Business Breaks - Issue 2

Built for a Lifetime of Luxury Travel High quality and stylish luggage from Billingham

How Offices are Taking on Hotels HeadBox: Reinventing the Events Industry

To Buy or Charter??

Jetcraft President, Chad Anderson on why the world of private aviation is more accessible than ever before

The Lyth Valley Country Inn

Want somewhere in the Lakes with a hint of urban glamour and a contemporary edge? You've found it.

At the Lyth Valley Country Inn you get the very best of both worlds – the finest ales (thanks to our very own Winster Valley Brewery), the best in wines from around the world and an expertly mixed cocktail or two, together with a stunning Lakeland location and mesmerising views; perfect for those on business trips to the Lakes.

And right at the centre of it all is the hotel’s beautiful, imposing sculpted French oak bar. Come early and grab the cosy booth with friends or try our stunning layered oak bench. Or just take yourself out onto the raised deck area and drink in the views.

Need to escape for a drink after a long day of meetings and feel like you’re in a different world? Head in our direction.

www.lythvalley.com Tel: 015395 68295 Lyth . Cumbria . LA8 8DB

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Reinventing the events industry HeadBox is the UK’s first online marketplace for offsite spaces that links corporate guests with venue hosts directly.

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Built for a lifetime of luxury travel

Harry Billingham tells us what makes his bags so special and why they are so coveted by travellers the world over.

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To buy or charter

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Jetcraft offers a look at the parameters to keep in mind when weighing up chartering versus buying a jet.

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New business to transform how we travel Fastrack VIP intends to bring something new to the airport industry.

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Cabfind’s UK taxi expenses review 2017

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A new survey of 500 respondents from across the UK has shed light on how businesses manage their taxi requirements.

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How offices are taking on hotels

Giles Fuchs, co-founder of Office Space in Town, explains how business travellers are increasingly looking to alternative providers to meet their accommodation needs.

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BUSINESS MATTERS

Quicken 2018 Is Here!

Improved bill management, expanded Mac lineup, and new m program make it easier than ever for customers to take complet

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New features for Windows Windows users now have improved access to online bills from more than 11,000 billers, including PDF bill download and a streamlined bill and payment dashboard; new report formatting and customization options; direct report export to Excel spreadsheet; enhanced investment They include improved online bill man- performance analysis (for Premier and agement, new investment features, and above); and simplified emailing of invoices simpler upgrades with Quicken’s mem- and rental reminders in Home, Business bership program, which provides auto- and Rental Property Manager, with addimatic access to the latest versions. From tional invoicing options such as web links. staying on top of finances to managing investments, the 2018 releases of Quicken “We are always listening to customer help customers manage their finances at feedback and the 2018 releases of Quicken reflect the balance of new features every stage of life. and refinements to existing capabilities that we know our users want,” said Eric Expanded Mac capabilities For the first time ever, Mac users now Dunn, chief executive officer of Quicken. have access to a choice of products, in- “With our latest products, Mac offerings cluding Quicken Starter, Quicken Deluxe, are more robust, our interfaces are more and Quicken Premier. This gives Mac users intuitive, and our new membership promore flexibility to choose the offering that gram ensures that customers always have best suits their specific financial needs. the latest and greatest Quicken without the pain of manually upgrading.”

Quicken for Mac now includes all-new access to online bills from more than New membership program 11,000 billers, which are integrated into Quicken is now sold on a membership baa streamlined bill workflow; expanded sis. Rather than purchase upgrades every investment capabilities with specific lot year, customers automatically continue tracking and a highly customizable port- to receive the latest version of Quicken folio view; and new loan tracking features as long as they maintain their membership. Quicken offers both one- or two-year including “what-if” loan analysis. ontinuing the momentum since becoming a standalone company, Quicken Inc. announces its 2018 releases of Quicken for Windows and Mac users.

With the updated product line, both offerings deliver on the company’s commitment to revitalising Quicken.

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membership te financial control.

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WE ARE ALWAYS LISTENING TO FEEDBACK AND THE 2018 RELEASE REFLECTS WHAT WE KNOW OUR USERS WANT.

memberships (two-year initially available only at retail) to customers. In addition, Premier and Home, Business & Rental Property Manager members will receive free Quicken Bill Pay and access to Quicken’s Premium Care.

toward your financial goals.

• One-year membership: $49.99 • Two-year membership: $79.99 (available at retail) Quicken Premier (Mac & Windows): Maximize your investments by improving portfolio performance and minimizing taxes.

Dropbox, Yelp and PayPal partnerships • One-year membership: $74.99 Users of all new versions of Quicken will • Two-year membership: $119.99 (availreceive an additional 5GB of Dropbox able at retail) storage for backup and retrieval of your Quicken data through our exclusive part- Quicken Home, Business & Rental Propnership with the leading cloud storage erty (Windows): Manage your personal provider. Additionally, Quicken Home, and business finances in one place.

Business & Rental Property Manager • One-year membership: $99.99 users can now create and easily email • Two-year membership: $149.99 (availinvoices with custom logos and colors, able at retail). along with links to their Yelp profile, payments (PayPal), and more.

Pricing and availability The 2018 release of Quicken is available now at Quicken.com and at select retailers including Amazon, Staples, and more.

Quicken Starter (Mac & Windows): See where your money is going so that you can achieve your short-term financial goals.

• One-year membership: $34.99 • Two-year membership: $49.99 (available at retail)

Company: Quicken Address: 3760 Haven Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025 Telephone: +1 1650 564 3399 Web Address: www.quicken.com

Quicken Deluxe (Mac & Windows): Do more with your money. Take the next step 5

BUSINESS MATTERS

Vology Voted Best Managed IT Firm in Tampa Bay

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Managed IT Services Provider, Vology is celebrating after Tampa Bay Business Journal readers voted the company Best Managed IT Firm in the region. honoured so many local companies trust the control and management of their IT departments to Vology’s experienced team of engineers and technical staff. Vology takes care of running IT operations so our customers can pursue a laser-like focus on growing their businesses.”

he 2017 Best in the Biz: Readers’ Choice Awards consists of 38 categories in five groups: food and drinks; events, venues and planning; retail; professional services; and media and marketing.

Businesses are based in Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties. Vology is in Pinellas County.

This is the first year of the Best Managed IT Firm category in the six-year According to Tampa Bay Business Journal, history of the Best in the Biz: Readers’ readers submitted thousands of ballots Choice Awards. during the recent three-week voting period. In the Best Managed IT Firm category, Vology received the highest number of votes against 18 competitors.

“A community-voted award speaks volumes,” said Barry Shevlin, CEO of Vology.

“We owe great thanks to our customers for taking the time to recognise Vology for delivering the best, high-quality Managed IT Services in Tampa Bay. We are 6

BUSINESS MATTERS

Company: Vology Address: 15950 Bay Vista Dr. Clearwater, FL 33760 Telephone: +1 888 808 2199 / +1 813 280 1300 Web Address: www.vology.com

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BUSINESS MATTERS

Stellex Partners With Bruce Swift on Platform Strategy Former CEO of Diversified Machine will work closely with Stellex’s team to pursue an acquisition strategy in the manufacturing and automotive space.

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iddle market private equity firm, Stellex has announced its partnership with Bruce Swift, a senior executive in the automotive industry, to create a niche manufacturing platform.

dyne Performance Group, Inc., comprised of 19 manufacturing facilities in five countries with 3,600 employees. Metaldyne produces and sells components for use in powertrain and safety-critical platforms worldwide. Mr. Swift also held a number With over 30 years of senior management of executive purchasing positions at Ford experience within the automotive industry, Motor Company and began his career in the Mr. Swift was most recently Chief Execu- automotive industry at Honda of America, tive Officer of Diversified Machine, Inc., a where he was responsible for the North leading vertically-integrated supplier of American supply base expansion and lofully engineered chassis and powertrain calization of vehicle parts and systems. components and modules for the automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. During his “Our primary focus areas are the manutenure at Diversified Machine, the company facturing and industrial service businessrealized six-fold growth, enabling a local es where we have significant experience Detroit company to become a global play- investing over several economic cycles er within their industry, through organic and maintain longstanding relationships growth and strategic global acquisitions. with key industry participants,” said Ray Whiteman, Managing Partner of Stellex.

Prior to Diversified Machine, Mr. Swift was President of Metaldyne Driveline Division, a “We are excited about teaming with an expeglobal $800 million business unit of Metal- rienced executive like Bruce and leveraging 8

BUSINESS MATTERS

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his expertise in the space as we initiate a search for acquisitions that align with our investment acumen and goals. We have known Bruce for over a decade, since Ray and I partnered with him to build Diversified Machine,” added Managing Partner Mike Stewart. “We plan to deploy at least $100 million of equity into this strategy with Bruce.”

