Business Traveler - March 2016 - Business Traveler

MARCH 2016
Access Granted
Getting Visas right
Peak Performance
$4.95
Diverse & dynamic Taiwan
Whats Not to Like?

Social media makes the most of travel
lifestyle
Macaus Mighty Gamble

Cellars in the Sky
Top Travel Tech
We Make Your Business Ours

Youll find our hotels and restaurants are designed to delight, thanks to the perk-y
extras like our hosted nightly wine hour, award-winning restaurants, yoga mats in
every room, complimentary PUBLIC bikes and free WiFi for Kimpton Karma Rewards
members. Add our bold, playful design and you have the ultimate boutique hotel
stay at over 65 hotels in 30 cities.
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n Inside
March 2016
On The Cover
30 Whats Not To Like
In a mobile society where everyones
attention is turning to social media,
travel is making the most of it
Special Reports
16 Access Granted
Your travel plans are confirmed but
you wont be going anywhere unless
you have the right visa
Destinations
12 Peak Performance
Taiwan offers visitors stunning nature,
21st century transport options and
wonderful food
30
24 Enterprising Bogot
Colombias capital city is a place with
a purpose, finding new gold as Latin
Americas hub for business
Departments
08 Upfront
One on One with Dianna Vaughan,
global head of Curio, a Collection
by Hilton. DHS extends Real ID
deadline. Commune and Destination
Hotels merge.
20 Take offs & Landings

Oceans of Choice New narrowbody jets are set for trans-Atlantic
service. Plus new route news
28 Loyalty Update
Airline and hotel rewards programs
news and promotions
24
Intermedia Travel Group

Eleven Ryerson Avenue, Suite 201,
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
P: (973) 839-6200 F: (973) 839-4390
www.businesstravelerusa.com
lifestyle
Group Publisher
Jerry Allison (973) 839-6200
JAllison@businesstravelerusa.com
Principal/Chief Content Officer
Ross Atkinson (703) 395-7145
RAtkinson@businesstravelerusa.com
Subscriptions (973) 839-0620
subscriptions@businesstravelerusa.com
Advertising Sales (973) 839-6200
advertising@businesstravelerusa.com
Jim McGinley (818) 712-0672
Mike Shevlin (847) 749-0168
Editorial Director
Dan Booth (336) 766-1961
editorial@businesstravelerusa.com
Editorial Assistant Ralf Walters
Contributors
Marisa Cannon
Steve Dineen
Rose Dykins
Dominic Ellis
Lark Gould
Clement Huang
Alex McWirter
Tom Otley
Ramsey Qubein
Jenny Southan
Designer & Art Director

Michele Cameron
ML.Cameron @comcast.net
Production
Marylee DeFerrari
mdeferrari@businesstravelerusa.com
52
36 Lifestyle News
Destination Hotels teams with Tesla.
AAA adds to 5-Diamond list. Bleisure
takes off. Burj al Arab gets decked out
38 The Good Life

A Toast to Success Find out which
airlines serve the best wines with
the 30th annual Cellars in the Sky
Awards
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part

of the text, photographs or illustrations without permission is prohibited.
New Horizons Forty years after the

wars end, Danang displays newfound luxury and local charm
50 The Scene
We round up some top events in the
upcoming months.
Fit for Flight Upgrad to
58 World Wise
42 Gathering Places
Business Traveler North America is published ten

times a year at our address as above. The magazine
is independent of commercial interest. Unsolicited
manuscripts will not be accepted for publication. The
opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the
publishers who cannot accept responsibility for any
errors or omissions.
52 Escape To
Macaus Mighty Gamble Lavish

spending is off the menu for Macau
as it reinvents itself as an entertainment capital
48 Technology of Things
Top Travel Tech From pocket printers to smart chargers, you can go far
with handy add-ons for your gadgets
Scenic Airport Approaches The

approach with a view
48
First Class with Door
Business Class (Staggered Layout)
ASIANA380 Business Class
11.1 Monitors in Economy Class
Dressing Room (Lavatory)
A CLASS BEYOND THE ORDINARY
EXTRAORDINARY
Reservations 1-800-2ASIANA us.flyasiana.com
The New ASIANA380, Special Edition.
Our staggered layout offers direct access to the aisle,

more private space, and fully reclining flat-bed seats
for a pleasant in-flight experience.
n Talking Point
Papers, Please
The right documents smooth the way for your
international travels. Dont leave home without them
ometimes after the long days work, the television

beckons, tempting me to relax in the flow-and-glow
that passes for entertainment on 500-odd late night
cable channels. Slipping a fresh set of AA batteries into
the remote, I begin more or less mindlessly flipping
through. Yes, I could resort to streaming something I really want to
watch, but then Id feel obligated to really watch it. And obligated is
not what I really want to feel right now.
flip, flip, flip And then bam! my screen is transformed into
a time machine, and I am hooked. The black and white images
are so captivating, the story, so irresistable. Its that film classic
Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Casablanca. This is one I can
always stay awake to watch.
Now for those among our readers who are not familiar with
this Hollywood classic, heres the basic plot: Its 1940 and France
has fallen to the Nazis. Rick is an American ex-pat who runs a
nightclub in Vichy-controlled Casablanca. Ricks erstwhile love
Ilsa shows up one day on the arm of her husband, Victor Laszlo,
a hero in the Czech resistance and a wanted fugitive sought by
Casablancas Nazi occupiers.
Now pay attention; this is the important part.
What Victor and Ilsa need to evade the Nazis
and fly from Casablanca to neutral Lisbon and
freedom are some papers called letters of
transit. Which, conveniently enough, Rick has
tucked away in his impeccably tailored
white dinner jacket. But will he give them
up to save the woman he loves and her
husband?
For the rest of the movie, much of the
tale twists and turns around that question.
However the question thats never
answered is, what exactly are letters of
transit and why are they important?
In fiction, theres a name for a plot device that motivates the

storyline; its called a MacGuffin. Its a term credited to the director
Alfred Hitchcock. The MacGuffin itself may be of no real value in
the story, but characters will kill or die for it. Think the worthless
title bird in The Maltese Falcon or the rare mineral unobtanium
in Avatar. The so-called letters of transit in Casablanca are a
MacGuffin. Theyre what everybody in the story is after, but in the
end they dont actually matter.
The reality is that theres no such thing as a letter of transit.
But there are plenty of other important documents we business
travelers need to understand when we set off on our global
journeys. In this months feature Access Granted (page 16), we
explore some of the more intricate ins and outs of the paper trail
that surrounds and can often disrupt international travel.
Passports are critical, to be sure, but for many destinations theyre
only the beginning.
These days most of us work and live in a global economy. In
large part, its been travel, and in particular business travel, thats
created a world where this is not only possible, but necessary. And
as a consequence, governments have found it to their advantage to
lower some of the barriers between nations.
Some, but not all. While many borders are relatively easy, thanks
to technology and governmental cooperation, there are still plenty
places in the world where passage is anything but frictionless. And
its up to travelers, wherever theyre headed, to make sure all the
is are dotted and ts crossed. The success of your trip, and perhaps
your personal security, depend on it.
Poor preparation, like fictitious letters of transit, wont get you
where you want to go. BT
Dan Booth
Editorial Director
Keep In Touch
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6 n March 2016
Visit businesstravelerusa.com
2015 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sheraton and its logo are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.
Words.
Anyone can say them.
But actions.
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n Upfront
on
ONE
N
E
DHS EXTENDS
REAL ID
DEADLINE TO 2018
Rare Finds
Dianna Vaughan, SVP and global head of
Hiltons Curio Collection, is gathering
independent gems for business travelers
BT: It seems every major

hotel chain is launching
some kind of collection
or soft brand these days.
Whats the story behind
Hiltons Curio Collection?
VAUGHAN: Hilton has
been doing soft branding for
over 50 years, but we had
hotels that were embedded
in each brand. So Hilton has
Palmer House or DoubleTree
has the Roanoke. Weve got
about 40 hotels that are soft
branded in existing brands.
Our owner-advisory council
for the last several years has
been saying, Hey, when is
Hilton going to launch this
kind of collection space?
BT: The Curio Collection is
coming up on its two-year
anniversary. Whats been the
growth story in that time?
VAUGHAN: We have 18
hotels open today and
about 70 committed in our
pipeline. So it really has
caught on fire very quickly.
BT: Tell us about the latest
properties to join Curio.
VAUGHAN: The Logan,
which is the former Four
Seasons in downtown
Philadelphia, opened in
December. They closed
the hotel and did a huge
renovation. And the other
is Amway Grand in Grand
Rapids with 682 rooms,
also opened in December.
Upcoming theres London
House in Chicago, thats
going to be opening in
probably April. And then
the other big one is Lincoln
Plaza in London.
8 n March 2016
BT: What kind of hotel owner

is looking to come under the
Curio umbrella?
VAUGHAN: When we first
launched, we thought the
majority of our hotels would
be those independent owners,
like the Providence Biltmore
or the Sam Houston. But
what we quickly saw was a
lot of our owners have one
of our other 11 or 12 Hilton
portfolio brands. For example
our Sam Houston owner also
has a DoubleTree and a Hilton,
and Im sure other brands.
So even though he has this
independent hotel, he also
owns others.
So we have a variety of
owners, from institutional
owners to independent owners
to owners that have multiple
brands. When we launched
we really thought it was going
to be the majority of the
independent, I just have this
one hotel. But that really hasnt
been the case.
BT: Explain the concept
behind a collection versus a
hard brand?
VAUGHAN: It really goes
back to that owner wanting
to have their own authentic
hotel experience. As long as
they are providing an upscale
luxury 4- 5- 6-star hotel from
the consumer point of view,
we give a lot of flexibility.
Sometimes people think, Oh,
it might be easy to become
a Curio. It really isnt. You
still have to maintain those
standards; were just a little
more flexible in them, and
owners love that. Because they
really like to bring out that

authentic experience for
the consumers with these
individual hotels.
BT: What impact has
the Internet had on the
collection concept?
VAUGHAN: The Internet
really has changed how
everybody looks at hotels.
But even with the Internet
changing the landscape,
Curio customers arent
needing to do a lot of
research. Its that quiet
reassurance of, Im
getting this independent,
authentic hotel thats
different, but I dont have
to worry because its
backed by Hilton. Also
those 48 million HHonors
members? They want
something different, but
they want their points too.
BT: Why do you think
these independent luxury
properties are gaining
traction with business
travelers these days?
VAUGHAN: Whats the
new luxury today? Ive
been doing business travel
for probably 15 years, and
I cant tell you how many
times I went airport-hotelairport-home. So to me, its
the luxury of convenience
and the luxury of being
able to enjoy yourself, have
some leisure while youre
there for your business.
Its enabling the consumer
to connect to the local
community where Im
staying at a hotel and Im
getting to have fun. BT
Secretary of Homeland
Security Jeh C. Johnson
has announced a new
deadline for implementing
the Real ID Act which sets
requirements for a more secure
Federally-approved form of
identification. The act was
passed in 2005, but fewer than
half the states have actually
complied fully with the new
rules that are in place.
Originally the rule was to
have gone into effect in phases
beginning Jan. 1 of this year.
However the new timeline
announced by Johnson has
a firm final deadline for full
Real ID compliance of Jan. 22,
2018. This gives non-compliant
states two additional years to
implement their ID plans.
Implementation of the
law has been delayed by an
assortment of interests ranging
from states rights groups,
who maintain the Real ID
requirements amount to a
national ID card, to the ACLU
which is concerned that the
new IDs may be harder to
obtain, thereby limiting access
to some government services.
The extension means
that, for the present, travel
is unlikely to be affected by
Real ID as states work toward
implementing the new rules. To
learn the status of each states
compliance, visit dhs.gov/realid-enforcement-brief.
Upfront n
Aeromexico and Westjet Link

Aeromexico and WestJet have signed a codeshare agreement which
will give Aeromexicos customers enhanced connecting service
via Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to more than 10 Canadian
destinations, including Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa,
Halifax, Deer Lake, St. Johns, among others.
The agreement gives WestJet fliers new connecting service to
Mexico City via Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. In addition,
WestJet will also now sell non-stop flights to and from Mexico from
Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. WestJet Rewards are available on
these flights as well.
Both Aeromexico and WestJet, interline partners since December
2011, will also sell tickets for travel on each others entire network,
including non-codeshare flights.
Details are available at aeromexico.com and westjet.com.
POLL
Setting aside business
travel, how many trips
in 2016 are or include
personal travel?
1-3
29%
3-5
28%
more than 5
43%
For more survey ratings visit

businesstravelerusa.com/polls
Southwest Launches
Updated Mobile
App For iOS
Southwest Airlines
has released
an update to its
iOS mobile app
available now in
Apples App Store
for iPhone. The
all-new app offers a faster and
more streamlined interface, to
give customers an enhanced
mobile experience on iPhone.
In addition to browsing and
booking flights, Southwest
customers may also book
rental cars, access upcoming
trip information, and save
boarding passes to Apple
Wallet from within the app.
The app also integrates with a
users Rapid Rewards account.
The apps new look and feel
adds to the redesigned user
experience and helps make
everything from browsing
flights, to checking in, to day
of travel easier,said LeighAnn
Davis, Southwest Airlines
senior director of digital
marketing.
To download the app visit
Southwest.com.
Hilton Unveils Tru,

A New Midscale Brand
Hilton Worldwide has premiered a new hotel brand in the
midscale category. Tru by Hilton is intended to address what
Hilton calls avoid in the midscale category in the US and
Canada. In announcing the new brand, Hilton Worldwide says
it already has 102 hotels signed and an additional 30 hotels in
various stages of approval in cities including Atlanta, Dallas,
Houston, Chicago, Denver, Portland and Nashville.
The Tru by Hilton is based on the idea that being cost
conscious and having a great stay dont have to be mutually
exclusive,according to the Hilton announcement. Among the
brands new features:
The Hive, a first floor thats more than a lobby with four
distinct zones for lounging, working, eating or playing.
The Play Zone with table games, a large-screen TV and tiered
seating.
A redesigned front desk called the Command Center
featuring a social media wall and a 24/7 market.
A complimentary build-your-own breakfast.
Efficiently designed guest rooms, a fitness center
Complimentary WiFi and convenient mobile check-in,
room selection and Digital Key available through the Hilton
HHonors mobile app.
Visit trubyhilton.com to learn more.
United Fields Longest 787 Flights

