Class Act 2021 Global Traveler by Global Traveler

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Class Act 2021

FIRST- & BUSINESS-CLASS UPDATE p. 8 PREMIUM ECONOMY-CLASS UPDATE p. 16 ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL OPTIONS p. 22 IN-DEPTH REPORT ON AIRCRAFT CLEANLINESS p. 28

LOYALTY PROGRAMS: A LOOK AHEAD p. 34 AIRPORT ARTWORK p. 40

2022 HOTEL OPENINGS p. 46

CLASS ACT 2021 Everything you need to travel the world in style

LETTER ®

EDITORIAL Editor In Chief Kimberly Krol Inlander kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Vice President/Digital Director Katie Skrzek katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor Janice Hecht jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor Patricia Vanikiotis patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com Social Media & Editorial Coordinator Mary Melnick mary.melnick@globaltravelerusa.com Assistant Editor Audrey Lee audrey.lee@globaltravelerusa.com

ART Art Director Tracey Cullen tracey.cullen@globaltravelerusa.com Staff Photographer Christopher P. Ottaunick christopher@globaltravelerusa.com Special Events Video Editor Vance Piccin

All Smiles: Patricia on her trip to San Diego this summer ... her first flight since the beginning of the pandemic

WRITERS Ron Bernthal Mark Chesnut Marlene Goldman Eugenia Lazaris Kelly Magyarics Richard Newton Irene Rawlings

PHOTO: © PATRICIA VANIKIOTIS

Explore Anew

continues its surge in popularity, with more carriers hose who travel the world — and who do so with enthusiasm — share certain adding the option for their passengers. And read traits and develop skills that help them about how airports around the globe sped up their expansion plans while incorporating unique negotiate their journeys with, if not artworks in Ron Bernthal’s article on page 40. always ease, then at least a minimum of fuss. They The pandemic seems to have wrought permapack light, juggle details readily, base decisions on reliable sources of information and adapt quickly to nent — and positive — changes to many aspects change. of the travel industry. Eugenia Lazaris shares the Those qualities prove invaluable, especially as new technology, products and protocols protecting the world begins to shake off the constraints of our health while in the air (page 28), and Marlene pandemic-caused travel restrictions. COVID variGoldman examines how loyalty programs are changants, vaccine accessibility and reluctance, and supply ing to meet the needs of customers whose travel and staffing shortages sometimes make it seem we’re habits keep evolving (page 34). taking one step back for every two steps forward. Yes, the world and travel have changed, as Armed with facts and the ability to pivot as condihave we all. As we go out with new eyes and a new tions demand, however, those who live to explore are appreciation for that opportunity, we still carry with us the enthusiasm, adaptability and knowledge of a finding ways to do so. true global traveler. Here’s to new adventures on the The 2021 edition of Global Traveler’s Class horizon! Act Guide is packed with information to help our readers get on the road and in the air again. Across the industry, have usedBeverly the past 18 months Join Theproviders Peninsula Hills in celebrating 30 to build, enhance and refresh. This year airlines are years inbrand-new sunnyaircraft Beverly with the Celebrating introducing to theirHills fleets and upgrading firstand business-class seats, amenities Patricia 30 Years of Glamour offer. Inclusive ofVanikiotis any room Associate editor/copy editor and lounges. At the same time, premium economy

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CIRCULATION Special Projects Manager John Wroblewski Specialist Louie Atsaves Managers Jayhawk Evans, Mark P. Ford, Teresa Jackson, Anthony “Scraps” Dimera Circulation Director Michele Shannon Circulation Manager Anna Pudzianowski Research Consultant Sharon Sterne ADVISORY BOARD Chairman Michael Donahue COO Michael Kiely President Carlos Cappuccio Deputy Vice President Aviation Edward Jefferson Deputy Vice President Accommodations Stephen Doherty Deputy Director Destinations Wayne Tallman Vice President Special Events/Photography Christopher Ottaunick Secretary Mark Lane Research Director Frank LoVerme Director of Technology Bob Hancock Director of Digital Advancement Jared Torgan Vice President of Corporate Giving Jim Bolger

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF GLAMOUR

or suite for stays through December 31, 2021.

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As of publication, the destinations and venues mentioned in this issue were planning to reopen or are currently operating, but many may have restrictions or limitations in place to address current public health concerns. Always check in advance to confirm current requirements and restrictions.

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LETTER ® ®

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Forward Momentum

’ve found a little secret over the course of my four-plus decades on this planet. It’s not earth-shattering, but when I realized not everyone uses this simple tool, it somewhat perplexed me. It’s called … thinking ahead. Here’s what I mean: We all know government restrictions, business decisions and health factors limit what’s happening in the world of international and even domestic travel right now. However, despite these obstacles, I’m not Making Plans: Carrie Cox busy looking at what’s in my way. Rather, I’m already thinking ahead to a time when all travel PHOTO: © CARRIE COX will be readily accessible again. We know many of you feel the exact same way — which is why we put a significant amount of time and effort into this year’s Class Act Guide. And if our suspicions are correct, the information inside this issue will be extremely helpful as the world of luxury travel bounces back before we get the opportunity to print another edition like this one next fall. As you read, you’ll see some of the world’s top airlines take center stage inside our annual first- and business-class survey. We might also pique your curiosity as you discover more than 30 luxurious, global hotel openings scheduled for 2022, not to mention our feature on the rising trend of alternative transportation methods as travelers use a little more creativity and ingenuity to reach their final destination. I’ve been known to say those of you who read Global Traveler are an audience of doers — not just dreamers. Readers like you truly love to experience premium, luxury travel. It’s in your blood! And although the doors of travel may not be fully open to you at this exact moment, that deeply held, innate desire to move about the world has not left you (or us). Keep thinking ahead. I promise, our day will come.

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Class Act 2021

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CONTENTS

on the cover globaltravelerusa.com | $4.99

features Class Act 2021

8 FIRST- & BUSINESS-CLASS UPDATE p. 8 PREMIUM ECONOMY-CLASS UPDATE p. 16 ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL OPTIONS p. 22 IN-DEPTH REPORT ON AIRCRAFT CLEANLINESS p. 28

LOYALTY PROGRAMS: A LOOK AHEAD p. 34 AIRPORT ARTWORK p. 40

2022 HOTEL OPENINGS p. 46

CLASS ACT 2021 Everything you need to travel the world in style

COVER PHOTO: SARAH SZE'S 2020 SHORTER THAN THE DAY SCULPTURE IN LAGUARDIA AIRPORT'S TERMINAL B

Above and Beyond Airlines elevate the premium travel experience in the air and on the ground.

Hot Seats Premium economy soars in popularity among returning business and leisure travelers.

PHOTO: © SARAH SZE

EXPRESS

P U B L I C AT I O N S , I N C .

Find Your Way Explore alternative travel modes to get where you want to go.

Flights of Fancy Imaginative art installations take off at airports around the world.

Grand Openings Hospitality heats up with new upscale properties for 2022.

Safe Travels Enhanced protocols for aircraft cleanliness protect the health of customers and crews.

Game Changers Travel brands revamp loyalty programs to keep customers engaged.

Global Traveler and Globility are registered trademarks of Global Traveler magazine and of its parent company, FXExpress Publications, Inc. Global Traveler is not affiliated with any commercial interests within the travel industry. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor can the publisher accept responsibility for errors or omissions. The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited articles, photographs or other material. AAM member 04-0361-2. AAM audited circulation 111,517. ISSN 1551-7187 © 2021 FXExpress Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of text, photographs or illustrations without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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oneworld welcomes Alaska Airlines. We are delighted to welcome our newest member, Alaska Airlines, to oneworld®, an alliance of 14 world-class airlines. Learn more about how you can travel bright at oneworld.com

Above and Beyond Airlines elevate the premium travel experience in the air and on the ground. BY KELLY MAGYARICS

Great Expectations: Emirates business class (above) and stairway on the main deck (opposite) PHOTOS: © EMIRATES

irplane travel evokes a lot of emotions these days: excitement, anticipation, uncertainty and nervousness, just to name a few. But when you do take to the skies again, the giddiness of getting pampered at 35,000 feet can most certainly wash away the surrealness of the past year and a half — at least for the duration of a longhaul flight — as you sip Champagne and slip your feet into plush slippers. While some global airlines have paused or pushed back plans for upgrades and refreshes to their premium cabins, others have introduced exciting changes that await in your pod or lie-flat bed in first and business classes.

