisbane Airport)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Australia's low-cost airline Virgin Blue has launched its first pay-per-use lounge, Blue Room, at Brisbane Airport. The carrier, which now flies to all state capitals, plans to expand its Blue Room concept to other cities in the coming months...

Dnata.(Around the World in 80 days promotion from DNATA and DNATA World Travel)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * A round-the-world holiday complete with Dh250,000 ($55,555) spending money is the top prize in Dnata's Around the World in 80 days promotion running between June 1 -August 19. Receive a free raffle ticket with every Dh2,000 ($555) spent on...

Emirates and Gulf Air.(Emirates Airlines; two airlines vie to provide first regional airline service to Baghdad)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Emirates and Gulf Air are in a scramble to be the first regional airline into Baghdad this summer. www.emirates.com, www.gulfairco.com

Emirates.(new services from Emirates Airlines)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Emirates is offering all first and business class passengers flying from Dubai to Germany a free personal chauffeur service which will whisk them to any home or business address within 40 kilometres of the arrival airport. Emirates has...

Scandinavian Airlines and Air Canada have opened The London Lounge, a two-storey fully equipped centre for business passengers at Heathrow Terminal 3.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Scandinavian Airlines and Air Canada have opened The London Lounge, a two-storey fully equipped centre for business passengers at Heathrow Terminal 3. Among the novel features is a 12-seat cinema. Access is also granted to fellow Star...

KLM.(retools online booking system)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * KLM has revamped its online booking system, enabling passengers to see departure options up to a week before flying and view a calendar showing available fares in different colours. One-way and return flights can also be reserved....

Qatar Airways.(expanding global services)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Qatar Airways has received its fourth A330-200 and its ninth A320-200 as its continues to expand its global services. The new A330 will be used principally for the new non-stop five-a-week flights to Manila. www.qatarairways.com

Emirates.(new services from Emirates Airlines)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * Emirates has introduced daily flights between Dubai and Perth, nine months after the route was launched, and starts direct services to Moscow on July.

menaJet.(first no-frills airline in Middle East)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * The Middle East's first no-frills airline, menaJet, is to be launched in Sharjah in December. Contact (961) 3 222331 or click on www.menajet.com.

Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel & Towers. (Hotel Check).
June 1, 2003... First impressions: This hotel still looks brand new even though it has been open for over a year and you are immediately struck by the classically grand marble lobby, which is split into seating areas on different levels. I was staying in an...

South African Airways/Emirates economy. (Flight Check: Cape Town-Johannesburg-Dubai).(Emirates Airlines)
June 1, 2003... First impressions: The domestic departures area at Cape Town is unexpectedly small, given the city's international profile. I asked the staff to check-in my bags to Dubai but they were unable due to some ticket discrepancy as my surname was...

Hilton Maldives resort and spa. (Resort Check).(Rangali and Ranglifinolhu islands)
June 1, 2003... First impressions: At the end of my seaplane flight, the hotel came into view, perched on two islands. This was my first glance of my home for the duration, one of the wooden villas below, next to the Indian Ocean. My plane landed alongside a...

Le Meridien Dubai. (Hotel Check).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... First impressions: Enter the spacious lobby, proceed to reception and I'm directed to check-in at the square-shaped Royal Club reception at the end of the carpeted corridor. Mint tea is served in dainty minute-handled cups and, after a quick...

Business Traveller Middle East Readers' Poll 2003: the results of the second Business Traveller Middle East poll were unveiled at the Emirates Towers in Dubai. The event was attended by senior figures from the world's top travel companies and awards presented by celebrated chef Anton Mosimann. (Awards).
June 1, 2003... The 25 winners of this year's Business Traveller Middle East awards were announced to a packed Godolphin Ballroom in the Emirates Towers Hotel during this year's Arabian Travel Market. Celebrity chef Anton Mosimann kept everything on the...

And the winners are ...(magazine's readers' choices for best services in various travel categories)
June 1, 2003... Best Airlines voted by readers Best Airline serving the Middle East region Emirates Gulf Air British Airways Best Regional Airline for the Middle East Emirates Gulf Air Qatar Airways Best Cabin Crew...