United Airlines has announced that it will introduce daily nonstop
flights between its San Francisco International Airport hub and
Singapores Changi Airport, effective June 1. At 8,446 miles, the
San Francisco-Singapore service will be the longest scheduled
787 flight operated by any airline and the longest scheduled flight
operated by any US carrier, measured by distance. Flying times will
be approximately 15 hours, 30 minutes eastbound and 16 hours, 20
minutes westbound.
The service, which is subject to government approval, will
make United the first airline to offer nonstop service between San
Francisco and
Singapore, and this
will be the only
nonstop service
to the US from
Singapore.
For details visit
united.com.
March 2016 n 9
n Upfront
PROPERTY PIPELINE
AND OPENINGS
n SFO Plans Grand
Hyatt Hyatt Hotels and
San Francisco International
Airport have officially
announced an agreement
to brand and manage a
350-room Grand Hyatt
hotel located on the airport
grounds. The hotel will have
approximately 350 rooms
and is anticipated to open in
mid-2019.
Visit hyatt.com.
n Omni Breaks Ground
in Louisville Work is
underway on the new
30-story Omni Louisville
Hotel, which is set to open
in early 2018. The hotel will
feature 612 guestrooms and
suites topped by 225 luxury
apartments.
Visit omnihotels.com.
n Starwoods Luxury
Collection to Open First
Tokyo Hotel Starwood
Hotels and Resorts Luxury
Collection brand will open
its first hotel in Tokyo in July
this year. The 250-room
Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho
will be located on the 30th
to 36th floors of the mixeduse Tokyo Garden Terrace
development.
Visit starwoodhotels.com.
n Renaissance New
York Midtown Sets 2016
Opening Marriott has
scheduled Spring 2016 as
the opening for New Yorks
first digitally enhanced
hotel, the 348-room
Renaissance New York
Midtown Hotel.
Visit renaissance-hotels.
marriott.com.
n Kimpton Heads to
Amsterdam The current
Crowne Plaza Amsterdam
City Center is scheduled to
undergo a full renovation
and open in 2017 as a new
270-room Kimpton hotel,
Kimptons first international
property.
Visit kimptonhotels.com.
10 n March 2016
FOUR POINTS
PREMIERES IN
DOWNTOWN
MANHATTAN
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide has announced the
opening of Four Points New
York Downtown, the brands
fourth hotel in Manhattan. The
property is located at 6 Platt
Street in New Yorks Financial
District near Wall Street and
the New York Stock Exchange.
The hotel offers 261 guest
rooms, 2,000 square feet of
meeting facilities and fullservice dining. Amenities
include a 24-hour fitness
center, a business center, free
WiFi throughout the hotel and
a rooftop lounge.
For details visit
starwoodhotels.com.
Starwood & TripAdvisor Team

To Offer Instant Booking
TripAdvisor and Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide have partnered to
make Starwoods global hotel portfolio
accessible on the TripAdvisor instant
booking platform. The new booking
capability is set to debut in the first half of
this year.
Users will be able to click on aBook Nowbutton on
TripAdvisor to initiate a reservation with the Starwood
property. All support inquiries will be handled by Starwood
representatives, so customers are provided links and phone
numbers to contact the hotels customer service directly.
We are excited about an enhanced relationship with
TripAdvisor as it allows us to deepen our touch-points with
TripAdvisors global community of travelers,said Julie
Atkinson, senior vice president of Global Digital for Starwood
Hotels & Resorts.
Visit starwood.com for more information.
COMMUNE AND DESTINATION

HOTELS ANNOUNCE MERGER
Commune Hotels & Resorts and Destination Hotels have

announced a merger, a move designed to leverage their respective
strengths in the highly competitive category of independent and
lifestyle hotels and resorts. The combined company will manage
over 90 hotels and resorts in seven countries with approximately $2
billion of total property revenues under management.
The two companies operate in complementary markets
with little overlap. Commune is an international lifestyle hotel
management company comprising Joie de Vivre Hotels, Thompson
Hotels, tommie and Alila Hotels & Resorts, while Destination is
an operator of independent hotels, resorts and residences in the
United States.
In addition the merger strengthens each companys portfolio:
Commune brings a broader set of urban offerings across North
America, Asia and Europe, while Destination contributes a wide
array of resort properties in premier destinations in the US. The
combined companys sales, marketing and revenue management
platform, and distribution system will be larger. Headquarters will
be in Denver, CO, with offices in the US and China.
United Now
Offers Alipay
in the Chinese
Market
United Airlines has added
Alipay to their United.com
Chinese language website.
Alipay is the largest online
payment platform in China
with over 400 million
registered users.
We are very pleased to
partner with United and
help them make online
booking from China a
hassle free experience, said
Jingming Li, president and
chief architect of Alipays
parent in the Americas.By
enabling the option to use
Chinas most trusted and
secure payment system,
Chinese travelers using
Uniteds website can expect
the safe, easy and consistent
experience they have come
to expect, while avoiding any
currency barriers.
Visit united.com for
details. BT
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Pride of Taiwan
China Airlines new B777-300ER has won awards for all of its cabins and represents
Taiwans design and aesthetic at its best
hina Airlines new B777-300ER NexGen Cabin has

been winning awards ever since it was first introduced
in October 2014. The cabin artfully combines an
Oriental aesthetic, technological advancement and environmental
awareness. It was praised by Ray Conner, CEO of Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, as one of the most beautiful designs
for the B777.
Operated on routes to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco,
Frankfurt and Shanghai, travellers to these destinations will be able
to enjoy highlights such as fully-flat seats in Premium Business Class,
increased seat pitch in Premium Economy and the first Family
Couch in Asia.
Created by Chief Designer Ray Chen and his world-class team,
the modern interior represents the pinnacle of design ambition.
This ambition has been validated by a host of awards,

including:
iF Design Award 2016 Cabin Interior; IFE GUI; Tableware;
Packaging and Airport Lounge
Red Dot Best of the Best Design Award, Germany
Good Design Award, Japan
A Design Award (Silver), Italy
SkyTrax: Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seats
(No. 8)
Best Design Award from Golden Pin Design, Taiwan

Taiwan International Creative Design Competition
(Distinction)
Worlds Top 10 Passenger Choice Airline Brands and Airport
VIP Lounges from TheDesignAir
Best Airline in North Asia, Best Flight Attendant Uniforms and
Best Business Class Seat Design 2015 from Global Traveler
Top Five Champagnes International Business Class for A.
Robert Champagne from Global Traveler
n www.china-airlines.com
n Destinations
Peak
Performance
Taiwan is a country with stunning nature, 21st century
transport options and wonderful food
By Dominic Ellis
12 n March 2016
Destinations n
ur packed train is chugging

slowly up the Alishan Forest
Railway, straining under
throngs of standing Chinese
tourists, in order to catch
the sunrise behind the 13,000-foot Yushan
(Jade) Mountain opposite, the tallest peak
in east Asia. Its 5:20 AM and I rose two
hours earlier which must be a record for
anything work related, at least outside an
airport along with most of the guests at
the remote Alishan House. Catching the
sunrise is one of the 139-room hotels key
draws and there cant be many properties
that tick to such a nocturnal beat. Walking
bleary eyed into the busy lobby, I thought
someone had pressed the fire alarm.
The sunrise took all of 20 minutes
and once it was up, we all ambled back
to the station, but it was worth every
fatigue-battling minute, watching such
an unadulterated landscape bathed in
soft pink, purple and blue light, misty
clouds stretched out beneath disappearing
mountains.
Alishan House general manager
Victor Chang said it only had 51 percent
occupancy last year, which is surprising
given the alluring setting. But its average
room rate is $180, rising to $250 and $400
in the new, more contemporary 104-room
wing which opened three years ago. He
says its planning to introduce classes to
relax your mind and body together
although most guests shouldnt have too
many problems on either front.
Sixteen hours after the sunrise, as
our bus pulled into Kaohsiung in the
southwest, the sun finally called it a day
and the half moon also followed us from
Alishan. The journey to and from Alishan
was breathtakingly green (banana, tea and
coffee plantations provide some variety to
the forestry).
However its not quite as dramatic as the
hairpin drive along Taroko Gorge, which
I would put in the same class with the
Grand Canyon as one of the worlds most
natural sights. How the Taiwanese tunneled
through the mountains is a feat every bit as
impressive as the works of nature.
We pulled into Silks Place Taroko, a
property which the PR material says can
be conveniently reached by car, rail and
air but its really in the middle of nowhere,
surrounded by more green peaks. A shuttle

service to Hualien Airport is provided
by the hotel (for an additional fee) and
altogether takes about an hour.
The hotels subtle design is offset by
beguiling interiors that comfortably
accommodate a large indoor pool and
multi-faceted childrens area, and the
Retreat Lounge offers up gentle music
and stunning gorge views. It seems wrong
to even think of work in such an idyllic
setting but if you must, you can access the
Zhongshan ballroom (two rooms which,
when combined, come to around 5,400
square feet) and five meeting rooms.
I tried to recollect a more striking
outdoor space than the Fire Place terrace.
Seven room categories are available and
affluent travelers may decide to spring
for the luxury five-figure Gorge View and
Generalissimo suites.
These rural excursions were undoubted
stand-out highlights from our week-long
trip although I must confess within 24
hours of entering Taiwan, most of my
senses were already in freefall.
Courting Travelers
The opening night buffet at the Regent
Taipei was a culinary showcase serving
every imaginable Asian cuisine (ditto
the breakfast) and my chunky room key
was a refreshing throwback to pre-digital
times. My 14th floor room had a view
of the landmark Taipei 101 with its apex
illuminated light green at night.
Not that its really worth dwelling on
the outside the joy is traveling up and
down inside in an ear-popping 48 seconds
and gazing out from the 1,670-foot-high
building. Time your ascent at sunset for
the best terrace views but be prepared for
queues, particularly coming down.
We drove a short distance out of the city
to Yangmingshan National Park (one of
nine countrywide) where I lost count of the
butterflies and dragonflies, unquestionably
the largest and most colorful Ive ever seen,
and heard insects trying to out-sing each
other. Later that evening, we ate dinner
in the wonderful Marshal Zen Garden
where the influential military leader
Marshal Zhang Xueliang was confined
to house arrest for 26 years following the
Chinese Civil War.
In between, we visited the Spring

City Resort, which has pools to cure
every ailment. The relaxation pool is
lined by papaya and mango trees,
while the uppermost part of
the tree opposite is laden with
lemons, and at the far end
more fulsome papayas defy
gravity.
Relaxing with us at Spring
City Resort, I spotted two
British men and a boy one
of the few times in the week
when I saw guests who
werent from Asia. At Alishan,
my eyes were torn between
the mesmerizing scenery
and innumerable busloads of
Chinese tourists.
Taiwans proximity to
its superpower neighbor
underlines the strength and
challenges of its tourism
potential, and if all the
forecasts on Chinas growing
tourism come to fruition one
wonders how this relatively
small island nation will cope.
Eric Lin, director of Tourism
Taiwans international affairs
division, said its top five
tourism markets are China
(3.85 million), Japan (1.63
million), Hong Kong (1.37
million), the US (550,000)
and Korea (520,000).
Targeting MICE
The 320-room Taipei
Marriott received its first
guests in August 2015
and visiting business
travelers shouldnt
have too many
problems finding it
as its near the Ferris
Wheel.
Guest floors are
located on the sixth
to 18th floors and the
hotel is positioning
Main picture: Silks Place Taroko
Right: Taipei 101
March 2016 n 13
n Destinations
Left to right: Alishan sunrise, Taroko Gorge,

Downtown Taipei, Taipei Marriott Superior Room
itself as the largest MICE hotel in the city

with its 32,000-square-foot convention
center, capable of hosting up to 1,500
people. Attendees can communicate during
meetings through Red Coat Direct, which
includes live chat.
The 36th floor meeting area provides
panoramic city views. Five F&B venues are
available including a Teppanyaki venue on
the second floor, American-style bar and
grill on the 20th facing Taipei 101 and a
specialty whisky bar.
The hotel marks Marriott Internationals
first property in Taiwan with six more
hotels earmarked to open in the next two
years. The Courtyard by Marriott Taipei was
opened in December near the Nangang
Exhibition Centre.
During our two nights in the city we
stayed at the Regent Taipei and Palais de
Chine (member of Preferred Hotels &
Resorts), both of which are comfortable for
executives. The latter has a better location,
next to the City Mall and train station,
although the former, with its grand entrance
and upscale boutiques, is on a larger
scale and opposite reception the celebrity
wall which marks its 25th anniversary is
testament to its pulling power.
Our guide recommended Quote Hotel,
Taipei Suites, W Taipei and corporate14 n March 2016
friendly options Le Mridien and Grand

Hyatt near 101 tower. For a rural retreat,
she highlighted Mudanwan Villa, where
detached villas sit on Toumu Lakes shores
(mudanwanvilla.com.tw).
Fast-track Lifestyles
We caught the high-speed rail to Chiayi
before driving onto Alishan, and from
Kaohsiung back to Taipei, and in both
instances the journey was so smooth I
barely knew I was traveling.
With generous reclines, more than
your standard economy seat, its about
as comfortable as rail travel can be, and
the trolley coffee was fresh and cheap.
Electronic signs are in Chinese and English,
and when we were told the train would
arrive at the next station at 19 minutes
past, it did. The litter-free stations were
immaculate.
The only surprise omissions were the
lack of any plugs or USB sockets probably
because the journeys are so quick
although I did make use of one of the free
charging units at the stations.
They would be welcome, not least
because mobile digital devices are
ubiquitous; from the hordes unwinding on
the rocky Hualien beach, to the passengers
on the trains, to the scooter drivers near
Taipei 101, some of whom use the down
time at the traffic lights to click and scroll.
On our last night two women behind us in a
bar sat silently staring into their phones for

half an hour, presumably communicating to
someone, if not each other.
Artistic Flair & Fab Flavors

