Business Traveller Middle East articles from March 2005

Business Traveller Middle East archives from March 2005

Watch your back.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... On a recent transatlantic flight, the passenger seated in front of me, on finishing his meal, very suddenly reclined his seat back. This caused me to spill my glass of drink over my shirt and trousers--only two hours into a nine-hour flight....

Budgeting budget growth.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Asia's fascination with low-cost travel shows no signs of waning, as Kuala Lumpur prepares to build a dedicated terminal for budget airlines. Singapore is also putting up a low-cost terminal too--although hopefully they won't budget on the...

Flexible fare.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Recently I stayed at the Kempinski Hotel Atlantic in Hamburg and decided to have dinner in the hotel restaurant as I had had a long day out and didn't fancy wandering around the city. The menu was quite elaborate but I wanted something...

Weight watcher.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... At check-in, some airlines have a basket into which your carry-on baggage must fit before you are allowed to take it on board. I would like to see the same size and weight restrictions extended to people. If a person is too large to fit...

Proof of purchase.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... In today's heightened state of alertness and increased security, I have come across an anomaly I would like to have explained. When I take a flight, I provide the relevant frequent flyer number for my eligible flight. But sometimes (more...

Boarding school.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I'd just been lecturing at a business school in Barcelona and, as I stood in the boarding queue for my flight home, I was still in 'biz school' mode, so I started thinking about the way in which we board planes. The conventional method is that...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2005... The InterContinental Phoenicia in Beirut actually has 494 guest rooms and 78 suites, and not the amount stated in the previous issue.

Dreaming up the future.(AIRLINES)
March 1, 2005... Flat-bed seats, enhanced in-flight entertainment systems, chauffeur-driven transfers: business class just keeps on improving. But where does it leave first class? According to some carriers, nowhere. Continental, Air Canada, SAS and Delta...

Firm foundations for Banyan Tree.(Banyan Tree Group opens 7 properties in UAE.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Banyan Tree Group is opening 10 properties across the region--and seven of them will be in the UAE. The first Angsana Spa and Health Club recently opened at Dubai Marina and three more properties--at The Montgomerie Dubai, Arabian...

Emirates boosts NZ ground services.(Emirates Airline opens lounge in Auckland International Airport.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Emirates Lounge has opened in Auckland International Airport, catering for the airline's first and business class passengers and Skywards Gold members. The NZ$2 million ($1.44 million) lounge is the airline's second overseas lounge...

Last call for entries.(AWARDS)
March 1, 2005... Don't forget to submit all voting forms for the 2005 Business Traveller Middle East Awards Survey by April 18. In a departure from previous years, the awards will be held the night before the start of the Arabian Travel Market--May 2--at...

Wider choice for executives.(Choice Hotels International Inc. changes its name to Cambira Suites.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Cambria Suites is the new hotel name from Choice Hotels International targeting upscale business travellers. Each all-suite hotel will contain between 100 to 150 units and features stylish, contemporary designs. Lobbies will include club...

Another 18 holes from Vijay.(Vijay Singh designs the Wind Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Vijay Singh is to design the Wind Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates--one of four courses being built by Nakheel Golf. Greg Norman is onboard to design the Earth and Fire courses. The designer of the fourth 18-hole course, Water, will be announced...

Flight rights boosted but loopholes remain.(AIRLINES)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Passengers flying from one EU airport to another or to a destination outside Europe can now demand compensation for flight delays, cancellations and if they are bumped off flights. New EU rules have set compensation at 250 [euro] ($330) for...

The Emirates Palace.(started accepting bookings from march.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi started accepting bookings from March. The 302-room hotel has a 2,800-person ballroom, 1,200-seat auditorium and 20 food and beverage outlets. Single room rates range from AED 2,200 ($598) a night to AED 45,000...

Al Diar Siji Hotel Fujairah.(installs broadband wireless internet.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Al Diar Siji Hotel Fujairah has installed broadband wireless Internet and a new digital phone system.

InterContinental.(loyalty program)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... You can add three Air Miles to your account with every dirham you spend at the 35 outlets within the seven InterContinental hotels in the UAE and Qatar.

Hyatt.(loyalty program)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Start racking up points with your calories in the Dine In By Hyatt promotion which is valid in 23 participating restaurants in Dubai.

Seven former Holiday Inns have been rebranded Park Inn hotels.(AIRLINE BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Seven former Holiday Inns have been rebranded Park Inn hotels in Bochum, Dortmund, Dusseldorf/Kaarst, Hanover, Kamen/Unna, Cologne Belfortstrasse and Cologne City West.

