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MARCH 2016 `150

Front row seat Trends in in-flight aviation

Riverside renaissance Investing in Bangkok

INDIA

A taste of opulence Luxe flavours of Dubai

Tales of a malt aficionado Whisky picks by a connoisseur

Gourmet Central Mumbai’s dynamic restaurant industry

CONTRIBUTORS

INDIA

Annie HArris is normally to be found behind a Mac in our London office designing Business Traveller, but for this issue she dipped into the serenity of Ravello, a small Italian town. Having visited Greece during her backpacking days, she was impressed to discover the luxury experiences the town can offer business travellers taking a muchneeded break (see page 70).

Editorial Editor Neha Gupta assistant Editor Akanksha Maker art designer Aloysius Dsouza Proofreader James Mathew Contributors John Church, Michelle Harbi, Arunima Kumar, Omkar Goswami, Mark Graham, Annie Harris, Valerian Ho, Tom Otley Publishing Managing director & CEo Ravi Lalwani Executive director Meena Lalwani business head Amrit Rai Production Anthony Mark Pereira PanaCEa Publishing intErnational Managing director Julian Gregory global Editor-in-Chief Tom Otley

OmkAr GOswAmi is the Chairman of CERG Advisory. An economist, Goswami did his M.A. from Delhi School of Economics, his D.Phil from Oxford, and taught for 18 years across universities in India and abroad. He was also the editor of Business India and the Chief Economist of the Confederation of Indian Industry. A connoisseur of single malts, he writes about his preferred ones in this issue. See page 72.

ContaCt Editorial tel +91 (0)22 4220 2127 Email editorial@panaceapublishing.co.in twitter.com/bt_ind facebook.com/BusinessTravellerIndia advertising tel +91 (0)22 4220 2128 Email info@panaceapublishing.co.in

MARCH 2016 `150

Front row seat Trends in in-flight aviation

Riverside renaissance Investing in Bangkok

INDIA

subsCriPtions +91 22 4220 2129 Email info@panaceapublishing.co.in

A taste of opulence Luxe flavours of Dubai

Tales of a malt aficionado Whisky picks by a connoisseur

Gourmet Central Mumbai’s dynamic restaurant industry

cover__MARCH copy.indd 1

Business Traveller India is published by Panacea Publishing Pvt Ltd, by arrangement with Perry Publications Limited.

It is printed at Thomson Press India Limited, New Delhi.

It is published 10 times a year at our address above. The magazine is entirely independent of all commercial interests within the travel industry. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be accepted for publication. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers, who cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.

Perry Publications 5th Floor, Warwick House 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road London SW1W 0PP tel +44 (0)20 7821 2700 businesstraveller.com

SHUTTERSTOCK

mArk GrAHAm documents the monumental changes in China for a range of international publications and has rubbed shoulders with global superstars from David Beckham to Zhang Yiyi. In this issue he explores some of the cultural sensitivities to be observed when doing business in China (page 28).

2/18/16 2:54 PM

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MARCH 2016 3

INDIA

CONTENTS

MARCH 2016

70

58 NEWS Your global downtime hotlist

60 WHAT’S ON Events worldwide this month

62 A TASTE OF OPULENCE Luxe flavours of Dubai

66 FOUR HOURS IN PHILADELPHIA

72 64

Murals and masterworks of the city

66

68 ANTIQUITIES Museums of Mysore

70 VIEW FROM THE TOP Ravello as a luxurious holiday spot

72 TALES OF A MALT AFICIONADO A list of recommended whiskies

76 CONVENIENTLY AWAY Essentials for a business traveller

80 BUY & FLY Tax-free airport shopping

82 SNAPSHOT Amenity kits of the past

6 MARCH 2016

82 Visit businesstraveller.com

Business Traveller lifestyle News I 69

A MODERNLEGEND. LEGEND. AAMODERN MODERN LEGEND.

JUMEIRAH CITY BREAK AT JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS JUMEIRAH CITYcity BREAK ATJUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS JUMEIRAH CITY BREAK AT TOWERS Book the perfect escape atJUMEIRAH Jumeirah EMIRATES Emirates Towers Book theperfect perfectcity city escapeatatJumeirah Jumeirah Emirates Towers Book the escape Towers and enjoy unlimited complimentary Wild Emirates Wadi Waterpark andZero enjoy unlimited complimentary WildaWadi Wadi Waterpark enjoy unlimited complimentary Wild and Gravity beach access along with hostWaterpark of other benefits. andZero ZeroGravity Gravitybeach beachaccess accessalong alongwith witha ahost hostofofother otherbenefits. benefits. and For reservations or more information, please contact us on: Forreservations reservations moreinformation, information,please pleasecontact contactususon: on: For orormore Tel: +971 4 319 8555 Tel: 4 319 8555 Tel:+971 +971 4 319 8555 Email: jetreservations@jumeirah.com businesstraveller.com Email: Email:jetreservations@jumeirah.com jetreservations@jumeirah.com

FEBRUARY 2016

CHECK-IN

I

ndian Railways is facing a financial crunch, and to fill the gap, it has decided to hike ticket prices by 10 per cent.

In other news, aviation fuel prices have come down, and there is hope that airlines will share this benefit with us by reducing air fares.

Since budget airlines entered the travel market in 2005, there has always been an oscillating preference between First class train travel and affordable air travel. Train travellers have been complaining about unjustifiable First class ticket prices since a while now. Then came the IRCTC partnership with GoAir and SpiceJet where they offer waitlisted passengers cheaper air tickets. That’s another point for aviation.

Knowing the competition amongst themselves, they’re always upping services. SpiceJet and IndiGo have both introduced increased legroom for a nominal fee. SpiceJet and full-service carriers Air India and Jet Airways have already invested in Boeing’s Next-Generation 737. And last year IndiGo signed an order for 250 Airbus’ SE A320neo single-aisle jets, the largest order given to the European plane manufacturer by number of commercial aircraft.

Maybe if they introduced in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, they would attract a much bigger audience.

Until then, read about the existing IFE categories on page 32, airline loyalty programmes on page 54, and new flight routes on page 10.

Happy Journeys!

Neha Gupta Editor

8 MARCH 2016

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upfront Neha Gupta compiles the latest news from businesstraveller.com

Jet AirwAys introduces new ife And wifi services onboArd

Accor Hotels opens 13tH IbIs In IndIA

Jet AirwAys hAs ANNouNced AN upGrAde to its iNfliGht entertainment (IFE) technology, allowing programmes to be streamed to personal devices.

Jet Airways operates a fleet of 115 aircraft, comprising Boeing 777300 ERs, Airbus A330-200/300, Next Generation Boeing 737s and ATR 72-500/600s. The new IFE system is being fitted onto the carrier’s Boeing next-generation B737 aircraft and will be available for use from the second quarter of 2016.

The carrier says that “the adaptive video streaming technology will ensure that the best possible video quality is played automatically and is optimised according to the device being used by guests onboard”.

Jet also plans to offer wifi connectivity onboard to its passengers on domestic routes.

The airline’s B737 fleet will provide internet connectivity from the second quarter of 2016. This will allow passengers to surf the internet, access emails, social media, connecting flight information and instant messaging on board.

“This best-in-class, customer-focused initiative will provide superior entertainment and communication options to guests and we are confident that it will set new benchmarks by delivering high quality, global entertainment content to guests’ personal devices,” says Gaurang Shetty, senior vice president – commercial, Jet Airways.

The initiative, however, awaits an amendment of the civil aviation requirement 3.1 of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA); “No person shall use any electronic device, which intentionally transmits radio signals like mobile/cellular phones, amateur radio transceivers, etc at all times while onboard an aircraft for the purpose of flight.”

The Indian carrier wants to change this and is waiting for regulatory approvals, which they are about to receive as per reports. Jet Airways will be the first Indian domestic carrier to offer this service on Indian routes.

At present wifi is available only in select international flights. Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, Air Asia and SpiceJet are also looking to follow suit and are also seeking approvals. jetairways.com

chennai’s city centre has one more hotel option for business travellers.

As the name suggests, ibis chennai city centre is within proximity to the business hub of tamil Nadu’s capital city. A budget property by Accor hotels, it is the third Accor and second ibis property in chennai — ibis chennai sipcot is an hour’s drive away. ibis chennai city centre has one room category: standard with double bed and standard with two single beds. All 155 rooms have the basics: lcd tV, room service, tea/ coffee maker, wifi access, minibar, and a shower. spiceit is a multi-cuisine restaurant that is open from 4am to 11:30pm daily. the hub is the lobby level bar. the two meeting rooms have a capacity for 45 and 30 delegates. Both rooms can be set up with a podium and overhead projector on request. free wifi is available throughout the property. the 13th ibis in the country, it also has a tennis court, golf course, and a gym. A booking fee is applicable to access the tennis and golf facilities. ibis.com

10 march 2016

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HOTEL NEws

Oaks Hotels & Resorts brand will Hyatt Place expands in India expand in India hyAtt receNtly opeNed its third property iN GoA — Hyatt Place. The other two properties in the state are Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt.

The hospitality group is looking to expand its Hyatt Place brand in tier-II and tier-III cities across India. The brand has been functional in Gurgaon, Pune and Hampi.

Explaining Hyatt Place, General Manager of the Goa Candolim property Sanjay Patti says, ”We are a four-star, select service hotel, a young, vibrant brand with a business casual environment without frills. We do not have multiple restaurants, a concierge desk and spa but we have the basic amenities that a five-star has to offer.”

The 147 rooms are categorised into Standard and View King rooms of 28 sqm each.

The Meeting Place is equipped with audio-video facilities, spread across 94 sqm and can be divided into smaller spaces as per demand. Wifi is free and available throughout the hotel.

Buffet breakfast at Gallery Kitchen is free for all in-house guests; Gallery Cafe and Gallery Market are open round the clock; and the Coffee to Cocktails Bar serves all kinds of beverages.

Apart from these, there is a 24/7 gym and a swimming pool. goacandolim.place.hyatt.com

The Minor hoTel Group has announced the expansion of its Oaks Hotels & Resorts brand into India. The brand is one of Australia’s largest serviced apartment providers with 52 properties spanning Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South and Western Australia as well as New Zealand, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

The first Oaks property in India is in Neemrana, a business hub southwest of New Delhi, on the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, approximately 90 km from Gurgaon and 140 km from Jaipur. Its history dates back to the 15th century with the construction of the famous Neemrana Fort Palace, which was restored in 1991 and subsequently converted into a hotel.

Neemrana has a Japanese and Korean investment zone, Export Promotion Industrial Park, RIICO Industrial Zone 1 & 2 and Knowledge City, the buoyant economy of the region is making Neemrana a lucrative option for individuals and companies to bring their businesses.

Oaks Neemrana’s second property is under development in the centre of Delhi and is scheduled to open in 2017. The new property will be housed above NSP Arcadia Mall which is also currently under construction and will offer a supermarket, banks, department stores and retail outlets, along with restaurants and family entertainment including a multiplex cinema. An additional hotel is under development in the neighbouring tower, which is expected to open shortly after the mall and Oaks.

Facilities at the 116-unit Oaks Neemrana will include an all-day dining restaurant with sky garden, a lobby café and lounge area, a pool bar, meeting space of 160 square metres with capacity to accommodate up to 80 people, plus a gym and a kids’ play area.

There will be three different room types: 68 Studio Apartments; 40 One Bedroom Apartments and eight Two Bedroom Apartments. oakshotelsresorts.com

Taj saNTacruz Mumbai is now open to guests. The 279 rooms and suites property is adjacent to Mumbai’s domestic airport terminal. See page 19 for a full review of the hotel. sTarwOOd HOTELs aNd rEsOrTs is to open a new-build hotel and residences under its luxury St Regis brand in Jakarta inn 2019. The property will be located in the Kuninganin district in south Jakarta, and will feature the 280-room St Regis Jakarta and 164-unit The Residences at The St Regis Jakarta.

FrasErs HOspiTaLiTy opened its second property in Istanbul last month. Fraser Place Antasya Istanbul is located in the Umraniye district on the Asian side of the city, and offers 80 apartments with one and twobedroom options. Apartments will feature fully equipped kitchens and free wifi, and facilities include a 24-hour concierge service, restaurant, gym, indoor pool, steam and sauna facilities, business centre and meeting rooms.

FOur sEasONs has announced it will open an all-suite property in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

The 125-suite Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta will feature French Art Deco interiors created by New York designer Alexandra Champalimaud, responsible for projects at luxury hotels including London’s The Dorchester, the St Regis Beijing, and the Waldorf Astoria in New York. It is scheduled to open mid-2018.

elAf Group plAns to enter indiA Saudi-based elaf Group has announced its expansion plans in the country with budget hotels across India. The group is also looking to expand its tourism services by reaching out to Indian Umrah pilgrims.

The announcement was made at a recently held Indian culinary festival in Jeddah.

Abdullah H Bakri, the group’s vice president said that they have been eyeing a couple of opportunities to set-up their properties and services in India. They are also partnering with Indian corporates in order to access a wider base of Indian tourists looking to travel to Umrah.

Bakri says,“The relationship between the two great nations has been ever growing in terms of business relations, manpower services, cultural activities, tourism and pilgrimage. We see India as a strong partner.” elafgroup.com Visit businesstraveller.com

march 2016 11

upfront

Dragonair officially rebranDeD as cathay Dragon Dragonair, the sister airline of Cathay Pacific, has officially been rebranded as Cathay Dragon.

The aim of this move is to strengthen the synergy between the two carriers and improve brand awareness among international travellers.

Cathay Pacific chief executive Ivan Chu emphasised that this was not a merger, and that Cathay Dragon will continue to remain a separate airline, and operate under its own licence.

Speaking to Business Traveller Asia-Pacific, Chu revealed the reason why a merger between Cathay Pacific and Dragonair was not considered as an option for the group.

“When we started integrating Dragonair into the Cathay Pacific Group [in 2006], we did a lot of good things with spectacular results. Since then, Dragonair has added 23 new destinations to its network, whilst also upgrading its products in the air and on the ground,” stated the Cathay Pacific chief executive.

“Over the last two years, we weighed up all the options and concluded that the current decision of changing the brand, and putting both brands closer together, was the best option for the group – bearing in mind the strong brand equity of Dragonair in China. Cathay Pacific actually needs to leverage off the Dragonair brand in China!”

Chu also noted that by 2020 there will be an expected 200 million Chinese flying out of China, while 130 million international travellers are expected to fly into the mainland, which makes it important for Cathay Pacific to also lend its strength to its sister carrier.

The rebranding of Dragonair as Cathay Dragon includes a brand-new livery design that features existing elements of both carriers. Perhaps most noticeable is the adoption of the Cathay Pacific brushwing logo, which the company hopes will show the relationship between the two airlines in a clear and simple way.

The distinctive red of Dragonair is retained, but now comes with a slightly deeper and richer tone. The iconic Chinese dragon emblem is well known throughout the region and has been retained. It will now appear at the nose of every Cathay Dragon aircraft.

When asked if the new design may alienate passengers from the mainland, given the country’s close affinity with the brand, Cathay Pacific’s general manager of marketing, loyalty programmes and CRM Julian Lyden said that actually he expected the opposite to happen.

“On the contrary, the aim of this [new design] is to give people leaving the mainland reassurance that they’re connecting through a single airline,” he said.“Dragonair has such great brand equity with the mainland, so we’re retaining links such as the colour and the dragon emblem on the front.”

The first rebranded Cathay Dragon aircraft to feature the new livery design will take off in April 2016. cathaypacific.com; dragonair.com

12 march 2016

Boeing B737 Max 8 takes first flight Last month, Boeing compLeted the first fLight of its next-generation B737 max 8 aircraft, ahead of its scheduled launch next year.

The aircraft flew from Renton Field in Washington to Seattle’s Boeing Field, completing a two-hour 47-minute flight and reaching a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet.

SpiceJet has a confirmed order for 42 737 Max 8s.

The airline says, “SpiceJet greatly values the ties we have built over the years with Boeing. The Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, the mainstay of the fleet ever since SpiceJet started operations, have vindicated our choice by their endurance, reliability and cost effectiveness. The induction of Boeing 737 MAX will further modernise our fleet, improve customer experience, and ensure that we operate the most efficient fleet well into the future.”

Jet Airways has placed an order of 75 B737 Max 8, which includes conversions of 25 Next-Generation 737s to 737 MAX 8s.

Boeing says the B737 Max 8 aircraft will deliver “the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market with 20 per cent lower fuel use than the first Next-Generation 737s – and 8 per cent per seat lower operating costs than the A320neo”. boeing.com Visit businesstraveller.com

Marriott opens its first dual Branded property in india

indian airlines May offer lower air fares On February 1, Aviation Turbine Fuel in India reduced by 11.94 per cent bringing the price down from `4,765.5 per to `35,126.82 per kilo litre; and Indian airlines are rejoicing as it means fatter profit margins for them.

While Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju has said that the Aviation Ministry will not modulate on air fares, the government has requested airlines to share this benefit with passengers as well by offering lower ticket prices.

Raju says,“If you start dictating on ticket prices, then there is going to be another type of problem. We don’t intend to do that.” He also adds that an analysis by the ministry revealed that last year, only 1.7 per cent of all air tickets were priced higher than the average.

This could also mean that the price gap between railway and air tickets reduces, and the number of air travellers will increase.

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Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott open as one property in Bengaluru With the dual marriott property, Bengaluru will get its first courtyard and second fairfield brand. the property is located in outer ring road, the city’s it hub. the intention is to cater to the many needs of business travellers in the city. Both are mid-level properties and are priced within the `5,500-6,500 price bracket for the basic room category. the fine dining mediterranean restaurant Bg’s is common between them, as are the other leisure facilities such as the gym, swimming pool and meeting rooms. individually, courtyard by marriott has the all-day momo café, and the Lobby bar. fairfield by marriott has all-day dining restaurant Kava, adjacent to Kava the Bar. courtyard by marriott Bengaluru has 170 rooms, which include 134 deluxe rooms, 24 executive deluxe rooms and 12 suites. fairfield by marriott has 169 rooms: 115 deluxe rooms and 54 deluxe pool View rooms. craig s. smith, president and managing director of marriott international, asia pacific says, “the business community in south asia, specifically in india, is growing at an unprecedented rate and this community is looking at lodging options that combines comfort and value. to cater to this demand, marriott international now offers this new property that delivers two different experiences under one roof. We are committed to providing great value to our customers and the opening of our first dual branded complex in india is one of the important steps towards achieving this goal.” marriott.com

AirlinE nEws Air indiA has increased flight frequency on the Delhi-Surat sector from four to seven days.

Flight AI 0607 departs from Delhi at 0745 hours and arrives at Surat at 0925 hours. The return flight AI 0608 leaves Surat at 0955 hours and lands in Delhi at 1135 hours.

Air AsiA X has resumed services between Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi after discontinuing the route because of “high airport costs”.

On Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, it departs New Delhi at 2315 and the return flight departs Kuala Lumpur at 1900 hours on the same days. AirAsia X is a long-haul, low-cost subsidiary of Malaysia-based Air Asia.

British AirwAys will start direct flights to Tehran from July 14. The route will launch as a six-per-week service before moving to daily flights from winter 2016.

The service from Heathrow Terminal 5 will be operated by a four-class B777.