We were only in Kaohsiung a day but
it seemed a charming mismatch, the
industrial outskirts giving way to wide
tree-lined streets and Love River in the
city center, which ran past our base at the
Ambassador Hotel. We made a pit stop at
the Pier-2 Art Centre, where abandoned
dockside warehouses have been converted
into vibrant art spaces. Here, old containers
have been imaginatively repurposed, giving
them a new lease on life.9
One of the joys of visiting Taiwan is the
sheer variety of the food in settings, from
humble street stalls to swanky five-star
restaurants. Fresh fruit, vegetables and
seafood are abundant and local delicacies
include stinky tofu, oyster omelets, stewed
beef noodle soup and xiao long bao
(steamed soup dumpling).
My favorite lunch was at Alishan, high
up in dense cloud-covered forests, where
our banquet included crunchy vegetables
picked from the plantation. Back in the city,
youll never go hungry; there appears to
be a 7-Eleven on every corner and our last
meal, in the shadow of 101, was delicious
dumpling-stacked takeout from Din Tai
Fung, rated fourth-best restaurant in the
city on TripAdvisor. BT
Elegance Redefined
The newest China Airlines 777-300ER
New Year's Eve Celebration, Taipei
fleet is reflective of traditional design

infused with modern Asian artistry
for exceptional comfort and relaxation
on a memorable journey.
n Special Report
Your travel plans are confirmed but you wont be

going anywhere unless you have the right visa
By Tom Otley
16 n March 2016
Special Report n
btaining visas is a fact of

life for business travelers.
Whether we go abroad for
a simple one-day meeting
or more prolonged periods,
the need for both business and work visas
seems to be increasing and, with them,
the uncertainty over the requirements
necessary for getting them.
While a passport is proof of identity, a
visa has a different purpose.
A visa is needed to learn more about
a person, says Andrew Wrensch, head of
marketing for Visa Swift, a London-based
passport and visa procurement service.
Whether they have enough funds to
support themselves while in the country,
for instance, and to make sure they
leave. Thats why many business visas
around the world require a certification of
employment, or a letter from an employer
saying why you are required to visit, or
from the company you are visiting to state
the reason for your visit.
Thus the reason many governments
cite for requiring visas is security. It was
little surprise then, that after the terror
attacks last fall in Paris and San Bernardino,
Congress passed significant changes to the
United States popular visa waiver program.
Visa waiver allows citizens of 38 mostly
European and Asian nations to enter the
US without a visa for stays of up to 90
days. Among the countries that are eligible
to participate in the program are France,
Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Under the new law, visa waiver status
would be denied to citizens of partner
countries if they have traveled to places like
Iraq and Syria in the last five years, without
first obtaining a visa. Travelers would also
have to have e-passports with fingerprints
and other biometric data which makes
them less susceptible to fraud, similar to
passports carried by US citizens.
The measure also calls for the US
Department of Homeland Security to
suspend from the program any country
that fails to share terrorism-related
information with the US in a timely
manner. In addition all participating
countries are required to check travelers
against INTERPOL databases for possible
terrorist or criminal activity.
Growth Business
However for some countries the
introduction of visa requirements has
another, more prosaic, motivation: It makes
money for developing countries.
Visas are generally required for upand-coming countries such as the BRICs
[Brazil, Russia, India, China], because
of their natural resources,Wrensch
says.These resources create business
opportunities. People have to travel there
to take advantage of them, and so for
those countries it represents an income
opportunity. They know what theyve got
and they charge people to go there and do
business,he says.
Global travel management consultancy
ATPI has its own in-house visa service.
Nikki Regan, general operations manager
of its London office, points out that visas
are there tolimit any effect business travel
or work permits has on the domestic
internal workforce so it is not damaged by
foreign visits.
She says that because ATPI has had a
client base in oil and gas exploration, it
has a long history of dealing with visas,
the local economy. In fact, that inducement

is moving China to open up an increasing
number of its most popular destination to
visa-free travel.
Beginning in 2013, key Chinese cities
officially implemented a 72-hour visa-free
policy. The relaxed policy allows travelers
from 51 countries, who intend to visit a
third country and who hold air tickets, to
stay in the destination city for three days
without needing a visa.
The policy, first adopted in Beijing,
Shanghai and Guangzhou quickly spread
to other major metropolises throughout
China; today a total of 18 cities offer 72hour visa-free stays. One major distinction
of this policy is that it only applies to
through trips. For example, booking a
round-trip from Los Angeles to China
Southerns hub at Guangzhou would not
qualify; however, LAX to Bangkok through
CAN would.
More recently, beginning in January of
this year, the visa-free invitation has been
extended to 144 hours for visitors to the
city of Shanghai and the eastern provinces
of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
One country might one day say: We cant be

bothered with this anymore. Another might suddenly
put those barriers back up
and while her organization has not seen
a particular increase in the number of
requirements, she does caution that visa
conditions are frequently changing.
This is echoed by Edward Carnell, Visa
Swifts managing director.The landscape
changes all the time,he says.One
country might one day say: We cant be
bothered with this anymore and well do
it on arrival or have a visa waiver. Another
might suddenly put those barriers back up.
Typically, youll find the country discovers
natural resources and introduces extra
barriers to gain revenue. It can also be
driven by political leadership.
Business or Pleasure?
Tourist visas are generally cheaper than
business ones, both to encourage people to
visit the destination and spend money in
Chinas visa-free policy is available to

travelers from the US, Canada and Mexico,
all 24 Schengen countries plus 13 others in
Europe, as well as a dozen or so around the
rest of the world.
Of course, with Chinas policy, as
with the tourism visa policies of every
government, the goal is to get people in the
door who are ready to spend some foreign
currency. In contrast, the requirements
for granting visas to business travelers are
generally more stringent and often more
expensive.
Just as with business class fares, theres
a perception that corporate travelers have
the deeper pockets of their employers, so
they can afford it. Theres also the idea that
since the rewards for companies may be
commensurately higher, they should pay
more to gain access to the country.
March 2016 n 17
n Special Report
15 TOP TIPS
Check the country requirements as soon as your
travel is confirmed
Apply in plenty of time
Carefully read the instructions
Provide the right documentation
Have bank statements for proof of income
Have an employers letter ready
Print invitation from host company
Keep a list of countries youve previously visited
Collate utility bills for proof of residence
Have medical certificates at hand (e.g., yellow fever)
Keep your signature within the box on forms
Enclose the right number of correctly sized photos
Get it before you go, even if you can apply on arrival
Ensure there are two clear pages in your passport
Check it has at least six months validity
In any event, the experts caution against

entering on a tourist visa. Stating the
obvious: you might get away with it, but
you might not, and that could lead to a
heavy fine or even imprisonment.
However there is one bright spot in the
visa picture for business travelers between
the US and China. In 2014 President
companies emphasize the importance of

two considerations leaving enough time
and reading the instructions carefully.
People sometimes dont think about the
visa until the last moment, but they need
to apply in plenty of time,Regan says.
We can offer a pre-check, so they can scan
the documents and send them over to us
We would always advise our travelers to

book something flexible until theyve got the
visa in their hands
Barack Obama announced a reciprocal
agreement by both countries to grant visas
for both business and tourism travel that
are valid for up to ten years. The move
eliminates the need for most travelers from
both countries to renew their visas on
an annual basis, although the agreement
does not change the number of days that
they will be allowed to reside in either the
United States or China.
Follow the Rules

As business travelers know, some countries
are more difficult to get visas for than
others. But while the process for obtaining
visas can be onerous, travelers themselves
often make it more difficult. All visa
18 n March 2016
before posting, and we can check them

so we dont have the problem of finding
theres something that might cause an
unnecessary delay.
All visa specialists and departments
have tales of travelers who felt that certain
conditions shouldnt apply to them,
from providing biometric information to
disclosing financial details, but unless you
have a personal hotline to the president
of the country, you will simply have to
comply; no exceptions allowed. We
would always advise our travelers to book
something flexible until theyve got the visa
in their hands,Regan says. That way it
can be canceled if the visa should happen
to not come through. If it does come
through they could still cancel the ticket

and book something less flexible, but at a
better price.
ATPI claims that its in-house service
is an advantage in such cases, since the
visa department has access to the travel
booking.If our passport department gets
advice that the visa is going to be delayed,
we can go into the Galileo booking and see
if thats possible or not,Regan says.
On the matter of photographs for visas,
its a good idea to have some ready for
applications. These should be in different
sizes, since different countries may require
something other than the standard 2 x 2
photo used in US passports.
Visa Swifts Carnell also advises getting a
visa before you travel, even if it is available
on arrival.One country we know where
you can apply when you arrive, they only
take payment in US dollars. But if your
flight arrives late, the shops are shut and
you dont have the US dollars, what then?
And if you arrive at the same time as other
international flights, how long will it take
you to get through passport control if you
have to go through that process? It might
take three or four hours.
And if you travel frequently, you may
want to get a second passport. That way
one can be on the road with you while the
other is conveniently being used in the visa
application process. BT
Daily non-stop between

North America and Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Transfer Services
connecting flight. They can also enjoy the Sky Pearl VIP
lounge,which is rated the best VIP lounge in China.
72-hour Visa-free Transit

Guangzhou has adopted the visa-free transit policy for any
passenger from 51 countries that bears a valid international
travel permit and has booked interline tickets to a third country
or region, on condition that the flight departs within 72 hours
and the flight seat is designated.
Experience Check Through

to Final Destination Services
At airports with our check-in services, passengers can
receive boarding passes and baggage tags and move ahead
to customs procedures at the transfer station with friendly
assistance.
Exclusive Transfer Services for

First & Business Class Passengers
Front cabin passengers will be greeted by a local airline
representative and personally escorted through to the
Transfer Accommodations or Travel Package

Passengers with over 8 hour international connection time
can choose either free accomodation or a free travel
package. Request at the transit desk.
CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES NORTH AMERICA OFFICE

6300 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1510, Los Angeles, CA 90048
24/7 Hotline: 1-888-338-8988
Web: global.csair.com
Like us on Facebook at: China Southern Airlines- America
n Take Offs & Landings
OCEAN
New narrow-body aircraft designed for

trans-Atlantic routes give travelers options
but will comfort be compromised?
By Alex McWhirter
of choice
orty-five years ago, when Pan

Ams Boeing 747 appeared on
the London-New York route,
passengers believed air travel
could only get better.
Back in 1970, airlines and aircraft
manufacturers proclaimed it was the era
of the wide-body jet. Larger aircraft such
as the 747, DC-10 and Lockheed Tri-Star
would replace narrow-bodies like the
707, DC-8 and VC-10. Passengers taking
long-distance flights could look forward to
a roomier, more comfortable and smoother
flying experience.
However, as we have seen so many
times before over the last 100 years, when
it comes to aviation nothing is set in
stone. Although wide-body jets enabled
the airlines to provide passengers with a
superior experience, they were a mixed
blessing in a competitive market.
20 n March 2016
In the distant past, larger aircraft enabled

the airlines to get away with offering
passengers fewer flights. It was good news
for the carriers (because they could control
capacity), the airports (because they had
room for expansion) and the environment.
However, it wasnt good news for
passengers. Not only was there less choice,
but fewer flights also meant higher load
factors, which in turn pushed up prices.
That unhealthy situation existed for a
couple of decades after the 747s arrival
because regulations at the time restricted
choice. But in todays liberalized and
ever-more competitive market, passengers
demand a range of options.
This is where the narrow-body aircraft
have come into their own. Cheaper to
operate, they also have fewer seats so are
easier to fill. It means they are a flexible
option for newcomer carriers.
The 747 and its ilk reigned supreme

across the Atlantic for a good number of
years. Until Continental decided to start
serving a number of secondary destinations
from New York using two-class, narrowbodied 757s aircraft more at home on
500-mile flights within Europe than on
3,500-mile trans-Atlantic marathons.
These 757s used by Continental (now
part of United) were fitted with extra
fuel tanks, allowing them to fly greater
distances, and their smaller cabins made
them easier to fill on less busy routes to
the UK, mainland Europe and Scandinavia.
More recently, American Airlines has
emulated Continental with 757 services to
various secondary airports.
Passengers now had a choice. If
they wanted a comfortable wide-body
experience, then they flew from a major
airport. But if they wanted to travel from
Take Offs & Landings n
AIRLINE NOTES
n LOT Takes Dreamliner to Tokyo LOT
Polish Airlines has launched a new route
from Warsaw to Tokyo Narita aboard the
Boeing Dreamliner. The flights will operate
three times a week, Wednesday, Friday,
and Sunday, returning Thursday, Saturday
and Monday.
For more information visit lot.com.
n TAM Plans A350 XWB JFK to Sao
Paulo TAM Airlines, part of LATAM
Airlines Group has announced regularly
scheduled service from New Yorks John
F. Kennedy International Airport to So
Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport
onboard the new Airbus A350 XWB will
begin July 23. Initially the flights will be
three times weekly, later moving to a daily
schedule. The A350 XWB is also slated to
start Orlando-So Paulo service in July.
For details visit lan.com.
Once they enter service, the A321 Neo LR and 737 MAX
are set to change the way we cross the Atlantic
their local airport then, by and large, they
had to opt for a single-aisle product.
Until now leaving aside the specialized
all-business class routes that has largely
been the case for regular flights.
But the 757s are getting older (my first
trip on this aircraft type was with BA on
the London-Glasgow shuttle service back
in 1983), and so Airbus and Boeing have
long-haul versions of their popular twinengined short-haul A321s and 737s ready
to enter service in the coming years.
Airbus is proposing the A321 Neo LR
(Neostanding fornew engine option,
LR for long range). This can carry up to 240
passengers in a one-class layout on a long
flight, although it would accommodate
fewer passengers on a two-class transAtlantic mission.
Boeing has developed the 737 MAX,
which is yet another development of
the aircraft that first entered service with
Lufthansa in 1968. Seat capacity is about
200 but the actual number will depend on
individual airline configurations.
The 737 MAX made its maiden flight in
January, and its expected to go into service
in 2017. Budget airline Norwegian has put
in its order for a huge fleet of 100, which
will enable it to operate between the UK,
mainland Europe and US East Coast ports

such as Boston, New York and Washington.
Interviewed on Danish site business.
dk, Norwegian chief executive Bjorn Kjos
said that the 737 MAX would open up new
opportunities for routes to the US.
The MAX planes are smaller than
the 787 Dreamliner [the mainstay of
Norwegians long-range fleet] but are still
able to fly across the Atlantic,he said.
This creates the opportunity to fly
directly between smaller airports such as
Aalborg [Denmark] and Bergen [Norway]
to the US East Coast nonstop. On these
routes we would never be able to fill a
wide-body, but without any problems we
can fill a narrow-body such as the MAX
and still fly nonstop.
Norwegian has announced that some of
its initial 737 flights (using either 737-800
or MAX versions) will operate between
Cork and Boston beginning in May of
this year. Another route linking the Irish
city with New York is planned for 2017,
pending USDOT approval. Additional
sectors will be unveiled in due course.
In February, the shorter-range A321
Neo went into service for Lufthansa on its
Frankfurt-Munich route. But the launch
of that aircrafts longer-range sibling, the
n Ethiopian Airlines to Launch New York

