Business Traveller Middle East articles from September 2006

Business Traveller Middle East archives from September 2006

Jinxed flight.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I usually fly business class on Emirates or Qatar Airways, but for a trip to London Heathrow in June, I opted to fly Etihad Airways for the first time and now wish I hadn't. The 8.20am flight from Abu Dhabi took off on time but the in-flight...

Viennese whirl.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I was booked to travel Dubai-Vienna-Paris CDG on 1 April, returning on 7 April. The fare paid was for economy outbound and business return. At check-in at Dubai I was given the worst seat in the last row, even though I'm a Gold cardholder....

US passport rules.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I arrived at Heathrow on 4 February with a friend, to fly to San Francisco in Club World, using 100,000 BA miles and my American Express companion voucher. All went well until our boarding passes were put through the machine at the gate....

Oberoi enters Dubai market.(Oberoi partnered with Rani International )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The award-winning Indian luxury hotel brand Oberoi has partnered with Rani International for its first entry into the Dubai market. Rani is investing Dhs750 million ($204 million) to develop two landmark, 900,000 square-foot, 30-storey towers...

Etihad announces launch of service to New York.(UPFRONT)
September 1, 2006... Etihad Airways, the UAE's ambitious national airline, has announced the expansion of its international network of destinations. From October, Etihad will fly daily to Terminal 4 at New York's JFK airport. As the second-largest US trading...

Radisson expands Middle East presence.(Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, the deluxe brand of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, is expanding its operations in the Middle East and Africa with two new upmarket propositions. In October, the Diplomat Radisson SAS Residence and Spa, described as...

Lebanon tries to pick up the pieces.(Middle East Airlines)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... War-torn Lebanon is aiming to get its business sector back on track. Karim Chamseddine, Executive Director of CFH Investment Banking, recently travelled to Lebanon via Damascus to inspect company developments in Solidere, which survives...

New Singapore visitor guide for Muslims.(UPFRONT)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... With Singapore an increasingly popular destination for Middle East business travellers, the launch of a new visitor guide tailored for Muslims is a timely occurrence. The publication features information on annual events, cultural districts,...

Accor to manage Al Barsha properties.(Accor S.A., Al All Property Investments for Hotels & Resorts )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... As Dubai's demographics continue to diversify, so does its portfolio of hotel properties. Accor recently signed management agreements with Al All Property Investments for Hotels & Resorts (API H&R) to manage two new mid-range hotels in the Al...

Nakheel and Jumeirah join up in strategic partnership.(Jumeirah International)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Nakheel Hotels & Resorts, the UAE's leading property developer, has embarked on a strategic alliance with Jumeirah Group, the dynamic and rapidly growing Dubai-based luxury hotel chain. The landmark partnership will see Jumeirah operate and...

Ras Al Khaimah embarks on tourism plan.(UPFRONT)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... UAE emirate Ras Al Khaimah is planning to triple the number of hotels and lure leading hotel brands to the emirate as part of its aggressive expansion into the tourism sector. "Around 25 major hotel projects are under various stages of...

Ascott extends to the Middle East.(UPFRONT)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Singapore's The Ascott Group has chosen Dubai for its first Middle East property, The Somerset Jadaf, and is set to raise its profile with 15 more serviced residences in the rest of the region by 2010. The 84-unit, four-star Somerset Jadaf,...

Virgin Atlantic and Alamo have teamed up.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... Virgin Atlantic and Alamo have teamed up to offer economy fly/drive packages to London for Dhs2,890 ($786).

Qatar Airways has entered US markets through transatlantic code sharing with Lufthansa.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... Qatar Airways has entered US markets through transatlantic code sharing with Lufthansa, facilitating one-step baggage and boarding, a precursor to nonstop flights later this year.

Premium passengers favour British Airways.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... Premium passengers favour British Airways, voting it Airline of the Year 2006 in the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Austrian Airlines begins a daily Dubai to Vienna service from 28 October.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... Austrian Airlines begins a daily Dubai to Vienna service from 28 October, providing connections to North American long-haul destinations.

Air France now offers daily flights to Lagos via Paris.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... Air France now offers daily flights to Lagos via Paris, with promotional prices from Dhs 2,000 ($544).

Emirates has rolled out its new lie-flat business class seats.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... Emirates has rolled out its new lie-flat business class seats, fitted as standard on new aircraft, with retrofits complete by 2008.

Gulf Air has extended its e-ticketing destinations worldwide.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... Gulf Air has extended its e-ticketing destinations worldwide to include Australia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the Gulf and the UK.

