2018 09 01 business traveler

Business aviation is looking for more from airport services – and today’s FBOs are delivering... General aviation airports are home to fixed base operators, those providers of essential

P L U S

Serviced apartments become

‘flexible lifestyle stays’ Düsseldorf’s unique world of classic motorcars Tried and Tested • Lounges London & Hong Kong

premium business class

Miami – Salvador de Bahia,

Brazil

56 S M A R T T R A V E L E R

L O O S E C H A N G E

What you don’t know about the

dynamics of Dynamic Currency

Conversion could cost you when it

comes to spending abroad

57 T R I E D A N D T E S T E D

L O U N G E S

American Express Centurion

Lounge, Hong Kong International,

Emirates Lounge, London Heathrow

46 H I S T O R I C H A V E N

Malta’s ancient citadels provide a theatrical backdrop for gatherings with gravitas

6 U P F R O N T

Airline and hotel news

from around the world

Finding little gems in

Canada’s biggest city

58 W O R L D W I S E

Eyes on You Airports

discover a more discreet

way of watching your every

Serviced apartments become

‘flexible lifestyle stays’

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U P F R O N T

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

b u s i n e s s t r a v e l e r u s a c o m

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W E L C O M E

For all the complaining we hear about airport security these days, the fact is

this summer’s travel season went by with relatively few hiccups related to screening lines and wait times Nobody goes out of their way to stand in a line because they love it; we queue up – at the bank, at the license office, at airport security – because we have to in order to achieve an end

But despite all the beefing, there is sense of relaxation that comes once that last landside hurdle is cleared and you find yourself on the ‘secure’ airside, all snug and safe In fact according to a recent global survey, only about a third of business travelers (34 percent) say they’re nervous in an airport, as opposed to half who are most worried about being in subways and train stations

Having spent the better part of this summer just past traveling by all sorts of different conveyances, I can relate Travelers are left to fend more or less for them-selves on crowded train station platforms And driving in big city rush hour traffic

is enough to make anybody’s blood pressure cuff explode

By contrast once we’re in the airport we are guided (some cynics would say

‘herded’) and guarded (those same cynics would call it ‘policed’) as we docilely find our way to our assigned gate In a way all this unsolicited solicitousness seems

to be counterintuitive to the sense of anticipation that should be ours when we launch out on our voyages of discovery

In the past few months my travels have had their share of transportation adventures The autos of Classic Remise Düsseldorf inspired a bit of yearning (and a story, see Auto Magic, page 26) about the days when cars were sleek and

powerful expressions in sheet metal and chrome and lots of glitz More recently

we journeyed to Colorado to experience the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad A trip up that mountain is an experience of real steam and real history

Now I’ve returned to the here and now Having made it through security, I’m sitting in yet another airport, snug and safe along with several hundreds of my closest friends My aircraft has just pulled up to the gate, and soon we’ll all be boarding some snug and safe airplane Then we’ll hurtle at nearly the speed of sound to some other snug and safe airport thousands of miles away Nothing extraordinary; just another ho-hum day in the business of business travel

But no matter how mundane it seems, travel is forever an adventure to me The road calls and I for one am ready to answer

Dan Booth Editorial Director

Business Traveler® North America is published ten

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is independent of commercial interest Unsolicited

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Eleven Ryerson Avenue, Suite 201,

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U P F R O N T

PROPERTY PIPELINE AND

OPENINGS

SMART ROOMS

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL has

integrated its three loyalty plans, Marriott

Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest

and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, onto

one platform A new name for the

program will not be announced

until 2019

Until then, the unified program

will operate under the three

current names Along with the

unified program, Marriott will

introduce a single points currency

For details visit marriott.com.

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP has announced a collaboration between InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Baidu to introduce the next generation of Smart Rooms powered by artificial intelligence Guests staying at InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun and InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Centre will be among the first to experience the AI Smart Rooms

The solution developed by Baidu’s DuerOS Platform integrates AI technology with hotel operations, supported by hardware upgrades and cloud service

A total of 100 AI powered Club InterContinental suites will be available at InterContinental hotels in gateway cities and key destinations across China within the year

Learn more at ihg.com.

Marriott

Loyalty

has announced plans for a third

Ritz-Carlton property in the New

York area The 500-foot tower

at Broadway and 28th Street

in the NoMad neighborhood

is set to open in 2021 The

property will offer 250 rooms

and 11 residences, a fine-dining

restaurant, Club Lounge and a

142 rooms The Hotel Indigo Spokane, originally built in 1911, is

a conversion All are scheduled to open in 2019 and 2020

ihg.com

W HOTELS

W Nashville plans a 2020 opening with 346 guestrooms including 50 suites and two WOW Suites The new-build property located in The Gulch plans to offer guests two dining concepts, 13,500 square feet

of flexible meeting space, plus 5,000 square feet of pre-function spaces and an outdoor terrace