Early risers jet into Frankfurt.(Deutsche Lufthansa AG introduces daily flights to Frankfurt.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Lufthansa has introduced daily flights to Frankfurt which is good news for Kuwait-based business travellers. The service, operated on A333 aircraft, leaves Kuwait 2am and arrives in Frankfurt 6am, making it perfect for those early morning...

Speed round Vienna.(Emirates Airline's loyalty program.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Business class passengers can claim two free hotel nights or complimentary four-day car rental in Vienna with Emirates until May 31. The offer, designed to push the Austrian route which started last summer, extends to 'mid-size cars' and...

Bombardier spreads its wings.(Bombardier Skyjet International)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Booking a Bombardier business jet should now be a whole lot easier in the Middle East following the rebranding of the company's Flexjet Europe and Flexjet Asia-Pacific programmes under the Skyjet International banner. To obtain a jet...

Check in for high flyers.(Burj Al Arab )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Burj Al Arab guests who want to be assured of no traffic hold-ups and don't mind paying around 100 times more than the taxi fare from Dubai International Airport now have two Agusta 109E helicopters at their disposal. The service, a joint...

Qatar Airways.(signs marketing agreement with All Nippon Airways Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Qatar Airways and All Nippon Airways have begun a loyalty scheme partnership, enabling Privilege Club and Mileage Club members to accrue and redeem miles on both airlines' global networks. Qatar Airways will start four non-stop flights a week...

Emirates.(Emirates Airline starts daily service from Dubai to Sydney via Bangkok.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Emirates' extra thrice-weekly service from Dubai to Sydney via Bangkok, which starts March 29, goes daily from May 1. From May the service will also be extended to Auckland, replacing the current Dubai-Sydney-Auckland service which will...

Gulf Air.(Gulf Air Company GSC introduces new first and business class seats)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Gulf Air's new first and business class seats will be introduced on its London-Oman route by early summer.

Air Arabia.(starts daily Sharjah-Mumbai services.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Air Arabia starts daily Sharjah-Mumbai services from mid-March. The airline's A320s offer a seat pitch of 34 inches.

Air France.(loyalty program)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Air France's 'Win the skies' competition offers 80,000 Frequence Plus miles and more than 200 air tickets among other prizes. Log on to www.airfrance.com/ae for details.

Boeing.(launches B777-200LR)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Boeing has launched the B777-200LR which can carry 301 passengers up to 9,420 nautical miles (17,446 kilometres).

Ryanair.(Ryanair Holdings PLC purchases 70 B737-800s.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Budget airline Ryanair has placed an order for 70 B737-800s in a deal worth $4 billion.

Technology prompts travel dip.(Upfront)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A quarter of British business travellers are travelling less than they were a year ago, according to a Barclaycard survey The dip has been attributed to the rise in remote access technologies, virtual private networking (VPN) and video...

Cathay Pacific business class.(FLIGHT CHECK: HONG KONG-NEW YORK JFK)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Chek Lap Kok Airport was not busy on arrival and there was no queue 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...

Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh.(HOTEL CHECK: SHARM EL SHEIKH)(Hotel Review)
March 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? A bastion of lush green luxury amid the desert landscape of the Sinai Mountains. It is reminiscent of a hillside village with its one and two-storey villas and designed in traditional Arabian style. WHERE IS IT? At the tip...

InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut.(HOTEL CHECK: BEIRUT)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... WHAT'S IT LIKE? All geared to the corporate customers, as you would expect from a hotel that won 'Best Business Hotel in Beirut' and 'Best Business Hotel in the Middle East' at the 2004 Business Traveller Middle East Awards. As well as two...

Focal points: from regional finance to world trade, Bahrain is taking the commercial fight to its aggressive neighbours and distant rivals.(Bahrain)(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2005... There's something peculiarly spacious about downtown Manama that belies its small size. Perhaps it's because the high-rise buildings are not on top of each other or because Bahrain's terrain is so low lying, but there's always an impression of...

Cracking the safety issue: hoteliers may be rubbing their hands as the state hospitality scene booms but they know security is key to long-terms success.(Kuwait)(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2005... Kuwait is wrestling with two profiles--the Kuwait dogged by security issues, a land of checkpoints and police patrols, with residents and visitors encouraged to be on their guard; and the one that's less headline-grabbing but no less apparent,...