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What’s more, amenities like privacy screens, sliding suite doors and space to spread out all serve a dual purpose as methods to luxuriate in the air while keeping social distance. Here are some niceties to expect now and in the near future, from retrofitted seat configurations to updated décor to Michelin-starred meals:

EMIRATES

This past year, U.A.E.’s flagship carrier debuted the latest version of the Airbus A380 aircraft, whose 14 first-class private suites are slightly wider with taller doors than the original. Cabin details and

finishes have been refreshed with the new Ghaf tree motifs and a champagne color scheme, as well as wood paneling and bronze accents. The aircraft also includes a newly refreshed OnBoard lounge. The 76 seats in the A380’s business-class cabins have been updated with champagne-colored leather covers and wood finishing inspired by executive jets. The airline, which just reopened the first- and business-class lounge at LAX and its dedicated First Class Lounge at Dubai International’s Concourse B, hopes to continue reopening lounges around the world as travel returns.

GLOBAL TRAVELER’S CLASS ACT 2021

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FROM JULY THROUGH OCTOBER 2021, PASSENGERS IN LA PREMIÈRE CLASS WHO EMBARK FROM CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT WILL ENJOY A CURATED MENU CREATED BY LEGENDARY TRIPLE MICHELIN-STARRED FRENCH CHEF ARNAUD DONCKELE.

AIR FRANCE

Chef's Choice: Air France La Première meal: just-seared scallops PHOTO: © AIR FRANCE

From July through October 2021, passengers in La Première class who embark from Charles de Gaulle Airport will enjoy a curated menu created by legendary triple Michelin-starred French chef Arnaud Donckele. The collaboration with Servair’s Culinary Studio includes an appetizer, starter and seven main dishes revealed progressively during the four months but will feature Provence-inspired cuisine from the chef of Cheval Blanc St.-Tropez and Cheval Blanc Paris. Guests can expect options like roasted langoustine, smoked burrata ravioli, just-seared scallops, Jean GIONO-style cod, veal cheek confit, grilled fillet of lamb and poached poultry in artichoke and basil broth.

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SINGAPORE AIRLINES

A recent enhancement in business-class cabins on the flag carrier of Singapore is personal amenity kits for every flight lasting six hours or more. Developed in collaboration with renowned British perfumer Penhaligon, a company established in 1870, each luxury kit contains hand lotion, lip balm and facial mist in an attractive bag that can be reused after the flight. The selected scent, Quercus, is clean, citrusy and suitable for men and women. For passengers in first class and suites, the airline partnered with Lalique for luxury amenity kits with high-end personal care items. SIA currently operates flights from New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN) and will reinstate service from Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR) and Seattle (SEA) as conditions permit.

CATHAY PACIFIC

In August the Hong Kong airline introduced two state-of-the-art Airbus A321neo aircraft, with plans to add a total of 16 to the fleet by the end of 2023. The planes are intended for short-haul flights, initially from Hong Kong (HKG) to Shanghai (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Hangzhou (HGH), Qingdao (TAO), Kaohsiung (KHH) and Taipei (TPE). The aircraft are the first to feature Cathay Pacific’s newly designed Regional Business Class Seat, offering 12 of these nextgeneration, hard-shell recliner seats that give passengers a cozy, cocoon-like feel. They include divider screens for privacy and 15.6-inch 4K Ultra-HD personal TV screens for in-flight entertainment.

EVERYTHING TRAVEL, A TO Z

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with Western and Asian selections. Korean Air is in the process of acquiring Asiana Airlines, South Korea’s second-largest airline, after which we will no doubt see exciting news and updates in the premium cabins.

QATAR AIRWAYS

Design Debuts: Artist rendering of Lufthansa's new business-class seats (top), and British Airways' amenity kit and loungewear (bottom) PHOTOS: © LUFTHANSA, © BRITISH AIRWAYS

KOREAN AIR

Due to COVID-19, meals in the airline’s Prestige (business) Class are served in individual packages and lunch boxes to reduce physical contact. The First Class Lounge at Incheon Airport remains closed at press time, but the Miler Club Lounge offers lunch box service

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This past June the state-owned flagship carrier of Qatar launched its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which comes with 30 new Adient Ascent business-class suites arranged in a herringbone 1-2-1 configuration. The contemporary design is personal, spacious and functional; each has direct aisle access with a sliding door for privacy. Suites include wireless charging technology and a seat that transforms into a 79-inch fully flat bed. Passengers enjoy a wide selection of international cuisine and beverages including vegan options; and in-flight amenities include products from well-known brands like Narumi, BRIC’S, diptyque, TWG Tea, Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, and The White Company.

LUFTHANSA

The German carrier plans to launch its new business-class offering in 2022. Seats will be in a 1-1-1 configuration, with a center seat “throne” that offers maximum privacy and personal space; passengers seated side by side are angled away from one another, with a privacy screen that can be lowered for those traveling together. Seats will be lie-flat, with a headrest that can support a shoulder for side sleepers, and there will be much more storage and shelves. A tablet will control entertainment, light and ventilation; and wireless charging will be available. Travelers can sip Champagne at the in-flight bar.

BRITISH AIRWAYS

As part of its centenary celebration in 2019, the British airline unveiled new first-class cabins on its Boeing 777-300 aircraft. The cabins have the look and feel of those on British Airways’ Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft, with the addition of a sliding door which turns a seat

DELTA AIR LINES

In the first half of 2022 Delta expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A321neo aircraft, each of which will include 20 seats in first class. The aircraft will be the first to include Delta’s new first-class seating design, which touts extra privacy; a larger and sturdier tray table with 25 percent more workspace; a fixed headrest with increased privacy and better sleep; enhanced memory-foam cushions; and three times more space to stow personal items, including dedicated laptop and water bottle stowage.

UNITED AIRLINES

Private Space: United Polaris businessclass pods (top), and Delta Air Lines' Airbus A321neo first-class seating (bottom) PHOTOS : © UNITED, © DELTA AIR LINES

into a suite. Other amenities include male and female loungewear designed by British brand Temperley London. Bespoke amenity bags with Temperley’s “Star” design are filled with essentials from Elemis, including its Ultra Smart Pro-Collagen line, to cleanse, revive and hydrate. Once the airline switches from boxed meals due to the pandemic, it plans to offer new menus focused on fresh, seasonal ingredients served on bone china from tableware designer William Edwards.

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As of late last year, United finished reconfiguring all international Boeing 777-200s to include Polaris businessclass pods (generally 50 of them), meaning you no longer have to wonder whether the cabin on your flight has already been retrofitted. The retrofits to Polaris pods on the Boeing 767-300s and 767-400s, as well as the 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners, will continue. As of press time, the airline was working to reopen its existing Polaris lounges; plans for additional locations, including Washington Dulles, had been put on hold due to the pandemic.

PHOTO: © MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES | DREAMSTIME.COM

Ready to plan your next family vacation? Whereverfamily.com is the trusted source for the modern family written by award-winning journalists connected closely to family travel. Updated daily with content unique to today’s traveling families, the website features need-to-know information on planning family trips at any budget for any age group.

Hot Seats Premium economy soars in popularity among returning business and leisure travelers. BY IRENE RAWLINGS 16

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he middle cabin, tucked in between business class and economy, has grabbed the attention of both business and leisure travelers. It also proves a big moneymaker for the airlines. The cost per ticket can be as much as 80 percent more than an economy seat but still substantially less than business class. Some airlines call it Premium Plus, some call it Premium Select, and others call it Elite Class. Whatever the name, most major airlines offer this class of service on international and many long-haul domestic flights.

For many years, airlines relied on big-spending business travelers to fill the high-priced, front-of-the-plane seats. Now those customers are traveling less frequently and on greatly reduced expense accounts. According to Deloitte Insights, it could take another two or three years for business travel to recover, and with the popularity and effectiveness of virtual meetings, it may take even longer to reach pre-pandemic levels. So, for now, many business travelers are booking into premium economy.

