Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition

Welcome to the July/August issue of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific. Each issue I hope I will be able to celebrate the return to some kind of normality, and each issue, it seems about the same distance away. There have been some positive developments

The Maldives isn’t just for honeymooners and families – remote workers can now find plenty of desk space with a view Vaccines, travel bubbles and digital health passports - we look at the mechanisms in place to put an end to the travel ban Got a fe

For this issue Bangkok-based writer Duncan Forgan hit the city’s older quarters for a bespoke itinerary (see page 56). “I love the vibe in the area,” he says. “Much of Bangkok is very commercial these days, but the old city retains an edge and an atm

Managing director Julian Gregory Editorial director Tom Otley Director Peggy Teo Consulting editor Mary Cooch Online editor Mark Caswell Consumer editor Alex McWhirter Contributors Hannah Brandler, Marisa Cannon, Lee Cobaj, Tamsin Cocks, Duncan Forg

ACCORʼS NOVOTEL has chosen designs from four firms following a global competition that it says will “bring the brand’s new vision of modern 21st-century style to the world”. The four concepts (including that from Hypothesis, pictured) will make their

DICTADOR HAS A LONG history of creating aged rum at its base in Colombia. Latterly it has moved into “investment grade rum” – a bottle recently sold at auction for £30,000 (US$41,600). Dictador Generations is a limited edition of a 1976 blend in crys

BENTLEY HAS RELEASED a new men’s fragrance. Following Momentum Unlimited and Momentum Intense, Momentum Unbreakable has been created by perfumers Ane Ayo and Fabrice Pellegrin. It offers woody, floral and spicy notes. The bottle's design is “inspired

MARRIOTT’S cool Moxy brand has opened in the heart of the action. The 158-key hotel is conveniently located next to a key transportation hub connecting high-speed rail, international airport, and local metro lines. Quirky rooms are equipped with plat

FOUR SEASONS has targeted Osaka for its next Japanese address. Its Hotel Osaka will feature 175 guestrooms designed by interior design trio Gwenael Nicolas, Shinichiro Ogata and Yasuhiro Koichi. The Four Seasons portfolio already includes hotels in K

THE NEW 256-ROOM HOTEL is situated in the Ecology Business District in western Shanghai, close to Songjiang University Town metro station and attractions including the Guangfulin Ancient Relics Park and Chenshan Botanical Gardens. Rooms have floor-to

20% are more likely to pre-order and collect food and drink pre-departure 22% are more likely to fly short-haul 24% are more likely to use unmanned facilities, such as biometric passport kiosks 48% are more likely to use airport lounge access than

Idioms from around the world that have us scratching our heads. This issue, it’s a German expression. Phrase: Tomaten auf den Augen haben Literally: To have tomatoes on your eyes Meaning: To be blind or unaware of your surroundings Origin: Supp

The bestselling author’s latest tome comes in the form of a self-help manual, comprising a collection of notes, quotes, thoughts and mantras that Haig has collected over the years to get through life’s hard times. It’s a fittingly reassuring companio

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PROFESSION? Opera is both the total artform that combines all of the others and a place of crazy excess and emotional energy. What could be more exciting than that? HAS THE AUDIENCE CHANGED OVER TIME? Of course, as societ

AESOP’S new Othertopias collection features three Eaux de Parfum fragrances that “explore worlds both real and imagined”. Miraceti conjures old, ocean-worn wood and a faint hint of a whisky-filled cellar, mingled with incense and seaweed on the breez

This free musical celebration returns for its 43rd year, with live shows taking place at Prospect Park Bandshell in Brooklyn. Highlights include R&B music from Ari Lennox, brass funk band Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and a performance addressing

Meetings are going to take a different form for some time to come – but hotel groups have been coming up with creative ways for physical and virtual attendees to get together. Here we round up some of the major programmes in place to keep delegates s

How many times have you flown across the Atlantic, or any other vast expanse of water, without giving a thought to the challenges involved in such an operation? Every time, I hope – air travel is very safe and there is no need to worry. For those who

Travelling frequently to Europe? There are more hurdles to overcome than in the Grand National. This year has seen many changes to the way we fly, from undergoing Covid screening before travel to pre-booking tests for your arrival home. Slightly lost

BACKGROUND Originally opened in 1991, the Island Shangri-La has recently renovated its Horizon Club rooms. I visited in March 2021 when restrictions were lifting in Hong Kong. Staff wore face masks, temperature checks were in place and guests were en

BACKGROUND Open since May, following an initial launch in December 2020, the Mayfair Townhouse is part of Iconic Luxury Hotels, which includes prestigious properties Cliveden House and Chewton Glen in its portfolio. The site formerly housed the Hilto

BACKGROUND This new property from SBE Hotels opened in February. SBE is now owned by Accor after the French group bought 50 per cent of the brand in 2018 and then bought the rest while also merging with Ennismore. Among the SBE brands are Mondrian, D

BACKGROUND Originally opened in 2001, the JW Marriott is co-managed and linked with the Marriott Cancun next door and so benefits from a huge range of bars, restaurants and leisure facilities while at the same time not appearing, at least on the face

BACKGROUND Adagio is a joint venture between Accor and the Pierre and Vacances Center Parcs group. Open since April for essential stays and May to all, this is the brand’s sixth UK property. A London Sutton property is due to open in July 2021. WHAT

BACKGROUND Open since May, this is the eighth outpost for the design-focused aparthotel brand Locke, which has properties in the UK, Ireland and Germany. It is part of the Edyn group, which also includes Saco serviced apartments. WHAT’S IT LIKE? The