BTME - March 2021

MIDDLE EAST

MARCH 2021

24 HOURS IN JERUSALEM

VACCINE PASSPORTS

NEW HORIZONS

PLUS

Experience a city known as the world's historical epicentre

A guide to the some of the digital health passes now available

Why the Indian Ocean islands should be top of your wishlist

Tried and Tested • Memphis • Responsible Traveller

QATAR CALLING UAE DHS12 OMAN RO1.30 BAHRAIN BD1.30 SAUDI ARABIA SR12 KUWAIT KD1

Hotels openings ahead of the World Cup

CONTENTS

MARCH 2021

R E G UL A R S 06

UPFRONT

Airline and hotel news from around the world 14

RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER

Industry initiatives designed to give back to the planet 17

POSTCARD

Find out why Bora Bora offers the world’s ‘most epic stay’ 18

24 HOURS... IN JERUSALEM

Experience the magic of a city at the epicentre of world history 57

ASK THE PILOT

Would you fly the B737 Max now it’s returning to the skies?

T HE R EP OR T

TRIED & TESTED FLIGHTS, HOTELS, R E S TAU R A N T S

ON TH E C OVER

60 Forever Rose Café Dubai 61 Sofitel Mumbai BKC 62 Premier Inn London Southwark (Southwark Station) 63 Workspaces by Hilton at the

Trafalgar St James, London

64 Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour

Hong Kong

65 The Ritz-Carlton Grand Lakes Orlando, FL 66

SMART TRAVELLER

Airports offering COVID-19 tests

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Q ATA R C A L L I N G

A round-up of the new hotels and resorts opening ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament

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3

F E AT UR E S 28

VACCINE PASSPORTS

A glance at some of the digital health passes now available 34

NEW HORIZONS

Why the Indian Ocean islands should be on your wishlist 44

MEMPHIS CON BRIO

Music and history flow through this vibrant American river town

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48 MEMBERSHIP THAT GETS YOU MORE

How the global pandemic has accelerated the subscription travel trend 54 TAKING SCOTL AND IN YOUR STRIDE

Walk the Highlands and Borders to best discover this country’s history and culture

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34 MARCH 2021

WELCOME

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accine passports are being pitched as crucial to rebooting the global travel sector and unsurprisingly, the airline industry is leading the campaign, taking bold steps to trial and promote these digital passes. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is in the driving seat, introducing the IATA Travel Pass as a “global and standardised solution to validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 passenger travel requirements”.

The association’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, says a secure system to manage pre-departure testing and vaccination information is critical and its Travel Pass is a solution that both travellers and governments can trust, “built with data security, convenience and verification as top priorities”.

Etihad Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways have already signed up to the pass, but it’s one of many so-called vaccine passports currently on trial globally. In this issue we outline nine of them (page 28), providing details on how they work, where they are available and crucially, how they intend to keep our data secure. But what are the pros and cons of these digital health passes? Well, with nine already in circulation, which one do we choose? The answer is, perhaps, more than one. The rules and requirements of our country of residence, the airline we fly with and our final destination might well dictate this, which is why a global standard does seem to be the sensible way forward However, what these passports do not recognise is those who

cannot be vaccinated for health reasons. In addition, while countries such as the UAE, Israel and the UK are forging ahead with vaccination programmes, in reality, it will take years to vaccinate the global population.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and World Health Organisation (WHO) say vaccine passports are discriminatory, with the latter pushing for fair and ethical standards to avoid creating two classes of citizens – “those who have been vaccinated and those who have not”. Medical uncertainty is another factor, with current vaccines preventing the vaccinated person from becoming unwell from COVID-19, but not from contracting or spreading the virus, while some vaccines offer just 55 per cent efficacy. A combination of vaccination proof and PCR test might therefore be required.

On the plus side, health passports could be expanded to include other information in the future, with visas required for country entry, one example. They could be another contactless solution to make our journey more seamless and no one will argue against the benefits of that scenario.

Gemma Greenwood, Editor

THIS ISSUE’S PICKS

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Business Traveller Middle East is jointly published

by Motivate Media Group and Panacea Media Ltd M OT I VAT E M E D I A GRO UP

Editor-in-Chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Managing Partner and Group Editor Ian Fairservice Editor Gemma Greenwood Art Director Clarkwin Cruz Editorial Co-ordinator Londresa Flores Contributors Tom Otley, Hannah Brandler, Melanie Swan, April Hutchinson, Michael Alpiner, Ilene Perlman, Allyson Portee, Susan Mckee, Akanksha Maker, Seher Asaf, Jerry Ruud General Manager – Production S Sunil Kumar Assistant Production Manager Binu Purandaran Production Supervisor Venita Pinto Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Milne Group Sales Manager Dane Hills PAN ACE A M E D I A LT D

Managing Director Julian Gregory Associate Publisher Middle East Rania Apthorpe Global Editor-in-Chief Tom Otley

24 HOURS IN JERUSALEM Explore a city steeped in history, culture and more (Page 18)

QATAR CALLING A glance at new and upcoming hotels in the fast-developing Gulf State (Page 20)

VACCINE PASSPORTS We take a look at the options now available (Page 28)

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MARCH 2021

UPFRONT

Accor to introduce digital room keys ACCOR HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS

ETIHAD IN CREW VACCINATION FIRST

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ETIHAD AIRWAYS HAS BECOME the first airline in the world to operate all flights with pilots and cabin crew vaccinated against COVID-19.

The airline started its workforce vaccination programme in collaboration with Abu Dhabi authorities last year, prioritising frontline workers first, and has now revealed that more than 75 per cent of its workforce have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

“We proactively made the vaccine available to all our employees to not only help combat the effects of COVID-19, but to make travellers feel confident and reassured the next time they fly with us,” said Tony Douglas, Group CEO of Etihad Aviation Group.

“We are the only airline in the world to make COVID-19 testing mandatory for every passenger and crew member before every flight and now, we’re the first airline in the world with 100 per cent vaccinated crew on board.”

to phase-in new digital room-key technology.

The group has been piloting the Accor Key solution at selected properties in North America, Europe and Asia, enabling guests to receive their room key through the Accor digital-key app when arriving at their hotel.

The key also provides access to meeting rooms where appropriate, as well as to hotel floors via lifts, and is deactivated automatically when the guest departs.

Accor has said the service will be available at all new Accor hotels opening this year, with a goal of 500 properties by the end of 2021. This will be increased to at least 50 per cent of its portfolio within the next five years.

Accor has partnered with cloud-based mobile key and access management tool, Stay My Way, whose founder, Faustino Fernandez, cited a recent Deloitte study stating: “Sixty per cent of travellers are more likely to stay at a hotel that allows contactless check in and the ability to use a smartphone as a room key – 16 per cent even say it’s a must have.”

Emirates rolls out touchless check-in kiosks

Health pass plus ETIHAD IS ALSO WORKING with several organisations to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with government requirements for COVID-19 tests or vaccines, including MedAire/ AOKPass and TE FOOD/GE Digital.

Following the success of an initial pilot in September 2020 to digitalise pre-departure COVID-19 test results, a world-first for the air travel industry, Etihad passengers can now use health passports from destinations including London, Paris, and Amsterdam and soon, from its Abu Dhabi hub.

It is also one of the first airlines globally to work with IATA as a pioneer partner for the IATA Travel Pass, already applicable to selected flights from Abu Dhabi (see page 28).

“The development of health passes are new to the airline industry and COVID-19 tests and vaccinations will be key to get the world flying again,” said Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group.

MARCH 2021

EMIRATES HAS INTRODUCED touchless check-in kiosks at Dubai International (DXB).

The airline launched 16 self-check-in and 32 self-service bag drop kiosks last year, but has now gone a step further, allowing passengers to control the machines from their mobile devices.

Customers can check in, receive their boarding pass, choose seats on board, drop off their bags and make payments for extra purchases such as additional baggage allowance, via the kiosk.

Located at the Economy check-in area at Terminal 3, the kiosks can be used by customers travelling to all destinations except the US, Canada, China, India and Hong Kong.

UPFRONT

Delano heads to Paris in new guise

ACCOR HAS PARTNERED with

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CATHAY PACIFIC RELAXES MASK RULE FOR PREMIUM PASSENGERS CATHAY PACIFIC WILL EXEMPT first and business class passengers from wearing face masks when sleeping, according to updated guidelines shared with cabin crew.

The Hong Kong-based carrier recently issued an internal memo designed to help crew “understand the circumstances under which mask wearing is exempted”.

Although passengers are still required to wear face masks throughout the flight, with the exception of eating and drinking, travellers in premium cabins will also be exempt while resting.

“Seats in first and business class are more spacious with partitions, and passengers are exempted when lying flat for sleep,” a Cathay Pacific spokesperson told Business Traveller.

Qatar-based developer Katara Hospitality to launch a new iteration of luxury lifestyle brand Delano in Paris in 2022.

The Delano brand was first launched in Miami, with a subsequent property in Las Vegas.

After making its debut in the French capital, the new Maison Delano brand will rolled-out “in major global urban city centres”.

It will include an F&B concept by world-renowned chef, Dani Garcia, and “feature unparalleled accommodations, cuisine and mixology experiences”.

Located in the city’s eighth arrondissement in an 18th century mansion at 4 Rue d’Anjou, close to the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the property will feature 56 rooms and suites and a restaurant and bar in the restored mansion’s historical courtyard.

NEW PORTABLE SANITISING PEN PROTECTS ON THE GO

CALL OF THE WILD

WHETHER YOU ARE travelling about town or overseas,

ADVENTURERS, BLISS SEEKERS and discerning travellers will delight in the news that stays on the UAE’s largest natural island are possible once again, with Anantara reopening its Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts last month. Lush landscapes, archaeological marvels, exotic wildlife and three unique resorts await, just 25 minutes from the mainland. A highlight of a trip to the island is a safari experience, with more than 11,000 animals living in the Royal Nature Reserve established in 1971.

They include 30 different endangered species, with Anantara guests given the unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of blackbuck antelope, Arabian oryx, giraffe, ostrich and cheetah in their natural environment. anantara.com

keeping things around you germ-free is a priority. That’s why Clearwin – maker of the world’s first escalator handrail steriliser system – has launched Clearscan, a handy pocket-size portable UV-C sanitiser that can be used to disinfect objects and surfaces, quickly and safely.

The Clearscan personal sanitising pen is the first of its kind to offer 99.99 per cent protection against COVID-19. It’s easy to use too – you just switch it on and move the device over an object for 20 seconds. Clearscan is ideal for killing germs and viruses on personal items such as smartphones, laptops, wallets, masks, and money, as well as communal touchpoints, from lift buttons and restaurant tables to door handles and supermarket trolleys. Travellers can use it on aircraft fold-down tables and seat belts and it’s also ideal for the office. Fully charged in 40 minutes, it can then be used for up to 200 cycles. clearscan.uae.com

MARCH 2021

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motivatemedia.com

UPFRONT

BTME Awards voting is now live VOTING FOR THE Business

New online chat platform for luxury hotel guests A NEW ONLINE CHAT platform for luxury hotel guests has been launched by Staytus, a

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digital marketing and communications solutions provider.

Hotel Chat, the first chat platform built exclusively for the hospitality sector, is a webbased service designed to connect guests with hotels before, during and after their stay.

Publicly accessible by all guests regardless of their personal messaging preferences, Hotel Chat provides “COVID-friendly interaction” during a time when demand for contactless services and communication is at an all-time high.

The platform, which does not require an app, provides an instant connection to the hotel when guests scan a QR code or click a dedicated link. Guests are not required to share personal contact details or social media information to use Hotel Chat, which also features two-way translation across more than 100 languages, enabling guests and hotel staff to converse in their native tongue.

Properties already using Hotel Chat include Park Hyatt Dubai, as well as luxury hotels in Asia, Mexico and Hawaii.

UNDERWATER CHILL WITH WELLBEING TOP of the travel executive’s

agenda for 2021, news that ‘underwater yoga’ has returned to Atlantis, The Palm, is more than welcome. The mega resort is offering guests and visitors the chance to practice yoga poses against a soothing backdrop of 65,000 marine animals every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday morning, with a special Tibetan Singing Bowls meditation session held on the last Saturday of each month.

Taking place at The Ambassador Lagoon from 8am to 9am, the expert-led classes involve a calming sequence of poses, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that are suitable for participants of all abilities. Sessions are bookable at atlantis.com.

MARCH 2021

Traveller Middle East Awards 2021 is now live on btme.ae (from March 1).

Hotel registration for the event, now in its 19th year and scheduled to take place in May, is also also open via Platinumlist.

Don’t miss your chance to cast your votes across 37 categories spanning 10 airline awards, four airport awards, 17 hotel awards and new for 2021, six leisure and lifestyle awards.

The Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2021 celebrate the companies at the forefront of business travel and services, as well as the hard work of top-level industry executives.

For more information contact dane.hills@motivate.ae

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UPFRONT

WHEN THE WORLD OPENS ONE IN FIVE RESPONDENTS TO THE IHG survey said they planned to make up for the lack of travel in 2020 by going on more trips than they would typically take, when it is safe to do so.

One in five people overall said they hoped to travel to a place on their bucket list in 2021, with that being true for one in three travellers aged 18 to 24.

The 18 to 24 age group was also five times more likely to say that volunteering for a community in need was a primary motivator for travel.

One in three surveyed said going to restaurants and trying new foods had the most positive impact on their holidays.

More than a third of all those surveyed, including 50 per cent of those 55 and older, said they would start to travel again when the COVID-19 vaccine was easily and widely available.

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IHG survey uncovers desire to resume business travel THE TRUE IMPACT of the sharp decline in business travel due to the

COVID-19 pandemic has been revealed in a new survey commissioned by IHG Hotels and Resorts and conducted by OnePoll.

The poll of 6,000 people across the US, UK and Australia unearthed a clear desire to resume travel for work purposes as soon as it is safe to do so, with more than 30 per cent admitting they felt demotivated by the current lack of business travel.

Almost half of those surveyed (48 per cent) stated that business travel enabled them to “create meaningful relationships with colleagues, customers, and/or clients”, with 40 per cent of respondents confirming they missed faceto-face meetings.

More than a third of respondents (38 per cent) stated that business travel improved their overall mood and motivated them, while a quarter said that it helped them to work smarter.

The survey also found people were missing the travel elements of a work trip. Just under half of respondents (46 per cent) missed being able to stay in a different city, with 21 per cent noting how they were missing out on earning loyalty points. Meanwhile, 34 per cent missed staying in a comfortable bed when they travelled for business, 20 per cent missed room service and 30 per cent missed dining with clients and colleagues. Additionally, 38 per cent missed having some time and space to themselves.

Close to 60 per cent of survey respondents said they cancelled up to four trips (leisure and business) last year.

From a leisure travel perspective, more than half of travellers surveyed said they had now rebooked cancelled trips or planned to rebook them, with family holidays and visiting loved ones topping travel wish lists for 2021.

And while the pandemic isn’t over, the roll-out of vaccines is igniting hope and optimism, as respondents across all age groups, 18 to 55+, said spending time with family and friends was a primary motivator for travel this year.

MARCH 2021

The secret life of pets STAYCATIONERS IN INDIA who don’t want to leave their pets at home can take advantage of a ‘Furry Friends’ break at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru. Offering expansive green spaces and Garden Suites with private terraces, four-legged friends can roam free. Guests in need of pet supplies can contact the concierge for help, while the in-room dining Pet Menu, accessible via the Four Seasons app and Chat service, boasts a ‘Woof Woof Medley’ of shredded chicken, carrot, zucchini, white rice, green peas and spinach.