After sheltering at home for 18 to 24 months, leisure travelers don’t want to spend their first post-COVID flights sitting cheek to jowl with total strangers in a packed economy class … and they don’t have to. Households around the world tucked away more than $5.4 trillion in savings since the coronavirus pandemic began (equal to 6 percent of global gross domestic product), according to Moody’s Analytics. This is money that would normally have been spent on travel, entertainment, clothes (and dry cleaning), haircuts and color, gym memberships and eating out in restaurants. As the world begins to open up, many people can now indulge in the affordable luxury premium economy represents — wider seats, cozy blankets, soft cotton pillows and meals served on real china. As the coronavirus spread worldwide and countries closed their borders, air travel took a big hit. By April 2020 the average number of passengers had fallen 92 percent from 2019 levels. Industry losses topped $370 billion worldwide; North American carriers lost $88 billion. GLOBAL TRAVELER’S CLASS ACT 2021

High-End Amenities: Delta Premium Select cabin (left), and United Premium Plus seating and meal service (right) PHOTOS: © DELTA AIR LINES, © UNITED

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On the Menu: SWISS premium economy will entice travelers with enhanced catering. PHOTO: © SWISS

The International Air Transport Association, with 290 member airlines, called 2020 the worst on record financially but went on to say prospects for a stronger bottom line are looking up as more travelers return to the skies. Providing there is not another and more damaging wave of COVID-19, IATA predicts the worst of the air travel collapse is now in the past. From both financial and customer service perspectives, premium economy is destined to become the airlines’ next big post-pandemic thing — a popular product that not only captures the imagination of the flying public but also contributes in a major way to each airline’s bottom line. Skyscanner reports the basics of premium economy are similar across all the airlines: 19- to 20-inch recliners (from five main suppliers) with a pitch of around 36 to 38 inches; five to seven inches additional legroom; and two or three fewer seats per row (configured 2-3-2 or 2-4-2) than regular economy (3-4-3), with only 32 to 40 seats in the cabin. Many airlines also entice travelers with lounge access, accelerated check-in,

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priority boarding, increased luggage allowances, noise-cancelling headphones, amenity kits, chef-curated meals paired with premium wines, and self-service bars open for drinks and snacks for the duration of the flight. Delta Air Lines is betting big on a rosier, post-COVID future, positioning itself as the “premium airline” and investing heavily in its long-haul fleet. The rollout of its Premium Select cabins, paused by the pandemic, is back on track, to be completed by early 2022. Delta’s new Airbus A330-900neos all come with Premium Select cabins. The airline is also retrofitting its older Boeing 767-300ERs with Premium Select cabins in an extra-roomy 2-2-2 seating configuration — despite plans to retire 767-300ERs in 2025. The Motley Fool sees this as an indication the airline expects a quick return on its investment. Citing statistics when speaking at the 2021 Wolfe Research Global Transportation & Industry Conference, Glen Hauenstein, president, Delta Air Lines, said, “What we see is recovery in those [premium cabins] that is running 10 points ahead of Main Cabin recovery …

there is demand for premium products for broader perspective than just traditional business customers.” Speaking at the same conference, Vasu Raja, chief revenue officer, American Airlines, noted, “Even though we don’t have the big corporate business travelers that normally book those cabins, there are a lot more customers that are willing to actually go and pay to sit up there, and that’s the thing that we think is a little more likely to stick around.” United Airlines is making a massive investment in aircraft — 200 Boeing 737 MAX and 70 Airbus A321neo planes — the biggest order by a single carrier in a decade. United CEO Scott Kirby called this the “United Next” plan and said it will have a transformative effect on the customer experience. In this plan, there is a “roughly 75 percent increase in premium seats [includes first, business and Premium Plus] per North American departure.” Russell Carlton, corporate communications manager, United Airlines, said, “United Premium Plus seating on select long-haul international and premium transcontinental routes gives our customers more options to choose the best experience that fits their wants and needs when they travel. These are a popular option for our customers, as they include

some of our high-end amenities from United Polaris.” This now includes the new, uber-comfortable United Polaris seats in Premium Plus. In March 2021 the carrier relaunched premium transcontinental service from JFK to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). Dubai-based Emirates just unveiled a much-anticipated premium economy class — the first of the major Gulf-based airlines to do so — on the first of its newly delivered Airbus A380s. Additional A380s will be delivered throughout 2021 and 2022. Emirates is also installing premium economy on its orders of Boeing 777X aircraft. “Premium Economy is perfect for any and every kind of traveler who wants to experience a higher level of comfort and relaxation, regardless of where or why they’re traveling,” said Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, divisional vice president, USA & Canada. What to expect? Elegant, cream-colored leather seats. Cushioned leg rests. Ergonomically designed, six-way adjustable headrests. Regionally inspired meals. “Among my favorite features is the overhead mood lighting and thousands of movies, TV shows and albums available on the individual 13.3-inch HD TVs,” he added. Swiss International Air Lines, one of the last in the Lufthansa Group

GLOBAL TRAVELER’S CLASS ACT 2021

Elegant Comfort: Emirates premium economy PHOTO: © EMIRATES

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Travel Perks: Boeing 777 SWISS premium-economy seating (above) and 16inch TV screens (right) PHOTOS: © SWISS

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to offer premium economy, is planning an official launch by summer 2022. It promises to be comfortable but not particularly spectacular — three rows of eight seats (2-4-2) at the front of the economy cabin. Fixed-back shell seats are wider by two inches with a pitch of 38 inches. Expect early boarding, twice the baggage allowance, amenity kits, a 16-inch TV screen and three choices of in-flight cuisine (with wine). Operating from Zürich and Geneva, the service will be available on Boeing 777-300ER flights to Bangkok (BKK), Hong Kong (HKG), Los Angeles, (LAX) Miami (MIA) and Singapore (SIN). The other airlines, including legacy carriers like Air Canada, British Airways, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Air France are not currently planning expansions or major changes to existing services. However, they’re reporting a robust demand for premium-economy seats. Passengers are seeing extra comfort and business-class perks; airlines are seeing a healthy bottom line. It is definitely a win-win.

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Anantara Maldives Resort & Spa’s new Wine and Spirit Education trust program allows guests to expand their knowledge of wine and more.

Find Your Way Explore alternative travel modes to get where you want to go. BY RICHARD NEWTON Luxury at Sea: Fraser's Liberty (top), and main deck aft dining, and sundeck areas (bottom) PHOTO: © FRASER

or a short time at the start of the pandemic, it was common for the rich and famous to declare on social media, “We’re all in the same boat.” It seemed true for a while; the global emergency grounded everyone. But it soon became apparent that, for the privileged minority, the boat was often a luxury yacht. Mass transport, which made the world accessible to everyone, proved especially vulnerable when social restrictions were enforced.