Service Ethiopian Airlines is launching
service from Addis Ababa to New Yorks
JFK airport by the end of June. Flights will
depart Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
mornings, and will return from JFK to
Addis Ababa the same evening, with an
intermediate stop in Lom (Togo). The
service will operate aboard a Boeing 787.
Visit ethiopianairlines.com for details.
n JALs Narita - Boston Route Goes
Lie-flat Japan Airlines has announced
June 11 as the date it will begin deploying
its 787-9 on its daily flights between Tokyo
Narita and Boston Logan. The Dreamliner
will offer full-flat business class seats on
the 12-hour, 45-minute flight for the first
time.The 787-9 will also sport a premium
economy cabin with 35 seats.
For more information, visit jal.com.
n Icelandair Ups Capacity For Chicago
Schedule Icelandair is scheduled to start
year-round service to Chicago OHare on
March 16. Initially the route was planned for
a Boeing 757 but due to high demand the
airline has elected to field its Boeing 767
instead, which will offer an additional 9,000
seats per year.
The flight will operate on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Visit icelandair.com for all of the details.
March 2016 n 21
n Take Offs & Landings
AIRPORT REPORT
n MSP Tops 2015 US Airport On-time Performance OAG has released the results
of its OAG Punctuality League 2015, the annual ranking of on-time performance for
the worlds airports and airlines. The report found that among large airports in North
American, Minneapolis-St. Paul International finished with the best on-time performance.
MSP came in fourth across the globe.
Salt Lake City International Airport finished fifth in the mid-sized airports category
globally. Chicago OHare was the most improved airport in North America and the
eighth-most improved in the world, with its on-time performance jumping from 71.4
percent in 2014 to 78.3 percent last year. Japan dominates the global airport categories,
with Osaka International rated as the top small airport and Tokyo International as the top
large airport.
Among North American air carriers, the leading performer was Hawaiian Airlines
with an average OTP of 89.1 percent. All three major US carriers ranked in the Top 10,
with Delta topping that sector at an average OTP of 84.5 percent (4th place), American
Airlines at 80.1 percent (7th), and United Airlines finishing at 79 percent (9th). Among
low-cost carriers, Southwest and JetBlue finished in the top 10 in North America, with an
average of 82.1 percent and 78.3 percent on-time performance respectively.
n Avianca Opens New Lounge at Miami Avianca has opened their newest lounge
at Miami International Airport. The lounge, operated by Global Lounge, is located in
Terminal J near boarding gate 12B. It serves Business Class passengers, LifeMiles Elite
members, and Star Alliance Gold and Priority Pass cardholders. Hours are from 3:00 AM
to 9:00 PM.
The lounge offers snack services, a coffee station, a menu of light meals, appetizers,
alcoholic and soft drinks and Internet. There are areas for different functions from work
to reading to entertainment to dining and a special area designed for kids.
The 6,000-square-foot space is able to serve 220 passengers at a time. Find out more
information at avianca.com.
n Dedicated Business Class Concourse Opens at Toronto Air Canada is offering a
dedicated concourse to expedite check-in and offer concierge services for its Business
Class customers at Torontos Pearson Airport.
The facility is equipped with 15 check-in counters, two customer service desks two
self-service kiosks and a dedicated seating area. Its located in the former Aisle 1 on the
departure level at Toronto Pearson.
The area is available to all Air Canada Business Class, Premium Economy and
Premium rouge customers, Altitude Elite 50K and higher members, and Star Alliance
Gold members.
Visit aircanada.com for details.
22 n March 2016
A321 Neo LR, is still a few years away

(deliveries expected in 2019) and it is as yet
unclear which airlines will acquire it or the
routes it will serve.
However, from IAGs submission to the
Irish government regarding Aer Lingus, it
was revealed that if the airport group were
allowed to acquire Aer Lingus it would
consider launching trans-Atlantic flights
from Shannon using the A321 Neo LR.
It is true that versions of the 737 and
A321 already ply the Atlantic, but these
are limited in number and are either
all-business class offerings or make an en
route stopover to refuel.
Canadian budget carrier Westjet operates
nonstop high-density flights from Halifax
to Dublin and Glasgow. This can be
achieved because they are just that much
closer to one another than the main transAtlantic city pairs.
Still, it is possible to use a 737 aircraft
nonstop across the Atlantic. Everyone was
surprised by the recent announcements
from Scandinavias SAS that it would
start a Copenhagen-New York Newark
service this winter (alongside its existing
route) with a two-class 737 leased from
upmarket Swiss charter carrier Privatair.
The airline will also operate a 737 between
Copenhagen and Boston next summer.
This particular aircraft can accomplish its
mission as it is fitted with only 20 business
class and 66 economy seats, so passenger
and baggage weight is reduced.
SAS has switched the jet from the
Stavanger-Houston route (where it offered
an all-business class configuration) and
is taking advantage of CopenhagenNew York now that the US airlines have
retreated from the market.
Once they enter service, the A321 Neo
LR and 737 MAX are set to change the way
we cross the Atlantic. Not only are they
cheaper to operate than the 757, but they
will also provide passengers with more
choice and convenience.
Fares, especially in premium class,
should be competitive, although much
will depend on the price of oil in the years
ahead, and on seating configurations.
Still, remember that these are essentially
short-haul aircraft. Do not expect the same
standards of comfort and space normally
found on a wide-body. BT
The App that connects

business travellers at airports
Network Global is the mobile app which facilitates real-time connections bringing business
travellers together. The App shows you in a summary who is around you and then the choice
is yours to connect, message and meet.
www.networkglobal.com /theairportapp
n Destinations
anding in Bogot, as the clouds

part from the peaks of the Andes
and a bumpy tapestry of green
farms and muddy lakes flow
into the broad, buzzing urban
expanse, you remember you are never too
far from heaven. Bogot is its own special
paradise as old as the Conquistadors, as
new as the latest luxury hotels and as smart
and fast to adapt as the apps you find in
your smartphone.
Segue back two decades and you would
have found a country overrun by crime,
narcotics and political chaos. Turn the
dial back only a month and you would
find Colombian president Juan Manuel
Santos sitting down with the President of
the United States to discuss Colombias
success in reducing crime rates by 80
percent, finalizing a peace with rebel
fighters who are now trading guns for jobs,
and in building an economy rising from
jungles and coffee farms to become the
shining star of Latin America.
You can feel it first at El Dorado
International Airport. The port, located
around 45 minutes from the center of
Bogot, recently completed a $700 million
upgrade and expansion. Flights go in
and out of this hub of South American
commerce, some 700 international a week.
They land on a plateau in the mountains
serving a city sprawls more than 600 square
miles at altitudes of nearly 9,000 feet.
At those heights, weather remains
temperate in all seasons; golf games go
faster as balls speed through the thinner
air. And mosquitoes, and any viruses they
carry, are not even a thought at these
elevations.
Rather, the visitor to Bogot will be
immersed in the grinding beat of a city in
motion. Its a place with a purpose and the
city is wasting not a minute making up for
time lost.
Typically Colombia was investing $1.5
billion on infrastructure in past years,says
Luis German Restrepo, executive director
of ProColombia, an office that oversees
the tourism sector.Today, its $25 billion
to be put into the infrastructure over the
next five years better roads from ports to
cities. We are right in middle of the Andes
and approaching 10,000 feet. Its hard to
develop here but we are doing it. Look at
24 n March 2016
Enterprising
Bogot
Colombias capital city finds

new gold as Latin Americas
hub for business
By Lark Gould
Destinations n
the El Dorado Airport its nearly done

except for cargo and it is the most well
used and biggest airport Latin America.
The numbers, he says, speak for
themselves.Weve increased tourism more
than 17 percent year over year in the past
decade. Compare this to the rest of Latin
America, countries where strong tourism
growth may mean 4.5 percent. We have
a unique jewel here, not really explored
before and not just tourism.
Betting on Business
Clockwise: A busy street

corner in Bogot, the Gold
Museum, historic buildings in
Los Martires neighborhood, the
Salt Cathedral, Cableway to the
mountain of Monserrate
Indeed, investment in Bogot alone has

been fast and furious. The US is looking to
pledge some $450 million this year, mostly
to maintain the hard-earned political peace
and keep successful economic boosting
programs afloat.
During the last five years, 120 new hotels
have started operation in the country, many
of those in Bogot. International chains
such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Sonesta,
Radisson, Starwood, Intercontinental, W
hotel, Four Seasons, Sofitel, Accor, IHG,
Best Western, City Hotel and Estelar,
among many others, have opened or are
planning to open their doors.
Also during the same period the air
connectivity has shown an average
annual growth of 9.5 percent in new
seats. Colombia has become a hub
destination for Avianca, Lan Chile, COPA
and American flights into Latin America.
Flights from the US alone account for 30
percent of the international arrivals.
It is Avianca that ferries the lions share
of that market from 10 US gateways, with
American Airlines at its heels.
Over the past five years, Avianca has
been experiencing constant growth in
business travel to Bogot from the US
seeing an annual average growth of 8
percent,says Rolando Damas, Avianca
Airlines managing director for North
America and Asia.Bogota is the main
destination for US business travelers. We
have seen the demand grow so much
that last year the airline decided to add
a new nonstop flight from Los Angeles
to Bogot.The most popular routes are
Miami-Bogota and New York-Bogota.
Avianca offers 26 direct daily flights from
the US to Bogot, and nine of them are
non-stops, he adds.
We believe that positive perception

of increased security, the growth of the
business landscape in Colombia and
increased foreign investment are main
factors for growth in business travel to
Bogot,Damas notes.
Earlier in 2014, Colombia launched the
Colombia Bring IT Oncampaign, a major
initiative aimed at promoting the growth
of the countrys technology sector in the
international market and raising awareness
of Colombias competitive advantages in
the industry. Colombias IT sector is now
the third largest in Latin America, with 33
percent growth over the past five years.
High Expectations
Industry growth has been accompanied by
a palpable tourism boom. According to the
countrys Ministry of Commerce, Industry
and Tourism (MICT), an all-time high 3.7
million foreign travelers visited Colombia
in 2013, sparking a spate of interest from
the international hospitality industry.
Latest figures from 2014 show tourism
arrivals topping four million and cruise
passenger landings edging toward 500,000.
This has, perhaps, been the most
interesting to us,says Restrepo of the
cruise landings,because for most of these
visitors it will be their first time in this
country and we are seeing with regularity
that 15-20 percent of these people return.
And Bogot is ready, says Claudia Davila,
director of tourism for ProColombia.
The Corferias International Business
and Exposition Centre has conference
rooms and auditoriums but also offers
a multifunctional hall measuring nearly
162,000 square feet. To this Bogot
is adding the construction of a new
International Centre, measuring 78,000
square feet with a capacity of 4,000 people.
The new expo venue is targeting 2017 for
completion.
Bogota is a great destination for
meetings and events and we have been
working hard to get to this place, says
Davila.Our DMC operators are well
trained to run on American time. We
have the hotel standards expected and
rooms needed and we have great places
to hold those amazing events the Botero
Museum, the Gold Museum, even the
Salt Cathedral. There are cooking classes
March 2016 n 25
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
n Destinations
Clockwise: The Orchids Hotel,

view of Bogot, Hotel de la Opera
to be arranged, and coffee tastings, visits

to nearby farms, dinners in amazing
restaurants. And there will be water on
those buses, and cold towels. Bogot is
doing this.
For visitors landing in Bogot for the
first time, or even the third, the city can
be a daunting place. It spreads for half the
size of Rhode Island (with a population six
times as dense) on a high plateau protected
by the Andes, Guadalupe and Monserrate
mountains. Its a weave of traffic, medieval
churches, cobbled streets, long ramshackle
boulevards, chaotic spurts of construction
and a succession of neighborhoods, each
with its own personality and purpose.
Prime walking neighborhoods include
La Candelaria, Zone T, Zone G, The
Financial District, Usaqun and Park 93
all found near each other in a north-south
strand of central Bogot.
La Candelaria is perhaps the most
famous given its popularity with
backpackers and its youthful focus as a
bohemian hot spot. And its popularity
is for good reason; it offers a bounty of
colorful architecture, proximity to the citys
great museums, theaters and concert halls
and is a magnet for those who love the
26 n March 2016
bistro life. Similarly, Zone T, also known

as the Zona Rosa, is a happening area for
nightlife, music, gourmet restaurants and
bars, hip hotels and intriguing boutiques.
Not far away the financial district in
downtown Bogot is a swirling and lively
confluence of commercial industry, steel
and glass skyscrapers, business hotels,
restaurants and proximity to museums and
attractions.
Usaquen and Unicentro are
neighborhoods for shoppers, especially
those looking for designer duds and mall
ambience. Usaquen also offers some local
color when weekend flea markets and live
music performances fill the streets.
The Parque 93 neighborhood of Bogot
presents the upscale side of the city with
top class hotels (The Four Seasons Medina
is here) and fine restaurant choices.
Stays & Sights

The latest luxury hotel to open is Four
Seasons Bogot, which launches its second
property in April in the heart of Zone T.
It will have 64 rooms and suites, custommade beds with leather headboards,
a spa using the results-focused line of
Biologique Recherche from France, and
Kuru, a Japanese-inspired robata grill as its
signature restaurant.
Also recommended: The NH Collection
Bogot Teleport Royal hotel (see Business
Traveler October 2015) is within walking
distance of Usaqun with its great
shopping and colonial-style architecture.
Set up as a business property, the Royal
caters to multinational companies and
corporate travelers with 251 modern
accommodations, and often runs meetings

and events with 14 spaces in various
configurations.
Plenty of hip hotels and boutique
designer properties dot the citys central
neighborhoods as well. Consider such
gems as the Abadia Colonial, the Hotel de
la Opera or The Orchids Hotel, all in La
Candelaria.
What to do in Bogot depends on how
active and curious you want to be. Mustsee attractions include the Gold Museum,
South Americas true El Dorado. Then
there is the Botero Museum, the legacy
of artist Fernando Botero with some 123
of his works on view, complemented by
the nearby Museum of Modern Art and
Museum of Colonial Art.
About 45 minutes from town in the
mountains is the Salt Cathedral of
Zipaquir, the mysterious and pure tunnels
of a 2,500-year-old salt mine that lead to
a subterranean cathedral carved from the
caverns in 1932. In these, as well as other
unusual and dazzling venues, special
dinners and events can be arranged for
businesses holding meetings in Bogot.
Finally, visitors can get off the bus and
onto the streets of Bogot with biking
(bogotabiketours.com) and walking tours,
like the Bogot Graffiti Tour (bogotagraffiti.
com) that take in the local color and
elaborate graffiti art so ubiquitous on
Bogot streets. A two-mile hike up
Monserrate will be rewarded with the best
views of Bogot and comes with optional
dining experiences at the top.
For more information visit procolombia.
co. Tel +571 5600100. BT
2
01
5B
EST
I N B U S IN E S S T
R AV
EL
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING

US AS THE BEST AIRLINE
IN LATIN AND SOUTH AMERICA
YOUR SUPPORT INSPIRES US TO KEEP CONNECTING
BUSINESS TRAVELERS WITH LATIN AMERICA
n Loyalty
Delta Hotels Joins Marriott Rewards

Marriott Rewards has expanded to include Delta Hotels and Resorts, the Canadian
hotel brand acquired by Marriott International in April 2015. Reward members can
now earn points or miles and Elite night credits, and redeem for free night stays at 21
Delta Hotels across Canada. The brands 14 remaining Canadian properties are set to
join the program in late April.
Delta Privilege members will also now enjoy the full benefits of Marriott Rewards
membership, including the ability to earn and redeem points at over 4,000 Marriott
hotels globally.
For details visit MarriottRewards.com/Delta-Hotels.
THANKS AGAIN PILOTS BEACON

ENABLED APP IN BURBANK
Thanks Again, the airport retail loyalty program,
has teamed up with technology design and
implementation firm Comarch Inc., to pilot
a smartphone app at Burbank Bob Hope
Airport. The app will provide travelers with
special offers and discounts through push
notifications on both iOS and Android
devices.
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons are
used to target travelers with offers based on their current
location and proximity to airport stores and restaurants. The apps
digital marketing is driven by the data collected, so Thanks Again
can provide relevant ads and offers to each individual user.
Thanks Again is a program that enables members to earn points
when they shop, park and dine at thousands of retailers in and
around more than 100 airports. The pilot app launches at Burbank
Bob Hope Airport on March 1, with the full launch scheduled for
April at all existing Thanks Again airports.
For details visit thanksagain.com.
Points and La Quinta

