Business Traveller Middle East articles from September 2009

Business Traveller Middle East archives from September 2009

Business bags.(Upfront)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... Luggage stalwart Samsonite has launched its new business range of cases and bags in the Middle East. The company views the region as resilient to the current downturn in business travel, claiming that the tendency of local business people to...

I've given them a whole list of unrealistic demands.(Upfront)
September 1, 2009... "I've given them a whole list of unrealistic demands. I said, 'I want to stand on that black patch on the runway where the planes actually land and the rubber comes off their tyres', so they are going to take me out there at night when the...

Air Arabia at the top of its game.(Upfront)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sharjah-based carrier, Air Arabia, has been ranked as the best low-cost carrier (LCC) in the world by reputed aviation industry mouthpiece, Aviation Week magazine. The airline topped the chart of publicly traded...

Etihad launches first class suite.(Upfront)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... The UAE's national carrier has launched its brand new first class suite on its Airbus A340-600 route between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow, and Business Traveller Middle East was in attendance on one of its maiden flights. The...

BA celebrates 90th anniversary.(Upfront)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] British Airways (BA), the UK's flagship carrier, celebrated 90 years in the industry in August this year. From its first flight from London to Paris on 25 August, 1919, the airline has grown to become one of the leading...

Rest easy.(Upfront)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... Movenpick Hotels & Resorts in Dubai has emphasised the importance of comfortable beds over other ancillary extras in securing return custom from business guests. A recent survey by LUXE City Guides compiled a list of the seven top hotel beds...

Shangri-La.(Hotel news update)
September 1, 2009... Shangri-La is set to make its first move into the Russian market with a hotel in Moscow. The 400-room property is set to open in 2012 and will be located next to the Russian Botanic Garden, 10km from Red Square and 25km from the International...

Rezidor.(Hotel news update)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... Rezidor is also set to open a hotel in the Russian capital, with the launch of the Radisson Royal Hotel on 1 December 2009. The property is currently undergoing extensive renovation to ensure its 507-rooms and serviced apartments are guest-ready...

Hilton Hotels Corporation.(Hotel news update)
September 1, 2009... Hilton Hotels Corporation has inked a deal to open a Hilton Doha Residence in Qatar. The 288-apartment building will be located in West Bay and is scheduled to open in Q2 2012.

Nakheel.(Hotel news update)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... Nakheel hotels has announced the opening of two new properties--the W Washington DC, and the Turnberry Golf Resort in Scotland--operated by Starwoods. The W Washington is the result of a $100m renovation of the nineteenth century, 317-room Hotel...

The Crowne Plaza.(Hotel news update)
September 1, 2009... The Crowne Plaza brand is to open its first hotel in Portugal with the launch of a property in Vilamoura in January 2010. The 327-room hotel will be within walking distance of five golf courses in the Algarve, will have its own on-site driving...

Courtyard by Marriott.(Hotel news update)
September 1, 2009... Courtyard by Marriott is to open a 187-room property in Bucharest, Romania in 2011. It will be the company's second in the country. The mid-range hotel will provide all the business amenities and in-room workspaces necessary for the roaming...

Doubletree.(Hotel news update)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... Doubletree by Hilton has announced two new franchisedeals in Africa, located in Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar. In Dar Es Salaam, the 158-room hotel will be 20km from the International Airport, while the 101-room Zanzibar property is about an hour's...

Jumeirah.(Hotel news update)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... Jumeirah has been appointed to manage the Qing Shul Bay Resort on the Chinese island of Sanya, 2.5 hours from Shanghai and one hour from Hong Kong by plane. Set to include 250 rooms and 50 private villas, guests will also be able to enjoy a 12km...

Best Western International.(Hotel news update)
September 1, 2009... Best Western International has soft-opened a hotel--Best Western Premier Solo--in Java, Indonesia. The property lies 20 minutes from the international airport and offers 148 guest rooms. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dusit International.(Hotel news update)
September 1, 2009... Dusit International has two new Middle Eastern openings scheduled--the Dusit Princess City Centre, Dubai and the Dusit Dilmunia, Bahrain. The launches bring the Thai brand's sum of properties in the region to six.