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Alternative means of travel — not necessarily exclusive, not necessarily expensive — proved more resilient and perhaps provide us with a vision for the future of travel: more diverse and more adaptable. Let’s start with those luxury yachts. Are they really beyond the means of most of us? Well, that depends. Many of the yachts chartered by Fraser, one of the world’s largest yacht rental companies, can accommodate up to a dozen overnight passengers. So a vessel that costs

$50,000 per week to charter may work out at less than $4,200 per person. Fraser’s operating bases include the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, Australasia and Alaska. Both sailing yachts and motorboats are available and rent fully crewed. A more affordable option is to charter a traditional Turkish gulet, a type of wooden sailing boat. Blue Cruise Bodrum offers rental in Turkey and Greece from $2,880 per week per boat for up to six people. Itineraries can include island-hopping among the Aegean Islands or voyages exploring the coves and bays of Turkey’s southwest coast. The world scrolls by at a much slower pace when one travels by boat. In a canal boat on England’s extensive network of inland canals, the pace is 4–6 mph, with regular stops to pass through locks. Hoseasons, a longestablished canal boat operator, offers rentals in Norfolk, the Midlands (the area around the city of Birmingham) and Yorkshire. A canal boat sleeping six costs from around $1,250 per week. Celebrities spotted piloting boats along England’s waterways include Harrison Ford and soccer star Wayne Rooney. The pandemic hit the cruise ship industry especially hard. While many of these modern floating resorts remain idle, awaiting the return of relative normality, another ocean-going sector continues to operate. Ferries provide a vital lifeline for far-flung communities as well as linking cities and countries. The routes across the English Channel between Great Britain and France remain busy despite competition from rail services through the Channel Tunnel. Other popular links within Europe

include routes crisscrossing the Baltic Sea between Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Russia. In Alaska, in the absence of the usual cruise ship traffic, the ferries of the Alaska Marine Highway continue to thread together the coastal communities of America’s largest state while also providing a link through the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage down to Bellingham in Washington state. Facilities aboard include private cabins, cafeteria restaurants and even movie lounges. Boats opened up the world’s coastlines to the first explorers, but it was the railroads that pioneered mass transportation inland. Aviation has since taken most of that traffic, but high-end trains continue to evoke the golden age of rail travel, with luxurious cabins and silver service dining. Among the best of these are The Ghan in Australia, Golden Eagle TransSiberian Express, Rovos Rail in southern Africa, Venice-Simplon-OrientExpress across Europe and Rocky Mountaineer in Western Canada and Colorado. A few commercial night trains still ply routes in various countries, offering budget alternatives to the upscale services. These include the 11-hour, 380-mile Sunrise Express from Tokyo to Tottori, which costs $160 for a first-class cabin. Increasingly, rail is fighting back against aviation with a growing network of high-speed routes, often the quickest option from city to city. Japan was the first country to adopt high-speed rail with the famous bullet trains. Spain, South Korea and Turkey are among the countries

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Coastal Cove: Traditional Turkish gulet boats anchored at a secluded bay in the Turkish Mediterranean PHOTO: © HASAN CAN BALCIOGLU | DREAMSTIME.COM

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HIGH-END TRAINS CONTINUE TO EVOKE THE GOLDEN AGE OF RAIL TRAVEL, WITH LUXURIOUS CABINS AND SILVER SERVICE DINING. Out West: Rocky Mountaineer train in scenic Byers Canyon, Colorado PHOTO: © EMOTION CINEMA

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Room with a View: Rovos Rail Tours wildlife sighting from balcony (above), and Deluxe Double Suite (right) PHOTOS: © ROVOS RAIL TOURS

with established high-speed networks, while China has outpaced everyone and now accounts for two-thirds of the world’s high-speed rail mileage. Shanghai boasts the world’s fastest commercial train service, using maglev technology and covering the 18 miles from Pudong International Airport to downtown in seven minutes. The United States lags behind. The problematic California High-Speed Rail, intended to be the country’s first modern high-speed route, suffered delays and spiraling costs. One transport network outdoes all others: roads. They lace every landmass and reach into areas otherwise inaccessible. Bus routes offer the most cost-effective means of getting from place to place. Greyhound Lines, for instance, serves more than 3,800 destinations in North America. While, to an extent, American GLOBAL TRAVELER’S CLASS ACT 2021

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intercity bus services are used primarily by those who can’t afford to fly, in other parts of the world buses are a mainstream travel option. In Turkey more than 400 companies provide scheduled bus services, reaching every part of a vast country that straddles Europe and Asia. Most major towns and cities have large bus stations, some as advanced as airport terminals, serving as interchanges between different routes. Here you can get a meal, or even a shave or haircut, between connections. The greatest freedom of all is to be able to travel without timetables and with the flexibility to make your own route. For that, the car is still king. Car rental can provide you with a set of wheels on arrival in foreign countries, though you may need to adapt to local quirks. In 76 countries (most notably the U.K., India, Japan and Australia) vehicles drive on the left, with the knock-on effect that the driver sits on the right. With stick-shifts especially, it can take a while to modify your driving style. In Asia and the Middle East, there’s also the complication of road signs in unfamiliar script. Fortunately, GPS systems now enable you to navigate without reliance on signs. Wherever you drive, familiarize yourself with local driving regulations. One common attribute of traffic cops the world over: They won’t accept ignorance as an excuse. Wherever you’re driving, you’re expected to know the rules of the road. While cars open up a world of travel possibilities, they are not self-contained. You still need to find places to eat and sleep. An RV does away with those restrictions. Home is wherever you decide to stop. Although the United States is the natural territory of the RV (they are a logical evolution of the covered wagons that crossed the prairies), other countries have also embraced them. Australia and New Zealand are both ideal places to explore by motorhome or campervan (common

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terms for RVs Down Under). Other RV-friendly destinations include Norway, Iceland, France, Canada and South Africa. For much of the past two years, any form of international travel has been a dream. A succession of lockdowns confined me to Hampshire in southern England, limiting my horizons to the web of footpaths around my house. Most of these routes have been in use for centuries, and in exploring them I have reconnected with the most basic of all forms of human transport: two feet.

Scenic Routes: Motorhome in Norway (top), and bus driving past a dwelling cut into eroded volcanic rock tuff in Cappadocia, Turkey (bottom) PHOTOS: © ANDREY ARMYAGOV | DREAMSTIME.COM, © MICHELE A BURGESS | DREAMSTIME.COM

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Safe Travels

Enhanced protocols for aircraft cleanliness protect the health of customers and crews. BY EUGENIA LAZARIS

irplanes, with enclosed spaces and close quarters, have always given germ-conscious travelers reason to worry. When the World Health Organization identified SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus as a public health concern in January 2020 followed by officially declaring COVID-19 a pandemic two months later, the cleaning practices of airlines took

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center stage in the consciousness of travelers. Since that time airlines and public health officials worked tirelessly to adjust protocols and techniques to provide safe environments for passengers and crew to ensure air travel remains safe and enjoyable. The travel industry has been one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. During the early days of this global crisis, air travel dropped drastically, especially as travel bans and restrictions impacted tourism. Concerns of both passengers and flight crews prompted airlines to adopt more stringent safety protocols. Many of these new policies were guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and some were developed by the airlines themselves as added measures to keep employees and passengers as safe as possible. These new protocols often include multilayer sanita-

Fresh Start: Aircraft cleaning PHOTO: © THANAKORN PHANTHURA | DREAMSTIME.COM

Infection Prevention: Aircraft sterilization PHOTO: © ANKS RACHMAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

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Clean Machine: American Airlines' electrostatic spraying PHOTO: © AMERICAN AIRLINES

tion procedures that involve more frequent cleaning of surfaces. Pre-COVID cleaning techniques often consisted of removing cabin trash in between flights, with a thorough cleaning only after a plane had finished its daily run. Current techniques are much more detailed, with all surfaces disinfected as often as possible including seats, armrests, tray tables and touchscreens. Lavatories and galleys get special attention, as do overhead bins. In addition to these improved cleaning practices, stronger disinfectant solutions, the use of personal protective equipment and advanced cleaning techniques make the risk of exposure to germs and viruses in an aircraft very low. One new technique making huge advancements in quickly and thoroughly cleaning passenger and crew areas in between flights is the electrostatic spraying of the entire cabin. Air Canada, one of the first airlines to require passengers to wear face coverings in flight, adopted this method as part of the Air Canada CleanCare+ program. This simple and effective modern technique cleans the entire aircraft in a matter of minutes. Every surface of the interior of the cabin,