Blindness in our sights. (Awards).(VISION 2020: magazine's nominated charity)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Business Traveller Middle East supports VISION 2020: The Right to Sight as our nominated charity this year. This charity aims to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020, in order to give all people the right to sight. Blindness affects an...

Photography competition. (Awards).('Visions of Children' photographic competition launched by Vision 2020)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... VISION 2020 has launched a 'Visions of Children' photographic competition which has two categories, 'images of children who are affected by conditions of blindness' and 'images of others who are affected by conditions of blindness, where...

Ask Alex.(buisness travel queries)
June 1, 2003... Dear Alex I am visiting several European countries on an extended business trip next month. Should I re-confirm my flights while I am away? My travel agent says it's no longer necessary. George McCafferty, Dubai, UAE Alex...

Web wise? Search me: from keeping up to date with the latest travel news to checking your frequent flyer points, the Internet can provide all the answers when you are on the road. (Travel websites).
June 1, 2003... There are now 6.5 million internet users in the Middle East and surfing the web is increasingly used for work as well as leisure. But the flip side is the time spent sifting through loads of sites. Never fear Business Traveller Middle East is...

Sole food: thousands of business travellers eat out alone around the world every night but the lone diner is still treated badly. David Atkinson considers how to avoid making a meal of dining solo. (Dining alone).
June 1, 2003... Anodyne hotel rooms and identikit shower accessories are bad enough but, for many lone travellers, there's nothing worse at the end of a long day than walking into a busy restaurant with only a copy of Gulf News for company and asking for a...

Check in for check-ups: increasing numbers of tourists are combining hedonism and health by getting top-to-toe check ups at Thai hospitals. Ed Peters puts their facilities--and his body--to the test. (Medical tourism).
June 1, 2003... If you've got to sit and wait somewhere to find out whether you have liver cancer, Aids, whooping cough, housemaid's knee, the galloping lurgie or a combination of all of the above, there are worse places to do it than Nai Thon Beach, on the...

Four hours in Bahrain: beneath the Gulf state's modern facade lies a wealth of cultural attractions that provide a tangible insight into Islamic history. (Four hour guide).
June 1, 2003... (4) Beit Al Qur'an The Beit Al Qur'an museum (tel 973 290101) in the diplomatic area is well worth seeing, containing rare and valuable collections of Holy Qur'ans and other manuscripts from across the Islamic world. Exhibits are housed...

Vision accomplished: Dubai's next wave of bold developments should cement its status as an unrivalled man-made miracle. (Dubai).
June 1, 2003... It is fascinating to watch any city evolve but particularly Dubai, where eras tend to be mapped out in months and scale often loses all sense of significance. Few cities have such an infinite desire for construction and such is the pace of...

Auckland International Airport: New Zealand's main gateway is a pleasure to use, writes Margie T Logarta--as long as you don't try to smuggle food produce into this agriculturally pristine country. (Airport Update).
June 1, 2003... Following a $20 million refurbishment and expansion Auckland International Airport, once a small and purely functional facility has become a lively, efficient gateway. Arriving * With agriculture and horticulture vital to its...

Celtic Tiger: if you're in Scotland this summer and enjoy golf then make a date with the glorious Gleneagles golf course--and you can even see how your swing compares with Tiger Woods. (Golf).
June 1, 2003... Golf has been a passion in Scotland since King James II banned it in 1457 because his subjects preferred it to archery practice and it was deemed a threat to national security. Half a century later, it received royal patronage from James IV,...

Laptops and lederhosen: the residents of Munich may still dress in traditional Bavarian style but don't let that fool you. Business is conducted here the 21st-century way. (Munich).
June 1, 2003... In a federalised, decentralised country like Germany, each region has its distinctive role. Berlin is the political capital, Frankfurt the city of finance. North West Rhine Westphalia is the centre of heavy industry, and Munich is... well,...

Taking a bow: chef and restaurateur Anton Mosimann loves travelling but these days he doesn't try and squeeze all his kitchen equipment into his hand luggage, just a few bow ties. (Frequent traveller).
June 1, 2003... Anton Mosimann celebrates 40 years' culinary service this year. Born in 1947, he grew up helping his parents in their restaurant and now owns the celebrated Mosimann's restaurant in London as well as Chateau Mosimann in Olten, Switzerland. He...