Launch Luxury Hotel
Redemption
La Quinta Returns members
can now redeem points for
luxury hotel bookings, thanks
to a new partnership between
La Quinta Inns & Suites and
Points, the loyalty currency
management platform.
La Quinta Returns members
can earn points at any of the
more than 880 La Quinta Inns
& Suites in the US, Canada,
Mexico and Honduras. The
new program allows members
to redeem their loyalty points
not only for stays at La Quinta
properties, but for bookings
at thousands of luxury hotel
locations across the globe.
Find out more about La
Quinta Inns & Suites and La
Quinta Returns at LQ.com/
resorts. For more information
on Points visit points.com.
Aeromexico Launches Club

Premier Corporate Flyer
Aeromexico has launched a corporate loyalty program, the
Club Premier Corporate Flyer. The program allows both
travelers and companies to earn Premier Kilometers.
The basis accrual is 500 Premier Kilometers (KmP) for each
Aeromexico code flight booked with a corporate account, with
flights within Mexico earning 80 percent and international
flights earning 100 percent. The Premier Kilometers earned
are in addition to any SME discounts and net fares, and points
are accrued on distance flown, not on base fare.
The Kilometers accrued with Club Premier Corporate can
be used with Aeromexio and Skyteam members. In addition,
members receive complimentary upgrades to AM Plus class
and a discount on the purchase of Salon Premier membership
or one day passes.
Learn more at aeromexico.com. BT
WHILE IT LASTS...
n Enterprise Plus Your Points Rolls On Customers earn
double points on qualifying rentals, with more bonus point offers
planned through July 31. Points are redeemable for free rental
days in any available vehicle at participating Enterprise locations
worldwide. Register at PlusYourPoint.Enterprise.com. Customers
registered last year will be pre-registered for this promotion.
28 n March 2016
be privileged. be one.
Introducing new oneworld
benefits. oneworld Emerald and
Sapphire frequent flyer members
both now enjoy additional
baggage allowances on all
oneworld airlines - and their
baggage also receives priority
handling from aircraft to carousel.
Learn more at
oneworld.com/benefits
an alliance of the world's leading airlines working as one.

airberlin American Airlines British Airways Cathay Pacific Finnair Iberia Japan Airlines LAN
TAM Malaysia Airlines Qantas Qatar Airways Royal Jordanian S7 Airlines SriLankan Airlines
oneworld benefits are available only to passengers on scheduled flights that are both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline (marketed
means that there must be a oneworld member airlines flight number on your ticket). For information on oneworld, visit www.oneworld.com. airberlin,
American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7
Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, TAM Airlines and oneworld are trademarks of their respective companies. TAM Airlines (Paraguay) is currently not a part of
oneworld.
n Cover Story
Whats Not to
Like?
Everyones attention is turned

to social media and travel is
making the most of it
By Ramsey Qubein
he line weaves around the corner; the din of

whiney passengers is more raucous than a swarm of
teenage girls queueing for a Justin Bieber concert. The
electronic boards are bright red with the long list of
canceled flights.
Expert road warriors know exactly how to handle such a
situation. There is no lounge for my airline here, and the 1-800
number offers nothing but endlessly looping on-hold Muzak. So
naturally I turn where more and more travelers these days are
looking for solutions: I take to social media. Within minutes, my
itinerary for tomorrows travel is rectified.
Wandering through the terminal, I notice a Centurion Lounge
from American Express. Since I am not a Platinum cardholder,
I bemoan the fact I must wait by the gate and take to Twitter to
30 n March 2016
Cover Story n
of emojis was a logical next step, the perfect new wave of guest
voice my frustration. A minute later, my phone buzzes with a reply;
communications.
someone in the lounge offers to guest me in since I have a long
Hyatt has launched a program that allows guests to Facebook
wait. Score!
message a hotel to make a request (perhaps to arrange a late
Everyone and their grandmother seems to be connected via
check-in) or ask a question (nearby restaurant reservations, for
social media these days. We live in a mobile society, one in which
example). A speedy response is assured thanks to the brands
the lack of being looped into the universe via a smartphone can
global control room.Many travel brands rely on a multi-person
almost be painful. So it comes as no surprise that travel companies
team (for Hyatt that means 60 people in three
have embraced the trend to
locations) to monitor and address social media
find ways to connect and
Travelers rely on feedback from
concerns and requests at all hours.
engage with customers
both past and potential.
other travelers, but also on the online Uber is testing a plan that allows people to
request a ride via Facebook Messenger. Chat
There is no guidebook for
personality of a travel brand
apps like Facebook and WeChat (used mostly
how travel companies should
overseas) are catching on with consumers and
connect with consumers.
providing a more direct communication link.
It all comes down to internal resources and know-how. The most
Companies should tread carefully, however, to avoid bombarding
active brands invest in a dedicated staff focused on connecting with
followers on social media with advertising messages. Online
consumers online and socializing the brand.
connections should feel genuine and create a sense of goodwill,
Social media forms a core part of how travel companies build
otherwise it runs the risk of crossing over into advertising.
and sustain brand images and customer relationships,according
Travel brands should carefully navigate that fine line and remain
to Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group.
authentic, as Harteveldt suggests. Social media is just that: Media.
Harteveldt says travel brands that succeed on social media find
It plays a role, just as offline advertising, online advertising, search
their own way to be creative, relevant, responsive and, most
engine marketing, and other types of media play roles for a travel
importantly, authentic.
brand in its various marketing communications. Its important for
The way the consumer experiences and understands a brand is
brands to respect that boundary if they want to succeed.
the result of its online communication, which can lead to increased
revenue down the road.
Finding the Right Mix Is Tough

Its Not Just for Millennials
Theres no doubt that social media
efforts are geared toward the Millennial
crowd, which will become the bread
and butter of many a travel provider in
the next decade. But that doesnt mean
everyone else gets ignored.
To the contrary, Millennial trends are
fueling the behavior of other travelers, as
witnessed by the almost universal grasp
of technology like airport kiosk checkin and mobile boarding passes. Its
even crossing over to hotels, with many
offering the option to bypass the front
desk and use a smartphone to unlock
the guest room door. Travelers across the board are
taking to these new modes.
Take for example the Aloft Liverpool, which followed the lead
of its Manhattan sibling to introduce a room service menu known
as Aloft TiGi, derived entirely from emojis. The acronym meanstext
it, get it, (get it?). Guests simply text the dedicated TiGi number
with the pre-set specialty menus (bangers and mash anyone?),
which is confirmed back via text. No need to even touch the inroom phone.
Were always looking for ways to shake up the hotel stay,says
Brian McGuinness, global brand leader of Starwoods Specialty
Select Brands.We look to consumer behavior and think about
how to integrate these trends into the Aloft experience. The rise
Beyond simply responding to traveler requests and suggestions,

brands need to build a genuine strategy. Hotels that invest in the
resources to have a committed team member to spur existing
and new business online are destined to win in this new, more
connected environment.
Gautam Lulla, president of Travel Tripper, is an expert on
integrating technology into hotels and believes that using social
media is excellent for efficiency as it allows one staff member to
interact simultaneously with multiple customers (versus over the
phone, for example).
Like many hotels, Hacienda Encantada Resort in Los Cabos is
committed to winning hearts online by having a dedicated staff
person that creates online content, interacts with guests, and
responds to social media postings in real time. It creates a sense of
connectivity and interest from the hotel, which becomes a part of
the guests overall experience before, during and after a visit.
Some brands choose to use experienced social media influencers
to educate internal staff. The Luxury Collection recently announced
a partnership with one of Instagrams biggest travel influencers,
Beautiful Destinations, which has more than 7.5 million followers.
The popular account is known for its jaw-dropping photos of the
worlds most spectacular scenes.
Beautiful Destinations was tasked with educating the relevant
staff at each Luxury Collection hotel about how to create unique
content to engage and inspire guests. Contrary to popular belief,
its not just about throwing up random pictures or commenting on
photos. It takes judicious decision making to curate just the right
message that wont be seen as too promotional.
March 2016 n 31
n Cover Story
If followers perceive a travel companys online accounts as pure

PR, then the positive goodwill of being connected via social media
begins to wane.
Navigating Online Reviews
We knew the customer was going to look for hotel reviews,

so we wanted to keep it in our own marketing channel, explains
Dorothy Dowling, chief marketing officer of Best Western.At the
time it was a high-risk move, but we knew what consumers wanted
and usually that is where businesses move, so better to be on the
front end and author the experience on our own website.
Harteveldt agrees,Hotels that incorporate reviews from sites
such as TripAdvisor are able to offer fresh, credible consumer
perspectives to prospective guests. Hotels tell me that adding
reviews to their websites encourages shoppers to spend more time
on the website and can increase the people who book rooms.
Travelers are turning to social media in greater numbers to gather

information on their destination and travel plans. They rely on
feedback from other travelers, but also on the online personality of
a travel brand.
A new hotel search engine, dubbed Hotel Insider, fancies itself
like match.com, only for travel, pairing guests with hotels that cater
to their unique interests and needs. Each user creates a dynamic
Social Makes a Difference
personality profile using a selection of archetypes (ranging from
Traditionalist to Bon Vivant to Spa Seeker) that will result in curated
Data from Atmosphere Research Group shows that 81 percent of
travel suggestions.
US hotel guests who read a positive review, and 83 percent who
Travel companies have learned to embrace social sites like
read a negative review, used that to influence their hotel choice.
TripAdvisor, which allows users to write personal experiences from
Positive reviews are, of course, preferred by hotel brands, but
visits to hotels, restaurants, and other providers.
according to Harteveldt,Showing negative reviews adds credibility
Best Western was one of the first brands to integrate reviews
to the hotel. Guests know the hotel isnt sugar coating anything.
directly into its own website. The
Starwood believes so strongly
bold move put (often fiercely honest)
in
the power of social media and
The rise of emojis was a logical next
user-generated content front and
user-generated reviews that it is
step, the perfect new wave of guest putting its money where its mouth
center for potential guests to browse
communications
before making a reservation.
is or travelers mouths, at least.
32 n March 2016
Our communication strategy is to show people there is so much

to do in San Antonio beyond the well-known River Walk and the
Alamo,says Casandra Matej, executive director of the San Antonio
Convention & Visitors Bureau.Social media lends itself to this
strategy, as people are driven by the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
Social tools are also an affordable opportunity to create buzz.
Agencies like Tourism Montreal take advantage of the unique
ability to connect with a worldwide audience online. The agency
developed its own hashtag #MTLMOMENTS, which has become
wildly popular online and used by both visitors and locals.
Montreal, recently named by Guide du Routard as one of the 50
cities to visit a lifetime, continues to see growth in international
visitors due to the favorable exchange rate. The agency incorporated
social media by setting up life-size golden frames around town
where visitors can snap selfies to upload using the hashtag.
Whats In It for Me?

Why would travelers even take time to interact with a hotel, airline,
or destination online? Dont people have enough to do already?
Recently, Starwood teamed up with TripAdvisor to go beyond
Howie Rappaport of RewardSmith.com believes that it can pay
integrating review content to add instant booking capability for
off especially when you need assistance immediately.Companies
many of its hotels directly through the site. Reservations can be
empower social media staff to get things done,he says.Such a
made via TripAdvisor by clicking aBook Nowbutton, although
speedy response makes me feel like they actually care about me
Starwood maintains that it will keep control over guest interaction
as a traveler. We occasionally reach out to a hotel via Instagram
and communication to ensure a consistent experience with guests
or Twitter to let them know about
who book through its own channels.
our plans, like when we took a trip
According to Julie Atkinson, senior
People are driven by the FOMO
with our dog recently. Kimpton
vice president of global digital for
(Fear Of Missing Out)
made notes in our reservation and
Starwood Hotels & Resorts,It allows
remembered the name of our dog. It
us to deepen our touch-points with
made a great impression.
TripAdvisors global community of travelers while maintaining a
While travel brands pay attention to online conversation, they
consistent connection with guests before, during and after their
also use social media to research what is important and interesting
stay at a Starwood hotel.
to consumers. The results can be used to generate buzz around a
Destinations are well-aware of the importance of social media,
new campaign or feature.
too. Visit San Antonio, which receives more than half of its web
For example, when the JW Marriott San Antonio wanted to
traffic from mobile devices, is a perfect example of converting
name the two new waterslides it recently completed for its familyonline interest to actual visitors. The goal is to find innovative ways
friendly Hill Country water park, it took to social media. Through
to cut through the clutter and gain qualified attention through user
a Facebook contest app, the hotel asked its fans for naming
engagement and online promotions.
suggestions with the winner receiving a two-night stay.
The hotel also encourages guests to snap a photo of a meal
enjoyed at the resort with the hashtag #TasteTravels for a chance to
win a Marriott-branded gift card. A new campaign known asWish
You Were Herefeatures digital postcards with photos of the resort
plus adds space for users to upload their own photos and share on
social media.
Travel blogger Johnny Jet points out the value that travelers can
tap into with certain brands through the special
discounts offered on social media. He recalls the
time he flew between New York and Los Angeles
on jetBlue for $29 thanks to a Twitter-only special
promotional deal.
Today when travelers shop, its no longer just
about price or even information. Now more than
ever, its also about the relationships that are
available with the swipe of a finger. BT
March 2016 n 33
36 News
38 A Toast to Success
lifestyle
52
42 Macaus Mighty Gamble
46 Online Auction
48 Top Travel Tech
50 Whats On
52 New Horizons
56 4 Hours in San Francisco
58 Scenic Airport Approaches
48
March 2016 n 35
n Lifestyle News
Destination Hotels
Teams with Tesla
AAA Adds Six to

Five Diamond List
AAA has released the 2016 Five Diamond Award list. The 118
hotels that have earned the rating over the past 12 months are just
0.4 percent of the hotels on the almost 28,000 AA/CAA Approved
and Diamond Rated list.
The newest members are:
Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Park Hyatt New York New York
St. Regis Deer Valley Park City, UT
The Cloister Sea Island, GA
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Marana, AZ
International Hotel and Tower Toronto Toronto
For a full list of the Five Diamond Ratings and the
inspection process, visit aaa.com.
Destination Hotels has

partnered with Tesla Motors
to offer Tesla Destination
Charging stations across the
Destination Hotels collection
from coast to coast.. Tesla High
Power Wall Connectors add
nearly 60 miles of range per
hour to Model S and Model X.
Tesla partners with hotels,
resorts, and restaurants around
the world to offer High Power
Connectors. The Destination
Hotels and other Tesla
Destination Charging locations
are hosted on Teslas interactive
webpage at teslamotors.com/
supercharger and are GPS
located on Model S and Model
Xs navigation.
The partnership is part
of the Destination Earth
program, an environmental
initiative launched in 2008 by
Destination Hotels.
Visit destinationhotels.com
to learn more.
Burj Al Arab Gets Decked Out