There’s only one catch – pets must weigh 15kg or less to be eligible for a stay.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T F E AT U R E

CULTURALLY INSPIRED, GLOBALLY ASPIRED

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Somerset Maslak Istanbul

s the great Turkish author Ahmet Rasim once wrote, “The beauty of a landscape resides in its melancholy." It is indeed undeniable that the country of two continents, Turkey, is utterly inspiring through its blend of colours, cultures and history. For visitors, its largest city, Istanbul, is a gateway to all of these experiences.

Our award-winning Somerset property has made its home in the prestigious Maslak 1453 community, the city’s largest development. This new district promises guests a scenic location and stunning serviced accommodation spanning studios, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses, all featuring spacious and luxurious living and dining areas with fully functional kitchenettes and inspiring décor. Whether guests are taking a short leisure break, a long business trip, or setting up residence at Somerset Maslak Istanbul, the views of green landscapes are thoroughly breathtaking and an array of pampering experiences await.

The property's lifestyle and leisure amenities include a swimming pool, gymnasium, breakfast lounge, business centre, children’s playroom and residents' lounge, all operated according to the local governmental body’s health and

safety procedures. For extra guest assurance, the property maintains strict safety protocols adhering to international standards. A flagship property in Ascott's global portfolio, Somerset Maslak Istanbul has also received the accredited Bureau Veritas certificate, in line with the Ascott Cares Initiative.

If you are a local resident, there has never been a better time to book a stay at Somerset Maslak Istanbul, with a 25 per cent discount offered on bookings made until the end of March under the Residents Special Promotion.

Additional promotions can be viewed CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Property's outdoor swimming pool, bedroom in the 4-BHK, living room in the 3-BHK

at the-ascott.com/offers. Best booking rates are available at Ascott properties globally when guests sign up to the complimentary Ascott Star Rewards membership at the-ascott.com/asr Somerset Maslak Istanbul is managed

by The Ascott Limited, a member of CapitaLand. It is one of the leading international lodging owner-operators with more than 770 properties in 190-plus cities spanning more than 30 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA. Its portfolio of serviced residences and hotel brands includes Ascott The Residence, The Crest Collection, Somerset, Quest, Citadines, lyf, Préférence, Vertu, Harris, Citadines Connect, Fox, Yello and POP!.

MARCH 2021

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ETIHAD INCREASES ITS PURCHASE OF CARBON OFFSETS

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ETIHAD AIRWAYS is increasing its purchase of carbon offsets, while at the same time, moving ahead with a programme that will allow passengers to purchase additional offsets for their flights.

The airline, which purchased 80,000 tonnes of carbon offsets in November, is expanding this programme beyond the original Makame Savannah REDD project in Tanzania to include Peru’s Cordillera Azul National Park and Indonesia’s Katingan Mentaya Project.

By 2021, the Cordillera Azul project aims to have protected 1.6 million hectares of threatened forest and 28 high conservation value species, supported 716 jobs and created or supported 25 sustainable enterprises, while the Katingan Mentaya Project protects 149,800 hectares of peat swamp forest and vital habitats for five critically endangered species, including Bornean orangutans, southern Bornean gibbons and proboscis monkeys. Both projects are certified by the Verified Carbon Standard and the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standard.

Etihad has purchased the offsets through Shell, which has launched a platform to trade REDD+ forestry credits.

REDD stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation and the + signifies the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Shell has committed to invest US$300 million in nature-based solutions – projects that protect, transform or restore land – over the next three years. In this way, nature absorbs more CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. These projects can lead to the MARCH 2021

ABOVE: Indonesia’s Katingan Mentaya project protects the habitat of endangered species

marketing, trading and sale of carbon credits.

Tony Douglas, CEO, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Exactly one year ago, we committed to a sustainable future with the very real, tangible objective to be completely carbon neutral by 2050 and to reduce CO2 emissions to 50 per cent of 2019 levels by 2035.

“Since then, the aviation industry has been completely transformed by the COVID-19 crisis, however our commitment to sustainability has never wavered. We have since introduced and led a number of industry-leading sustainability initiatives to further drive and promote carbon neutrality, of which today’s announcement is just the latest.”

Anna Mascolo, President, Shell Aviation, said until sustainable aviation fuel and technology solutions had been developed and deployed at scale, offsetting was not a choice, but a necessity.

“This agreement [with Etihad] is a great example of action that can be taken today to engage multiple parties in accelerating aviation’s pathway to net zero emissions,” she added.

Etihad Airways has also revealed new elements of its upcoming voluntary customer offset programme. The airline is working with New Zealand Carbon Offsetting company Carbon Click, “a platform that uses certified Gold Standard offsets to reduce the climate impact of aviation through ethical, fully traceable reforestation and renewable energy projects”, to develop the programme.

RE SP ONSIBLE TR AVELLER

Soneva Jani expands eco-luxury offering Soneva, the luxury resort operator with sustainability at its core, has announced the launch of Soneva Jani, Chapter Two. The Maldivian resort has expanded its portfolio of villas, added new dining concepts, opened a Soneva Wellness Centre and launched the Soneva Unlimited concept.

The new over-water and island villas are ultraluxurious and private - these Water Reserves, some with a retractable roof for stargazing, have been crafted to the highest environmental standards using sustainable materials such as Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods and state-of-the-art technology to reduce their impact on the planet.

Guests booked into Chapter Two reserves access the new Soneva Unlimited all-inclusive concept encompassing dining, experiences, a dedicated Barefoot Butler and much more.

New dining offerings include So Wild by Diana Von Cranach (pictured left), a fully plant-based restaurant in the midst of the Organic Garden.

Diana’s 50 years of experience in plant-focused dining come to life in a menu that draws inspiration from Ayurveda and highlights ingredients grown at the resort.

Soneva Jani is located on the island of Medhufaru in a 5.6-km lagoon in the Noonu Atoll and has uninterrupted ocean views in all directions.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH 15

Biodiversity loss and the climate crisis are greater threats than COVID-19 and we’ve seen strict carbon reduction targets attached to some bailouts. Inefficient ‘offsetting’ will come under greater scrutiny. Tourists will attach increasing value to genuine sustainability measures and the desire to reconnect with nature will see re-wilding and conservation breaks take root.

Responsible Travel Founder & CEO, Justin Frances, on 2021 travel trends

Boeing makes sustainable aviation pledge

Boeing has set an ambitious target to advance the long-term sustainability of commercial aviation. The aircraft manufacturer has committed to delivering commercial airplanes that are capable and certified to fly on 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuels by 2030.

Boeing has previously conducted successful test flights replacing petroleum jet fuel with 100 per cent sustainable fuels to address the urgent challenge of climate change.

According to the Air Transport Action Group, U.S. Department of Energy and several other scientific studies, sustainable aviation fuels reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent over the fuel’s life cycle with the potential to reach 100 per cent in the future.

Today, sustainable aviation fuels are

mixed directly with conventional jet fuel up to a 50/50 blend — the maximum allowed under current fuel specifications. In order to meet aviation’s commitment for reducing carbon emissions by 50 per cent from 2005 levels by 2050, airplanes need the capability to fly on 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuels well before 2050.

Boeing has been a pioneer in making sustainable aviation fuels a reality, partnering globally with airlines, industry, governments and research institutions to expand limited supplies and reduce the fuels’ cost.

In 2018, the Boeing ecoDemonstrator flight test programme conducted the world’s first commercial airplane flight using 100 per cent sustainable fuels with a 777 Freighter, in collaboration with FedEx Express.

MARCH 2021

RE SP ONSIBLE TR AVELLER

Expo gives visitors first glimpse of Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion

Katara Towers in sustainable rating first 16

The Katara Towers development at Lusail has become the first hospitality project in Qatar to receive a GSAS Design & Build five-star rating certificate at the design stage.

The Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) is the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s first performance-based green building certification programme, utilised by buildings, districts and infrastructure projects to assess their environmental impact.

With the project design assessed by sustainability experts at the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD), the awarded provisional certificate reflects the expected level of green credentials to be achieved by Katara Towers upon completion.

“GSAS-D&B has been implemented on a range of public and private projects in Lusail City, but the iconic twin towers stand out in more ways than one,” said GORD Founding Chairman Dr. Yousef Alhorr.

“As the first GSAS-D&B five-star hotel project, Katara Towers will be a pioneering name in Qatar’s sustainable hospitality sector. The provisional certificate marks the continuity of Katara Hospitality’s journey towards sustainable built environment.”

The iconic Katara Towers development is an architectural translation of Qatar’s national seal, representing the traditional scimitar swords. These arched towers will host a five-star hotel.

Under the scope of GSAS-D&B certification for the towers, the project will feature a range of features aimed at minimising negative environmental impacts linked with building and construction. They encompass energy reduction initiatives resulting in 40 per cent less energy consumption compared to a conventional building, as well as an advanced water conservation and waste management systems. With a focus human wellbeing key to GSAS standards, the twin towers will create a healthy indoor environment by maintaining optimum levels of air quality, acoustics, lighting and thermal comfort.

MARCH 2021

With its October opening fast approaching, Expo 2020 Dubai is inviting visitors to be among the first to explore Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion and surrounding spaces.

Offering a glimpse of what the next World Expo promises, the Pavilions Premiere will provide an opportunity for visitors to experience, discover and engage with the event’s Thematic Pavilions, as well as enjoy entertainment, children’s activities, food and beverage, retail and more until April 10, 2021.

The limited-time preview showcase started with Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, which opened to the public on January 22. Alif – The Mobility Pavilion and Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion will open this month (March).

Terra sets an international example for sustainable building

design and is built to be net-zero for both energy and water. Designed by Grimshaw Architects, its impressive features include 1,055 photovoltaic panels arranged on a 130-metrewide roof canopy and a mini forest of ‘Energy Trees’. Terra tour highlights include an interactive walk through the roots of a forest where every footstep affects the ‘wood-wide web’.

Allowing visitors to explore the hidden harmful impacts of our choices, the emotive experience is designed to encourage all ages to consider how their behaviour affects the environment, empowering them to become agents of change.

TIME Hotels puts staff and communities first in 2021

UAE-headquartered TIME Hotels has underscored its commitment to staff welfare and positively supporting local communities with the launch of a 2021 CSR calendar.

The year-long campaign is based around the four pillars of workplace, marketplace, community and environment, with each month dedicated to a different theme.

TIME has already kicked-off the year with team building exercises in the workplace, health initiatives, a clean-up drive to support environmental goals (pictured) and a focus on female employees as part of International Women’s Day, while Earth Hour will be honoured this month (March).

The second half of the year will begin with a blood donation drive with breast and prostate cancer awareness drives to follow. A happiness initiative will be rolled out throughout the year, focusing on both employees and hotel guests.

POSTCARD

BORA BORA

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Nat u ra l ly d ista nced With extended stays – defined as 10 days more – all the rage, Four Seasons has jumped on the trend with a getaway that’s full of French Polynesian promise. Its newly refreshed Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, recently crowned ‘Best for an Epic Stay in the World’ by AFAR, has launched an Extended Stay programme, tempting guests with a medley of personalised benefits, based on length of stay.

“Our guests have expressed an interest in spending more time with us – for a remote office, classroom, or simply as a place to escape and refresh,” explains the property’s general manager, Diego Stember. “Our open and naturally distanced setting, spacious accommodations, attentive service and plethora of active and pampering

experiences make our private island resort a great place to stay longer.”

The premise is simple – the more nights you stay, the more benefits you accrue. For example, guests who stay 30 nights or more receive every fifth night for free, plus complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, round-trip private airport transfers, premium internet access, twiceweekly private fitness sessions, a personal concierge and chef and spa team consultations.

The recently enhanced Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is located on a private motu (islet), accessible only by boat or helicopter and features overwater bungalow suites and beachfront villa estates. Gemma Greenwood

MARCH 2021

24 HOURS IN . . .

WORDS GEMMA GREENWOOD Don’t miss your chance to experience a city known as the world’s historical epicentre

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erusalem is not only one of the world’s most historically significant cities, important to three major religions, but home to a young and modern society. It’s defined by both tradition and transformation – 5,000 years of rich history are preserved, yet the city is forging ahead with new developments. If you are visiting Jerusalem for business, tag on at least one day of leisure time to discover its multi-faceted charm. There is something for everyone, starting with more than 40 museums that tell the story of the country and its capital, its science, art, history, archaeology and culture through interactive exhibitions, multimedia displays, audio-visual shows and more. Throw theatres, cinemas, heritage tours, a plethora of

excellent restaurants, traditional stone buildings and new lush green spaces into the mix to get a real flavour of this colourful destination.

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Breakfast at Tmol Shilshom Café

An old-school dairy bookstore café in the city centre, Tmol Shilshom is a popular kosher culinary and cultural institution, favoured for its warm ambiance, delicious food, plethora of books and very friendly service. The café is well known for tasty dishes such as shakshuka – salmon fillet in fig sauce – plus ‘The Lover Salad’ and its cheesecake. It is located in a 150-year-old building and hosts readings by Israel’s best-known writers. Tmol Shilshom is named after Nobel laureate S.Y. Agnon’s novel (translated as Those Were the Days).

It is open Sunday to Thursday, 8.30 am to 11.30 pm, Friday until before Shabbat and Saturday from after Shabbat. tmol-shilshom.co.il

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Get your history fix at The Israel Museum

The Israel Museum, which was expanded and upgraded 10 years ago, is the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel and ranks among the world’s leading art and archaeology museums. Founded in 1965, it houses encyclopedic collections including works dating from pre-history to the present day, as well as the most extensive holdings of biblical and Holy Land archaeology in the world. Over the past 70 years, thanks to a legacy of gifts and generous support from its circle of patrons worldwide, the museum has built-up a far-ranging collection of nearly 500,000 objects, representing the full scope of world material culture.

Among the highlights of the museum’s original campus is the Shrine of the Book, designed by Armand Bartos and Frederick Kiesler, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world. imj.org.il

JERUSALEM MARCH 2021

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3 Get your grill on with a traditional lunch

Jerusalem’s culinary scene is defined by a fusion of ancient and modern recipes using both Eastern and Western cooking techniques. The confluence of ethnicities that merge together in Jerusalem creates a unique cultural tapestry. From creamy hummus to the freshest fish in the market, good food is a must for Jerusalemites and visitors.

Grab a quick meal in a local hidden eatery or dine more leisurely on four courses at an upscale restaurant. Both are worth trying. A must-taste is ‘Meorav Yerusahlmi’ – a traditional Jerusalem mixed grill of chicken hearts, spleens and liver combined with pieces of lamb in a pita bread. It’s simple and delicious.

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Browse around Machane Yehuda Market

A visit to Jerusalem is not complete without a browse around Machane Yehuda market. By day it’s a bustling and colourful Middle Eastern market with vendors pushing their goods. By night it’s a vibrant nightlife hotspot.

The festive vibe in the market is simply unparalleled; it’s a chance to sample interesting food and drink and meet friendly locals.