w-hotels.marriott.com

TSA IN 3-D

THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

(TSA) is rolling out new airport scanners with computed

tomography technology to reduce the number of bag checks

for passengers In 2017 the agency began testing the new CT

scanner at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and

Boston’s Logan International Airport Recently, an additional

scanner was employed at JFK in New York

The agency plans to have an additional 40 scanners in place

by the end of the 2018 By 2019 fiscal year, over 145 units will

be in airports across the country Among the airports scheduled

to install the next 15 units are Chicago O’Hare, Houston

Hobby, Boston Logan, Los Angeles International, McCarran

International in Las Vegas and Washington-Dulles International

Airport

HYATT REGENCY

Hyatt is heading to Budapest with its Regency brand Located in the former postal office, Postapalota, the 231-room Hyatt Regency Budapest is slated to open in the beginning of 2020 The property will feature a nearly 4,200-square foot ballroom and more than 6,600 square feet of meeting and event space

hyattregency.com

LHR GREEN LIGHT

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT has approved plans to

expand Heathrow Airport, a project whose centerpiece is

a third runway Under the proposal, passenger capacity at Heathrow could jump from nearly 80 million passengers per year to 110 million by 2030 The proposed new airstrip would cross over London's congested M25 motorway, and could result in the demolition of some 750 homes in nearby villages.

However, the project still faces significant hurdles

The airport is Europe’s busiest and operates close to capacity, but critics say that the plan is environmentally unsound Some opponents have tried to make the case for developing some of Heathrow's rival airports Without expansion, government officials say London's airports will reach capacity by 2034.

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U P F R O N T

THE STAY IS A STORY

BT: You have designed luxury hotels and resorts across Asia and the globe Time magazine even called you

the “king of exotic luxury resorts.” As both a designer and landscape architect, where do you start when you’re designing a resort?

BENSLEY: It’s like writing a movie with a beginning, main plot, and an ending with a central theme and

storyline woven throughout the property This resort is located on “Monkey Mountain” so you’ll notice a running theme of monkeys throughout But we get to have some fun with them in places like the bar and nightclub where we imagine what the monkey’s life would be like if he traveled afar There are pictures of some of the monkey’s relatives and some of his keepsakes on display It’s all about sticking to the storyline and providing a variety of special moments where guests interact and notice the theme in subtle ways

BT: What is your biggest pet peeve in a hotel room?

BENSLEY: It’s the worst when you’re paying big bucks to stay in a fancy hotel, but you’re on your hands

and knees looking for a power outlet I also think it’s imperative to have a bedside master light switch so you don’t spend forever trying to turn off the lights at night

BT: What is your biggest pet peeve about hotels in general?

BENSLEY: It’s disappointing when a hotel tries to be something for everyone A hotel built for everyone

is really built for no one You can’t always please every taste and style; in fact, some people may hate the style of some of my hotels But the ones that love it, really love it That’s what a hotel should do – know your audience and stick to it without trying to please every possible guest

BT: Do you check review sites like TripAdvisor when you travel or about hotels you design?

BENSLEY: Sure, everybody does, right? You can’t ignore it these days.

BT: The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is often listed among the top ten in Asia by many

magazines What do you think is so special that people are willing to travel across the globe to stay there?

BENSLEY: I think the key to a good hotel is putting people into situations that are not normal to them

This resort has beautiful villas and suites surrounded by nature, facing the stunning private bay, and amid frolicking monkeys You pair that with signature Vietnamese hospitality and you have something truly unique Luxury is no longer about pillow menus and butler service It’s about giving people exceptional experiences that make them eager to travel

Celebrated designer and

landscape architect Bill

Bensley shares thoughts

on hotel design and a

monkey’s travels

changes that are coming to Basic Economy

fares Beginning September 5, the fare

includes both a personal item and a carry-on

bag According to the airline the move

will make the fares more competitive in the

industry

Learn more at aa.com.

Fare Rules

ONE ON ONE

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U P F R O N T

THE HYATT REGENCY

in southern China’s Guangdong province The hotel is located on the west side of the terminal hall

at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

The 335-room property offers free high-speed WiFi, four restaurants and bars, Regency Club accommodations and a Regency Club lounge on the 11th floor The property also offers 18,000 square feet of event space, plus a spa, a gym and an indoor pool

Visit hyatt.com for details.

CHINA DEBUT

b u s i n e s s t r a v e l e r u s a c o m

REOPEN

IN PHILLY THE RENAISSANCE PHILADELPHIA DOWNTOWN HOTEL has reopened

after extensive renovation The property offers 152-guest rooms in the heart of the Old City Philadelphia and pays homage

to the 350-plus year history of this of-a-kind destination

one-Food and beverage options feature

a French brasserie called Chez Ben Restaurant after favorite son Ben Franklin, and a cocktail bar named M Brown’s Other amenities include 24- hour fitness facilities and 4,300 square feet of meeting space

For additional information visit.

renhotels.com.

Business aviation is looking

for more from airport services – and today’s FBOs are delivering

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T A K E O F F S & L A N D I N G S

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general aviation terminals were, at best, functional and friendly The coffee pot behind the counter was always on and the Naugahyde furniture squeakily comfortable

General aviation airports are home to fixed base operators, those providers of essential services like fuel, aircraft parking and main-tenance catering to business and private aircraft They

were ready to fuel you up, fix a few “squawks” (problems)

and get you on your way again

Fast forward to the present and things are decidedly different Today’s new crop of business jet terminals are

‘brass and glass’ enclaves, ever more dramatic oases in

the fast-paced, high-flying private jet world that for an

increasing number of corporations is a significant feature

of business travel today

With increasing frequency businesses need to put their people in places off the route maps of commercial

airlines “The US has about 5,000 public use airports,”

says Dan Hubbard, senior vice president of

communica-tions for the National Business Aviation Association “Of

those, about ten percent – or 500 – have some service by

the airlines General aviation can use nearly all 5,000 of

those Business aviation is a part of that.”