EmirAtEs has started a new nonstop route from Dubai to Auckland.

The daily service is operated by B777-200LR aircraft, configured in three classes, with eight first class suites, 42 in business class and 216 in economy. Flight EK448 departs Dubai at 1005, landing into Auckland at 1100 the following day. Return leg EK449 leaves Auckland at 2130, landing back into Dubai at 0545 the following day. turkish AirlinEs has started direct daily flights between Istanbul and Atlanta. This is the ninth American destination to their route map — the others are Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, and Miami. There are daily connecting flights from Mumbai to Atlanta, with a layover at Istanbul and ticket prices start at `67,650.

march 2016 13

upfront

SpiceJet to reimburSe paSSengerS in caSe of delayS and cancellationS Indian low-cost carrier Spicejet has launched a new “Fly For Sure” product, guaranteeing the customer a flight within 24 hours (on any airline) in the case of delays or passenger no-show.

The new service – which costs `290 per passenger per flight – ensures passengers will be reimbursed by Spicejet for alternative flights purchased with any airline, under the following circumstances: ■ Where the customer misses their check-in deadline, but turns up at the check-in counter within 30 minutes of the official check-in closure time ■ Where a Spicjet flight is cancelled, or delayed by more than 90 minutes Customers availing of the Fly For Sure product are then able to purchase alternative flights to the same destination with any carrier within 24 hours, and will be reimbursed up to twice the cost of the original ticket. spicejet.com

Lords HoteLs & resorts opens in Jammu Lords Inn Jammu is the first Lords property in the business city Earlier this year, mid-level Indian hospitality group, Lords Hotels & Resorts opened Lords Inn Jammu in the north Indian state.

The 33-room property is positioned as a “true value” business hotel with luxuries offered at budget prices.

It is the first Lords hotel in Jammu – a tourist, pilgrim, and rising business destination. Located on BC Road, it is 7km from the airport and 5km from the railway station.

The rooms are divided into Pavilion, Club and Suit. Each room is equipped with a work desk, minibar, tea/coffee maker, LED television, shower, and free wifi.

“Jammu is referred to as the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir and therefore a major business hub of the state. Though it has a good number of hotels, quality of midlevel hotels here are under-represented and that is where Lords Inn Hotel fills the gap,” says Rishi Puri, Vice President, Lords Hotels & Resorts.

Chambers, on the first floor of the three-storey building, has a capacity for 50 people.

It is equipped with audio-visual facilities and wireless internet.

A swimming pool and gym are available at Lords Inn Jammu. In addition to this, it has an all-day restaurant, Corriander, a rooftop restaurant, The Lime Tree that offers a panaromic view of the city, and Distil the lounge bar. lordshotels.com/lords-inn-jammu

scoot will fly to india Scoot, the medium haul and low-coSt airline of Singapore airlineS Group will start flights to India this month. This is subject to regulatory approvals.

“We are awaiting final approvals from aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for flying to India

14 march 2016

from Singapore. We have all necessary ground handling and technical assistance in India ready to support our flights,” says Bharath Mahadevan, country head, Scoot.

The airline will operate from three cities (one south-Indian city and two tier II cities) by May. The city names will be disclosed at a later date.

Singapore Airlines owns the full-service Silk Air and owns a stake in the low-cost airline Tigerair, which also fly to India.

Scoot will not fly to any destinations where the partner airlines fly and will offer no frills flights, with fares including seat-only and other services chargeable separately.

“I don’t believe there is a market for point-to-point services for an international low cost airline out of India. But in our case, we are going to position ourselves as network airline by connecting to the network of Tigerair and Singapore Airways,” Mahadevan adds. flyscoot.com

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POST Tomm Fjellberg, Oslo

POST Hktbound DATE Feb 9, 11:00

icenspice Feb 9, 18:50

16 MARCH 2016

fIRST CLASS fAILURE

ASIANA AIRLINES REPLIES:

My wife and I flew first class New York-Los Angeles-Seoul with Asiana Airlines last October to try the A380 service [the New York-LA leg was on United]. The first class desk at LAX was not staffed, the boarding crew were not friendly, there weren’t enough pyjama sets (so my wife got an extra-large size) and neither of us were given a vanity kit. All carry-on luggage had to be placed in lockers next to the entrance, which was a hassle.

Our main course preferences were unavailable by the time they got to us, and it was an hour and a half before my wine glass was refilled. The crew did not speak very good English. About two hours into the flight, the IFE system broke down and there was no entertainment for most of the remainder of the flight.

After clearing immigration at Seoul, we waited 25 minutes by the carousel. We walked over to the Asiana desk and found out that our luggage had not been on board. The airline had no overnight kits available – despite this being its airport base – and had to get one from Singapore Airlines. The airline did offer us US$300 to buy some emergency toiletries – all of this took an hour and a half to sort out, and we had a car from our hotel waiting outside. Four days later, we flew Seoul-Hong Kong on the airline’s A380, and again the entertainment system broke down.

It is truly disappointing to hear that our service did not exceed our customer’s expectations. The passenger’s comments have been reviewed by the responsible management and staff. To prevent recurrence, we have investigated the situation and have concluded there was a misunderstanding between the passenger and airline.

First class passengers are individually greeted by cabin crew, as occurred when the passenger flew. Our A380 first class suite is designed so that large baggage is not put in the sitting area due to safety. As first class was full, and most passengers wanted large pyjamas, we were not able to offer the size requested.

Crew politely asked the passenger to take an extra-large. Due to the inconvenience, crew paid them even more attention.

It is true that an error occurred with the IFE system. But crew reset the system and the passenger later enjoyed a movie.

Regarding the luggage, the passenger was on a United flight from Newark to Los Angeles prior to boarding with Asiana, and the ground staff at Newark accidentally loaded the bags on the wrong plane. Therefore, it was impossible for Asiana to deliver the passenger’s items to Seoul on the same day.

We offered an overnight kit and delivered the bags with monetary compensation to the passenger the next day. In accordance with the terms of transportation or the Montréal Convention, this case is not included in the scope of compensation from Asiana Airlines.

We regularly provide English lessons to our crew. However, we will take more care with our training through continuous monitoring. We would like to thank the passenger for giving us an opportunity to improve.

US VISA RESTRICTIONS ON PREVIOUS MIDDLE EAST TRAVELLERS I love trying the hotel toiletries when I’m travelling, but now that I’m in my mid 40s and a recent glasses wearer I’m wondering why they print the writing so small, is it to confuse me?

It seems to be the same in all levels of hotels, I’ve just stayed at the grovenor house in Dubai, had lovely Bvlgary products but couldn’t see the difference between the shampoo and the shower gel when I’m in the shower and not wearing my glasses, Why is it that the hotels write the name so small.

Hi Hktbound, I find shower gel works just as well as shampoo. Conditioner is a mystery.

And on the same subject I hate it when even in luxury hotels you arrive to find the miniatures half empty.

TominScotland Feb 9, 20:41

Not only shampoo in the shower, Hktbound — restaurant menus are also written by 30 somethings for 30 somethings, with a total disregard for the mature eye!

Business Traveller Feb 9, 13:22

Online travel agency sunshine.co.uk has revealed the results of a poll detailing the top ten flying superstitions. Do you have any superstitions when you’re flying or indeed when travelling in general?

Poshgirl58 Feb 9, 17:17

Touching the outside of the aircraft when boarding is my superstition. Never crosses my mind with other modes of transport. On a Cyprus Airways flight from LHR a few years ago, many sets of prayer beads were on display as we taxied. Given that there were two Greek Orthodox priests on board, I didn’t have any concerns!

icenspice Feb 9, 18:16

I only have one. For years I have been checking my watch for the exact take-off and touchdown time. If it is 13 minutes past the hour I am not happy and if it is 13:13, well you can imagine!

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Your letters and posts

POST BigDog DATE Dec 22, 13:07

Cathay flights if needed. Usually the advice is to obtain status on the airline you travel most with, so it may be worth building up your Cathay status and miles.

US VISA RESTRICTIONS ON PREVIOUS MIDDLE EAST TRAVELLERS US Congress has passed a measure as part of a budget bill that will no longer allow citizens of 38 countries – including the UK – who have travelled to either Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan in the past five years, or are dual nationals of these states, to travel to the US without a visa.

superchris Dec 22, 13:21

This may hamper the development of Iran by UK firms if by visiting you are then prohibited from using the US Visa Waiver for five years.

JohnHarper Dec 22, 15:55

We decided 18 months ago to stop doing business with the US as we were fed up with its restrictions. We’ve never looked back and there is far more potential for us in Asia.

DavidGordon10 Those of us who have legitimate work in Dec 22, 17:52 countries such as Iran and Sudan will be

penalised, and serious terrorists will, of course, be far too well-organised to allow evidence of their Middle East travel to be accessible. The list of four countries does not include other Middle East countries with a far worse record of government-sponsored or government-funded overseas terrorism.

Jetcruiser Jan 7, 06:10

CathayLoyalist2 Cathay is relaunching its Marco Polo Club from Jan 7, 13:31 April, with a focus on more points but for higherclass fares, although there are points for lower economy fares. That said, for those fares it is only offering a quarter of the points, so you’d be unlikely to get Diamond.

POST RaveAround TheWorld DATE Jan 6, 10:34

MartynSinclair I wonder if the Americans will succeed in Dec 22, 19:03 having access to all the information on a

passport chip? Until then, I am sure passengers will request to add a sticker in passports so a stamp can be removed.

POST ShanghaiSimon DATE Jan 7, 05:19

first_class_please Jan 7, 05:46

With your AA account you can spend miles on any Oneworld airline, so can use them on

Visit businesstraveller.com

PREMIUM ECONOMY – I DON’T GET IT I recently got a free upgrade to premium economy when getting ready to board a Lufthansa flight. Here are some of the things I noticed: 1. They serve you a welcome drink, sans alcohol. 2. You get more legroom, but it was difficult for me to judge as I sat in an exit row. 3. The entertainment screen seemed a bit bigger. 4. Food was the same as in economy. No additional wine options, but I asked anyway and they made an exception, probably because of my Senator status. 5. They give you a small bag of travel essentials. 6. Earphones seemed to be the same as in economy. Bottom line: you only really get the few additional inches of legroom.

BA premium economy, which I’ve been on a few times, to me only has the advantage of those few inches of legroom – but then that’s something for me as I’m tall.

AA ADVANTAGE VS CX MARCO POLO DILEMMA I currently have [American Airlines] AAdvantage Platinum status with around 400,000 miles. My focus has switched to Asia and I’ve racked up plenty of Cathay Pacific, BA and Malaysia Airlines miles, all of which I just added to my AA card to keep the status going. I’m now a big user of Cathay Pacific. The problem is, I don’t think I can use my 400,000 AA miles other than on AA flights, and I have few trips to the US. Should I carry on with AA as I have a critical mass of miles built up – if so, what are my options for using up the miles?

Or should I switch to the more regionally appropriate Cathay Pacific CX Marco Polo scheme and start virtually from scratch?

I use AAdvantage, BA Avios and United Mileage Plus regularly, and find AAdvantage to be the best, especially when choosing business or first class redemption travel.

Irons80 Jan 6, 10:52

I am not a huge fan of premium economy either, but for the record it’s quite dependent on airline.

With Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, you get a slightly wider seat, a footrest, a bigger screen, a smaller cabin and enhanced meals. Premium economy on Air New Zealand, however, looks like business class on some other airlines.

SealinkBF Jan 6, 11:31

Virgin’s premium economy is a world apart from its economy class cabin and a world apart from BA World Traveller Plus...

Speedbird1994 Jan 6, 13:55

I am a big fan of premium economy. The absence of it is exactly why I have always flown BA to Abu Dhabi and Dubai rather than Etihad or Emirates – as someone who is 6ft 4in, the extra space is invaluable.

MARCH 2016 17

DATA ZONE Helping you make the right travel decisions

The world’s longest non-stop flights FROM

TO

AIRLINE

TIME

DISTANCE (km)

Dubai

Panama City

Emirates

17h 35m

13,821

Dallas/Fort Worth

Sydney

Qantas

16h 55m

13,804

Los Angeles

Jeddah

Saudia

16h 55m

13,409

Johannesburg

Atlanta

Delta

16h 40m

13,582

Dubai

Los Angeles

Emirates

16h 35m

13,420

Abu Dhabi

Los Angeles

Etihad

16h 30m

13,502

Dubai

Houston

Emirates

16h 20m

13,144

Dallas/Fort Worth

Hong Kong

American Airlines

16h 20m

13,072

Abu Dhabi

San Francisco

Etihad

16h 15m

13,128

Dubai

San Francisco

Emirates

15h 50m

13,041

Source: Flightmapper, World Economic Forum; Statista, August 2015

The nations who use VPNs (virtual private networks) the most

Which countries in Asia plan their travels the earliest?

Average advance booking period (days)

19 %

India

China

Thailand

Vietnam

Turkey

Indonesia

14 %

Source: GlobalWebIndex; Statista August 2015 18 MARCH FEBRUARY 2016 18 2016

13 %

12 %

12 %

12 %

Malaysia

19 %

Taiwan

20 %

Share of internet users who use VPNs to access restricted sites and social networks

Saudi Arabia

22 %

UAE

23 %

China 40

Vietnam 48

India 56

Indonesia 57

Global average 59

Korea 62

Japan 64

Singapore 64

Macau 72

Philippines 72

Hong Kong 66

Taiwan 77

Malaysia 79

Source: Skyscanner, June 2015 Visit businesstraveller.com

TRIED&TESTED Hotels

Taj Santacruz Mumbai BACKGROUND The brand is synonymous with India since 1902.

It has 93 hotels in 55 locations across India and 16 international properties. This is the fourth and newest Taj Hotels property in Mumbai.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Despite being adjacent to Mumbai’s domestic airport terminal, and with a covered entrance directly from the terminal, the new Taj Santacruz is determined to avoid being termed an airport hotel. It emphasises how it also has direct access to the main Western Express Highway and easy access to the business districts of Andheri East, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and the Goregaon Exhibition Centre.

Assuming you are arriving by car, after the initial security check at the gate, your car takes you along a wide corridor lined with greenery within high walls, then you loop around until you are in front of the hotel’s main entrance.

The hotel has stunning lighting fixtures by by Czech Republic company Lasvit including a dragon in bulbs in one of the restaurants, and the chandeliers in this lobby called “A Galaxy of Stars”.

To either side of the aquarium are golden globe lights by Roberto Cavalli. The lobby looks Indian in styling, but is also very modern and luxurious without being ostentatious.

WHERE IS IT? Just off the Western Express Highway, with direct access to the domestic terminal. The international terminal is about a ten-minute drive away, depending on traffic.

ROOM FACILITIES The 279 rooms and suites are on floors one to six. The sizes are fairly uniform and extremely large, starting at around 54 sqm.

The majority of rooms are either Visit businesstraveller.com

city- or pool- facing. On the higher floors (floors four to six) on one side are the runwayfacing rooms, which have the best view possible of the Mumbai airport. Plane spotters will be in seventh heaven.

Unfortunately, at the time of my stay the top three floors, including the 36 Taj Club Rooms located on the dedicated Taj Club Floor, on level six of the building, were yet to open.

Nevertheless, the soundproofing in the hotel is astonishing, and until you step out onto the pool deck you would not even know that you are next to the airport runway.

In addition because of one end of the rectangular building jutting into airport territory, the hotel has a series of six rooms on each floor – including the Taj Club Floor — with no view at all — and no windows — these are called the Tranquility Rooms (44 sqm), and have carpet in the corridor outside them to maximise the ability of people to sleep in them.

My city-facing room had large black and white framed prints on the walls and over the beds and cushioned window seats (apart from the 36 Tranquility Rooms), both a bath and shower, Forest Essentials toiletries, and free basic wifi (quite slow, but good enough for email), with high speed being `800 plus tax for 24 hours.

There are 40-inch flat screen TVs, safes and a good lighting system, which can be turned off

from the bedside.

BARS AND RESTAURANTS The hotel was in its first week of opening when I stayed, but already the main all-day dining Tiqri restaurant was open in the atrium. It takes its name and inspiration from the 60ft by 40ft huge tikri-work of art hanging from one end of the atrium just behind the raised level where the Tiqri Bar is located.

Tiqri restaurant serves Indian and world street food during the day and a full buffet breakfast in the mornings.

Slightly more intimate is the French and Italian Rivierainspired Rivea restaurant. The food was excellent.

In addition, the hotel will have a Chinese restaurant – China Inc. BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The hotel has a wide range of meeting rooms and a business centre on both the ground and first floors of the hotel. The ballroom seats 500 classroom style.

LEISURE FACILITIES The hotel has a beauty salon, outdoor swimming pool and an excellent (and very large) fitness centre which I used several times during my stay.

VERDICT The hotel had only been open for a few days during my stay, but the staff, many of whom have been working in Taj’s other properties were excellent, and the facilities immensely impressive, from the modern art to the size of the rooms.

TESTED BY Tom Otley

HOW MANY ROOMS? 279 — 30 Tranquility, 130 City View, 63 Runway/ Pool View, 6 Taj Club Tranquility, 28 Taj Club Rooms, 14 Juinor Suite, 6 Luxury Suite, 1 Grand Luxury Suite, 1 Presidential Suite.

HIGHLIGHTS Huge rooms, great sound proofing, free wifi and very good staff.

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in April started at `12,000.

CONTACT Taj Santacruz, Off Western Express Highway, Santacruz East, Mumbai; tel: +91 22 62115211; tajhotels.com

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MINIBAR FREE WIFI 24hr ROOM SERVICE 3 RESTAURANTS 1 BAR 24hr GYM POOL SPA 4 MEETING ROOMS

MARCH 2016 19

BranD speak

All Work

&

More Play

Rediscover the best of Singapore for your next business trip

t is no surprise that Singapore keeps reinventing itself. Chances are, as business travellers, the island has been your port of disembarkation more than one time. Every corporate trip can be accompanied with culturally rich experiences at this versatile destination. In this issue, we’ve handpicked unconventional hangouts for some quality time-out on your next visit to the “Lion City”.

I

Central Business DistriCt Visiting Singapore on work means spending a lot of time at the Central Business District, of course.

With a few hours to spare in the evenings, you don’t need to travel too far to experience top-of-the-world revelry. Head to LeVel33 (8 Marina Boulevard, #3301 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1; level33. com.sg) to mingle amongst locals. Pick between the craft brewery, restaurant or lounge, depending on your mood. This snazzy penthouse suite also houses fine wines that are clubbed best with the idyllic view of the city’s skyline.

For those looking to experience traditional Singapore, Lau Pa Sat (“old market” in the local dialect, 18 Raffles Quay) can’t get more ideal. What started off as a wet market has today transitioned into a bustling festival market that never sleeps.

This place gets more energetic in the after hours, when street-food vendors mushroom on Boon Tat Street. Don’t forget to taste the flavours of Singaporean specialties such as satay chicken, grilled stingray and sambal kangkong.

As corporate travellers, there is no such thing as too many good suits. To add to your collection, head to CYC The Custom Shop (9 Raffles Place, #01-21 Republic Plaza II; cyccustomshop.com).

The fine tailored suits here have made it to the wardrobe of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. With prices starting from S$99 (`4,826), the bespoke suits take around two weeks to completion; but who said perfection came quick?