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Hike as much as you like

If you have the time and inclination to explore the city on foot, a repertoire of hiking trails and walking tours showcasing Jerusalem’s rich tapestry of attractions await in the picturesque Ein Kerem neighbourhood. Start on Ma’ayan Street, home to Ein Karem springs and a mosque; continue to the San Vincent monastery – a beautiful structure surrounded by large agricultural areas; stop at the Church of Yelizaveta Feodorovna where the nuns speak Russian and admission is free; and finish at The Sisters of Zion Convent. Another option is a tour of the Emek HaTemanim neighbourhood on the slopes of Nahal Sorek in Ein Kerem. It’s a quiet Yemenite district with wellpreserved stone houses built when the Yemenites immigrated to Israel. These tours are available all-year-round.

6 Feel Jerusalem’s beating heart; the iconic Old City

The Old City is the heart of Jerusalem and arguably, Israel, home to several sites of religious importance: The Temple Mount and Western Wall for Jews, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians and the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims.

The city’s monumental defensive walls and iconic gates, built between 1535 and 1542 by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, encase the Muslim, Christian, Armenian and Jewish Quarters, each with its own myriad of narrow winding alleys and streets, steeped in history and lined with cafés, restaurants, shops, places to stay and more. A feast for the senses, with sights, sounds, tastes and aromas unique to this location, it is one of the most intriguing and inspiring places on Earth.

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Shop in style at Mamilla Mall in West Jerusalem

In stark contrast, but close to the Old City, just north-west of Jaffa Gate, is Mamilla Mall, also known as Alrov Mamilla Avenue – an upscale shopping street and the only open-air mall in West Jerusalem.

This promenade is home to high-end shops, restaurants with incredible views and luxury hotels. It also houses the galleries of world-class artist and designer Avi Luvaton and is without a doubt, the best place to buy one-ofa-kind jewellery pieces and Jewish art. While Mamilla certainly would not look out of place in cities such as London or Paris, it maintains a unique Jerusalem atmosphere that visitors simply must experience.

PHOTO BY ZOHAR GAFNI, COURTESY OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Jerusalem is perched on a plateau between mountains and sea; Israel Museum silhouette; Dome of the Rock; Traditional ‘Meorav Yerusahlmi’ MARCH 2021

HOTELS

A swathe of hotels are opening in the Gulf State in the run up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup

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WORDS GEMMA GREENWOOD

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MARCH 2021

HOTELS

CALLING HOTELS

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The Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas MARCH 2021

HOTELS

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t’s a hive of activity in Qatar as the Gulf State gears up to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Construction of new mixed-use destinations with a tourism focus is in overdrive and hospitality developers are playing their part with the roll out of new resorts and hotels across multiple brands.

With the tournament expected to attract more than 80,000 football fans from all over the world, accommodating them all also calls for new innovative and sustainably minded concepts to ensure Qatar’s hotel room inventory meets the 90,000 mark.

ADMARES Construction and Qetaifan Projects have joined forces to create 16 luxury hotels designed just for the games, bringing some 1,616 rooms to market.

The four-storey structures, located on Qetaifan Island North, not far from the 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium, will all feature a restaurant, lounge/bar and 101 Scandinavianstyle rooms and will be bookable on global travel sites like Expedia.com and Booking.com, according to developers.

What’s more, the occupant’s energy use will be measured and shared with them, empowering visitors to cut back on their carbon footprint and when the tournament is over, the hotels will be relocated and repurposed, although no details have been announced yet.

Back on shore and all the major regional and international hotel groups are fast-tracking their Qatar expansion plans, opening the doors to new properties this year and next, not only in anticipation of the World Cup, but the positive repercussions of Qatar National Vision 2030, with the tourism sector earmarked as a key pillar for long-term economic growth.

Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar-based Katara Hospitality, has big plans for expansion. The company currently has 42 properties, but will grow this to 60 by 2030.

One thing’s for sure, visitors to Qatar will be spoiled for choice. If you are visiting this year or next, here are some new hotel options to consider, including two with huge water parks for some after-work recreation.

MARCH 2021

Palais Vendôme and Le Royal Méridien Doha A lavish hospitality experience embodying classical Parisian elegance will set Palais Vendôme apart when it opens in Q1, 2022. This Luxury Collection Hotel with a palatial presence will feature 250 rooms, including two Presidential Suites, and will be part of a three-property complex. It will mark the entry of the brand into Qatar, offering global explorers a “unique gateway to this visionary destination”. Le Royal Méridien Doha, part of the same development, will offer a more contemporary style, reflecting modern French culture and design.

The property, opening in Q3 this year, will house 250 guest rooms, including a Presidential Suite in one wing, while the other wing will offer 150 serviced apartments, Le Royal Méridien Doha Residences, with a range of options from studios to four-bedroom suites, ideal for extended stays and larger family groups.

Le Meridien Doha Opening soon, Le Meridien Hotel Doha will occupy a 47-storey building and feature 256 rooms and suites, plus 97 one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury serviced apartments, including VVIP suites. Six dining outlets, outdoor and indoor pools, a health club and a fitness centre will also be part of the offering.

HOTELS

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Palais Vendôme and Le Royal Méridien Doha; Banyan Tree Doha; Rixos Doha Qetaifan; Le Meridien Doha

Banyan Tree Doha Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts is on track to open its first hotel in Qatar any day now. Banyan Tree Doha, located in Mushaireb and part of the Doha Oasis project, will offer guests direct access to a signature department store, indoor experiential theme park and exclusive cinema multiplex. A “sanctuary for the senses”, the property’s design ethos will reflect the four elements of life – earth, fire, water and air – demonstrated in the trees of life that will fill the lobby with an air of calm.

Accommodation will include 126 rooms and suites and 215 serviced residences with up to four bedrooms, complemented by an Altitude Club Lounge, Banyan Tree’s signature spa, a gym with exercise room, nine meeting rooms and multiple restaurants. They include Panya Lounge – a patisserie with Asian flare; Saffron – Banyan Tree’s signature

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Thai Kingdom restaurant; Qalamkarri (contemporary Indian); an all-daydining restaurant; and Vertigo on the 28th floor – a venue with a retractable roof, offering a breathtaking night-life experience with panoramic city views.

Rixos Doha Qetaifan Turkish all-inclusive resort brand Rixos is set to make its debut in Doha in 2022, just in time for the World Cup. Rixos Doha Qetaifan will not only feature a 345-key hotel, but a range of facilities that will elevate the Qatari capital’s tourism offering including a Souq, a beach club, theme park and water park. The property will be part of Qetaifan Island North project, a new island destination close to Lusail City, located 27km from Hamad International and accessible via two iconic hanging bridges linking the island to the mainland. The theme park will feature The Icon Tower, the world’s highest structure of its kind, standing 82 metres and promising guests a memorable adrenaline rush.

MARCH 2021

HOTELS

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha; Element by Westin City Centre; Delta Hotels Marriott City Centre Doha

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Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha

Element by Westin City Centre

Hyatt debuted its Hyatt Regency brand in Qatar in January, with a new 400-room property conveniently located close to Hamad International Airport and a few minutes from Doha’s business district. Described as a “stress-free sanctuary that enhances productivity and peace of mind”, it suits on-the-go business travellers seeking refuge. Guestroom options include 63 Regency Club rooms and 12 suites, all with high-tech facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi and a workstation with large desk and an ergonomic chair. For meetings and events there are 11 rooms and two ballrooms, while leisure facilities include an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, massage, steam and sauna rooms.

Foodies won’t be disappointed, with restaurants including Choices (international), The Cellar (Spanish), Al Nafourah Garden (Middle Eastern and Lebanese), plus outdoor venue Splash, a Jazz Club and the sky-lit lobby atrium Sky Lounge.

Smart green design is the concept behind Element by West City Centre, opening in Doha’s West Bay business district in Q4. It will be housed in an “eco-conscious” 41-storey residential tower, with sustainability efforts including the use of recycled materials and low-VOC interior paints.

Another Marriott property close to Doha’s City Centre mall, it will be characterised by natural light, open spaces, healthy dining and lifestyle options and spacious guestrooms featuring fully equipped kitchens, spa-inspired bathrooms and the famous Heavenly Bed.

Delta Hotels Marriott City Centre Doha A 32-storey tower with a helipad roof, located in the West Bay area of Doha, is home to this new property opening in Q3. It will comprise 236 contemporary guestrooms, 84 serviced apartments with fully fitted kitchenettes, four dining outlet options, a spa, health club, swimming pool, a ballroom and meeting room.

Doha’s City Centre shopping mall will be close by.

MARCH 2021

HOTELS

AND THERE’S MORE… From both Accor and Marriott

2021

Marriott Executive Apartments Doha, City Centre Pitched as the ideal corporate housing solution, this property will blend apartment-style living with premier hotel services. All 123 apartments, with city or Arabian Gulf views, will be fully furnished, equipped with spacious gourmet kitchens, executive work areas and state-of-the-art appliances. The Residents Club, towering 44 floors above the city, will feature a lap pool and Jacuzzi, while a fitness and lounge area will be available to book for private events, exclusive to residents.

Element by Westin West Bay, Al Seeliya Tower’ This “innovative lifestyle property” featuring 180 luxury apartment rooms with “exclusive” design promises an “authentic atmosphere” and intuitive service. It’s one of two new Doha properties under the Element brand, which targets “healthy, active travellers who want to maintain a balanced lifestyle while on the road”.

Pullman West Bay Doha Expect a central location, great sports amenities, timeless and functional design and balanced culinary concepts at this 468-room property (pictured top right). If you’re a fitness fanatic you’re in for a treat – this property will not only offer the highly successful neighbourhood gym concept, Pullman Power Fitness, but the recently launched ‘Pullman Power Fitness Fuelled by Les Mills’ experience. In 2020, the brand partnered with New Zealand-based fitness-class giant Les Mills and will initially offer guests the brand’s globally popular video-on-demand workouts at 50 hotels around the world, including Pullman West Bay Doha.

Aparthotel Adagio Doha C-Ring Road Ideal for business travellers, this Adagio will offer 153 serviced apartments combining the “comforts and freedom of home” with the benefits of hotel services.

Ibis Doha C-Ring Road An economy hotel with 153 fully equipped rooms, innovative bedding and 24-hour reception services.

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Al Samriya Autograph Collection Hotel Opening in Q1, 2022 in a unique location – the middle of Al Samriya Farm, part of Qatar’s Shahaniya area – the Al Samriya Autograph Collection Hotel will be built using traditional materials and masonry from the farm. Comprising 62 rooms and 26 villas, a spa and a restaurant, the hotel will be walking distance from three attractions: The Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, the Al Samriya Equestrian Centre and the farm’s oryx reserve, offering visitors the chance to enjoy unique experiences outside of the city.

Grand Mercure Doha C-Ring Road A 283-room hotel that will blend with its environment to create a sense of locality, offering an authentic destination experience.

Doha West Bay Novotel Modern easy living and rich digital experiences define the Novotel brand, with the Doha property offering 396 rooms and plenty of space to work, relax and have fun.

Sofitel Doha West Bay Guests will discover French-style luxury hospitality with an Arabian twiest at this 430-room property with signature touches including the MyBed Experience, SoFIT and SoSPA.

Swissôtel Doha Cornice Park Towers A contemporary and stylish hotel promising service quality and 476 innovatively designed rooms with modular functionality, reflecting the brand’s Alpine heritage.

MARCH 2021

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HOTELS

Millennium Place Doha Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA is set to open its first hotel under its Millennium Place brand in Qatar this month (March). Millennium Place Doha, located in Doha’s Rawdat Al Khail area, will feature 150 rooms, meetings and events space, five dining outlets, a gym, spa, indoor and outdoor pools and parking. The Millennium Place brand tagline is ‘find your happy place’ and promises to take guests on a “journey” that encompasses “genuine services and unique hospitality.”

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas; Millennium Place Doha; Sedra Arjaan by Rotana; Centro Doha; The Plaza Doha Anantara Hotel & Suites; voco Doha West Bay Suites

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Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas If you’re looking to have some real fun during your next business trip to Doha, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas could be the answer as it plays host to the largest theme park in Qatar and one of the biggest in the Middle East – Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park. It’s the place to make a splash after a busy work day, or you can retreat to the Eforea Spa for some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Back to business and the resort offers a collection of customisable venues for meetings and events, including the grand ballroom, Al Massarah, with more than 2,000 sqm space.

Accommodation spans 246 rooms and suites, 84 beachfront villas, plus an authentic Arabian Village with 31 eye-catching villas and apartments defined by bright blueand-white exteriors and regionally inspired design. You won’t go hungry either, with 20 food and beverage concepts ranging from Dante (Italian) and Octa (seafood) to Miss Wong (Chinese) and Levantine (Arabian).

MARCH 2021

voco Doha West Bay Suites Described by parent company IHG Hotels & Resorts as “a new characterful hotel with an unstuffy attitude”, voco Doha West Bay Suites has just opened its doors in the city’s West Bay District.

The 396-room property combines “familiar comforts with the indulgences of a hotel to create dependable and upscale service” and features an outdoor swimming pool, spa facilities, an all-day dining restaurant, shisha lounge, three meetings rooms and a 35th floor club lounge. Ideal for those who like to shop, it’s also just a 10-minute walk from Doha City Centre Mall.

Sedra Arjaan by Rotana UAE-based Rotana recently took over the management of this 250-key property on Pearl Island – a pearlshaped artificial island located 30 minutes from Doha. Ideal for short or long stays and perfect for a workcation with family, it features 250 studios, apartments and penthouses, two outdoor swimming pools, two fitness centres (separate male and female), a kids’ play area and an outdoor jacuzzi.

Full hotel services include a 24-hour reception and daily housekeeping.

The Plaza Doha Anantara Hotel & Suites Minor Hotels will open its second Anantara property in Qatar in the last quarter of this year.

The Plaza Doha Anantara Hotel & Suites, located in the Um Ghuwelina area of the city, 15 minutes from Hamad International Airport, will feature 118 guest rooms and 172 serviced apartment suites, plus a large ballroom and six meeting rooms. It will be a grand-looking property with a palatial façade and inside, blend Parisian design with Arabian luxury, with examples including the hotel’s centre piece – an elegant, air-conditioned courtyard atrium. For leisure, guests will be able to choose from a rooftop infinity pool, indoor pool, a gym and a signature Anantara Spa. A kids’ play area and multiple dining options are also among the hotel’s highlights.

Centro Doha Rotana will also open a hotel under its contemporary Centro Hotels brand in Doha by 2023, featuring 350 rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, an innovative 24-hour grab-and go dining concept offering guests tasty food, drinks and quick snacks to take away, plus a gym, outdoor swimming pool and well-equipped meeting rooms.

Centro is a modern, stylish and affordable lifestyle business hotel brand targeting corporate travellers seeking sophisticated value-for-money accommodation and convenient city centre locations.

MARCH 2021

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WORDS HANNAH BRANDLER

VACCINE PASSPORTS A GUIDE TO THE OPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE

MARCH 2021

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s vaccinations are rolled out in many parts of the world, discussions continue about the possibility of having some kind of “vaccine passport” to prove that travellers are protected against COVID-19.

The digital passports are likely to appear as apps on smartphones and will document the health status of travellers, keeping record of both vaccination and negative COVID-19 tests.

These would have to be recognised by individual governments to allow international travel.

Several companies and international bodies are currently suggesting a variety of technological solutions to document and verify travellers’ health status. Here, we round up the various “passports” on trial at the moment.

MARCH 2021

CommonPass

AOKpass

Who’s behind it? The International

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Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has collaborated with International SOS and the SGS Group to create this digital, secure and portable copy of medical records.