Cradle Mountain Lodge.(Hotel news update)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania, Australia, is to join Accor's upscale MGallery collection, launched last year. The boutique hotel sits at the entrance to World Heritage-listed Cradle MountainLake St Clair National Park in the island's...

Lufthansa.(Airline news update)
September 1, 2009... Lufthansa has added Libreville, Gabon to its route map. The German airline will be flying to the city five times a week from Frankfurt, via Accra, Ghana. This will bring the number of African destinations offered by the carrier to 16, adding to...

Virgin Atlantic.(Airline news update)
September 1, 2009... Virgin Atlantic is to reduce its flight offering by seven per cent in its winter schedule, with the possibility of a corresponding loss of 600 jobs. Among the routes being axed are the daily services between London Heathrow and both Chicago and...

British Airways.(Airline news update)
September 1, 2009... British Airways is to increase capacity on its Jeddah route for the winter schedule, reflecting a positive uptake since the reopening of the service in June. In addition the airline will launch routes to both the Maldivian capital Male and the...

Flydubai.(Airline news update)
September 1, 2009... Flydubai has added both Aleppo (Syria's second-largest city) and Djibouti to its routemap. The low-cost carrier will operate a daily service to Aleppo and a thrice-weekly service to Djibouti. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Emirates.(Airline news update)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... To help Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) navigate the downturn, Emirates is offering 5,000 bonus Miles to each client when a new Business Rewards account is activated. The scheme gives members two Miles for every dollar they spend on travel....

Etihad.(Airline news update)(Brief article)
September 1, 2009... Etihad has opened its first premium lounge abroad, in Frankfurt, Germany. The space can accommodate up to 50 premium passengers and will open three hours prior to the departure of Etihad flights. Customers can enjoy 'five-star' dining from the...

Qatar Airways.(Airline news update)
September 1, 2009... Qatar Airways is aggressively expanding its European timetable with increased frequency to Spain, Greece, Sweden and France. The carrier will fly from Doha to Paris twice daily and daily to Madrid.

Jet Airways.(Airline news update)
September 1, 2009... Jet Airways launched services to Riyadh in August this year. The Indian carrier will fly to the Saudi Arabian business hub four times a week, adding to an existing service to Jeddah.

Ukraine International Airlines.(Airline news update)
September 1, 2009... Starting on 25 September, the Ukrainian national carrier, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will fly direct from Abu Dhabi to Kiev. The carrier will operate a Boeing 737 aircraft configured in two product classes, business and economy, for...

Etihad Diamond First Class (new).(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FLIGHT CHECK--LONDON-ABU DHABI CHECK-IN Check-in was gloriously smooth for flight EY18 to Abu Dhabi. Friendly staff greet you at the easy-to-find desk, take your documents and check you in with minimal fuss. THE...

The May Fair.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHERE IS IT? In the beating heart of central London (well, Mayfair), right by both Green and Hyde Park. The Ritz, Selfridges and Buckingham Palace are minutes away on foot, but transport links for destinations any...

Elysium.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--PAPHOS, CYPRUS WHERE IS IT? Paphos, a tourist town in the south west of Cyprus, is about 90 minutes' drive from the main airport in Lanarca. Recently, because of the high number of historical buildings,...

Four Seasons.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA WHERE IS IT? The Four Seasons occupies 18 floors within Riyadh's iconic Kingdom Centre, which, at 311 metres high, is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia. Towering over an...

Sharq Village & Spa.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--DOHA, QATAR WHERE IS IT? Five minutes from the international airport and fifteen from the city centre, the bayside Sharq is tremendously convenient for business travellers, although its proximity to the...

W Hotel.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--DOHA, QATAR WHERE IS IT? In the West Bay area, about 30 minutes from the airport. The drive takes you along the serene stretch of the Corniche but traffic jams can interrupt both your inner peace and...

Four Seasons Damascus.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--DAMASCUS, SYRIA WHERE IS IT? Well placed on all transport routes, the Four Seasons is on the outskirts of one of the city's poshest residential districts, 25 minutes from the international airport and a...

