Business Breaks - Issue 1

Rock Me Amadeus

How Lufthansa is changing the way we pay for airport services

A Prepaid Card for the Digital Age The lowdown on prepaid mastercard, PayFEX

The Fastest Way to First-Class Flying Stratajet founder, Jonny Nicol on a welcome addition to a notoriously complicated and traditionally inaccessible industry

B O O K I N G A P R I VAT E J E T HAS NEVER BEEN SO SIMPLE Save time and money with Stratajet. Compare the best prices for private jets to charter, instantly.

As fast and easy as booking a private jet should be.

G E T T H E A P P A N D S E A RC H F L I G H T S TO DAY +44 (0)20 3397 4999 | S T R ATA J E T.CO M

issue 1 14

Page 14

Rock Me Amadeus

Lufthansa Group’s new system, Amadeus Airport Pay is changing how way we pay for our ancillary airport services

Page 18

Help in Your Hands

The lowdon on AirHelp, the world’s number one flight delays compensation company

Page 22

A Prepaid Card For the Digital Age

36

Offering total flexibility, PayFEX is a new prepaid card designed with business travellers in mind.

Page 26

Be Smart, Join the Club

Smartdriverclub gives owners of older cars up-to-the-minute connectivity, tracking, safety and efficiency tools without the need to upgrade their vehicle.

Page 36

The Fastest Way to First Class Flying

64

Stratajet founder, Jonny Nicol on how he is making getting from A to B in style easier than ever.

Page 64

Behind the Scenes at Badrutt’s Palace

Guiseppe Pesenti, concierge at St Moritz’s Badrutt’s Palace on what is required to maintain the reputation of one of Switzerland’s most renowned destinations.

3

NEWS

Etihad Introduces Changes to Ground and Inflight Services Etihad Airways has introduced a series of changes designed to offer increased value and flexibility based on customer feedback.

The airline has amended its chauffeur policy following a review of usage by premium guests across all major markets. The complimentary chauffeur service has been retained at Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub and replaced with a paid option at specially negotiated rates in all other cities. The changes were implemented from 3 July 2017.

As part of the initiative to improve the value proposition for travellers, the airline has also extended the paid airport transfer option to all guests across all cabins and allows Etihad Guest members to accrue miles on their chauffeur bookings.

Mohammad Al Bulooki, Executive Vice President Commercial for Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad Airways is constantly looking at ways to improve its value proposition for guests, focusing on the service elements that are most important to them. These changes have been put in place as the airline looks to evolve its product proposition while continuing to match individual customer requirements. Following a review, the chauffeur services we offer will be amended globally, with the exception of Abu Dhabi, where there are a high number of users of the service.

“Many customers prefer to make their Guests travelling in The Residence onboard own ground transportation arrangements. the flagship Airbus A380 fleet will continue The decision by Etihad Airways to change to receive complimentary chauffeur ser- its offering has been taken to provide invices at all A380 destinations – Abu Dhabi, creased choice and to ensure fares remain London, Paris, Sydney and New York. as low and as competitive as possible, while retaining best-in-class service for First and Business Class tickets issued all guests, in all cabins.” prior to 3 July 2017 will not be affected by these changes and will receive Etihad Airways will also offer Economy complimentary chauffeur service across Class guests paid access to its growing destinations where the service is cur- portfolio of dedicated lounges around the rently offered. world, including its Premium Lounges in 4

NEWS

Abu Dhabi, London, Manchester, Dublin, an innovative new ‘Neighbour-Free Seat’ Paris, Washington D.C., New York JFK, option in Economy Class. The service Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles. provides guests with the option to enhance their flying experience by ‘bidding’ Al Bulooki continued: “On the ground, for up to three empty seats next to their premium class guests can enjoy free original seat - subject to availability andaccess to Etihad Airways’ collection of cabin configuration. outstanding lounges. By offering paid access to Economy Class guests, these This gives guests the opportunity for insignature lounges can now be enjoyed creased space, comfort and privacy, at a by all who desire to experience our price that is affordable. Guests can bid at the award-winning facilities.” time of booking online. Successful bids will be confirmed 30 hours prior to departure.

Guests travelling on Etihad Airways Business Class tickets can now also pay and More information on the new chauffeur upgrade to the airline’s luxurious flag- service changes, neighbour free seats ship First Class Lounge & Spa when flying and lounge access policy is available at from, or transiting through Abu Dhabi. etihad.com.

Inflight, Etihad Airways has introduced 5

6

NEWS

Vivek Chadha Named the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Watford businessman Vivek Chadha has been named as the Entrepreneur of the Year for the London & South region at the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 awards.

Chadha has spearheaded the growth of hotel development company Nine Group, which over the last two years has become one of the fastest growing private hotel companies in the UK, employing over 800 people across the 18 hotels in the portfolio.

The Nine Group portfolio is diverse, with a mixture of residential and commercial properties, plus hotels including the Mercure St Albans Noke Hotel, the Novotel London Heathrow Airport and the Manchester Hotel in Trafford Park.

egory award, alongside Ella and Matthew Mills of Deliciously Ella, Vivek Chadha said: “It’s a real honour to have been chosen as Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 for the London and South region, from a group of impressive entrants.

It’s a privilege to represent my hometown of Watford in Hertfordshire, where several of the hotels from Nine Group portfolio are located. I look forward to representing the Nine Group alongside my fellow nominees at the UK finals.”

Having achieved such a level of success in the UK before reaching the age of 30, Chadha The chosen winners from each region will is now looking towards continental Europe now progress to the UK final held in London for further hotel acquisitions. in October, where they will compete for the title “EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year”.

Now in its 31st year globally and 19th year in the UK, Entrepreneur of the Year is the most The UK winner - along with winners from prestigious business awards program for other countries - will then attend the EY entrepreneurs, recognising individuals who World Entrepreneur of the Year Forum in are excelling in areas such as innovation, Summer 2018, which gathers the world’s financial performance and personal commit- most inspiring entrepreneurs, game ment to their businesses and communities. changers and government leaders from more than 60 countries.

Named as a winner of the Rising Star cat7

NEWS

Dubai Business Events Gathers Momentum Following Strong H1 Business events secured in the first half of 2017 set to attract over 51,000 delegates from around the world with an expected economic impact of AED 375 million.

Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau, has reported strong results for the first half of 2017, with 97 bids submitted to host business events being successfully awarded to the city. The events secured since January, including conferences, exhibitions, meetings and incentive trips, are poised to attract over 51,636 delegates from around the world, resulting in an expected economic impact of approximately AED 375 million.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “Dubai has grown tremendously to become a leading destination for international business events. We recognise the significance of the business events industry, and acknowledge the various growth facets each event brings to the city. Not only do they accelerate our journey towards becoming a knowledge-sharing economy, but business events are also major contributors towards our goal of welcoming 20 million visitors each year by 2020.”

In the first six months, Dubai Business Events won a total of 97 pitches to host

business events in the city, and is currently awaiting verdict on 97 more that have been submitted. Key wins include: Baby Care Annual Incentive (2018), World Conference on Desalination and Water Re-Use (2019), and Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (2022).

Dubai Business Events has also ramped up efforts to highlight the city’s business events offering to international audiences. DBE representatives have attended over 50 trade events in the first half of the year, interacting with over 4,500 business events buyers and planners. The bureau has also facilitated a total of 16 site inspections with 38 clients, and hosted 144 buyers from around the world as part of four in-depth Dubai study missions.

Steen Jakobsen, Director of Dubai Business Events, said: “We’ve had a stellar start to the year, and are well on our way to achieving our targets set for 2017. As we continue to work towards further strengthening Dubai’s reputation of being a premier host destination for business events, we have a steady pipeline of initiatives planned for the year 8

NEWS

ahead. We are also focusing on expanding significant presence at IMEX America in Las our network and reach globally, enabling Vegas and IBTM World in Barcelona towards businesses, event buyers and planners to the end of the year. benefit from our expertise.”

Recently, Dubai was named as one of the top Dubai Business Event’s Al Safeer Ambas- 10 destinations for international meetings by sador Programme has also contributed Union of International Associations (UIA) in significantly to the city’s success in bidding its latest edition of the International Meetfor international events. The programme ings Statistics Report published last month. features a network of 300 prominent experts The city previously ranked 14th in the 2015 from diverse sectors, including academia, edition, and moved up the list with a total of finance, and healthcare, who are based in 180 meetings taking place in 2016.

Dubai. Since January, the programme contributed to securing a total of 11 business For further information on Dubai please visit events for the city. www.visitdubai.com Further study missions in 2017 will come from India, China, the Americas and Southeast Asia, while DBE will also build on its participation in major trade shows with a 9

NEWS

Canaves Oia Hotel Crowned ‘Best Luxury Boutique Spa in Europe’ Canaves Oia, the five-star resort in Santorini, Greece, is delighted to announce it has won the award for the Best Luxury Boutique Spa in Europe by the World Luxury Spa Awards 2017.

The awards recognise outstanding or the Bali Paradise Therapy, combining achievement in quality, innovation and freshly blended fruit extracts and herbs. service for spas around the world. Competing spas in 2017 included privately Click HERE for more information. owned spas to globally renowned spa groups. Voting is based on spa excellence and is cast by spa guests.

Markos Chaidemenos, Managing Director of Canaves Oia, is confident that the award will boost the spa’s profile to luxury seekers across the globe.

“The World Luxury Spa Awards sets the spotlight on the world’s best spas, so we’re thrilled to be named as the best luxury boutique spa in Europe,” he said. “At Canaves Oia, we transformed a 17th-century wine cave into a luxury spa without losing its inherent charm. It is indeed a spa with a Santorini soul and an unforgettable customer journey. This award is a great recognition of all our efforts.”

The spa’s treatment menu includes the famous Rasul, of which clients have a choice between the Terra Sigillata Therapy, offering three freshly prepared mineral muds, 10

NEWS

Eden Bleu ‘Seychelles’ Leading Conference Hotel’ Again Champagne corks are popping at Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles, as it celebrates being awarded the prestigious title of ‘Seychelles’ Leading Conference Hotel’ at the World Travel Awards for the second year running.

Known as the ‘Oscars of the Travel Industry’ the World Travel Awards™ acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

Eden Bleu Hotel outperformed its competitors and was praised for its unique ability to provide outstanding meeting rooms, conference facilities and boardrooms of differing sizes.

A group of expert representatives from the global travel industry confirmed that Eden Bleu Hotel is equipped with the finest meetings and conference facilities in the Seychelles, and the property was also commended for its excellent multimedia facilities and the very latest communication technology.

“Eden Bleu Hotel is the only hotel in the Seychelles to win the title of ‘Seychelles’ Leading Conference Hotel’ at the World Travel Awards for the second year in a row. Eden Bleu Hotel is the only hotel of its kind in the Seychelles that seamlessly combines luxury business facilities with excellent leisure facilities. The meetings, conference, incentive and events market for the Seychelles is continuously increasing and at Eden Bleu Hotel, we are consistently striving for excellence in all that we do. Our ability to

provide an outstanding service to meetings, conference and event organisers, as well as incentive groups from across the globe has been recognised by the World Travel Awards and we are truly delighted to achieve such a prestigious accolade.” Comments Manuel Policarpo, General Manager of Eden Bleu Hotel.