How does it work? Once individuals have medical results, they can enter the information into an app to create a pass. A unique code is generated and shown to the individual and their medical practitioner for them to verify the information. They will then be able to show the QR code for verification at airports.

Where is it available? Successful trials took place on flights last year between Abu Dhabi and Pakistan.

Since then, Alitalia has begun a pilot scheme to digitise COVID-19 rapid antigen test results via the passport for flights from Rome to New York.

Passengers travelling to Singapore from Indonesia and Malaysia can also use the pass to show their COVID-19 test results at dedicated immigration lanes at Changi airport. In January, Etihad Airways announced it would pilot the AOKpass on routes between Paris and Abu Dhabi. International SOS says the pass will be rolled out to other international travellers “in the coming months”.

MARCH 2021

Is my data secure? The AOKpass

states that medical records are stored only on your device and will not be shared or stored elsewhere. The pass is verified without the need to show any personal or medical information and travellers can “choose when and where to share [their] information”.

The information is secured using a “hashing algorithm so that it can’t be read by anyone else”.

Who’s behind it? The Commons Project has partnered with the World Economic Forum to launch this digital health passport.

How does it work? Lab results and vaccination records will be accessed through existing health data systems, national or local registries or personal digital health records such as Apple Health and CommonHealth. Individuals will need to consent to the information being used to validate their COVID-19 status. The technology will then assess whether the results and records come from a trusted source and if they satisfy the health screening requirements of the country they wish to enter. There will be a simple yes/no answer to whether the individual meets the entry criteria. Travellers will receive a unique confirmation code they can show at the airport to board the flight. CommonPass says those without a smartphone will be able to print off a confirmation code and show it at the airport.

Where is it available? The first trials were completed in October with Cathay Pacific between Hong Kong and Singapore and United Airlines between London and New York.

Since then, carriers including Jetblue, Lufthansa, Swiss and Virgin Atlantic have trialled the technology.

Is my data secure? CommonPass states it won’t reveal “any other underlying personal health information” and that Apple Health and CommonHealth allows individuals to “store their health records securely and privately on their phones, entirely under their control”.

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Health Pass by Clear Who’s behind it? Airport biometrics provider Clear has moved into the public health arena in the US, launching a Health Pass as part of its mobile app.

How does it work? This service is designed for businesses to keep employees and customers safe. First, users must add an ID and verify their identity with a selfie. They can then complete a real-time health survey and upload COVID-related lab results directly from an approved lab provider. Once at a participating location, users go to the Clear pod and undergo a temperature scan, and then show or scan their health pass (either by facial recognition or a QR code) to gain access to the location.

The pod will show a red or green light to denote whether the user has passed or failed the screening.

Where is it available? The Health Pass is being used by more than 35 organisations. Clear has also partnered with the likes of MGM Resorts and the 9/11 Museum in New York to use the app to screen its staff for the virus.

Is my data secure? The specific answers to survey questions or any specific test results are not provided to third party partners or employers.

IATA Travel Pass

Who’s behind it? The International

Air Transport Association (IATA) has designed a digital health pass that will support the safe reopening of borders.

How does it work? The mobile app contains information required by many authorities. The pass enables authorised labs and test centres to securely share test and vaccination certificates with passengers who can then create a digital passport and share testing or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel. In effect, the Travel Pass contains the information to verify if a passenger is eligible to undertake their travel journey.

Where is it available? IATA recently partnered with Etihad Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways to launch the Travel Pass for passengers. Etihad is offering guests the pass on selected flights from Abu Dhabi this quarter, and if successful, will roll it out across other destinations. Emirates will launch the

pass for customers travelling from Dubai in April. Passengers will be able to share their COVID-19 test status directly with the airline before reaching the airport through the app.

Qatar Airways will being trials of the app on its Doha-Istanbul route this month (March).

Is my data secure? IATA says the Travel Pass “will keep passengers in control of their data and facilitate the sharing of their tests with airlines and authorities for travel”.

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PA N D E M I C U P D AT E

VeriFLY

Who’s behind it? Private software

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company, Daon, which also works with some of the world’s leading banking and credit card companies, is behind this mobile travel health passport.

How does it work? The software allows people to combine travel verification documents and COVID-19 test results in one place, ensuring travellers are fully compliant with the entry requirements for their destination before leaving home. Certified customers are fast-tracked through the airport where specially designated desks are available for check in. VeriFLY can be downloaded to a customer’s mobile device from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. After creating a secure profile, the platform prompts customers to confirm their flight information, upload details of a negative COVID-19 test result and any other essential documentation.

The software confirms the test matches the country’s regulations with a simple ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ message.

VeriFLY also reminds users once the credential has expired.

Where is it available? American Airlines was the first airline to use VeriFLY on selected routes and has now expanded this to all destinations.

Its oneworld partner, British Airways, has followed suit and started trialling the app on all of its US routes from Heathrow in February.

Is my data secure? Daon says user profiles are secure.

MARCH 2021

IBM Digital Health Pass Who’s behind it? IBM Watson Health has designed a digital wallet product for smartphones.

How does it work? The product enables organisations to verify health credentials for employees, customers and visitors entering their site based on their own set of criteria. This might include COVID-19 test results, temperature scans and vaccine status.

It aims to “bring people back to a physical location, such as a workplace, school, stadium or airline flight.”

Where is it available? At the moment, the National Institutes of Health (part of the US Department

of Health and Human Services) and Salesforce have signed on to trial the pass. Salesforce will provide individuals with “a verifiable and privacy-preserving way to manage and share their vaccination and health status in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic” via its Salesforce Work. com platform.

Is my data secure? IBM says the encrypted digital wallet allows individuals to “control what they share, with whom and for what purpose”. The company adds that through the use of blockchain technology, the health pass can be “verified, trusted and tamperproof ”.

Scan2Fly

Who’s behind it? Air Asia has

developed this digital health pass in partnership with analytics company GrayMatter.

How does it work? The app aims to streamline health document checks and determine eligibility to travel. Passengers are prompted to provide documents required by the destination country and then scan and upload medical certificates

The Mvine-iProov passport Who’s behind it? Biometrics firm iProov has partnered with cyber security group Mvine to launch this passport, which is also backed by Innovate UK – a non-departmental public body funded by a grant from the UK government.

How does it work? This technology enables people to register a test result or vaccination status without disclosing their identity. The medical professional administering the vaccine creates the online certificate using a phone or tablet and then asks the user to add a selfie to their electronic certificate. This card-based method does not require a smartphone.

Where is it available? It is currently being tested by NHS Directors of Public Health with two trials expected to be completed by March 31, 2021.

Is my data secure? The certificate is completely anonymous and “does not need to include the name, address, a NHS number or any other

identifying information about the person”. When the person wishes to present their certificate, they show a QR code and verify their face against the image attached to their online certificate using any device with the app. According to the providers, “an individual therefore cannot be verified without their knowledge and consent”.

Vaccination Credential Initiative (VCI) Who’s behind it? A coalition of health and technology partners including Microsoft, Oracle and The Commons Project.

How does it work? It allows individuals to access to their vaccination records “in a secure, verifiable and privacy-preserving way”.

The coalition is developing standards for organisations administering vaccines to make credentials available in an accessible, interoperable, digital format. Individuals will obtain an encrypted digital copy of their vaccination records to store in a digital wallet of their choice.

when they check-in online. AirAsia then analyses the documents in real-time and approves or rejects the travel status.

Where is it available? The technology has already launched on routes from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, Surabaya and Jakarta.

Is my data secure? GrayMatter states that its cloud-hosted system is “equipped with robust information security”.

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D E S T I N AT I O N S

NEW HORIZONS After the past 12 months we all need an idyllic escape. The islands of the Indian Ocean should be on your wish list

MARCH 2021

PICTURED: The forthcoming Patina Maldives

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WORDS APRIL HUTCHINSON

MARCH 2021

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FROM TOP: Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles; Four Seasons Seychelles at Desroches Island

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he Indian Ocean trio of Seychelles, Mauritius and the Maldives may all share the vast expanse of azure water that laps at their shores, but that’s where the similarity ends, with each country having its own unique culture and natural appeal, plus a distinctive array of superb hotels.

The 115 islands of Seychelles are perhaps the most wildly paradisaical of them all, with endless chalk-white crescents and stretches of beach, hemmed by enormous granite boulders so big that they must surely have been dropped by giants. There’s a population of around just 100,000 people spread across these scattered islands, so you can expect plenty of peace and space.

Still, adventure does await those who seek it, from hiking Morne Seychellois – the country’s highest mountain is a challenging mission that you should allow a good half-day for – to diving in hopes of seeing some of the 850 species of fish that can be found here.

Seychelles also prides itself on its rich Creole culture, and there’s no better time to see this come alive than for Festival Kreol, which is usually held in October.

In the Maldives, it’s more of a numbers game – both in terms of the volume of people who flock to its Robinson Crusoe-style islands, and in the plethora of classy resorts from which they can choose. It’s also a game of innovation – top properties constantly try to outdo each other with engineering feats such as the Muraka, a two-level residence at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island with an underwater bedroom that means you can literally sleep with the fishes.

Mauritius, meanwhile, is one large island with a population of about 1.2 million and a history woven with tales of colonisation and sugar plantations. It has a strong Indian and Chinese heritage, a wild and wonderful untamed interior and a dramatic coastline. Resorts tend to be located on beaches that are a struggle to peel yourself away from, but to not explore what this island has to offer would be a waste of a 12-hour flight.

SEYCHELLES

Of the three countries, Seychelles is the one where tourism is most low-impact and its development carefully measured, with islands maintaining a land-that-timeforgot look about them. Sustainability is a way of life here, with almost half of this Eden-like paradise set aside as national parks and reserves, and the government and population priding themselves on taking care of their islands – as a visitor, you can expect to come across plenty of wildlife-saving projects and conservation-first resorts.

Seychelles comprises two island groups – the inner group of more than 40 mountainous granitic islands,

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which form the cultural, economic and tourism hub and include the three main islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue; and the 70 or so outlying, largely uninhabited, flat coralline specks known as the Outer Islands.

One new option in that area is a small eco camp on Wizard Island, set within the magnificent Cosmoledo Atoll, where Blue Safari Seychelles takes care of conservation and preservation. Cosmoledo has always been the domain of fly fishing, but Cosmoledo Eco Camp means adventurous, conservation-minded souls can now stay there in one of eight converted shipping containers, or “eco pods”.

Seychelles boasts a clutch of desirable resorts that have private islands all to themselves, such as North, Denis, Desroches, Cousine and Fregate. The last of these plays a crucial role in conserving the critically endangered magpie robin as well as hosting the archipelago’s second-largest gathering of giant tortoises; more than 3,000 of them.

The highest number live on Aldabra, where there is a 150,000-strong population of these ancient creatures.

If you’d rather stay on a larger island with a bit more going on, opt for a resort on Mahé, home to the capital, Victoria, and the international airport, along with hotels from the likes of Banyan Tree and Hilton. Bringing some recent global pizazz is Minor Hotels’ top-notch Anantara brand, which took over management of the Maia resort on Mahé last summer.

Another property worth thinking about is Six Senses’ Zil Pasyon resort, which sits on about one-third of Félicité MARCH 2021

Island and is a natural wonderland for kids and adults alike – it’s a short speedboat ride from La Digue or Praslin, or you can catch a helicopter from Mahé.

Meanwhile, Four Seasons has two dashing resorts in the country, one on Mahé (see businesstraveller.com/ features/paradise-found) – it recently added a whopping seven-bedroom residence if you want to go all-out in the search for space and privacy – and a newer one on

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Desroches, in the idyllic Outer Amirante Islands, a 35-minute flight from Mahé.

One must-do, if you can fit it in, is the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin, a UNESCO-recognised site with a preserved prehistoric palm forest that is home to the legendary coco de mer – the largest seed in the plant kingdom, found only in Seychelles. On Praslin you could opt to stay at Accor’s exquisite Raffles Seychelles resort, but for a more low-key slice of life do also make a day trip to sleepy La Digue. Local tour companies usually include the cost of the boat trip and bike hire so you can cycle around this virtually car-free island, past vanilla plantations and giant tortoises, discovering beaches such as little Anse Patates, Petite Anse, Grand Anse and the blinding white sand of Anse Source d’Argent, one of Seychelles’ best-known.

THE MALDIVES

If ever there was a time for some clever thinking on how to attract travellers back on to planes, it’s now – and the Maldives has come up with a novel option: the Maldives Border Miles initiative. Thought to be a world-first for a destination, the loyalty programme encourages you to spend more time there with the offer of points across three tiers, earned depending on the frequency of visits and whether you’re travelling for a special occasion such as an engagement, birthday or honeymoon.

There are already plenty of reasons to visit the country, from the beautiful marine environment of its 1,200 islands

to the middle-of-nowhere escapism of its luxury resorts.

The best of the islands try to bring a slice of everything to you, from boduberu, an intoxicating dance to drums, to lessons on cooking spicy Maldivian curries or keeping mind and body occupied with a constant rota of visiting or on-site marine biologists and wellbeing gurus.

And when it comes to the hottest new thing to try in the Maldives, how about skydiving? A modified Cessna 208 is now in the country at Dhaalu airport, marking one of the first steps to establishing permanent skydiving drop zones in the country.

Under the water, one of the newest phenomena is spending the night down there, with Conrad’s Muraka – a three-bedroom ocean residence with a master suite located five metres below the surface – leading the way. Accor’s Pullman Maldives Maamutaa has two new Aqua Villas featuring underwater bedrooms so you can relax while the fish swim by your floor-to-ceiling windows.

If actually being in the water is more your thing then the Maldives is the ultimate destination, with incredible dive sites. One of the most ingenious options can be found at Como Maalifushi, the only resort in the remote Thaa Atoll, which runs a “whale-shark hotline” at night. The resort has teamed up with Ecocean, which monitors these majestic creatures, to give guests the chance to swim with them. You’re given a mobile phone, wait on high alert and as soon as a whale shark is spotted in a known feeding area, you’re whisked out.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE FAR LEFT: One of Soneva Fushi’s new Water Retreats in the Maldives; Hilton Seychelles Northolme; Como Maalifushi, the Maldives; giant tortoise at Four Seasons Seychelles at Desroches Island

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unveiling its one- and two-bedroom Water Retreats, which it claims are the largest villas of their kind in the world.

There are eight of them, each with a retractable roof above the master bed and its own 19-metre water slide.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Many guests visit the Maldives for its abundant marine life; the Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island; RitzCarlton Maldives Fari Islands

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There’s always a new resort to get excited about here too – granted, 2020 was a slower year for openings but there are now some significant new hotels on the horizon.

A good choice for couples, families or groups will be Siyam World, which will open this spring with its own floating water park and an entire village dedicated to kids, as well as a 24-hour all-inclusive plan for its 12 restaurants and bars.

For something more refined, keep an eye out for the completion of one of the most exclusive enclaves in the country – the Fari Islands project. This archipelago will include the Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands, set to open

by June, as well as Capella Maldives, featuring interiors by Andre Fu, the Fari Marina, home to a beach club, boutiques and restaurants, and Patina Maldives, a property so sleek that it has already been accepted into Design Hotels.

Still, it’s not all about the newcomers in the Maldives.

One long-established resort showing it still has what it takes is Soneva Fushi, now 25 years old and celebrating by

Mauritius is all about fields of sugar cane swaying in the wind, little churches nudging up next to pastel-coloured Hindu temples, bustling little towns, and people who are a friendly mix of Indian, Creole and Chinese, its past peppered with Dutch, French and British colonial influence.