We are excited about teaming with an experienced executive like Bruce and leveraging his expertise in the space as we initiate a search for acquisitions that align with our investment acumen and goals.

“I am looking forward to collaborating with Ray, Mike and the Stellex team in identifying attractive opportunities within the automotive space and applying my experience in the industry to help support and grow these investments,” said Mr. Swift.

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Stellex invests in middle market companies with enterprise values typically between $50 million and $500 million with individual equity investments typically between $25 -100 million. The firm may make larger investments through partnering and co-investment.

We have known Bruce for over a decade AND We plan to deploy at least $100 million of equity into this strategy with Bruce.

Company: Stellex Capital Management Address: 900 Third Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10022, United States Telephone: +1 212 710 2323 Web Address: www.stellexcapitalmanagement.com 9

TECH

HEADBOX: REINVENTING THE EVENTS INDUSTRY THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGY HeadBox is the UK’s first online marketplace for inspiring, creative and offsite spaces that links corporate guests with venue hosts directly.

Seeking to reinvent the events industry through technology, HeadBox challenges the role of the “middle man”, allowing for fast, direct and hassle-free booking through its booking engine for work related events from workshops and meet-ups to product launches and training.

We spoke to CEO and founder, Andrew Needham who profiles the firm and talks us through how it continues to focus on solving the many problems and inefficiencies in the industry through clever technology.

Latest developments in the marketplace On the venue booking and events side of the business travel industry, many new startups have emerged over the last few years trying to solve the problem of online booking for a broad range of different spaces, each with its own approach. Many of them focus on one type of space like meeting rooms or tables at restaurants.

HeadBox is different whereby it represents a huge range of venues across the UK, allowing travel managers to visit the website and book any type of venue that they need, from meeting rooms and private dining spaces to 500 person conference venues, all in one place.

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It’s a very exciting time for virtual reality in the industry, more specifically virtual tours. HeadBox has leveraged this technology in the same way that the property sector does by launching HeadBox 3D. This allows travel managers to see the space in full without having to go on a site visit. This is particularly helpful for those booking venues abroad.

USPs Travel managers are time poor individuals and the technology they adopt must provide a fast, streamlined solution to this problem. Marketplaces like HeadBox provide them with a vast choice of inventory on one single platform, which is all available to instantly book online which

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means no time is wasted approaching venues directly. Technology like this introduces uniformity to an otherwise fragmented system. For example, by implementing standardised cancelation and refund polices, travel managers know what to expect when using the booking technology and don’t have to worry about This year saw the launch of HeadBox understanding each individual arrange- Business, a personalised corporate dashment with a venue. board on top of the HeadBox platform. It helps companies manage multiple venue What are the advantages of HeadBox? bookings across multiple teams, departments and territories, and delivers comHeadBox is the only transactional mar- plete transparency and budget control ketplace of its kind, in terms of the variety for all event budgets and venue bookings, of inventory listed. Existing self-booking as well as insight into what savings are tools in the industry focus on one specific made across the company. It also allows type of venue, such as meeting rooms. By corporate clients to pay for their venue using HeadBox and its technology, users of choice not just by Paypal and Debit or have the ability to book and pay for any Credit Card but also by Invoice, which is venue for any work related event online automatically generated by the platform and in minutes. on behalf of the venue.

A young, progressive company, technology is at the forefront of HeadBox.

The technology has also been customised to allow travel managers to book bespoke packages, offered by the venue across the website, which can also be booked online. Both of these features were industry firsts which further enhances the booking system.

Product/service innovation

By introducing transactional booking platforms like HeadBox Business it clearly fills a gap in the market and adds value to companies wishing to take charge of their venue and event bookings. It unlocks data which an organisation may not have had access too previously. Presenting this valuable information to a large business travel agency is invaluable to better understand their budgets, spend and forecasts.

bringing the venue booking process online, putting the venue and Host in direct A dynamic pricing feature was also introcontact, making the whole process more duced this year, an industry first which transparent, faster and simpler. raised the bar for those who still operate a traditional venue listing model and aren’t transactional.

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The new system allows a Host to select from five price types; venue hire per hour; venue hire per day, minimum spend, dry hire and day delegate rate. They are then able to apply those price types to different time slots in the day for different days of the week. Most crucially, the dynamic pricing allows Hosts to specify which price types are available for a Guest to book online.

This offers flexible and accurate pricing options for the Guest who benefit from a far more comprehensive cost breakdown on the HeadBox listing pages. By displaying exact prices, Hosts are receiving better quality enquiries from potential Guests who have a full understanding of how much that venue will cost. All of this is done without picking up a telephone or sending an email.

The developments made in the two years since the platform launched have been as a result of customer feedback. It demonstrates challenges the whole industry has faced for years that HeadBox has now solved. www.headbox.com

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It’s a very exciting time for virtual reality in the industry, more specifically virtual tours. HeadBox has leveraged this technology in the same way that the property sector does by launching HeadBox 3D. This allows travel managers to see the space in full without having to go on a site visit. This is particularly helpful for those booking venues abroad.

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TECH

TECH CEO and Founder, Andrew Needham

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TECH

DISCOVER LOS ANGELES PARTNERS WITH LA COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION TO LAUNCH IMMERSIVE DESTINATION APP Discover Los Angeles, the city’s official tourism marketing organisation, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, has released the Discover L.A. app, a sleekly designed, pocket guide exclusively made for those looking to optimise their experience in the City of Angels. Packed with rich content and tailored for those looking to explore the best of Los Angeles, the new app coincides with the busy summer travel season and is available for free download for both Android and iOS devices.

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hematically synced to deliver personalised content based on weather, time and distance, the app culls suggestions from the city’s endless entertainment options—including world-class museums, diverse dining options, and captivating events.

ing suggestions on cool days; the closest beaches and ice cream on warm days.”

The app was funded in part by a transportation improvement project grant from Metro. Using the app, travellers can easily traverse the city by clicking “get me there,” which will populate transit options “Our partnership with the LA County Arts by bike, car, and Metro. In addition, a key Commission allows visitors and locals feature of the app are seasonal scavenger to have the best of Los Angeles at their hunts to incentivise urban exploration. fingertips.” says Don Skeoch, chief marketing officer of Discover Los Angeles.

“Arts and culture is thriving in Los Angeles County,” states Laura Zucker, “The Discover L.A. app is the first-of- executive director of the LA County its kind to utilize proprietary A.I. built Arts Commission. to enhance the Los Angeles experience.

Through smart technology, the app literal- “At any given moment, in every neighbourly knows to serve up soup and indoor din- hood throughout our region, there are 14

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At any given moment, in every neighbourhood throughout LAS ANGELES, there are cultural events happening and we want to make sure everyone has access to them. cultural events happening and we want to make sure everyone has access to them.”

Discover L.A. App Features • Highlights top daily events throughout Los Angeles County • Finds locations featured in film and television • Features transportation options by bike, car, and Metro • Locates closest, free WiFi locations • Develops itineraries based on weather, time and distance • Discovers accommodations by • neighbourhood • Creates a passport to save favorite locations • Content developed exclusively for the app, including summer standouts like al fresco dining, outdoor music festivals and venues, and Pride events.

• Currency converter About Discover Los Angeles Discover Los Angeles (Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board) is a private, non-profit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions as the City’s official tourism marketing organisation.

One of the world’s most dynamic and diverse destinations, Los Angeles is comprised of more than 30 diverse neighbourhoods and considered the cultural hub 15

of the Pacific Rim. Home to near-perfect weather, 75 miles of jaw-dropping shoreline, more museums than any other U.S. city and an award winning culinary scene, Los Angeles presents endless possibilities that keep its more than 47 million annual visitors entertained.

For more information, visit the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at discoverLosAngeles.com and join the more than one million people who follow Discover Los Angeles’s Facebook page at facebook. com/discoverLA. Also follow along on Snapchat@discoverLASnaps or @discoverLA on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

About the Los Angeles County Arts Commission The Los Angeles County Arts Commission provides leadership in cultural services throughout the region’s 88 municipalities and nearly 140 unincorporated areas. The Arts Commission funds over 360 nonprofit arts organisations through a two-year $9 million grant program, implements the regional initiative dedicated to ensuring all students receive quality arts education in the County’s 81 public school districts, funds the largest arts internship programme in the country and manages the County’s civic art policy. lacountyarts.org, facebook.com/LACountyArts, Twitter, Instagram.

ON THE MOVE

BUILT FOR A LIFETIME OF LUXURY TRAVEL Since 1973, Billingham has been passionate about producing high quality, durable and stylish bags designed to provide owners with exceptional comfort and peace of mind.

Here, we talk to son of Billingham founders, Ros and Martin Billingham, and the company’s current owner, Harry Billingham to find out what makes his bags so special and why they are so coveted by travellers the world over.