Their Egyptian cotton shirts and custom-made wool-blend trousers will make quite an impact at meetings.

Dine in singapore SAHA Signature Indian Restaurant & Bar Cuisine: Indian Must try: Gulab Jamun Cheesecake 1 St Andrew’s Road; +65 6223 7321; saha.sg Rhubarb Cuisine: French Must try: A la plancha breast and leg confit 3 Duxton Hill; +65 8127 5001; rhubarb.sg National Kitchen by Violet Oon Singapore Cuisine: Singaporean Must try: Dry laksa 1 St. Andrew’s Road, #02-01 National Gallery, City Hall Wing; +65 9834 9935; violetoon.com Maggie Joan’s Cuisine: Mediterranean Must try: Dukkah dusted slow poached egg 110 Amoy Street; +65 6221 5564 Sorrel Cuisine: European Must try: Almond crumble-crowned langoustine 21 Boon Tat Street; +65 6221 1911; sorrel.sg

upCoMing events in singapore

Clockwise from top left: Marina Bay Sands Skyline; Clarke Quay; Lau Pa Sat

Singapore Cocktail Week March 12 - March 19 The eight day event showcases cocktails by bartenders from world-famous local and international bars.singaporecocktailweek.com.sg Food & Hotel Asia April 12 - April 15 Singapore’s premier food and hospitality trade show. foodnhotelasia.com Great Singapore Sale June 3 - August 14 Best bargains, sales and promotions in Singapore. greatsingaporesale.com.sg Singapore Food Festival June (date to be confirmed) A four-week food festival that celebrates Singapore’s diverse cuisines. singaporefoodfestival.com Dragon Boat Festival July (date to be confirmed) Two-day dragon boat racing event that commemorates the search for a Chinese poet and warrior. sdba.org.sg

Marina Bayfront An evening at Marina Bay is definitely incomplete without an exquisite dining experience. The 360-degree view of the Bayfront from Catalunya (82 Collyer Quay, The Fullerton Pavilion) complements the modern Spanish cuisine served here superbly. Sitting underneath the palatial glass dome and watching the bedazzling skylines of Singapore along with a glass of Sangria will surely take all the post-meeting stress away.

There’s no dearth of unconventional outlets that can surprise even the most adventurous food enthusiasts. The Cookie Museum (Raffles

Drink in singapore The Armoury Must try: Bullet to the Head cocktail 36 Beach Road; +65 6385 3173 The Great Escape Must try: Craft beers 6001 Beach Road, Golden Mile Tower; +65 9180 6728 The Drunken Poet Must try: The Black Velvet 400 Orchard Road, #01-29C Orchard Towers; +65 6734 2924 La Maison du Whisky Must try: Au nom de la rose 80 Mohamed Sultan Road; +65 6733 0059; whisky.sg The Alibi at Catalunya Must try: Champagne cocktails 82 Collyer Quay, The Fullerton Pavilion; +65 6534 0886

Brand Speak

Boulevard, #02-280 Marina Square) prides itself with not just traditional flavours you can take home for the family and colleagues, but also exotic ones such as chicken rice and nasi lemak (coconut cream rice).

Orchard rOad Not many business visitors are blessed with the luxury of time on their official trips. If quick but exclusive shopping is on your mind, visit Orchard Road, known for its line-up of the best labels in the world. One such homegrown fashion house is Raoul (290 Orchard Road, #02-49 Paragon; raoul.com), whose royal clientele includes the likes of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.

All that shopping definitely calls for a drink or two. While Orchard Road offers many avant garde bars and pubs, No. 5 Emerald Hill Cocktail Bar (emerald-hill.com) stirs up some of the best cocktails in town. Combine this with the view of Peranakan architecture and the company of your friends or colleagues for a quintessential evening in Singapore.

SingapOre river For those interested in Singapore’s rich heritage, the

Clockwise from top left: LeVel33; Raffles Boulevard; Orchard Road

Singapore River Cruise (59 Boat Quay; rivercruise. com.sg) is an interesting way to soak in some local sights and sounds. If you’re looking to take back home some unconventional souvenirs, check out Naiise’s (6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #02-03 Central Clarke Quay; naiise.com) collection of quirky lifestylegoods, that makes for some quality gifts for your family back home.

The taste of home food while away can be quite comforting. RAS The Essence of India (3D River Valley Road, #01-05A Clarke Quay, ras.com.sg) can compete with any established restaurant of Indian origin. RAS brings together some of the most notable preparations from the eminent states of India, customised for the international palate.

Singapore — a land of diverse culture, vibrant entertainment and culinary excellence, offers the best of work and play to the business traveller. With a one-of-a-kind versatility, discover different facets of this island with every pitstop.

Visit yoursingapore.com/morethanjustbusiness to know more.

Tell us how you plan to add some excitement and fun to your next business trip to Singapore!

Will you try out a gourmet restaurant with your colleagues, bring your family to visit our kidfriendly attractions or shop until you drop? The most creative submissions will be rewarded with the Singapore 241 Passport, worth up to `50,000 of exclusive dining, lifestyle and leisure experiences in Singapore! Log on to tinyurl.com/IndiaBTSurvey and participate now!

TRIED&TESTED Hotels

lemon tree Premier Gurgaon

BACKGROUND Lemon Tree hotels was incorporated in 2002 and operates 27 hotels across 16 cities in India. The group is divided into three brands namely Lemon Tree Premier (premium), Lemon Tree Hotels (midscale) and Red Fox Hotels (budget). By 2018, Lemon Tree Hotels aims to touch an inventory of 8,000 rooms (they are currently at 3,000). They are heavily invested into corporate social responsibility and about 13 per cent of their employees are individuals with special abilities.

WhAt’s it liKe? I stayed at their upscale property, Lemon Tree Premier at Gurgaon’s Leisure Valley. As the name suggests, a whiff of lemony-freshness welcomes you at the reception.

The decor is simple but uses bright colours to add a sense of zest to the ambience. Plants are placed at strategic locations in the lobby. Their restaurant and Visit businesstraveller.com

bar are on the ground floor itself.

A lift takes you to the hotel’s 81 rooms and suites.

WheRe is it? Lemon Tree Premier is in the heart of Gurgaon’s commercial centres; Udyog Vihar is about 6km, Global Business Park about 6km and DLF Square is about 2km away. The international airport is a 25-minute drive and the Gurgaon Railway Station is a 30-minute drive.

ROOm fACilities Lemon Tree Premier has Business rooms which are divided into Superior rooms (26 sqm), Deluxe rooms (22 sqm), Executive rooms (24 sqm), Studios (30 sqm) and Executive suites (37sqm). The hotel also has a differently abled room for its special guests. The Executive suite (37 sqm) that I stayed in had a separate living room and bedroom with an attached bathroom. The layout is smart and empty spaces are used well. A workstation in the living room faces the window and a microwave is fitted near the sofas.

The suite also features an LCD television with DVD player, an in-room safe and a mini-bar. The hotel provides complimentary wifi to its guests.

RestAURANts AND BARs Citrus Cafe — their all-day

dining restaurant serves a multitude of cuisines. While they specialise in Indian cuisine, their “ghar ka khana” menu (means “home-food” in Hindi) serves home-styled meals to Indian business travellers. The hotel’s bar — Slounge is a casual place for an informal meet. It’s also the preferred choice of corporate travellers that want to unwind with a pool table, playstation and some commercial music.

BUsiNess AND meetiNG fACilities Lemon Tree Premier houses a conference room (92 sqm) that can accommodate 40 and a meeting space called Tangerine Grand (328 sqm) that fits 150. Both the rooms are equipped with high-speed wifi, a surround system, LCD projector and a DVD player. A business centre with iMac terminals and complimentary wifi is also available to guests through the day. leisURe fACilities Primarily a business hotel, Lemon Tree Premier offers basic amenities to guests, nothing too extravagant. A fitness centre, spa and swimming pool are a part of the property. A guest relations officer can guide you through the facilities. Lemon Tree Premier also has a fleet of premium vehicles for those looking for transport options in the city.

VeRDiCt A convenient, no-fuss option for the serious corporate traveller

testeD BY Akanksha maker

hOW mANY ROOms? 81- 8 Superior rooms, 14 Deluxe rooms, 44 Executive rooms, 12 Studio rooms, 3 Suites

hiGhliGhts Location and their “home-styled” menu

PRiCe Internet rates for a midweek stay for business room in March started from `6,997.

CONtACt 48-52, Leisure Valley, Sector-29, Gurgaon, Haryana - 122002; +91 124 4480200; lemontreehotels.com

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MINIBAR FREE WIFI 24hr ROOM SERVICE 1 RESTAURANT 1 BAR GYM SPA SWIMMING POOL 2 MEETING ROOMS

MARCH 2016 23

TRIED&TESTED Hotels

Radisson Blu Plaza Mysore BACKGROUND Radisson Blu Plaza is part of the Carlson Rezidor Group, and has 380 properties under its brand, across the world. This is a luxury hotel that aims at pleasing the new-age luxury traveller.

WhAt’s it liKe? Radisson Blu Plaza shares a wall with the Mall of Mysore — one of the biggest in the city, and it overlooks Mysore Race Course and Mysore Golf Course against a backdrop of Chamundi Hills. The lobby, dressed in paintings, is a sprawl that continues into Spice, its allday restaurant. The swimming pool is just around the corner from the reception desk, and has a view of the grand ballroom.

WheRe is it? The 3.5 acre Mysore property is located in the heart of the city and is not more than a 10-minute drive to the major sightseeing attractions in Mysore. It is about 4km from Mysore Railway Station, 10-minutes from Mandakalli Airport, and 2km from the city centre.

ROOm fACilities They have a Business Class room (42 sqm) category, designed to cater to the needs of a business traveller. They offer breakfast, free ironing service per day for up to two pieces, free use of the meeting room for two hours, late check-out, and a two-way airport transfer. In-room facilities include a 42-inch Samsung LCD, a good sized work desk, tea/ coffee maker, minibar, walk-in cupboard, and a bath-tub and shower that is common across all room categories. The dimly lit, and spacious bathrooms have and the shower and bath-tub conveniently placed behind a glass door ensuring that the remaining bathroom remains dry.

24 MARCH 2016

testeD BY Neha Gupta

hOW mANY ROOms? 140 — 93 Superior rooms, 33 Business Class rooms, six Studio suites, seven Executive suites, and one Grand Presidential suite.

The Studio suites (52 sqm) have a butler, a workstation with an ergonomic chair and club concierge. The Executive (102 sqm) and Grand Presidential (230 sqm) suites are more focused on offering luxury to leisure travellers.

Superior rooms are the base level category and are just as spacious at 38 sqm. Wifi is free throughout the property.

RestAURANts AND BARs An impressive buffet spread with a mix of Asian and South Indian dishes, as well as a generous offering of desserts for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the 24-hour Spring. This is the only restaurant at Radisson Blu Plaza, which gives an option for à-la-carte dining. In-room dining facilities

are also offered.

BUsiNess AND meetiNG fACilities The first floor of the property is reserved for meetings. Two meeting spaces have a capacity from eight to 18 people. A 24-hour business centre offers secretarial services and a dedicated meeting and events team. Mehefil, the ballroom on the ground floor has a capacity for 1,200 people and can be split for smaller groups. leisURe fACilities Life Fitness equipments help in a satisfying workout session, and is accessible from 6am to 10pm.

The spa is open from 8am to 8pm, and the 4.5-feet deep pool is open from 7am to 7pm.

VeRDiCt The service was impersonal, but prompt.

hiGhliGhts Spacious bathroom, and a tasty menu.

PRiCe Internet rates for a midweek stay in April for the Business Class room started at `8,000.

CONtACt Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, 1 MG Road, Mysore 570 010 ; tel: +91 821 7101234 ; radissonblu.com

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MINIBAR FREE WIFI 24hr ROOM SERVICE 1 RESTAURANT GYM SPA SWIMMING POOL 3 MEETING ROOMS

Visitbusinesstraveller.com

Waldorf Astoria Berlin

BACKGROUND Hilton Worldwide is expanding the Waldorf Astoria brand quickly, with 26 properties worldwide and one more in Chengdu next year.

This hotel opened in 2013 in the 118-metre-tall Zoofenster tower

by Zoologischer Garten station.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? From the outside, the hotel can seem forbidding, with its minimalist, art deco exterior looking out from what is almost a traffic island on to the large station and fastfood outlets of the area. Ropes separate passers-by from the red carpet leading to the entrance, and a large vestibule then protects the quiet of the marble-floored lobby, where traffic noise is banished and you can lounge on comfy chairs.

By now you will have had at least one member of liveried staff welcome you and offer to take your bags. I checked in at the Hilton HHonors desk and since it was only 10am and the room wasn’t ready, was offered a coffee, my bags stored and my mobile number taken so I could be phoned when it was available.

It set the tone for the stay – staff were friendly, highly proficient in English and good ambassadors not only for the hotel but also for Visit businesstraveller.com

the city, offering suggestions for my spare time.

WHERE IS IT? Opposite the S-Bahn and U-Bahn Zoologischer Garten station, from which the express train goes to Schonefeld airport and one day, who knows when, Willy Brandt Brandenburg airport. Tegel is 8km away.

ROOM FACILITIES Guest rooms are on levels three to 15, and 22 to 31, with offices in between.

For a new-build, there is a huge array of room types – 16 in total – although all are large, with entrylevel King Junior Deluxe rooms 42 sqm. They come with minibars, Nespresso machines, safes, robes, desks with EU sockets, and 40-inch flatscreen TVs with wireless keyboards. Internet costs €25/`1,765 for 24 hours, although HHonors members get it for free.

Furnishings are colourful, with patterned carpets and oversize headboards. Marble bathrooms

have tubs and showers, underfloor heating and built-in mirror TVs. Note that the hotel does not have an executive lounge, although there is a library on the 15th floor, which is open to all guests, with chargeable drinks (open 3pm-10pm; Sun 11am-7pm).

RESTAURANTS AND BARS As well as the Peacock Alley lobby bar (a brand standard), there is the Romanisches Café for pastries and small plates, the art deco-style Lang bar for cocktails and snacks, and for more formal dining, Les Solistes

by Pierre Gagnaire, a superb French restaurant by the Michelin-starred chef, which is open for dinner only.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES There are five meeting rooms on the second floor as well as a 330 sqm ballroom that holds 250 guests for a reception.

LEISURE FACILITIES Germany’s first Guerlain spa is on the fifth floor and has eight treatment rooms. There is also a good-size gym with natural light, a steam room and sauna, a large pool area, and a rooftop sundeck in summer. Unless you are paying for a treatment, or are a premium HHonors member, you have to pay €25/`1,765 to use the pool.

VERDICT A fine example of how good Waldorf Astoria hotels can be, with all the services you’d expect from the five-star brand but with added touches, including a Michelin-starred restaurant.

However, having to pay to use the pool is disappointing.

TESTED BY Tom Otley

HOW MANY ROOMS? 232 – 23 King Junior Deluxe, 52 King Deluxe, 16 Twin Deluxe, 45 King Deluxe with view, 14 Twin Deluxe with view, plus 26 King Junior suites, 12 Twin Junior, 12 King Junior with view, six King Corner, 12 King Tower, six Twin Tower, three King Grand Tower, one King and one Twin Ambassador, the Presidential and two Accessible suites.

HIGHLIGHTS The location is convenient, if lacking glamour, the service is very good, the Michelinstarred restaurant superb and the views of Berlin from the upper floors overlooking the zoo second to none.

PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in April started from €239/`18,400 for a King Junior Deluxe room.

CONTACT Waldorf Astoria Berlin, Hardenbergstrasse 28; tel +49 308 140 000; waldorfastoria3.hilton.com

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2 RESTAURANTS 2 BARS GYM POOL SPA 6 MEETING ROOMS BUSINESS CENTRE

MARCH 2016 25

TRIED&TESTED Flight

Etihad Airways A380 economy class London-Abu Dhabi

UPPER DECK

MAIN DECK

HJK

ABC DEFG

40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

THE RESIDENCE

H

2 3

4

4 5

55

49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63

BACKGROUND Etihad’s first A380 entered service on its London-Abu Dhabi route at the end of 2014. It now operates the superjumbo up to 12 times a week on the thrice-daily service.

The carrier also flies the aircraft to Sydney and New York JFK; next up are Mumbai in May and Melbourne in June.

CHECK-IN I arrived at Heathrow T4 at 1130 for my 1405 departure on EY20. At Zone C there were five economy and two bag-drop desks – I was seen to immediately. There was a brief queue at security.

BOARDING This was just starting when I arrived at Gate 11 at 1335, and was well-organised. Economy passengers boarded in stages – as my seat (46K) was towards the front of the aircraft, I was in the last group to be called.

THE SEAT Etihad’s three-class A380 has 498 seats, of which 417 are Economy Smart seats. These take up the entire main deck, split across four cabins, which means none of the sections feels too monolithic. All are configured 3-43 (A-B-C, D-E-F-G, H-J-K). While the A380’s wider girth means it is more capable of accommodating a ten-across layout, the aisles do feel fairly tight. Still, the higher ceiling, large windows and mood lighting create an open, airy ambience, and this was certainly one of the most luxurious-feeling economy cabins I’ve experienced.

The fabric-upholstered seat is the widest economy product 26 MARCH 2016

in Etihad’s long-haul fleet, at 19 inches, and the pitch is decent, at 32 inches. It’s a well thoughtout design. The wing-shaped adjustable leather headrest supports your head when you are resting. The seatback contains an 11.1-inch tilting IFE touchscreen and a second screen on the remote control, plus a USB port, universal plug socket and coat hook. The magazine rack has two additional pockets for small items. The tray table folds in half to create more room.

The seat reclines six inches but is comfortable enough that I didn’t feel I had to utilise it.

The aircraft offers mobile phone connectivity (roaming rates apply) and wifi (from US$5 for 30 minutes in economy; US$22 for the full flight). A fleece blanket and pillow were provided.

WHAT SEAT TO CHOOSE? Being the smallest of the cabins, the front section feels the most intimate and you can also disembark quickly. In-flight, the curtain at the rear is closed, which also creates a more private feel.

As there are no washrooms at the front of the cabin, there is little footfall, although there can be a wait for the toilets behind.

Seats 40A-B-C and H-J-K have the most legroom, as do 43D-E-F-G behind the stairs, although there are bassinets on the bulkhead here. The front rows of the other cabins (49, 64 and 75) also offer greater legroom, while back rows (48, 63, 74 and

83) may provide less recline. I would recommend a window seat to have a little more room to the side, to avoid being brushed against in the aisle, and to enjoy the views. Avoid middle seats B, E-F and J. THE FLIGHT We pushed back slightly behind schedule at 1415 and took off 25 minutes later.

Noise-cancelling headphones and menus were handed out, with drinks offered at 1505, and the meal served on a tray with metal cutlery. There was a warmed roll, a tasty chickpea and fava bean salad appetiser, a choice of chicken in mushroom sauce, chickpea-fish kofta (nothing special), or cheese tortellini for the main, a Lily O’Brien cheesecake, and Jacob’s crackers with Dairylea. Drinks included wine, beer, spirits and Dilmah teas. Water was offered frequently by the warm and attentive crew, and a snack was served later on. The E-Box IFE system had a reasonable selection of films, a good range of music and Live TV with a ticker tape showing news headlines.