Tim Obitts refines the numbers further The executive vice president of the National Air Transportation Asso-

ciation, an industry trade group that represents general

aviation interests including FBOs, says 3,537 of those

public use airports sport paved runways that are 3,000

feet or longer Some 3,384 FBOs serve these general and

business aviation fields

Those fields are fertile these days Look around the country and you’ll see FBOs at work erecting striking

business aviation facilities that are anything but frivolous

– despite their elegance

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Hardheaded facts of economic live drive the rush to

construct new business aviation terminals “Starting back

in the early 1990s there was a desire by local authorities,

by airports, to create a minimum standard [for FBO

facilities],” says Obitts

Terminals, in essence, “would be a showcase, a first impression for the business traveler coming into the

community,” a lens through which business guests, like

venture capitalists and companies on the lookout for new

economic opportunities, view the city Airports “want to

make a good impression to make sure they come back,”

he says

FBOs serve two audiences: passengers and pilots ities have to appeal to both The passengers’ corporation

Facil-may be paying the ultimate bill, but it’s pilots who get

them there and back safely

“I’ve heard [of ] FBOs spending up to $30 million for their facilities,” says Andrew Perry, executive director of

Houston Executive Airport, a bizjet mecca for the Bayou City located 28 miles west of downtown “They’re spend-ing that kind of money to service passengers and crews.”BusinessJetCenter, an FBO at archrival Dallas Love Field, has with executive conference rooms and a special events room Cat Clay, manager of sales and marketing, says there’s even a bucket of canine treats and an appro-priate grass patch for four-legged fliers

But passenger pampering can go well beyond C-suite conference rooms and doggy comfort stations “I had

an aircraft call us inbound one time,” remembers Betsy Wines, vice president of customer service and human re-sources at Meridian’s Teterboro, NJ, FBO “The boss had forgotten his tennis stuff He wanted to play tennis while

he was here.” The inbound business jet called Meridian

and said, “’We need sneakers this

size, shorts this size.’ They needed to

be a particular brand We went out

and got them for him before they

landed.”

One of the most important

passenger needs is an arrivals canopy

to ward off sun and rain In fact,

canopies have become the hallmark

of an increasing number of FBO terminals

BusinessJetCenter’s can accommodate a Gulfstream

G-450 Henricksen Jet Center boasts what Perry labels

“the world’s largest arrivals canopy Houston is a hot

place, especially in the summer.” Passengers and crew are

in the shade when they arrive or depart The Henricksen

canopy is commodious enough to shelter an MD-87 and

a pair of Gulfstream G-650s side by side at the same time

Amenities notwithstanding, corporate business jet travel is predicated on speed “In reality, passengers shouldn’t spend much time in our terminal,” says Wines,

“They expect to arrive curbside or planeside, to be able

to move quickly, either from the car to the plane or the plane to the car.”

At Meridian Teterboro, she adds, “For most of our sengers who are traveling through it’s the bare essentials – being able to walk through a well-maintained facility, get to their car quickly, use a clean restroom, have a cup of coffee and maybe grab a bottle of water.” Many of Merid-ian’s business travelers are bound for Manhattan, 12 miles distance from the New Jersey FBO

pas-ACROSS COUNTRY, pas-ACROSS OCEANS

TEB is the East Coast anchor for bicoastal business jet travel; Van Nuys (VNY), located in the LA Basin, is the West Coast linchpin

Bicoastal business itineraries often start or end up at one of these airports So too international trips, which are made possible by a new breed of large cabin, long range jets such as the Bombardier Global Express It sports a nonstop range of 7,077 miles The rival Gulfstream G650 can fly 8,053 miles without having to refuel Both these rapier-like time machines are making both TEB and VNY in-demand connecting points

Van Nuys boasts an 8,001-foot runway capable of launching the right kind of bizjet to Asia Teterboro’s main 7,000-foot strip can handle nonstop European and Latin American flights

As the “legs” get longer and the aircraft larger, it’s affecting the way FBOs design their facilities At Van Nuys “we’re seeing larger cabin-class airplanes,” says Curt Castagna, president and CEO of Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, which just finished an $8-million, 50,000-square-foot facility at the airport “It’s impacting airport facility design.” Hangar size is directly influenced The norm used

to be 10,000 square feet Now, he says 40,000 square feet

is “not uncommon.”

The passenger environs of terminals are also

affect-ed Castagna says the impact is comparable to what’s happening at commercial airports “that are designing their facilities for the A380, the Dreamliner and the

777 You’re seeing the same sort of reaction at the larger general aviation airports.”

PRIVACY PLEASE

One of the prime selling points of business aircraft is that they provide airborne privacy, a place where candid con-versation about, say, a classified business deal can be held without fear of being overheard “The clientele based in the [Long Beach] facilities are either-high-end investors

or private individuals,” Castagna says “We cater to lots

of people in the movie industry Those folks want privacy

Businesses need to put their people in places off the route maps of commercial airlines

MAIN PREVIOUS IMAGE:

Meridian Teterboro, NJ

ABOVE:

Meridian's lobby

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T A K E O F F S & L A N D I N G S

and security That’s the number one consideration for

them: They want a facility that provides protection.”