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including lavatories and flight deck, is sprayed with a fine mist. The mixture contains a disinfectant solution combined with air and then atomized by an electrode. Because this mist is electrostatically charged, it coats all surfaces including nooks and crannies that may otherwise be missed by hand. Many airlines employ this technique after every landing along with additional cleanings at various times throughout flights. Air Canada, along with other major airlines, also upgraded its cleansing agents to hospital-grade disinfectants that fight germs and viruses, including coronavirus. American Airlines, for example, uses EPA List N-approved disinfectants in between flights to clean surfaces used by both passengers and cabin crew such as seats, touchscreens, galleys and lavatories. While this maintains a safe cabin during flight time, American Airlines further ensures cleanliness by putting each aircraft through a deep cleaning each night and an “ultra-clean” every 45 days. Swiss International Air Lines aircraft undergo similar procedures, with planes receiving an intensive cleaning with specialized disinfectant

chemicals upon each arrival in Zürich or Geneva. Emirates, always an industry leader when it comes to amenities, customer service and stress-free travel, sets itself apart in its quest to ensure a sense of safety and confidence in travelers. In addition to offering passengers masks and hand sanitizer, the airline includes enhanced cleaning procedures as part of its effort to maintain clean and safe aircraft cabins. During all flights, passenger restrooms are cleaned and disinfected every 45 minutes, and each aircraft undergoes a thorough deep cleaning upon return to Dubai. Onboard comfort items such as mattresses, pillows, blankets and headphones are sterilized and hygienically sealed. Cutlery and cookware used to prepare all onboard meals are sterilized prior to each use, and menus are either announced or provided on single-use sheets to minimize the sharing of printed materials. Not only are all passengers (with the exception of very young children) required to wear masks during all flights, but cabin crew members are

also fully equipped with PPE (masks, face shields and gloves) on most flights to minimize the risk of spreading germs and bacteria. Perhaps the single-most important factor in aircraft cleanliness is the High Efficiency Particulates Air (HEPA) filters used on airplanes to keep the cabin air clean and sanitized. These systems have been used on aircraft since the 1980s and are key in maintaining clean, breathable air for everyone on board. The process is simple: Fresh air is brought in from outside the aircraft, heated to a temperature high enough to kill viruses, then cooled and dispersed into the cabin. The cabin air refreshes through the filter an average of every three minutes to remove any circulating germs or viruses picked up from inside the cabin and then is directed through the cabin vertically. This minimizes air flow along the length of the cabin and keeps the air in a constant cycle of filtering. Studies show this process cleans the cabin air with a 99.97 percent efficiency rate, equivalent to standards found in hospital operating

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Safe Surfaces: Cleaning tray tables between flights PHOTO: © THANAKORN PHANTHURA | DREAMSTIME.COM

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Ready for Takeoff: Masked staff and passenger on SWISS PHOTO: © SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIR LINES

rooms. In addition to eliminating microscopic bacteria and virus particles, HEPA filters help reduce airborne allergens such as dust and pollen, thus further enhancing the cleanliness of aircraft cabins beyond the needs of the current global health crisis. Along with more stringent and detailed cleaning techniques, many airlines also enacted additional measures that contribute to a cleaner and safer environment for both passengers and crew. Communal reading materials, such as newspapers and magazines, have been removed from most cabins to minimize shared surfaces and excess waste. Online apps offer a safer alternative, such as the PressReader app from British Airways, which offers 7,000 digital titles to keep passengers entertained and informed during flights. Most airlines perform in-flight safety tutorials via video; however, many that still provide written instructional cards for passengers, such as Emirates, thoroughly disinfect each card after each flight.

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As CDC guidelines require passengers on board airplanes to wear masks at all times except while eating, many airlines are making them available along with sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to help passengers stay and feel safe. British Airways, for example, provides passengers with “personal protection packs” that include disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and even a sealable bag for disposing of personal trash such as used face masks. As public health concerns remain at the forefront of our everyday lives and affect our travel decisions, airlines continue to evolve polices and standards for aircraft cleanliness. Gone are the days when flight delays were the No. 1 concern of travelers. Today’s passengers are rightfully concerned with traveling in an aircraft that is clean and sanitary. Thankfully, airlines are meeting this challenge with safe and effective cleaning measures that keep us traveling safely despite the global challenges the industry faces.

Take Global Traveler everywhere you go. You can now find Global Traveler on PressReader.

Travel brands revamp loyalty programs to keep customers engaged. BY MARLENE GOLDMAN

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O Game Changers

ne of the many fallouts from the turbulent past 1.5 years of pandemic-related travel restrictions and lockdowns has been the rethinking and imminent restructuring of loyalty programs throughout the travel industry, from airline and hotel brands to cruise and rental car companies. Loyalty programs are more than a perk for customers; they can be worth more than the brand itself for the program owners and operators. For example, the world’s largest airline, American Airlines, is valued at roughly $6 billion, whereas its passenger loyalty program, AAdvantage, boasts an estimated worth of $24 billion according to a recent analysis by Financial Times. The value loyalty programs bring is one reason brands all across the industry restructured their programs to keep loyal customers enrolled and engaged amid all the COVID-sparked uncertainty. But the nature of loyalty programs has traditionally targeted business travelers, a sector still far from recovery.

airlines, hotels and other travel companies are extending status tiers or in some cases temporarily removing expiry of miles and lowering requirements for requalification. American Airlines’ AAdvantage extended all elite status expiring Jan. 31, 2021, until Jan. 31, 2022. The company also made it easier to earn elite status using special promotions. And according to its website, “AAdvantage members who currently hold lifetime elite status will continue to hold their lifetime elite status.” Delta Air Lines also extended elite status on its SkyMiles frequentflyer program. Delta SkyMiles Medallion members can maintain status through Jan. 31, 2023. Delta and American Express also extended SkyMiles partnership benefits through the same 2023 date. In addition, all Delta 360 members will keep their exclusive membership in Delta’s annual, invite-only program for an additional year. For United MileagePlus members, those with 2020 Premier status were extended to Jan. 31, 2022. For the 2021 status year, United reduced thresholds for Premier qualification by 50 percent for each status level. In addition, 1K and Platinum members gained the ability to upgrade when the program extended PlusPoints expiration dates by six months. Across the board, major hotel brands also did everything to keep

“Most frequent-flyer programs or loyalty programs are geared toward high-repeat travelers, which are usually business travelers,” said Ben Baldanza, an economist and former CEO of Spirit Airlines (2005–2016). “If business travel reduces, changes, and people work at home or meet using video, not earning miles on room nights, it’s harder to earn a free flight or hotel room. If consumers have to wait years to get their rewards, loyalty reduces.” Jay Sorensen, president, IdeaWorksCompany, concurred: “At the present, business travel is largely missing. I would guess business travel is off 80 percent. That’s a huge number, so that is an uncertainty. Frequentflyer programs are for business travelers, primarily.” IdeaWorksCompany specializes in brand development and developed frequent-flyer programs for international airlines. “When the airline is uncertain what’s going on, it’s really hard to reengineer the program to perform for whatever the new environment is you end up with,” Sorensen continued. “What’s been happening with frequent-flyer programs is they want to keep you engaged, so they’re not allowing your miles to expire or your status to expire.” Steve Saxon, partner and lead of McKinsey’s Travel practice in Asia, and Thorsten Spickenreuther, loyalty expert with McKinsey, explained

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customer loyalty, from extending elite status expiration dates to making it easier to earn points. Hilton Hotels was one of the leaders in extending members’ statuses. “We were one of the first loyalty programs to offer reassurance to our members by making several modifications to let them know we were on their side,” said Jenn Chick, vice president and global head, Hilton Honors & Customer Engagement. “We did this by implementing a number of extensions to support our members, including status and points expiration, as well as allowing all members to automatically roll over 2020 nights to count toward their future tier status qualification. We also extended benefits for our co-brand credit card members.” As the pandemic continued, Hilton announced additional adjustments, including cutting 2021 status qualification in half, lowering milestone bonus night thresholds and, again, extending status to 2022 and Free Weekend Night Reward certificate expiration dates for co-brand credit card members. Radisson Hotel Group Americas launched Radisson Rewards Americas. The Radisson Rewards Americas program offers a variety of new features, including a simplified Award Chart and a discounted redemption rate for members called RewardSaver. The new RewardSaver rate makes redeeming

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a hotel stay more affordable — 30 percent less than a standard award night at select hotels. Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy introduced The Marriott Bonvoy Moments program, offering members exclusive and VIP access to concerts, culinary experiences, premier sporting events and more. Members can redeem their points for either fixed-price experiences or auction-style experiences and can now earn points with new partners, including Uber.