ARRIVAL We reached the gate ten minutes late at 0130 local time, disembarking quickly – I was connecting to another flight and time was tight so I made a dash for it, but security was quick, and I made it without a problem.

VERDICT Very impressive. The seat was comfortable and well considered, the aircraft top-class and the service excellent.

1

THE RESIDENCE

3 A 22 3 C H K 4

LOUNGE

DEFG

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

16 17 18 19 20 21

GALLEY AREA

75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83

22 23 AC

HK

25 26 GALLEY AREA

TESTED BY Michelle Harbi

DEPARTURE TIME 1405

JOURNEY TIME 7hrs 15mins

AIRCRAFT TYPE A380

CONFIGURATION 3-4-3

SEAT WIDTH 19in/48.3cm

SEAT PITCH 32in/81.3cm

SEAT RECLINE 6in/15.2cm

PRICE Internet rates for a return economy class flight from London to Abu Dhabi in April ranges between £214 and £505 (`21,161 and `49,936)

CONTACT etihad.com Visitbusinesstraveller.com

24

TRIED&TESTED Hotels

Oakwood Premier Pune BACKGROUND Los Angelesbased corporate housing and serviced apartments provider, Oakwood Worldwide is present across the United States of America and in over 85 countries.

The brand’s portfolio is divided as: Oakwood Premier, Oakwood Residence, Oakwood Apartments and Oakwood Global Solutions.

With five properties in India, Oakwood has two properties in Pune itself (Oakwood Premier and Oakwood Residence).

WhAt’s it liKe? Being a serviced apartments provider, the hotel instantly gives you the feeling of “coming home” as you enter its four-storey building. The surrounding area is green and residential — which is beneficial to long-stay guests.

Oakwood Premier strikes a balance between being homely and commercial. Its reception, designed in shades of brown and white, adds a sense of calm upon check-in. Narrow pathways and several glass doors lead to its rooms and recreational areas on the ground floor.

WheRe is it? Tucked in a quiet street of the bustling Koregaon Park. Being in the heart of the city’s commercial centre, it’s surprising how quiet its surroundings are. Pune, being a relatively small city, the railway station is a ten-minute drive and the airport, a 15-minute one. The IT hubs and business districts are about 15km away.

ResiDeNCe fACilities My One-Bedroom residence with an attached garden (74 sqm) was comfortable and luxurious.

The well-spaced out apartment has a large dining area in front of the stark white kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, oven and cutlery. An attached room for the washing machine Visit businesstraveller.com

testeD BY Akanksha maker

hOW mANY ResiDeNCes? 199 – 40 Studio Superior residences, 10 Studios with garden, 87 OneBedroom Superior residences, 18 OneBedroom residences with

and drier makes sure the space isn’t cluttered. The room and living area open up to a private garden, that is an enjoyable place to lounge and read in the evenings. An MP3 player fitted in the living-room plays almost every type of music device. The bathroom (with a rain-shower) connects the wardrobe area to the bedroom that’s designed with touches of golden and white to exude a subtle sense of luxe.

The Studio Superior (54 sqm), Studio with garden (56 sqm), One-Bedroom Superior (72 sqm), Two-Bedroom Superior (107 sqm), Two-Bedroom with garden (110 sqm), Three-Bedroom Superior (130 sqm), Three-Bedroom with garden (130 sqm) are the other categories of apartments.

RestAURANts AND BARs The Oak Lounge, popular amongst the youth of Pune, is the property’s lounge, while The Bistro is its restaurant serving a multitude of continental cuisines alongside an impressive variety of cheeses and bakery products.

Their pesto pasta was comforting

and not very creamy. Sen5es restaurant and bar offers a fine dining experience at the poolside and serves various cuisines.

Private dining is available across rooms.

BUsiNess AND meetiNG fACilities Oakwood Premier houses two boardrooms which can be hired for half or full day, depending on your requirements.

The rooms are equipped with a projector, white-board, stationery, and flip-charts. leisURe fACilities Since most of the guests stay for long-durations, the Oakwood Premier has consciously invested in developing a range of leisure facilities that cater to them. This includes a children’s play-area, a fitness centre, resident’s lounge, spa, outdoor swimming pool, a tennis and a squash court. The hotel is pet-friendly and offers basement car-parking.

VeRDiCt Ideal for the longstaying business traveller who is looking to stay in the heart of the city. A comfortable and convenient option.

garden, 24 Two-Bedroom Superior residences, 3 Two-Bedroom residences with garden, 15 ThreeBedroom Superior residences, 2 ThreeBedroom residences with garden

hiGhliGhts Location and the array of leisure facilities.

PRiCe Internet rates for a Studio Superior residence in April started at `8,309.

CONtACt Oakwood Premier, 81 Mundhwa, Koregaon Park Annex, Koregaon Park; tel: +91 020 2674 7474; oakwoodasia.com

R R R R R R R R R

MINIBAR FREE WIFI 24hr ROOM SERVICE 2 RESTAURANTS 1 BAR GYM POOL SPA 2 MEETING ROOMS

MARCH 2016 27

Cracking the China market

There are plenty of cultural pitfalls in China, along with lots of opportunity.

Mark Graham gets some expert advice from those who have lived, learned and succeeded in business

E

veryone who does business regularly in China has a baijiu story to relate, usually one that involves a scenario of cloistered smoky banquet rooms and early-hours karaoke sessions.

Despite the numerous changes in the country, and the increasing popularity of red wine, the instinct after a deal is sealed, or a friendship cemented, is to call for a celebratory bottle of baijiu. Ducking out is not really an option, unless the business visitor can cite a medical condition, or a teetotal disposition.

Although it is essentially a guy thing, women entrepreneurs are also expected to slug back the clear spirit.

Frenchwoman Helene Ponty, one of the new breed of nimble foreign entrepreneurs who have spotted opportunities in the China market and capitalised on them in a major way, does not really have a choice, given that she is peddling alcohol, albeit classy Bordeaux wine rather than rotgut rice-based spirit.

During three years in China, she has expanded the business so rapidly that sales there now account for more than half of the family vineyard’s annual output.

The savvy American business school graduate re-branded the wines Le Ponty to give more of an instant French connotation for Chinese consumers, and learned to speak the language.

“You have to toast many times to celebrate a business deal,” says Ponty. “But it is also important that people who are lower in the hierarchy stand up and toast to people who are higher on the hierarchy, or there as a guest. One time I had lunch with a potential client, with around ten people at the table, me and my assistant, and him and his seven employees, and we were drinking … baijiu.

“His employees, to be respectful to me, all had to come one by one and toast with me with baijiu. It was

a mark of respect and part of the normal traditions, but it meant that I had to drink eight glasses of baijiu when they each only had one. As it was at noon, it did not make for a good afternoon! It was, of course, impossible to refuse, as it would have been seen as very impolite.

“Etiquette in general is important, although some aspects are becoming less important with the younger generation. But as a foreigner, some mistakes will be accepted.”

The number one rule for newcomers, she says, is to fully understand the administrative, legal and taxation landscape when setting up a company, or expanding an existing one. She adds: “China is a great market, but it takes a lot of time and financial investment to understand how things work here. If you do not have that time or money, you might want to consider another market. Estimate the time and money you will need to get started, and multiply it by two.”

PARTNERING UP

That sentiment certainly rings true with another, rather larger, wine importer. Miguel Torres, patriarch of the giant Spanish wine company, made an initial foray into China at the end of the last century.

Myriad problems with partners and distribution channels, however, meant the company lost an estimated US$1 million.

But Torres persevered and the now-retired patriarch, who hired a tutor in Spain to teach him basic Chinese, was proved right: revenues now amount to more than US$20 million annually with offices in most major cities and a staff count of around 300.

“My advice is very simple,” he says. “Your own people are your most valuable asset, and choose the right partners. I remember experimenting by saying we will treat our partners as friends, and

Etiquette in general is important, although some aspects are becoming less important with the younger generation

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MARCH 2016 29

SPOTLIGHT ON... China

do everything like that, and it turned out to be a successful way of doing it, people became much more receptive.”

When Jim Spear first came to China there was not much in the way of fine wine, or fine much else for that matter. The former corporate warrior has travelled the length and breadth of the country, speaks fluent Chinese and knows all the potential pitfalls. Or thought he did.

During a post-retirement project to renovate the family holiday home out by the Great Wall, the American encountered a whole new range of challenges. In fact he learned so much about construction, land leases and dealing with rural officials that it metamorphosed into a whole new later-life career. The self-taught interior designer now specialises in turning once-derelict village homes into dream residences for city dwellers.

The affable Spear cheerfully admits he was probably ripped off in the early days, but has now acquired the realpolitik skills necessary to deal with local officials, peasant farmers and tradesmen. As well as home

conversions, Spear also runs the Brickyard boutique hotel, which boasts stellar views of the Great Wall from all of its rooms.

RESPECTING NATURE

An example he cites is a vivid – and amusing – example of the idiosyncrasies of China.

When Spear converted his first house, a neighbour complained that pear tree roots were being compressed and damaged by the newcomer’s jeep; the problem was solved with a small annual payment. A neighbour at another conversion property had a problem with building slabs being placed close to his chestnut tree.

“We had to have that case adjudicated in the village hall… it was urban meets rural, foreigner meets Chinese,” recalls Spear. “We eventually got a settlement that was fair. I originally thought it was just ripping people off, but these people are stewards of the trees. When you live out here you can see the other side of the story. People here are suspicious of city folk, as they come out and steal fruit from the orchard, it’s a lack of respect. I have seen people come out and bang on doors and demand that the peasants cook them lunch.”

Every visitor will encounter the phrase “this is the Chinese way”, a homily that involves ignoring international protocols

30 MARCH 2016

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The fruit-tree episodes took place in a small village, but similar scenarios are repeated daily, on a larger scale, in the big cities. Every visitor will, at some stage, encounter the phrase “this is the Chinese way” a homily that invariably involves trying to body swerve, or ignore, international protocols.

The Chinese way tends to be a route that loads the dice firmly against investors from outside; it most certainly does not involve Western-style rule of law, as China, for all its superficial modernity, is, indisputably, a one-party state.

GETTING CREATIVE

But as China the nation opens up, it finds itself increasingly having to adopt and accept outside influences and methods. Long-term China resident Dominic Johnson-Hill is an individual who manages to move fluidly between expatriate and Chinese societies, celebrating cultural similarities, rather than differences.

Johnson-Hill has even managed to find a commercial market for irony – not a commodity much evident in China at large – with his business, Plastered, which depicts Beijing icons, everyday consumables and memorabilia on colourful T-shirts. The founder of Plastered is a regular on Chinese television talkshows and The Apprentice-style reality programmes, and has a store in the popular Nanluoguxiang Hutong, which has seen a visit from rock god Jimmy Page, the Led Zeppelin guitarist.

“I’m fortunate enough to be in the creative market, which is really untapped,” says JohnsonHill, a father of four who originally came to China as a backpacker. “We generate artwork for graphic T-shirts, and the more creative and bonkers we get the more we sell. In this very pragmatic society they love bonkers and they love creativity, so that’s what we try our best to deliver – it took a while to work it out, and it’s working. If we tried to compete in a numbers game, we’d be toast.”

Entrepreneur Campbell Thompson, who also boasts nearly two decades of experience in China, is equally bullish on the opportunities presented by the nation’s weakness in the creative industries. Savvy players can, he says, exploit areas such as new media and entertainment, as long as they are aware of the potential pitfalls.

“Anything involving culture is a double-edged sword,” says the Australian who runs the Wine Republic, which focuses on importing wine from

family-owned vineyards. “On the one hand there are tremendous opportunities, but it can be a very sensitive area.

“I would advise people to take time, do some good research, don’t just rush in. The days are gone when China was seen as the El Dorado where nobody could wait and projects were rushed so you could get to market quickly.”

FINDING A NICHE

Former journalist Sarah Keenlyside developed her business along those lines, growing slowly and aiming for a niche market, in her case high-end travellers looking for personally escorted tours.

In the past year, clients have included Hollywood A-listers Johnny Depp, Matt Damon and Jennifer Connelly, and singer Katy Perry.

Corporate clients also appreciate Keenlyside’s deep knowledge of Beijing and Shanghai, information that enables the Bespoke Travel Company to put together itineraries that focus on art, history or food, featuring local personalities, little-known venues and English-speaking guides. There is also likely to be humour and quirkiness, elements guaranteed not to be found on any stateorganised tour.

But, as Keenlyside and others can testify, it is rarely a breeze doing business in China. The regular moving of goalposts, and general opacity, are two of the prime inhibitors. “No matter what your industry, almost no one escapes the woolly changes to legislation, or the hardline ones!” she says. “Sudden closures, shutdowns, changes in public opinion, or the knockon effect of any number of factors. One thing I do know is that no matter the issue, it can happen with lightning speed, rendering much that you’ve been working on or planning towards irrelevant in a heartbeat.

“Aside from that, cultural differences can be vast.

In fact, time and time again I see newcomers being naive about just how different China is – repeatedly willing their own norms and ways of doing things onto the local population because ‘surely that’s just the common sense/ fair/ the most obvious way of operating, right?’ Everything you think you know is wrong – I can’t put it more simply than that. If you have the patience and fortitude to deal with the fact that China is not the West, though, you may just crack it and learn to be more open-minded in the process. Oh, and I’m still working on that: it takes a conscious daily effort.” n

No matter what your industry, almost no one escapes the woolly changes to legislation – or the hardline ones

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MARCH 2016 31

INSIDE AVIATION‌ In-flight entertainment

Front row seat Digital connectivity will soon be transforming the onboard experience. Tom Otley reveals the latest technology set to make your journey fly by

Above: Aspire Zone 32 march 2016

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I

n-flight entertainment (IFE) isn’t the reason most of us choose to fly with one airline over another. Business Traveller’s own research has it at 13th place, behind cabin staff, punctuality, and food and drink, but what’s clear is that once onboard, it becomes very important, as demonstrated by the irate messages and letters we get when it fails to work.

There are lots of variables, of course – we are more likely to watch films during the day, while at night we may just want to sleep. Are we in economy class,

TECHNICAL TERMS KA/KU Two different wavelength spectrums that deliver broadband to the aircraft via satellite. There’s a debate about which is best, and pros and cons for both. For travellers, it’s academic – both power the wifi onboard, and there is unlikely to be differences in price as the market will determine this.

4K Ultra-high-definition screens probably coming to your living room if a salesperson catches hold of you.

HTS - HigH THrOUgHpUT SATelliTe As the name suggests, this satellite allows higher bandwidth for in-flight applications, as well as higher data rates to and from the aircraft. It makes in-flight connectivity more affordable. The benefits of HTS are independent of frequency and both Ku and Kaband operators are taking advantage of them.

SURF IN THE SKY Change is continuing apace, not only in the quality of the screens – from HD to a new standard 4K (for Visit businesstraveller.com

march 2016 33

DREAMSTIME

where there are few other distractions to be had on a long-haul flight apart from a meal service, or business class, where there is more room to move around and recline our seat to get some sleep?

IFE has come a long way. In recent memory, it consisted simply of overhead screens that came down from the ceiling and played one movie, which you could listen to through headphones at your seat. On long-haul aircraft, this gradually changed to personal screens, then there was the option of choosing channels and, finally, audio-video ondemand (AVOD), giving passengers not only choice but the ability to pause, rewind and fast-forward.

Move on a few more years and the selection of entertainment has increased hugely, with some airlines offering more than you could ever hope to watch or listen to.

INSIDE AVIATION… In-flight entertainment

acronyms, see box) – but also the ability to get online while flying. Connectivity is the new buzzword for in-flight entertainment – which for passengers means the ability to surf the web, take phone calls, send emails, and have an experience similar to one they would expect on the ground in a café or hotel.

For some passengers, connectivity in the air might be considered a mixed blessing at best. Many don’t want to be reached while flying – they view it as the one time they can relax, or get on with their work uninterrupted, or engage in some “blue sky thinking”. They certainly don’t want to listen to the person next to them on the phone while they are trying to sleep. Still, most airlines have found they can minimise problems either by turning off the ability to make calls at certain times on night flights, or by appealing to passengers not to do so.

MAJOR PLAYERS Connectivity on aircraft comes in many guises, from allowing passengers to use their phones and data under roaming agreements, as they would if travelling abroad, to the provision of wifi.

Panasonic has a dominant share of both the inflight entertainment market and of airlines that have committed to in-flight connectivity (both satellite and air-to-ground). It is not the only provider, however, with Thales also offering international connectivity and IFE, and providers such as Gogo being particularly strong in the continental US market by equipping airlines such as Delta and Virgin Atlantic.

David Bruner, Panasonic’s vice-president of global customer services, cites five main reasons why airlines are installing broadband connectivity. “First, it’s because passengers want it,” he says. “Yes, there’s an issue of how much they are prepared to pay for it, 34 march 2016

but in trials where it’s been free, such as on Turkish Airlines, they had an average of 50 to 60 per cent of passengers onboard using it at some point. Bear in mind that was the average, so on day flights it would have been much higher, while on night flights lower.”

Bruner says the figures show that, worldwide, some 93 per cent of passengers are bringing devices onboard that have the ability to connect to the internet, and since they are using those devices on the ground, they will want to do so onboard if the price is right (although, at present, that desired price point seems to be next-to-nothing, just as it is on the ground with business travellers demanding free wifi).

Second, some airlines are introducing it as a USP, reasoning that by doing it first, it creates a good impression with passengers, even as other operators race to catch up.

Third, the connected aircraft also reduces the risk of card fraud and allows the sale of more expensive items – not just duty free, but even activities in the destination to which you are travelling. Bruner uses the example of a holiday flight to the Seychelles, where the airline could sell a dive package or excursion onboard. With real-time connectivity for the credit card terminal, it reduces the risk of fraud for the airline, and also provides revenue to make up for the cost of providing the wifi, all while offering a service to customers.

The fourth reason to be connected is operational as information produced by the aircraft could lead to further efficiencies. Aircraft weather sensors, for instance, provide valuable information on weather forming in the atmosphere, which could be fed back (or sold) to other airlines by companies such as Visit businesstraveller.com

From left: Lufthansa business class entertainment system; the Panasonic control centre; online gaming may soon be possible in the air

Panasonic. As Bruner puts it: “You can’t control the weather, but if you can predict it, you can respond more effectively.”

Lastly, if there is a fault onboard, the maintenance team would learn about it in real time and, in some cases, be prepared with the necessary part when the aircraft arrives at its destination, cutting down the time taken to make repairs. Airlines would argue that such operational efficiencies would be passed on to the customer in the form of lower ticket prices, but even if that didn’t happen, anything that reduces the chances of things going wrong with your flight or departure time are to be welcomed.

GROUND FORCES For passengers, the ability to send emails might be useful, particularly if travelling on business, but when compared with the pace of technological developments on the ground, is it that impressive?

It could be viewed merely as airlines trying to keep up with the technology available in the home.

Despite the high cost of installing these systems, touchscreens didn’t debut on aircraft, after all – what’s the big deal?