Curt Castagna says his company listened to the clientele when it designed the new Van Nuys enclave

Conference rooms, security systems, access control

sys-tems – “we’re building them in.”

PROPER AIRPORTS

In large cities small airports dominate the corporate

avi-ation skyscape “At the largest US hubs, general aviavi-ation

is always a single percentage user,” says NBAA’s Dan

Hubbard “Because the airline presence is so pronounced

that general aviation aircraft have every incentive to use

smaller and secondary airports.”

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world’s busiest airport, is a classic case-in-point Business jets

favor DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), just northeast

of town and a 15 minute drive from upscale Midtown

and Buckhead – assuming Atlanta’s notoriously bolloxed

ground traffic cooperates After ATL, PDK is the state of

Georgia’s second-busiest airport

On the west side of the city lies Fulton County Airport (FTY), known to locals as Charlie Brown Field It’s locat-

ed near the juncture of Interstates 20 and 285

Likewise Chicago O’Hare International, the world’s second busiest airport, isn’t favored by business aircraft

As with Atlanta, ORD has a couple of so-called “reliever”

airports, business jet sanctuaries

The larger of the two is DuPage Airport, located in West Chicago, IL With a main runway stretching some

7,570 feet, DPA can handle just about any aircraft The

airport features a $10-million terminal and a $14-million

Robert Trent Jones, Jr golf course Chicago Executive

Airport (PWK) is 18 miles northwest of Chicago in

Cook County It too is a mecca for business aircraft Its

main 5,001-foot runway is capable of handling jets up to

the 20-seat range

These are “pure” business and general aviation airports

They are located in or near major cities with lots of

com-mercial airline service at major airports That said, some

big city airports co-exist nicely with general aviation,

especially the turbine-powered jet variety One of them is

Dallas Love Field

Commercially, Southwest Airlines flat out dominates DAL

It’s the headquarters and ancestral home of the low-fare juggernaut

Located a mere six miles north of down-town Dallas, DAL is favored by commercial and bizjet fliers alike

Because commercial traffic at DAL has effectively been capped by an agreement limiting the number of gates

at the commercial terminal, Love Field-bound travelers aboard business aircraft aren’t beset by the sort of local air traffic delays that impact other airports of its size and city-center proximity

THE SIGNATURE EFFECT

Seattle’s Boeing Field (BFI) lies five miles south of downtown Seattle and at the epicenter of aviation history

Recently, Signature Flight Support opened a ‘glass and brass’ FBO at the airport, one of 200-plus FBOs it has worldwide

Signature’s influence on the fixed base operations industry is seminal The mass transformation of FBOs began in the early 1990s, contends NATA’s Tim Obitts, when Signature introduced concierge and VIP status to the once stolid, prosaic world of business aircraft travel

Obitts believes this set off a chain reaction, not just with other ground-bound FBOs but with manufacturers

of business aviation aircraft as well “There was more demand for the manufacturers to have WiFi, larger cabins and more amenities to match what they were receiving

on the front end (departure) and back end (arrivals)” of the trip

In a pattern that Obitts says was manifested by tiful facilities,” waiting limos, refreshments, restaurant recommendations, “whatever they might want,” Signa-ture’s success “created this (high-end) environment and others started following suit.”

“beau-The coffee pot is still around, but now it holds custom-ground brews The furniture is still there in the waiting room But it’s not Naugahyde Not any more BT

As the “legs”

get longer and the aircraft larger, it’s af- fecting the way FBOs design their facilities

LEFT:

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It’s fascinating how different, yet similar

each region of Europe can be Last year,

I boarded an SNCF train from Charles

de Gaulle airport to Lille, the capital of

the Hauts-de-France (the northernmost

region of France near the Belgian

bor-der) The drive to my hotel, past quaint

buildings, reminded me of my brief visit

to Brussels

In Europe, a city’s culture is heavily

influ-enced by the weather and its neighboring

countries Since Lille shares the border with

Belgium, there’s a notable Flemish influence

in all its aspects – from weather, food and

architecture to culture

I checked into the charming Hotel L’Arbre

Voyageur located in Boulevard Carnot, close

to the city center The property takes pride

in its quaint décor – Baroque touches, avian

patterns and bold colors

After a quick nap and coffee, I headed

down to reception where a red vintage

Cit-roën 2CV was waiting for me I had signed

up for a driving tour of this Belgian-French

part of Europe in a classic car that can be

booked on lilletourism.com (a one hour

guided tour in a convertible 2CV for one person is priced at €67/$78)

My tour guide drove us through the row byways of Lille lined with little houses dating back to the 17th century Most of these golden sandstone buildings built in the neo-Flemish style of architecture have now been converted into boutiques and cafes, creating an idyllic ambience that blends the old with the new

nar-One of the most notable buildings is L’Hospice Comtesse, once a 13th century charitable hospital that is now a museum with a collection of paintings, tapestries, wood sculptures and porcelains from the region