Conversion attempt: with the Rugby World Cup on the horizon, Sydneysiders are putting the shock of the Bali bombings behind them and are optimistic about the city's economy. (Sydney).
June 1, 2003... The famous aerial shot of the Opera House, Circular Quay and Sydney's stunning harbour will appear on TV screens around the globe yet again when the Rugby World Cup 2003 kicks off in October. The world's eyes will once more be fixed on...

Competition: win four nights at the Sheraton Miramar Resort in Egypt or a weekend at the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort & Towers in Dubai.
June 1, 2003... To walk into the exclusive Sheraton Miramar Resort, 22km north of Hurghada, is to step into another world. It is the ultimate hideaway for the most demanding traveller, with boats, water taxis and buses the only forms of transport throughout...

White magic: Switzerland may be famous for its winter skiing, but even in the middle of summer its mountains are busy with activities. (Great escape).
June 1, 2003... Orson Welles famously suggested that Switzerland wasn't the most exciting of countries: "Five hundred years of peace and democracy and all it's produced is the cuckoo clock." It sounded like Orson wasn't expecting any excitement on a...

Class on the grass. (United Kingdom).
June 1, 2003... Tennis-mad executives and those simply looking for a cork-popping time away from the office will be attending the Wimbledon Championships in London between June 24-July 7. Not only a top-tier grass tournament on the professional circuit,...

Celebration of Van Gogh's life. (The Netherlands).
June 1, 2003... Special exhibitions commemorating Vincent Van Gogh's 150th birthday are planned throughout the Netherlands this summer. The affluent Helene Kr611er-Mtieller collected more than 300 of the painter's works and many are on show at The...

Manet/Velazquez exhibition. (United States).
June 1, 2003... Art lovers visiting New York in June shouldn't miss Manet/Velazquez: The French Taste for Spanish Painting at the Special Exhibition Tisch Galleries on the second floor of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibition examines the...

Sydney: Around 160 documentaries and features will be screened at the Sydney Film Festival.
June 1, 2003... * SYDNEY: Around 160 documentaries and features will be screened at the Sydney Film Festival until June 20. Tel: 61 2 9373 6655

Ascot: Expect plenty of fashionable hats and exciting races at Royal Ascot.
June 1, 2003... * ASCOT: Expect plenty of fashionable hats and exciting races at Royal Ascot between June 17-21. Tel: 44 1344 876876

Siena: More daring racing enthusiasts will be heading to Siena for The Palio horse race.
June 1, 2003... * SIENA: More daring racing enthusiasts will be heading to Siena for The Palio horse race on July 2. Tel: 39 0577 280551

Cyprus: The ancient Kourion Theatre provides the spectacular backdrop to the annual Cyprus Music Days Festival.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * CYPRUS: The ancient Kourion Theatre provides the spectacular backdrop to the annual Cyprus Music Days Festival this summer. Tel: 357 5 347524

Antwerp: One of Verdi's greatest and most dramatic operas, La Traviata.(staged by Flemmish Opera company)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * ANTWERP: One of Verdi's greatest and most dramatic operas, La Traviata, is being staged by the Flemmish Opera company. Tel: 32 3 202 1011

Montreux: The Montreux Jazz Festival, held on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * MONTREUX: The Montreux Jazz Festival, held on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva, now extends to blues, rock and pop, Tel: 41 21 966 4444

New York: Washington Square Park comes alive with free classical and jazz concerts.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * NEW YORK: Washington Square Park comes alive with free classical and jazz concerts every Tuesday during July. Tel: 001 212 437 1088

Auckland: Fans of the big screen will be flocking to New Zealand.(for international film festival)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * AUCKLAND: Fans of the big screen will be flocking to New Zealand for an international film festival (July 11-27). Tel: 64 4 385 0162

South Africa: Jeffrey's Bay in South Africa hosts the ASP World Professional Surfing Championship.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... * SOUTH AFRICA: Jeffrey's Bay in South Africa hosts the ASP World Professional Surfing Championship between July 15-25, Tel: 2712 347 0600.