Eden Bleu Hotel is an affordable luxury in paradise. Conveniently located on Eden Island, Eden Bleu Hotel has 75 Deluxe Rooms, 12 Luxury Suites and a stunning Presidential Suite. Many of the rooms have panoramic views of either the International Marina or the majestic mountains. The hotel includes a modern conference centre with state-of-theart amenities and can be divided into two separate rooms, ideally suited for gala dinners, product launches, meetings, board meetings, presentations and break-out sessions.

To book your stay, meeting, conference or event at the award-winning Eden Bleu Hotel, please do not hesitate to contact Celia Ponzo, Sales & Marketing Manager: sales@edenbleu.com or the reservations department at reservations@edenbleu. com or telephone + 248 439 9100.

11

TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

Harridge Group: Making the Impossible Possible Your CEO and company partners are important people; without them you wouldn’t have your job.

They can be demanding and sometimes you may even wonder whether they are living on the same planet as everyone else, but their requests must be met all the same.

When it comes to incentive travel and partners retreats, the pressure can really be on to make sure everything runs perfectly. Of course, as the booker you may not be invited – you may not even have heard of the destination before.

Recent projects include:

Team Incentive

Location: Glamourous Marbella, Spain • Hotel Guadalmina Spa and Golf Resort (pictured above)– standard, superior and three levels of suite available • Generous continental breakfast in the Taray restaurant • Two green fees per person with a choice of seven golf courses in the locale • Thermal circuit in Guadalmina Spa • Sumptuous gala dinner arranged in private dining room for the group • Flights included from anywhere in the world (group rates available) • Transfers to and from the airport and between golf courses arranged

Harridge Events is a specialist in this kind of conundrum; when you simply do not have the necessary time to research ways of making the trip extra special, our team can make your planning process straight Partners Retreat forward, stress-free and surprisingly good Location: The peaceful and scenic Hudson Valley, New York State (pictured above) value for money.

12

TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

• Total buy-out of the luxurious Buttermilk Falls Inn for a maximum capacity of 27 people • Meetings take place in a charming, cosy barn in the grounds of the hotel • Lunches take place just outside to make the most of the sunshine • Grounds include a farm and landscaped gardens to enjoy • Award-winning spa on site • Team-building activities allowed on site • Activities in the local surround include horse trekking in the valley, kayaking on the Hudson River, walking trails, Grand Prix-style go-karting championship, wine tasting, bonfires, or a yoga class arranged within the hotel to start your meeting with a fresh perspective • Private dining at the famous Mohonk Mountain House nearby

• Piano delivered direct to hotel to allow CEO to share his talent with his team – party started in style • Canapes and sparkling reception arranged in the lounge of their Premier Cottage • Late licences available • VIP transfers arranged throughout trip.

• Flights included from anywhere in the world (group rates available) Does this sound like something your team may enjoy? With some of the lowest fees in the industry, Harridge Events can work with any budget and in any location worldwide.

BB

Call the team on 020 8566 2770 to discuss your event or travel requirements today.

13

TRAVEL TECH

ROCK ME AMADEUS The idea of secure and efficient card-based payments is today far from revolutionary, however, it seems that one place that is yet to fully embrace chip and pin culture is a place where speed, security and a no fuss approach are valued above all else – the airport check-in counter.

We spoke to Philipp Vetten, Head of IT Project Payment at Lufthansa Group Hub Airlines to find out how new system, Amadeus Airport Pay is changing forever the way we pay for our ancillary airport services, and discover why it is set to set to usher in a much-needed new era for customer service and convenience.

14

TRAVEL TECH

t

he airline industry has been looking to find a payment system that fulfills PCI Compliance for more than five years now and we have finally developed one that does so,” says Philipp.

to be offered by an airline on a worldwide basis, platform on which it is built is one that that most consumers already know, and have likely already used countless times.

“Amadeus Airport Pay enables secure and simple payments at the check-in counter, a move that will go a long way to vastly improving customer service.”

“Basically,” says Philipp, “we are offering customers the same well-known service they use when going to a retailer and making a purchase. Most consumers already know this device from their hotel, favourite restaurant or local supermarket. Not to say that we already didn’t offer secure payment transactions but this truly is the most advanced technology that currently exists and now we can offer it where it’s needed most in the airport, including check-in counters, ticketing counters and even at the gate.

Thanks to Amadeus Airport Pay, which is available at airports in Munich, Salzburg and Warsaw and will be rolled out at more than 170 airports around the world, customers will now be able to pay for ancillary services, such as excess baggage, with credit and debit cards and digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. Additionally, airline staff will now be able to initiate compensation payments on the spot, for instance in the case of a passenger voluntarily stepping back from an overbooked flight.

“You really can’t underestimate the difference this will make to convenience and security for all travelers, not least of all those on business. It goes without saying that any employer would feel relieved knowing that Philipp says: “Aside from convenience, their people are using the company credit this service offers customers a secure card in conjunction with the most secure payment transaction that is fully PCI com- payment system available today. pliant. Every day, we are working on implementing this service in more and more “At the end of the day, the customer wants locations where we use the Lufthansa, to feel safe and secure throughout the Austrian Airlines or Swiss check-in sys- entire travel chain and this is what the tem – we’re speaking of roughly 2,000 Lufthansa Group strives to offer.” devices to be shipped to more than 100 countries ¬– and so far, the response from Lufthansa may have the distinction of beemployees and customers has been over- ing the first – and currently the only – airwhelmingly positive.” line group to offer this service worldwide, however Philippe firmly believes that it Despite Amadeus Airport Pay being the won’t be long before others follow suit. very first PCI compliant payment system 15

TRAVEL TECH

“The customer wants to feel safe and secure throughout the entire travel chain and this is what the Lufthansa Group strives to offer.”

“The Lufthansa Group is definitely taking a leading role but we believe that as the security of payments becomes even more of a priority and the desire to continue to improve the customer experience remains at the very top of all airlines’ lists, the whole industry will soon follow this trend.

There is already a very high interest for this product and since we launched, other airlines have already shown interest.”

And this status as an industry leader looks set to continue, with Philippe revealing the group’s plans for the coming years and its role in what is a constantly evolving industry.

“Firstly, we as the Lufthansa Group, will continue to improve the customer experience including all touch points during the entire travel chain. We have named 2017 the year of digitalisation and have vowed to invest 500 million Euros into digitisation by 2020.

“As a result of this strong commitment and our ongoing commitment to continually improve the customer experience, there are many projects going on across the company to improve all of our services and to build on and further explore individualised communication with our customers. This is just one example of many of the exciting changes to come and one that we feel is a huge step for the airline industry that other airlines will again be quick to adopt.”

BB

16

TRAVEL TECH

17

TRAVEL TECH

Help in Your Hands Anybody who’s ever had to chase compensation following a delayed or cancelled flight will know that getting back what you’re owed can be no picnic.

However, since 2013, one firm in particular has been working tirelessly, using cutting edge technology and upto-the-minute customer rights advice to ensure that travellers are able to get the guidance they need and make their claims as quickly and as easily as possible.

We spoke to UK Country Manager, Marius Fermi to find out more…

Marius Fermi 18

TRAVEL TECH

Marius, to begin, what exactly is AirHelp?

“AirHelp is the world’s number one flight delays compensation company that helps passengers apply for compensation following a delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight. Since the business was founded in 2013, AirHelp has helped more than three million travellers process airline compensation claims worth more than £140 million in total reimbursement.

AirHelp has offices in five cities across Europe, Asia and North America and is available in 30 countries, offering support in 15 languages. The business employs more than 500 employees worldwide. This year the company has seen a great period of growth and our priority is to continue to develop and launch new travel tech innovations to make claiming compensation as easy as possible for passengers.

Tell us more about your new boarding pass scanner and what it means for travellers.

The Boarding Pass Scanner has been designed specifically to help air passengers who have experienced delayed and cancelled flights to check their eligibility at the airport or on-the-go, and to make a claim in a matter of minutes.

We wanted to help passengers process claims remotely as well as instantly from the airport by scanning their boarding pass from their mobile device. Before the development of the new app, passengers could make claims and check eligibility only from our website. Flight delays and cancellations are already an incon-

venience for travellers therefore we’re committed to ensuring the compensation process is as straight forward and hassle free for the passenger.

Put simply, why do travellers need this scanner?

The Boarding Pass Scanner provides an instant compensation eligibility checker to passengers. The feature then provides passengers with real-time updates on their compensation claim, but it also allows passengers to add multiple boarding passes at a time, keeping them organised and archived - ideal for families and those travelling in groups. It works seamlessly with the rest of the AirHelp app, which offers passengers free and independent consumer rights advice, should their flight be delayed, cancelled or overbooked.

Sounds impressive but give us some background to the new system. Explain how the idea came about and talk us through the development process.

The Boarding Pass Scanner is a new feature that we felt would make a great addition to the app’s multiple features, allowing for passengers to upload and store the details of their flight instantly.

We wanted to find a way for passengers to make an instant claim from the airport without having to input information.

The scanner provides the most instant way to input all the flight’s details automatically into most of the fields. Enlightening consumers about their passenger rights and streamlining the process to 19

TRAVEL TECH

seek compensation is our company’s core What about the industry as a whole? Are mission, with new tech developments be- there any alternatives or rivals to the new system and if so, why should AirHelp ing at the forefront of our thinking. be a traveller’s first choice?

We worked with our highly skilled team There are competitors that offer compento make this available to passengers and sation calculators and a way to check your we’re delighted that feedback has been compensation eligibility online, however great so far, with many more travellers these are not instant and can leave cususing the new feature to file a compen- tomers waiting weeks by which time it’s an afterthought for passengers. sation claim.

As a significant proportion of our readership are frequent business travellers, how will AirHelp and the new Boarding Pass Scanner help them in particular?

Business productivity is often impacted on when flights are delayed or cancelled.

Time is a valuable resource for businesses and therefore they shouldn’t have to pay for the airlines mistakes. In other parts of the business, if contractors don’t deliver on time there are financial penalties.

We feel that air travel shouldn’t be exempt from this. If employees are delayed and meetings having to be postponed, the least businesses can do is claim compensation, and in a way, that saves them the work and time of having to file multiple claims.

The boarding pass scanner allows business travellers to file multiple claims with a few taps of a button. These days air travel is very costly to businesses and we feel any chance to reclaim expenditure should be seized.

AirHelp’s new app on the other hand offers passengers the ability to scan their boarding pass and instantly file a claim.

The app also provides customisable notifications from your smart phone to give travellers real time updates on what is going on with their claim from the start of the process to the finish.

As systems and apps like this become more prevalent, how do you expect them to impact and even shape the travel industry over the coming months and years?

It is not standard practice by most travellers at present to file for the compensation they are legally entitled to following a delayed or cancelled flight – never mind use an app to file instantly! On average, almost nine million flyers worldwide are legally entitled to flight disruption compensation from airlines. Despite this, only two per cent of eligible passengers will file for such compensation leaving £2 billion in reimbursement untouched each year.

We hope that the easy to use feature will encourage more passengers to file for 20

TRAVEL TECH

compensation following a delayed or cancelled flight and that tech such as this will become more widely used and recognised by travellers, creating new standards of practice within the industry.

Through use of The AirHelp App and The Boarding Pass Scanner feature, passengers will be able to check instantly what they are eligible for from the airlines along with reading up on their rights from the airport gate. We hope that this in turn will help Unfortunately, we’ve seen many exam- airlines from a commercial perspective, as ples where airlines have provided initial this issue has evolved from being a purely support to delayed passengers but have operational issue to one that is impacting then left them to fend for themselves at airline brands reputations, and in turn their the airport – for example only paying for future commercial success. one night’s hotel accommodation and giving vouchers when passengers are left stranded for days.