Dubais Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel is adding a huge 100,000-square-foot sea deck stretching
out into the Gulf. The North Deck will feature a 6,600-square-foot fresh water pool, a second
8,900-square-foot sea water pool, a restaurant and bar, 32 cabanas and 400 sun loungers.
The 5,000-ton construction is coming by boat from Finland, and is scheduled to arrive in Dubai
in mid-February. Then the structure will be lowered into place in six sections on top of 90 steel
piles. The new facility is planned to open in the second quarter of this year.
The hotel said that the offsite
construction and steel pile
installation will cause minimal
impact to the marine environment,
adding that the deck had been
designedto provide shade for
local fish and to attract undersea
ecosystems that are known to
cluster around steel piles.
Find out more at jumeirah.com/
Burj-Al-Arab.
36 n March 2016
Despite the Name,

Bleisure Takes Off
More than two-thirds (67
percent) of business travelers
say the option of extending
their business trips for leisure
travel is important to them,
according to the most recent
Traveler Sentiment Index from
the Global Business Travel
Association. Furthermore,
36 percent of these so-called
bleisure travelers have actually
done so in just the past three
months alone.
Members of the Millennial
generation are more likely to
extend their business travels
to include leisure than their
counterparts among Gen Xers
and Baby Boomers (43 percent,
compared to 34 percent and
35 percent, respectively).
Women travelers were more
likely to piggyback leisure
travel onto their business trips
than their male counterparts.
As a group, the same was
true of employees of small- to
medium-sized companies
compared to those in big
companies.
And another recent survey,
this one from Enterprise
Rent-a-Car, found 2016s
preferred vacation format may
well be the weekend getaway.
More than 80 percent of the
respondents said they planned
at least one weekend getaway
this year. And while a weekend
may not really be enough time
to recharge the old batteries,
nearly a third of respondents
said that the time away helps
them because they have no
schedule to follow. BT
n The Good Life
A toast to
success
Which airlines served the best wines last
year? The results are in from the 30th annual
Cellars in the Sky Awards
By Rose Dykins
30
th
2015
38 n March 2016
The Good Life n
fter tasting more than 250

wines from 35 carriers, our
expert judges have picked the
winners of the 2015 Business
Traveler Cellars in the Sky
Awards, presented to the airlines that
served the best in-flight wine last year.
Head judge Charles Metcalfe, cochairman of the International Wine
Challenge, handed out trophies at a wellattended reception on February 22 at the
new Hilton London Bankside (hilton.com)
our thanks to Hilton Worldwide. We also
held wine tastings at the Business Travel
Show at Kensingtons Olympia Grand on
February 24-25.
Joining Metcalfe were Tim Atkin, Oz
Clarke and Peter McCombie, co-chairmen
of the International Wine Challenge.
Choosing the Winners

Airlines could participate providing they
served wine in business or first class on
mid- or long-haul routes. Each could enter
two reds, two whites, a sparkling and a
fortified or dessert wine from both their
business and first class cellars.
They could compete in as many
categories as they liked, but to be eligible
for the Best Cellar awards had to enter at
least one red, white and sparkling wine.
Every bottle was blind-tasted over two
days in December at the Hilton London
Metropole our thanks to the staff and
judges for their hard work. Wines were
scored out of 100, with award winning
ones rated between 93 and 97, and
anything under 75 deemed undrinkable.

As Oz Clarke has worked with SAS
and Singapore Airlines, his scores for
wines submitted by both carriers were
discounted, and these wines were assessed
using only the other tasters scores.
To calculate the Best First and Business
Class Cellar awards, we took the average
mark of an airlines red, white and
sparkling wines. For the Best Overall Cellar,
we took all scores into account.
What the Judges Said

I thought it was an exciting year some of
the best wines weve had, and a clear step
up between business and first,Atkin said.
Clarke echoed this: In the past, first has
been about big brands and glitzy labels,
and this year there are some modern
names, such as Oakridge, shortlisted.
McCombie added: We also had some of
the classic names that qualified simply
because they were good. Its about
choosing the right vintages of those great
names, because you could argue that some
less glamorous vintages can work
better in the air.
While some wine labels impress
premium passengers, the judges always
bear in mind what they will taste like at
30,000 feet in cabin conditions. Certain
prestige wines that are tannic and complex
run the risk of having a drying effect when
served during a flight. However, if chosen
intelligently, they can work well.
A minor criticism of this years entries
was an overrepresentation of French
wines.What was missing for me was old

European [wines] that werent French,
McCombie said.We havent seen very
many exciting Spanish or Italian wines,
when they do exist. Some would be great
in the air.
Atkin agreed: It would be nice to see
things like Frappato or Chianti Classico
from Italy, a top Vinho Verde from Portugal,
or a Rioja, particularly in business, when
theyve got an opportunity to be more
creative. We had a lovely [Chilean]
Carmenere in business class, and wed like
to see more of that choosing wine based
on flavor as much as reputation.
How Airlines Choose Wine

Most carriers employ small teams of
experts to test hundreds of options.All
the bottles are blind-tasted,said Clara Yip,
wine and beverage manager for Cathay
Pacific.Only in the final line-up will
the best three to four be unmasked, and
brand image and appellation will then
be compared. The tasters are looking for
specific characteristics that ensure Cathay
Pacific only selects wines that fly fruitdriven, with soft tannins and balanced
acidity,Yip explained.
Many airlines also take the opportunity
to showcase their local produce.Australia
and New Zealand have never made better
wines than right now,said Matt Skinner,
wine selection panel member for Jetstar.
Our job is to take a small slice of that
quality, diversity and enthusiasm and
present it to Jetstars customers.
From left: Peter McCombie, Oz Clarke,

Charles Metcalfe and Tim Atkin
AIRLINES THAT ENTERED

Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air Astana, Air Berlin, Air Canada,
Air France, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, American
Airlines, ANA, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels
Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Croatia Airlines, Delta Air Lines,
El Al, EVA Air, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Jetstar, Kenya
Airways, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, Lufthansa,
Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas,
Qatar Airways, South African Airways, SAS,
Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic.
Our sincere thanks to all participants
March 2016 n 39
n The Good Life
FIRST CLASS
BEST FIRST CLASS RED
Gold Medal:
Korean Air
Chteau Clerc Milon 2007,
Bordeaux, Pauillac, Mdoc,
France
BEST FIRST CLASS WHITE

Gold Medal:
British Airways
Domaine dArdhuy
Corton Charlemagne 2009,
Burgundy, France
Judges said: Attractive

classic in style and structure.
Gentle, discreet and restrained,
with fine tannins.
Score: 96
Judges said:Concentrated yet

fresh. Honeyed lemon curd, with
a rich complex palate. Wow!
Score: 96
Silver Medal:
American Airlines
Lavau Chteauneuf du Pape
2011, Rhne Valley, France
Score: 95
Bronze Medal:
Malaysia Airlines
E Guigal Cte-Rtie Brune et
Blonde de Guigal 2010, Rhne
Valley, France
Score: 94
Silver Medal:
Qantas
Oakridge 864 Chardonnay
Willowlake Vineyard Block A6
2012, Yarra Valley, Australia
Score: 95
Bronze Medal (joint):
Garuda Indonesia
Vasse Felix Chardonnay
Margaret River 2013, Australia
Qatar Airways
Saint Clair Family Estate
Pioneer Block 21 Sauvignon
Blanc 2012, Dillons Point,
Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 94
BEST FIRST CLASS

SPARKLING
Gold Medal:
Garuda Indonesia
Champagne Billecart-Salmon
Cuve Nicolas Franois
Billecart 1999, France
Judges said: Deliciously
mature and complex. Rich
and ripe, with a wonderfully
evolved toasty palate.
Score: 97
Silver Medal (joint):
American Airlines
Champagne Louis Roederer
Brut 2008, France
Korean Air
Champagne Perrier-Jout
Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs
2004, France
Score: 96
Bronze Medal:
Singapore Airlines
Champagne Dom Prignon
Vintage 2004, France
Score: 95
BEST FIRST CLASS

FORTIFIED/DESSERT
Gold Medal:
Qatar Airways
Chteau dYquem 2008,
Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
Judges said: Delicious
classy, seamless and discreet,
with a luxurious and
opulent palate.
Score: 97
Singapore Airlines
Taylors 20 Year Old Tawny
Port, Douro, Portugal
Qantas
Seppeltsfield Paramount
Rare Tokay, Rutherglen,
Australia
Score: 96
Bronze Medal:
Cathay Pacific
Ramos Pinto RP10,
10 Years Old Tawny, Quinta
da Ervamoira, Portugal
Score: 95
30
th
2015
BEST-PRESENTED
FIRST CLASS WINE LIST
Cathay Pacific
BEST FIRST
CLASS CELLAR
Gold Medal:
Singapore Airlines
Silver Medal:
Qatar Airways
Bronze Medal:
Korean Air
Highly commended:
Cathay Pacific, Qantas
40 n March 2016
The Good Life n
BUSINESS CLASS
BEST BUSINESS
CLASS RED
Gold Medal:
EVA Air
The Islander Estate Old Rowley
2014, South Australia
Judges said: Big, ripe and
plummy. A beautifully smooth,
well-balanced classical Shiraz.
Score: 95
Silver Medal:
Aer Lingus
Saint-Joseph Les Challeys
2013, Delas Frres, Rhne Valley,
France
Score: 94
Bronze Medal (joint):
Air Astana
Casa Silva Reserva Cuve
Colchagua Carmenere 2013,
Rapel Valley, Chile
Air Canada
HJ Fabre Malbec 2014 Barrel
Selection, Fabre Montmayou,
Argentina
Score: 93.5
BEST BUSINESS
CLASS WHITE
Gold Medal:
Jetstar
Church Road Grand Reserve
Chardonnay 2013, Hawkes
Bay, New Zealand
BEST BUSINESS CLASS

SPARKLING
Gold Medal (joint):
Philippine Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Champagne Charles Heidsieck
Brut Rserve, France
BEST BUSINESS CLASS

FORTIFIED/DESSERT
Gold Medal:
Jetstar
De Bortoli Old Boys 21 Year
Old Barrel Aged Tawny, NV,
Australia
Judges said: A lean,

lemony Chardonnay with
a high toasty reduction.
Starting to show oatmeal
characteristics, while retaining
its freshness and appeal.
Score: 95
Judges said: A classy and

complex Heidsieck with a rich,
savory, peppery palate. Very
attractive.
Score: 93
Judges said: An
intense, sweet palate. Rich,
dark, creamy and perfectly
balanced.
Score: 94
Silver Medal:
EVA Air
Champagne de Castelnau
Brut 2002, JM Cazes Selection,
France
Score: 92.5

Korean Air
Inniskillin Ice Wine Vidal
2012, Vincor, Niagara
Peninsula, Canada
Silver Medal:
British Airways
Condrieu Les Ravines
2013 Domaine Rmi Niero,
Rhne Valley, France
Score: 94
Bronze Medal:
American Airlines
Urziger Wrzgarten
Kabinett 2009, SA Prum,
Mosel, Germany
Score: 93.5
Bronze Medal:
Cathay Pacific
Champagne Cuve William
Deutz 2000, France
Score: 91.5
30
th
Austrian Airlines
Weingut Kracher Cuve
Beerenauslese 2012,
Burgenland, Neusiedlersee,
Austria
Score: 93
Bronze Medal:
Singapore Airlines
Taylors 10 Year Old Tawny
Port, Douro, Portugal
Score: 92.5
2015
BEST-PRESENTED
BUSINESS CLASS WINE LIST
El Al
BEST BUSINESS
CLASS CELLAR
Gold: EVA Air
Silver: Cathay Pacific
Bronze: Singapore Airlines
BEST AIRLINE ALLIANCE
Oneworld
BEST OVERALL
WINE CELLAR
Gold: Singapore Airlines
Silver: Cathay Pacific
Bronze: Korean Air, Qantas
Highly commended:
Qatar Airways
March 2016 n 41
n Gathering Places
Macaus
mighty gamble
42 n March 2016
Gathering Places n
Lavish spending is off the menu for Macau as it

reinvents itself as an entertainment capital
By Marisa Cannon
acau is well known as the

worlds biggest, most overthe-top gaming capital.
Where else could you enjoy
an indoor gondola ride
followed by the worlds tallest bungee
jump? But its latest attempt at reinvention
might be its biggest gamble yet.
Stunned by plunging revenues as a
result of the Chinese leadership combating
corruption and prolific spending, venues
are scrambling to diversify their casino-led
offerings, creating more family-friendly
spaces, entertainment options and
enhancing meetings and incentive travel.
As a result, Macaus glittering Cotai strip
now offers a Batman-inspired digital ride,
a house of magic, a giant Ferris wheel and
a 40,000 square foot Warner Bros-themed
fun zone and thats just Studio City...
Hollywood Glamour
Melco Crowns Macau Studio City, the
citys first cinematic-themed integrated
resort, opened in October. One of the
resorts highlights is the iconic Golden
Reel, a Ferris wheel in the shape of a figure
eight set in the center of the hotels towers.
The fun doesnt stop there, with a
Warner Bros and DC Comics collaboration
offering an immersive flight-simulation
ride called theBatman Dark Flight.This
4D, sensory overload experience, allows
riders to join the masked crusader as he
fights Gotham citys super villains.
Joining the line-up of Macaus shows is
the House of Magic, a three-theatre arena
pitched as a hub for the worlds leading
magicians. Hosted by leading illusionist
Franz Harary, it features daily live magic
shows, including Hararys resident show
Mega Magic. Ibiza import Pacha nightclub
has also debuted at Studio City, adding to
the regions growing nightlife scene.
Paying tribute to the resorts Hollywood

inspiration, a short film directed by Martin
Scorsese was unveiled at the Studio City
launch, starring Robert De Niro, Leonardo
DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. Alongside
these big-ticket names, the 15-minute
corporate-sponsored film features plenty of
promotional shots of Studio City.
Besides the cinematic and cartoonthemed attractions, the $3.2 billion Studio
City has a 1,600-guest room hotel housed
in two towers, the Celebrity Tower and the
all-suite Star Tower.
Red Carpet Entrance

At the impending Wynn Palace, its all
about a grand arrival. Guests will be
transported over a lake via cable cars to
Guests will be transported

over a lake via cable
cars to check-in
check into the hotel. Casino magnate
Steve Wynn invested $4.1 billion in the
development of his second property in
Macau. The 1,700-room Wynn Palace, due
to open later this year, will be his first foray
into Cotai.
There will be a casino within Wynn
Palace, but $3 billion of the total
investment has been pledged to nongaming developments such as the
eight-acreperformance lake. With 300
water nozzles and 800,000 gallons of
water, guests will be treated to spectacular
shows of water, light, color and fire set to
music. Art installations, such as a large
jellyfish aquarium and Dragon of Fortune
statue, are also featured alongside retail
space and luxury restaurants as alternative
entertainment options.
International Experience
Left: The opening ceremony of Studio
City casino resort, developed by Melco
Crown Entertainment Ltd.
With a taste of Italy already established

at the Venetian, it seems almost natural
March 2016 n 43
n Gathering Places
to add a flavor of France. At a cost of $2.7

billion, Sands China is developing its
fourth property, The Parisian, with a halfsize replica of the Eiffel Tower as its main
attraction. The 3,000-room hotel will also
feature a Versailles inspired rooftop garden
and a 300,000-square-foot retail mall like
Pariss Champs-Elysees, expected to open
in the latter half of 2016.
Sands China is also expanding its
entertainment repertoire across existing
properties, having put on Broadway shows
includingCats andBeauty and the Beast
in 2015 at the Venetian Macao.
With its signature 24/7 butler service, the
400-room St Regis Macau added another
first to the city. Additionally, the property
offers The Manor with its five unique
dining experiences, while the Iridium Spa
on the 38th floor overlooks the Cotai Strip.
Expanding the Galaxy