My old school 2CV drove through Lille’s alleys, towards the Grand Place – the mid-point of the city and the Grand Square It’s dotted with gabled edifices and the Chamber

of Commerce that boasts a 250-foot-high belfry – a symbol of the city’s commerce

While Lille is small in size, it impresses cionados of architecture and history with its striking structures such as the Lille Palace of Fine Arts (a municipal museum dedicated to

afi-the arts) and afi-the neoclassical Opera House

of Lille Designed by the architect rie Cordonnier, its grand facade incorporates elements from ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, culture and art

Louis-Ma-BON APPÉTIT

After the tour, I’d worked up an appetite so

I headed to Le Barbue, an estaminet (small café in French that serves food and drink) close to the town square Actually, most places in Lille are in relatively close proximity

to each other

Given its more northerly locale in a relatively colder region and considering its Belgian nuances, the diet in Lille is heavily dependent on meat and fish The menu in this dimly lit, wooden estaminet included beef tartare, pork ribs and salmon fillet I chose a fillet of plaice – a flatfish – served with egg and mustard sauce The restaurant’s specialty is Flemish carbonade flamande,

a traditional Belgian sweet-sour beef stew prepared with beer

Speaking of beer, another interesting facet

of Lille is its love for it While the rest of

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D E S T I N A T I O N S

PREVIOUS PAGE: Bay of Somme

FAR LEFT: a building in Lille's Grand Place

THIS PAGE: vintage 2CV tour in Lille

France is known for exceptional wine, Lille

prides itself on its beer (just like Belgium)

Its microbreweries date back before World

War I when families began investing in the

business of beer Post-war rationing of daily

supplies heavily reduced the number of

breweries

However, a few survive in this part of

French Flanders I visited one such

micro-brewery called Célestin where I met a fifth

generation member of the family that began

the business in 1740 Here you can find more

than 400 different regional and international

beers and also their in-house La Dix Biére

Blonde Some of the other beers on the list

here are Ch’ti (a person from north France is

called Ch’ti) and Vedett (a Belgian beer but

widely available in Lille)

While touring the city, I ran across an

pastry shop called Meert Its mannerist-style

front with arabesques medallions stood out,

beckoning me to visit; I could not resist I

learned that this patisserie was founded in

1761 and is known for its waffles layered

with Madagascar vanilla

The waffles’ recipe has stayed the same since its creation and is known to have caught the fancy of many a French luminary including Charles de Gaulle – a Lille resident – who continued to order the treat even after

he moved to Paris during his presidency I enjoyed jasmine tea alongside these famous waffles and a rich chocolate pastry, as I sat

in the pastry shop’s tea room decorated with chandeliers and black and white portraits of dignitaries

HITTING THE BEACH

After spending the night in Lille, the next day I drove through Boulogne-sur-Mer (the city of Boulogne) to Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

As the name suggests, this “beach of Paris”

serves as the playground for affluent Parisians who come over for weekend breaks and vacations

This community is less than a three-hour drive from the French capital and is lined with extravagant properties that are much adored by their regular visitors I was staying

at the art deco Hôtel Barrière Le

Westmin-ster which reminded me of a Wes Anderson movie with its old school elevator, artwork and the very English lobby bar

Later I rushed to Le Touquet Golf Course where reservations for lunch had been made

at its restaurant called Spoon Overlooking the golf course, I enjoyed an elaborate three-course lunch in the company of fellow Paris-ians and travelers who were likely visiting for

a round or two of golf I began my meal with marinated salmon, remoulade celery and green apple and followed it with a fillet of salmon, smoked sausage and red wine jus During lunch, I decided that to experience

Le Touquet like a true Parisian, I must hit the beach later – even though the temperatures were still low It turned out to be quite an adventure as I tried my hand at an alternative sport called sand yachting

Since many travelers visit this town during cooler months, there are a few winter activi-ties like this one that have been set up on the beach While sand yachting looked simple,

it was definitely not a piece of cake vering a sail pushes a wheeled vehicle ahead without engine power Driving over sea shells with the wind blowing in my face and occa-sionally feeling splashes of salty water was quite thrilling A windy day is essential for this activity because after a point my yacht refused to move in the still air

Maneu-Next morning, with a jam-packed ule, I left rather early to drive 40 miles to the medieval seaside city by the Bay of Somme – Saint-Valery A fisherman’s town until as late

sched-as the 1980s, Saint-Valery is one of the most charming places I have visited in France It

is modest and not very commercial, but its colors, rich history and quaintness are most appealing

A walk through its maritime quarter – also known as Le Courtgain – with old homes of fishermen and their families was an exqui-site experience Houses are painted in vivid colors and fresh flowers decorate most of the porches People are friendly and their warmth captivated me, even though language was a barrier

Many of the facades reveal the naval heritage of the town with evocative paintings and flags Each house differs proudly from its neighbor in design, shades and shape, making the entire town of Saint-Valery seem like a colorful, whimsical odyssey

Walking upwards on its winding alleys brought me to a cliff side entrance to the →

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D E S T I N A T I O N S

BELOW: a street in Saint-Valery;