BB

21

TRAVEL TECH

A Prepaid Card For the Digital Age Giving users instant access to funds, incentives and automated reporting, and offering total flexibility, PayFEX is a new prepaid card designed with business travellers in mind.

To begin, please could you introduce our readers to PayFEX and explain to us how it will benefit today’s business travellers.

PayFEX is a prepaid Mastercard from AFEX that has been specifically designed for regular business travellers who are dissatisfied with inefficient corporate payment procedures.

and has resulted in a very busy marketplace.

It is a comprehensive program that gives users instant access to funds, incentives and automated expense reporting, wherever they are in the world. Its global flexibility is particularly useful for employees working either on a seasonal basis or residing in countries where their employers do not have a physical presence.

PayFEX gives users a unique, innovative and user-friendly portal that takes the pain out corporate travel by drastically reducing the time and money that travellers would normally have to spend waiting for payments, filing expense reports or incentives.

What does PayFEX do that its rivals do not and why should our readers be choosing this system over the available alternatives?

The global prepaid market has been growing every year since 2003, and is estimated to reach a value of $3,653 billion by 2022. This popularity has been driven by the convenience, cost-effectiveness and flexibility of prepaid solutions,

Unlike many of the corporate prepaid cards on the market today, however, PayFEX is a complete payment management solution with several digital capabilities to support its initial chip-and-pin ability.

The portal, which is available on any device, enables users to upload receipts for instant capture, be alerted to payments via SMS without waiting for them to clear, and instantly redeem rewards at over 35 million locations worldwide.

Ultimately, PayFEX goes above and beyond the standard corporate card by streamlining the time-consuming burden of managing cor-

22

TRAVEL TECH

porate payments for travellers. Importantly, this lets them get on with their lives in today’s fast-paced world.

What do you regard as the biggest and most pressing problems and issues facing travellers in 2017 and why is it so important that they are tackled as soon as possible?

Technology is constantly changing the way we go about our lives, and corporate travellers are particularly receptive to innovations that help them to operate both autonomously and efficiently.

Despite such a progressive mentality, we’re seeing that the industry has yet to optimise technology to remedy some of business travellers’ most basic grievances. Expense reporting was recently named the third-most frustrating part of the corporate travel process, with 41% of employees still submitting expenses manually via time-consuming spreadsheets.

Such inefficiencies can kill productivity for both businesses and employees: 55% of employees report that manual expense submissions can take 2 hours to complete, with 80% confirming that these reports are completed during working hours.

Further, many businesses across Europe are globalising and expanding their international workforce, but are already struggling to pay employees promptly and accurately, citing issues with third-party suppliers and, importantly, problems with existing payroll systems.

The consequences can be damaging: 88% of employees have a negative perception of employers that pay late, and 44% would consider leaving their job as a result.

With that in mind, how does PayFEX make the business of corporate travel easier, more efficient, more cost effective and safer?

PayFEX can streamline the entire payment experience for corporate travellers and bring it into the digital age. In this real time environment, there is no place for the time-consuming, frustrating and inefficient incumbents that are still widely used across the industry.

PayFEX removes the need for payments to clear and eliminates per-payment fees. This ensures that employees, regardless of location, can access and spend funds as soon as they are distributed from a central company account. Users also receive automated SMS alerts to instantly notify them when funds are transferred, keeping cardholders up-to-date and helping them to easily manage their money while on the go.

PayFEX expense management facility automates the previously inefficient and time-intensive process of expense reporting. It gives employees the power to capture expenses and upload receipts for transactions in real time, via a user-friendly online portal. Users can also segregate VAT, log accounting categories and job codes, which dramatically improves travellers’ productivity by removing the tedious time spent completing these tasks back in the office.

With business travellers sometimes spending long periods away from the office, incentives can be an effective way to keep them engaged and performing to their maximum potential.

PayFEX can be directly linked to sales performance and automatically administer guaranteed rewards that can be redeemed at over 35 million locations worldwide. Cardholders can use PayFEX wherever the Mastercard Accept-

23

TRAVEL TECH

ance Mark is displayed, keeping them motivated and improving the relationship between employer/employee.

Currently valued at £928bn, the global business travel sector is expected to grow by 3.7pc per year over the next decade. As the industry continues to develop, travellers and businesses must make use of the innovations, efficiencies and opportunities that prepaid technologies such as PayFEX can provide. The alternative is an outdated, unattractive and frustrating corporate travel experience that is ultimately harmful to employer and employee alike.

Could you give us a little background to the development process and the challenges faced in bringing PayFEX to market AFEX was founded in 1979 and even though we are positioned as one of the largest non-banking providers of global payments and risk management solutions, the prepaid space was not one we had ventured into, despite our rich heritage within the FX industry.

Given the demand and our first-hand knowledge of other solutions on the market that weren’t satisfying our clients’ corporate traveller needs, we wanted to challenge ourselves by adding such a prolific product to our service offering.

Since launching the card in May of this year, we have successfully brought PayFEX to market as a product that serves this market effectively.

We’ve done this by working closely with a range of businesses, across several industries and sectors, for over 38 years. These long-established relationships have given us a clear understanding of how today’s businesses are welcoming globalization and how they want to expand their business’s reach.

By extension, we’ve also established in-depth knowledge of their customers. Applying this insight to the development of PayFEX means that it is perfectly tailored to the requirements of the modern-day business professional.

Tell us about how customers actually go about using PayFEX. For example, where is it available and how do they interact with it?

PayFEX can be distributed to any business and its customers with a presence in the Single European Payments Area. Each user receives a prepaid chip-and-pin enabled Mastercard that is connected to an ultra-responsive online portal. The portal, which can be accessed via any device, enables each business traveller to track their expenses and view their transactional data and current balance anytime, anywhere.

Cardholders can extract cash from an ATM with a competitively fixed £1.60 fee, and a standardised FX fee across GDP, EUR or USD, with no charge for point-of-sale transactions. For online transactions and one-off payments, PayFEX is also available as a cost-effective virtual card.

This format gives business travellers complete flexibility when on the move, providing an instantaneous way to pay, and reduces the number of cards that employees need to carry. Because each virtual card has a unique transaction-specific identifier, travellers benefit from secure, highly traceable payments, with no need for invoices.

Tell us about PayFEX’s success so far. How many users does it have, how much money is being managed, and what has the feedback been like?

Since its launch in May, we have already commissioned over 1000 PayFEX cards to multiple clients across a number of verticals. These businesses are using PayFEX to streamline their entire corporate payments program for their employees, and have enjoyed significant savings as a result.

PayFEX is still new-to-market, but we are already building on this early success and are confident of continuing this momentum in the near future.

24

TRAVEL TECH

Finally, what are your plans for the future?

Specifically, how do you see PayFEX evolving over the coming months and years and how will it keep up with changes to the ways in which people travel?

PayFEX offers total flexibility and its virtual card capability means that it could easily integrate new partners to build an end-to-end business travel solution or app. From booking flights and insurance, to managing boarding passes and hotel bookings, there is great potential for PayFEX to be the centre of a new digital business travel experience.

We are already planning to roll PayFEX out across all of our regional offices in EMEA, with a launch in our Americas and APAC region in the near future. PayFEX also gives business travellers access to Mastercard’s Priceless Cities program, and we are looking to expand this partnership to give our cardholders even more choice and incentives abroad.

To note, we listen to the needs of our customers, and like our other products, are committed in continuously evolving PayFEX to ensure that it remains fit-for-purpose in today’s dynamic and global business environment.

BB

AFEX is the trading name of Associated Foreign Exchange Limited (Company Number: 4848033). AFEX is not a bank.

AFEX is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2009 (Ref: 502593) for the provision of payment services and is registered as a Money Service Business with HM Revenue & Customs (Reg No: 12159000).

Mastercard® is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Payfex is issued by Wirecard Card Solutions Limited pursuant to a licence by Mastercard International Incorporated. Wirecard Card Solutions Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to conduct electronic money service activities under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (Ref: 900051).

All communications shall be sent to Associated Foreign Exchange Limited, 4th Floor, 40 Strand, London WC2N 5RW.

25

TRAVEL TECH

Be Smart, Join the C Launched in 2016, Smartdriverclub gives owners of older cars up-to-theminute connectivity, tracking, safety and efficiency tools all without the need to upgrade their vehicle.

This is obviously great news for frequent business travellers so we caught up with CEO, Penny Searles to find out more.

Firstly, can you explain to our readers exactly what SmartDriverClub is all about?

SmartDriverClub gives used car owners (post-2003) connectivity via a smartplug device which fits into their car’s OBD port.

the services are managed by the Viewpoint app or online.

Alarmingly, there are around 30 million vehicles on UK roads without the accident alert, fault warnings and theft tracking capabilities This connects the car to SmartDriverClub, of newer cars. enabling a range of safety and cost saving services including theft tracking, crash noti- Now motorists can ‘get connected’ without havfication, breakdown support, business miles ing to upgrade their car. Theft tracking can cost reporting and alerts to mechanical issues. around £300, compared to just £7.99 per month for all the services from SmartDriverClub.

The service also gives drivers the option of usage-based insurance from Smart Driver Good drivers can also access insurance Club Insurance (underwritten by Admiral). All premiums up to 40% less than a traditional 26

TRAVEL TECH

“SmartDriverClub is the only connected car service in the UK for the drivers of older vehicles that also offers usage-based insurance.”

Club

you have an accident, you’ll get the help and support you need as quickly as possible. You may also want your family to know you are safe if you are frequently taking long trips for business.

The crash alert service will tell SmartDriverClub if the driver has had an accident, literally seconds after impact – they will try calling the driver to see if they are okay and if they can’t reach the driver they will contact emergency policy. With alerts to mechanical issues, the services to confirm the location of the vehicost savings alone outweigh the monthly cle. If the driver is fine and answers the call, subscription. This is aside from the peace SmartDriverClub will then talk them through of mind offered by crash alerts and break- exactly what they need to do based on the down support to get help for drivers when circumstances of the accident. The driver can also choose to allow family members to it’s needed most. view their trip data so that they can see they So what are the current alternatives to are safe and have reached their destination.

SmartDriverClub? Does the system offer On a practical level, business travellers anything that its competitors don’t?

SmartDriverClub is the only connected car need to make mileage claims which can service in the UK for the drivers of older vehi- be time consuming and may involve an cles that also offers usage-based insurance element of guesswork which could ultias part of a range of membership connected mately leave them out of pocket. Using the services. It gives drivers of pre-2003 cars Business Miles service, business drivers greater protection, both on the road and can accurately record their business versus personal miles and download the inforwhen managing their running costs. mation directly into their expense forms, What currently are the biggest issues facing confident that it is all accurate and fully specifically corporate travellers and how can validated information.

SmartDriverClub help address these problems?

Well firstly, if you use your own car for busi- Business travellers also have a responsibility ness travel, you want peace of mind that if to ensure their car is roadworthy and need 27

TRAVEL TECH

to keep their MOT and TAX up to date. The location of the OBD port. Ninety eight percent MyMechanic service flags up any technical of cars are compatible with the service. issues that need dealing with and provides And what about the interface itself? How do MOT and tax reminders. users interact with the system?