Hyatt also began offering members of World of Hyatt more flexibility when it comes to boosting their tier status and providing easier ways to earn points. “One way we’ve done this is by lowering the World of Hyatt elite status qualifications by 50 percent for the 2021 calendar year, so members can achieve or requalify for status and enjoy elite benefits in half the time,” said Amy Weinberg, senior vice president, Loyalty, Brand Marketing and Consumer Insights, Hyatt. “This means they can achieve elite status by staying half the number of nights or earning half the number of Base Points required in a calendar year.” Saxon and Spickenreuther noted some hotels developed new products, from day-use rooms including business features like WiFi and an IT helpdesk to full-fledged “work from hotel” offers for a week or a month with options such as overnight stays, full board or video conferencing equipment. “What made this interesting in particular for business travelers is that those packages also yield loyalty points and the nights count toward status qualification — something day-use rates typically don’t include.” Hilton Hotels, for example, launched a new work-from-hotel solution, WorkSpaces by Hilton, to provide customers seeking private office

space a hotel room to increase efficiency in their workday. Hyatt also introduced Bonus Journeys, World of Hyatt’s global promotion providing members the ability to earn thousands of points on future trips as well as on its programs Work from Hyatt Extended Stay, Office for the Day and Hyatt Night In. Cruise lines are doing the same with loyalty programs, according to Baldanza. “If someone bought enough of their product to reach higher levels of status, that is the last person they want to be indifferent about; the last thing they want to do is pull away status.” Airlines, hotels and cruise companies won’t do that, especially for power users. “That won’t last forever, but it’s still too early for them to do that.” As leisure travel continues to lead the recovery, while business travel trails behind, there are predictions 2022 will be a year of change in strategy for U.S. frequent-flyer programs attempting to tap more leisure travelers who don’t fly as often to reach platinum and gold. “The entire industry is coming upon a reckoning over the next year,” Sorensen said. “The importance of leisure travel is paramount, as business travel will be far less important to the airline industry. There is an estimated long-term decrease in business travel, from 19 to 36 percent.

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Extraordinary Experiences: The Marriott Bonvoy Moments program offers members exclusive and VIP access to concerts. PHOTO: © CALIN STAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

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especially for being able to appeal to the younger generation, such as earning and redemption choices around sustainable options like carbon offsetting. “Finally, the evolution of loyalty ecosystems might create broader partnership networks and bundled offers and perks, and even establish miles and points as an additional currency.” Another prediction: more subscription programs with a monthly or annual fee. So far, those have been almost exclusively found with lowcost carriers, but even some network carriers have one-time sign-up fees or even offer a paid “light“ status. Saxon and Spickenreuther also predict emotional rewards will become more important, ranging from access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences to VIP treatment and exclusive or early product/promotion access. “This creates emotional attachment — brand engagement — and a lock-in effect because once experienced, customers don’t want to miss out on that anymore.” Baldanza notes that despite emerging trends, it is still hard to predict the future of loyalty programs. “Everyone is waiting to see what will happen. Nobody is planting a flag and saying this is where our loyalty program is going.”

Technology has affected intercompany meetings, forever changing business travel. Companies are also looking to reduce their environmental footprint with a reduction in business travel.” Consumers are coming to the realization that maybe it’s best to start using these programs rather than hoarding points, according to Baldanza. “Travelers may start to take advantage of small conveniences that take some of the headache out of travel — like late checkout and faster Internet.” In addition, winning a smaller base of business traffic will become especially important to the three largest airlines in the United States, according to Baldanza. “With fewer ways to generate loyalty business, brands may offer some options, like upgrades that are easier to earn. It also may mean that credit card spend is given greater weight since this is a way to show continuing loyalty even when flying is reduced.” According to Saxon and Spickenreuther, airlines and hotels will start to offer more hyper-personalization of offers. “We expect an increase in using gamification and emotionalization elements.” In addition, they predict that having social responsibility options will most likely develop into a must-have for programs of the future,

Flight Path Museum On the Tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport

Experience the glamour, adventure, and excitement of aviation and aerospace, past, present and future. See a real DC3 | Explore the space gallery Plane spotting | Flight simulators | Hear air traffic controllers | Unique event & meeting venue

Visit before your flight departure or during a long flight connection!

our Visit ine onl new and shop the ort supp m!

u muse

Flights of Fancy Imaginative art installations take off at airports around the world. BY RON BERNTHAL

Cascades of Color: La Guardia Vistas at LaGuardia's Terminal B (top), and Salt Lake City's mid-concourse Tunnel Murals and The Canyon PHOTOS: © LAGUARDIA AIRPORT, © SLC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

uring the 1990s, domestic and international travel increased dramatically in almost every region of the world. But when COVID-19 hit the travel industry in early 2020, airport managers gazed at empty terminals and parking lots and either stopped all construction work or took advantage of the suddenly quiet, traffic-free landscape to speed up expansion projects. For many airports, working through the pandemic meant they were able to complete their new runway and terminal projects, which included installing colorful new artwork that greeted millions of passengers in summer 2021 when TSA lines and flight schedules returned to pre-pandemic levels. In New York City, LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B continued its $4 billion

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renovation through the pandemic. The project is the largest public-private partnership in U.S. aviation history according to LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the developer and operator of Terminal B. The revamped terminal now features soaring ceilings, natural light, enhanced security screening and some of the most exciting airport art in the country. “We are thrilled to partner with New York City’s Public Art Fund on this innovative project to transform Terminal B into a modern, top-class airport terminal for travelers,” said Stewart Steeves, CEO, LaGuardia Gateway Partners. “Our goal in building a new Terminal B was to not only implement stateof-the-art advancements but also create a space that represents the soul of New York. We are confident that through this partnership, we have selected artists and unique pieces for the new terminal that reflect this vision.” LaGuardia’s Terminal B artwork includes artist Sarah Sze’s powder-coated aluminum and steel Shorter Than the Day; Sabine Hornig’s La Guardia Vistas, composed of latex ink

Iconic Art: Denver International Airport's America, Why I Love Her (top) and Luminous Wind (middle), and Philadelphia International Airport's Create Your Gold (bottom) PHOTOS: © DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, © PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

and vinyl mounted on glass; and Jeppe Hein’s beautiful aluminum red benches called All Your Wishes. At Salt Lake City International, major expansion and innovation plans continued through 2020–2021. The current multibillion-dollar redevelopment program includes the demolition of the old terminals, the opening of a brand-new terminal in fall 2020 and the installation of large-scale artwork in the new terminal building. Unlike most airports that add tweaks and terminals piecemeal, SLC opted for a total rebuild, making the airport “the only truly new 21st-century airport in the country,” according to Billy Wyatt, executive director, Salt Lake City Department of Airports. Some of the new art installations at the new SLC terminal include The Falls and The Canyon, which help to “celebrate the natural beauty of Utah,” said artist Gordon Huether. “We are delivering a totally immersive, inspired and powerful experience to all that enter here.” The 400-foot by 22-foot Canyon features tensile membrane fins comprised of aluminum tubing and composite fabric, and The Falls, a 65-foot installation, hangs six stories from the terminal ceiling to the floor. The SLC terminal also offers mid-concourse Tunnel Murals by local artist Traci O’Very Covey and Texas-based artist DAAS. Each artist painted two 144-foot murals that bring Utah’s four seasons to life. O’Very Covey created the summer and fall murals while DAAS created the winter and spring murals. “I love painting large-scale murals,” said O’Very Covey. “The mural art I create conveys multifaceted themes in symbolic ways as filtered through my imagination.” At Denver International Airport, a $1.5 billion program that started in 2018 will add 39 new gates and other improvements. The third-largest airport in the world (at 52 square miles), DEN displays a large amount of artwork in and around its iconic terminal building. In 2021 the airport dedicated its newest piece, called Luminous Wind, to former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, who played a vital role in getting DEN built. The 27-foot sculpture, part of the city’s public art collection, is located next to Peña Light Rail Station, a few minutes from Denver Airport Light Rail Station. It was created by artists Laura Haddad and Thomas Drugan. Also noteworthy at DEN are Alex Sweetman’s Art Chronicles, composed of seven large photo murals; Betty Woodman’s 28 hand-thrown ceramic vases called Balustrade; and Ned Kahn’s Field of Air, an outside, wind-activated sculpture using brushed aluminum blades. Philadelphia International Airport has also been completing modernization projects, and its Art Exhibitions Program continues adding to its nationally recognized, award-winning visual arts initiative. Noted Philadelphia artist King Saladeen installed his largest artwork to date, a four-part painting called Create Your Gold, currently on view between terminals C and D. Saladeen’s painting, filled with vibrant colors, shapes, patterns, markings and text, also boasts imagery that includes his trademark JP the Money Bear GLOBAL TRAVELER’S CLASS ACT 2021