Amiens' Floating Gardens

city’s old wall It is from here that I soaked in

panoramic views of the Bay of Somme

Saint-Valery has been through a tumultuous past,

serving as a landing point for Celts, Romans

and Vikings, as well as the hiding place for

Saint Joan of Arc when she was a prisoner of

the English

Religious wars in the 16th century

damaged the fortifications, yet still today

its remnants make it an interesting place for

history buffs That’s all there is to this small

town In the evening, I took a walk on its

seaside promenade before driving to my next

destination – Amiens

ELEGANT DÉNOUEMENT

Picardy is a historic region of northern

France, stretching from the suburbs of

Paris and vineyards of Champagne to the

beaches of the Bay of Somme on the English

Channel Amiens is the capital, a 50-minute

drive from Saint-Valery Amiens already gave

me a feel of a much bigger city than those I

had visited – but it still exudes the charm of

a small town

This could be attributed to a few things;

the fact that it’s mostly pedestrianized and

that it’s lush with greenery almost

every-where There are several canals that crisscross

areas of the city populated with residences,

cafés and universities (Amiens is a student

town as well because of the number of

colleges here)

A fascinating way to begin your trip in

Amiens is by visiting the iconic Floating

Gardens or Hortillonnages Once a market

garden, leeks, cabbages and carrots used to

be grown here Now a popular tourist spot,

these small floating islands built on reclaimed

marshland are dotted with flora and jointly

span almost 750 acres between the Avre and Somme rivers

I opted for a boat tour (€6/$7) that lasted

45 minutes as I sailed through the winding canal Ducks, swans and other waterfowl swam beside us, and plants with flowers

of brilliant colors outlined this boat ride

Some islands had camping homes and residences and others were plots used for gardening purposes The canals effortlessly transported me into a wonderland of nature and serenity

After this rendezvous with nature, I walked through the city to its most signifi-cant point – the Amiens Cathedral An ad-mirer of architecture, I can never get enough

of the structures in Europe – and was excited

to learn that in fact Amiens is the largest Gothic cathedral in France The exterior of Notre Dame d’Amiens looked to me to be re-markably similar to its namesake in Paris It is notable for its two unequal towers, medieval

wall paintings inside and Gothic sculptures that adorn the west facade

Larger-than-life sculptures of kings – 22

of them – stand in the lower gallery Every evening from June 15 to the third Sunday in September, the sculptures on the west facade are illuminated for a striking light show The cathedral was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1981

My visit to these contrasting destinations

in northern France made for an interesting few days Each place stood out because of its distinctive characteristics The exciting news

is that there is much is left to do for another northern affair in this exotic region – part of France that impressed me with its unconven-tional elegance BT

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FEEDING A

Hotels worldwide are launching

initiatives to boost nutrition, improve

fitness and ensure more restful sleep

W O R D S K A T E F A R R & R A C H E L R E A D

synonymous with unhealthy habits – heavy room service meals, uninviting fitness centers and all-too-easy access

to the hotel bar – leaving departing guests in considerably worse shape than at check-in But with a marked increase in the concept of “wellness travel,” hotels across the world are stepping up to offer

a wide range of tailor-made, health-conscious services,

innovative initiatives and amenities designed to boost

nutrition, improve fitness and ensure a better quality of

sleep – all within the comfort of your own room

WHY WELLNESS?

Is this new-found preoccupation with health and wellness

just another passing fad? According to Gaynor Reid,

vice-president of communications and CSR Asia Pacific for

Accorhotels, “Wellness tourism grew by around 9 percent

in 2017 – 50 percent faster than overall global tourism

– so we know there is a growing demand from our guests

for wellness offerings.”

Driving this upswing in health-consciousness Reid says,

“People are more aware of the impact of diet and exercise

on longevity and mental health The bottom line is that

health and wellness is no longer a trend; it has become a

reality.”

Sean Hunt, Marriott International’s area vice-president

for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, agrees “I

think we’re seeing hotel guests – both business and leisure

travelers – prioritizing wellness because they’re realizing

that maintaining their routine and healthy lifestyle on the

road helps them feel better both during and after their

stay,” he explains “In today’s world, looking and feeling

good is seen as a luxury.”

HEALTHY HABIT

WORKING IT OUT

A key part of this experience is, of course, fitness

However, with many business travelers short on time,

it can be impossible to squeeze in a full gym session – which is why many hotel brands are now bringing the workout direct to guests

“Pullman Hotels and Resorts recently collaborated with renowned fitness guru Sarah Hoey to develop a program designed to help travelers adopt a healthier lifestyle,” Reid says This tailor-made program includes a series of short yoga and fitness videos that are available in-room, specially created to support and encourage guests who are looking to incorporate workouts into the busiest

of schedules

Fairmont, another Accorhotels premium brand, offers its President Club loyalty members free use of sneakers and gym clothes from Reebok – a particularly helpful perk for business travelers who often travel only with carry-on luggage

Meanwhile, Westin Hotels’ “Let’s Rise” campaign includes a series of in-room HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts created by health coach Rachael Finch that are suitable for all fitness levels The workouts are especially designed for hotel guests and can be comfortably achieved in any guestroom without the need for special equipment

Westin also offers the option of pre-booking rooms that include a treadmill or a stationary bike and the hotel group has also joined forces with New Balance to provide workout gear for guests to use throughout their stay

For those who prefer their workouts with a touch

of elegance, JW Marriott Hotels and Resorts’ newest venture is totally on point “Behind the Barre” is a series

of in-room fitness videos created in partnership with the Joffrey Ballet It fuses the elegance of a ballet class with a