Finally, if you are travelling to unfamiliar ar- Smartdrverclub is available direct or from a eas, you will of course want to remember growing number of used car dealers. Once where you parked your car. The ‘Where’s a customer has checked their car is comMy Car’ service will lead you to your vehicle patible and signed up to the service, they using a handy map. are sent a matchbox sized device in the post that they can plug into their car, at which The service also has benefits for the employ- point they are connected. Then they simply er who has a duty of care to ensure the safety download the smartphone app, create a of people travelling for business. Support- password and username and are able to ing drivers using their own car for business view all of the services. (known as the grey fleet) has always been challenging but SmartDriverClub gives the So what has feedback been like so far? Are business visibility over the condition of the people getting on board and what are proving vehicle and the safety of the employee – with to be the most popular aspects of the system? the employee’s permission.

So far our customer numbers are on target and feedback has been fantastic. Just in the And just how easy was it to ensure that all past week we helped a customer who was this was delivered as planned? involved in an accident, talking him through A club delivering connectivity to used car what he needed to do at the scene. He was owners with the option of insurance is a com- so thankful for having us at the other end of pletely new concept so there has been a big the phone to help him deal with what was a process of education to help people under- pretty stressful situation. stand the proposition. Getting TV presenter and motoring expert, Mike Brewer on board We also helped a customer recover two cars as a brand ambassador this year has helped that had been stolen from outside his home, by alerting the police to their location - forboost awareness. tunately he had devices fitted in both cars.

Also finding the right technology partner was a long process – we needed 100% con- So, after a more than successful first year, fidence that the technology would deliver what are your plans for the future? the quality of data we needed to support the SmartDriverClub with Smart Driver Club service. We also spent many hours working Insurance provides a model for the future through every make and model of car on the of motoring protection and motor insurance. road post-2003 to establish compatibility and When built-in connectivity has penetrated the 28

TRAVEL TECH

UK car market much more significantly, motorists will want their data to benefit them through more personalised premiums and services.

As an innovator in this field, with the interests of motorists at its heart, in five years SmartDriverClub will have built a strong membership base and become a trusted brand providing members with a range of services including insurance for good drivers, working with a panel of insurers who want to maximise the benefits of the connected car.

BB

SmartDriverClub CEO, Penny Searles

29

TRAVEL TECH

Let Unified Communications Set You Free Unified Communications (UC) enables people to work from anywhere, in the office, a coffee shop, airport or hotel room. Providing the remote worker with access to the same features and functionalities that they use in the office.

Mobile conferencing and collaboration solutions are now widely used in the consumer arena. More employees expect to use these types of tools in the workplace; the millennials and the younger generations have been bought up using them in their daily lives, and cannot comprehend why you wouldn’t use them in the workplace to improve communications and efficiencies.

Also, with more people wanting a better work/life balance and the growth of companies using freelancers, the expectation of being able to work from anywhere has been set.

We spoke to Director at Britannic Technologies, Jonathan Sharp to find out more.

30

TRAVEL TECH

31

TRAVEL TECH

mployees that don’t have access to corporate solutions or who aren’t aware that they exist are increasingly downloading conferencing and collaboration applications such as: WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype and Google Documents to use as work tools and communicate with colleagues.

E

ployee left the company and could still access the information.

Going Rogue

Connecting Teams

The issue here is ‘Shadow IT’ or ‘Rogue IT’.

If your company hasn’t approved the latest conferencing and collaboration application that employees have downloaded then you are compromising your company’s IT infrastructure and putting it at risk. This will leave it vulnerable to data leaks, viruses and hackers. Employees often don’t realise that they are breaking the rules; if they need the technology to communicate with their colleagues or customers and the company isn’t supplying it, then they will go ahead and do their own thing.

The intention is not malicious behaviour or to expose their company to harm, it is simply because the company doesn’t provide the necessary conferencing and collaboration tools employees require to do their jobs more effectively.

Employees travelling on business, whether it is to a regional office or to a customer’s or supplier’s site, need access to information. They need to be able to communicate with their colleagues and customers in the same way that they do in the office. Real-time conferencing and collaboration solutions such as Microsoft Skype for Business, Mitel’s MiCollab and Avaya’s Equinox, all allow remote workers to be connected all the time, so they can communicate in real time via instant message, voice or video call. It also provides them with the ability to share screens The growth of ‘Shadow IT’ or ‘Rogue IT’ and documents so they can work collabis not just about applications such as oratively on them in real time. This can WhatsApp and instant messaging ser- be downloaded to a mobile device and vices. Employees are also using cloud- a desktop, and is secure because it sits based shared drives such as Google Docs in the company IT infrastructure and a to work on documents together, and private cloud. communicate via video calling apps like FaceTime. However, these platforms are Being a remote worker travelling on busilocated in the public cloud and services ness or working from home can be isolatdon’t necessarily run over a secure con- ing, solutions such as Skype for Business nection. Going rogue can mean breaking can make the employee feel connected company rules and could result in serious and part of a team. This is of course is confidentiality breaches if the document important to working towards a shared was read by a non-employee or if the em- goal and enhancing the team spirit. It also 32

TRAVEL TECH

enables the employee to feel included Empowering Employees and to not miss out on the work social Companies should no longer ignore the arrangements or gossip! requests for the latest technology if they want to differentiate themselves from the It is crucial to realise that real-time con- competition and attract, and recruit the ferencing and collaboration solutions are best talent. not just vital to employees to communicate and collaborate with each other but Companies often want to embark on a also to improve customer service. Cus- digital transformation journey but are tomer experience is huge and there has fearful as they don’t know exactly what never been a more competitive time for technology they want and why. They also often don’t know what technology they business than now. have already and how it can be utilised to its full potential. It is therefore advisable to work with a technology specialist company, a Solutions Provider, who can work closely with you to discover your technology needs ensuring that they are aligned with your objectives, strategy and operations.

“The aim is to empower your employees with the latest technology to not only improve their lives and their jobs but to also improve customer service.”

Customers are no longer led by price and brand loyalty but by the experience they have with a company. Unified communications can improve customer service and transform business processes resulting in higher efficiencies and margins. UC platforms can be integrated with contact centres to connect the back and front office, and technologies such as Web Real Time Communications can help agents provide instant first time resolution to customers problems; improving customer service.

The aim is to empower your employees with the latest technology to not only improve their lives and their jobs but to also improve customer service. Your Solutions Provider will work with you to find out what technology your employees require, what their pain points are with the current technology, and what technology they think would improve their roles and customer service. After all, they are the ones doing the jobs so it’s best to ask them. And the same applies with your customers, ask them how they want to communicate with you and provide the technology they desire. The Solutions Provider will help you to review different solutions from different vendors to implement the solution best suited to you.

33

TRAVEL TECH

Rolling out new technology takes time, dedication and commitment, and it should be supported from the top in order for it to be a success. Innovators should be appointed to champion the technology and evangelise its benefits to others, and pilot groups should be set up to garner feedback and to encourage people to use it.

The Solutions Provider will provide you with a change management and training programme to ensure that everyone is fully trained on the technology. Remember, the technology must be user-friendly with the objective to make people’s jobs easier and faster. If it isn’t then it won’t be used.

Creating a New Culture

To create this new culture, silos between departments need to be eradicated so each department has open lines of communication and shares its knowledge across teams.

Set Employees Free Eliminate the risk of ‘Shadow IT’ by providing employees with a secure corporate conferencing and collaboration solution such as Microsoft Skype for Business. It is also recommended that you issue IT guidelines on what technology and applications can be used or alternatively cease all admin rights on devices for employees so they can’t download any applications or software that it is not governed by IT.

By investing in Unified Communications and freeing your employees from the shackles of their desk and the 9.0017.00 mentality, you will create a trusted, open and innovative culture where employees will work harder in return because you have trusted them to work remotely and they are being provided with the tools that they require to do their jobs more effectively. By working with a Solutions Provider you will embark on a digital transformation strategy that will improve communications Companies need to create a culture of with staff and customers, and transparticipation and engagement that is open form business processes. and encourages innovation where employees can suggest new ways of using To find out more about Britannic Techthe technology, and new ways of working. nologies, visit them at www.btlnet.co.uk.

Companies that don’t supply the latest technology to their staff are often stuck in a rigid and antiquated culture. They have a mobile workforce yet they are hesitant to supply the right tools to enable people to do their job more effectively or they don’t want their employees to work from home or remotely. There is still a distinct lack of trust about remote working in many companies. This is a very outdated view that needs to change to enable companies to move forward.

BB

34

Magnificent Scottish country house Hotel & restaurant by the Tweed in the Scottish Borders.

Luxury accommodation, ideal for short breaks, Scottish wedding venues and business conferences.

www.dryburgh.co.uk Call: 01835 822261 Email: enquiries@dryburgh.co.uk

With our superb state of the art meeting room, idyllic private riverside location, 11 acres of private grounds, fine food and attentive professional service, Dryburgh Abbey Hotel provides an excellent business venue located in the heart of the Scottish Borders. At only an hour’s drive from both Edinburgh and Newcastle, Dryburgh will both impress your clients and inspire your delegates Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, St Boswells, Melrose, Scottish Borders, Scotland TD6 0RQ

35

TRAVEL TECH

The Fastest Way to First Class Flyin Allowing travellers to search,compare and book the largest choice of private jets for the best prices, Stratajet is a more than welcome addition to what is a notoriously complicated and traditionally inaccessible industry.

Here, we speak to founder, Jonny Nicol to find out exactly how Stratajet is making getting from A to B in style easier than ever.

“Private jet travel is unfortunately a very archaic industry due to the complexity of calculating the cost of any given flight,” says Jonny. “The traditional means of booking a private jet is to phone a broker, who has to get quotes from a handful of aircraft operators, then these quotes are manually calculated, meaning it can take several hours for a booking to be confirmed.

“Stratajet – available via Stratajet.com or the Stratajet app – simplifies the entire process using cutting-edge software that gives fliers 36

TRAVEL TECH

ng

37

TRAVEL TECH

direct access to the private jet marketplace.

As a result, they can search for a particular flight without having to go through a broker, see accurate costs of as many as 50 aircraft available to charter for that flight – not just a select few – and book instantly.

placed on manual processes. This means there can be significant barriers to booking a private jet.

“Firstly, you’re at the mercy of your broker, who will only be able to get a handful of quotes, rather than providing you with all available options, and it “Through this means of booking, Stratajet can take several hours, even days, for a booking to guarantees the best price of all private jet be confirmed. Brokers also control the commisflights and the price you see is the price you sion charged to the customer on each booking, pay, meaning you won’t be stung with any meaning customers pay more than they need to. additional charges post-flight.”

“What’s more, if you’ve never flown privately Traditionally, companies have provided a web- before, operators can be reticent to spend the site where customers submit flight requests time calculating a quote, as they’ll see a risk and often find themselves waiting several that this won’t be taken up.” hours for a booking to be confirmed due to the element of manual calculation required. As well as making the process of chartering a Not only this but sometimes it’s necessary private jet quicker and easier, Stratajet is also to verify these quotes via email – a similarly going some way to demystifying a mode of transtime-consuming process. However, Jonny is port that has previously been seen as inaccessikeen to point out that, with Stratajet, this is ble to all but the very richest of travellers. far from the case.

