Business Traveller Middle East articles from March 2007

Business Traveller Middle East archives from March 2007

Back of the class.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... BA's next plan is to reconfigure its B747 aircraft so that the cabin immediately behind first class will be converted to World Traveller Plus. The current rows 12-14 (with 12 Club World seats) will be replaced by 36 WTP seats. Premium...

Emirates first?(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... To my great surprise, I realised on my flight from Dubai to New York that Emirates has the guts to offer two completely different first class standards on its US flights. Having flown the Dubai-New York route numerous times before, in...

Transport that will take you there.(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... As a long-term resident of Dubai, I'm used to people comparing the emirate with Singapore, as a dynamic and modern city with an impressive vision for its future. It's true that the two places do have quite a few things in common--a thriving...

Delta to start Dubai-Atlanta service in June.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... Middle Eastern travellers will have more travel options to North America when Delta Air Lines launches non-stop flights to Atlanta five times a week from Dubai starting 1 June. The first US carrier to operate non-stop between the UAE and...

Buddha Bar hotel brand is next.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... The highly regarded Buddha Bar (outlets in Paris, New York, Beirut and Dubai) is moving into the hotel business. While more Buddha Bar restaurants are set to open in Cairo, Macau, Sao Paolo and London next year, Raymond Visan, founder of...

Doha is ME debut for St Regis.(UPfront)(Middle East, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Upscale business travellers to Doha will be spoilt for choice when the region's first St Regis (Starwood's luxury brand) hotel debuts in the Qatari capital. The 346-room St Regis Doha Hotel, expected to open on 1 May 2010, will be located in...

Southern Sun rises in Dubai.(UPfront)(Southern Sun Hotel Holdings Ltd. opened two new hotels)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... South African hotel chain Southern Sun has forayed into the Middle East by opening two business hotels incorporating an Arabian touch at the Burj Dubai development. The 197-room Al Manzil, the first hotel to open here, and the 150-room...

Radisson to raise Fujairah's profile.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... Fujairah's tourism profile will be enhanced with the opening of the Radisson Al Aqah Beach Resort in 2009. The 320-room sea-facing resort, Radisson SAS' fifth property in the UAE, will boast restaurants, meeting facilities, pools, a private...

Abu Dhabi boosts hospitality options.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... Abu Dhabi is increasing its hotel capacity with at least three new five-star properties designed to meet its target of three million tourists by 2015. First up will be a 369-room beachfront business resort on the creek with conference...

The Holiday Inn Doha is scheduled to open at Musheireb in 2008 with 204 rooms.(HOTEL UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... The Holiday Inn Doha is scheduled to open at Musheireb in 2008 with 204 rooms, gym and a coffee lounge.

The Coral Hotel Muscat has just opened at Shatti Al Qurum in Muscat.(HOTEL UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... The Coral Hotel Muscat has just opened at Shatti Al Qurum in Muscat, offering 24 rooms and eight suites and amenities that include a massage facility.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai has special weekend rates until 30 April.(HOTEL UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai has special weekend rates until 30 April offering a deluxe room (double) for Dhs990 ($275) including breakfast and access to Wild Wadi water park.

Fairmont Heliopolis is set to open this summer in Cairo with 235 rooms, conference facilities and a spa.(HOTEL UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... Fairmont Heliopolis is set to open this summer in Cairo with 235 rooms, conference facilities and a spa. Fairmont will also operate the 588-room Hotel Heliopolis next to it. Fairmont Nile City is set to open in early 2008.

Starwood has just opened the 199-room Sheraton Aleppo Hotel in Syria, offering three restaurants and wireless connectivity.(HOTEL UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... Starwood has just opened the 199-room Sheraton Aleppo Hotel in Syria, offering three restaurants and wireless connectivity. Starwood also has plans to open its first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Syria, at Tartous, by 2011.

Fujairah's Al Diar Siji Hotel has a new spa collection and rooms now boast interactive television offering business and entertainment solutions including internet.(HOTEL UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... Fujairah's Al Diar Siji Hotel has a new spa collection and rooms now boast interactive television offering business and entertainment solutions including internet, movies on demand and radio.

The Ritz-Carlton Dubai has made it on to the prestigious 2007 Conde Nast Traveller Gold List.(HOTEL UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... The Ritz-Carlton Dubai has made it on to the prestigious 2007 Conde Nast Traveller Gold List for its service and facilities.

After the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London and the Jumeirah Essex House in New York, Dubai-based Jumeirah will manage Jumeirah Southlands Resort in Bermuda.(HOTEL UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... After the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London and the Jumeirah Essex House in New York, Dubai-based Jumeirah will manage Jumeirah Southlands Resort in Bermuda, to open in 2008. The group has also unveiled Talise, its new...

easyHotels selects Dubai as first location in the Middle East.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... Dubai will be the first destination in the Middle East to have an easyHotel. corn property, the budget brand founded by high-profile Greek entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou. He arrived in Dubai in late February to break ground on the site of...