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irstly, tell us about Billingham is intrinsic to their distinctive characand its products. What makes Billingham ter. Quality and detail are paramount to bags so special? the production of a Billingham bag, with each typically comprising more than 100 Built to meticulous standards at the com- individual components – the majority of pany’s manufacturing facility in the West which are custom-made by Billingham Midlands, England, Billingham’s versa- itself. Each bag comes with a five-year tile, purpose-built bags have an unrivalled guarantee, and is awarded its own unique reputation for excellence, and are highly serial number as a seal of perfection and revered and trusted by photographers and authenticity, allowing the product to be travellers around the world. Each mod- tracked throughout its entire lifecycle. el is precision-engineered from rugged, weather-proof canvas and premium pad- Tell us about the company’s clientele. What ding, to ensure the contents are kept safe kinds of people buy Billingham bags and and secure in transit. what do they demand from their luggage?

Billingham’s outstanding products are Our clients are based all over the world unlike any other bags, and the special and expect the highest level of quality way they are developed and engineered and technical excellence from Billingham 16

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products, as well as immaculate customer service. Traditionally, our customers have mainly been photographers looking for the ultimate level of protection for their camera equipment, but more recently, we have established a strong reputation for our premium travel and leisure bags suitable for anyone wishing to travel. modates a laptop up to 15” in size, as well as other equipment and documents, and is In the same way as our camera bags, our superbly padded. Our Hadley One padded holdalls and briefcases provide maximum camera bag doubles up as a messenger protection for valuable contents, from lap- bag with 13” laptop compartment. We also tops to personal possessions. The bags offer a range of padded rucksacks. All are are made from strong canvas material, made to the highest standards, manuare weather proof and heat resistant. They factured from weatherproof canvas and have a variety of ingenious features, such top-grain leather. as a turnover top, that allows you to pack more easily, for example, and nylon inter- What sets Billingham apart from its comnal zippers that protect any delicate items petitors? Why should a traveller looking inside the bag. for top quality luggage choose you over the many alternatives? Is it in the design, Give us some details about the firm’s the quality or something else? products. What types of luggage do you produce, what kinds of travel do they Billingham is a family business, still run cover and what’s so special about how by the family that created it. This gives us a are they produced? personal touch that perhaps other brands cannot offer. Our bags and accessories Our Weekender and Overnighter bags are all made with exceptional care in our have been designed to hold clothing, toi- factory in the West Midlands, England, and letries and personal possessions, and are recognised globally for their classic comply with airline luggage dimension design, their outstanding detail and qualrequirements. These are perfect for one ity. We are proud to put our name on each or two nights away, and are light in weight and every one. but extremely rugged, with full protection from the elements. The straps are easily Each bag features its own individual seremovable if the luggage is to be checked rial number, which allows us to track it in. The Weekender has an optional base throughout its lifetime. Our unique proppad to add more protection and structure, osition is a combination of the incredible if needed. Our Thomas briefcase accom protection our bags provide and their du-

Quality and detail are paramount to the production of aLL Billingham bagS.

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rability: strong, weatherproof material, top-grain leather, hand finished and inspected by our team to ensure every product that leaves the factory has been built to perfection. Materials are painstakingly researched and selected, and suppliers are scrutinised and reviewed to ensure the best possible quality.

We would also consider our customer service and attention to detail second to none. We are trusted by professional photographers globally to safeguard their expensive cameras and lenses, and to respond to them should they ever need advice, and we believe this makes us stand out from the rest.

What are your most popular products?

What feedback do people give on them and how do you use this feedback to improve your products and grow your range?

We know many of our customers extremely well, and we receive feedback every day regarding the design of the bags, features customers would like to see. Our travel range is very new, but we will continue to collect and monitor feedback on these bags to ensure that they meet the needs of travellers now and into the future.

A large percentage of our readership are business travellers. How do your products cater for them and why should they be looking at your line of products?

Again, our products have been designed to be strong, protective and extremely

practical, while retaining the Billingham classic style. Our Hadley One and Thomas have been engineered specifically to accommodate and keep laptops safe and protected due to their extensive padding, so are perfect for business travellers.

Photographers are all business travellers, so we have been catering for this type of customer since the day we started the company!

How is the world of luxury travel evolving and what are you doing to make sure that Billingham keeps up with the changes?

How has this evolution affected your products in recent years?

Billingham considers that every traveller will want to have the best protection for their valuable possessions, whether those may be photographic equipment, MacBooks, tablets, apparel, and other personal items. Our origins in the photographic industry have meant that practicality and protection have always come first in our pursuit of excellence. As the travel industry evolves, we evolve with it, ensuring that bags meet cabin baggage size restrictions, for example, but ensuring that the integrity and quality of our bags are never compromised. We know that people are short of time, so we have built in clever mechanisms and design features that make packing or unpacking easier, we’ve added trolley straps, umbrella straps and extra-strong zip pulls, for example, as well as features that help keep belongings as safe and secure as possible.

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As the travel industry evolves, we evolve with it, but WE ensurE ALWAYS that the integrity and quality of our bags are never compromised.

Finally, given these changes, what are your plans for the future of the brand?

We have hinted a little bit about the future in our latest blog post HERE: We are constantly aiming to improve our products and processes, and we continue to add new technology within our factory to ensure that our production remains at the cutting edge – so that our bags will evolve with the needs of all our clients over time.

We also see customer service as something that makes us stand out in the market. We have a vision of how this might look in the future thanks to technical and online developments. We already track all our bags by individual serial number through our systems. But imagine if you placed an order with Billingham and you could witness your bag being made ‘live’ by our team right there on the production line. Or logging in and seeing photos or video footage of your bag in progress, every step of the way… Or viewing it as it goes through a meticulous repair process, while receiving updates and progress from one of our staff.

At Billingham, we’ll never be satisfied with the status quo. There are endless possibilities for us to improve our products and our customer journey, and we’ll continue to develop and make enhancements for years to come. www.billingham.co.uk

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TO BUY OR CHARTER: HOW PRIVATE AVIATION HAS BECOME MORE ACCESSBILE THAN EVER To buy or to charter has long been the decision facing those considering private aviation over commercial airlines. Things like deciding when to invest in chartering, or whether you should purchase a private aircraft have never been more relevant with the upswing in shared ownership, apps and the fact that private jets have never been more accessible than they are right now. Jetcraft, the global leader in aircraft sales, marketing and ownership strategies, offers a look at the parameters to keep in mind when weighing the options of chartering versus buying.

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ell us why is the question of wheth- strategies, managing and maintaining er to buy or charter more prevalent now over 20 regional offices globally. We have than ever before? a unique position between the traditional broker and OEMs. Travelers have more choices than ever before when it comes to private aviation Jetcraft’s recent results are the best in the travel. The amount of charter and frac- company’s 55-year history (82 transactional ownership options are increas- tions, 1.8billion value in 2016), due to our ing, making private air travel even more global presence, wide variety of new and accessible. Some of these charter and pre-owned aircraft inventory, and ability fractional ownership customers are also to accept trades. deciding to invest in their own aircraft.

What can Jetcraft do to help those in our Tell us in detail about Jetcraft. Give us readership who are looking at whether some background to the company and tell to charter or when to buy? our readers about the services it offers.

Deciding whether to charter or buy a priJetcraft is the international leader in vate jet can be a complex decision. Conaircraft sales, marketing and ownership sult with a trusted partner to help you 22

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make the right decision. A professional will provide you with expert guidance on all aspects of chartering and, when you are ready to own your own aircraft, they also can help you through the entire purchasing process.

Jetcraft’s recent results are the best in the company’s 55-year history.

Here are some parameters to keep in Pay Per Use: When chartering, opermind when weighing the options of char- ating costs (crew salaries, routine and tering versus buying: unplanned maintenance, aircraft insurance and hangarage) are built into the Advantages of Chartering an Aircraft flight cost.

If you only fly private a few times a year, then chartering can be a more economic choice. With numerous charter options available today, you can choose exactly the type of plane that fits your travel needs for each specific trip. Keep in mind these three benefits to chartering an aircraft:

For corporations considering private aviation for executive travel needs, chartering can be a smart first step.

Executives gain first-hand experience and valuable insight into the benefits of private jet travel without making the immediate investment of purchasing their own aircraft.

Flexibility: Charter affords you the ability to decide when, where and how to fly. In the end, chartering is ideal when flight usage is sporadic and needs are difficult to predict.

As a company grows and travel needs increase, corporate owners can then make an educated transition from chartering to buying.

Variety: Chartering offers the option to choose from various aircraft configurations for every flight. Charter companies, especially those with locations in large metropolitan areas, can provide different aircraft with different configurations further customizing this type of travel experience. You can try out different models and on-board layouts to match your exact mission profile.