That’s not forgetting some outstanding resorts from the likes of Four Seasons and One&Only, and an extensive range of water sports – if it can be done on or under the water, it’s probably available somewhere in Mauritius.

The island’s 177km coastline is fringed by coral reef, a barrier running virtually the whole way around, so it’s little surprise that this is one of the top diving destinations on the planet, loved for its warm waters, good underwater visibility and abundant marine life.

At 61km long and 47km wide, nothing is ever too far away in Mauritius, and hiring a car to explore is a nice option. The north lays claim to some fantastic white beaches and proximity to the capital, Port Louis, making this area a tourism hotspot, especially around Grand Baie.

On the east coast you’ll find some of the best beaches, such as the 10km Belle Mare, making it obvious why this area gave life to many of the island’s original luxury hotels, such as One and Only Le Saint Géran and Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok. Then there’s the “sunset coast”, covering the west from Port Louis down to Le Morne Peninsula, the latter home to another cluster of top resorts, excellent kite surfing and the monolith of Le Morne Brabant, one of the island’s best climbs.

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MAURITIUS

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FROM TOP: One&Only Le Saint Géran; sugar cane fields in Mauritius

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GETTING THERE

At time of press, Emirates was operating flights from Dubai to Mauritius, the Maldives and the Seychelles and Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways were both operating services to the Maldives and the Seychelles from their respective hubs. flydubai’s Dubai-Maldives service was also in operation. For more information on flights and destination entry requirements, visit emirates.com, etihad.com, qatarairways.com and flydubai.com

The mountain has a deeper significance, having once been a refuge for escaped slaves, or “maroons”. It is said that when the maroons saw soldiers approach the mountain – who were in fact coming to inform them that slavery had been abolished and they were free – they jumped to their deaths rather than risk recapture. You can visit the new Intercontinental Slavery Museum in Port Louis to dig deeper into this part of the island’s past. Close to Le Morne is the Black River Gorges National Park, home to the country’s highest mountain, Little Black River Peak.

Historically, the south is less developed, with empty beaches and fishing villages, but several domaines or sugar estates, such as the one at Bel Ombre, have now been turned over to nature and activity-driven tourism.

Sadly for us, but reassuringly for Mauritians worried about COVID-19 on an island that had seen just over 603 cases at the time of writing, holidaying there is a challenge at the moment, with limited flights operating to the island and entry restrictions in place including a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Mauritius is also still trying to come to terms with the impact of a huge oil spill off the southeast coast last July.

With this in mind, it might be worth hanging on until later in the year, when the Lux Grand Baie Resort and Residences opens in about October. This will be probably the most impressive debut on the island for a while, from a brand with a track record for innovative lifestyle resorts.

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WORDS GEMMA GREENWOOD

WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO

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f money and time are no object, there are two Maldivian havens that beckon in 2021. The first, Cheval Blanc Randheli – a firm favourite of both British and UAE royalty – is located in the Noonu Atoll, 40 minutes north of Malé. Part of the LVMH Hotel Management group and its family of ‘ Cheval Blanc Maisons’ (Cheval Blanc Courchevel, Cheval Blanc Saint-Barth Isle de France in the Caribbean and Cheval Blanc St-Tropez are its sister properties), this elegant and refined paradise is the work of celebrate architect Jean-Michel Gathey. All 46 villas are designed in the spirit of loft living, decked-out in tailormade furniture to create and exclusive residential experience.

Some are nestled among the exotic plant life and palms and others rest on stilts, presiding over the Indian Ocean or luscious gardens. However, the pièce de resistance is Cheval Blanc Randheli Private Island, accessible by a dedicated jetty. As the name suggests, it’s a private island devoted to one villa, with a 25-metre infinity pool part of the offering.

Back on the main island, the leisure and dining offering is suitably top-notch. Guests can travel to Spa Cheval Blanc Island by traditional dhoni (wooden boat) to indulge in Guerlain-designed treatments; sample five exquisite dining experiences, including Teppanyaki overlooking the ocean; or try riding a wave on the only surf simulator in the Maldives.

If barefoot luxury is more your bag, renowned ecoresort Gili Lankanfushi, located in the North Malé Atoll, is inviting discerning travellers to embark on a guided journey of self-care and holistic healing with the launch

Two Maldivian resorts that are out of this world

of three new wellness programmes carefully designed to “revitalise the body, awaken the senses and restore inner peace and clarity”.

The three- to seven-day programmes, which focus restoring emotional wellbeing and prioritising physical resilience, take place at the Meera Spa, set in a secluded bay and featuring six over-water treatment rooms with lagoon views.

Choose from the three-day ‘Revitalising Recovery’ package, encompassing warm-stone massages, a purifying facial , Thai remedial therapy and lymphatic drainage; the five-day ‘Detox Retreat’, employing a combination of age-old Ayurvedic, Balinese, Thai and Japanese healing practices, which culminates with Hijama Cupping Therapy and Tibetan Singing Bowl and Reiki Healing sessions; or the all-out seven-day ‘Rejuvenating Senses’ programme – a chance to experience the treatments mentioned above plus reflexology, body buffs and wraps, seaweed baths and much more. It begins and ends with private beachside yoga and meditation sessions.

Voted number one hotel in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is a 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international airport and features 45 overwater villas, including the vast and secluded Private Reserve.

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ABOVE: Cheval Blanc Randheli BELOW: Gili Lankanfushi

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WORDS ARLENE SCHINDLER

WORDS MICHAEL ALPINER

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Music and history flood through the heart and soul of this quintessential American river town

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he Reverend Shawn Amos, who is best known as a musician and songwriter, stated, “Memphis is the place where rock was born and Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. It’s full of contradictions, abject poverty and riches that only music can provide.” The name Memphis appears in more than 400 songs according to Billboard Magazine – more than any other city. Memphis is also the home of FedEx, Graceland and St. Jude’s Hospital.

It is a city with memory and history, as well as a modern flair and vision to the future. The gleaming 321-foot Pyramid standing on the south bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River is a nod to the city’s ancient namesake in Egypt.

Two-thirds the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza, this glass-and-steel edifice has become a landmark of America’s Memphis and an attraction in its own right, in its current incarnation as a gigantic Bass Pro Shops superstore.

The Renasant Convention Centre is a 300-thousand-square-foot facility, which boasts column-free ballroom space, exhibition areas that can subdivide into multiple event spaces perfect for meetings and breakout groups, floor-to-ceiling windows to allow for natural light, and

easy access to the 600-room (with 300 more rooms planned) Sheridan Memphis Downtown. The convention centre is also in proximity to The Guesthouse at Graceland, The Peabody Memphis, River Inn of Harbor Town, and Big Cypress Lodge, all of which feature comfortable accommodations and meeting spaces.

Though a grand tourist draw, Memphis takes its COVID-19 response quite seriously. Mayor Jim Strickland has led a campaign with the Shelby County Health Department to curb the spread of the virus through enforcement of standard best practices concerning mask wearing, social distancing, testing and sanitation. At time of press the city was in Phase two of reopening, but the statistics are encouraging.

LEARNING FROM HISTORY

For those who enjoy walking in the footsteps of history, Memphis is a living museum. In 1968 the Civil Rights movement was in high swing. Then on April 4, under an overcast Memphis sky, a single bullet shattered the dream. Though a nation mourned, resilience enabled a people to fit the pieces together again and continue the march toward equality.

One essential element of any rights movement is the thoughtful protection of history and memory. The National Civil MARCH 2021

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Rights Museum, established in 1991, is located at the former Lorraine Hotel, the site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The museum offers a history lesson about racism in America, as well as a memorial to the men, women and children who suffered and often lost their lives during a civil and moral struggle for equality and justice that continues today.

To increase its ability to offer a more immersive and hands-on experience, the museum underwent a $27.5 million renovation in 2013 and 2014, adding films, oral histories and interactive media. In addition, the museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is a founding member of the Intercontinental Coalition of Sites of Conscience.

Another tourist-must is Graceland, the iconic home of Elvis Presley, which welcomes more than 600,000 visitors through its doors annually (second only to The White House). The home has greatly reduced its tour capacity and its restaurant and shuttle capacity has been cut by 50 per cent. According to a Graceland official, employees and guests undergo temperature checks prior to entrance and hand sanitiser stations have been installed.

Shut for two months, the 23-room mansion re-opened to continuous commercial-grade cleaning and UV light sanitising wands. Employees wear face masks and gloves and visitors are encouraged to do the same. Six-foot social distance markers and touch-free payments have been implemented. Such precautions are being made since the tour usually includes a set of headphones and touchscreen tablet.

Graceland, which was purchased by Elvis Presley in 1957 for a little over $100,000

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when he was only 22 years old, today occupies 12,700 square feet. Though the grounds of Graceland are quite extensive, the close floor plan inside the home might make social distancing difficult as guests, eager to soak in Rock and Roll history, crane their necks for a glimpse into the ornate living spaces of The King.

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

If one is including Elvis on their itinerary, a quick trip to Sun Studios is as essential as grooves in the vinyl of an LP. For those who do not understand that reference, then Sun Studios will be an education as well as a journey back in time to the rise of such illustrious names as Johnny Cash, B.B. King and Jerry Lee Lewis, along with Elvis. It was here that countless musicians launched their recording careers gripping the mic (something that is encouraged on the tour). Sun Studios is known worldwide as the birthplace of Rock

and Roll, and at the end of the tour – which features a multi-sensory experience – guests will feel like they stepped into another world as well as feel a part of it.

Of course, Memphis’ music legacy goes much further back than these ‘50s rockers, nourished in the rich Mississippi Delta country. Gospel, soul, rock, country, funk and of course, the Blues – virtually every corner of American musical life has been touched by the sounds that came out of Memphis. W.C. Handy, the self-styled Father of the Blues, made his home here for a time and his statue stands today at the entrance to Handy Park along the legendary Beale Street.

Along with the Blues, Memphis has also become associated with hoodoo, a set of folk practices that combine magic, spirituality and healing and uses of roots, herbs and charms. This practice originated with African slaves who combined many religious traditions. The practice spread to other areas as a result of the Great Migration. However, hoodoo’s roots (no pun intended) are celebrated in Memphis, especially on Beale Street, itself a tradition and a tourist draw.

If one is searching to reconnect with a lost love, or perhaps find prosperity in the job market, one must stop into A. Schwab’s, a gift, novelty and tourist memorabilia shop.

Here the store’s third floor houses a rich assortment of roots, oils and other hoodoo accessories. Established in 1876, A. Schwab’s had been a family run business for 136 years before finally changing hands in 2011. The grandson of the original owner is still there,

D E S T I N AT I O N S

mixing ingredients and sharing stories with any customer who dares to belly up to the counter.

crude bar occupies what had once been two adjoining For those who bedrooms. Here, spirits can enjoy walking in be ordered, the potable type, and although not top shelf, the footsteps of CULINARY HIGH NOTES one pays for the historic history, Memphis For lunch and dinner, ambiance and a chance is a living museum Central BBQ and Rizzo’s to hear the local gossip Restaurant respectively with a touch of Southern are top picks for quality hospitality. cuisine. Central BBQ Finally, not for the faint offers casual eats but formal tastes. of heart, and if one speaks to Opened in 2002, this Memphis-style the locals, totally forbidden, restaurant owns the motto, is Voodoo Village. What “Smoke is our Sauce.” started in the 1960s as St Peter’s From its variety of dry Spiritual Village, a construct rubs to “fall-off-the-bone” of self-ordained Baptist minister meats, Central BBQ is the Washington “Doc” Harris, has come perfect spot to visit between through legend to be known as Voodoo meetings or after work Village. A creepy drive down Mary Angela has ended for the day. Rizzo’s Restaurant Road, a dead-end path leading to the village, features the creations of Chef Michael will bring the foolish thrill-seeker to a few Patrick, who combines common local neglected houses that sport warning signs ingredients with a pinch of love to cook up against trespassers. tasty dishes perfect to match the spirit of the There is a history here of vandals and location. The restaurant is on South Main troublemakers, especially around Halloween, Street, in close proximity to the Civil Rights which has necessitated the residents to fight Museum within the South Arts district. back in an area seldom visited by police.

A trip down South Main Street will Though most thrill-seeking visitors lead the traveller with feline curiosity to search out the most haunted hotels, Ernestine and Hazel’s, a low-key bar and grill sites of grisly crimes and skeletons in the that is rumoured to be haunted. many hidden closets of typical tourist The best chance of seeing or hearing haunts – all of which Memphis can offer the woeful spirits is upstairs where the in abundance – the more discriminating bedrooms whisper their histories to traveller can still find plenty of off-thepeeled paint, lacerated walls and warped beaten-path experiences in Memphis to floorboards. At the far end of the hall, a satisfy his or her taste.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Neon signs of famous blues clubs on Beale Street FROM TOP: Living room in Elvis Presley's Graceland Mansion; The Saint Paul Spiritual Holy Temple at Voodoo Village; Bus display at Rosa Parks exhibit as part of the National Civil Rights Museum and the site of the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; A guitar statue installed in the front of Sun studios entrance

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MARCH 2021

Membership Gets You More

THE GOOD LIFE

WORDS SUSAN MCKEE In the time of Coronavirus, what subscription travel offers is a sense of being in this together – apart

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ome call them “isolation vacations”. Others call them Corona breaks – safe travels to beautiful spots where you can cut away from your crowded daily life and try out a new normal in holiday-making without getting tripped up by COVID-19 worries of gloom and doom. Comfort has become king. When I first started travelling extensively, I joined a travel club to be assured of likeminded companions, a staff dedicated to smoothing my journey end to end and amenities keyed to my contentment. It made travel easy, comfortable.

These days, travel is fraught with difficulties involving not only the intrinsic hassles of the experience, but the unknowns due to global pandemic.

Once again, clubs come to the rescue. But growing trends in membership clubs and subscriptions are taking hold. They’re the travel equivalent of gated communities offering private transportation, vetted accommodations, expert-travel advisors and on-site concierge services, plus stringent cleaning protocols and contactless check-in options.

The two basic categories for these arrangements are the travel and the stay.

GETTING THERE

Air travel is an essential. Business travellers fly to meet clients because it’s inefficient to drive long distances.

Most companies cannot afford to have private jets and dedicated pilots on standby. That’s where business jet clubs and subscriptions come to the rescue.

Of course, business travellers can buy tickets on commercial carriers, but flying on a smaller jet means being exposed to far fewer passengers than on larger aircraft, thereby lowering the exposure possibilities to COVID-19. In addition, terminals reserved for private jets enable passengers to avoid the often-long screening lines at the public terminal. The ability to schedule flights at the passenger’s convenience is obvious win too.

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THE GOOD LIFE

CLOCKWISE: Elite membership perks on private charter; Comstock House from luxury hospitality company, Inspirato; The Sandpiper in Hilton Head, also from Inspirato;Private Jet from Jet Linx

Chartering a jet is pricey – that’s why flight clubs have emerged.

Flying private is expensive, but if you’re “sharing,” it’s not as much as you might think. “When charter flights fill empty seats, typically the price of the flight goes down for all the travellers,” according to Carl Marbach, President and CEO of SharedCharter, a flight-sharing service.

How does sharing work? The process starts online. Passengers can search the network for existing flights or sign up for a no-cost membership to initiate a new itinerary or join an existing trip. When two parties match a flight, SharedCharter provides secure, anonymous communication between them to discuss specifics. Assistance from the company’s concierge can manage flight arrangements among potentially thousands of private air travel brokers and certified FAA aircraft operators.