Eco-tourism resort opens at Dubailand.(UPFRONT)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Al Sahra desert resort will be the first project in Dubailand to open its doors to the public when it launches in late September. Developed by Dubai Heritage Vision, an organisation established to nurture and promote the rich heritage and...

Abu Dhabi's island paradise to open by 2008.(UPFRONT)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A 400-room, five-star waterfront resort is due to open within three years on the 27km Saadiyat Island, 500 metres off Abu Dhabi's shoreline. One of six developments on the island, the 809,000 square foot scheme has already received...

Aer Lingus enhances business class product.(Aer Lingus Group PLC)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The national airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus, has announced a major overhaul of its business class product, Premier Class. From this autumn, the Aer Linqus Premier Class will benefit from a facelift to its in-cabin fixtures and fittings,...

Nuran Serviced Residences is Emaar Properties' latest subsidiary, providing fully-serviced accommodation.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... Nuran Serviced Residences is Emaar Properties' latest subsidiary, providing fully-serviced accommodation. First to market is the Nuran Al Majara at Dubai Marina, Nuran Al Alka Residences at The Greens and The Residences at Burj Dubai.

The Fujairah Rotana Resort opens in December 2006.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... The Fujairah Rotana Resort opens in December 2006. Nestled between the Hajar Mountains and the Indian Ocean, the resort will include 250 colonial-style guest rooms, 144 chalets and eight executive suites, all with private terraces.

Recently opened Dubai property The Arabian Park is running a number of special promotions, including Stay and Play, which includes a night at the hotel plus a round of golf for two people at the championship facilities of the Arabian Ranches golf course.(HOTEL UPDATE)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Recently opened Dubai property The Arabian Park is running a number of special promotions, including Stay and Play, which includes a night at the hotel plus a round of golf for two people at the championship facilities of the Arabian Ranches...

The renovated five-star business hotel.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2006... The renovated five-star business hotel, Al Diar Siji, in Fujairah has installed high-definition LCD TVs in all rooms, along with wireless broadband, 'Heavenly Beds', conferencing, boardroom and ballroom facilities, all in close proximity to...

The UAE-based Istithmar Hotels has announced that it will open easyHotels, a chain of London-based budget hotels, across the Middle East over the next couple of years.(HOTEL UPDATE)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The UAE-based Istithmar Hotels has announced that it will open easyHotels, a chain of London-based budget hotels, across the Middle East over the next couple of years. This includes as many as six easyHotels in Dubai, each containing between 80...

Aer Lingus: business class.(Aer Lingus Group PLC)
September 1, 2006... FLIGHT CHECK--DUBAI-DUBLIN FIRST IMPRESSIONS The check-in for Premier Class, as Aer Lingus' business class is called, isn't quite as grand as you might hope--no swish, cordoned-off area or fawning flunkies, alas--but since there's no queue...

Shangri-La Muscat.(TRIED AND TESTED)(Hotel review)
September 1, 2006... HOTEL CHECK--MUSCAT WHAT'S IT LIKE? The scope of this much-anticipated new jewel perched on the bay of the Gulf of Oman is still a little confusing to navigate. Although the grand opening was celebrated in February this year, there are...

Etihad Airways: Pearl Zone Boeing 777.(TRIED AND TESTED)
September 1, 2006... FLIGHT CHECK--MANCHESTER-DUBAI FIRST IMPRESSION After a quick and easy check-in, I boarded the plane and was personally escorted to my seat in the Pearl Zone (business class). With just under a seven-hour flight ahead, the cabin was...

Four Seasons Dublin.(TRIED AND TESTED)(Hotel review)
September 1, 2006... HOTEL CHECK--DUBLIN WHAT'S IT LIKE? Situated in the leafy, upmarket neighbourhood of Ballsbridge, next door to the Royal Dublin Society and with the American Embassy near by, the Four Seasons Dublin is a country house-style retreat from...

New horizon: corporate dinners on the Nile or private parties in the shadows of the pyramids are passe. Not willing to rest on past success, Egypt is expanding its profile with year-round Mediterranean retreats and present-day wonders.(EGYPT)
September 1, 2006... It's 9.45pm at Le Tarbouche, a dinner-boat docked on the Nile in Cairo. Ahmed El Khadem, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, tucks into a plateful of busara ("a dish in existence since the pharaohs") and gazes at the Nile, deep in...

Changing fortunes: Saudi Arabia is relaxing its notoriously strict visa rule in order to open up its borders to tourism. Alexandra Dubsky uncovers the radical changes taking place.(SAUDI ARABIA)
September 1, 2006... Often perceived as a land where only businessmen and pilgrims dare to tread, Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing one of its most ambitious transformations to date. The oil-rich Kingdom is currently rebranding itself as a tourist destination to...