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Atmospheric: George Bush Intercontinental Airport's Elvis Cowsley in Grazeland (top left), Helsinki Airport Aukio's Autumn Colors (top right) , George Bush Intercontinental Airport's Radiant Fountains (bottom left), and Incheon International Airport's An Aggregation (bottom right) PHOTOS: © HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO, © FINAVIA CORP., © TEXAS AIRPORT SYSTEM, © INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

and Philadelphia’s skyline. Construction is proceeding at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) as part of expansion plans which include erecting a new terminal building. Both IAH and the city’s close-in William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) use artwork as part of Houston’s bid to be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup international men’s soccer championship. In July 2021 HOU unveiled a 10,000-square-foot mural called Gateway to the World in support of the World Cup bid. Local artist Mario Figueroa, Jr., known as GONZO247, worked with six other artists to complete a massive 20-foot by 500-foot mural which adorns the Price Compressor Co. Building at HOU. The mural includes iconic Houston imagery and highlights the city’s passion for soccer. It is visible from aircraft departing and arriving at Hobby. Huge ceramic soccer balls are being

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painted and displayed inside IAH and HOU. “As a long-time art curator and visual artist, I am thrilled to promote art on a global scale,” said Alton DuLaney, director and curator, Houston Airports’ Public Art Program. “I look forward to bringing collections that will engage an eclectic range of audiences and enhance their travel experience.” The art soccer balls and rodeo art pieces are the latest additions to IAH’s art collection. Included in the rodeo art is Elvis Cowsley in Grazeland by artist Patricia A. Hilton and Rodeo Boot by Paige Atkinson. Radiant Fountains by artist Dennis Oppenheim is the airport’s most recent installation, with three illuminated towers that interpret a drop of condensation splashing in a pool of water. It is located outside the terminal, adjacent to the car rental center. San Francisco International Airport’s

public art program is provided by the San Francisco Arts Commission and maintained in partnership with SFO Museum. SFO Museum reaches millions of airport visitors annually with a broad range of innovative programming in 25 galleries located throughout the terminals of the airport. Since opening in 2019, SFO’s newest terminal, Harvey Milk Terminal 1, installed more than 30 commissioned and purchased artwork pieces including Liz Glynn’s Terra-Techne (cast stainless steel and terracotta) and Dana Hemenway’s The Color of Horizons (hanging light sculpture with wood, steel, rope, extension cords, glazed ceramics and LED lights). Smaller U.S. airports may not be using large-sized, high-tech art in their terminals, but they often showcase local art that reflects the location’s history and culture. In Bozeman, Montana, the Bozeman Yellowstone Interna-

tional Airport offers beautiful photographs of nature and wildlife with Craig W. Hergert’s 3 Swans, Cindy Goeddel’s Free Bison and Dennis Harrington’s wonderful grizzly bear sculpture called Guardian Spirit. Albuquerque International Sunport is one of the country’s most culturally unique airports because of its Southwestern architecture and as home to an original 1914 Curtiss Pusher biplane located in the terminal’s Great Hall. The historic biplane, with its engine and propeller behind the pilot’s seat, is believed to be the finest surviving example of an original Curtiss Pusher. Open to visitors, the airport’s former 1939-era terminal building is one of the true historical treasures in Albuquerque. The former and present terminals contain impressive art from the airport’s permanent collection, including works by Pop Chalee, also known as Merina Lujan, an American

painter, muralist, performer and singer in the 1930s who lived in Taos and Santa Fe. Seoul’s Incheon International Airport displays Seon-ghi Bahk’s modern An Aggregation and the colorful Cat and the Butterfly, an artwork that reinterprets the chaekgado, an 18th-century genre of bookshelf paintings. The Korean Cultural Street located at the center of the terminal’s fourth floor contains giwajip houses with tiled roofs, representing traditional Korean homes. In Cyprus, the new terminals for Paphos and Larnaca international airports — debuted in 2008 and 2009, respectively — both display artwork that reflects the Mediterranean island’s ancient history. Works at Paphos include Helene Black’s Past Presence (steel, metallic auto paint, fluorescent lights and granite) and Giorgos Gareth Christou-Stelios Tzivas’ A Trip to the City of Aphrodite (paint,

stencils). Angelos Makrides’ Ceremonial Gathering (bronze) and Maria Loizidou’s Volant Migrants (handwoven stainless-steel mesh and metal sheets) are on display at Larnaca. At Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, look for Stefan Lindfors’ Concorde, a sculpture resembling a dragonfly made of stainless steel and fiberglass. Aukio, the central square of the terminal, was created by Finnish airport company Finavia and local designer Tuomas Silvennoinen of PES-Architects. Aukio contains a wavy, 360-degree LED display; sound landscape; and interactive wall projections that take the visitor into Finnish nature and its four seasons. The landscape changes every 10 minutes and includes a night sky by the lake and a winter mountain landscape colored by northern lights. At Hamad International Airport in

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Lighting the Way: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport's Guardian Spirit (left), San Francisco International Airport’s Coding at Long Term Parking garage (top right), and Albuquerque International Sunport's Illumination Tree by Jezabel (bottom right) PHOTOS: © BOZEMAN YELLOWSTONE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT', © CESAR RUBIO PHOTOGRAPHY, © ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL SUNPORT'

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Dream Big: Hamad International Airport's Lamp Bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer (top), and Singapore Changi Airport's Petalclouds PHOTOS: © QATAR TOURISM, © SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT

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Doha, Qatar, artist Urs Fischer’s Lamp Bear takes center stage in the terminal’s grand foyer. The 23-foottall, canary yellow teddy bear sculpted from bronze sits peacefully inside a lamp and perhaps reminds travelers of their own childhood. The Flying Man, designed by Iraqi artist Dia al-Azzawi, comprises two sculptures based on the story of Abu Firnas, a historical figure from the Islamic world and an early pioneer in experimenting with flight. The two tall cylinder sculptures were inspired by the pillars that appeared in Mesopotamia in the third century B.C. Singapore Changi Airport is currently rated the World’s Best Airport by Skytrax, the first airport in the world to receive this rating for eight consecutive years. Jewel Changi, opened in 2019, is a multi-use structure, mainly a shopping and dining mall. There are four hotels within the airport itself, and all terminals and Jewel Changi house art installations. One of the many art highlights at SIN are two 3-D Kinetic Rain sculptures in Terminal 1 which can form 16 different shapes that also show the movement of flight through slow, fluid movements. Spanning the Central Galleria, Petalclouds is a 656-foot-long kinetic installation by ART+COM that evokes the impression of clouds moving slowly in the sky, with its movement synchronized to animated lighting and music. Nature of Love by Turkish artist Coplu shows hearts of warm, deep red hues clustered atop a tree, branching outwards as brilliant leaves. In Crystal Clouds by Andy Cao and Xavier Perrot, located in Jewel Changi, 16 sparkling clouds reflect ever-changing weather patterns, with dynamic lighting illuminating the thousands of crystals that make up each cloud. The extraordinary Swimming sculpture by Zou Liang explores the possibility of harmony among humans, sharks and sea life, as this stainless-steel white shark sculpture comprises steel silhouettes of ocean creatures such as crabs, jellyfish, tuna and sea snails. On its back the figures of two small children illustrate that humans are not a part of sharks’ natural food, and sharks are not natural enemies of humans. Slices of Singapore by Yip Yew Chong is a hand-painted, 120foot mural that represents six slices of little-known but important aspects of Singapore’s culture, including a Peranakan shop house selling Nyonya desserts, a Malay batik store and an Indian garland shop, proving the power of art to transform the travel experience.