Look before you book: the best online hotel prices aren't always where you think they are.(Fare comment)
March 1, 2005... Ask 10 business travellers a good website for booking travel and, chances are, they will give you 10 different answers. In fact, many will name several sites, splitting their bookings for short-haul and long-haul flights, accommodation and even...

Gold rush: Shanghai attracts the lion's share of direct foreign investment into China: US$12billion of an annual US$50 billion. Brent Hannon reports from the heart of a brassy boom town.(Shanghai)
March 1, 2005... I am standing in what must be the centre of the universe, the lightest, brightest place in the world: the Maserati and Ferrari showroom on Nanjing West Road in Shanghai. If China is the hottest economy in the world and Shanghai is the richest...

Thirst for first class lounges: could more airlines follow Lufthansa's lead and build a first class terminal?(Ask Alex)
March 1, 2005... Dear Alex, I was interested to hear about the new Lufthansa first class terminal in Frankfurt in your last issue. Here's an airline which recognises that first class passengers aren't just paying for a bigger seat and better food (which...

Seattle's fresh blend: Seattle's downtown area has been homogenised, but its neighbourhoods retain their character--and its wealth has bought the city some shiny new toys.(Seattle)
March 1, 2005... Tucked away in America's upper left-hand corner, Seattle doesn't spend much time in the spotlight. Its crimes are not lurid enough to make headlines, its sports teams rarely win and celebrities avoid the place. Even its earthquakes are modest....

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. Lauren Custance gets into the spirit.
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...

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....

Portable fitness: Skip Kaltenheuser checks out seven exercise accessories that allow you to get fit on your next business trip.(Gadgets)(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2005... High roller Unfold a Trikke (sic) from your office cupboard or car trunk and get a low-impact, full-body outdoor workout, at as challenging a pace as you like. Trikke is pronounced 'trike', but the resemblance to your first wheeled...

Golfing in Washington DC: courses around the US capital offer a variety of styles for all levels, whether you want to walk in the footsteps of US Open stars or simply enjoy the view.(Golf)
March 1, 2005... Worthington Manor Golf Club Where is it? Urbana, Maryland. How to get there: Take interstate 270 North to exit 26 (Urbana/ Buckeystown Route 80). Go west on Route 80 for one mile. The golf course entrance will be on the left. ...

The future of flight: the way we fly has never been in such crisis. David Jones looks at what business travellers can expect from their favourite carriers.(Airline forecasting)(Industry Overview)
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...

Fixers at your fingertips: if you're a 'cash rich time poor' executive you can now outsource your corporate life for a fee, discovers.(Concierge services)
March 1, 2005... What a bore business travel can be. You may be spending 48 hours in one of the world's most exciting cities, but the most you can look forward to is a good night's sleep in a chain hotel and perhaps a decent dinner in a restaurant recommended...

Qantas revamps loyalty programme.(Qantas Airways Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Qantas is making radical changes to its frequent flyer programme. From May 25, some short-haul award flights will be available for fewer points (Melbourne to Sydney reduced from 20,000 points to 16,000). Others, however, will become more...

Gulf Air offers free business class.(Gulf Air Company GSC)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Gulf Air is giving away return business class tickets in a series of competitions being held in UPDATE, its quarterly newsletter for frequent flyers. It is issued to all active members of the programme, future issues of both the UPDATE...

Priority Club double miles offer returns.(LOYALTY UPDATES)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Priority Club Rewards double points promotion has returned, allowing members to earn bonus points at 3,500 hotels around the world. Until April 30, double bonus points will be awarded on every qualifying stay at InterContinental, Crowne...

BA and Virgin offer triple bonus.(British Airways PLC.; Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have a triple miles promotion for their frequent flyers. BA is offering the extra BA Miles to travellers who book and fly on full fare tickets in first class or Club World to and from the UK until March 24....

Singapore offers bonus for online check-in.(LOYALTY UPDATES)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Singapore Airlines is offering a prize of up to 375,000 KrisFlyer miles for passengers using its online check-in service. Three prizes of 125,000, 75,000 and 50,000 are available each month during the promotion period which ends March 31, and...

Volume switch: not far from the Mumbai millions lies a precious haven of tranquility.(Great escape India)
March 1, 2005... There is a certain predictability driving out of Mumbai, amid all the chaotic lane-darting confusion. You can bank on seeing the latest 'Bombabe' pouting from one of the many huge billboard ads as well as all the less glamorous things that make...