UPFRONT

ETIHAD IN CREW VACCINATION FIRST

ETIHAD AIRWAYS HAS BECOME the rst airline in the world to operate all ights with pilots and cabin crew vaccinated against COVID-19. e airline started its workforce vaccination programme in collaboration with Abu Dhabi authorities last year, prioritising frontline workers rst, 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 e ects of COVID-19, but to make travellers feel con dent and reassured the next time they y 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 ight and now, we’re the rst airline in the world with 100 per cent vaccinated crew on board.”

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- rst 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 rst airlines globally to work with IATA as a pioneer partner for the IATA Travel Pass, already applicable to selected ights from Abu Dhabi (see page 28).

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

Accor to introduce digital room keys

ACCOR HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS

to phase-in new digital room-key technology. e 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. e key also provides access to meeting rooms where appropriate, as well as to hotel oors via li s, 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. is will be increased to at least 50 per cent of its portfolio within the next ve 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

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

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.

Delano heads to Paris in new guise

ACCOR HAS PARTNERED with 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

WHETHER YOU ARE travelling about town or overseas, 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

CALL OF THE WILD

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

New online chat platform for luxury hotel guests

A NEW ONLINE CHAT platform for luxury hotel guests has been launched by Staytus, a digital marketing and communications solutions provider.

Hotel Chat, the rst chat platform built exclusively for the hospitality sector, is a webbased service designed to connect guests with hotels before, during and a er 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. e 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 sta 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.

BTME Awards voting is now live

VOTING FOR THE Business 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. e 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

UNDERWATER CHILL

WITH WELLBEING TOP of the travel executive’s agenda for 2021, news that ‘underwater yoga’ has returned to Atlantis, e Palm, is more than welcome. e mega resort is o ering 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 e 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.

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. e 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 con rming 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. e 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 di erent 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.

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.

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

CULTURALLY INSPIRED, GLOBALLY ASPIRED

Somerset Maslak Istanbul

As 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 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!.

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