Emirates renews contract for in-flight magazine.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... Emirates Airline has renewed its long-standing agreement with Motivate Publishing to produce Open Skies, the airline's highly successful in-flight magazine. The title recently received its first circulation audit from international auditors,...

Saudi's first low-cost carrier takes to the skies.(UPfront)(Nas Air)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Nas Air, Saudi Arabia's first no-frills budget airline, commenced services on the Riyadh-Jeddah route in late February. A statement issued by the carrier said that the inaugural flight had an "encouraging" load factor "dearly indicating market...

EFS to create private aviation hub at DXB.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... Executive Flight Services (EFS), the organisation responsible for the management of private air traffic and the new VIP Terminal at Dubai international Airport, has been praised for its support of private aviation in the region. Elite Jets, one...

On 1 October, Emirates will start services six times a week to Sao Paulo in Brazil operating a Boeing 777-200LR offering eight private suites in first class.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... On 1 October, Emirates will start services six times a week to Sao Paulo in Brazil operating a Boeing 777-200LR offering eight private suites in first class. It will also launch a non-stop daily service between Dubai and Newcastle from 1...

From 1 April, Lufthansa will fly non-stop from Doha to Frankfurt.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... From 1 April, Lufthansa will fly non-stop from Doha to Frankfurt, using the Airbus A340-300 with the new business class sleeper seat.

Travellers from India can book Marhaba services before travel to or via Dubai from Kuoni India outlets.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... Travellers from India can book Marhaba services before travel to or via Dubai from Kuoni India outlets. For a fee, they can access Marhaba passenger lounges at Terminal 1 in Dubai airport.

Sri Lankan Airlines has launched Sathkara, a service to assist passengers at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
March 1, 2007... Sri Lankan Airlines has launched Sathkara, a service to assist passengers at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport. The service is available for a fee for passengers flying the airline.

Jazeera Airways sets up second ME hub in Dubai.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... Jazeera Airways, the Middle East's only private scheduled airline, today announced the establishment of a second hub in Dubai, making it the only low-fare airline operating out of Dubai International Airport. The airline, which flies a...

Still time to vote in the 2007 BTME Awards.(UPfront)
March 1, 2007... This year's Business Traveller Middle East Awards will take place at the Safinah Ballroom at The Jumeirah Beach Hotel on 30 April. And there's still a chance to make your vote count by filling in the forms inside this issue--last voting day is...

BurJuman Rotana suites opens its doors.(UPfront)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... BurJuman Rotana Suites has opened for business in Dubai. The 148-room property includes upscale one-bedroom suites, duplex town houses and a penthouse offering classically elegant furnishings, luxury bedding and pampering bath amenities. ...

Kingfisher Airlines: flight check--Hyderabad-Bangalore.(TRIED & tested)
March 1, 2007... FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I reached the airport an hour earlier for the 6.30am domestic flight and was accompanied to the busy terminal building by an airline attendant (in a red uniform with the Kingfisher logo) who carried my luggage to x-ray...

Hyderabad Marriott: hotel check--Hyderabad, India.(TRIED & tested)
March 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? The hotel looks best at night: dramatically lit sculptures in the driveway and warm red and green interiors reminiscent of Indian spices. Formerly The Viceroy Hotel (cab drivers still call it that) the hotel was rebranded last...

The Leela Palace Kempinski: hotel check--Bangalore, India.(TRIED & tested)
March 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? There's no disputing that it's one of India's finest business hotels. Built in an Art Deco style inspired by the royal palaces of Mysore and the Vijaynagar Empire, it oozes grandeur. Located amid tropical gardens in the heart of...

Airbus A380: flight check--round-trip from Airbus HQ, Toulouse.(TRIED & tested)
March 1, 2007... FIRST IMPRESSIONS Big. Real big. Big enough to fit 35 million ping-pong balls inside it, they say. End to end, it is the equivalent of eight London Routemasters. It weighs as much as 500 Volkswagen Golfs and is as powerful as 2,500 cars. At a...

InterContinental Le Vendome: hotel check--Ain Mreysseh, Beirut.(TRIED & tested)
March 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? The finest luxury boutique hotel in Beirut was restored to its original beauty over a decade ago. First opened in 1966, it was the favourite enclave of the international jet set and a patron of local arts. Now it has an air of...

The next big thing: as cost-conscious travellers swarm in and out of Sharjah Dominic Ellis finds out how the local tourism authority plans to combine a thriving trade in budget travel with a comprehensive cultural agenda.(SHARJAH)(City overview)
March 1, 2007... Sharjah is about to pull the development trigger as the effects of Dubai's success continue to ripple out across the UAE. Real estate, tourism, airline growth, airport redevelopment--the same sectors that put Dubai on the global map are now...

Sharjah hotels.(SHARJAH)
March 1, 2007... SHARJAH HOTELS CORAL BEACH RESORT What's it like? A resort by the sea amidst swaying palms, it caters to both business and leisure ...