Jet Linx, a private jet membership and aircraft management company, has opened its 19th private terminal location in the United States, providing service in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Omaha, San Antonio, Scottsdale, St. Louis, Tulsa, and Washington, DC. Jet Linx Jet Card members, who have access to more than 5,000 airports around the world, are charged a round-trip rate based on occupied flight time only, as is the one-way rate. There are additional fees for catering and de-icing. The company guarantees availability of an aircraft with 24 hours advance notice.

If your company has a private jet or two, it’s likely yhey sit on the tarmac more than they’re in flight. Jet Linx offers aircraft management.

Your aircraft becomes “part” of their fleet, available to Jet Card members when your company doesn’t need it.

JetAway Charters arranges global private air travel and air charter service with access to more than 6,000 aircraft and 50,000 airports worldwide. The company’s Private Jet Charter Cardholder Program takes a somewhat different approach to membership, which involves buying “transaction units” at one of four card levels: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Black.

At the Silver level, a JetAway Jet Card would cost $10,000, which would buy 50 units. You can then redeem the units for charters. Flight legs within 1,500 miles of origin, for example, on a light aircraft would

“cost” 10 units each, so you could fly a total of five legs on the card. At the highest level – Black – you’d purchase 550 units for $50,000, and be able to fly 55 times at an attractive cost of about $91 per unit.

Some airlines are experimenting with books of flight coupons (think: amusement park ride tickets – buy a bunch and use as you need them). Lufthansa Innovation Hub launched SWISS Flight Pass last September, and Austrian Airlines Flight Pass in December. The Flight Pass offers 10 flights within Europe at a fixed price.

For tWISS passengers, The Discover Europe Pass offers 10 one-way flights within Europe from or to Geneva. The City Pass offers 10 one-way flights between Geneva and a single European destination of the holder’s choice.

The Austrian Airlines Europe pass includes access to 60+ destinations, whereas The City Pass functions like a book of 10 tickets for flights between Vienna and a European destination of the passenger’s choice.

For flights within Mexico, Volaris offers the v.pass plan, providing monthly flights for a predetermined fee starting at $299 MXN pesos (about US$16) per month. The VEMpresa, aimed at the corporate account or frequent traveller, gives a 30 per cent discount for all three Volaris fare categories for $335 per year, plus the ability to make one name change per ticket at no charge.

Airline lounge access is routinely granted to those who purchase tickets in business and first class. Priority Pass membership gives passengers at all price levels access to airport lounges. Holders of an American Express Platinum card can use Centurion clubs.

GETTING OUT OF THERE

Emergencies do arise during travel, and medical transport is costly. Medjet memberships offer both global air medical transport and a travel security option for travellers.

As a MedjetAssist Member ($295 per year), if you become hospitalised internationally or domestically – 150 miles or more from home – Medjet will arrange medical transportation to a home-country hospital of your choice for inpatient care.

In addition, COVID-19 patients can be transported from within the US, Canada, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Mexico back to their home hospital.

MedjetHorizon, pricier at $444 annually, includes all the medical benefits MARCH 2021

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THE GOOD LIFE

can work from wherever there’s fast Internet connection, a month-long stay at an out-ofthe-way luxury property might be perfect. For the “if it’s Tuesday, it must be Cleveland” road warrior, it’s not much of an option.

At the top end is Inspirato, a luxury hospitality company with an extensive collection of branded vacation homes. The monthly subscription fee is $2,500 (plus a one-time enrollment fee of $2,500).

The company has added a subscriptionbased travel option. Instead of paying that monthly fee to access “free” nights in one of the company’s properties by participating in Inspirato Pass, those who join Inspirato Club pay $600 per month (plus a one-time enrollment fee of $600) – but they do pay nightly rates when they travel.

US locations offered by Inspirato include Hilton Head, SC, Sedona, AZ, Nantucket, MA, and Telluride, CO. SoHo House, founded in 1995, has a motley range of memberships. The “every house” membership, priced at $2,250, gives access to all 28 locations around the world (except Malibu – a special case).

Selina Nomad Passport specifically targets the wandering worker. Subscribers purchase specific numbers of nights in advance at a discounted rate and can use the credits at any Selina location (there are, currently, just five in the United States). In addition to a place to sleep, Selina offers a variety of local adventures including everything from wellness packages to rappelling. Selina CoLive is for the digital nomad who stays at one property for a longer period of time (in this case, at least one month). Programmes start at $300 per month. The B2B Remote Work Pass is aimed at the frequent traveller who wants to stay at a Selina property for a fixed period each month.

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FROM TOP: Michigan Grand Beach Estate from Inspirato; Selina CoLive in La Candelaria, Bogota

of a MedjetAssist Membership, plus worldwide travel security, crisis response and evacuation services powered by FocusPoint International. This is the coverage for terrorism, kidnapping, natural disaster, violent crime and other safety concerns.

STAYING THERE

Accommodation clubs are more problematic for business travellers. Geared toward the leisure market, they’re often located in out-of-the-way resort locations rather than city centres. If you’re a digital nomad who MARCH 2021

PLAYING THERE

ClubCorp membership doesn’t include hotel accommodations, but it does provide amenities. As an owner and operator of more than 200 private golf and country clubs, city and stadium clubs in markets across the country, on offer are golf courses, restaurants, fitness centres and swimming pools.

The corporate level O.N.E. membership offers multiple designees for companies that want to enroll five or more active Golf or Social Members. Members may select from a range of different club locations.

OPINION

The long and winding road Ever-changing COVID travel restrictions made our columnist’s route home from the Continent a particularly scenic one DEREK PICOT A HOTELIER FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND AUTHOR OF THE HOTEL DETECTIVE AND HIS LOVER

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ike many people, last year I became an expert in COVID quarantine rules and how to obey the necessary protocols without becoming completely housebound. And so, in my bid to get home from Europe last November I found myself driving rather than flying.

At the time, only certain countries were on the permitted “travel corridor” list and it felt as though the lights were going out across the Continent. Having been in Italy for 12 days, I started my journey home from Milan, calculating that I could drive through seven countries in a circuitous two-day route to Boulogne and thus complete my 14 days’ quarantine as I reached the Shuttle.

One small issue – France and Belgium were not on a travel corridor. So I called Eurotunnel and asked whether, if I filled the car to the brim with petrol in Aachen, Germany and travelled nonstop through Belgium to France, I could drive straight on to the train without getting out of my vehicle. “Yes,” the reply came, “but don’t stop at the terminal – drive straight on and only climb out of the car in Folkestone.”

stern receptionist explained by way of an apology. “But I come from Liechtenstein!”

I cried. “Oh!” replied the receptionist. “Your English is excellent for a German speaker.”

Thus avoiding further cross-examination, we – unlike the unlucky couple from Nazareth – avoided the stable. The next day I crossed into Belgium for the final 350km stretch, skirting around Brussels then on to the coast and the French border.

The prospect of home had rarely seemed so inviting.

I calculated that I could drive through seven countries in a circuitous two-day route to Boulogne

UNION FLAGS Since then, of course, everything has changed again with the new border restrictions brought about by Brexit. In future we will each have to consider the impact of the 90-day limit on stays in the Schengen zone in any 180-day period.

Spend too long and you could be fined for overstaying your welcome.

In our household, the Irish branch of the family tree means my wife and our children will be able to apply for Irish passports. I am sadly excluded so if I want to go over the 90-day limit in, say, France I will have to apply for an annual extended-stay visa. This is all rather painful and merely adds to the current general levels of misery.

Still, there is one cause for optimism and that is the speed with which the various vaccines are being approved for rolling out. I hope that by the time you read you or your loved ones will have had the chance to be inoculated. While we couldn’t all meet to indulge in Christmas pudding, we will hopefully be able to enjoy an Easter egg together.

reached the German border. A safe haven – or so I thought, until we got to Cologne.

Checking into the Courtyard by Marriott, I was asked if I was British, for if I was I would not be allowed in owing to new restrictions brought in that day. Arrivals from west of Germany had to go straight back home.

“It’s the same for people from Ireland,” the

MARCH 2021

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BENJAMIN SOUTHAN

TOP GEAR Off I went. It was an interesting route – a sort of Grand Tour without much of the sightseeing. On the Italian-Swiss border I instantly received a message on my phone saying that if I stopped at all I would have to lay over for seven days’ quarantine. No pausing for a fondue lunch, then – instead, I pressed on to Liechtenstein for a brief sojourn in its capital, Vaduz. Not a place that many business travellers are likely to have

visited unless they are bankers or Swiss watch salespeople. It’s a lovely town that when I visited enjoyed the benefits of no mask wearing and low COVID rates.

Having overnighted and filled the car, it was back to Switzerland for a quick drive into Austria, with a similar message appearing on my phone en route. Here, HM Government had not permitted quarantinefree travel so there was no stopping until I

WORDS ILENE PERLMAN

Taking Scotland in Stride A walk through the Highlands and Borders is the best way to touch this country ’s history and nature MARCH 2021

D E S T I N AT I O N S

SHUTTERSTOCK/ILENE PERLMAN

W

hen I first learned I would be taking a walking trip, I immediately envisioned a marathon event – and the picture was not a pretty one.

I imagined long days focused on getting to the destination, enduring challenging climbs and seemingly endless roads and breathless moments where I worried I might not be able to keep up. It didn’t comport with my vision for how I usually go about exploring new places and sampling new cultures.

However, after two back-to-back trips with The Wayfarers Walking Vacations in Scotland last June, I consider myself a convert to this form of travel. Whether in the Highlands or the Borders, we walked through time, deeply engaging with the historical and current culture of these distinct regions and then with each other in rich exchanges and heartfelt camaraderie.

Even as a travel photographer who has chased stories on remote trails and distant tarmacs for most of my years, the two trips were a bit ambitious: participants on these tours nearly always book only one itinerary at a time.

Averaging 10 miles a day, the tours were packed with gorgeous vistas, historical sites and local lore at every turn. Despite the beauty, however, it was the camaraderie kept us going. My fears to the contrary notwithstanding, competition was never in play.

Everyone was supportive and each went at his or her own pace.

One person from each trip usually percolated up to the front of the line – intense walkers who took even the steepest passages with ease.

Nor was age a factor; We had some life-long walkers whose walking sticks seemed natural extensions while they ventured forth, while others who were new to this mode of travel got to know their own bodies while exploring new surroundings.

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S IS FOR SCOTLAND

If you come away with any memories in particular they will likely involve salmon, sheep and sky, whether in the highlands or borderlands. These include patient, solitary moments of fly-fishing along the Tay, Tummel and Tweed rivers. Who knew there were seven names for the seven stages of life for salmon?

Sheep of several varieties dotted the countryside. These pastoral scenes evoked simpler times – until the AV/4 wheelers came bounding up the hill with several dogs in tow nudging the herds from one pasture to another. In the villages along the borders we heard stories about the Reviers – violent gangs of thieves in the night who take advantage of the lingering darkness to steal away entire herds of sheep and cows to fence to the highest bidder.

While a tour through Highlands might be spent walking through forests, from the impressive Caimgorn Mountains to the Glen Tilt, a walk through the Borders in Scotland was defined by wide open vistas. Under these endless skies were the soft stands of the Athol Forest and Highland Perthshire – through the centuries thousands of acres here were used to grow timber for masts that made the British Navy ships among the most formidable in the world.

And in the way of the Dukes and Earls of Athol, we found ourselves enjoying a respite in the well-appointed Blair Castle and surrounding garden. We also walked back in time to view the ruins of the 14th century Black Castle near Pitlochry and the 180-foot Black Spout Waterfall before descending into more woods and forests.

All this was followed by a wee bit of whisky and a steaming bath to soak tired muscles. Unlike the more seasoned walkers, perhaps, I needed this nightly respite to face the next day’s route.

One of those days meant travelling the Scottish Upland Way, which runs coast to coast with steep climbs. We started in Yarrowford and began our ascent immediately. This was not for the MARCH 2021

D E S T I N AT I O N S

weak hearted – or weak kneed. We walked past felled woods and places where replanting was taking place to recapture the original beauty that John Buchan, naturalist, author and first baron of Tweedsmuir, catalogued during his prolific writing career.

Each night we made our way to a new country house, starting with the Muckrach Country House Hotel in the Highlands. Here Dougal and Hamish, the permanent Highland bull residents, do the greetings.

Highland cattle were originally bred in the Scottish Highlands and the Western Isles of Scotland dating back to the eighteenth century. These patient bulls loved nothing more than being fed an oatcake biscuit by new guests and hanging out with Harry the hotel dog.

In the Borders area a highlight was staying at Windlestraw Hotel, a stately Edwardian manor overlooking the Tweed Valley. Upon arrival we were served a full afternoon tea in the living room before retiring to comfortable stately quarters.

In between stays and walks, special guests showed up to offer context and depth to our daily meaderings. Some key highlights included a surprise visit by noted historical author Alistair Moffet and another from Catherine Maxwell Stuart, a direct descendant of King James VI and current continuous resident of the Traquair House. This ancient manor dates back to 1107 and has been continually lived in by the Stuart family since 1491.

In Peebles, as we followed the ancient route of drovers, we traversed the river to the 800-year-old Neidpath Castle trailed by the floating bellows of bagpipes. The tour of this lumbering castle seemed to defy the present as we wandered the various levels in a visit that ended with a theatrical presentation of Walter Scott’s 1816 tale, The Black Dwarf at the private baronial mansion, Glenternie House.

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WILL WALK FOR FOOD

PREVIOUS PAGE: A walk to the village of Moulin, ruins of Black Castle, River Tummel, and Pass of Killiecrankjie FROM TOP: Walk to Abbotsford, the baronial mansion of Sir Walter Scott, Neidpath Castle being serenaded by bagpipes; Edinburgh hike walking up Arthur's Seat; the historic Traquair House; walk around the famous Melrose Abbey

MARCH 2021

From the made to order hot Scottish full breakfasts to delightful and luxurious meals in a variety of unique settings, to the final night of the Highlands trip dining on a degustation and whisky pairing in Edinburgh, the food was, every day, our deserved and delicious reward. Delicious fresh fruit and tasty local snacks would be served picnic style in the back of the Wayfarers van that would miraculously appear at just the right time.

Any visit to Scotland should include the sampling of haggis, fresh fish, lobster, grouse, a bowl of Cullen skink, cured meat and cheeses, porridge, perhaps shortbread and plenty of whisky.

Wayfarers Walking Tours continues to operate during these COVID times. However, to manage these tours the company now limits the number of participants on each trip and the number of passengers per nine-seater Mercedes Sprinter van to six. Facial masks are required during travel, although not while walking outside. Van interiors are continuously sanitised and social distancing is respected at all times.

As walking tours have become particularly popular during the pandemic, US travellers who might not be able to get to Europe at this time can join in Wayfarer walking tours on this side of the Atlantic.

Destinations include the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, southern Arizona, parklands in Utah and Acardia National Park in Maine.

Another option is to plan a customised walking tour with a Wayfarer guide to light the way for a family or pod to explore new places, get fit and have fun without worry.

Caveat: bring a second pair of walking shoes and your favourite bath salts.

OPINION

Ask the pilot Our undercover captain reveals what it’s like to fly for a living

BENJAMIN SOUTHAN

Would you fly the Boeing 737 Max now it has returned to the skies?

on, we had special procedures implemented to avoid a further recurrence until the problem had been fixed.