“Private jet travel was originally designed to “Stratajet is the only provider that has devel- be the most efficient and quickest means of oped its own technology from scratch that is getting from A to B, although this has been lost sophisticated enough to filter through all the somewhat to the perception of luxury – that it’s variables required to accurately calculate the a toy for the rich and famous,” explains Jonny. cost of private jet flights and allow for these “Efficiency of travel remains at the core of the to be booked instantly,” he says. private jet industry but unfortunately that isn’t reflected in the means of booking.

“Private jet travel – by its very nature of offering a bespoke service – brings with it huge “Stratajet has streamlined the challenging complexities that result in widespread ineffi- process of booking a jet, thus giving a widciency and wastage and unfortunately these er audience of travellers access to what has result in hiked prices for the customer. become an inaccessible means of transport.

Very simply, having aircraft at fliers’ fingertips “The traditional means of booking is extremely for the first time can bring private jet travel convoluted, with a great deal of emphasis into the mainstream.

38

TRAVEL TECH

“In a world where people are increasingly time-poor, the major advantage of private jets for business travellers is the hassle-free nature of the journey. No queues, no delays, no stress. But what most people don’t realise is that, through an automated means of booking, the costs are not sky-high. In fact they often compare to business class, especially when travelling as a group.

for those already well acquainted with the world of private air travel, is also at the forefront of a burgeoning trend, which over recent years has seen a shift in the types of people making use of this form of transport.

“Mobile technology – and the ability to access information on the go – has become a necessity in modern society and this is just as much the case for the transport industry,” says Jonny.

“For a team attending a meeting in Europe, for example, the amount of time that can be saved, coupled with reasonable costs of travel, “As Stratajet is the first platform to provide means there are significant advantages.” this service for the private jet industry, it has prompted a surge in the number of millenials But how exactly is this achieved? Jonny runs searching for private jet flights. The 25-34 through the main variables that Stratajet takes year age group conducts almost a third of all into account when calculating costs for fliers. searches, while over two thirds of searches are performed by customers aged 44 or “When calculating the cost of any private jet younger, which is significant shift for what flight, there are 15 different fees to consider, has been a slowly ageing industry.” all of which have hundreds of variables.

Of course, setting up a system this complex “Bearing in mind that every single flight must and wide-reaching wasn’t without its chalbe individually calculated from scratch, as dif- lenges, as Jonny explains. ferent types and sizes of aircraft incur different fees, and that Stratajet displays upwards of 50 “Getting the technology to work was the bigaircraft for any flight search, the system runs gest hurdle in the company’s build phase,” through millions of calculations every time a he says.“It took us two years to programme customer hits the search button. a search engine intelligent enough to filter through all the various different fees that need “The 15 fees are: aircraft fees, landing fees, to be considered when calculating the cost take-off fees, parking fees, terminal naviga- of a private jet. Stratajet makes upwards of tion, hangarage, passenger or cargo fees, 2.5million calculations when returning flight noise surcharges, emission fees, out-of-hours results but the first time we ran a search it fees, fire support, lighting, customs, airways took around 20 minutes to produce these final charges, and tax (VAT and passenger).” prices. The next stage of the technology build consisted of getting this down to a consumStratajet, in addition to making things easier er-friendly time.

39

TRAVEL TECH

“Eventually we had an idea that brought the search time down to around 12 seconds and I can’t describe how incredible and emotional that moment was for my team and myself. In hindsight it was a computer science miracle and we went from a worthless company to a company whose valuation was increasing by a million a day.”

will work backwards to calculate their ideal departure time.

So given all the work that has gone into the system, just how successful has it been to date and what has feedback been so far?

“We’ve experienced tremendous growth numbers since launch and our members now numOf course, as impressive as this is, one of the ber over 10,000. But the overriding success of main considerations during the development Stratajet is the attraction of new customers to and build stages was to make sure that the this means of transport,” says Jonny. system was as simple for customers to access and use as possible. Jonny describes just how “The proof is in Stratajet’s customer base, intuitive the platform is.

32% of whom are first-time private jet fliers.

This is a staggering statistic when compared “Stratajet.com and the official Stratajet app to the industry norm of less than one permake the booking process very simple. All cus- cent. Ultimately it’s our aim to give everytomers have to do is enter where they’re going one who wishes to travel by private jet the from and to, date and time of travel and number opportunity to do so. of passengers and the system will filter through all of the available aircraft on the platform, pro- “Having successfully launched the platform viding the best options for that flight. across Europe and in the United States, our key focus is to maintain growth of the platform “Once a specific aircraft is selected, pas- in these regions. We are continually speaking sengers have the option to customise their to operators in order to expand our network. flight by selecting the FBO of their choice and Stratajet’s client services team is available “We are also looking at new markets. We are throughout the process to help passengers looking at bringing Mexico and the Caribbean tailor every element of their journey. Custom- onto the system and then further expanding ers can then book – instantly. to the Middle East and Far East, with the aim of providing global coverage. Ultimately, we “Another unique element of Stratajet’s in- hope that there will be an industry defining credible technology allows you to enter your moment when people will say there was specific address and final destination and private aviation before Stratajet and private the system will work out the full travel time aviation after Stratajet.” from A to B including transfers to and from the airports. Customers can choose to enter To find out more or to make a booking, visit their preferred time of arrival and the system Stratajet.com.

BB

40

“Mobile technology – and the ability to access information on the go – has become a necessity in modern society and this is just as much the case for the transport industry.”

41

ON THE MOVE

Best of British

As frequent travellers place increasing emphasis on style and quality over functionality alone, two brands, Pickett and Orvis UK - the British arm of US-based company, Orvis - are turning heads with their ranges of stunning travel and leisure products.

We spoke to Trevor Pickett and Orvis’s Blake Findlay to find out about their respective firms, their histories and what they offer the modern business and leisure traveller.

So, to get things started, tell us about your respective firms and where they sit in the luxury travel and luggage industries?

outdoors, Orvis offers world class fly-fishing equipment and sporting adventures, and has recently expanded into men and women’s apparel, home furnishings, dog products and gifts.

Blake Findlay: Orvis is a US-based family owned retail and mail-order business that Fervent about protecting the UK’s rivers, specialises in high end-fishing, hunting Orvis UK works with numerous conserand sporting goods. vation partners and commits 5% of pretax profits to sustain and protecting the Founded in 1865 and with only 5 CEOs in natural world for generations to come. its history, the company inspires a deep connection to adventure and wonder in the Trevor Pickett: Pickett was founded in natural world. Passionate about the life 1988 and is still run by Trevor Pickett, the 42

ON THE MOVE

quintessential Mayfair eccentric. Pickett’s aim is to provide quintessential, bespoke and entirely unique products that are carefully handcrafted in the UK. Embodying artisanal luxury and being innately British, we stand a firm and individual position in the market to be a proud purveyor of timeless luxury goods.

to luggage, with a vast range from duffle bags, dog travellers Kit and fishing luggage making them perfect for a business venture or a weekend adventure, or perhaps both!

We have our Safe Passage sporting range of luggage which are primarily used for fly fishing ensuring you essentials are secured, organised and at arm’s reach. There are also the duffles and rucksacks, packed with Exactly what do today’s travellers de- new design elements that have allowed the mand from their luggage and exactly sturdy luggage to adapt and evolve to modwhat types of people buy your company’s ern demands – padded pockets for laptops, products? smartphones and water bottles.

BF: Our products are geared towards the sensible traveller, accidental tourist and dog lovers alike. The quality and craftsmanship is what you would expect of a typical Orvis bag - plucky, can be stuffed full and take a beating.

TP: The Pickett customer wants something that expresses their individuality – that is quietly exclusive and reflects their character. They don’t need to hide behind excessive branding.

We have a strong home market as well as a consistent international traffic who are all looking for a genuine British brand. The clientele are discerning when it comes to character and quality.

Tell our readers more about your products. What types of luggage do you produce and is there an overall philosophy that you try to adhere to?

BF: Orvis touches all bases when it comes

TP: The luggage we produce includes holdalls, rucksacks and suit carriers. We focus on luxury luggage and elegant travel accessories that can be suited to a short weekend or a long trip abroad.

The bags are produced by small workshops or by individual craftsmen, some of whom have been working with the brand for 23 years – meaning they understand the importance of quality and care needed to be put into the products.

What is it that sets your respective brands apart from the competition and why should travellers be looking to your brand?

BF: Since Charles F. Orvis founded the company in 1856, it has been pioneering love for the wilderness and adventure, making equipment that can endure your ensuing escapades. Today Orvis is a trusted source when it comes to nature and adventure and their knowledge is reflected in the endurable quality of kit they produce.

43

ON THE MOVE

TP: Pickett is a Best of British brand that is made in the UK. It is a real commitment to British manufacturing while competitors have outsourced production to cheaper locations.

There is a strong, edgy, rawness to UK product, with a finesse that cannot be replicated with a craftsperson of a different provenance.

to stay better organised and have all essentials at hand. The Battenkill Luggage include business cars pockets, a padded laptop case and interior slash pockets to keep items secure. The Businessman’s Backpack has a slip pocket, which allows you to attach it to the retractable handle on your rolling luggage. Perfect for the What are your most popular products and globetrotting businessman with traditionwhat is the process by which you use feed- al styling recognisable plaid lining. back from customers to ensure your product line remains up to date and always gives TP: Each of our products luxury briefyour customers exactly what they want? cases, folios and laptop bags are made from fine British leathers which are indiBF: One of our most popular ranges is the vidually handcrafted. There are a range Battenkill luggage range. It is a flexible of traditional and contemporary designs design that works for business travel but that would be sure to suite your individual in green canvas with brown leather detail style. Each are stylish and practical, and it has a rigged outdoors aesthetic to work ideal for the regular business traveller. for any sporting holiday.

How is the world of luxury travel evolving TP: The most popular product range we and what are you doing to make sure that offer would have to be the luggage pieces. that your companies keep up with the It is the diversity of what is available, suiting changes? How has this evolution affected all needs and individual styles. The best your products in recent years? feedback we receive is actually through our bespoke service customers, who give us BF: The adaptations have happened in new ideas for line product based on their small tweaks to allow for our reliance specifications. It’s a source of inspiration for on technology. Space for phones tablets, us on how to adapt and develop our offering. etc. The overall essence and look of our products have not changed as they have A large proportion of our readers are become so rooted in our loyal customers frequent business travellers. With that in lifestyles, but we update in small ways mind, what do your products offer them that make a big difference. that perhaps your competitors do not?

TP: The biggest change Pickett has obBF: Our products cater for business trav- served has to do with the way people dress. ellers as they allow easy access and pock- A couple generations ago, a trip away conets to compartmentalise your belongings sisted of much more formal clothing and 44

ON THE MOVE

many outfit changes which required stiffer, more formal trunks and suitcases. These days, people travel with less clothing which is of a more casual nature so our luggage has adapted to suit carrying these affairs.

That said, we are coming out with a more classic style suitcase, demonstrating how as a brand we like to evolve in the modern day but pay homage to the traditions of the past.

Finally, tell us a little about your plans for the future of your brand and what we can expect in the future.

BF: Orvis is launching the Helios 3, a new fly rod that is sure to revolutionise the market offering. According to recent research, this rod casts more accurately than anything else currently available.

Models will be available in September.

TP: We are very keen to expand internationally, with a strong focus towards America where we have received substantial attention as they are looking for a genuinely British brand. We are targeting specific states where we hope they will bring our culture to theirs.