The answer is partly the harsh environment, both physical and regulatory, that the equipment has to operate in – you can’t have a beta version of IFE equipment flying around while engineers figure out if it’s working and safe. It’s also, as Bruner puts it, “about the most expensive place you can think of to provide internet”. In those circumstances, keeping to a price point for wifi close to that of a hotel – where we all complain if it’s not free – seems like financial suicide.

So why do it? Neil James, executive director of corporate sales and product management for

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CONNECTIVITY PROVIDERS Note: many, if not most, airlines that offer connectivity do so with more than one provider – hence there is some repetition below.

Aeromobile Owned by Panasonic, this is a mobile roaming service available on airlines such as Aer Lingus, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, SAS, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, among others.

GoGo Gogo offers broadband connectivity using wireless signals from a network of cellular towers across the continental US. Available on Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Japan Airlines, United and Virgin America.

Last year, Gogo introduced the 2Ku satellite technology, which is capable of delivering speeds of 70 Mbps to the aircraft – more than 20 times the bandwidth provided by Gogo’s previous offering.

Aeromexico already has it, and Virgin Atlantic and Delta are next in line.

onAir Like Aeromobile, OnAir is a mobile roaming service that also offers in-flight connectivity using Inmarsat’s Swiftbroadband services internationally. It is available on Aeroflot, ANA, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Iberia, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, TAM and Thai Airways, among others.

march 2016 35

INSIDE AVIATION… In-flight entertainment

Above: Aeromexico’s B787 offers connectivity powered by Panasonic

Panasonic, says, “Airlines are making decisions today for the [forthcoming] B777X, and the chances of not having connectivity on an aircraft in 2020 are incomprehensible. Imagine telling the teenagers of today, who from 2020 onwards will be business travellers, that the aircraft won’t be connected.”

BRING YOUR OWN So what will all of this mean for in-flight entertainment systems? Will people use them at all if they are travelling with their own wifi-enabled devices? Panasonic’s new prototype “Jazz” seat, which it has developed with seat manufacturer B/E Aerospace, is the answer to this, providing room and support for personal devices while offering what it calls “an upgraded IFE experience”.

“The intention is to have a huge amount of storage onboard the aircraft [in order] for the airline to have content that is specific to its personality,” James says.

This will give the passenger “the ability to access the infinite depth of the web”, while “the heavy lifting”, content such as 4K-definition movies, which would

36 march 2016

take a long time to download to your personal device even at home, would be streamed locally either to the device or the IFE screen in the seat.

As James puts it, “The device is connected to the web so it can be streamed, but probably at a low level for ‘snackable’ content, which people will always want to have access to on their devices. The bigger content will be stored on the aircraft and streamed to the device.” The advantage of this new system is that, instead of having to log on to the wifi with a credit card and create an account, your device becomes what Panasonic calls a “trusted token”, vouching for your identity. There are various ways this can happen, including “Light ID” technology, which can be used on any device with a camera. Simply point it at the IFE screen, and it sends a signal that tells the system who you are, and synchronises everything.

Rather ominously, James adds, “It can even display adverts that are relevant to you.” Now that really is like the browsing experience you get on the ground… n Visit businesstraveller.com

SPOTLIGHT ON‌ Bangkok

Riverside renaissance

The Thai capital is entering a new dawn with several multinational investments transforming the banks of the Chao Phraya. John Church reports

38 MARCH 2016

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I

There’s more evidence from hotel booking agency HRS, which reported a huge 46.3 per cent increase in the capital’s room rates in the second quarter of 2015 compared with the same period the previous year.

Todd Arthur, HRS managing director for AsiaPacific, says, “With a more stable environment, people are more confident travelling to Bangkok. The multiple-entry visa is [also] likely to be a trade boon, making it easier for business travellers to visit often and attracting longer-stay tourists to the country.”

Still, instability lingers – the worst possible example being last August’s bomb attack downtown.

Thailand also has an ongoing insurgency in the south and a bitter political polarisation dampened by the military coup. Ben Taechaubol, chief executive of Thai investment firm Country Group, told Business

ISTOCK

s Thailand turning a corner? The government installed via a military coup last year has been at pains to point this out to the world, and evidence is mounting that it may be correct.

Political instability and economic malaise in the past couple of years had a chokehold on growth and Bangkok endured the brunt of this. But June 2015 figures from the World Bank’s Thailand Economic Monitor showed projected growth at around 3.5 per cent last year, up from 0.9 per cent in 2014.

Domestic demand has lifted, visitor figures in the first quarter of 2015 were at their highest ever, at 7.88 million (21 million by the end of September 2015), and public spend is up. Out of 189 economies, Thailand now sits 26th for ease of doing business, up from 28th a year ago, according to the World Bank.

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MARCH 2016 39

SPOTLIGHT ON… Bangkok

Mandarin Oriental

Peninsula Bangkok

Silom financial district

Saphan Thaksin skytrain station

Future urban renewal project

Sirocco

Clockwise from above: Key sites; Chao Phraya Estate; Avani Bangkok Riverside exterior and interior; Four Seasons

Shangri La

Chao Phraya Estate project, including Four Seasons and Capella

Traveller the day after the attack, “It’s frustrating when, economically, our country was on a positive trajectory and [is now] hindered by the sudden shock of this appalling incident.

“Nonetheless, I believe this will only have an interim impact on Thailand and our economy, as our people have time and time again shown spirit, unification and resilience. Furthermore, our outlook will remain positive as our nation continues to show strong core fundamentals and economic potential.”

If history is any guide, Taechaubol is right, and the effect of such one-off attacks, although sharp, are usually short-lived when foundations are strong.

ON THE WATERFRONT

In the meantime, multibillion-dollar developments along the Chao Phraya River, which threads through the heart of the city, are set to boost Bangkok’s potential even further. After something of a hiatus, the big hotel brands are descending with a splash on the riverfront.

David Robinson, director of Bangkok River Partners, a group formed to attract local and international business and tourism to Chao Phraya, says, “There’s been a couple of attempts at marketing the river as a destination, but this is the one that’s had the longest run. It was started by the luxury hotels here, between the Hilton and Sheraton down to the Anantara – so that includes the Millennium Hilton, Royal Orchid Sheraton, Mandarin Oriental, 40 MARCH 2016

Expressway Chan Exit

Shrewsbury International School

Peninsula, Shangri-La, Chatrium Hotel Riverside, Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside, and Anantara Riverside.

“They started the project about two-and-a-half years ago, and at that time the ambition was to promote the destination to the MICE [meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions] industry,” he says. “I advised them to broaden that out to make it a destination for leisure and tourism.”

LANDMARK PROJECT Country Group’s US$1 billion Chao Phraya Estate project comprises three properties – Capella Bangkok, Four Seasons Bangkok and Four Seasons Private Residences – set on 15 acres alongside Charoen Krung, the oldest road in Bangkok and an area steeped in history and cultural significance.

According to the group, this was the Crown Property Bureau’s last remaining “golden site” on the river.

“It’s very exciting to have the space in the city to do this,” says Richard Scott-Wilson, director of Hamiltons International, master planner for the project. “[It’s] a piece of the city that hasn’t been touched for 30 years.”

Due to open at the end of 2018, the 312-room Four Seasons hotel will boast some of the city’s largest suites, at 315 sqm, along with a 1,400 sqm ballroom on 200 metres of prime river frontage. The 73-storey Four Seasons residential tower has been designed so that all 355 units are corner-sited with views of Visit businesstraveller.com

Asiatique The Riverfront

the river and city. The Capella will have 101 rooms and villas.

Taechaubol says, “It’s meant to be a waterfront lifestyle, which cannot be replicated again – meaningful luxury and timeless elegance are my descriptions.” More than 300 individual title negotiations took place over four years just to get the land required, he adds.

The company is backed by Chinese investment, mainly via the Export-Import Bank of China and sealed in a 2013 ceremony overseen by Chinese premier Li Keqiang and former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, with Beijing Construction Engineering Group installed as main contractor.

At the group’s Hong Kong exhibition in mid-May, Country Group registered sales of 700 million baht (US$20 million), the highest amount ever for a luxury project in Bangkok, according to the South China Morning Post.

At the front of Chao Phraya Estate, a park and public walkway is being planned by the Urban Design and Development Centre with Chulalongkorn University. Known as the Yannawa Riverfront Project, Bangkok’s first waterside promenade will extend 1.2km from the Country Group site to the Saphan Taksin BTS Skytrain station on one of the area’s most spectacular reaches. With walking and biking trails, plenty of shade and art installations planned, Taechaubol says the project is “on a par with icons such as the High Line in Visit businesstraveller.com

New York”.

THE COMPETITION Across the river, Iconsiam is another huge project: a US$1.54 billion initiative, the largest amount ever invested by the private sector in a property endeavour in Thailand – from partners Siam Piwat, Magnolia Quality Development Corporation and Charoen Pokphand Group.

Covering eight hectares and due for completion in 2018, it includes the Residences Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – the brand’s first apartment project in South East Asia, with 146 waterfront homes on 52 floors – along with the 70-storey Magnolias Waterfront Residences. There will also be two high-end retail complexes on 130 acres, and attractions including a cultural museum. Like Chao Phraya Estate, it will offer facilities for yachts and water transport.

Other developments on the river include Minor Hotel Group’s Avani Bangkok Riverside, opening by the end of this year opposite the Asiatique night market. The first new-build Avani, the 26-storey property has 249 river-facing rooms and a rooftop bar. Lavish residential complexes such as the 54-storey Menam Residences (due to open 2017) and 57-storey Canapaya (2018) are also under construction.

“There’s certainly been an increase in interest MARCH 2016 41

SPOTLIGHT ON… Bangkok

From left: Iconsiam site location; BTS Skytrain; Suvarnabhumi International

in the river,” Robinson says. “We’ve formed a community group in the Bang Rak and Khlong San [areas] that adjoin Yannawa district. There’s a steering committee leading the establishment of a creative district and in the middle will be the Thailand Creative and Design Centre. The group includes the BMA [Bangkok Metropolitan Administration], Thammasat University, hotels, the art community, architects and small businesses, [all] looking at how we can support this area, attract the right businesses, preserve the right buildings and improve the environment – and we think this will start to have an effect on how people view the area.”

TRANSPORT TROUBLES

PrachanarT VIrIyarakS

So the riverside renaissance has begun, but how successful these plans are and how many visitors will come to stay, shop and even invest may largely depend upon practical solutions to long-standing infrastructure problems.

Logistically, the city’s airport facilities are inhibiting Bangkok’s growth. This is no small problem considering the Tourism Authority of Thailand received 28.8 million visitors last year, that spent an estimated 1.4 trillion baht (US$40 billion).

Throughput at the airports is more than double that number when transit passengers are included.

The government has announced an upgrade 42 MARCH 2016

of Suvarnabhumi international airport – which is already operating well in excess of its design capacity of 45 million passengers a year – to include a third runway and two new terminals. With the runway currently undergoing an environmental health assessment and one of the terminals awaiting government approval, time frames on completion are sketchy at best.

Don Mueang, Bangkok’s low-cost carrier airport and the nation’s second-largest hub, has a capacity of 18.5 million but is also expected to have its Terminal 2 and other facilities upgraded. Combined, the two airports will cope with 120 million passengers a year by 2021, according to Airports of Thailand, with capacities of 90 million and 30 million respectively.

Another issue for the city is the headache of getting around. Bangkok traffic has been notorious for decades, and although much improved by mass transport initiatives, getting from A to B on the city’s roads can still take hours.

The government’s transport plan, which includes the airport revamps, is in essence patched together from the blueprints of the previous democratically elected governments, and includes an important upgrade for the Airport Rail Link network. This is all part of an eight-year, US$90 billion infrastructure investment strategy for 2015-2022 announced in October 2014.

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The mass transit railway system for the city and vicinity will be extended substantially with the acceleration of four new lines under construction and at least seven more lines either in the bidding process or awaiting approval – routes that will wind 250km around the city. A switch to a double-track system for high-speed trains connecting the city with the rest of the country is also a priority.

The source of funding for these various initiatives is largely being generated via public-private partnerships and, like Country Group’s Chao Phraya Estate project, a substantial portion is coming from China, although Japanese and European investors are also reportedly showing some interest. Road construction projects in the capital are also set to receive a boost of 100 billion baht (US$2.8 billion).

NEED FOR SPEED Private investment and support will be crucial for all these best-laid plans to come to fruition, as well as the government’s budget disbursement for its own initiatives, as deputy prime minister Pridiyathorn Devakula has admitted. So what do the big developers think?

Taechaubol says, “I think in respect to the large infrastructure projects, [the government] needs to take examples from overseas. There is plenty of private money willing to fund this and capable of Visit businesstraveller.com

funding this. If you wanted to expand eight to 20 lines in one go without spending the government budget you could very easily do that, with controls to ensure concessions.”

He adds, “The things to me that are holding us back are a lack of clear government direction to seize on our solid foundations and take it to the next level via initiatives that will encourage business and shopping, spending, and a different kind of hospitality experience.”

Thanawan Chaiwatana, managing director of Magnolia International Corporation, says, “The government’s plan is quite good, but no matter how much they build, the traffic will still be a problem.

There are big plans, but it will take five to 15 years to build everything.”

Still, he sees a bright side. “For the major destinations, the mass transit planning is well covered. It is only a question of how fast we can do it. The issue [for] me is the politics, rather than the capital. If the political stability is quite high, then the plans have a high probability to be executed.”

Whether a caretaker government can successfully steer through an ambitious transport plan and guide the city into its next phase is in question. Perhaps listening to the developers and other stakeholders that are getting it right in areas like Bangkok’s riverfront may be the key. n MARCH 2016 43

Business in‌ Mumbai

Gourmet Central

Neha Gupta gives an overview of the restaurant industry in the country’s finance capital

44 MARCH 2016

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Y

ou can forget about dining at one of the new restaurants in Mumbai if you do not have a reservation. You will be sent back with an apology for being completely sold out. This not only holds for the weekend, but for a weekday too. The more popular ones take bookings a week in advance; some even go as far as two weeks in advance.

“People are starting to go out a lot more often and demanding a lot more variety in the city,” says Riyaaz Amlani, Managing Director, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality. The group is known for Smoke House Deli, Prithvi Cafe, Social, Salt Water Cafe, and Tasting Room in Mumbai.

Amlani draws a parallel between the city’s craze for Bollywood and its restaurants. “Just like how a Mumbaikar would want to go to the cinema in the first week of its release and talk about it, being spotted at a new restaurant is just as hip.”

The restaurant business is looked at as a glamorous one. Having the “right” contacts (restaurant owner or manager) means never having to wait outside for a table; and being a restaurateur means possibly hobnobbing with socialites; a win-win equation for both parties.

The restaurant business is the second highest employment generator in India after the finance industry. A research conducted by Jones Lang LaSalle, an investor management firm, on Mumbai’s food service industry reported that 60 per cent of the city’s employed population works in this sector. The National Restaurant Association of India estimates the industry (nationwide) will grow to `4,08,040 crore by 2018.

Breaking it down into categories: 74 per cent are from quick service restaurants (QSR) and casual dine-ins, 12 per cent from cafes, and 14 per cent from fine dining restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs and lounges.

There aren’t any real figures to show which cities contribute most to the industry, but it’s an easy guess that Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi are the major players.

Bengaluru is driven by its pub culture and the UB Visit businesstraveller.com

MARCH 2016 45

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“Just like how a Mumbaikar would want to go to the cinema in the first week of its release and talk about it, being spotted at a new restaurant is just as hip.”

Business in… Mumbai

Clockwise from far left: Leopold Café; Lighthouse cocktail at Pa Pa Ya; Bombay Canteen; Teriyaki Chicken Bao at Fatty Bao; Trishna; Britannia

CLAssiCs Leopold Café The restaurant has been in existence since 1871.

Their multi-cuisine menu offers Indian, Chinese and Italian, with sandwiches, burgers, and eggs. Walk by the cafe in the bustling Colaba Market at any time during the day and you will see pitchers and beer dispensers on almost every table.

Availability: First come, first served.

Must-try: Chilli Chicken Open daily 7:30am to 1am; Colaba Causeway; tel: +91 22 30151919; leopoldcafe.com Britannia Opened in 1923 by a Parsi (Zoroastrian from Iran) family, it has been known for traditional Parsi food ever since. Son of the founder, now 92-years-old, still waits on tables while his son (grandson of founder) mans the cash counter. While the latter isn’t much of a conversationalist, his father charms you with stories, coaxing you to eat more than you can stomach.

Availability: First come, first served.

Must-try: Berry Pulao Open daily 11:30am to 4pm; Ballard Estate, Opposite New Custom House; tel: +91 22 22615264; facebook.com/pages/Britannia-and-Co Trishna Established 40 years ago as Matrebhoomi Lunch Home, after renovation in 1991 it was renamed Trishna. It is a popular family restaurant visited by families from all over the city for its South Indian seafood preparations. They have now opened a branch in Andheri, a Mumbai suburb.

Availability: Dinner table for four will be available if booked on the same day.

Must-try: Chettinad Crab Open daily noon to 3pm and 6:30pm to 12:15am; Sai Baba Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort; tel: +91 22 22614991; trishna.co.in

46 MARCH 2016

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neW COnCePTs Pa Pa Ya Opened in September 2015, it is a “complete reinvention of Asian cuisine”. The quirky interiors and gastronomic experience please the eyes with edible baskets, foam mousse, and leafwrapped appetisers.

Availability: Try your luck for a dinner table at least ten days in advance.

It’s a struggle to get them on the phone as it is.

Must-try: Sushi Burger ■ Open daily noon to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm; Palladium Mall, Lower Parel; tel: +91 8828031900; gopapaya.co.in Fatty Bao In July 2015, Mumbai saw Bengaluru’s gastro pub open a branch in the heart of Bandra’s very crowded Linking Road. The concept is modelled on fun with panda-crowned cutlery and geisha-shaped salt shakers. The cuisine is a variety of Asian dishes served as they should be. Popping in just for cocktails is not a bad idea either.

Availability: For weekends book four days and for weekdays a day in advance.

Must-try: Teriyaki Glazed Chicken Bao ■ Open daily noon to 3:30pm and 7pm to 1am; Summerville, Linking Road, Bandra West; tel: +91 22 33716006; facebook.com/ thefattybaomum Bombay Canteen In February 2015, the city was presented with a retro-styled bar and kitchen that has a contemporary Indian menu. On weekends, it turns into a lively bar. Don’t leave without trying the desserts that are a perfect mashup of Indian and western dishes.

Availability: Phone a week in advance for a dinner table. They encourage walk-ins if you’re willing to wait by the bar for a bit (30- to 45-minutes).

Must-try: Masala Chai Popsicles ■ Open daily noon to 1am; Kamala Mills, Lower Parel; tel: +91 22 49666666; thebombaycanteen.com

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City is responsible for this; for Delhi it’s about who can spend more; and Mumbai, though attracted to the glamour of it, the large migrant population is always looking to unwind at such outlets. From expensive to budget, there is an abundance of eateries in the city. Both have their share of crowds, thus catering to various strata of the society.

“There isn’t much comparison between fine dining and casual dining,” says Zorawar Kalra, Managing Director, Massive Restaurants (Masala Library and Pa Pa Ya). “Both are extremely unique and have their respective audiences. Having said that, there are definitely times where audiences overlap between these concepts, like special occasions or trying out a new fine dine place as a family, spending much more on the experience than they normally would to mark an iconic moment in their lives.”