The point I am making is that after any incident, particularly the loss of an aircraft, a thorough investigation always follows. Only when they are certain beyond all reasonable doubt that the situation is resolved will normal operations resume. So would I fly the B737 Max? Yes, without hesitation.

The aircraft suffered two total losses with a significant number of deaths. For that reason, neither Boeing nor the Federal Aviation Administration would have allowed it to fly again until all of the issues had been resolved and it had undergone extensive simulator and flight testing without further incident.

Do you ever worry about If I think back over the years, this the computer systems on situation is not unique. In 1952, the De Havilland Comet entered service with board aircraft?

BOAC. Within two years it had suffered The automatic/computer three aircraft losses. It was systems are placed on an found that the squareNeither Boeing nor aircraft essentially for three shaped passenger windows reasons. First, to make the contributed to excess the FAA would have management of the aircraft metal fatigue, resulting let the B737 Max fly systems more effective. In in an explosive again until all issues the case of a system failure, decompression caused rather than the pilot having by structural failure. The had been resolved to refer to paper checklists aircraft was grounded and in an attempt to diagnose redesigned with oval what has occurred, the windows. Thereafter, it computer will do it for him operated successfully until and automatically display the its retirement in 1997. procedure to be followed on I also remember when I a screen. This avoids incorrect was a first officer back in actions being taken owing to a 1996 on the Boeing 747 wrong diagnosis and enhances the Classic when a TWA aircraft safety of the operation. of the same type I was flying Second, computers assist the pilot, crashed 12 minutes after particularly during periods of high workload take-off from New York, with a loss of 230 where important decisions may need to be lives. It was discovered that an electrical made. Allowing the automatics to fly the short circuit had caused fuel vapour in one aircraft creates thinking time for the pilots to of its tanks to explode. From that moment

formulate a plan of action, resulting in a more considered and safe outcome.

Third, the systems provide maintenance information to engineering to identify and rectify issues in a timely manner.

However, as we all know, computers do have limitations and at times don’t always behave as we might expect. In these cases, the pilot will use his judgment and, when considered necessary, will revert to manual flying and procedures.

I have flown a whole spectrum of commercial aircraft, from those with basic computer systems to the high-tech airliners of today. These computers, in my opinion, have greatly enhanced the safety and efficiency of airline operations. This is reflected in the statistics showing a steady decline in the number of fatal crashes.

Is it true that pilots have to eat different meals from each other on board?

For most of my career, that has been the case.

In recent years, this rule has been relaxed and we are now able to eat the same. It was felt that it was highly improbable that both meals would be defective bearing in mind the stringent measures in place in relation to food preparation.

There is, however, guidelines for what we should avoid eating and drinking in certain countries before we fly, such as avoiding some types of seafood or drinking only bottled water, for example.

If you have a question you’d like to ask our pilot, email talktous@businesstraveller.com MARCH 2021

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HOTEL LISTINGS

HOTELS COLLECTION

B u s i n e s s Tr a v e l l e r M i d d l e E a s t m a g a z i n e i s a v a i l a b l e i n a l l o f t h e s e e x c l u s i v e h o t e l s

GRAND MILLENNIUM DUBAI HOTEL

MIRFA HOTEL

WALDORF ASTORIA RAS AL KHAIMAH

DUBAI The 340-room five star hotel features awardwinning restaurants and bars, spa and health club, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, a magnificent ballroom and exceptional banquet facilities. +971 4 429 9999 reservations@grandmill-dubai.com grandmillenniumdubai.com

AL MARFA Away from the bustle of city life, overlooking the azure blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, the Mirfa Hotel offers 114 newly renovated rooms. The hotel provides excellent accommodation for the business and leisure traveller, state-of-the-art conference facilities, a fully equipped gym and ample parking. +971 2 8953009 rsvn@mirfahotel.com

RAS AL KHAIMAH Cradled by the Hajar Mountains, a championship golf course, sandy beaches and the azure waters of the Arabian Sea, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is 50 minutes from Dubai Airport and brings true Waldorf service to the most alluring beachfront location in the UAE. +971 7 2035555 rasalkhaimah.info@waldorfastoria.com waldorfastoria.com/rasalkhaimah

CROWNE PLAZA MUSCAT OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE

CROWNE PLAZA DEIRA, DUBAI

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, DUBAI

OMAN Adjacent to the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, this 295-room hotel is an integral part of Madinat Al Irfan, a product of an exciting ambition to establish a new urban centre within Muscat. Situated 10 minutes from the new Muscat International Airport, Al Mouj and Muscat Hills Golf courses and overlooking a Wadi - a natural reserve and home to about 260 variety of Oman’s exotic birdlife during the season. +968 2425 2000 rooms.cpmuscatocec@ihg.com crowneplaza.com/muscatocec

DUBAI Located in the cultural heart of Dubai, Crowne Plaza Dubai – Deira lies at the convenient gateway between the old and new districts of the city. Featuring 300 guest rooms and suites, and an array of meeting rooms, 6 restaurants and bars, a dedicated and fully equipped fitness centre with outdoor swimming pool, the hotel is the perfect place for both leisure and business guests. +971 4 262 5555 cpdeira.info@ihg.com crowneplaza.com/deira

DUBAI The award-winning Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai offers luxurious accommodations, exceptional dining and gracious hospitality in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic cities. The hotel’s 302 superbly appointed rooms and suites offer a combination of traditional luxury and modern functionality. Spatial elegance, awesome views and thoughtfully selected furnishings create an experience of unparalleled style and comfort. +971 4 3438888 shangri-la.com/dubai

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the

eport Tried, Tested, Tasted.

TRIED AND TESTED

TRIED AND TESTED

TRIED AND TESTED

SMART TRAVELLER

∙ Forever Rose Café Dubai

∙ Premier Inn London Southwark (Southwark Station)

∙ Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong

∙ Airports offering COVID-19 tests

60 ∙ Sofitel Mumbai BKC

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62 ∙ Workspaces by Hilton at the

Trafalgar St James, London

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64 ∙ The Ritz-Carlton Grand Lakes Orlando, FL

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T R I E D & T E S T E D R E S TAU R A N T

Forever Rose Café Dubai B A C K G R O U N D The Insta-worthy Forever Rose Café, which opened in Dubai’s Box Park in November, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s the brainchild of Alsamadi Group CEO Ebrheem Al Samadi, who wanted to a create a restaurant with an all black-and-white colour scheme, providing a backdrop that would bring out the colours of the food. The café, an extension to the Forever Rose brand (luxury long-lasting forever roses) and the second Forever Rose Café in the UAE (there’s one in Abu Dhabi), can seat up to 100 people overlooking the outdoor garden and is available for events.

We decided that we wanted to cater to all demographics, to expats and to locals

W H A T ’ S I T L I K E As you enter the café

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the tiles read ‘your story starts here’. Indeed, it is like walking into a storybook, perhaps the modern-day Alice in Wonderland, with 2D monochrome styling and an eclectic array of illustrations that range from past and present UAE Sheikhs, for that all-important Emirati touch, to portraits of British royal icons HRH Queen Elizabeth and the late Princess Diana. “We like to cater to all demographics – expats and locals,” says Al Samadi, who has incorporated Islamic and Christian art, with iconic domes – the Dome of the Rock Mosque, the Sistine Chapel, Hagia Sophia – reflecting how the café embraces all faiths.

THE FOOD The menu is not the café norm.

True to the original brand, it was developed to create a floral experience through dining, with the edible flower garnishes just one manifestation of this. A must-taste is the ‘Forever Rose Crème Brûlée’. “I would skip

everything on the menu for this,” says Al Samadi. “People fight for this dessert.”

It’s French toast with rose extract (in the batter) on the bottom with a crème brûlée topping. There is also a selection of virgin juice cocktails and hot drinks infused with rose extract from France. The rose latte is to die for. The ‘Sharing is Caring’ section of the menu (appetisers), features some intriguing creations ranging from ‘The Blooming Cauliflower – chargrilled

T H E S E R V I C E The staff are very friendly and attentive. Al Samadi opened the Dubai branch during the pandemic – a time when many restaurants around the world were closing, providing jobs to people of all ethnic backgrounds, true to his commitment to diversity.

T H E W O R K S P A C E The café and dining

8am to 10pm

hall are not only great places to eat and meet, but inspiring spaces in which to work. The hall, which can be hired to host corporate events, parties or weddings, opens up into the courtyard.

LOCATION

V E R D I C T This is a fun and relaxed space,

HOURS

Box Park, Al Wasl Road

CONTACT Tel: +971 50 605 3889; myforeverrose.com

MARCH 2021

cauliflower with tahini sauce topped with pomegranate molasses and special spices to ‘I love Corn and Cheese’ – corn on the cob surrounded by melted cheese. Mains include mushroom-based risottos; the ‘Crave Beef Burger’ made with double wagyu beef; and plenty of chicken and seafood options.

perfect for one-on-one meetups, business meetings and events. It offers a lighter ambience than many of Dubai’s more suited-up restaurants and cafés. The unique design concept keeps customers engaged – with the food and the art. Allyson Portee

TRIED & TESTED HOTEL

BEST FOR Personalised service

DON’T MISS Chic alfresco dining, comfort food and DJ nights at Artisan

PRICE From ₹9,000 (US$123) per night

CONTACT Sofitel Mumbai BKC, C-57, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai-400051; sofitel-mumbai-bkc.com

Sofitel Mumbai BKC B A C K G R O U N D Sofitel Mumbai BKC is

one of Accor’s most prominent addresses in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The French hospitality group’s other hotels in the city are operated under the Novotel and ibis brands.

W H E R E I S I T ? The effortless marriage of French flair and Indian hospitality is unmissable from the moment you step into the property. The “Bonjour Namaskar” greeting sets the tone. As soon as I entered the lobby, I gravitated towards the rotating totem featuring motifs of Indian and French elements such as a peacock, art and fashion. I was told the totem’s role is to create pleasant and positive vibes.

In terms of health and safety, my bag was thoroughly disinfected prior to security scanning and contactless temperature mapping was conducted. Basic details such as my name and contact number were also recorded on entry. Hands-free sanitiser dispensers were also placed throughout the property. The check-in staff were well-equipped and informed about the sanitisation and hygiene protocols, which are carried out according to Accor’s ALLSAFE programme.

W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The hotel is located in the commercial and financial hub of Mumbai, the Bandra Kurla Complex, and provides easy access to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. It is less than a fiveminute drive from Bharat Diamond Bourse.

R O O M S I stayed in a Prestige Suite (pictured), which I would like to define as an “uber-luxe cocoon”. The living and sleeping areas featured bold furnishings in striking hues like royal purple, coupled with elegant artworks. High-speed Wi-Fi and a Bose audio entertainment system took care of my mandatory multimedia content consumption for the day. In the evening, I made myself a cup of coffee from the inroom coffee machine and watched bustling city life pass by me through the giant windows. The bathroom had a separate tub and a shower and the aroma of the French Note toiletries was divine. Guests are allocated rooms at least 24 hours following prior occupancy to allow for cleaning and sanitisation procedures.

The “Bonjour Namaskar” greeting sets the tone FOOD AND DRINK

A multi-cuisine buffet breakfast featuring local and international delights at Pondichéry Café, the hotel’s all-day dining venue, set me up for a productive day. Guests were asked to wear transparent gloves while taking food from the counters for hygiene purpose. That did not deter me; I tucked into an eclectic feast of

pancakes with maple syrup; sausages; south Indian delicacies like vada (savoury fried snacks) and dosa (rice pancake); and north Indian favourites such as chole puri (spicy chickpeas with fried bread). A cappuccino rounded off my hearty indulgence. I tried out in-room dining for lunch; a margherita pizza and a plate of hakka noodles satiated my hunger pangs in between work and the food arrived piping hot.

Dinner was at Artisan, the hotel’s chic outlet that blends music and gastronomy.

I opted for the kung pao sweet and spicy potato wedges followed by the classic house fries, which are a must when visiting this venue. For a comfort-food fix, I ordered the fusilli alfredo pasta for my main and finished with a five textured chocolate cake, which was sinfully decadent.

M E E T I N G S The meetings and events

offering is extensive, ranging from a grand ballroom to intimate indoor venues and scenic outdoor spaces, including poolside and the pretty Kitchen Garden.

L E I S U R E If you like to work out, it’s best

to plan ahead as guest numbers at the Sofitel FITNESS health club are restricted due to social distancing measures. For some R&R and pampering, there’s a Sofitel SPA and the Savio John Pereira Salon.

V E R D I C T Ideal for a business stay where all your work, leisure and dining needs are met with style, substance and sophistication. Sanchita Nambiar MARCH 2021

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TRIED & TESTED HOTEL

Premier Inn London Southwark (Southwark Station)

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B A C K G R O U N D Open since December, this new property was developed with property company Frogmore and designed

by Dexter Moren Associates, with a new public park and courtyard forming part of the project. It is Whitbread’s fifth Premier Inn hotel in the borough of Southwark, joining those at Borough High Street, Tate Modern, Tower Bridge and Bankside. Two more Hub by Premier Inns opened recently: a 246-room property on Quaker Street in Shoreditch, East London and a 110-room hotel on Soho’s Berwick Street.

R O O M S All rooms are the same, with a smart yet functional look, although some are in slightly different shapes and sizes owing to the building layout. They come with either double or twin beds, and 27 rooms are accessible. There is a place to hang coats by the door and the wardrobe is an alcove behind an almost full-length mirror. The desk is spacious and there are plenty of power outlets, including USB charging by the bed. Wi-Fi is free but slow, so you are encouraged to pay for faster access for £5 (US$6.99) per day. Tea and

W H E R E I S I T ? Between Ufford Street and the Cut, approximately 100 metres from Southwark Underground station and about a five-minute walk from Waterloo station.

Bar and Block steakhouse features attractive interiors and outdoor seating – my evening meal was delicious

W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The 274-room hotel

is set across two buildings – the main one is slightly larger, with 145 rooms, and is linked by a glass-sided bridge to the other, which contains 129 rooms and the Bar and Block restaurant. I stayed just before London moved into Tier 3 and there were plenty of hand sanitisers and floor signage to ensure a one-way flow of guests, although only a handful of people were staying. You can check in either at reception or via one of the self-service machines. The bank of lifts takes you up to floors one to six, with more guestrooms on the lower ground floor. Vending machines in reception stock snacks and essential items, or there’s a Tesco Express close by.

coffee facilities are supplied but there are no minibar, fridge or safes. Bathrooms are shower only or have a tub with an overhead shower. Attached to the wall is a not particularly nice combined body and hair gel, with hand wash also provided.

F O O D A N D D R I N K The hotel features Premier Inn’s Bar and Block all-day steakhouse concept. The interior is attractive, with bare brick walls and unfinished wood, and there are comfortable booths with Perspex screens for safety, plus outdoor seating in a paved garden area. My evening meal was delicious. Starters included sharing plates such as Korean BBQ pork ribs and

salt and pepper squid, with mains ranging from burgers and various cuts of steak to beer can chicken, crispy duck leg, cod and chips and vegan options. The morning buffet had for the moment been replaced by an à la carte breakfast for just £8.99 ($12.60). A good-value deal is £24.99 ($35) for breakfast and a two-course evening meal with a drink, although there’s a lot of competition along this stretch of the Cut.

M E E T I N G S No facilities.