Travelling companions: in the old days, business travellers had to be content with a pad and pen and a good book while on the move, but now the plethora of portable technology available means they can always stay connected. George Hopkin rounds up the latest best-in-class shiny gadgets.(Leica C-LUX1, Apple MacBook Pro, Apple iPod)
September 1, 2006... Digital cameras LEICA C-LUX1 For the record, if you want to take digital photographs superior to those produced by snap-and-go pocket cameras, then buy yourself a Nikon D50 or DTO (depending on your budget), a Canon EOS 350D, or even...

Time marches on: watches designed for the armed forces had to be innovative, sturdy and precise. Many are still prized today. Sarah Maxwell examines the lure of watch brands with military connections.
September 1, 2006... Some watches have connotations of luxury, others of sport, but a particular niche is that of the military watch. Luxury brands pride themselves on their history, their lineage, and when it comes to military watches, there is plenty to boast...

Hotel wifi: we arrive, check in and log on. But what are hotels doing to make our lives easier, and what does the future hotel room promise? Tom Otley speaks to those at the cutting edge of hotel connectivity.(CONNECTIVITY)
September 1, 2006... Increasingly, hotels have realised that for business guests to be regular guests, they need high-speed internet access in their guestrooms and public spaces, including the lobby and meeting areas. A UK survey by iBahn, the world's leading...

Barcelona: the most famous sights in the Catalan capital are within easy reach of an afternoon's walk, with a little help from the subway. Mark Caswell offers a whirlwind guide to the best of Barcelona.(4 HOURS IN ...)
September 1, 2006... 1 La Sagrada Familia Much of central Barcelona is within strolling distance, but La Sagrada Familia is slightly too far if your time is limited, so it's faster to take the subway to the appropriately named Sagrada Familia Metro station....

Ask Alex.
September 1, 2006... Q My boss, the CEO of an important firm, travels around Europe frequently on business. He regularly stays at hotels belonging to Starwood, Kempinski and those listed in The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) catalogue. He is a member of all...

To the manner born: doing business in a global economy can be fraught with pitfalls. Brian Johnston takes a light-hearted look at the customs of commerce around the world.(BUSINESS ETIQUETTE)
September 1, 2006... The ancient Chinese knew a thing or two. Not only did they invent fireworks and the wheelbarrow, but they may well have been the first people ever to write about etiquette. "In dealing with another person the whole secret of success is finding...

Tales of the city: three decades ago, Manila's troubled politics made it a haven for colourful characters looking for hedonistic thrills. Marcus Scriven explores life in the Philippines' capital, past and present.(MANILA)
September 1, 2006... The curfew, remembers Tommy Henderson, was great fun. "When I first went to the Philippines in the early 1970s, it began at 11pm. We used to dash it occasionally, talk our way through." More often than not, though, restrictions on nocturnal...

Watch this space: time flies when you are travelling on work, but your watch defines your style and even gives you a helping hand in different time zones. Methil Renuka zeroes in on the latest timekeepers.(WATCHES)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2006... Blancpain Quantieme Perpetuel GMT Havana Here's a limited edition watch with the name of your favourite cigar. The Blancpain Quantieme Perpetuel GMT Havana is cased in platinum with a Havana brown dial. Conceived for the most demanding...

Full throttle: want a new set of wheels that's as performance-driven as you are? Methil Renuka puts you in the driver's seat of the newest mean machines on the roads of the Middle East.(EXECUTIVE MOTORING)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2006... Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano There is no disputing the genius of a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano on the road. Now available to non-F1 drivers, the brutally stunning all-aluminium two-seater has been built for ultimate road safety and improved body...

Win two cutting-edge Jabra headsets: read about Jabra's latest designer Bluetooth communication solutions and win a chance to experience them.(Jabra BT160, Jabra JX10 and Jabra BT150 )
September 1, 2006... The Bluetooth technology has been a blessing for business travellers who perennially lead mobile lifestyles--ask the executive who has to juggle his cabin bags, laptop and a conference call on his mobile phone at the same time. Hands-free...

Close encounters: Namibia's rugged landscape attracts all sorts of tourists--photographers, birdwatchers and botanists among them--and it's also home to some very creepy crawlies.(GREAT ESCAPE)
September 1, 2006... Our four-man Cessna approached the scar of an airstrip at the heart of the Namib Desert just as the early evening sun cast its apricot glow across the magnificent desert tableau that was to be our home for the next three days. The pilot...