Besides visiting the cinema, coffee shops, restaurants, bars (and maybe theatre for a handful), there isn’t much to do in Mumbai for recreation.

While Amlani suggests that Mumbai is more receptive to trying something new in comparison to other cities, Kalra is of the opinion that Indians, as a whole, are selective and not easy to please. He adds, “Keeping with the cosmopolitan vibes prevalent in cities, the working professional will dine out at least once a day — it could be at a local vada pav station or at a fine dining restaurant. This is a combination hard to find in the rest of the country, thereby making Mumbai a preferred destination for many restaurateurs and chefs.”

In spite of this, the shelf life for new openings is short. Some last; others close permanently within the first two years. When flipping through an old lifestyle magazine from 2015, I realised that three of the ten new restaurants listed have shut down. From the seven survivors, rumours say two more are due to pull down shutters permanently.

Yet, Mumbai sees new openings every few months.

Their survival, however, depends on how much research has gone into the plan before opening the restaurant. Kalra says, “The people who prepare and serve the food must be trained and developed as a team before you open shop.” While this is imperative, realising your USP is equally important.

“Those that don’t survive are simply replicas of established concepts, with little or, in some cases, no clue about what their audience is looking for. Sadly, for many, operating a food establishment is just about being glamorous. They invest a considerable amount of time and finances into this when they’re unaware of the real trial and tribulations that actually go behind establishing a restaurant with a soul.”

The industry isn’t a lucrative one for many.

Launching anything in Mumbai is indirectly subject to real estate affordability. Unless it is calculated wisely, chances of survival are slim. It is one of the MARCH 2016 47

Business in… Mumbai

Clockwise from below: Black Dal at Peshawri; Wasabi by Morimoto; JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar; The Leela; The Lalit; Yukka

HOTeL ResTAuRAnTs Peshawri The tables are devoid of cutlery because Indian food is meant to be eaten by hand.

The regal experience begins with aprons hung around you before the meal, and finger bowls after.

Availability: It’s luck; book a day in advance for dinner, but to be safe, try booking four days in advance.

Must-try: Black Dal ■ Open daily 12:30am to 2:45pm and 7pm to 11:45pm; ITC Maratha, Sahar, Andheri East; tel: +91 22 28303030; itchotels.in Wasabi by Morimoto The fine-dining Japanese restaurant is at the mezzanine level of Mumbai’s iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The seafood and wasabi are flown from Japan to remain true to ethnic flavours.

Availability: Easy. Phone on the day you want to visit.

Must-try: Wasabi Creme Brûlée ■ Open daily 12:30am to 2:45pm and 7pm to 11:45pm; Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Colaba; tel: +91 22 66653366 Extension: 3202; tajhotels.com Yuuka Modern Japanese cuisine is served against a backdrop of Mumbai’s skyline viewed from the 37th floor. Sushi, tiramisu, and even the rice is given a twist to remember.

Availability: You’ll get a dinner table even if you phone that evening.

Must-try: Avocado Tartare ■ Open daily noon to 3pm and 7pm to midnight; St Regis, Lower Parel; tel: +91 22 61628422; stregismumbai.com

48 MARCH 2016

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sTAY JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar The third Marriott property in the city is located just 1km from Mumbai’s international airport. JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has 11 event rooms with a total capacity of 1392 sqm. Each of the meeting rooms are equipped with a projector, clip boards, television, dictaphone, and LCD panels.

Their meeting services app makes it easier for corporate planners to help themselves with particulars such as AC temperature, more chairs, coffee request without the hassle of looking for a hotel employee. All 585 rooms and suites are equipped with a work desk, tea/coffee maker and free internet. Romano the Italian restaurant serves up dishes that are very close to rustic Italian tastes. JW Cafe, JW Lounge, and JW Baking Company are the other eateries on the property. marriott.com The Leela A five-minute drive from the international airport takes you to The Leela Mumbai. Their boardrooms of 59 sqm, 60 sqm, 86 sqm, and 47 sqm have data ports and ISDN lines for video conferencing, LCD projector, and telephone lines for a well-equipped meeting space. The 1,090 sqm grand ballroom is equipped with the same technology and can host 700 delegates. Of the nine room and suite categories, the junior Presidential suites and Royal Club rooms have two-hours free access to their meeting rooms, in addition to full access to the Club Lounge that can double as a casual, impromptu meeting space. Make reservations at Le Cirque Signature for an evening of French-Italian specialties for which the brand is known globally. The other restaurants are Citrus, Jamavar, The Great Wall, Six Degrees and The Lobby Lounge. theleela.com The Lalit The international airport is within walking distance from The Lalit — about 5- to 7-minutes. The business centre is accessible round the clock. Apart from the Majestic ballroom and the outdoor Lalit Plaza, the property has a boardroom for 12 people; two meeting rooms for 15 people and one for eight people; Regal, Royal rooms and the forum for bigger conferences for 30 people. Rooms and suites are equipped with a 42-inch LCD television, high speed internet access, tea/coffee maker, and a good sized work desk. Baluchi, the pan-Indian restaurant serves dishes from the interior regions of the country. Beluga, Trendz, Kitty Su, The Pastry Shop are other options in addition to a 24x7 restaurant. thelalit.com

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more expensive cities to live in, in terms of property prices and rentals. A 900 sqm space will ask for `80,000 to a lakh per month in the suburbs.

Bandra, “the queen of suburbs” took the allure from South Mumbai that once used to be the trending food and beverage (F&B) zone until the millennium. Soaring real estate prices have forced restaurateurs to now look towards the inner suburbs for more affordable spaces.

“Rent is the second highest cost after direct input (investment) cost,” says Amlani. People pay anywhere between 15 and 18 per cent as rent.

Unfortunately that’s not sustainable. Rents should be south of 12 per cent if a restaurateur wants to make money. However, those not equipped with the economics of how it works, often make less than the landlord!” Echoing this, Kalra admits that they have had to let go of some great locations because the rentals “just didn’t make business sense”.

While Bandra is the place to launch your establishment, the smaller players are moving towards the inner suburbs — Andheri, Versova, and Goregaon — where rentals aren’t as steep. And as with any residential and commercial zone, once the neighbourhood starts swelling, restaurants see an opportunity to feed locals.

The second factor is licences. Mumbai is possibly one of the hardest cities to open a restaurant. One needs 33 licences just for the restaurant, and an additional nine to serve liquor. These are in addition to NOCs (No Objection Certificates) from various local and government bodies. It isn’t any different in the other cities either. The common complaint amongst all restaurateurs is the daunting process of running pillar to post for paperwork. If simplified, Mumbai would see a lot many brave entrepreneurs out on the field.

It could help the economy too as restaurants are the highest providers of direct taxation in India, paying Value Added Tax (12.5 per cent — varies as per food and beverage category), service tax (14 per cent and payable on 40 per cent of the total bill), and excise duty (depends on production).

Mumbai’s pace continues to pick up well after the sun sets. The onset of new dining concepts, since the arrival of the eating-out trend came about five to seven years ago, have revolutionised the way a Mumbaikar (colloquial term for Mumbai’s resident) dines. The pressure isn’t to keep up with international standards; it is the ability to please the adventurous diner who is just looking for a good time to unwind. The classics and old-time favourites know they are here to stay. However, it is the newbies who struggle with experimentation to lure in and retain the crowds. Until then, keep them coming. ■ MARCH 2016 49

EVENT

Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Taking a look at the 26th watchmaking exhibition in Geneva

50 MARCH 2016

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I

n 1991, five watchmakers put up an exclusive exhibition to showcase fine horological crafts in Geneva. Over time, the number of watchmakers increased with new entrants wishing to participate. The attraction was the enrolling criterion — the watch must be a “Grand Complication” piece. This is a watch built in the most technically intricate manner. It must include at least three “complications” to achieve the title. To be one of the showcases means you have mastered the art of complex watchmaking.

Thus, 26 years later, Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) has grown to showcase 24 watch houses in 2016. And these include the founding participants: Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Piaget, Gérald Genta and Daniel Roth.

The 26th year of SIHH, held in Geneva Palexpo from January 18 to 22 welcomed nine independent creators alongside the 15 watchmaking houses that have already forged their reputation in the industry since several decades. Veterans and new entrants sharing stage was a first for SIHH this year.

Warm hues, metallic beige-peach tints, sharp and sleek forms playing on minimalism, clean displays of watches that added to the decor, all of these presented SIHH under a modern, classic light.

Cité de l’Horlogerie or City of Watchmaking remained as the dominant theme, as it has been since the last 10 years.

The air was filled with excitement, yet remained professional. Conversations were laced with technical comments, attentive curiosity on latest innovations and hints of new business alliances.

It wasn’t just the professional watchmaking houses that charmed attendees. Six student designers also

EXHIBITORS: ■ A.Lange & Söhne ■ Audemars Piguet ■ Baume & Mercier ■ Cartier ■ Daniel Roth ■ Gérald Genta ■ Greubel Forsey ■ IWC ■ Jaeger-LeCoultre ■ Montblanc ■ Panerai ■ Parmigiani ■ Piaget ■ Richard Mille ■ Roger Dubuis ■ Van Cleef & Arpels ■ Vacheron Constantin

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Clockwise from left: Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie lounge area; Back To The Trees; Swiss Paradise MARCH 2016 51

EVENT

Clockwise from top: SIHH hallway; Follow The Birds; Bird Cage Clock

NEW ENTRANTS ■ Christophe Claret ■ De Bethune ■ H. Moser & Cie ■ Hautelence ■ HYT ■ Kari Voutilainen ■ Laurent Ferrier ■ MB&F ■ Unwrek

52 MARCH 2016

found a place in the 2016 SIHH. They put on display their “24 Hours in the Life of a Cuckoo”. It is a more contemporary style of the Swiss Cuckoo, in which objects and their scenography can travel together.

The clock has, thus far been viewed in Langenthal, Paris, Montreal and Boston. It also received much applause at the third edition of Watches&Wonders, a “haute horlogerie exhibition in Asia”, in Hong Kong.

Further, Children Action found the place of honour during this year’s SIHH with the “Malatavie Unité de crise” project conducted in collaboration with the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG).

More than 14,500 visitors from around the world markets, of whom 1,200 included journalists attended the 26th SIHH. The inauguration ceremony of SIHH saluted authorities of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the President of the Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie, which organises the Salon, and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.

In a statement, Fabienne Lupo, Chairwoman and Managing Director of the FHH, organiser of the SIHH, says: “The common denominators of all the Maisons at the SIHH are creativity, expertise, craftsmanship, excellence and the desire to achieve the impossible. Most of all, though, they share the heritage and longevity of an art that must continue to thrive.”

The fourth day of SIHH observed the traditional VIP cocktail event. The event was attended by Geneva’s economic and political world, along with guests of honour from the watchmaking industry.

The 26th edition of Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie ended on a high note. SIHH took a bow with innovations and exquisite watch pieces making news at its silver anniversary.

The next edition of SIHH will take place from January 16-20, 2017 at Palexpo Geneva. ■ Visit businesstraveller.com

Gazetted as Singapore’s 71st National Monument and once home to the General Post Office, The Fullerton Hotel’s strategic location and Neoclassical grandeur are timeless.

LOYALTY Arunima Kumar rounds up airline and hotel scheme news and promotions

Delta and Virgin Australia offer bonus SkyMiles

Delta and Virgin Australia are offering double miles between Los Angles and Sydney or Brisbane. The Diamond Medallion, Platinum Medallion, Gold Medallion and SkyMiles members can earn 16, 14, 13, 12 and 10 miles/1US$ respectively. The members must register themselves online before the travel. The offer is valid till May 31. delta.com

Club Carlson offering 5,000 bonus points for two stays

Club Carlson is offering 5,000 bonus points for members staying at two or more hotel brands under their Brands to Love promotion offer. The Club Carlson loyalty programme is valid across all six hotel brands operated by Carlson Rezidor: Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Quorvus Collection and Country Inns and Suites. The member has to complete the stay at two separate hotel brands in order to avail the offer valid until March 31.

To avail the offer and earn 5,000 bonus points the Club Carlson members must register online at clubcarlson.com

Marriott Rewards offers Air Canada Aeroplan up to 3,000 bonus miles

Marriott Rewards is offering bonus miles up to 3,000 to Air Canada Aeroplan members.

Members can earn up to 750 bonus miles per night up to four nights and 3,000 bonus miles per stay. Members who have Marriott Rewards earning preference set to miles and Air Canada/Aeroplan as their preferred partner can avail this offer. The base earning is two miles/1US$ charged. The booking must be made using the promo code MR5.

The offer is valid up to April 18. To know about the participating hotels visit marriott.com

RocketMiles offers JPMiles

Hotel reservation website RocketMiles is offering JPMiles (of the JetAirways privilege programme JetPrivilege) on every reservation made via the website. Members can earn up to 4,000 JPMiles on their first booking with this online travel agency.

RocketMiles offers rate parity as compared to booking directly with the hotels. In case of cancellation and change in plan, the website is also offering refundable rates. Some of the other airlines tied up with RocketMiles include Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Etihad Airways. The promotional offer can be availed up to March 31. rocketmiles.com

54 MARCH 2016

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Triple miles with Hilton HHonors and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Hilton HHonors and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank members can earn triple miles at select countries in Asia-Pacific and double miles for stays elsewhere.

The countries under the triple miles offer are Japan, Australia and South Korea. Members must have their Hilton HHonors Double Dip options set to Points + Miles and have Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank selected as preferred partner. The offer is valid until May 31. hiltonhhonors.com, jal.com

Up to 10 per cent discount on Etihad Economy, Business and First Class flights

Etihad Airways is offering up to a 10 per cent discount to American Express Card members on select flights in Economy, Business and First Class. The discount is valid on both one-way and return travel however it excludes trips that include stopovers. The card members must book flights and travel by July 31. etihad.com

Best Western introduces lifelong points

Le Club AccorHotels offers quadruple points on select hotels Le Club AccorHotels’ members can avail quadruple bonus points for stay until March 31 at select hotels.

Participating hotels are in Brazil, China, France, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Japan, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. accorhotels.com

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Members of the Best Western Rewards programme can now enjoy lifelong points, after the company announced that it has removed the expiry date of points.

According to the Best Western website: “Best Western Rewards points do not expire for members of the North American club, which includes members who reside in North, Central and South America, Asia and South Africa.”

The change makes Best Western the first major hotel group to offer lifelong points. It also means that members can now build up their points, and use them anytime they want. “The fact that points no longer expire is a big deal for guests, regardless of whether they’ve stayed at a Best Western hotel within 12 months or two years. What this means is Best Western Rewards members can now keep all their accumulated points and redeem these for holidays or gift cards whenever they want,” says Steve Richards, Best Western Australasia’s head of commercial. bestwestern.com

MARCH 2016 55

TIME OUT, TECH & TREATS 58 NEWS 60 WHAT’S ON 62 A TASTE OF OPULENCE 66 FOUR HOURS IN PHILADELPHIA 68 ANTIQUITIES 70 VIEW FROM THE TOP 72 TALES OF A MALT AFICIONADO 76 CONVENIENTLY AWAY 80 BUY & FLY 82 SNAPSHOT

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MARCH 2016 57

BUSINESS TRAVELLER LIFESTYLE News

AUTOMOBILE

PATNERSHIP

BMW launches Mini Clubman ALL4 The Mini Clubman ALL4 is the latest addition to the BMW Mini series.

This new compact model uses the new ALL4 all-wheel drive system. The sporty and agile ALL4 is equipped with features such as the dual-zone automatic control, a 6.5-inch built-in display system supporting third party app integration, Bluetooth and electric parking brakes. The ingenious horizontal rear lights complement the superior design of the car. Ambient lighting and LED interiors enhance the sporty look of the Mini Clubman ALL4. The model is available in two engine options. bmwgroup.com

ADVENTURE

Laird Apparel and One&Only team up

Range Rover and Abercrombie & Kent offer Adventure Trip Ranger Rover and Abercrombie & Kent have teamed up to offer an extraordinary adventure trip. The trip will cover eight countries across five continents in 21 days. Travel destinations include Spain, Scotland, Iceland, Morocco and England. The trip will be covered behind the wheels of Range Rover SVAutobiography. Prices start at £1,00,000 per person and can be modified as per the guest’s needs. During the 21 days’ trip, the customers will stay at nine hotels including Hotel Borg, Tigmiza Suites & Pavilions, Can Bonastre Wine Resort, El Palace Hotel and The Milestone. landrover.com

58 MARCH 2016

Big-wave surfer and famous waterman Laird Hamilton’s Laird Apparel and luxury group of resorts One&Only have teamed up. Under this partnership, One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico is offering Laird Apparel’s new collection of performance-based apparel for men. The collection includes offshore, fitness and lifestyle wear. Laird Apparel has also introduced high quality One&Only t-shirts which are available only at One&Only Palmilla.

The brand is also providing multi-functional clothing for men. Laird Hamilton says, “When I arrived at the One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, the connection between Laird Apparel and the resort felt natural as it fit within the local Baja surf culture.” Plans are underway to expand Laird Apparel to other One&Only resorts as well. “Laird Hamilton’s contemporary lifestyle of adventure and relaxed luxury living lends itself perfectly to One&Only’s own distinctive style, ‘unstuffy’ sense of genuine hospitality and lively local culture,” said Helen McCabe-Young, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, One&Only Resorts. oneandonlyresorts.com, lairdapparel.com

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EXPERIENCE

WATCH

Panerai introduces pre-Vendôme inspired watches

Turkish Airlines introduces Flying Chef

Guests flying on Turkish Airlines between Mumbai and Istanbul can now experience the luxurious Flying Chef service. This will deliver restaurant-like service to its Business Class passengers. A wide range of cocktails, collection of Turkish and international drinks and wines, hors d’oeuvres, Turkish tea and coffee will be served onboard. A comprehensive menu including India vegetarian/non-vegetarian/Jain cuisine will be offered to guests.“Our aim is to ensure that the passengers experience the best of Turkish Airlines hospitality by way of our innovative cuisines and interesting menus. We are committed to ensure that our guests have a memorable in-flight experience,”says Mehmet Akay, General Manager Western and Southern India, Turkish Airlines. turkishairlines.com

The luxury watch brand Panerai introduced Luminor 8 Days set of two, inspired by the pre–Vendôme (era between 1992-1997) watches during this year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). Panerai is known for creating exquisite watch models for the Royal Italian Navy. The Luminor 8 Days set is a limited edition of just 500 pieces.

During the pre–Vendôme erea, Panerai offered Luminor, Luminor Marina and the Mare Nostrum chronograph. The Luminor Daylight is a very rare re-edition of 1996 model with a white dial and blue markers. Both watches are water resistant to thirty bar. This Panerai Luminor 8-Days Set Special Edition is priced at €19,900. panerai.com

ALCOHOL

Grover Zampa Vineyards’ Chêne Grande Réserve wins accolades in 2015 Grover Zampa Vineyards’ Chêne Grande Réserve earned a silver at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition and a bronze at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards held in 2015. It also won a gold at the All Things Nice Wine Consumer’s Choice Awards in 2014. This deep and intense ruby coloured wine is a blend of the Tempranillo and Shiraz grape varieties. Matured in French oak barrels for at least fifteen months, this wine pairs well with roast, stew and grilled meat as well as rice dishes. Chêne Grande Réserve has dark fruit aromas of blackberry, currant and ripe plums with hints of vanilla, chocolate and roasted coffee beans. groverzampa.in

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MARCH 2016 59

WHAT’S ON March

ASIA-PACIFIC Beijing, China March 11-27

Bookworm Literary FestivaL The Bookworm Literary Festival is celebrating its 10th year with more than 100 participating International and Chinese authors and poets.