L E I S U R E None, but the South Bank is close by for a riverside run, stroll or shop.

V E R D I C T A well situated hotel for both work and travel, close to transport and the excellent nightlife and dining options around London Bridge and Southwark.

Service was friendly. Tom Otley

BEST FOR A great location: only a short walk or Tube journey from many of London’s main sights

DON’T MISS A drink and a meal in the steakhouse

PRICE Internet rates for a flexible mid-week stay in April start from £49 ($68.50) for a Standard Room

CONTACT 31 The Cut; tel +44 (0) 0333 015 0106; premierinn.com

MARCH 2021

TRIED & TESTED HOTEL

Workspaces by Hilton at the Trafalgar St James, London check in online and go straight to the room using their digital key. They can also earn 10,000 bonus points the first time they try Workspaces if they visit by March 31, 2021.

W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? Rooms are

contemporary in style and showcase British design, with artworks referencing the London music scene. My spacious Nelson Double Queen room had two double beds (should you want a siesta), Molton Brown toiletries, a monochrome shot of Mick Jagger and books on design icons such as Alexander McQueen and Tom Dixon.

B A C K G R O U N D Like many hotel groups, Hilton has launched a programme to rent out rooms by the day for guests to work in.

Workspaces by Hilton is available at most of Hilton’s properties across the UK, plus locations in the US and Canada. I tried it out at the Trafalgar St James London, Curio Collection by Hilton, when the city was in Tier 2. As we went to press, the hotel was temporarily closed, but when it reopens Workspaces will continue.

H O W T O B O O K Search by city at workspacesbyhilton.com then click through to your preferred property. The package is available on weekdays and weekends and prices vary by room category. The website states that rooms at the Trafalgar are available 9am-6pm, but on my visit I was told that checkout was at 5pm. Bookings can be cancelled for free until 11.59pm the night before. Hilton Honors members can

Workspaces by Hilton is available at most of the group’s UK hotels and allows you to rent a room for the day The room had been rearranged as a workspace, with a large desk set up in an area normally occupied by armchairs and a small table, overlooking the Canadian embassy and Trafalgar Square. Wi-Fi was fast and there were plenty of sockets for charging devices. Natural light flooded in through three large windows, with floor and desk lamps for when the sun set.

The experience at the Trafalgar includes Nespresso coffee, tea from the Tregothnan estate in Cornwall, soft drinks and bottled water. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, guests can use the gym, while Hilton Honors Diamond members also get access

to the executive lounge at select properties.

In terms of hosting business meetings in rooms, the group states that this is subject to local guidance at any given time.

W H E R E I S I T ? Just off Trafalgar Square, close to Charing Cross station and ideally placed for a lunchtime walk in St James’s Park. Despite its central location, the hotel remains quiet and I was not distracted by noise from the busy road.

F O O D A N D D R I N K The package does not include food so depending on tier restrictions you can order room service or eat in the Rooftop, the partially outdoor seventh-floor restaurant (Rockwell, the ground-floor bar and restaurant, is closed until further notice). I ordered lunch via the in-room tablet, which advised that the waiting time was 30 minutes. There was plenty of choice, from cooked breakfasts (eggs benedict, pancakes, porridge) to pizzas, soups, paninis and Asian-inspired dishes. My salmon teriyaki with rice and a watercress salad arrived within 20 minutes – it was perfectly cooked and fuelled me for the remainder of the day. To organise the removal of the tray, you tap a button on the tablet and leave it outside the door for collection.

V E R D I C T A real treat if you are suffering from Groundhog Day syndrome in your home office set-up. The change of scenery helps and the hotel is a stressfree environment, free from interruptions by other members of your household.

It can also give you the opportunity to retrieve your work-home life balance.

I left feeling far more positive and accomplished than when clocking off at home. Hannah Brandler

PRICE Workspace rates were not available at time of press, but start from £63 ($88) at other Hilton properties

CONTACT 2 Spring Gardens; tel +44 (0)20 7870 2900; trafalgarstjames.com; workspacesbyhilton.com

MARCH 2021

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TRIED & TESTED HOTEL

Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong B A C K G R O U N D Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour is the first Hyatt Centric-branded property in the Greater China region and the second in Asia. It was formerly the Hotel Vic on the Harbour, but rebranded to Hyatt Centric in 2019, with the full refurbishment completed in autumn 2020. Hyatt describes Hyatt Centric as an upper-upscale lifestyle hotel brand.

W H E R E I S I T ? In North Point, a bustling neighbourhood known for its restaurants, cosy cafes and chic art galleries. It’s part of a mixed-used development, which also includes a shopping mall and it’s just steps away from the Ferry Pier and the MTR station making retails hubs like Central and Causeway Bay easily accessible.

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W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The 665-room hotel spans two towers – East and West. Leading up to the public check-in/lobby, there is stylish seating area with a glass ceiling that floods the space with natural light.

Although I checked-in at the Club Lounge, I did notice a long queue in the public check-in area. A hotel spokesperson said the hotel was at 90 per cent occupancy due to the popularity of staycation packages during the mid-autumn festival long weekend in Hong Kong.

The views of Victoria Harbour are breathtaking

BEST FOR The convenient location and stunning harbour views

DON’T MISS Dinner at Cruise on the rooftop

PRICE US$170 per night in a Harbour Deluxe Room

CONTACT 1 North Point Estate Ln, North Point; hyatt.com

R O O M S I stayed in a Harbour View Deluxe Room with massive windows and stunning Victoria Harbour views. I was greeted with fresh fruit and Hong Kong’s iconic white rabbit candy on arrival. The room featured a king-sized bed, small sofa, coffee table, comfy chair, TV, international plugs by the bed, electric curtains, a Nespresso coffee machine and in-room refrigerator with drinks and snacks. I also noticed small labels reading “sanitised” on high-touch items including the telephone, TV remote controls and door handles. The bathroom was modern and functional, with lots of bright marble and lighting, a rain shower head, handheld shower sprayer and a bathtub by the window with great harbour views.

F O O D A N D D R I N K The hotel has a vibrant collection of dining experiences.

Cruise is an elegant rooftop restaurant and bar serving a wide variety of Asian cuisine and offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with the Hong Kong skyline as its backdrop. The Farmhouse is a spacious and homely all-day dining restaurant and The Farmhouse Deli is a chic café serving pastries, cakes, coffee and a wide selection of teas. I dined at Cruise where I was served a six-course meal as part of a set menu designed for sharing. The restaurant has adapted to current times by placing transparent barriers between tables and providing diners with a face mask holder and antiseptic wipes.

F A C I L I T I E S For leisure, a 24-hour gym offering a VR fitness experience, 25-metre rooftop infinity pool, a sauna and steam rooms. The Club Lounge, located on the 22nd floor in the West Tower, serves breakfast daily and features plenty of seating, as well as a private meeting space.

Once again, the sweeping views of Victoria Harbour are the highlight. The service here was very cordial and attentive.

V E R D I C T The location is excellent – ideal if you don’t want to stay in a busy Hong Kong neighbourhood like Central or Causeway Bay but require quick and easy access to both. The views of Victoria Harbour are breathtaking and the Club Lounge is great if you need a quiet and comfortable place to work. Seher Asaf

MARCH 2021

TRIED & TESTED HOTEL

BEST FOR

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Lakes Orlando, FL

World-class dining and newly renovated guestrooms

DON’T MISS The Knife & Spoon’s house made selection of breads and tasty cheese cart (on par with Paris)

B A C K G R O U N D The Grande Lakes complex includes The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and a new section called The RitzCarlton Residences with nearly three dozen multi-bedroom luxury rental homes. With 582 rooms and suites, this is the largest Ritz-Carlton by room count. Nevertheless, the hotel deserves kudos for its ladies and gentlemen (how the brand refers to its staff ) who remember personal preferences.

W H E R E I S I T ? Fifteen minutes from Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World, the Grande Lakes complex is convenient to many area attractions.

W H A T ' S I T L I K E ? The property was mid-way through a total makeover when I stayed, with rooms expected to be completed by early 2021 and many public areas and the pool due for completion even earlier. Notable were the resort’s COVID-19 protocols, reminding guests of mask usage, social distancing and hand sanitising.

Despite Coronavirus setbacks, the hotel had not cut back on expected amenities, from the nightly turndown service to an impressive club lounge with multiple food and beverage presentations and an open bar. While Marriott Bonvoy members do not receive free upgrades to the club level, it is available as an add-on to most rates.

The $38 resort fee includes benefits like shuttle transportation to area parks, daily bike rental and access to the Ritz Kids programme, among others.

R O O M S The garden- or lake-facing

rooms feature beautiful foyers that lead into spacious bedrooms, with Florida-themed photography and a clean palette of white and grey hues.

The showpiece is the pillowtop mattress, with cloud-like duvets and enormous pillows. Bedside power and USB outlets are convenient and more are available by the leather-topped desks. Beautiful cabinetry folds up and out with storage and drawers

PRICE Internet rates for a traditional room start at $313.

CONTACT 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32837, Phone 407-206-2400. ritzcarlton.com

The hotel deserves kudos for its ladies and gentlemen (how the brand refers to its staff) who remember personal preferences including space for a Nespresso machine and an honour bar. Enormous flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations come standard, as do free wireless Internet and plentiful bottled water.

Bathrooms feature dual marble vanities stocked with plush towels, Asprey toiletries, separate shower stalls and water closets, soaking tubs and robes.

Most impressive are details like toothbrush and shaving kits, hair dryers and hair straighteners in bathrooms.

F O O D A N D D R I N K Fine dining is a

hallmark, especially since the October opening of Knife & Spoon, the hotel’s decadent steakhouse with prime cuts of meat and seafood prepared in an exhibition kitchen. Other restaurants include the all-day Highball & Harvest with craft cocktails, a spa café, lobby café, pub, sushi bar and poolside café with burgers and frozen drinks.

The Ritz-Carlton guest can dine at the

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adjoining JW Marriott’s restaurants while charging to their room (and vice versa).

L E I S U R E F A C I L I T I E S Unlike the crowded resorts close to Disney and Universal parks, this property has ample space for outdoor pursuits including hiking, biking, kayaking and fishing. Multiple pools include a lazy river at the JW Marriott and an adults-only spa pool.

B U S I N E S S F A C I L I T I E S Conference

rooms ranging from breakout to full ballrooms are an essential part of this bustling resort.

Meetings and events are a mainstay here, and events are starting to return in small sizes. Free wireless Internet and a full-service business centre add to the amenities.

V E R D I C T Traditional Ritz-Carlton

attention to detail and a total renovation will keep this on top of Orlando’s best hotel list for years to come. Ramsey Qubein MARCH 2021

SMART TR AVELLER

Our guide to...

Airports offering Covid-19 tests

T

ravellers will have to get accustomed to testing requirements should they wish to go on work or leisure trips before the various vaccines are fully rolled out. To encourage the recovery of global travel, airports worldwide are setting up COVID-19 test centres ranging from walk-in and drive-through facilities to rapid testing in departure and arrival lounges. Here we round up some of the UK and European airports offering such services. Be aware that not all COVID-19 tests permit entry into every country – see “Which Covid-19 tests allow you to travel?” (businesstraveller.com/tag/pcr-test) for more details.

LONDON HEATHROW

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The airport has partnered with Collinson to offer four types of tests – antibody, antigen, LAMP and PCR. Samples are processed on-site by staff from Prenetics, one of Collinson’s biotech partners.

Passengers must book their test at collinsongroup.com before leaving for the airport. Heathrow has also set up a drive-through PCR test facility with Express Test. Travellers should schedule a test 48-72 hours prior to their departure and those who screen negative will be emailed a “Fit to Fly” certificate authorised by a doctor, plus their test result.

Book at expresstest.co.uk and you will be sent a QR code to show alongside your passport.

Location: LAMP testing is carried out at Terminals 2 and 5 – see available time slots online.

Express Test is located in the airport’s N4 car park, opposite the exit to Business Parking (T2 and 3) on Northern Perimeter Road (off Bath Road); open 8am-8pm daily.

Cost: LAMP test £79; results in 90 minutes. PCR test (in terminal) £99; results in 48 hours. Antigen test £50; results in 45 minutes.

Antibody test £40; results in 45 minutes. Drive-through PCR test £80 for passengers, £60 for Heathrow staff, £99 for the general public; results typically by 10pm MARCH 2021

the following day. heathrow.com

LONDON GATWICK

Gatwick has also partnered with Express Test for passengers, staff and local residents. It is also possible to get a test at Boots (pre-booking required at boots.com/covid-19-testing), while the airport’s Hilton and Sofitel hotels are offering “Test and Rest” packages that include PCR self-testing.

Location: Express Test is open 8am-8pm daily in the South Terminal’s long-stay car park.

Boots offers tests at its South Terminal arrivals branch.

Cost: Express Test costs £60 for passengers and airport staff and £99 for the general public; results typically by 10pm the following day. Boots charges £120; results in 48 hours. gatwickairport.com

DUBLIN

The airport’s in-clinic and drive-through facilities offer PCR and LAMP tests. Book in advance via healthcare companies Randox (booking.randox.ie) and Roc Doc (rocdochealthcheck.ie).

Location: Randox Travel Centre close to T2 short-term car park; Roc Doc drive-through in Green car park (in-clinic test also available).

Cost: Clinic service PCR test €99; results in 24 hours. Drive-through PCR test €129; results in 24-48 hours. LAMP test €149; 12 hours (€199 for results within five hours). dublinairport.com

PARIS CHARLES DE GAULLE/PARIS ORLY

PCR and antigen tests are available for departing passengers up to 72 hours before a flight, in conjunction with Cerballiance laboratory. Book at doctolib.fr.

Location: Paris CDG Terminal 2E departures, opposite Gate 17; open 7am-5pm (12pm Sun). Orly 22A, at the arrivals level; open 7am-7pm (antigen tests only until 11am).

Cost: Free. PCR results in 48 hours; antigen in two hours. parisaeroport.fr

FRANKFURT

Centogene is offering PCR and rapid antigen tests – prebook at corona.centogene.com.

Passengers from high-risk areas must enter a 10-day quarantine on arrival in Germany and can be tested from the fifth day.

Location: Pedestrian bridge linking T1 and mainline rail station; 6am-7pm (antigen test 8am-3pm).

Cost: PCR test €59 for results in 24 hours, €79 for 12 hours, €139 for six hours. Antigen test €79; results in two and a half hours. frankfurt-airport.com

MUNICH

Aicher Ambulanz Union (AAU) is offering PCR tests. Travellers can also use the MVZ Martinsried Test and Fly centre; advance booking necessary. Out of hours, departing passengers can get a Medicare PCR, antigen or antibody test.

Location: Level 4, Forum, Munich Airport Centre; 6am-12am.

Test and Fly T2, Level 4; 5am-7pm.

Medicare centre T1, Module E, Level 3.

Cost: AAU tests are free; results in 48 hours. Test and Fly €128; six hours. Medicare PCR €181, antigen €81, antibody €55 (weekend/night surcharges); results in 24 hours. munich-airport.com

VIENNA

A PCR and rapid antigen testing centre has been set up for all passengers at the airport, but is not bookable in advance.

Location: Office Park 3, between NH hotel and the Tower; 7am-7pm.

Cost: PCR test €120; results in a few hours (next day on weekends). Antigen test €35; 30 minutes. viennaairport.com Visit www.businesstraveller.com/ tag/covid-19 for a worldwide list.

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