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Grand Openings Hospitality heats up with new upscale properties for 2022.

Tropical Gems: Living room of a Rock House oceanfront two-bedroom residence (left), Cabot Saint Lucia (top right), and Banyan Cay Resort & Golf ballroom (bottom right) PHOTOS: © ROCK HOUSE, © CABOT SAINT LUCIA, © BANYAN CAY

BY MARK CHESNUT

he pandemic may have put a temporary damper on most people’s travel plans, but it hasn’t stopped the hospitality industry from moving forward with an extensive pipeline of new hotels scheduled to open next year. From sophisticated urban high-rises to nature-oriented retreats, the hotels debuting in 2022 prove there are many ways to define upscale travel. Here are some of the hottest new openings. Florida is gearing up to welcome at least two new and noteworthy luxury hotels in 2022. The 158-room Mandarin Oriental, Boca Raton will feature two rooftop pools; a spa; fitness center; and multiple

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upscale restaurants and bars, including Mandarin Oriental’s signature MO Bar + Lounge, situated on the rooftop with an outdoor terrace. The adjacent Via Mizner Golf & City Club will provide additional leisure activity options for guests. Nearby, West Palm Beach will become home of Banyan Cay Resort & Golf, Florida’s first Destination by Hyatt hotel and the first full-service Hyatt-branded property in Palm Beach County. Set on 250 acres, the property offers golf practice facilities as well as access to a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. Accommodation options include 150 guestrooms and 22 three-bedroom villas.

In New York City new properties in the works include the 446-room Hard Rock Hotel New York, which will have a rooftop lounge and two entertainment venues, and Six Senses New York, the first North American property for this wellness-oriented IHG brand. The 136-room property, set inside The XI, a complex of two towers designed by architect Bjarke Ingels, will have two restaurants and one of the chain’s trademark spas. In Texas, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts marks its return to Dallas at Cityplace Tower with a rooftop infinity pool and lounge and more than 21,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Travelers looking for an upscale way to enjoy nature, meanwhile, might consider Southall Farms in Franklin, Tennessee, a 325-acre farm being reborn as a luxurious country getaway complete with guestrooms, cottages, a spa and activities themed around farm, wellness, adventure and culinary programs led by James Beard Award multi-nominee Chef Tyler Brown. New luxury hotels are in the works around the Western Hemisphere. In the Caribbean, new openings for 2022 include Rock

NEW LUXURY HOTELS ARE IN THE WORKS AROUND THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. IN THE CARIBBEAN, NEW OPENINGS FOR 2022 INCLUDE ROCK HOUSE TURKS AND CAICOS, A RESORT SET ON 14 OCEANFRONT ACRES ON THE NORTH COAST OF PROVIDENCIALES. House Turks and Caicos, a resort set on 14 oceanfront acres on the north coast of Providenciales, and Cabot Saint Lucia, the second golf-oriented hotel by the team that created Cabot Cape Breton, a golf resort in Nova Scotia, Canada. Speaking of Canada, some 19 new hotels will open around the nation in 2022, according to Top Hotel News. Among them is Andaz Toronto – Yorkville, which will boast 160 rooms including 15 luxury suites as well as 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Farther south, in Mexico, new upscale properties include GLOBAL TRAVELER’S CLASS ACT 2021

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Warm Welcomes: Waldorf Astoria Cancun rendering (top), and Broadwick Soho boudoir (bottom) PHOTOS: © HILTON, © BROADWICK SOHO

Wyndham Grand Mexico City and Esplendor by Wyndham La Condesa, located together in the trendy La Condesa neighborhood. The combined property will have six dining venues, a gym, spa and even a VIP (Very Important Pets) program. Travelers to Mexico’s Caribbean coast will find new places to soak up the sun when they check into the 735-room Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive Resort, set to open next year adjacent to Conrad Tulum, scheduled to open in fourth quarter 2021. The hotels share some amenities, including a meetings and events complex and spa facility. Also new to the Hilton portfolio is the 173-room Waldorf Astoria Cancun with a spa, five

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restaurants and bars and more than 55,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Also in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the upscale Kanai resort complex will witness two hotel openings next year. The 180-room Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai features six food and beverage outlets as well as a spa and a 2,217-square-foot penthouse suite. The 124-room St. Regis Kanai Resort will be the third St. Regis property in Mexico. London will witness the debut of two interesting luxury hotels in 2022. Included in the mix is Raffles London at The OWO, the first Raffles property in the United Kingdom. Located in London’s Old War Office (a filming location for five James Bond movies and Netflix’s The Crown), the 125-room property will have nine restaurants and bars, a spa, a ballroom and a Winter Garden that serves afternoon tea. Also in the works is Park Hyatt London River Thames, located in the Nine Elms area on the south bank of the river, conveniently close to upscale shops, parks and restaurants. “Gritty glamour,” meanwhile, is a term used to describe the unique style at Broadwick Soho, an independent luxury hotel slated to open in London next year. The 57-room property will include an Italian restaurant with a terrace and rooftop cocktail bar. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Red Carnation Hotel Collection is preparing for its debut in Scotland with the opening of 100 Princes Street. The 30-room property, which will offer views of Edinburgh Castle, will exude an ambience similar to that of sister property Hotel 41, located in London. Travelers considering a 2022 trip to Rome will find attractive new options, including the 160-room InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, set in an early-20th-century palazzo that once served as an ambassador’s home. Also in the works is Six Senses Rome, yet another example of the expansion of IHG’s wellness brand. The 95-room property, the first Six Senses in Italy, will feature a spa, restaurant, events terrace, rooftop terrace and courtyard garden. Vienna is another European city that should be on the itinerary of any globetrotter seeking out new luxury hotel experiences. Rosewood Hotels is currently putting final touches on Rosewood Vienna, housed in

Landmark Luxury: The Raffles London at The OWO grand staircase (top left), living room (top right) and exterior renderings (bottom) PHOTOS: © GRAIN LONDON LTD

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a 1930s former bank building, while Almanac Vienna will open in a picturesque mansion in the historic Palais Henckel-Donnersmarck. Looking to the Middle East, new luxury properties include The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, opening in Dubai next to Atlantis, The Palm. The 795-room resort’s contemporary architecture will house a wellness center, 17 restaurants (including five headed by celebrity chefs) and an expansive lobby with one of the world’s largest jellyfish tanks. In Morocco, new hotels include the 181-room Park Hyatt Marrakech, offering an 18-hole golf course designed by Kyle Phillips and inspired by Moroccan gardens. Nature lovers, meanwhile, will find new ways to pamper themselves in South Africa, where The Homestead — a 12-suite, eco-friendly, ultra-luxury lodge — will open on Nambiti Private Game Reserve, offering customized game drives, cooking classes and other unique experiences. Travelers in the mood for glamorously branded accommodations may consider a trip to Japan, where Tokyo will welcome its first Bvlgari Hotel in late 2022, set in a dramatic skyscraper. The 98-room property will have a spa, indoor pool and multiple dining venues as well as a top-of-the-line Bvlgari Suite. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, meanwhile, is in growth mode in China, with new properties including Wyndham Foshan, located in the Foshan Nanhai complex, and Wyndham Grand Fuqing Resort, located in Haikou Town. Hyatt has a number of hotels in the pipeline throughout Southeast

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Asia. Its Alila Hotels and Resorts brand, for example, will debut two new properties next year: Alila Dalit Bay, a 152-room waterfront hotel in Malaysia; and Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, located in Raa Atoll, a picturesque region of the Maldives. Elsewhere in the Hyatt portfolio, Park Hyatt Jakarta is to open in Indonesia’s capital, set in the top 17 floors of the new MNC Land Tower, while Park Hyatt Phu Quoc will open on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc. Racecar enthusiasts may want to take a look at Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, which will debut Fuji Speedway Hotel, a themed property in Japan that will provide access to a motorsports museum overlooking Fuji Speedway racetrack.

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ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL OPTIONS

FIRST- & BUSINESS-CLASS UPDATE

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LOYALTY PROGRAMS: A LOOK AHEAD

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