Three new properties at the integrated
resort Galaxy Macau (JW Marriott, The
44 n March 2016
Broadway Hotel and Ritz-Carlton) present

additional accommodation options in
the city. Galaxy has also extended its
spectacular Grand Resort Deck, which
now spans over 18 acres and features the
worlds longest skytop aquatic adventure
river ride,Skytop Adventure Rapids,a
The first all-suite RitzCarlton hotel has 254

premium rooms
breathtaking 1,887-foot long thrill.
At the JW Marriott we have over 1,000
rooms and increasing rooms in the Galaxy
complex is a positive because we can offer
additional brands,says vice president of
operations for the JW Marriott and RitzCarlton Macau, Rauf Malik.I dont see
any issue with the increase in capacity its
going to hand us our business.
The first all-suite hotel from the RitzCarlton has 254 premium hotel suites and
Above: The St Regis Macao Metropolitan Suite Living Room
is being marketed to planners looking to

host managerial executives, with the JW
Marriott as partner host to larger groups of
accompanying associates.
Adjoining the hotels is a new shopping
arcade calledThe Promenade, which
is home to more than 200 retail outlets.
Featuring a hawker-style street market, The
Broadway delivers authentic Asian flavors,
and also plays host to a twilight market
selling hand-made crafts every Friday from
5:00 PM 10:00 PM.
Galaxy has also extended its fine dining
experience with the addition of 8 Otto e
Mezzo Bombana, whose sister restaurant
in Hong Kong has three Michelin stars.
Often lauded as the best Italian chef
working in Asia, head chef Umberto
Bombana is a global ambassador for the
white truffle and what could be more
luxurious than that? BT
OPEN FOR BIDDING OPEN

Transforming the World
Once again this year, the
Business Traveler online auction
supports Pencils for Kids, an
international charity that helps
thousands of impoverished
children in three countries with
school supplies they need to get
a start on education.
TURKISH AIRLINES
Two (2) roundtrip tickets to Istanbul
turkishairlines.com
Go to businesstravelerusa.
com/auctions and place
your bid on valuable
and fun items from
our generous sponsors.
It can change a childs
life and transform the
world.
KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Two (2) nights stay

kimptonhotels.com
HERTZ
$150 dollars in Hertz

rental certificates and
2 models - 1 2008 Corvet C6 ZHZ Greenlight
Collectable & 1940
Ford pickup truck from
Ertl Collectibles
hertz.com
UNITED AIRLINES
United Premier 1K
travel services
package
united.com
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Two (2) international business class tickets
on Singapore Airlines
singaporeair.com
46 n March 2016
JETBLUE
Round-Trip Any
JetBlue City to
Any JetBlue City
jetblue.com
EMPIRE CLS
Cash Donation
empirecls.com
N FOR BIDDING OPEN FOR BIDDING

8
SHANGRI LA SINGAPORE
Three (3) night stay in a Valley Wing Deluxe
Room shared with heads of states, captains of
industry and discerning travelers.
shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila
12
LAS ALCOBAS HOTEL

Two night stay in a Grand Deluxe Executive
Room All deluxe amenities with 24 hour Anfitrion
service (Host-Butler) Daily continental breakfast,
complimentary internet and mini bar soft drinks
and snacks
lasalcobas.com
RADISSON BLU
Four (4) global room night vouchers to be
used at any Radisson Blu globally
radissonblu.com
13
14
10
CHINA AIRLINES
New aircraft models
of the B 777-300ER
that was introduced
to North America
china-airlines.com
11
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Two (2) roundtrip Southwest Airlines tickets
valid on Southwest-operated service in the
United States and Puerto Rico
southwest.com
NATIONAL CAR RENTAL

EMERALD CLUB
Executive Elite status for life in National Car
Rentals Emerald Club loyalty program
nationalcar.com
AIR CANADA
Two (2) international business
class tickets on Air Canada
aircanada.com
THE AUCTION ENDS MARCH 31, 2016

TO PLACE YOUR BIDS VISIT
BUSINESSTRAVELERUSA.COM/AUCTIONS
March 2016 n 47
n Technology of Things
T P
travel teCH
4
2
FUGOO WIRELESS
SPEAKER
Sport $199.99, Style
$179.99, Tough $229.99;
fugoo.com
The Fugoo wireless speaker
system will let you blast out
your favourite tunes without
taking up too much room in
your bag (from 2.1 x 6.5 x
2.6, 1lb.). Its also splashproof, drop-proof (tested to
6ft), cold- and heat-resistant,
and the battery will last
a remarkable 40 hours
before you need to charge
it. It sounds good, too, with
speakers on all four sides
ensuring the deep bass will
fill any space youre in. It
comes in three skins: the
extra-waterproof Sport, the
cool, canvas Style, and the
extra-strong Tough.
WACOM BAMBOO
STYLUS FINELINE
$59.95; wacom.com
If youre prone to sudden
bursts of inspiration, make
48 n March 2016
sure you dont get caught

short this stylus will let you
effortlessly jot down ideas,
diagrams and annotations
on your iPad. Unlike many
rival styluses, which come
with thick, rubbery tips, this
one has a fine, 1.9mm nib,
making it feel more like a
regular pen. It also features
palm-rejection technology (in
conjunction with supported
apps, including the Adobe
suite, Autodesk Sketchbook
and Notes Plus, sold
separately), so you can write
with ease.
CHARGEHUB
From $59.99;
thechargehub.com
The Chargehub is the
ultimate travel companion.
It allows you to power up
to seven USB devices from
one universal source just
plug them in and watch
the battery bar go green
on everything from your
wireless headphones to
your GoPro camera. You

can also personalize it the
Chargehub station comes
in round or square versions
(3.5 x 3.5 x 1.25, 1lb.) and
you can get it in pink, red,
purple, blue, black or white.
Its great for keeping by
your bed to charge all your
gadgets overnight and will
certainly make your packing
easier.
PHILIPS INRANGE
BLUETOOTH SMART
LEASH
$9.95; philips.com
Keep your belongings secure
with this smart alarm system.
Attach the compact (2.3 x
1.5) fob to your luggage,
keys or wallet and if they
wander anywhere you
dont, an alarm will sound
on whatever Apple device
you have it synced to. The
companion app (iPhone
4S onwards) will allow you
to locate your valuables if
youve misplaced them by
sounding an alarm, so no
more searching under desks
for your wallet before you
check-out. You can also
program safe times when
the alarm wont go off.
OVERBOARD
WATERPROOF
CAMERA CASE
$24.50 (regular), $49.95
(zoom lens);
overboardusa.com
The beach is an integral part
of most holidays but, alas,
sea, sand and cameras
dont mix. Save yourself
a lot of worry by investing
in a waterproof case from
OverBoard. The resealable
bag is submersible to 20
feet and will fit most models,
taking the stress out of your
marine photography. It has
clear windows on the front
and rear, so you can ensure
you get the best possible
snaps. Its sand-proof, so you
should keep it on while youre
sunbathing on the beach.
Technology of Things n
From pocket printers to smart

chargers, you can go far with
handy add-ons for your gadgets
10
By Steve Dineen
You can also get sleeves for

tablets and phones.
SAMSUNG PORTABLE
SSD T1
$359.99; samsung.com
No bigger than a business
card (2.8 x 2.1 x 0.3), this
tiny external storage device
can back up an impressive
one terabyte of data, while
weighing just 1 oz. It has
read/write speeds of 450
Mbps (so its fast), USB
3.0, data encryption, and is
compatible with both Mac
and Windows computers.
With its laser-cut patterning
and coal-black metal
chassis, it has won numerous
awards for its design. Smaller
(and, consequently, cheaper)
250GB and 500GB versions
are available for $84.99 and
$164.99 respectively.
OLLOCLIP 4-In-1 LenS

$79.99; olloclip.com
This handy mini lens acts as
a Swiss army knife for your
iPhone 6/6 Plus to take even

more stunning photos. By
combining four individual
advanced-optic lenses into
a single body, users can
now choose to capture
stunning pictures using the
fisheye, wide angle, 10x
Macro or 15x Macro lenses.
This nifty accessory can be
attached to both the front and
rear-facing cameras of the
iPhone, making it an excellent
selfie tool. Installation is easy,
thanks to a clever patented
design by Olloclip. Users
can simply clip it onto their
phones a process done in
seconds without any extra
parts needed.
INTEL COMPUTE STICK
$129.99; intel.com
You can go a long way with
smartphones and tablets, but
sometimes you need more. If
you want to take the usability
of a PC with you without
lugging a laptop around, this
could be for you. The HDMI-
connected drive will plug into

most computer monitors and
smart TVs, giving you instant
access to a full Windows 8.1
experience. You can also
use a keyboard and mouse,
either by USB or Bluetooth. It
has a quad-core processor,
2GB of RAM and will link to
WiFi networks. Even better,
the small device (5.8 x
3.4 x 2.8, 2 oz.) only costs
$129.99 a steal.
LOGITECH
KEYS-TO-GO
$69.99; logitech.com
Why carry a laptop when
you can take your tablet
or smartphone and type
away on this ultra-portable
keyboard? It is designed
for use with Apple products
and can be synced over
Bluetooth with an iPad,
iPhone and Apple TV. Its
comfortable to use, despite
its diminutive size (5.4 x
9.5 x 0.24, 6.35 oz.), and
the battery lasts a whopping
three months between

charges, depending on use.
It comes with a durable,
splash-proof skin in blue, red
or black. If you often work on
the go, this is an invaluable
piece of gear for your armory.
10
ZUTA LABS
POCKET PRINTER
$199; zutalabs.com
My favorite new portable
gadget is this ingenious
pocket printer thats like
nothing youve seen before.
Instead of inserting paper
into it, simply place the fistsized box (4 x 3, 12 oz.)
on to a sheet of paper and
watch in awe as it wheels
itself back and forth, printing
as it goes (it looks a little
like a tiny robotic vacuum
cleaner). It connects to your
phone, tablet or PC via WiFi
and the battery will last up to
an hour between charges.
You can pre-order now and
the company is promising a
September delivery. BT
March 2016 n 49
n The Scene
Around The World
Art Souterrain
We round up some of the top events

in the months ahead from all over
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival
Montreal
March 3 13
This art festival This art festival
takes place in a venue unlike
any traditional exhibit space
Montreals 20-mile underground
city. Some activities (guided
tours, visit to artists studios)
charge admission. The
2016 Theme is Must Art Be
Appealing?
Visit artsouterrain.com.
San Luis Obispo, CA

March 15 20
Located on the dramatic
Central Coast of California, San
Luis Obispo hosts this six day
cinema event, with screenings
of contemporary and classic
films in venues from the art deco
Fremont Theatre to the quaint
seaside towns of Avila Beach
and Pismo Beach.
Visit slofilmfest.org.
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Taste of Iceland
Melbourne, Australia
March 4 13
Each year food and wine lovers
in their thousands indulge in
more than 200 events filling
Melbournes labyrinth of
restaurants, lanes, basement
bistros and dizzying rooftops, as
well as spilling out across all of
Victoria.
Visit melbournefoodandwine.
com.au.
Horn Sled Races

Various villages in Switzerland
March 5, 13 and 27
The traditional horn sled was
once a critical winter tool for
working farmers. Today they
have become a sport for locals.
Racers reach top speeds of 60
mph and each days race ends
with a celebration around food,
drink and music.
Visit swissvistas.com/horn
sled-races.
Molten Iron Throwing

Nuanquan, China
March 2016
During the Lantern Festival,
the village of Nuanquan hosts
Da Shuhua (Chinese for tree
flower). In this 300-year-old
tradition, blacksmiths create
spectacular pyrotechnic
displays showering themselves
with molten iron, an amazing
alternative to fireworks.
Visit china.org.cn/travel.
50 n March 2016
Chicago
March 17 20
To celebrate its new service
to the Windy City, Icelandair,
in cooperation with Iceland
Naturally, is holding a four day
launch event. Festivities include
Taste of Iceland featuring the
famed Reykjavik Calling concert,
with Icelandic cuisine, music
and culture throughout the city.
Visit icelandnaturally.com.
THIS IMAGE: WILLTRON/OTHERS SHUTTERSTOCK
Whats On
Semana Santa
Antigua, Guatemala
March 20 26
Antiguas rich celebration of Holy
Week is a moving experience.
Streets filled with incense are
strewn with elaborate alfombras
(carpets) woven of flowers and
colorful sawdust, welcoming
processions of enormous floats
depicting Christ, the Virgin Mary
and various saints.
Visit aroundantigua.com.
Tulip Festival
Morges, Switzerland
March 27 May 8
Every spring, Morges hosts
the tulip festival at the Parc de
lIndpendance, on the shores
of Lake Geneva. A dazzling
array of over 120,000 tulips
representing more than 300
varieties bloom against the
splendid backdrop of the Alps.
Free of charge.
Visit morges-tourisme.ch BT
n Escape To
New
horizons
very Marine in 1 Corps got to spend a few days at China