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W E L L N E S S

Of course there’s more to feeling good than exercise

– which is why many hotel groups are focusing on

developing a well-rounded approach to their guests’

wellbeing

For a 360-degree approach to wellness, look for

Swissôtel’s Vitality Room concept, which launched in

2016 in collaboration with style magazine Wallpaper The

room is designed to be a complete sanctuary for weary

travelers, featuring air purifiers, modifiable circadian

lighting, and bathroom options that include individual

scents, colored lighting and even adjustable water

pressure

The brand also has a strong focus on improving mental

as well as physical wellbeing, offering guests at their

Singapore and Sydney properties specially designed

postcards, complete with Caran d’Ache colored pencils

for a mindful adult coloring session

Similarly, Westin has also partnered with renowned

artist Johanna Basford to create three detailed adult

coloring sheets Available across the Asia-Pacific region,

the sheets subtly highlight the hotel’s “Pillars of Wellness”

concept, which encourage guests to sleep, eat and move

well throughout their stay

And to deepen your meditation practice, consider

Morgans Hotel Group which has properties across the

US and in London, Istanbul and Doha The chain has

collaborated with Mindfulness Everywhere, creators

of the popular Buddhify app, to produce ten guided meditation sessions for hotel guests to download These short and easy-to-use sessions aim to make meditation accessible to everyone

Accessibility is at the heart of The Peninsula Hotels’ new “Yoga in the Mornings” initiative The group’s Hong Kong and Shanghai properties are among the earliest adopters; all guestrooms contain a dedicated phablet that details a simple yoga routine for guests to try at their leisure – with yoga mats available on request from housekeeping

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Forget old-school room service menus of uninspiring sandwiches and quick-fix snacks; these days, in-room meals are designed to be both nutritious and delicious.For example the Intercontinental Hong Kong has collaborated with the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital

to create its “ihealth” initiative Based on academic nutritional guidance from the hospital, Intercontinental’s culinary team created an all-day menu designed to address the prevention of four of the most common health concerns worldwide: diabetes, cardiac disease, hypertension and the need for antioxidants

Health is also on the menu for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, whose “Food Thoughtfully Sourced Carefully

Business travelers are

often short on time, so

hotels are bringing the

workout to the guests

THIS PAGE:

Westin offers in-room equipment and gear as well as HIIT workout programes created by Rachael Finch (pictured)

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W E L L N E S S

Served” philosophy has seen the group commit to

healthy, sustainable and responsible dining across its

properties globally Initiatives include vegetarian and

gluten-free options, a focus on portion control and

balanced meals, dishes made with reduced sodium, sugar

and calories, and cooking with organic produce, naturally

raised meat and sustainably sourced seafood – qualities

all reflected in the group’s “Healthy Balance” in-room

menus worldwide

While exact dishes vary between properties – allowing

individual chefs creative flexibility – they all offer

tailor-made “flavorful, healthful and perfectly portioned

options.” This is showcased in the “Create Your Own”

section, where guests customize their dishes with a

choice of proteins (typically available pan-fried, grilled or

steamed), vegetable-centric sides and sauces

Wellness lies at the forefront of the latest additions

to The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong’s room service

offerings – a selection of fresh juices and an acai bowl

designed by leading iridologist and detox expert Jennifer

Thompson These creations are packed with superfood

ingredients that deliver a wide range of antioxidants,

vitamins, minerals, fibre and omega-3, all carefully chosen

to achieve different goals

If you’re planning a health-conscious company event,

the Ritz-Carlton Bali’s innovative Healthy Meeting

options have got you covered Split into three categories

(Detox, Energy Boost and Revitalizing Secret), these

four- to six-hour experiences include team-building

exercises like t’ai chi or beach volleyball, alongside several

nutritious group meals

Attendees can enjoy a healthy organic breakfast and

three-course lunch, plus wellness breaks for purifying

juices, infused waters, health-enhancing teas and

nourishing snacks All meals have been devised to focus

on food with a low glycemic index to aid digestion – a

definite improvement on unappetizing spreads of sandwiches and cookies in anonymous conference rooms

SWEET DREAMS

After a hard day’s work, nothing beats crawling into a comfy bed – and hotels are taking the art of getting a good night’s sleep to a whole new level

This can be seen in Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong’s Entertainment Suite, which features the FreshBed Sleep System This system utilizes patented climate-control technology that allows guests to adjust the bed to their preferred temperature, with silent ventilation to ensure allergen-free air, combined with an ergonomic mattress

Four Seasons’ signature bed is equally impressive

Created in partnership with Simmons Bedding, its mattress uses advanced technology to keep you cool throughout the night and provide optimal support for your frame You can also pick between three mattress toppers and a pillow menu filled with choices suitable for different types of sleeper – including a buckwheat option for relieving allergies and neck pain, or a stone type that provides a cooling sensation and head support

The rooms themselves have been fully outfitted

to promote an excellent night’s sleep, with thorough soundproofing, in-room temperature controls, lighting chosen to complement the body’s circadian clock, and even interior design elements scientifically proven to have soothing effects on the brain