BB

45

ON THE MOVE

10

Top Travel Hacks for Frequent Travellers If you travel regularly, you are no stranger to the world of baggage check-in, departure lounges and the fasten your seatbelt sign.

To help make life in the sky a little more manageable, Travelbag have compiled the top travel hacks to assist frequent travellers. From packing tips to electricals, these travel hacks will come in handy during your next business trip.

1. Belts and Collared Shirts 2. Know Your Flight Vocabulary Your belt collection can be very useful, as As frequent business travellers, you are it can have two uses on a business trip. likely to have your flights booked for you if your organisation is of a certain size.

If you are planning on packing collared shirts for your meetings, a rolled-up belt However, if you are booking your own flights, becan work wonders in preventing your col- ing clued up on the difference between non-stop lars from creasing. Roll up your belt and and direct flights will help save valuable time. place it inside the top of your shirts; this will keep your collars in shape in your lug- A direct flight means you don’t have to get gage. By wrapping your belt up into a coil, off the plane and change to another one you are also reducing space by avoiding as part of your journey, but not all direct having them loose in your luggage. flights are non-stop: some involve stopping 46

ON THE MOVE

in one destination en route to the final one, Pour your required toiletries into small which can add waiting time to your journey. travel bottles which can then be placed in a clear plastic pouch. These bottles Selecting a non-stop flight could avoid are not only reusable, but will also help any confusion and potential delays due you pack the amount needed for your trip. to unwanted waiting times.

6. Stay Fresh 3. Staying Comfortable It is so easy to pack all of your toiletry esWhen you’re travelling, it is important to sentials into a washbag, put them in your stay as comfortable as possible, especially main luggage and regret it once you have if you are faced with a number of important eaten a meal or have been in the air a while. meetings once you reach your destination.

Remember to put aside a miniature Try packing something lightweight such as a mouthwash and toothpaste (under 100ml) tennis ball or small, round beanbag. These can and have these easily accessible in your be rolled under your feet to prevent soreness. hand luggage. They will come in hugely handy during the flight and also mean 4. Pack Smart you can feel fresher if you are meeting an Yes, we know the rolling-up-your-clothes associate once you land. trick, or even the one about placing a scented tumble dryer sheet in between your 7. Packing Your Tech clothes layers to stay fresh, but frequent For business travellers, tech is essential. business travel is all about packing smart. Whilst it can be tricky to narrow down your tech must-take list, once this is done it is Forget overpacking the non-essential items imperative that these items be kept secure. and focus on those you really cannot do without. Ensure extra essentials such as Avoid carrying your electricals in the main socks, underwear, shirts and trousers are baggage and stick to carry-on bags wherevsafely packed in your bag. While selecting er possible. This ensures the items are with shirts and trousers, consider combinations you at all times and is better for security, as that will work with only one pair of shoes well as avoiding any damage or breakages. and avoid you having to pack lots of footwear.

If you do need to store gadgets in checked-in 5. The Art of Decanting bags, ensure they are padded and protected.

When it comes to packing toiletries, the Be sure to pad items such as laptops or tablets art of successful decanting comes into to avoid breakages in transit. If your suitcase play. Avoid having to bulk-buy your toiletry and clothes are not sufficient, try wrapping essentials once you land or cram them all your items in bubble wrap or foam padding, into your main luggage bag. which are inexpensive and will work wonders.

47

ON THE MOVE

8. Think Ahead In the lead-up to a flight it is easy to become distracted, and there is certainly a lot to think about. Forward-thinking and predicting what may greet you once you arrive at your destination will help you feel more prepared.

Make sure you think ahead by checking the weather and your transport arrangements once you reach the airport.

This will not only help with forward planning, but will also help determine whether you need to pack a compact umbrella, hat or raincoat.

9. Charge Electricals There is nothing more frustrating than a dead battery when trying to read an important email.

Whether you are at home, in a hotel or waiting in the airport departure lounge, avoid any in-flight technical frustrations by ensuring your laptop, mobile and other devices are fully charged ahead of your flight.

Ensure you also check the voltage and requirements for the relevant travel adapters for your destination.

10. Consider Every Scenario Picture the scene: you have had a tiring long-haul journey ahead of an early-morning meeting. You go to the carousel and your bag isn’t appearing.

Avoid any unwanted stress by carrying a spare change of business clothes in your carry-on luggage. This will keep you at ease if for any reason your bag goes missing ahead of your business meeting.

BB

Happy travelling!

This article was contributed by Travelbag, leading long-haul and luxury travel experts, who have also produced Luxury for Less: Travel Hacking Tips, to help you enjoy luxury travel on a budget.

48

ON THE MOVE

“Forward-thinking and predicting what may greet you once you arrive at your destination will help you feel more prepared.�

49

ON THE MOVE

THE MEDIT TAKING WALL S

50

TATION G OVER STREET

ON THE MOVE

With its ability to improve memory and productivity, help with decision making, promote productivity and negate the effects of stress and jet lag, it’s no surprise that Vedic meditation is becoming increasingly popular with corporate professionals and frequent business travellers.

Here, we speak to Europe’s leading Vedic meditation expert, Will Williams to find out why we should all be looking to incorporate it into our daily routine.

Firstly, can you briefly explain to our readers what exactly is Vedic meditation, what does it involve and and how/why it is so effective.

As the simplest form of meditation in existence, the Vedic practice I teach is rooted in science, having been singled out as one of the two most effective tools for twenty-first century executives by two leading business schools, Harvard and INSEAD. It is 250% more effective at reducing anxiety than any other technique, and is credited for a 42% reduction in sleep disorders. It also naturally increases feel-good chemicals, that in turn bring an increased sense of wellbeing and elevate the mood, as well as being four times more effective at delivering present-moment awareness than any other technique.

In terms of what it involves, it really is very simple. You are given a personalised mantra, which you then chant silently in your head, for twenty minutes, twice a day. By quietly utilising the sound of this personalised 51

ON THE MOVE

mantra, we have a tool that will settle our mind, body and nervous system to its deepest levels (between 30% and 40% deeper than the deepest point in sleep).

lot of latent potential to be unlocked, and this is exactly what meditation helps us deliver. During Vedic meditation, a much more profound alpha effect is found to spread forward from the rear of the head to cover the whole scalp, allowing Could you give us some detail around the all regions to connect. We are building new kinds of problems or issues that this kind neuronal patterns as we go, letting go of older, of meditation helps with - who should be less useful patterns and keeping the useful but using it? under-utilised neuronal muscle groups worked A common misconception about meditation with some daily stimulation. is that it is only something to turn to when in the grips of something extremely challenging; The pre- frontal cortex is the most evolved part like a breakdown or a bereavement. Whilst it of the brain and is the home of our rationality, does undoubtedly offer support to people ex- creativity and lateral thinking. Very early on in periencing these sorts of issues, it also brings the practise of this meditation technique, the about other endless proven benefits, that can frontal cortex begins to become functionalenhance our daily lives. I’ve taught people ly more active and increases its capacity by seeking ways of coping with stress at work, growing thicker. as well as those needing help maintaining a health and fitness programme, coping with Expanding on this point, why is this form of exams, pre-wedding nerves - even boosting meditation so effective for corporate professionals and frequent business traveltheir sex lives! lers in particular? What kinds of problems The key point to take from this is that can it help them with? meditation can benefit everyone. We all There is a reason why this practice is known spend so much time and effort elsewhere to be ‘taking over Wall Street’! Vedic medita- at work, in the gym, maintaining rela- tion is over 10,000 years old, but it is an ideal tionships with others. People neglect to accompaniment to the modern busy lives we remember that their minds need care lead today. Here are some reasons: too. Our brains contain a rather staggering 100 billion neurons, each connected • Performance Driver: When our system is to anywhere between a hundred, and a under any stress, our body reacts by prehundred thousand others. The quality of paring for the ‘fight or flight’ response. This the neuronal networks they form, and the in turn drains our energy resources, leaving levels of communication between them, is us lethargic. Vedic meditation brings an what defines how well we are able to use average reduction in the stress hormone this incredibly powerful organ. cortisol of 33%, we don’t find ourselves Neuroscientists estimate that we are using only needing to find extra reserves of energy 2-10% of our potential brain power. There is a every time we are under demand 52

ON THE MOVE

• Memory and Productivity: Stress inhibits retain a sense of calm and positivity, alour short-term and long-term memory lowing them to make clear and concise functions, and especially our ability to redecisions even in pressurised situations. member facts and figures. It also creates stimulation within the nervous system and • Jet Lag: Jet lag is a chronobiological disruption to our body’s natural circadian over-stimulated thinking, which makes it rhythms caused by a change in time zones harder to concentrate. For those practising (usually three or more), which is something meditation using personalised mantras, business travellers often have to contend speed, accuracy and calmness of reactions with. The effects of Vedic meditation on jet have been found to increase by up to 40% lag are one of the most commonly reported • Positivity in the Workplace: Research on epiphenomena of the practice. When we Vedic meditation has shown that practice meditate with personalised mantras, we of this technique within organisations can get powerful levels of rest (between 30% significantly increase job satisfaction, perand 40% deeper than the deepest point in formance and job productivity. A study from sleep) which is why it can be so beneficial the University of Wisconsin demonstrated on long haul flights when sleep can invarthat when you’re consistently feeling posiiably be interrupted. tive, your productivity rises by 31%, you’re 40% more likely to receive a promotion You can practice this style of meditation anyand nearly 10 times more engaged at work where, and it is best done whilst sitting somewhat upright, so if you are struggling to sleep, • Presentations: Meditation provides a you can compensate by undertaking plentiful greater resilience to the stress of conduct- meditation during the flight. It will also enhance ing a presentation or interview. It makes the immune system so that you have greater the part of the brain that is reactive to stress resistance to all of the airborne germs circuless active, meaning your response is more lating through the ventilation system. proactive as opposed to shutting down. This works by activating the pre-frontal cortex Meditation is also hugely supportive to (PFC) so that executive, creative and inter- a key region of the brain called the hippersonal functions become more proficient pocampus, which is responsible for all of our memory formation and recall, as • Decision-Making: Stress hinders our ability well as our spatial navigation. Lastly, it to manage information, disrupting ‘execu- makes a flight go much more quickly, so tive function’. This isn’t so much about the that you can glide through your journey storage and retrieval of information (which in a totally relaxed fashion, and arrive at itself becomes impaired by stress) it is the your destination feeling clear, energised ability to organise information strategically. and ready to go.

Vedic meditation helps the practitioner to 53

ON THE MOVE

How easy/difficult is it to achieve the best results with this kind of meditation and how should our readers get started?

This type of meditation is deemed to be the simplest, because it can be done anywhere – and the saying of the mantra in your head makes it far easier to remain ‘present’ throughout. The technique can be learned over the course of 7-8 hours – I regularly offer courses during the week and at weekends, to accomodate for a variety of schedules. Your readers are welcome to attend a free Intro Talk at my London studio, during which they can ask as many questions as they like to ensure they are as well informed as possible before making the final decision.

• Significant reduction in anxiety and sleep disorders • Increased creativity and brain power • Reduction in depression In addition to meditation, what other changes/adjustments can people make to their daily lives and routines to ensure that the effects of the meditation are and continue to be as effective as possible?

• We always advise people to get into the habit of cutting loose from their phones during the evening, particularly when you’re going to bed. Too much screen-time does not help your mind to gain the rest it needs, and no matter how much you think you need it, you really can live without it!