Beach at least once during their 13-month tours,writes
journalist Michael Herr in his 1977 book Dispatches, a
visceral, personal account of the Vietnam War.
It was a place where they could go swimming or
surfing, get drunk, get stoned, get laid, get straight, groove in the
scivvie houses, rent sailboats or just sleep.
It was on the sandy shores of Danang that 50 years ago the first
US ground troops arrived at the start of the long, bloody conflict,
striding from their boats through the warm waters of the bay,
located midway down Vietnams S-shaped coastline.
You only have to read Dispatches to get a sense of just how
senseless the ensuing ten-year war was, one in which 58,000 US
52 n March 2016
soldiers were killed, and three million Vietnamese perished, twothirds of them civilians.
Against this background, you can appreciate how rapidly the
country has rebuilt itself, and the incredible capacity of the local
people for forgiveness.
These days, Danang is a thriving port city of over one million
people. Down by the surf, fishermen mend their circular basket
boats, just as they have always done, but all along the seafront
promenade, glitzy karaoke bars, golf courses and luxury hotels are
arriving at an remarkable pace.
Among local brands such as the luxurious Naman Retreat and
Fusion Maia, theres a Pullman and a Hyatt Regency. A Sheraton
will open in 2018.
Escape To n
Forty years after the wars

end, Danang displays new-found
luxury alongside an abundance
of local charm
By Jenny Southan
Vietnam remains a Communist country, but economic reforms

have opened it up to the market, resulting in improved living
standards and huge strides in development.
Last year, it welcomed 7.8 million visitors from overseas, while
much improved relations with the US saw more than $36 billion
generated in bilateral trade between the two nations.
By 2024, the Knight Frank 2015-2016 Wealth Report predicts that
Vietnam will have seen a 159 percent increase in ultra-high networth individuals (those whose net worth is over $30 million), the
highest forecast growth rate of any country in the world.
You could fly up and into hot tropic sunsets that would change
the way you thought about light forever,writes Herr, who spent
his days being airlifted by helicopter in and out of combat zones.
Nowadays, Danangs former military airbase is a shiny
international airport, with flag carrier Vietnam Airlines offering
Pictured: Intercontinental
Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
March 2016 n 53
n Escape To
Nowadays, Danangs former military

airbase is a shiny international airport
frequent daily services between the coastal city and the capital,
Hanoi, 380 miles north.
Disembarking from the one-hour 20-minute flight from Hanoi
in the morning, we are greeted in arrivals by a uniformed member
of staff from the Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort,
where we will be staying. As he rushes to the baggage carousel to
collect our luggage, we take a seat in the hotels dedicated airport
lounge and accept a cup of mint tea.
A 40-minute drive takes us through the city past the Sun
Wheel, Danangs answer to the London Eye, which started
turning last summer and across the Han River. From here, a cliff
road skirts the sea out to the Son Tra peninsula, where the resort
overlooks its own bay.
Here, rows of villas are set on different levels carved into steep
jungled slopes. From Heaven, at the top, we look down on Sky,
Earth and Sea. Our own palatial beachside hideaway is easy to spot
in the distance thanks to a long sliver of blue a private pool.
54 n March 2016
Opened in 2013 and designed by Harvard-educated Bill Bensley

a man described by Time magazine asthe king of exotic luxury
resorts the spectacular 96-acre site took seven years to complete,
bringing 197 stylish rooms, suites and penthouses to an otherwise
virgin hillside.
To get around, you can jump in a golf cart and wend your way
through lush gardens of frangipani or take the Nam Tram funicular
railway, which shuttles guests down to the palm-fringed half-mile
sandy beach. In the early hours, before the heat sets in, we go for
sunrise yoga, followed by a relaxing swim in the sapphire sea and
breakfast al fresco.
If you can resist room service on your balcony or terrace, Citron
restaurant has cantilevered balconies with cushioned banquettes,
and a magnificent buffet of local delicacies, fruit smoothies and
eggs-to-order. (Try a Vietnamese iced coffee made with sweet
condensed milk.) Guests staying in Executive rooms or suites also
have access to the glass-walled Sun Peninsula Club lounge, which
lays on free cocktails and canaps at sundown.
They also get their own butler ours, Ty Na, goes out of her way
to make the whole experience magical, one evening arranging a
table for two on the sand, with curries cooked by our own personal
Escape To n
Clockwise from far left: Streets of

Hoi An, Thu Bon River ferry, Vespa
Adventures, lanterns in Hoi An,
karaoke bar, market in Hoi An
Villas are set on different levels carved

into steep jungled slopes. From Heaven
we look down on Sky, Earth and Sea
chef. Another evening we drink champagne in the moonlit
courtyard of the hotels fine-dining French restaurant, La Maison
1888, before enjoying a tasting menu conceived by three-Michelinstarred chef Pierre Gagnaire.
Although its tempting to spend most of your holiday by the pool
or in the spa, a trip to Hoi An, a 45 minute drive away, provides
enrichment of a different kind. The old town, a UNESCO World
Heritage site, is best explored in the evening, although we arrive
earlier to take a scooter tour of the surrounding countryside (Vespa
Adventures, $76 per person).
Our first stop is a fish market on the banks of the Thu Bon River.
Men catch squid at night, luring them to the surface with bright
lanterns, and sell them to women in conical straw hats who bring
them to the market. A roadside stand sells banh mi, the countrys
famous French colonial snack a baguette filled with shredded
pork, fragrant herbs, vegetables and chili sauce.
Whizzing down dusty alleys, our next stop is the home of a
family who make rice crackers. The mother steams them by an
open fire, while racks of them dry in the sun, ready to be toasted.
Ben, our local guide, tells us she has been doing this for 18 years,
and each day needs to spend nine or ten hours to make 600 or
700. Handing us a piece, he tells us theyre best served with green

papaya or green mango salad.
Its great to hear that the tour is bringing money directly to local
communities the weaver couple we visit, for example, will only
make $5 for a large grass mat that takes three hours to make, but
will receive $1.50 from Vespa Adventures for a few minutes spent
talking with the tourists.
After paying a visit to a mushroom farm and a boat yard, we
zoom on dirt tracks between fields of rice, loofah and corn, and
park up for a bite to eat.Farming is one of Vietnams main incomes
we are the second-largest exporter of rice after Thailand, Ben
tells us as he dishes up bowls of cold rice noodles, coriander and
smoked aubergine under the shade of an arbor.
At dusk, we make our way back to Hoi An, piling the bikes on to
a low wooden ferry that takes us over the river. In one direction, the
road is lined with women selling vegetables; in the other are lively
canal-side bars and restaurants. We take a seat at one for a cold
Larue beer, and a seven-year-old girl comes over selling candlelit
paper lanterns we buy two, and cross the street to place them
in the water, watching them join a flickering procession floating
downstream, to the sea. BT
March 2016 n 55
n 4 Hours
SAN FRANCISCO
with famous department stores including
Bloomingdales and Macys.
unionsquareshop.com
Theres Chinatown and a whole lot more to discover

in this Asian-inspired tour of the City by the Bay
By Clement Huang
IMAGES: THINKSTOCK/CLEMENT HUANG
ASIAN ART MUSEUM

Kick-start your day with a visit to the
Asian Art Museum, a four-minute
walk from the Civic Center BART (Bay
Area Rapid Transit) station. The museum
is home to one of the best collections of
Asian art in the world, with more than
12,000 pieces from over 40 countries.
Current exhibits include Extracted,
exploring the line between mythology and
history (through Aug 14); and Elephants
Without Number, a study of these
fascinating creatures in art and culture
(through June 26). Ticket prices for adults
are $15. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 10:AM
5:00 PM, Open til 9:00 PM Thursday;
asianart.org
heart of downtown San Francisco, with

several popular attractions such as the
iconic PowellMason and PowellHyde
cable car lines and Yerba Buena Gardens.
The area is also a shoppers paradise,
M.Y. CHINA
For a bite to eat, head back to Market
Street and pop inside the upscale
Westfield San Francisco Center shopping
mall where you will find M.Y. China
restaurant on level 4. Celebrity chef Martin
Yan, best known for his TV show Yan Can
Cook, offers up a quirky interpretation of
modern Chinese food. One highlight is the
open kitchen where customers are treated
to views of M.Y. Chinas chefs in action.
The handmade dim sum selection (starting
at $6), Peking roast duck ($20-$38), wok
stir-fried lamb ($21), and Dungeness crab
(market price) are highly recommended.
Open daily from 11:00 AM 9:00 AM,
closes at 9:30 PM on Friday and Saturday;
Westfield San Francisco Center, 4/F 845
Market St; tastemychina.com
CHINATOWN
After an oriental feast its fitting
that the next stop be the oldest
Chinatown in North America. Hail a cab
for the seven-minute journey to Grant
Avenue ($12), or log on to Uber for a
MARKET STREET & UNION

SQUARE
From the Asian Art Museum, turn
left and walk through the leafy United
Nations Plaza before joining up with
Market Street. Continue down this
bustling thoroughfare before turning
left again onto Powell Street. This is the
56 n March 2016
4 Hours n
4
1
6
4
cheaper fare ($5). The ethnic enclave boasts
the single largest Chinese community
outside of Asia and is a popular tourist
destination. Visitors can browse a multitude
of herbal apothecaries, souvenir shops,
Chinese restaurants and temples. A tourist
spot since the 1860s, the colorful district
is great to visit all year, but truly lights
up during Chinese New Year (February)
with lion dances, parades and fairs.
sanfranciscochinatown.com
PIER 39
From Chinatown, hop in a cab once
more for a 10-minute ride to Pier 39,
at the edge of Fishermans Wharf district.
The popular waterfront complex is home to
over 90 shops and independent boutiques,
seafood restaurants, street performers, and
cruise services to nearby islands. While a

visit to Alcatraz may be out of reach for day
travelers (tours and transport to the island
require booking in advance), do grab a
drink at Neptunes Waterfront Grill & Bar.
Located at the tip of Pier 39, this venue
provides customers with excellent views
of the infamous prison, as well as San
Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Open daily from 11:00 AM 10:00 AM;
Pier 39 Building K, Level 2;
pier39.com
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

How better to end your four-hour
journey than to take a tour of one
of San Franciscos most internationally
recognized symbols. A 20-minute ride from
Pier 39, the Golden Gate Bridge stands
745 feet high and 1.7 miles long. Consider

renting a bicycle from one of the many
rental shops in order to enjoy the jaw
dropping views. Sports Basement, located
at 610 Old Mason Street, offers good
quality bikes from $24 for three hours.
Open daily, Monday to Friday from 9:00
AM 9:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday
from 8:00 AM 8:00 PM;
goldengatebridge.org BT
March 2016 n 57
n World Wise
Scenic
Airport
Approaches
The Approach with a View
By Ross Atkinson
n our travels around the globe, we often look out the airplane
window from our vantage point 35,000 feet up, and gaze down
in wonder on oceans of clouds, vast expanses of forests and
plains, or sunrises and sunsets over the horizon. But do we
consider those few minutes as we make our descent when our
approach is a breathtaking view that can be equally awe-inspiring?
By coincidence, in the December issue of Business Traveler, our
World Wise column talked about new business models for travel,
including PrivateFly which gives jet setters easy and cost effective
access to more than 7,000 private jets around the world. Each year,
PrivateFly runs a poll that asks travelers which of the thousands of
airports worldwide is their favorite approach.
As part of Business Traveler, I was honored with an invitation
to join the esteemed panel which developed the short list of
candidates for the 2016Most Scenic Airport Approaches. I was
in some elite company, among individuals who cover the globe
each year racking up some serious miles. One panel member
in particular is one of the worlds most-traveled people, just six
countries away of becoming at age 36 the youngest person
to visit all 324 countries and unique destinations on the Travelers
Century Club list.
This past fall, the panel of 23 came up with a short list of airports
that circled the globe, covering beach runways, mountain-top
landings and airports approaches framed by stunning city skylines.
With the voting wrapping up during the month of March, I
thought I would share with you just three of my favorite entries on
the 2016 short list.
In line with this months featured business destination, my first
pick is the Bogot, Columbia, El Dorado International Airport
(BOG). Your view out the window is of a sprawling city 8,300 feet
above sea level, with population of over six million and dominated
by buildings in red hues set against the lush green mountain
backdrop of the Andes.
58 n March 2016
Top row: DCs Washington Reagan

National Airport (DCA), Panama Citys
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Bottom row: Bogot, Columbia, El
Dorado International Airport (BOG).
As you climb away from BOGs runway, in the distance is the

350-year-old church and shrine of Mount Monserrate. Dont stop
looking as you depart. Just outside of Bogot you can also spot the
uniquely colored Lake Guatavita and the huge Embalse Tomin
reservoir nestled among the mountains.
Another intriguing approach takes us into Panama Citys
Tocumen International Airport (PTY). The sparkling blue waters of
the Pacific Ocean are often dotted with countless ships in calmly
waiting in queue to carry their commerce through the Canal for the
crossing to the Atlantic.
On the horizon, sweeping views of the citys seaside skyline
against a backdrop of mountains will astonish newcomers and
frequent visitors alike. The reflection of the skyscrapers in the
tropical blue waters against the plush greens of the mountains
creates a picture-perfect setting.
Of course, I am slightly biased, given that my home airport
is Washington, DCs, Reagan National Airport (DCA). On the
approach to this close-in airport, theres not a bad seat on the
plane. The mighty symbols of democracy are spread out below in a
single sighting from the Pentagon and across the Potomac to the
Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, the reflecting pool
and the Capitol dome.
Over 21 million passengers pass through DCA, many following
the River Visual approach over the Key Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt
Bridge, Arlington Memorial Bridge, and the George Mason
Memorial Bridge. Its an awe-inspiring vista on both arrival and
take off from the nations capital.
So there you have it; three of my personal favorites. I hope these
have given you a taste of the many to come. In an upcoming issue
of Business Traveler, well feature more from 2016sMost Scenic
Airport Approaches,both those that topped the poll, as well as
some which made short list but didnt capture the eye of voters.
Until then, stay tuned and safe landings. BT
01
5B
EST I
N B USIN ES S T
VE
RA
Welcome to
the future of flying
Experience the skies like never before. As the global launch customer
for the Airbus A350, Qatar Airways is proud to bring the worlds newest
aircraft to Philadelphia, New York and Boston. qatarairways.com

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MARCH 2016

Diverse & dynamic Taiwan

Whats Not to Like?

Macaus Mighty Gamble

We Make Your Business Ours

20 Take offs & Landings

Intermedia Travel Group

Designer & Art Director

38 The Good Life

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part

New Horizons Forty years after the

Business Traveler North America is published ten

Macaus Mighty Gamble Lavish

Scenic Airport Approaches The

First Class with Door

Business Class (Staggered Layout)

ASIANA380 Business Class

11.1 Monitors in Economy Class

Dressing Room (Lavatory)

A CLASS BEYOND THE ORDINARY

Reservations 1-800-2ASIANA us.flyasiana.com

The New ASIANA380, Special Edition.

Our staggered layout offers direct access to the aisle,

ometimes after the long days work, the television

In fiction, theres a name for a plot device that motivates the

Where actions speak louder.

Best Hotel Chain

A PROUD MEMBER OF STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST.

BT: It seems every major

BT: What kind of hotel owner

really like to bring out that

Aeromexico and Westjet Link

For more survey ratings visit

Hilton Unveils Tru,

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Starwood & TripAdvisor Team

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Commune Hotels & Resorts and Destination Hotels have

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This ambition has been validated by a host of awards,

Best Design Award from Golden Pin Design, Taiwan

ur packed train is chugging

surrounded by more green peaks. A shuttle

In between, we visited the Spring

Left to right: Alishan sunrise, Taroko Gorge,

itself as the largest MICE hotel in the city

friendly options Le Mridien and Grand

bar sat silently staring into their phones for

Artistic Flair & Fab Flavors

New Year's Eve Celebration, Taipei

fleet is reflective of traditional design

Your travel plans are confirmed but you wont be

btaining visas is a fact of

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One country might one day say: We cant be

Chinas visa-free policy is available to

In any event, the experts caution against

companies emphasize the importance of

We would always advise our travelers to

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through they could still cancel the ticket

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