Advantages of Owning an Aircraft Consistency—by owning your own aircraft, you can enjoy the comfort and efficiency of a consistent experience every time you fly.

From cabin layout to onboard amenities, you know the ins and outs of the plane you will travel on and can take full advantage of its offerings. As an owner, you can also choose to hire a consistent crew that you know and trust, and that know you and your preferences 23

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Personalisation—just like owning a home, owning an aircraft allows you to configure it exactly to your personal taste and needs. It also offers the ability to tailor the flight experience to meet the specific trip requirements.

Complete Control—The only way to be in full control of your private-flying experience is to acquire your own aircraft.

Owners have the freedom to make changes or extensions to a trip at the last minute without having to ask if the charter company can accommodate. Ownership also provides you the autonomy over your aircraft maintenance and crew training, ensuring everything meets your level of specifications.

Travelers have more choices than ever before when it comes to private aviation travel. The amount of charter and fractional ownership options are increasing, making private air travel even more accessible. Some of these charter and fractional ownership customers are also deciding to invest in their own aircraft.

How do you see the private aviation industry evolving over the coming years and how will Jetcraft evolve along with it?

Firstly, technology is advancing quickly in business aviation, as it is with many other industries today. Not only that, we’re also seeing a trend towards larger, longer range aircraft which now make up the majority of our transactions.

Finally, globalization will have a huge part to play. The world is getting smaller, and our international infrastructure with 50+ employees in 20+ offices all over the globe allows us to help our customers take advantage of fluctuating economies and demand.

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Jetcraft President, Chad Anderson 25

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ennis, along with directors Liz Turner and Victor Koch, bring a combined experience of almost 100 years to the new aviation venture – having worked across the legal, aviation and airport industries to create a powerful team of heavyweights on the brink of something revolutionary.

With a career that’s spanned almost 45 years, Dennis’ understanding of aviation is unparalleled. Having grown up around airports, with his father having also worked at Heathrow for 30 years, and travelling extensively from a young age, setting up his own airport consultancy business was a natural progression and something he’d always envisaged for himself.

NEW BUSINES PLANS TO TRA FASTRACK VIP intends to bring something different to the airport industry – an all-in-one service which speaks to car park providers, airlines, airports and premier lounges to get clients from A to B in VIP style but without VIP prices.

Compliance Director, Dennis Darwent He started at British Airways (BA) as a explains how this is achieved and why baggage handler in 1974 – hair slightly celebrity travel shouldn’t be available longer but passion for aviation and travel just to those earning six figures.

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remaining the same. Dennis’ career at BA spanned 30 years, moving up the ranks and eventually ending up in procurement, managing £1 billion worth of annual budget, covering all UK airports.

After running his own successful airport consultancy business for two years, Dennis met Liz and Victor – all of whom shared an interest in creating something which would change the face of travel and Fastrack VIP was born.

Fastrack VIP was set up in February and has now launched to operate across all UK and 700 global airports with plans to expand further – with families, couples,

Crucially, we’re able to fast track customers through queues, alleviating the stress accompanied with extensive wait times.

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SS ‘TAKES OFF’ WITH ANSFORM HOW WE TRAVEL wedding parties and business travellers alike already making use of the service.

Fastrack VIP’s services start at £27.50 per person for four people travelling and come in a variety of packages. Each package offers customers something a little extra to make the airport experience that much smoother, whether they’re flying into or out of the UK – from car parking discounts to a personal assistant guiding you through the airport and guaranteed lounge access.

“This package service has not been done before as we’ve managed to combine all elements of the airport experience into one. Fastrack VIP offers everyone the service traditionally considered exclusive to the rich and famous,” said Dennis.

Through working with a variety of part ners – from car parking operators and airports to lounge operators and handling companies – Fastrack VIP has been able to pull a series of premier packages together and work on a commission-based basis to get partners on board.

“Crucially, we’re able to fast track customers through queues, alleviating the stress accompanied with extensive wait times. Our service also allows customers to be met and assisted at arrivals at their destination, at a connecting flight’s airport and on return journeys back to the UK – we really offer the whole package in terms of creating a worry-free travel experience.

“During my 43 years’ experience I’ve An airline at Luton Airport has hit the learnt a lot and have put this into pracheadlines in the past, offering custom- tice when setting up Fastrack VIP. I’ve ers the chance to hop, skip and jump done a huge variety of jobs in the aviathrough customs, immigration and se- tion industry; from cleaning aircrafts to curity at the airport – but at a price: £475 becoming head of service quality obligato be exact for the first passenger. tions reducing security wait times - and lots in between.

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ON THE MOVE Compliance Director, Dennis Darwent

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During my 43 years’ experience I’ve learnt a lot and have put this into practice when setting up Fastrack VIP. I’ve done a huge variety of jobs in the aviation industry; from cleaning aircrafts to becoming head of service quality obligations reducing security wait times - and lots in between.

ON THE MOVE “I have always had a passion for travel, having visited 80 countries, from Argentina to Zimbabwe, and all seven recognised Wonders of the World. I have a keen interest in culture and enjoy visiting new places – it’s something I want everyone to be able to experience and that’s one of the great things about this business; it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy travelling in a way that suits them.

“I’ve been in charge of moving VIPs through airports safely and I know the type of VIP service that should be conducted and am committed to delivering this to all of our customers. I’m proud to be part of a team delivering this service to the general public and look forward to seeing their reactions,” said Dennis.

The company has received a huge level of investment which has supported the opening of the firm’s London and Cheshire offices.

“We’ve been fortunate in that our financial backing has come from the right team of people who understand the business and realise its potential. There are big plans for our future as we are expanding, offering our services offering globally,” concluded Dennis.

For more information visit: www.fastrackvip.com and follow: @FastrackVIP on Twitter, @fastrackvip on Instagram and Fastrack VIP on LinkedIn.

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ON THE MOVE

Cabfind’s UK Taxi Expenses Review 2017 “We anticipate that a company with an annual taxi expenditure of £500,000 could be facing hidden additional costs of approximately £33,000 relating to expense processing and administration.’’

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These were the words of Cabfind’s Commercial Director, Daniel Price following its publication of the inaugural UK Taxi Expenses Review 2017. new survey of 500 respondents from across the UK has shed light on how businesses manage their taxi requirements.

Understandably, managing taxi expenses is not a simple task and by its very nature, taxi travel is often over shadowed by bigger price tag items such as air travel and accommodation.

up blank receipts. And approximately 36 per cent of people said they actually forgot the taxi charge before writing it down.

A total of 76 per cent of respondents said they tip the driver to the average value of 13 per cent, and among London based travellers this was even higher.

Three-quarters of respondents said they paid for taxis using cash.

But for companies that regularly use taxis for business purposes and do not have a robust policy in place, these hidden costs What is clear is that the actual true costs can be surprising. of taxi travel are distorted by gratuities, rounding up, over-claiming and potentialIn the first instance, our survey showed that ly, misuse. This lack of transparency and 55 per cent of businesses did not have a visibility is often compounded by other defined taxi policy. More than half of re- factors – most noticeably the amount of spondents admitted to rounding up the cost time taken to claim expenses. of their taxi journeys by an average of 25 per cent when provided with a blank receipt.

Our survey revealed that 60 per cent of respondents complete expenses durCompany directors were found to be the ing working hours. It takes an average biggest group of employees who rounded of 10 minutes to complete an expense 30

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Meanwhile, 58 per cent of respondents completed expense claims forms within a week, which means that less than half take longer to log their expenses. In busy finance and HR departments this can create bottlenecks of work considering almost a third of those who have their expense claims checked, are under scrutiny from two or more people.

Finally, our survey also revealed that irrespective of cost or duty of care considerations, on average, 53 per cent of respondents regularly use the same taxi provider and most use a taxi rank if they are in an unfamiliar location.

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form and the average user processes an average of seven receipts a month.

This means that a claimant can be losing more than an hour a month of work time due to expense administration.

Understandably, managing taxi expenses is not a simple task and by its very nature, taxi travel is often over shadowed by bigger price tag items such as air travel and accommodation.

But for companies that regularly use taxis for business purposes and do not have a robust policy, THESE hidden costs can be surprising.

Our survey paints a very revealing picture about taxi travel for businesses, from how it is commissioned to how it is paid for and the time taken to handle receipts and the administrative process.

For companies that regularly use taxis for business purposes, it should act as a wake up call to the hidden costs and inefficiencies, which could be resolved with closer consideration and smarter management.