Shangri-La.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES WHERE IS IT? Fifteen minutes drive from Dubai International Airport, the Shangri-La is situated on Sheikh Zayed Road, the city's main thoroughfare. It's also five minutes away...

Rixos Premium.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--BODRUM, TURKEY WHERE IS IT? Located on the Turkey's west coast, close to the historic town of Bodrum, the resort lies about half an hour's taxi drive from Bodrum airport. WHAT'S IT LIKE? Set in a...

Park Hyatt.(TRIED & TESTED)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--DUBAI, UAE WHERE IS IT? In the heart of the city's Creek district on the Deira side and just five minutes from the airport, it couldn't be more central. Yet hidden away up a long private drive, once...

Cradle snatchers: known as the cradle of civilisation, ancient Syria has transformed itself in recent years to become a modern, exciting business and tourist destination. And now people are rushing to take advantage of the economic optimism and raft of historical treasures.(SYRIA)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After years in a political hinterland following fractured Levantine relations, Syria is back in favour. And it has visits from both French President Sarkozy and US President Obama under its...

Singapore for beginners: as one of the main global business hubs, most executives will at some stage have need to drop into Singapore. First time in the Asian hotspot? Let us show you round.(SINGAPORE)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Singapore may be the only place in the world where the airport is more than just the place you arrive and is actually worthy of recommendation as a place to visit in its own right. A huge, temperature-controlled space...

There's something about Cyprus: think Cyprus is just another Mediterranean island? Think again. Theresa Mallinson uncovers the outpost's best sights and bites.(CYPRUS)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I felt welcome in Cyprus even before the plane touched the ground. Flying into Larnaca airport was, quite simply, breathtaking. My eyes were glued to the window and the sparkling Mediterranean...

Net gains: sick of being stung by hotel internet charges? Laura Collacott looks into getting online overseas.(BUSINESS)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Your home has internet. Your office has internet. These days, you expect web access to be as on tap as electricity and water. So why are some hotels still charging $20 a day and upwards for one of the most basic of...

Business Travel (made easy): Haakon Gaarder-Larsen identifies some simple tricks to staying productive and healthy while away on business.(WELL-BEING)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Business travel is often a necessity and can be made into a practiced art, but even the most experienced business travellers will confess to moments of displacement and anxiety away from the home and office desks. It...

Leader of the pack: always find yourself lugging heavy bags home with half the contents unused? Step this way for a lesson in how to pack.(onebag.com)(Viewpoint essay)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Antoine de Saint-Exupery is all too often quoted by those who expound the virtues of travelling with minimal luggage, but anyone who has tried to drag an overstuffed suitcase (plus laptop, duty free, coat and more)...

Ask Alex.
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] QUESTION: Last January I booked a 69 [pounds sterling] Bmi flight between London Heathrow and Leeds to attend a conference on April 27. I was flying into Heathrow that morning from Cairo with British Airways as Bmi's...

Bodrum: from tourist tat and sandy beaches to the very building blocks of history, the picture perfect town on Turkey's Aegean coast has it all, as Alistair Crighton discovers.
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [1] BODRUM CASTLE Dominating the town's seafront, the 15th century Castle of St Peter is one of the best preserved crusader castles in the east. Built by the Knights Hospitallar, the massive structure dominates the...

You are here.(ESSENTIALS)(List)
September 1, 2009... The synergising of modern mobiles means that many will now double as camera, map book, organiser, alarm clock, computer and many functions besides. But if you prefer to keep your phone a phone and lack an in-built sense of direction, check out...

Win a two-night stay in Dubai: conduct business in a home away from home with a stay in a luxury serviced residence.(COMPETITION)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Somerset Jadaf, Dubai invites business and leisure travellers to indulge in an unforgettable lifestyle of comfort and sophistication in the heart of Dubai city. Conveniently located just 5 minutes from the Dubai...

Sands of time.(GREAT ESCAPE)
September 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jerash is probably the only place in the world where the acoustics of a Roman theatre are tested regularly by eccentric, bagpipe-wielding locals. If you're lucky, you'll catch them blasting out a tune in the ancient...