Michael Anti, Husayn Anwar, Dorothy Tse,

is exhibiting works by more than 4,000 artists.

Of these, about half come from Asia and AsiaPacific alone. On display are installations, canvases, sculptures, films, photographs and many other mediums. artbasel.com Byron Bay, Australia March 24-28

ByroN Bay BLUesFest Byron Bay Bluesfest is an old-school music festival with a mix of blues, rock and folk music. Range and quality of talent performing

Jakob Vedelsby, Edward Wong, Hong Ying, Graham Earnshaw are a few of the many names who will read their work at the event.

The festival features around 300 events and workshops including book talks, panel discussions, and workshops on subjects including journalism, history and environment. bookwormfestival.com Hokitika, New Zealand March 12 onwards

wiLdFoods FestivaL This is where one can explore a plethora of flavours that will take the taste buds on a joy ride. Hokitika’s Wildfoods Festival is for the brave-hearted foodies. It is known for its unusual menu offerings that celebrate the taste of West Coast New Zealand. On exhibition are unusual and innovative foods such as mountain oysters, crocodile bites, stallion protein shots, grasshopper and snails.

Along with food you can experience live entertainment, cooking demonstration and take part in a “wild” fashion competition. If booked in advance, visitors can even camp on site. wildfoods.co.nz

Mumbai, India March 21

GoUt de/Good FraNCe Enjoy the delicacies of French cuisine at the second edition of Gout de/Good France.

The event is organised by Atout France and 150 countries are playing host this year.

Participating restaurants from across five continents celebrate the goodness of French cuisine. Dinner will be served concurrently by local chefs. Don’t miss the chance to indulge in the delicious flavours of France. restaurateurs.goodfrance.com

Hong Kong, China March 24-26

art BaseL It has been in existence since 1970, connecting galleries, artists and investors from the world-over. The event hosted by Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre,

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each year, has been recognised with the Global Music Festival award. The annual event attracts an eclectic crowd from all age groups. Set against the backdrop of beaches and parks, the vibe is relaxed and friendly.

Over five days around 200 performances entertain visitors. These include Eagles of Death Metal, Frazey Ford, Digging Roots, Mick Fleetwood Blues Band feat Rick Vito, Playing For Change Band and Chain amongst others. bluesfest.com.au Ubud, Bali March 29 onwards

BaLi sPirit FestivaL Energise yourself with yoga, meditation, dance, martial arts, healing and selfdevelopment at the Bali Spirit Festival. The six days are pivoted on music with nights of

sacred music, kirtan and chanting. Many visit for a spiritual rejuvenation of mind and body.

While some visit for a day, others enrol in specific workshops or go for the full package that includes programmes on all days of the event. balispiritfestival.com Visit businesstraveller.com

AMERICAS Scottsdale, Arizona March 11-13

Austin Texas, March 11-20

Miami, Florida March 13 onwards

Antigua, Guatemala March 20-26

Chichen Itza, Mexico March 29

eat, sCottsdaLe arts FestivaL The Scottsdale Arts Festival is known for exhibiting high quality fine arts. It showcases jury-selected artworks of American and Canadian artists. These artists display works through various mediums including paintings, sculptures, jewellery, photography and more.

Besides arts, one can enjoy live music by more than 20 Arizona bands and savour the variety of cuisines offered by local food trucks. scottsdaleartsfestival.org soUth By soUthwest (sXsw) South by Southwest offers a unique blend of music, films and technologies. It is a platform for young and upcoming musical talents.

Famous singers are also part of the line-up, and those in the league of Justin Timberlake and Usher have performed in the past. Films are screened during most part of the nine days. The event is recognised as one of the leading film festivals in America. Interactive sessions with the tech community span over five days and include a series of conferences and panel discussions. sxsw.com CarNavaL miami - CaLLe oCho Miami is one of the best cities to welcome spring. It hosts a ten-day Miami Carnaval, titled Calle Ocho. Latin beats, lively environment, art and décor, delicious food and beverages are the highlights of Carnaval Miami. Events such as cooking contests, wine tasting sessions, soccer matches, domino tournaments and other exciting activities fill the days. carnavalmiami.com semaNa saNta In Spanish “Semana Santa” translates to “Holy Week”. During this religious week, you can expect parades of floats and horses, theme-related carpet displays and candlelit vigils. The festival is celebrated to honour the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucification. The days lead up to Easter, during which people wear violet veils as a show of penitence. antiguatours.net eQUiNoX at ChiCheN itZa Welcome the spring equinox at Chichen Itza. What makes Chichen Itza so special?

Thousands gather to witness a serpent-like shadow slithering down to connect with the snake head sculpture at the base of El Castillo Pyramid. The snake’s shadow is

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visible from a week before to a week after the equinox. The same can be seen during the winter equinox.

EUROPE Valencia, Spain March 15 – 19

Las FaLLas If you have a liking for pyrotechnics, then definitely visit Las Fallas that draws crowds from around the world. During the festival a competition is held between neighbourhoods to set off the loudest show of explosives. At nightfall, the skies are filled with spectacular firework displays. You can also enjoy live music and participate in traditional and impromptu dances. Las Fallas concludes with the Nit del Foc, the grand finale. fallasfromvalencia.com

Amsterdam, Netherlands March 16-20

hiswa amsterdam Boat show Boat enthusiasts head to Amsterdam to view an exclusive collection of boasts including sports and racing boats, navigation equipment, and a variety of boat repairing products and services. This is also where boat models are launched or a new feature is introduced.

The show features sailboats, daysailers and speedboats, as well as holds interactive workshops and water sport activities. hiswarai.nl

Dublin, Ireland March 17 - 20

st PatriCk’s day Traditional Irish dance, music and culture covers Dublin in shades of green during St Patrick’s Day. The festival commences at the St Patrick’s Cathedral followed by a prayer, and then a parade to The Black Church on Dorset Street. O’Connell Street Bridge offers the best view of this procession. Dress in your best “green”, dance to Irish tunes and indulge yourself in the vibrant Irish culture. stpatricksfestival.ie

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST Underberg, South Africa March 18 – 21

sPLashy FeN mUsiC FestivaL Splashy Fen is one of the longest running music festivals of South Africa. The festival promotes local artists and offers a mix of rock, blues, indie and folk music. Splashy Fen can be enjoyed by the whole family. Apart from live music, one can indulge in activities such as horseback riding, hiking, paragliding, hot-air ballooning and many more. splashyfen.co.za MARCH 2016 61

Weekend in... dubai

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A taste of opulence Akanksha Maker experiences the luxe flavours of Dubai

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he tallest, the biggest and the most opulent — Dubai and superlative adjectives go well-together, I had heard.

It was now easy to understand why. As my plane descended over the deserts of the MiddleEast, emerged a shimmering stretch of skyscrapers that dazzled outside my windowpane on that toasty November afternoon. In the distance appeared a unique building that was evidently taller than the rest. The bewitching Burj Khalifa peaking at 830-metre stood amongst the cotton-candy skies and silently announced our arrival into the United Arab Emirates.

I travelled to my hotel alongside a dramatic skyline of skyscraping silhouettes all around me. Driving passed Sheikh Rashid Road, we saw a construction in progress that resembled a massive window frame in a large expanse. It was interesting to learn that this 150-metre high structure is an offering

by Dubai tourism board to give its visitors a perspective on the city’s transformation.

Costing about AED 120 million, the project is designed like a picture frame and lets tourists follow a path depicting Dubai’s journey, until they take the elevator to the top of the structure for some panoramic views.

The discovery of oil in the emirates in 1966 catalysed the metamorphosis of Dubai, once a desert, into a futuristic hub that now serves as an attractive destination for both, business and leisure travellers.

Its hotel glitz, glamour and accessible location on the globe are a few reasons why it appeals so much to tourists, especially Indian travellers. It is also lined with international chains of restaurants and bars, and a number of home-grown F&B offerings that attract both food connoisseurs and culinary novices.

The idyllic and strategic locations of these outlets is perhaps what makes them even more attractive to cultured travellers. Not a bad way to indulge in this snazzy city, I thought as I began my sojourn that took me to some of the most exclusive dining outlets of this Middle-Eastern metropolis.

Thiptara Opening hours: 6pm to 11:30pm Ground Level, The Palace Downtown Dubai, United arab emirates dine@thepalace-dubai.com; +971 48883444 At.mosphere Opening hours: 12:30pm to 4:30pm; 6:30pm to 11pm 122nd Floor, Burj khalifa, Downtown Dubai, United arab emirates reservations@atmosphereburjkhalifa.com; +971 48883838 Al Mahara Opening hours: 12:30pm to 3pm; 7pm to 12am Ground Floor, in al mahara Burj al arab, Dubai, United arab emirates baainfo@jumeirah.com; +971 43017600

Above: Burj khalifa; Left: Tonka-chocolate feuilantine Visit businesstraveller.com

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akanksha maker

Dubai and superlative adjectives go well-together, I had heard. It was now easy to understand why.

Weekend in... dubai

Early that evening, downtown Dubai was bustling.

The Burj Khalifa was at a closer distance now, and its glimmering lights made it difficult not to stop and stare. The 30-acre Burj Lake glistens in front of the structure and throngs of tourists move in and out of the Dubai mall. Many wait patiently to watch the choreographed aqua show at the Dubai Fountain, which takes place every 15-minutes.

Unable to catch even a glimpse of the performance because of the crowd, dinner at Thiptara was a good idea. The Thai restaurant that translates to “magic at the water” is located at the ground-level of the Palace Hotel (managed by Address Hotels & Restaurants), adjacent to the Burj Lake. Sitting in its al-fresco section, if the weather permits, is advisable, as the Dubai Fountain can be admired without any disturbance. The satay gai (grilled chicken thigh skewers, marinated with yellow curry and peanut sauce) and chor muang sai talay (steamed Thai dim sum, scallop, prawn, cuttlefish, shiracha sauce) were quite enjoyable, as I watched frequent shows of the Dubai Fountain — quite the play on all five senses.

The sun played hide and seek with the clouds next morning, and a chill in the air balanced the warmth. The Burj Khalifa looked different in the day, but still as magnificent. It was overwhelming to enter the building and take what claims to be the world’s fastest elevator at 64 kmph to the 124th level of the building. The lift “sky-rocketed” and in less than two minutes, I arrived “At the top” — a 64 MARCH 2016

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Clockwise from top: Thiptara; Al Mahara; Burj Al Arab alongside Jumeirah Beach Visit businesstraveller.com

glassed observatory that offers eagle-eye views of the city and its skyline. Lunch followed on level 122 of the Khalifa at At.mosphere, which is the world’s highest restaurant from ground level as per the Guinness World Records. I was told that the panache with which Dubai entertains is singular; my dining experience at At.mosphere showed me how.

Skyscrapers looked like Lego pieces and the sandy wilderness of the Arabian gulf sharply contrasted to the cityscape. The organic egg parfait (foie grass, asparagus and truffle French toast) as an appetiser the volaille des landes (corn fed chicken breast with black truffles) complemented my main perfectly.

Not sure what looked better, the tonka-chocolate feuilantine (black currant sorbet and Chantilly) or the view. It definitely tasted as good as it looked, though.

Crossing the Jumeirah road that evening, my taxi passed a number of premium residences that almost looked identical to each other. Soon I reached the Jumeirah beach, where the aquamarine colours of the sky and Arabian Sea matched the white sand to create a picturesque setting. The beach seemed to be preferred by expats and international tourists, more than locals.

At the corner stood probably the most symbolic structure of Dubai, for me personally. The third tallest building in the world, the Burj Al Arab is world-renowned for its cutting-edge architecture.

The seven-star hotel built under the vision of architect Tom Wright reflects the nautical heritage of the city and is designed to look like the spinnaker sail of a J class yacht. The interiors of the “Arab Tower” (Arab translation of Burj Al Arab) mesmerised me effortlessly. A plethora of colours through patterns and symmetry resembled a modern Arab fantasy come to life. Dinner at the sea-inspired Al Mahara, with its ceiling-to-floor aquarium circling the restaurant, was an interesting choice. It was hard not to follow the trails of the vivid sea-animals, that made for some unparalleled company while I enjoyed some amuse bouche (marinated wild seabass topped with white sturgeon caviar and scallops) and fish “pot eu feu” (poached fish in bouillabaisse consommé). Quite the finale to my fanciful jaunt in the Middle-East, I thought as I struck off “something blue” from my Dubai check-list. n MARCH 2016 65

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PHILADELPHIA

Tom Otley goes on an art tour of the US city, taking in its murals and masterworks

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PhiladelPhia MuseuM of art Philadelphia has had its problems, but is now on the up. This city of 1.5 million people on the eastern seaboard, a 90-minute train ride south of New York and two hours north of Washington, DC, went through tough times in the 1980s, but credits part of its recovery to art.

It was briefly the capital of the United States (1774-1800) and, while politics moved to Washington, DC, it continued to be a major centre of industry, commerce and wealth for more than a century. The art collection built up over that time can be seen in the huge Philadelphia Museum of Art at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Masters such as Cézanne, Duchamp, Renoir, El Greco, Rubens, Turner, Manet, Monet and Picasso are among those represented, and there are also collections of ceramics, sculpture and furniture, and even entire original room interiors imported from China, Japan and London. Visiting exhibitions are also staged.

From inside you can find a window and watch people running up the steps of the museum – just like Rocky (from the movie).

There’s a statue of the character near the bottom on the right. If you think people come to Philly for the culture, bear in mind this prop from one of his films is one of the most visited spots in the whole of the city.

Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm (main building until 8.45pm Wed and Fri); entry US$20 (`1,332). philamuseum.org

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Barnes foundation There’s nowhere in the world like the Barnes Foundation, which holds one of the globe’s largest – and finest collections of post-Impressionist and early modern paintings. Since 2012 it has been housed in an elegant new building about a 15-minute walk along Benjamin Visit businesstraveller.com

Franklin Parkway. It includes the largest single grouping of Renoir works (181), 69 pieces by Cézanne and seven by Van Gogh, as well as paintings by Matisse, Picasso, Degas and Modigliani – and since they are never lent out, they can only be seen here, hung just as Dr Albert C Barnes intended, with the emphasis on education and interesting juxtapositions across the ages.

Open Wed-Mon 10am-5pm; weekday US$22 (`1,465), weekend US$25 (`1,665). barnesfoundation.org

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reading terMinal Market You’ll need a snack by now, and Reading Terminal Market, about a 20-minute walk away at North 12th and Arch Streets, is a good place for a pit stop.

It has more than 100 food outlets selling artisanal cheese, fruit and vegetables and speciality and farm-fresh produce, as well as dozens of restaurants.

The building dates back to the 1890s, when the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company purchased a block of the city for its new railway terminal only to find that the market holders trading there refused to move. The compromise was a market created under the train station, so if you feel rumbling, it’s less likely to be your stomach, and more likely to be a train, although these now run underground to nearby Jefferson station. Open 8am-6pm (Sun 9am-5pm). readingterminalmarket.org

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Mural arts tour Already on your travels you may have noticed the city’s many and varied murals, on the end of houses, spare walls, and overlooking parking lots.“Art ignites change” is how the Philadelphia tourism people put it – more than 3,500 have been painted since 1984, first as an

anti-graffiti measure and then as part of the Mural Arts Programme.

Guided tours (from US$20/`1,332) depart from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, about a five-minute walk away on North Broad Street, but you will spot them everywhere. Don’t miss Common Threads, a short stroll north on Broad and Spring Garden Streets – when unveiled in 1998, at eight storeys high, it was the largest, most expensive mural.

Since then, the scheme has expanded to include inmates and victims of crime as part of a restorative justice programme, with only 13 per cent of participants reoffending compared with the citywide rate of 66 per cent over three years. muralarts.org

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City tavern Philadelphia is renowned as the home of the (cracked) Liberty Bell, as well as Independence Hall, but assuming you like your history interactive, finish your tour with a sit-down meal at the outstanding City Tavern. A faithful reproduction of the original venue dating from 1773, where everyone from George Washington to Thomas Jefferson dined, it is filled with antiques (courtesy of the National Parks Service) and has creaking wooden floors, authentic furnishings and live music.

Liveried waiting staff serve original dishes such as West Indies pepperpot soup, colonial turkey pot pie and Chesapeakestyle crab cakes, while drinks include Colonial Raspberry Shrub – fruit juice vinegar sweetened with sugar and spiked with alcohol. Lunch from 11.30am daily; dinner Mon-Sat from 4pm, Sun from 3pm.

138 South Second Street; tel +1 215 413 1443; citytavern.com ■ For more information visit the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau website: discoverphl.com march 2016 67

Time OuT in mysore

Antiquities The history of South India can be sought out in Mysore’s many museums, explores Neha Gupta

Mysore Maharajah’s Palace or aMba Villas

If history fascinates you, you can easily spend two hours at this palace. Rent an audio guide (available in Hindi, English, Kannada, German, Italian, Japanese and French) that will explain each of the sculptures, artefacts, and weapons in the rooms.

Paintings on the walls narrate stories of not only events that unfolded at Mysore Palace, but also episodes that ensued in the city at the time. Stainedglass windows, etchings in pillars, carved wooden doors, painted roofs, patterned floor tiles, and large-sized mirrors are what give this Indo-Saracenic building its majestic and opulent appeal.

It was first built in the 14th century as the court of Wodeyar maharajas, rulers at the time. Since then it has been attacked and almost razed, renovated each time after. Finally, when the palace caught fire, English architect Henry Irwin resurrected it in 1912, and this is what we can visit today.

True, the palace is dusty; it deserves careful restoration and dedicated maintenance. At sunset, it is a breathtaking sight when more than a 100

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thousand light bulbs bring its facade to life.

Open daily 10am-5:30pm; tickets `40 for Indians and `200 for foreigners; mysorepalace.gov.in

Folk arts MuseuM

It can be described as an ethnographic museum of the Karnataka region. More than 6,500 objects give us a peak into the lives of the natives. Toys, puppets, utensils, jewellery, stone tablets, baubles, religious items, idols, traditional garb, masks, and other such items spell out the past culture, as well as presentday rural and traditional lifestyles. There are also two wooden chariots that date back centuries.

Unfortunately, few are aware of the museum’s whereabouts — best to arrive at Mysore University, and ask for directions to Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion.

Another drawback is that none of the exhibits are labelled, and so the exhibits may be lost in translation. It makes sense to find a guide who knows his history (travspire.com).

Complete your visit with a walk around Kukkarahalli Lake fenced in greenery. In fact, birdwatchers can be delighted with visits from Visitbusinesstraveller.com

over 2,000 species such as spot-billed pelicans, little cormorant, painted storks, openbill storks, Eurasian spoonbills, black-crowned night herons, and oriental darters.