Cabfind’s UK Taxi Expenses Review 2017 is available for download from http://www.cabfind.com/hidden 31

Commercial Director, Daniel Price

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PEYOTITO IBIZA OFFICALLY OPENS AT NOBU HOTEL IBIZA BAY

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This July saw the opening of Peyotito Ibiza, the sophisticated modern Mexican restaurant from Notting Hill London, on the island of Ibiza, Spain. ocated in the highly anticipated Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, this exciting new addition to the island’s culinary landscape is set to become a fast favourite among locals and visitors alike.

Executive Chef, Eduardo Garcia and Head Chef, Adriana Cavita.

Nestled amongst the white sandy beaches of Talamanca Bay, Peyotito Ibiza combines an idyllic vista of the azure blue Mediterranean Sea and a bespoke menu of delicious Mexican dishes with an influence of Spanish traditions and Ibizan flavours.

A far cry from the typical ‘Tex-Mex’ cuisine, Peyotito Ibiza offers a menu of refined Mexican fare introducing established favourites from across the group as well as numerous new dishes influenced by spices, ingredients and cooking customs from Spain and Ibiza from Verde Vuelve a la Vida with Lubina (local Ibiza fish) to Papas with chorizo and chili pasilia.

The fourth installment from the renowned Peyote Group, which boasts establishments in Notting Hill, Mayfair and Dubai, continues to bring sophisticated and contemporary Modern Mexican cuisine from

Offering a multi-sensory experience of modern and unique Mexican dishes based on a sharing concept and set in earthy, stylish interiors, Peyotito Ibiza is the picture-perfect setting to dine with friends while enjoy-

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Peyotito Ibiza combines an idyllic vista of the azure blue Mediterranean Sea and a bespoke menu of delicious Mexican dishes with an influence of Spanish traditions. ing the extensive cocktail list. Included is the signature Peyotito Margarita; a refined version of London’s shaken Margarita with a spicy Tajin rimmed glass, blanco tequila, Cointreau, agave syrup, lime juice and a Mezcal vial for you to personalise the flavour, while watching the sunset.

Choose either a casual lunch by the pool, sundowners overlooking the sparkling bay or a group dinner nestled by the outdoor fire pit. Peyotito Ibiza is the ultimate refuge for all foodie travellers, sophisticated visitors and island locals alike.

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INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS & RESORTS DEBUTS IN LJUBLJANA, EUROPE’S HIDDEN GEM InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands, continues its trailblazing heritage by opening the doors to InterContinental Ljubljana in Slovenia’s beguiling capital. The city is one of the latest rising stars in a hot list of emerging destinations in Eastern Europe.

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ocated in a modern 20-floor building in the centre of Ljubljana, the luxury InterContinental Ljubljana is just a short walk from the iconic Ljubljanica River, Park Tivoli and Ljubljana Castle. The hotel has 165 guest rooms including 15 suites, most with panoramic views, and features contemporary interior design with sophisticated details reflecting Slovenian authenticity.

a hive of traditional and fusion cuisine, making it the ideal 48-hour city break for romantics and culture lovers alike.

Ljubljana, Europe’s hidden gem

Tom Rowntree, Vice President Brand Management, Luxury & Boutique Brands Europe at InterContinental Hotels Group commented: “InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has been pioneering luxury travel in emerging destinations around the world for more than 70 years, and InterContinental Ljubljana is a prime example of this.

With its blend of culinary, design and cultural influences from neighbouring Austria, Italy and Croatia, Ljubljana sits in the heart of one of Europe’s most diverse countries. The charming city centre is steeped in history, architecture and 34

InterContinental Ljubljana is perfectly placed to explore the city, from enjoying the local brda wine or trying the newest food markets, or to discover the neighbouring regions, from wine-tasting in the Vipava Valley, boating on Lake Bled, or skiing in the Triglav national park.

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B restaurant, a cocktail of flavours and local influence

Named after the prized Carniolan honey bee native to Slovenia, InterContinental Ljubljana’s B culinary concept, is overseen by Michelin-star Chef Alfredo Russo. Located on the 20th floor, B boasts an open kitchen and a large outdoor terrace with panoramic views of Ljubljana’s old town with the castle on one side and the Alps on the other.

Alfredo’s Mediterranean menu reflects the harmony between Italian and Slovenian cuisines. Incorporating fresh local ingredients, B’s dishes celebrate the vegetarian offerings from the nearby mountains along with the fish delicacies straight from the Adriatic Sea that wets both the Italian and Slovenian shore. The restaurant also boasts an extensive list of local wines and creative cocktails.

InterContinental Ljubljana also features a bar, a patisserie, a spa with an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, a spacious Club InterContinental lounge with a fireplace, and extensive meeting and banqueting space with capacities for up to 300 guests. In addition, using its international know how and local insights, Club InterContinental offers an enhanced service with bespoke package experiences and rewards.

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Slovenia is a country of rich diversity, fusing multiple European influences in its food, culture, design and landscape - InterContinental Ljubljana brings this together in one very sophisticated and stylish offering.”

With its blend of culinary, design and cultural influences from neighbouring Austria, Italy and Croatia, Ljubljana sits in the heart of one of Europe’s most diverse countries. The charming city centre is steeped in history, architecture and a hive of traditional and fusion cuisine, making it the ideal 48-hour city break for romantics and culture lovers alike.

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How offices are TAKING ON hotels in the battle for BUSINESS travellers Business travellers are increasingly demanding a seamless, personalised and hassle-free travel experience, from booking to transfers to accommodation. Traditional models of business travel are being challenged, and this is particularly evident in the hospitality sector. We spoke Giles Fuchs, CEO and co-founder of Office Space in Town, one of the UK’s top property groups, to find out how business travellers are increasingly looking to alternative providers to meet their accommodation needs.

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he coincidence of the increasing globalisation of business, the changing expectations of the business traveller and the rise of the serviced office offer have precipitated a surprising trend towards serviced offices as a challenger to traditional hotels as providers of business travel accommodation.

erations and outlook. According to recent research, 42% of UK businesses are more inclined to expand operations overseas following the Brexit vote. International expansion has led to greater staff mobility, and inevitably the continuing need for business travel.

Business travel has significantly evolved in recent years, and the sector continues to expand. In 2000, $634bn was spent on global business travel, doubling to $1.2 trillion in 2015, a figure which is predicted to grow to $1.6 trillion by 2020. Despite global political unrest and the continued threat of terrorism; increasing globalisation and rapid economic growth are powering this growth. Businesses are becoming increasingly global in their op-

Just as the business travel market continues to expand, the demands of business travellers are also changing. Today’s business traveller expects not only immediacy and flexibility in the services they access, they want a hybrid experience of work and leisure. Millennials – a cohort that will account for nearly 50% of all business travel spending by 2020, according to Boston Consulting Group – bring with them the expectations of their generation. They are 36

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intrinsically tech-savvy, socially minded and according to the 2015 GBTA Business Traveler Sentiment Index™ increasingly concerned with work/life balance – even when travelling for business.

vider of desk space to that of private member style services - including hotel style sleeping apartments - has contributed to the erosion of hotels’ monopoly on business travel hospitality. The serviced office sector has experienced rapid expansion, Reflecting the changing demands of the enjoying a 31 per cent growth since 2008; business traveller over time, serviced a trend that is set to continue. apartments were the first challenger to hotels as providers of business travel The maturing of the sector has been accommodation, offering a hotel and con- matched by an evolution of its offer. Far cierge experience, but with added space, from the vanilla ‘desk-space and phone’ convenience and privacy. In more recent offer of the first serviced offices, the maryears, however, the technology revolution ket now boasts some of the world’s most has seen the rise of significant compe- desirable office buildings, completed to tition from online hospitality sites such an HQ spec and incorporating amenities as Spareroom, Homestay and AirBnB; that would challenge those of the most with the latter proving to be the biggest luxury hotels. Office Space in Town’s market disruptor to date, launching its flagship serviced office in Monument in global business travel programme in the City is a good example of this trend, 2015, experiencing 700 per cent growth incorporating serviced bedrooms, gyms, in its first year alone. A 2014 PwC report meeting rooms, hair and beauty treatrevealed that 10% of hoteliers report- ment rooms and a roof top café/restaued experiencing a decrease in demand rant. The convergence of the hotel and as the influence of AirBnB has grown, serviced office sectors was exemplified a trend which is now being mirrored in when leading Dubai operator, Signature’s business travel. These platforms offer serviced offices were opened at the presthe flexibility and cost savings in accom- tigious Fairmont Hotel. modation required by employers, coupled with the wealth of choice and opportunity Just as the distinction between apartto select accommodation for its leisure ments and hotels has blurred in recent as much as work potential, which is so years, with many operators billing themmuch in demand from the modern busi- selves as ‘aparthotels’, so we are likely to ness traveller. see a continuing convergence or cannibalisation of the traditional business hospiMost recently, however, competition for tality provided by hotels as tech-enabled the traditional hotel for business travel businesses look for seamless, twenty-four has come from a less likely sector. The hour working, and increasingly turn to evolution of the serviced office, from pro- serviced offices to provide it.