Asia rising: Singapore is shaking off its somewhat staid image to launch a raft of exciting new developments and attractions. Colette Doyle looks at how the city-state is combining efficiency and innovation in a unique proposition.(SINGAPORE)
March 1, 2007... Arriving off the red-eye from Dubai, I'm greeted by my cheerful guide, Toon Hee, who, in his impeccable English, tells me I've arrived at a good time, as we're able to beat the traffic on the way to the hotel. From 7.30am onwards rush hour...

Singapore hotels.(SINGAPORE)
March 1, 2007... SINGAPORE HOTELS THE FULLERTON HOTEL What's it like? Built in 1928 and transformed into a luxury hotel in 2001, it blends heritage with ...

Southern spice: South India's golden triangle, comprising energetic state capitals Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, is a go-getting business destination that also offers culture, cuisine and nightlife on the menu.(SOUTH INDIA)
March 1, 2007... By day; Prestige Towers on Residency Road in Bangalore resembles a stem pair of eyeglasses--steel-rimmed and glass-fitted. By night, the spectacle shifts to its 10th floor terrace--to Zero Gravity, or Zero G, one of Bangalore's...

Tips of the trade: Brian Johnston guides you through the global practices and pitfalls of that arcane ritual that is the bane of many a business traveller's life--tipping.(BUSINESS ETIQUETTE)
March 1, 2007... Most people know it as a tip. Travel writer Paul Theroux, who spent many years in Africa, refers to it as a 'dash'. Throughout the Middle East it's renowned as baksheesh (from the Persian for 'to give'). Americans, in a rush of political...

Lighten up: the latest ultraportable laptops coming on the market are still heavyweights when it comes to function and design. Marc Gardener compares the newest 'size zero' supermodels.(the LAPTOPS)
March 1, 2007... As smartphones get smarter and laptops get lighter and more powerful, the line between your office PC, laptop and mobile gets more blurred by the day. The latest laptops are small enough to take everywhere, yet boast performance up to any...

V-phone.(TECHNOLOGY)
March 1, 2007... What is it? A bright orange USB memory stick complete with headset (ear pieces) with a microphone to make and receive calls. How does it work? Just plug it into your PC and the preloaded software will launch. You can then make calls using...

BA's new club world: six years after launching its revolutionary Club World product, British Airways has revamped its business class cabin. Felicity Cousins speaks to the team behind the improvements.(BUSINESS CLASS)
March 1, 2007... British Airways launched its new Club World business class product last month. It has been six years since the revolutionary flat bed was introduced, and only months since the roll-out for that product was completed, yet BA is already heralding...

How does that work? The maps in GPS devices are more accurate every year. Felicity Cousins goes behind the scenes to see how they are created, updated and turned into that voice which haunts your every turn.(Technology ... GPS NAVIGATION)
March 1, 2007... Most of us are familiar with the calming disembodied voice of our GPS device informing us to take a left turn just as we overshoot the junction. What's less familiar is the process by which that voice gets its information. To find out, I spent...

4 hours in ... Geneva: Geneva is known for its luxury watches and chocolate, but Felicity Cousins saves her pennies and her waistline and finds more to explore.
March 1, 2007... [1] UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA (UNOG) Start on the north side of the lake. Geneva is home to the headquarters of more than 200 international organisations and is probably most famous for the main European offices of the United...

Ask Alex: Alex McWhirter answers your travel queries.
March 1, 2007... Q This year we have decided not to be so extravagant and to book our round-the-world (RTW) ticket in business as opposed to first class. Last year we took a Oneworld Explorer ticket. We covered the circuit via Asia, Australia and Latin America,...

Good scents: Sarah Catchpole enters Paris's world-famous perfumery, La Maison Guerlain, and finds old-fashioned French charm.(What to buy in ... PARIS)
March 1, 2007... There are much better alternatives to browsing department-store perfume counters in Paris--the city is, after all, the closest thing to the capital of perfume. Instead, pay a visit to La Maison Guerlain on the Champs-Elysees, home to the...

The time is right: made for the exacting connoisseur, these high-precision timepieces will change the way you manage time and help you keep up even if your body clock does not, says Methil Renuka.(Buyers guide)
March 1, 2007... 1. PARMIGIANI The new Parmigiani ladies' collection is stylish and unabashedly feminine, just right for that after-work party. The Kalpa Donna and Kalpa Piccola Gold series is designed to meet the jet-setting pace. Available in 18-carat...

Win a luxury weekend in Dubai; enjoy a two-night break for two at Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai and soak up the dazzling sights and sounds of Sheikh Zayed Road.(Competition)
March 1, 2007... Centrally located among gleaming skyscrapers on Dubai's arterial Sheikh Zayed Road, the 200-metre, 43-storey Shangri-La Hotel is a 15-minute drive from Dubai International Airport, five minutes from the World Trade Centre and Dubai Convention...

The lure of the pool; Teresa Machan invites you to take a trip down memory lane and try out the lovingly preserved coastal baths of Sydney.(GREAT escape)
March 1, 2007... As I dried off on the poolside timber deck in preparation for toasting a fine Sydney sunset with a glass of the local bubbly, I paused, spellbound by the million-dollar harbour view ahead. Moments earlier I'd been lap swimming alongside...