Open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm.

railway MuseuM

It is one of the first of many railway museums in the country — launched in 1979. Everything one wants to know about India’s expanding railways in the region is available here in photographs, graphs, and replicas. One section is dedicated to a general history of the Indian Railway in real photographs and paintings.

The country’s first steam engine, steam water pump from 1934, and a hand-operated crane from

eAT Mysore is a humble city, but its cuisine is competitively flavoursome, and rich in taste.

Sapphire — Lalitha Mahal Palace Dine as the royals did here. It was built by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore to host the Viceroy of India.

Try: Mysore thali.

Open daily 1pm-3pm and 8pm-10:45pm; Lalitha Mahal Nagar; tel: +91 821 2526 100; lalithamahalpalace.in The Oriental — Fortune JP Palace Despite the name, it is popular for its recipes that

1885 also rest here. Apart from these, there are two coaches reserved for the Maharaja of Mysore. The most impressive is the Maharani’s saloon from 1899. And if you want to indulge in a little bit of locomotive fun, chase the toy train that toots its way around the museum grounds. Open daily 9:30am5:30pm; tickets `15; tel: +91 821 2866 955

regional MuseuM oF natural history

From left to right: Mysore Palace and Rail Museum Visit businesstraveller.com

The museum has been set up quite recently — May 1995 to be exact. One of the more updated exhibits in terms of technology, it employs audio-visuals, and interactive displays of nature and its functions. It covers information on the flora, fauna, and natural resources of South India. Rainforests, wetlands and mangrove of the Western Ghats are explained in great depth, as is the evolution of man, importance of the preservation of the environment and an overview of endangered species and wounded nature. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm.

are typical to Mysore.

Try: Ragi balls and mutton curry.

Open 24-hours; Abba Road, Nazarbad; tel: +91 821 3988 444; fortunehotels.in Parklane Hotel Locals populate the al fresco seating lit up with lanterns in the evenings.

Try: Coorg style pork and spicy chicken.

Open daily 7am-11:30pm; Sri Harsha Road, Mandi Mohalla; tel: +91 821 4003 500; parklanemysore.com Hotel RRR A common recommendation by the locals, it is advised to visit on a weekday to avoid the weekend rush.

Try: Veg thali served on a banana leaf and the spicy biryani.

Open daily 11:30am-4:30pm and 7pm-11pm; Gandhi Square, Chamrajpura; tel: +91 821 2441 979

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ESCAPE TO... Ravello

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top

Annie Harris is enraptured by the Italian town of Ravello, the magnificent vistas and gardens of which inspired a musical masterpiece

Clockwise from top left: Palazzo Avino terrace; Minori; Steps to the coast; Villa Cimbrone; Ravello festival at Villa Rufolo; Piazza Centrale; Terrace of Infinity; Palazzo Avino building

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S

itting high above Italy’s dazzling Amalfi coast, the charming hill town of Ravello offers breathtaking views of sun-drenched terraces cascading down to the azure Mediterranean Sea. Only a 45-minute drive from Naples, it’s a wonderful place for a relaxing break after a business trip to the Neapolitan capital.

Ravello has been here since the sixth century and has been attracting the rich and powerful ever since.

A former holiday hotspot for the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Humphrey Bogart and Greta Garbo, it still retains an air of quiet sophistication and grandeur.

The opulent palaces along its cobbled streets were once majestic family residences – now they are home to some of the area’s finest luxury hotels, set in stunning secluded gardens, each with their own fabulous views of the coast.

One of the best vantage points for taking it all in is Villa Rufolo, just off Piazza Centrale. Dating back to the 13th century, its impressive grounds and gardens inspired Wagner when he wrote his last opera, Parsifal, and it now hosts performances during the prestigious Ravello Festival, which has taken place every summer since the fifties. An unforgettable evening of music can be enjoyed in the outdoor auditorium, with the awe-inspiring sea vista as a backdrop. The cypress-lined avenues and pretty courtyards are lovely to wander through. (Open 9am-8pm daily; entry €5/`355; villarufolo.it) Similarly spectacular panoramas can be enjoyed from Villa Cimbrone, a short stroll away. This Roman-style palace is home to the Terrace of Infinity, a balcony lined with 18th-century marble busts suspended above the glittering sea – look down if you dare. The grounds feature a mix of Italian and English-themed gardens, as well as a small tearoom.

(Open 9am-sunset; entry €7/`495; villacimbrone.com) An ideal base while staying in Ravello is Palazzo Avino, a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts.

Located through a discreet doorway off a narrow pedestrian street near the town square, this 12thcentury palace opened as a five-star hotel in 1997.

Inside, modern white public spaces lead to an outdoor restaurant and bar with terraced gardens

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that descend to a pool and open-air gym. The 43 rooms and suites are also painted white, showing off the ornate Italian furnishings and Moorish architectural features, and most offer beautiful sea or mountain views.

One of the pleasures of visiting Italy is, of course, its food. At Palazzo Avino’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Rossellinis, you can enjoy a contemporary take on the region’s classics. Sampling the exquisite tasting menu on the terrace while drinking in the sea views – and the fine wines – makes for a truly memorable evening.

For something a little more hearty, head for one of the town’s homely trattorie. At Cumpa Cosimo, off the main square, locals and tourists tuck into generous portions of homemade pasta, fresh fish and plump, locally grown vegetables. The proprietor – quite a character – won’t be happy if you leave hungry (44-46 Via Roma; tel +39 089 857 156).

If you feel inspired, you can join a cookery class to learn how to recreate the area’s cuisine at home.

An afternoon at Villa Maria’s Nonna Orsola cookery school will give you three dinner-party courses to be proud of. Energetic chef Vincenzo Amatruda makes it all seem easy, and his homemade limoncello is the best you will have tasted (Via Pa. Alberghi; tel +39 089 857 255; cookingravello.com).

A great way to walk off all the excess is to take the footpath down from Ravello to the seaside town of Minori (the birthplace of TV chef Gennaro Contaldo).

The route takes about an hour, weaving through lemon groves, vineyards and tiny hamlets before arriving at the low-key town, which has a small beach and some nice spots for a well-earned aperitif. In the summer, ferries go from here to the larger, busier resort of Amalfi.

If you’re feeling less energetic, the Palazzo Avino offers a shuttle down to its beach club, an exclusive spot on the coast to sunbathe, swim and lunch in secluded surroundings. Reserved for hotel guests, it never gets too crowded and is a heavenly oasis of calm. Just what you need before returning to reality. n Palazzo Avino is open seasonally between April and October. Room rates in April started from €280/`21,301 online. Via San Giovanni del Toro 28; tel +39 089 818 181; palazzoavino.com n

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WELL-BEING City spas TASTE Single Malts

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Tales of a

Malt Aficionado A connoisseur of single malts, Omkar Goswami recommends ten of his favourites

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hen I went up to Oxford to do my doctoral work so long ago that I dare not disclose it any more, the only single malt I knew of was a triangular green bottle called Glenfiddich. That wasn’t because I had tasted the stuff; but because it started an ad blitz. In colour and black and white, the ads featured the bottle and the silver head of a mightily antlered Scottish male deer with slogans such as: “Discover the taste of Glenfiddich 100 per cent pure malt” and “There is only one way to take Glenfiddich. Seriously”.

The ads didn’t beckon me to buy the bottle. For one, as a student I could hardly afford it. For another, my preferred tipples those days were dark rum — the legacy of Old Monk — and local bitters.

Quite a bit later, well into my professional life, I stumbled upon single malts.

The problem with that stumble was my first taste. It was a Lagavulin 16-year old. Peaty, oaky, thick, rich, dark and smoky, it was heaven-

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WELL-BEING City spas TASTE Single Oilve Oil Malts

Above: Casks

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sent. Never before had I tasted anything so rich and redolent. Even today, a quarter century or more after I had first tried it, Lagavulin 16 remains one of my favourites; best enjoyed well after dinner, with a splash of water, and sipped slowly like a great cognac.

Having started my single malt journey with Lagavulin, I became an unadulterated Islay aficionado. To my untrained palate, nothing came close to the peaty taste and the rich finish. This list, therefore, is biased heavily in favour of Islays. It doesn’t mean that other single malts don’t make the cut. Far from it. But, all else being the same, I clearly prefer a good Islay malt to others. Here, then are my other nine favourites, in no ranking or order of importance.

Like Lagavulin 16, or may perhaps be even more so, the Bunnahabhain 18 years is another classic Islay. Rich in taste with a slightly salty, leathery, woody, honeyed after notes, Bunnahabhain is not a pre-dinner drink. I enjoy it after a light meal, on a cold winter evening, occasionally conversing with a special friend while listening to Chhayanat, Bageshree, Jaijawanti or Darbari, or Itzhak Perlman and Daniel Barenboim. Even better, though rarely found except in select shops in Edinburgh and London, it is worth trying two other Bunnahabhain

variations: the Ceobanach and the Toiteach.

The Ardbeg Uigeadail (pronounced “oogadahl”) is another Islay classic. Available at well stocked duty-free shops and stores in the larger cities of the UK, it has a great aroma, smoky, winter spice, Christmas pudding taste, sherry, oak and a lovely raisin-mocha finish. Again, this isn’t a pre-dinner drink to be spoilt with ice and water. Savour it an hour or so after dinner, with a tiny bit of water.

Hold it, warm it, and sip it with all the reverence it deserves.

Another noteworthy Islay malt is Caol Ila 18 years. Really well balanced, it is aromatic, with a lovely combination of soft peat, smoky oak, and a sweet herbal finish. It’s peaty but without extreme levels of peat, and a mellow drink that one can savour before dinner. The more popular Caol Ila 12-year-old is readily available in good liquor shops in the large cities of India, and can be enjoyed just as well in warmer climes with a couple of cubes of ice and a bit of water.

The Laphrohaig 18 years, sometimes affectionately called “The Frog” by its fans, replaced the 15-year-old in 2007 and is a beast of an Islay. Its common cousin, the more popular 10-year-old, is unfortunately over-hyped and maybe too raw to savour. Not so the 18-year old Frog. With a punch Visit businesstraveller.com

TASTING TIpS How best to enjoy the delicate yet complex aromas and flavours of a single malt is a matter of personal choice, whether neat, with water, on ice … or in a cocktail.

However, if one really wants to truly experience the romance that single malts have to offer, my recommendation is, add water.

Like a garden in summer after rainfall comes alive, water in Scotch whisky will excite the senses.

When tasting a single malt such as The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, the latest expression from the house of The Glenlivet, first observe the colour of the whisky in your glass, then nose the whisky lightly. This way you identify its personality. In the case of The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, you identify its zesty fruits and creamy sweetness before coating the tongue and observing its balance and intensely smooth character.

Now, add drop of water (preferably at room temperature) to release and reveal its aromas. Sit back and enjoy your drink.

By Alex RoBeRtson, InteRnAtIonAl BRAnd AmBAssAdoR At ChIvAs BRotheRs

as powerful as one associates with Laphrohaig, it is rounded, thick on the palate, peaty, very smoky, slightly salty, with a strong taste of oak and a great finish. Again, a warming post-dinner drink in winter.

Not the stuff to cool with ice cubes and water.

Bowmore 18 years is another peaty, mahogany coloured Islay malt — smoky, with a complex mixture of oak, caramel, chocolate and fruit, and a well-balanced finish.

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That takes us to three non-Islay malts before we return to the last one. The first is the Talisker 18 distilled and bottled in Carbost on the Isle of Skye.

Winner of the Best Whisky of the World title in 2007, this one has a great mix of fruit and spice, with a touch of peat, smoke and lots of oak. The spice builds up and the finish lingers with a taste of pepper and oak. More a post- than a pre-dinner drink though, in fairness, Talisker can be had before a meal unlike most Islays.

The second is the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, distilled in Tain, Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands.

It is probably the distillery’s darkest and most intense whisky, matured for ten years in white oak casks, and then transferred into ruby port pipes obtained from the Quintas or the wine estates of Portugal. It has a wonderful balance of sweet and dry flavours. Fulsome to the palate, you can smell and taste the lingering effects of port in what is a wonderfully well rounded whisky.

The third non-Islay is a Lowland single malt, the Auchentoshan 18-year-old. Matured in American bourbon oak, it is a refreshing single malt whisky with a taste of ripe citrus and a touch of caramel sweetness. There is a zest to both the Auchentoshan and the Quinta Ruban that makes them ideal predinner drinks in a warm country like India. Both can be enjoyed nice and cold, with ice and a bit of water.

And now to the wonder of wonders: Port Ellen.

Mario, a wonderful man who was an extraordinary bartender at the Central Sporthotel in Davos introduced me to it one very cold evening in January 1997. When I asked for Lagavulin 16, Mario refused; and, with the body language of a devotee, placed a bottle of Port Ellen in front of us on the bar.

It was an old fashioned bottle with the label having no flourish whatsoever. He then took out a couple of oval-shaped single malt glasses and poured two generous tots. When I asked for a bit of water, Mario refused. “Think of it as an XO cognac,” he said. The Port Ellen distillery had closed forever in 1983, and by then the stuff had already started becoming rare.

It was one of the few occasions I drank it and still remember the wonderful taste of that Islay — the nose was sweet and fruity, with vanilla, peat and tobacco notes, and it was gently sweet and malty to taste with the peat being as subtle as the oak. A bottle of Port Ellen today goes for at least £500 or `49,000, if you are lucky to get it from an honest seller.

So, that’s the ten varietals that one could proudly display in one’s bar: Lagavulin 16, Bunnahabhain 18, Ardbeg Uigeadail, Caol Ila 18, Laphrohaig 18, Bowmore 18, Talisker 18, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, Auchentoshan 18 and Port Ellen.

The tenth, Port Ellen, needs serious big bucks though! n MARCH 2016 75

Smart traveller

Conveniently away Being an independent traveller means feeling at home even when you’re not.

Neha Gupta points out how

W

hen travelling frequently for work, packing and unpacking, making sure your gadgets are charged, and staying fresh across time zones can be a bit of a struggle. Here are a few must-haves to gain advantage with time and be connected to home without much ado.

shuTTErsTock

Mobile wifi hotspot While wifi is becoming more easily available at airports, restaurants, hotels, and even some malls, many are still learning to offer it as a free service.

In stead of paying a premium price for the internet, we may as well bring our own. Sure we have had dongles for a while, but it isn’t the most convenient option when we have free video-calling apps such as Skype loaded on our smartphones. The use of dongles is limited to a USB port.

This is when your wifi hotspot box comes into use.

Think of it as a mobile router that is loaded with data through a card and can wirelessly feed the internet to multiple devices at a time. Data cost depends on the package you choose and your usage.

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Once the conveniently sized router is paired with your device(s), you have the internet in your pocket — literally!

Vodafone 3G MiFi; `2,399 for device; vodafone.in Airtel 4G Hotspot; `2,300 for device; airtel.in

power baNk They come with a power reserve ranging from four to 12 hours, and save you the trouble of finding a plug point when the battery blinks red.

Power banks can charge more than one device at a time, such as a phone, tablet, and laptop, through a USB cord. They are compact, lightweight, and some can even slip into your pocket.

Couple this with a portable wifi hotspot and you’ve got yourself an office in the car if you like!

Essot PowerHorsez 10000mAH Power Bank; essotglobal.com; `2,999 Asus 10050mAH ZenPower; asus.com/in; `2,499 Amkette Full Power 2500mAh Fuel Card; amkette.com; `1,395 GarMeNt steaMer When you take a quick pitstop at your hotel in between meetings, and realise that your jacket is crumpled or the shirt needs changing, relying on the hotel’s laundry services can delay you. Yanking out their heavy iron and ironing board can be a hassle too.

A fabric steamer, on the other hand is a lighter, no-fuss alternative. It is not only quick to use, but also uses very little space in your suitcase.

All you need to do is plug it in, fill in some water (as you would an electric kettle), and when you see the steam, roll the steaming mouth over your clothes. Voila!, you have a crisp shirt.

In fact you can steam all your hung shirts in half the time of a regular clothes iron, and you save on laundry charges too.

Usha Garment Steamer Techne Direct 1000; usha.com; `3,549 Philips Handheld Garment Steamer Gc310; philips.co.in; `4,995 Noise caNcelliNG headphoNes Hopping from one destination to another for important business deals, could mean catching up on lost sleep only during flights. Imagine a crying baby onboard or loud fellow passengers interrupting this.

Noise cancelling headphones employ high

density foam that absorbs surrounding sounds. The higher models have a switch, when flipped, give out sound waves to cancel ambient noise. They do a good job of almost muting unwanted sounds to a murmur, if not muting them completely. However, if you’re listening to music, you would have to be nudged for your attention.

Bose QuietComfort Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones; boseindia.com; `25,200 PSB Speakers M4U 2 Headphones; amazon.in; `33,500 Parrot Zik Wireless Headphones; flipkart.in; `32,975

travel pillows The debate on their usefulness or uselessness has been going on forever. Yet, some travellers swear by it, while others are still struggling with finding the perfect position.

Ring it around your neck, push it as low as it will go, and throw your head back, letting it rest at a 45-degree angle.

You can very well slip it from the side and grip the “legs” for a cosy sleep and chin-support too — there is no “right” way to sleep on it.

The idea is to hold the neck from falling. This way you don’t have a neck-tic after an eight-hour night flight. Besides, they do make a good alternative for the tiny airplane pillows that keep slipping away.

Two types are available on the market: inflatable and stuffed. The former are easy to deflate and stuff into your carryon.

It is worth reading real customer reviews on amazon.in or flipkart.in. The best ones for you, of course, are through trial and error.

Other WOrthy inveStmentS n hanging toilet kit: Even when you’re home, this can hang in your bathroom, and when you need to travel, just button it up and you’re good to go. It saves you many minutes of searching and packing. n personal water purifier: They are fitted with a filter that purifies tap water before it reaches your mouth.

Bacteria, virus, and chlorine are killed as they pass through the filter. n Global adaptor: It is one plug that has all types of pins. You don’t need to depend on the hotel for an adaptor anymore. n Unique baggage tag: Brighter the better. It saves you extra minutes of identifying your luggage, and with style. march 2016 77

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SNAPSHOT

In the bag Valerian Ho takes a peek inside the amenity kits of yesteryear

A

irlines have been providing passengers with amenity kits since the early days of commercial flights – but at first their contents were somewhat more practical. In the late 1920s and 1930s, US carriers such as American Airlines offered the Air Traveler’s Packet, a paper bag containing Bauer and Black cotton balls to block out the noise from the old piston engines, and Wrigley’s chewing gum to combat changes in air pressure.

By the 1950s, Pan Am was recognising the role of the amenity kit in making premium passengers feel special.

First class travellers on flights from New York to London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires were given The President Special. Housed in a cylindrical metal case, it comprised a gold-anodized Gillette double-edge razor and blade with shaving cream, toothbrush and toothpaste. The following decade, the airline began offering perfume to the ladies, and cologne and aftershave to the gentlemen.

In 1978, Delta Air Lines introduced its first kit on flights from Atlanta to London Gatwick. Inside was a washcloth, comb, toothbrush and paste, hand lotion and an emery board encased in a white vinyl pouch decorated with Delta’s London inaugural floral emblem. There was also a sewing kit, in case you wanted to do any mending on board – well, there wasn’t much in the way of in-flight entertainment back then…. ■ 82 MARCH 2016

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