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Far from the vanilla ‘deskspace and phone’ offer of the first serviced offices, the market now boasts some of the world’s most desirable office buildings.

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COMBINING BUSINESS AND PLEASURE AT DRYBURGH ABBEY Nestled in an exclusive wooded estate, next to the historic Abbey, Dryburgh Abbey Hotel is a very special 3 Star Country House Hotel in the Scottish Borders. As well as luxury accommodation, a traditional Scottish wedding venue and seasonal restaurant, the hotel offers great business conference facilities.

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eaturing a 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 Edinburgh and Newcastle, Dryburgh will both impress your clients and inspire your delegates.

The Garden Room is a more intimate function space, well suited to host boardroom style meetings, brainstorming sessions and training days. The next door Wallace Lounge provides an ideal space for delegates to breakout and refresh.

The Glen Room is our designated meeting room at Dryburgh. This state of the art facility comes complete with a digital projector and screen, a breakout area for The Dryburgh Suite is the hotel’s largest delegates and a large sky light providing function suite. Newly refurbished with those attending your meeting with relarge windows overlooking the hotel freshing natural light. gardens this space is ideal to hold larger presentations and conferences. The As a historic baronial Scottish country Suite has direct access to the grounds so house dating back to the mid ninedelegates can breakout into the beautiful teenth century Dryburgh Abbey Hotel surroundings of Dryburgh. offers a selection of splendid rooms 40

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for private dining and hosting a variety of different functions and banquets throughout the year.

The Tweed Restaurant, with its large bay windows, impressive high ceilings, decorative cornicing, ornate chandeliers and river views is an absolutely charming room to dine in, as is the elegant Abbey Room with its high ceilings, marble fireplace, and tranquil river and Abbey views.

The Garden Room provides a warm and comfortable private dining space.

With a skilled brigade of chefs, carefully designed menus, hand-crafted dishes, a superb wine list and attentive staff, Dryburgh Abbey Hotel is a very popular venue for private dining in the Scottish Borders. Flexible and bespoke menus can be tailored to suit all your needs and requirements - whether it is a sportsman’s dinner, awards ceremony or birthday party.

For more information regarding our conference facilities please contact our dedicated Sales & Events Team on 01835 822 261 or email enquiries@dryburgh.co.uk.

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running away from home, honouring tradition AND MIXING IT UP LONDON STYLE Launching in September 2017 in the heart of Soho, Flavour Bastard is a journey of flavours. The restaurant, located on Frith Street, will be anything but authentic; taking vibrant ingredients from around the world, removing rules and traditions, and combining creative flavours and techniques. Here, we talk to founders, Vic Singh and Pratap Chahal about their rebellious addition to Soho’s exciting food scene.

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irstly, that name. Where did it come from and what does it represent?

How did the inspiration for the restaurant come about? Is it a reaction to what is happening in the wider restaurant inFlavour Bastard’s name comes from the dustry and what have been the major bastardisation of flavours, cuisines, rules, challenges you’ve needed to overcome authenticity and tradition with a strong to get the restaurant to where it is today? emphasis on flavour and innovation.

Well, Pratap has been cooking this style Tell us about the restaurant itself. What of food for years - it’s his signature style is the ethos, what will the focus be on and of cooking and it caught the attention of what will it seek to achieve?

Vic who was anyway looking to open a restaurant in London. The two met and Flavour Bastard is about flavour, ideas found they had a similar vision for the kind and fun. Flavour Bastard wanted to create of restaurant they’d like to run - one based a ‘cuisine- agnostic’ menu that was any- on flavours and great taste from around thing but authentic, and take customers the world rather than pigeon-holing into on a sensorial journey. a single cuisine. In an abstract way, it’s London cuisine.

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Flavour Bastard was founded by restaurateur Vic Singh and Pratap Chahal. Pratap worked his way through the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay, Claridge’s, Chez Bruce, Cinnamon Club and The Orrery Galvin Bistrot before taking a year off to travel and eat his way around the world. Soon after he married, he began a bespoke catering service, which led to the formation of That Hungry Chef, a London-based fine-dining events company.

The restaurant places a lot of emphasis on the combination of the traditional and the new. Can you give us some examples of this and tell us why this approach is so important.

The best example is our miso and mango glazed aubergine with peanut-buckwheat crumble. This was inspired by the traditional Japanese ‘nasu dengaku’ (miso aubergine with sesame) and hence bastardised by Pratap into the version we have on the menu.

Whilst we love traditional cuisines, the way the world is becoming smaller and smaller, with various cultures intermarrying, living together, we wanted to embrace this evolution.

In a cosmopolitan city like London where there are so many nationalities, cultures and cuisines, it seemed natural to us to take flavours from around the world and mix it up, London style!

Whilst we love traditional cuisines, the way the world is becoming smaller and smaller, with various cultures intermarrying, living together, we wanted to embrace this evolution. In a cosmopolitan city like London where there are so many nationalities, cultures and cuisines, it seemed natural to us to take flavours from around the world and mix it up, London style!

Tell us about the restaurant’s surroundings. What is Soho like as a whole, what is it like as a place to eat and what will this new restaurant bring to the area that it is currently lacking?

Soho has a vibrant, buzzing and diverse restaurant scene, which is constantly evolving, growing and welcoming new ad43

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Tell our readers about the founders, their backgrounds and their philosophies on the restaurant industry.

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Flavour Bastard is about flavour, ideas and fun. THE AIM IS to create a ‘cuisine- agnostic’ menu that was anything but authentic, and take customers on a sensorial journey. ditions. The name alone stands against the other eateries in the area, and provides a culinary experience like no other. One that removes rules and tradition, and combines creative flavours and techniques.

What can diners expect from the restaurant in terms of atmosphere and feel?

How has this been achieved?

The concept of the restaurant is just like its food and overall ethos. We just don’t want it to be too serious and want everyone from the Flavour Bastard family to our guests to have fun!

What would be your particular recommendations from the menu for the first diners when the restaurant opens its doors?

Definitely the cloud of curds. It’s inspired by a recipe from the Royal House of Holkar in Central India and is one of the most unique vegetarian dishes anywhere in London and one that even meat-eaters will enjoy.

We also love the edible scent aspects of some of our dishes. Pratap is known for cooking with perfumes and transforming scent into flavour through and on the menu there is Frankincense (goat), Bergamot (tart), and Vetiver (quinoa dessert).

Finally, what are your plans for the future of the restaurant?

We’d love to open a few more sites over the years... A family of bastards!

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vantage point overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace is a suitably regal location for the jewel in Victoria’s crown, The English Grill – an elegant new brasserie-style restaurant which has officially opened its doors at The Rubens at the Palace hotel in central London.

Embracing the best of English tradition, design and flavours, the luxurious fine dining restaurant serves an exquisite menu designed around premium seasonal produce. Ingredients are locally sourced from the highest quality English suppliers, including meats from Aubrey Allen, Royal Warrant holder to Her Majesty The Queen.

THE ENGLISH GRILL newest luxury di The Rubens at the Palace’s new brasserie-style restaurant is a celebration of English tradition, serving elegant seasonal cuisine in the heart of London.

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Also on a daily rotation are The English Grill’s signature gourmet pies, which offer modern twists on retro classics, and include English favourites such as pork and apple, Shepherd’s and chicken pot

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In homage to The Rubens’ rich royal history and ties to traditional English society, The English Grill delivers warm and impeccable service from tailcoated waiters, including the theatre of a daily roast, which is expertly carved from a bespoke silver trolley at guests’ tables.

These traditional English roasts, which change daily, include delicacies such as Beef Wellington served with creamed onions and Madeira jus; belly of slow roasted pork with crackling and apple sauce; and salmon en croute, locally sourced from Billingsgate Fish Market and served with creamed spinach and Champagne butter sauce.

The quality of talent in the kitchen is complemented by the calibre of service in the dining room. The appointment of Head Maitre’d, Paul Foxon, whose strong background following many years as Head Waiter at The Ritz Hotel in London, perfectly enhances the warmth of hospitality for which The Rubens at the Palace is famed.

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L: Introducing Victoria’s ining experience pies – the latter made to a famed recipe such as Eton mess, crème brûlée and which was perfected by Red Carnation Bea Tollman’s baked vanilla cheesecake.

Hotel Collection Founder and President, Mrs Bea Tollman.