In terms of the length of time it takes for people to achieve results, this really does depend on the individual, there are no • Try and plan in advance when you first get hard and fast rules. Some people report going, until it becomes part of your routine. changes in sleep patterns and stress levWe have students that do their morning els immediately, others feel a slow and meditation on their commute, while others steady reduction of stress / anxiety. The take time on their lunch break. Just schedtrick is to just sit with it, let it become a ule it in until it becomes second nature. My part of your routine, and before you know app (Will Williams - available on iTunes or it, you’ll be seeing the benefits. here https://www.willwilliamsmeditation. co.uk/app/) has built-in reminders, to help What are the short and long-term benefits? you do just this Short-term • Initial reduction in stress levels • Beginning of a reduction in anxiety • Reduced sleep issues • Boosting of positive attitude Long-term • Combating of digestive issues (like ibs) • Reduced Migraines/headaches • Boosted libido

• Be easy on yourself. We often get new students panicking about not ‘doing it right’ when they start practising. There is no right and wrong, and the trick is to remove the pressure and just relax into it.

BB

54

ON THE MOVE

Reset Your Brain Resetting your watch when travelling is easy, but resetting your brain is a challenge which can cause many travellers to suffer.

Here, we talk to nutritionist, Cassandra Barns who shares some of her top tips for avoiding the dreaded jet lag.

55

ON THE MOVE

New research suggests that shifting your meal times can also shift your body’s internal clock, meaning that recovering from jet lag can be less of a struggle. The study found that eating later can delay blood sugar level cycles, called ‘rhythms’ by more than five hours, which can leave people with a different amount of energy for that time of day than usual. Here are a few things you can do when traveling to lessen the effects of jet lag.

1. Adapt your meals to the new time at your destination

magnesium is known as ‘nature’s tranquilliser’ and can have a calming relaxing effect on the body.

4. Cut cravings with chromium Take a chromium supplement before, during and after your travel. The stress of travelling and the change of sleeping patterns can disrupt your blood sugar levels, causing cravings for lots of sugary foods or carbohydrates, which can then lead to bloating and sluggishness. Chromium helps to regulate blood sugar levels and can help prevent this happening.

Try Quest Vitamins Chromium Picolinate (from £6.97,www.qnutrapharma.com), taking one tablet with your breakfast (at the new breakfast time!).

When you arrive, try to have your meals at your regular times – but adjusted to the new time zone. Aim to get lots of protein at breakfast time, as it can help to wake you up and have more carbohydrates in the evening, as For even more support with keeping cravthey can encourage relaxation and sleep. ings at bay on your holiday make sure to bring Slissie (from £24.99, www.slissie.

2. Skip very salty foods Salty foods – added to the effects of the co.uk), which is the first of its kind as it flying – can cause fluid retention, giving you delivers curb-craving flavourings that inuncomfortable heavy legs for several days. stantly help you resist the temptation of sugary, calorific snacks.

3. If you don’t snooze, you lose

On a long flight, having a good sleep at the right time can make a big difference.

Try to sleep at a time that will be night at your destination. Bring with you anything that can support your sleep on the flight, such as earplugs, an eye mask and a neck pillow; and ask for extra blankets or pillows if you need them.

You can also try taking a supplement, such KalmAssure Magnesium Capsules by Nature’s Plus (£11.75, www.naturesplus.co.uk),

5. Keep hydrated It’s easier to get dehydrated on a plane, and dehydration can worsen jet lag, so make sure you’re drinking enough water during and after the flight. Up to one litre every 4 hours on board the plane can be beneficial, which is best sipped at regular intervals. Continue drinking around 2 litres a day after you land.

56

ON THE MOVE

6. Avoid alcohol

us sleep. So, when we do get to sleep it Jet lag symptoms can last up to a day for can help us feel more rested after traveleach time zone crossed (e.g. five days for ling. Probiotics may also help to prevent five hours’ time difference!) until the body stomach upsets by supporting the benereadjusts its circadian rhythm. On the day ficial bacteria in your gut. of travel, avoid alcohol and too much caffeine, which will just disrupt your natural Try ProVen Acidophilus & Bifidus for Travelsleep patterns. lers (£7.95, www.provenprobiotics.co.uk), which doesn’t need to be kept in the fridge.

BB

7. Move over jet lag with meditation

Meditating can assist in calming you down, help you relax into sleep, and may directly reduce the effects of jet lag.

8. Kick start your holiday with a downward dog Exercise can help with the release of cortisol, one of the hormones that gives us energy. This can even help adjust your circadian rhythm – your 24-hour body clock – as cortisol should be higher in the morning.

9. When you arrive, avoid sleeping during the daytime If you feel really tired when you arrive but it’s still daytime, have a nap but limit it to one hour then aim to go to bed at the normal time for your new destination.

10. Take a travel probiotic Not directly related to jet lag, but probiotics can help keep you well while you’re travelling, so I class it as a ‘travel essential’! It’s thought that by having the right amounts and combinations of healthy bacteria in our gut it can decrease our body’s response to stress, in turn helping 57

STAY

The Evolution of the Hotel Industry With travellers becoming ever more discerning and expectations of the hotel industry growing seemingly by the day, we spoke to Savills’ Megatrends Travel Report author, Alice Marwick and Hotels Agency Team Director, Rob Stapleton to find out about the major issues and trends affecting the industry and how it is set to evolve over the coming months and years.

Give Travellers What They Want

Flexibility is King

AM: “The business traveller wants a stress free and relaxing experience, so the onus is on the hotel to make their stay as efficient and seamless as possible. By 2030 we anticipate that facial recognition software will be increasingly in use across hotels, speeding up all interactions between hotels guests and staff, reducing the check in process to seconds, and further personalising the hotel experience.”

RS: “Speed and efficiency are always going to be crucial to the business traveller, but one of the key trends we’re seeing is the desire from business gusts to have a choice in where the can work from within the hotel.

Business travellers may still want to sometimes work from a quiet desk in their room, but they also want the flexibility to work in other areas that visually are more similar to serviced or shared office spaces, and to mix work with socialising.”

58

STAY

Personalisation on the Rise

Hotels, but Not as We Know Them

AM: “Personalising the experience for business travellers is a great way for hotels to differentiate from home-sharing options, which are increasingly looking to move into this market, and also to encourage guest loyalty. Large hotel operators have the ability to share data among locations to ensure guests are greeted by their favourite film on TV, their chosen lighting levels and their drink preference waiting in the mini bar, wherever in the world they may be. Home-sharing platforms simply can’t compete with this as every location is managed independently and there are limits on how much data can be shared between them.”

RS: “Average hotel bedrooms sizes are coming down as operators and guests alike are favouring larger communal areas. As well as being bigger, these spaces are also becoming more elaborate and flexible: lobbies and lounges are becoming informal co-working and social spaces, with extended food and drink options, giving these spaces a greater sense of life throughout the day as they are used more as public spaces rather than just by guests. Whilst some operators will look to directly manage these facilities, we expect the number of hotels leasing space to specialist operators in these spheres to have risen by 2030 as it will enable them to generate additional income streams and potentially enhancing returns to investors.”

All Work and No Play...

Expect Disruption

RS: “Having the right sort of space for guests to relax in is becoming increasingly important: a growing emphasis on balancing work and wellbeing, particularly amongst younger travellers, means that business guests are unlikely to completely forsake the opportunity to work out or socialise even if they are facing a busy working day. This focus on maximising the limited time they do have is what is driving the rise of shared social/working spaces within hotels which allows guest to quickly switch between, and indeed combine, these two activities. Business travellers also want to access leisure facilities at a time that suits them, even if this is out of hours.”

AM: “By 2030 virtual reality will allow travellers to experience their potential destination, hotel, airline, before committing to their preferred choice. They will spend more time visually observing their destination through digital portals uploaded by operators with sounds and scents to complement what they are viewing.

“Within the hotel environment, better data management to personalise the experience.

Automated or robotic processes will become commonplace and in hotels that have business centres/meeting rooms these will be fitted with ultra-fast broadband and virtual reality technology to enable travellers to interact in real time with colleagues in an immersive environment.”

BB

59

STAY

Business Bre on A Boat

60

STAY

eaks The gentle rock of a boat, fresh air and the sense of freedom that comes with experiencing something completely different – staying on a boat gives the business traveller a quirky alternative to a faceless hotel and a wonderfully relaxing place to kick back in the evenings.

Beds on Board is an accommodation website with a difference, putting travellers in touch with boat owners who want to rent out cabins on boats in some amazing locations across the world.

And whether business travellers are in the UK or overseas, one or two-night stays on a boat are a perfect way to put them right at the heart of things.

The cost of staying on board is generally lower than you’d pay in a hotel in a similar location and, because boats are close to the centre of the action, everything you need, from parking to restaurants, can be as little as a few steps away.

The owner will tell you everything you need to know about the boat and the area and, with boats in more than 60 countries worldwide (and more owners joining every day) you could find yourself on a luxury motor cruiser, a yacht, canal boat or a historic schooner.

61

STAY

Beds on Board was founded by Sir Peter Ogden, RYA Yachtmaster and former RNLI crew member Jason Ludlow, and former Google Production Director Tim Ludlow.

Between them they have decades of sailing, hospitality and technology experience.

Their service matches up guests with boat-owners who want to rent out the vacant cabins on their boats when they’re not using them, opening up a vast resource of ready-made bedrooms and accommodation in locations all over the world.

“All around us in the marina were hundreds of boats, all of them empty for – we later discovered – nearly 90 per cent of the time,” says Tim. “Beds on Board was launched to help boat owners offset the cost of ownership, and our website allows owners to easily list their boats and communicate directly with guests. If they strike up trust then the owner can accept a booking and payment is processed. Beds on Board takes only 5% of the fee. The owner sets this fee and all other terms, staying in complete control.”

It’s like a floating boutique hotel, with a luxurious claw-foot slipper bath, a wood burner in the living area, and crisp white bedding on the king-size master bed.

The picturesque neighbourhood is home to a host of quirky cafés and restaurants for an evening meal with a view across the water, and guests can pick up freshly-baked croissants to enjoy for breakfast in the wood-panelled salon before a day in the city.

Business travellers can put a fresh spin on a trip to Liverpool, by staying on Beds On Board’s Gabrielle, a popular 14 metre sailing boat moored in Albert Dock, right in the heart of the city.

To wake up on the water surrounded by beautiful Grade 1 listed buildings really does take some beating – and all for under £90!

On board, living space is generous, with a large main cabin and two smaller doubles.

With all the facilities you could want, including a kitchen, Wi-Fi, and en suite shower, Since its launch in 2015, Beds on Board guests can cook and eat on board or wander has had hundreds of successful bookings, a few minutes along the dock to find a huge great reviews and happy owners across selection of restaurants and bars. the world earning money from their boats.

The busy city of Southampton is home to Business meetings in London need never Bob On The Water, a motor cruiser moored be the same again if you’re heading back to at Town Quay Marina on the eastern shores Velvet Morning after a day in the boardroom. of Southampton Water. The marina is within walking distance of the city’s cultural This beautiful narrowboat is moored on quarter, the West Quay shopping centre the winding canals of Little Venice, just a and the popular restaurants, cafés and short walk away from Regents Park. bars of Oxford Street. For those wanting 62

STAY

to travel a little further afield, the marina also has transport links to the New Forest and London and is just a few minutes from the Red Funnel ferry terminal with regular services to the Isle of Wight.