Westin takes a similarly multifaceted approach In addition to the brand’s “Heavenly Bed,” there’s a “Sleep Well” bedside amenity – a lavender balm infused with essential oils that ease tension and help guests wind down naturally – and in-room dining menu, curated

be up in the morning, based on guidelines from the World Sleep Society BT

CLOCKWISE FROM THIS PAGE TOP:

Intercontinental Hong Kong ihealth in-room breakfast;

Morgans Hotel Group’s Buddhify app;

and Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong’s healthy juices

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D E S T I N A T I O N S

There’s something enchanting, almost mystical, about the

marriage of sculptured steel, curving glass and sparkling chrome that is the automobile Throughout the history

of the motor car, an infinite variety of shapes, colors and styles of driving machines have graced the open road

This automotive gestalt became something more akin

to a spiritual experience the moment I walked into the expansive covered hall of the Classic Remise Düsseldorf

The vast number of vintage automobiles on display was impressive,

to be sure But more awe inspiring was their sheer splendor – timeless masterpieces of the automotive art, everything from Italian roadsters

to American muscle cars – all looking shiny new and showroom fresh regardless of their age

Classic Remise – in German the word means “coach house” – is certainly the most unusual auto showroom I’ve ever seen Actually

to call it merely a showroom doesn’t begin to capture the feel; it’s as much a museum, art exhibit and event space This is definitely not your Uncle Fred’s used car lot From the outside the structure is big, but unprepossessing Inside is a different world

The 1930s building was once a locomotive roundhouse; steam engines were driven onto a giant turntable which trundled around to point the locomotive toward one of two dozen engine stalls where maintenance on the beast was performed With the advent of diesel and electric motive power for the railroads, steam disappeared and with it the need for such facilities

In 2006 in a twist of fate, the transportation gods ordained that this building be reincarnated as Classic Remise Düsseldorf The massive brick roundhouse has been repurposed as a multi-level space with showrooms, garage and service spaces, retail shops and offices

The open area once occupied by the turntable has been covered by a translucent roof – perfect lighting for showcasing brilliant sheet metal finishes The 200,000-square-foot building even boasts its own bistro overlooking the showroom floor and in the summertime an outdoor beer garden (it is Germany, after all)

CARS GALORE

Of course, the real stars of Classic Remise Düsseldorf are the cars

Lining the semi-circle are 75 glass garages where the proud owners

of some truly unique vehicles display their machines for us to get a glimpse It’s here I found some intriguing rarities like a sleek VW con-cept car that looked like it never stopped and a ponderous Mercedes sedan that sat so low, it looked like it would never go The sedan, I’m told, was once the personal vehicle of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev,

so I’m guessing carried a bit of extra armor protection

W O R D S D A N B O O T H

Classic Remise Düsseldorf has carved out a unique niche in the world of vintage transportation

Out on the floor, the treasures are everywhere The first bit of bling

to catch my eye was – what else? – an Aston Martin DB5 in what appeared to be mint condition I couldn’t resist a selfie in front of the iconic James Bond car Next to it was a nifty little bird’s egg blue Ma-serati 3500GT that looked like it would be a spiffy Sunday-with-the-top-down ride Across the way was a pristine ’66 Mustang fastback – retail, a mere €39,900 ($45,500)

The floor is chock-a-block with rows and rows of Mercedes and BMWs from staid sedans to well-loved rally cars, as well as plenty of Porsches of all vintages – hardly surprising given the German affinity for German engineering There’s even a Porsche diesel tractor, defi-nitely intended for farming, yet the curves are unmistakably the Pro-fessor’s handiwork But the rest of the world is well-represented too: the Italians, the British, the French, the Japanese and the Americans

DRIVE ON

In fact almost anything with a motor and wheels is part of the Remise remit However, more than any vintage car museum appeal, what gives the place its special atmosphere is the energy of a living auto-motive ecosystem There are garages, services and dealers for classic cars, where the vehicles are delivered, repaired, bought and sold In addition this motor head wonderland is topped off with retail shops selling all things car-related from spare parts to clothing, model cars and accessories

Guided tours are available in German and English to help visitors delve deeper into the origin of the Classic Remise Düsseldorf itself and the history of the roundhouse building, as well as getting a look inside the workshops where the classic cars are being serviced and repaired The tours are available for groups up to 30 people Tours last approximately 45 minutes and cost €100 in German or €120 in English, plus 19 percent sales tax per group

With all the built-in glitz and glamor, it’s little wonder Classic mise Düsseldorf has become a much sought after venue for meetings and events The combination of the historic industrial architecture and the extensive display of classic cars provides a one-of-a-kind backdrop for get-togethers of all sizes and interests Meeting spaces vary from small conference rooms to the 9,600-square-foot Event Hall which can accommodate up to 600 guests, or can be subdivided

Re-in several configurations This space is suitable for large parties or banquets, as well as trade shows, workshops or exhibitions

The Classic Remise Düsseldorf is located in the Wersten district

in the southeastern section of the city It’s not exactly convenient to get to – the nearest U-bahn stop is the Werstener Dorfstraße station, about a 10 minute walk But if you’re a car lover, or just appreciate beautiful design through the years, it’s well worth the trip Hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Mon-Sat, 10:00 AM to 8:00 AM Sunday Admission is free

Classic Remise Düsseldorf, Harffstrasse 110a, 40591 Düsseldorf

Tel +49 211 22950570; remise.de BT

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