The quality of talent in the kitchen is complemented by the calibre of service The English Grill’s menu also features a in the dining room. The appointment of selection of vegetarian and seafood dish- Head Maitre’d Paul Foxon, whose strong es, as well as a spectacular 20oz Aubrey background in fine English service, folAllen Tomahawk Steak dish. A stream- lowing many years as Head Waiter at The lined lunch menu is offered during the Ritz Hotel in London, perfectly enhances day, swiftly delivering the same exacting the warmth of hospitality for which The service and quality of food for the day- Rubens at the Palace is famed. time dining set. The à la carte menu is accompanied by an extensive wine list As part of a five year, multi-million pound including a fine selection from Bouchard refurbishment of the whole Rubens hoFinlayson, The Rubens’ sister vineyard in tel, The English Grill combines polished South Africa. silver, luxurious fabrics and beautiful chandeliers for a feeling of grandeur and The 28-strong team of chefs is led by elegance. The addition of intimate leather Ben Kelliher who joins The English Grill booths framing the windows of the restaufrom Butlers Restaurant at sister prop- rant give the sense of dining in a private erty, The Chesterfield Mayfair. During his members’ club. The hotel’s regally refurdecade-long tenure, Kelliher established bished Cavalry Bar provides a welcoming Butlers as one of the finest dining venues environment in which to enjoy pre-dinner in Mayfair and built its reputation for “the cocktails, or to extend the evening with best Dover Sole in London”. Kelliher also a digestif while enjoying the live music brings across with him the outstanding offered nightly. talents of Pastry Chef Sarah Houghting who oversees the delicious range of des- The kitchen serving The English Grill has serts offered at The English Grill, includ- also been fully refurbished, and the addiing gourmet takes on English favourites tion of a glass wall allows guests to enjoy 47

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the action taking place therein. Top quality cuts of locally-sourced English meat are grilled to perfection in the kitchen’s charcoal-fired oven, the Josper, which reaches temperatures of 500°C and imparts a subtle smoky flavour to the meats, ensuring none of the natural flavours and moisture are lost in the cooking process.

Malcolm Hendry, General Manager of The Rubens at the Palace, said: “With the loving restoration of this historic property now complete, The Rubens has simply never looked better. We are very proud to launch The English Grill at a time when Victoria and the Nova complex are firmly establishing themselves as dining destinations in their own rights. This amazing new restaurant offers guests even more choice, bringing unrivalled glamour and the elegance of traditional English fine dining to the area.”

The English Grill restaurant is now open to residents and visitors alike for lunch and dinner daily.

Find The English Grill at 39 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0PS. To make a reservation please call +44 (0)20 7834 6600 or book a table online at www.rubenshotel.com.

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What’s New in Dubai for Autumn 2017?

With the world’s biggest ferris wheel rising, hotel expansions at Atlantis, The Palm in excess of £77m and Damac’s new luxury property due to open this year autumn is set to be an exciting time in Dubai. Have your breath taken away by the mesmerizing performances of La Perle as they begin their first shows or enjoy the multi-sensory Orbi Dubai experience taking you on a virtual voyage of discovery.

ATTRACTIONS LA PERLE DUBAI TICKETS NOW ON SALE La Perle, a brand new, one-of-a-kind theatrical experience opening on 31st August, will reflect the beauty and flavours of Arabia as well as embodying the soul of its hosting neighbourhood, the spectacular Al Habtoor City.

La Perle is the first ever resident live performance show in the U.A.E., with 450 performances a year. It is a 1,300-capacity theatre combining a range of technology and creative imagery to produce a spectacular visual display. Conceived by world-famous Cirque du Soleil director, Franco Dragone, 65 entertainers from 23

countries will perform an array of aerial and aquatic stunts during the show, above an on-stage floor. Unlike other performances, which are often modified to fit into a stage - the theatre for La Perle is tailor-made for the show itself. Seats are built to “wrap” around the theatre, creating an intimate and exciting atmosphere for the audience. Ticket prices start from £83 per person.

For more information please visit: www.laperle.com WORLD’S LARGEST FERRIS WHEEL RISES IN DUBAI Ain Dubai – the largest and tallest observation wheel in the world, is now halfway 50

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complete. The wheel rim is one of the most striking features of Ain Dubai and is now clearly visible at Bluewaters Island, where the landmark is being assembled. Once completed, Ain Dubai is sure to become an iconic destination, offering visitors and residents stunning 360-degree views of the city and its spectacular coastline. The 668 feet tall marvel will have the capacity to carry 1,400 passengers in 48 self-contained capsules. The hub and spindle at Ain Dubai were installed in 2016 and the final structure will include around 9,000 tonnes of steel, almost 25 percent more than the amount of iron used to construct the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.

For more information please visit: www.meraas.com NEW 24/7 FISH MARKET TO LAUNCH IN DUBAI IN OCTOBER Dubai’s new fish market, Waterfront Market, will be located in Deira and will officially open in October. The new market will be open 24/7 and will be one of the most important specialised markets in the Emirates. Besides being a fresh food shopping experience, it’s an environment where local fisherman, butchers and vegetable and dry good traders can grow – blending a traditional Emirati souq with a multi-cultural retail bazaar that reflects the evolving city of Dubai.

For more information please visit: www.waterfrontmarket.ae

Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm will undergo a £77m refurbishment programme.

MULTI-SENSORY ORBI DUBAI NOW OPEN Dubai is the first city outside of Japan to open Orbi, a high-tech, multisensory natural-history project from the BBC and Sega, setting off its visitors on a virtual voyage of discovery. Recently opened Orbi consists of twelve different nature zones designed to create experiences that would be impossible in the real world – where visitors can soar through Earth’s skies, follow in the footsteps of polar explorers and experience the thunder of being placed in the centre of an elephant migration. The centrepiece of the attraction is the Earth Theatre, a 35-metre-wide screen with a powerful 3D sound system where the natural world comes to life through state of the art technologies including fog, vibratory sensations and fragrances.

For more information please visit: www.orbidubai.com DUBAI TO ADD ONE MORE NIGHT BEACH Due to overwhelming public feedback received regarding the Night Swimming Beach at Umm Suqeim, a new night swimming facility will now be available at Al Mamzar Beach. The facilities include a

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main rescue station and a qualified crew of rescuers equipped with all safety, rescue, ambulance and communication equipment, as well as beach and water rescue bikes that ensure a safe environment for beach-visitors. This initiative is a continuation of Dubai Municipality’s efforts to improve the emirate’s public beaches and provide smart services that support the Government of Dubai’s plan to transform the emirate into a smart city.

For more information please visit: www.visitdubai.com THE WOMAN IN BLACK RETURNS TO DUBAI One of the world’s most successful plays, The Woman in Black, is due to return to Dubai for a limited run this September.

From the 26th of September until the 2nd of October, the legendary thriller-horror play is returning to Madinat Theatre in Madinat Jumeirah. There will be nightly shows plus four matinee performances of the chilling production, which has been internationally acclaimed as one of the most spectacular live shows in the world. Now in its 27th year in London’s West End, the production returns to Dubai following sell-out runs in 2009, 2012 and 2015, and will feature cast members from the London show.

For more information please visit: www.madinatjumeirah.etixdubai.com

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DUBAI’S ATLANTIS, THE PALM TO UNDERGO £77M REVAMP

Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm will undergo a £77m programme to refurbish the resort’s 1,539 rooms and suites. Having started on the 4th of July 2017, the iconic fivestar destination resort will embark on a three-year programme that will see 50 rooms and suites refurbished every six weeks. Completion for the mammoth task is marked as 2019, just in time for Dubai Expo 2020. UAE-based interior design studio WA International has come up with a fresh look and feel for the updated guest rooms, with contemporary carpeting mirroring the turquoise sea just outside, and coral accents. Balconies and bathrooms will also get a facelift, with free-standing bathtubs and Greek Didyma marble basins. Technology enhancements will include 49-inch flat-screen televisions, proximity reader key systems, among other features. The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant Kaleidoscope is also currently under renovation, and will see a new dynamic introduced when it re-opens in September 2017. Further projects planned are the re-design of Ayamna Bar, Nasimi Beach and The Imperial Club.

For more information, please visit: www.atlantisthepalm.com

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HOTELS

Key West Bar & Grill opened earlier this year at Nikki Beach and captures the essence of the resort town on the tip of Florida. Mixing Floridian, Caribbean with Latin influences guests can expect authentic ingredients that are grown locally, the freshest fish and seafood, citrus flavours, and signature spice rubs for grilled meats.

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NEW BEACH CLUB OPENS AT RIXOS PRE- EMAAR OPENS FOURTH MID-SCALE MIUM HOTEL ROVE HOTEL A brand-new beach club, Azure Beach, has opened at Rixos Premium Hotel on Jumeirah Beach Residence. The Mediterranean-inspired beach hangout is the first of several outlets to open in the new Rixos Premium. Azure Beach caters for the whole family with seaside and poolside facilities ranging from a relaxed lounge area serving fusion Asian dishes for lunch and dinner, a shisha terrace where guests can sit back and unwind, an infinity pool equipped with private island beds overlooking the Dubai Eye and The Palm, a beach with all the comforts and a funfilled kids club.