Travellers to Jersey can stay on board Oceanis, a three-cabin yacht moored in the bustling marina at St Helier.

The island’s vibrant capital has a cool culinary scene with everything from MicheBob On The Water has a large upper deck lin-starred leading lights to delicious for outdoor entertaining. Below deck, the street food – and the tranquil marina is forward cabin has an island double bed on the edge of the expanding financial with separate en suite, and the aft master district and just a five-minute walk from cabin has a king-size bed and combined the heart of the town. en suite. The living saloon is bright and airy and, although there are bathroom fa- There’s plenty of space on board, with a cilities on board, additional luxury shower large saloon, three double cabins, central facilities are available to guests just a few heating and free marina Wi-Fi. steps from the pontoon.

Wherever you need to lay your briefcase, This stylish marina is the gateway to South- a stay on a boat puts you at the heart of ampton’s main attractions, so business the action in surprisingly tranquil surtravellers can make to most of their spare roundings. And boats with larger saloons time by seeing a West End show at the make great alternative locations for board Mayflower theatre, cheering on the Saints meetings - the surroundings are certainly at a football match, or exploring the city conducive to creative thinking! along the Titanic Walk and the QE2 mile.

Who knows, if you love it that much you may The medieval city of Auxerre in Burgundy feel tempted to buy a boat of your own, and is home to a luxury three-cabin motor become a Beds on Board owner, too! cruiser moored in front of the stunning cathedral on one of the most beautiful To browse more destinations and boats, waterfronts in France. visit www.bedsonboard.com.

BB

The Linssen yacht has two doubles and one twin cabin, a large, air-conditioned saloon and superb aft deck. There are en suite and separate facilities on board, with more showers on the waterfront. The surrounding area is perfect for leisure time spent walking and cycling, and is scattered with famous vineyards.

63

BEHIND THE SCENES AT BADRUTT’S PALACE

64

STAY

We all know what is expected when we check into a high class hotel - stellar service, the best facilities, surroundings and food - but how many of us know exactly what happens behind the scenes to make our stay everything we demand?

We spoke to Guiseppe Pesenti, concierge at St Moritz’s Badrutt’s Palace who gave us a glimpse behind the hotel’s luxurious facade and explained to us exactly what is required to maintain the reputation of one of Switzerland’s most renowned destinations.

Please could you introduce Badrutt’s Palace to our readers. Give us a little insight into the hotel’s history and tell us more about the services offered.

Being a guest at the Badrutt’s Palace is a privilege. The hotel has a distinct heritage that has been passed on by the wealthiest European families to their descendants. Today it has become the meeting point of an international upper class clientele, providing exclusive, discreet and personalised service in a fabulous location.

The concierge service at the hotel boasts quite the reputation. Give us an idea of why it stands out so impressively when compared the service at other hotels.

The Concierge Service at the Badrutt’s Palace, for example, is a 24-hour job.

Our work begins before the guests even arrive at the hotel, starting with travel or 65

STAY

restaurant arrangements and many other services in order to create their tailor made stay. For example, we recently organised a private dinner accompanied with a private piano player for one of our guests.

For visitors, what activities and services would be on offer during a typical stay?

We are located in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The Engadin Valley in both summer and winter has an incredible variety of different activities for our guests. Of course, skiing is the king of all winter activities, but there is also cross-country skiing, sledging, horseback riding in the snow, and more on offer. Our private shuttle bus can transfer guests to the closest cable car in 3 minutes.

Our hotel has the highest percentage of staff-to-guest ratio in Switzerland, almost two employees for each guest. Mr Badrutt always said, “We are the ones who say “no” a little later than others”. This is what makes us the different. It is our 120 years of hotel history, our long-term employees and of course, our pioneering spirit.

Last winter we launched our new restaurant, “IGNIV”, together with the 3 Michelin-star Chef Andreas Caminada, a new highlight for our clientele who appreciate high-class culinary options.

Our magazine deals extensively with those traveling for business. How would Badrutt’s Palace cater for these types of people?

For example, are short stays offered or are In the summer, activities include hiking, there particular services that would be golfing, windsurfing, river rafting and par- relevant to those travelling on business? agliding, as well as our special activity, The Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is mostly a afternoon sailing on Badrutt’s Palaces’ resort destination, although there is the very own sailboat. possibility of organising business meetings in our conference rooms.

How are these activities and services determined? Who decides what Badrutt’s Guests who are here with their families Palace will offer and how often are these have access to any business technology services refreshed or added to? they need, in case they need to organise We keep updated every season; there are a spontaneous conference call. always new activities that we introduce to our clients. Last winter, we introduced Many of our guests are top managers and travel with their own private planes. St. driving E-Buggy’s on the snow!

Moritz is one of the few regions that is What is offered at Badrutt’s Palace that easily reachable with a private jet. helps it to stand out from its competitors and why should travellers be choosing this location ahead of any of the alternatives on offer?

66

Guiseppe Pesenti 67

STAY

How do you ensure that you are always offering the most up to date and relevant services?

In order to ensure that we are always up to date with our services, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel continuously organises audits, training, and seminars for their employees. We are also always in contact with our fellow concierge colleagues from the nearby 5-star hotels in St. Moritz.

As concierges, we are all members of the Swiss Les Clefs D’Or Association and have weekly meetings where we exchange information and inside tips, in order to make the stay of our guest the most enjoyable and unforgettable experience. We also actively take part in the National and International Congress in order to stay in touch with our colleagues around the world.

Do different types of visitors like different aspects of Badrutt’s Palace and the services and activities on offer? How do you ensure that you cater to all tastes?

Badrutt’s Palace is a seasonal hotel and even during the winter there are different high and low periods. These allow us to target our marketing to different kinds of clientele. Special packages and offers are also available all year round.

and the beauty of the nature is the key to our success.

You must have some interesting stories to tell about your time with the hotel. Are there any you would be able to share with our readers?

We have many stories, but I have one that seems particularly suited to the summer months (for privacy reasons, we cannot reveal the name of the guest): A guest of ours, a London businessman working for the Formula 1 circuits, used to come to Badrutt’s Palace to relax during the summer, and enjoy nice walks in the valley.

He always went hiking on the Muottas Muragl Mountain, which is a very steep hike. He would hike with his Yoga Master to do Yoga exercises on the top of the mountain, taking a very unusual steep trail through the woods.

One day we decided to surprise him, and we had our carpenter prepare one of the hotel’s wooden signs with his name and “explorer” written on it. When he came back to the hotel he was flabbergasted, and sent pictures to all of his friends, telling them that he had a private hiking trail in St. Moritz. Even now we have people coming to ask us where to find this private trail.

BB

What are the plans for the future of Badrutt’s Palace? What would constitute success for the future and what are your long term aims and goals with regards to future growth?

Keeping up the high standards of service and the quality of our hotel facilities, together with the exclusivity of the location, 68

STAY

“Keeping up the high standards of service and the quality of our hotel facilities, together with the exclusivity of the location, and the beauty of the nature is the key to our success.�

69

Forage & Chatter

Opened in Edinburgh 2016, Forage & Chatter has been delighting diners with its unique combination of local Scottish ingredients and on-trend recipes.

70

DINE

Please could you start by telling us about the restaurant, the background to its opening and the ethos?

Forage and Chatter was opened in November 2016 in order to showcase the ease of access that people have to amazing local, Scottish ingredients and just how stunning these ingredients can be.

Everything used in the restaurant is supplied or foraged from within a 25-mile radius. At the end of the day, the focus is on quality, seasonal produce.

And what would you say are the main advantages of this approach?

Foraging for ingredients ensures that your menu is constantly seasonal and authentic to Scotland. You can buy the ingredients in stores but you will not get the same flavour, quality or colours from genuine, foraged ingredients that are used to create the dishes in the restaurant.

Would you say that restaurants that adopt this type of approach are becoming more prevalent and does it signal a shift in the wider restaurant industry?

At Forage and Chatter we fully believe in what we’re doing – showcasing Scottish ingredients. We are focused only on ourselves and our business and want to stay true to what we believe in.

Whether this is an upcoming trend in the industry or not, they just hope that they can convey how important and amazing Scotland and its natural larder are.

What are the particular things that set the restaurant aside from its competitors? What can diners expect when visiting and why should they make it their first port of call when visiting the city?

Forage and Chatter focuses on high quality ingredients. The focus is on the food and setting a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the stunning menu in the heart of the city– no stuffy white table clothes and up-tight décor; just a relaxed setting where the food and ingredients can speak for themselves.

What plans do you have for the future of the restaurant?

We plan to continue to be successful and provide an amazing atmosphere for the visitors and a staple place to eat in the amazing capital.

BB

Whether this is an upcoming trend in the industry or not, we just hope that we can continue to convey just how important and amazing Scotland and its natural larder are.

71

A Very British Bar 72

DRINK

t

his summer, The Churchill Bar & Terrace at Hyatt Regency London, in association with the National Trust’s Chartwell, promises to bring the serene gardens of Sir Winston Churchill’s family home, to the heart of London.

Inspired by the long summers Sir Winston and Lady Churchill spent both at Chartwell, and on their romantic Italian honeymoon, with the help of the Chartwell team, the alfresco terrace promises to be authentically charming and will be adorned with blooming roses and wisteria, English red brick walls, a trickling water feature and exact replicas of Clementine’s very own intricate bench design, where couples can spend romantic evenings wrapped in blankets with their loved one.

Katherine Barnett, House & Collections Manager at Chartwell commented: “We are delighted to work with Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill to bring the serenity and beauty of Chartwell to London.

“The design details of The Churchill Bar’s Summer Terrace reflect key features of Chartwell and in particular the much loved gardens that surround Sir Winston’s country home.

“We are especially excited that The Churchill Bar’s Chartwell Terrace will be the first to offer our apple juice, freshly pressed from the Chartwell Orchard, expertly mixed by The Churchill Bar & Terrace’s famed mixologists.”

The Churchill Bar invites you to enjoy relaxing afternoons and balmy evenings on its summer ChartwellTerrace, and having partnered with Bacardi, is offering guests

eight brand new seasonal cocktails from a new summer menu.

From the Lady Rose inspired by Chartwell’s famous Rose Garden, to the Kitchen Garden which features fresh Chartwell Apple juice, exclusive to The Churchill Bar as it is the first time Chartwell has pressed their Orchard apples into juice.

Finally, The Honeymoon, a picturesque cocktail featuring Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil, takes inspiration from the Churchills’ delightful Italian honeymoon.

To accompany such an enticing cocktail menu, The Churchill Bar’s food menu is bursting with British culinary delights such as homemade sausage rolls, a chilled beetroot and raspberry summer soup, citrus marinated tiger prawns and even a ploughman’s board, the perfect sharer. A trio of summer desserts and a seasonal rhubarb and raspberry sundae are just some of the delights to satisfy those with a sweet tooth.

Launching on Thursday 8th June and running until the end of October 2017, The Churchill Bar & Terrace which is open daily from 9am until late, promises to bring a taste of a quintessentially English summer to Marylebone, the chic centre of London’s West End.

BB

For more information or to make a reservation, please call the bar on +44 (0)20 7299 2035 or alternatively, email bar.hrlondon@ hyatt.com or visit londonchurchill.regency. hyatt.com.

73