Dubai’s Emaar Hospitality has announced the opening of the fourth hotel under its mid-scale Rove brand. Rove Trade Centre, is located adjacent to Dubai World Trade Centre and caters to meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions customers.

The property has 270 rooms, a gym, pool and sun deck, self-service laundromat, boutique convenience store, meeting rooms and a food outlet.

For more information please visit: www.premiumdubai.rixos.com

EMAAR LAUNCHES 360-DEGREE VIRTUAL TOURS OF ITS HOTELS IN DUBAI

For more information please visit: www.rovehotels.com TECHNOLOGY

DAMAC TO OPEN LUXURY HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN DUBAI

Emaar Hospitality Group has introduced panoramic 360-degree virtual tours of its hotels in Dubai. The tours, captured in Damac Properties has announced that it high-definition photographs and videos, will open an ultra-luxury five-star hotel offer visitors the opportunity to experience in Dubai’s Downtown district later this the unique value propositions of each hoyear. The 305-key Damac Maison Royale tel, discover its myriad facets and make The Distinction will have over 52 floors. an informed decision – be it for booking The property features a choice of fully hotel stays, restaurants or pampering serviced deluxe rooms as well as one, oneself at spas. The virtual tours also two and three-bedroom suites that are take visitors through Vida Downtown and complemented by a full kitchen, a spa Manzil Downtown, as well as the three and health club.

Rove Hotels that are currently operational in central locations across the city – Rove For more information please visit: Downtown, Rove City Centre, and Rove www.damacproperties.com Healthcare City.

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Tours can be seen on individual hotel and won in superb style. This was then websites. followed by a concert from Australian pop powerhouse Sia. The new racing season SPORTS kicks off at Meydan on 9th November, and tickets are now available online for next DUBAI TO HOST EUROPEAN TOUR UNTIL year’s main event, with plenty of early bird 2020 offers. The Dubai World Cup 2018 will be held on 31st of March, and the day will Dubai will be home to one of the world’s showcase nine top-class races and a total most prestigious tournaments for anoth- prize purse of $30m. er three years after it was revealed that Jumeirah Golf Estates will remain the For more information please visit: host venue of the European Tour’s sea- www.dubaiworldcup.com son-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, until 2020. The Earth course at RESTAURANTS Jumeirah Golf Estates, a member of the European Tour Properties network and KEY WEST COMES TO DUBAI AND LANDS branded as a European Tour Destination, AT JUMEIRAH’S NIKKI BEACH has been the permanent home of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai for the Key West Bar & Grill opened earlier this last eight years and is a fitting finale for year at Nikki Beach and captures the esthe concluding Rolex Series event of the sence of the resort town on the tip of Florseason with a prize purse of US$8 million ida. Mixing Floridian, Caribbean with Latin and the additional US$5 million Race to influences guests can expect authentic Dubai bonus pool. ingredients that are grown locally, the freshest fish and seafood, citrus flavours, For more information please visit: and signature spice rubs for grilled meats. www.europeantour.com With a charming, serene beachfront setting, visitors can start early celebrating 2018 DUBAI WORLD CUP TICKETS GO with traditional sundowners and aperiON SALE tivo, Key West also features a boutique collection of rums and cigars from the Tickets are now on sale for one of the Caribbean and Latin America. biggest days in the city’s sporting and social calendar – the Dubai World Cup. For more information please visit: In March thousands of stylish racegoers www.nikkibeachhotels.com were treated to a stunning performance at the 2017 Dubai World Cup when racehorse Arrogate lived up to expectations 55

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QUEEN OF BRUNCHING SARABETH LEVINE OPENS NEW RESTAURANT NEAR CITY WALK, DUBAI

Levine, who is now 73, pioneered the culture of social brunching in the Big Apple, and recently opened the first Sarabeth’s restaurant in the Middle East, in Dubai. Sarabeth’s is one of the most famous spots for brunch in New York City, having appeared on the sets of Gossip Girl and Sex and the City. The Bakery Café and Restaurant is frequented by celebrities like Kanye West, Brad Pitt, Taylor Swift and many other A-Listers. Now in Dubai, Sarabeth’s is at City Walk. Here guests are serve the New York signature brunch dishes including the fat and fluffy French toast and eggs benedict. In addition, the multi-award-winning chef and Sarabeth’s founder, Sarabeth Levine, has personally created just for Dubai, an outstanding contemporary-American menu for lunch and dinner using the finest ingredients.

For more information please visit: www.citywalk.ae MICHELIN-STARRED STREET FOOD AT DUBAI’S JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar has launched a six-course Indian street food menu at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel’s Rang Mahal. Kochhar explores the flavours of his youth and his culinary adventures through North and South India. Guests can choose from seekh wali kaathi, the much-loved lamb kebab of Delhi, rolled in paratha served with spicy green chutney

Dubai is the first city outside of Japan to open Orbi, a high-tech, multisensory natural-history project from the BBC and Sega, setting off its visitors on a virtual voyage of discovery. Recently opened Orbi consists of twelve different nature zones designed to create experiences that would be impossible in the real world – where visitors can soar through Earth’s skies, follow in the footsteps of polar explorers and experience the thunder of being placed in the centre of an elephant migration. The centrepiece of the attraction is the Earth Theatre, a 35-metre-wide screen with a powerful 3D sound system where the natural world comes to life.

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or try some keema toast, slow-toasted bread with hand pounded lamb masala.

For more information please visit: www.jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com MAIDEN SHANGHAI OPENS AT FIVE PALM JUMEIRAH DUBAI Located in the FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai, Maiden Shanghai has just opened and is led

by Luo Bing, formerly head chef of Hutong in London. The menu is takes guests on a journey through China, with flavours from four types of Chinese cuisine – Cantonese, Sichuan, Shanghai and Beijing. The restaurant is spread over three floors - with a restaurant, a bar, and a rooftop lounge, along with three private dining rooms. The interiors are inspired by Chinese history, with a colour palette of bronze, teal and white alongside a collection of antique chandeliers, lanterns and other decorative features, all sourced from vintage stores across the world.

For more information please visit: www.fivehotelsandresorts.com SHOPPING DUBAI’S NEW NATURE-INSPIRED SHOPPING MALL The world’s first nature-inspired shopping mall appears to be in full bloom. With developers behind Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Butterfly Garden, currently working on Cityland Mall, a £250 million development that will be packed with botanical wonders 57

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and set to open in 2018. The 200,000-sq ft open-air garden, dubbed “Central Park”, will feature a mini-version of the famed Miracle Garden, a mini water park, 300-year old ancient tree garden, a Japanese garden, a 360-degree rooftop garden, and a cluster of restaurants and cafés overlooking the natural wonders of the garden. In addition to all the garden features, there will also be a 3000-seat amphitheatre for artistic performances and a walking track along the garden so people exercise.

For more information please visit: www.citylandmall.com NEW SHOPPING CENTRE OPENS IN DUBAI’S JUMEIRAH

CULTURE DUBAI AIRPORTS LAUNCH ARTDXB SHOWCASING LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ART Dubai Airports in May launched its artDXB initiative, which seeks to engage and entertain passengers by showcasing local and international art to the millions of passengers who travel through Dubai International every month, in collaboration with Mawaheb from Beautiful People, a Dubai-based art studio for adults with special needs.

The need to raise awareness is in line with a recent directive from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, who announced that people with special needs should now be known as ‘the determined ones’. Describing artDXB and the partnership with Mawaheb as a unique initiative that combines art, culture, global travel and corporate social responsibility, Anita Mehra, Senior Vice President, Communication & Reputation at Dubai Airports, said, “Dubai Airports is committed to giving back to the community and supporting local culture and art. Launching artDXB with Mawaheb is the perfect marriage of both and we are thrilled to profile the work of these talented, local artists to our passengers.”

The Mall, a new Dubai shopping centre, has been officially inaugurated. The 80,756 square foot centre, owned by Meadhad Rashed Meadhad Almheiri, spans two floors and houses more than 65 stores. It is aiming to attract around 5,000 visitors per day during its first year of operation. Mall chairman Rashid Meadhad Rashid Meadhad Almheiri said he expected its close proximity to the five star hotels at Madinat Jumeirah and view of the Burj al Arab to lure visitors.

“Our aim is to provide a one-off shopping experience that is totally different to that of the bigger retail malls,” he said. Food and beverage options at the shopping centre include Arabian Tea House, Ayam El Ezz, For more information please visit: Sahara Grill and The Hutch. www.dubaiairports.ae For more information please visit: www.themall.co.ae

For further information on Dubai please visit www.visitdubai.com 58

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