Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition March 2019

Last issue, I introduced myself to you as your new editor. This issue, I’m delighted to welcome two new Destination writers and two new Opinion columnists to Business Traveller Asia-Pacific (see “Contributors” on page 6). New columnist Ken Hickson’s article on hotel sustainability reminded me of when I was in a Beijing hotel room last year and was bemused to discover a small plastic bottle of mineral water next to my bed with an accompanying note: “Water for fire protection”. I scratched my head and put out a call on social media asking what on earth this was, but no one could explain. So our editorial assistant did some research: the bottles are distributed in some Chinese hotels so you have water with which to wet a towel and hold over your…

CAPSULE HOTELS The Japanese hotel concept has exploded in popularity since its 1979 debut. We pick five of the best from around the world 4 HOURS IN MINNEAPOLIS Delta will launch a direct Shanghai-Minneapolis route in 2020; here’s what to do in this thriving Midwestern city ECONOMY À LA CARTE Unbundled economy class fares have become common on transatlantic routes, but are still rare in Asia – we explain why CHINESE AIRLINE DELAYS Aviation industry commentator David Yu reassures us that Chinese airline punctuality is set to get better in the future…

BEN BLAND Ben Bland is an analyst, author and experienced foreign correspondent, who has reported across Asia for the Financial Times for most of the last decade. He is currently a research fellow focusing on Southeast Asia at the Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading international think-tank. His first book – Generation HK: Seeking Identity in China’s Shadow – tells the stories of the young Hong Kongers fighting for freedom in a climate of growing repression. On page 24, he goes to Uzbekistan to report on how the country is opening its doors to tourism. CRYSTAL WILDE Crystal Wilde is a British freelance journalist who travels around Asia reporting stories for the likes of CNN, The Times of London, The Telegraph, Fodors and New York magazine. She has been in Asia for more than ten…

When it comes to cuisine, there are certainly a few things that will always be true: that pasta should be served al dente, red wine pairs best with red meats, and a perfectly cooked steak will forever be among the greatest of life’s joys. The demand for good steak among Hong Kong’s famously discerning dining public is always high, but gone are the days when a satisfactory meal was determined by the cut of one’s meat alone – setting is becoming just as important to the overall meal experience. Perched on the 21st floor of The ONE shopping mall on Tsim Sha Tsui district’s famed Nathan Road, Wooloomooloo Prime offers stunning views of Victoria Harbour that act as the perfect accompaniment to the top-quality cuts it serves. Certainly, Wooloomooloo Group's premium brand…

FANS of the world’s largest aircraft were hit with bad news last month following manufacturer Airbus’s announcement that it has decided to cease production of its A380 superjumbo entirely in 2021. The decision came after Emirates, the main customer of the A380 with nearly 110 of the aircraft in service, decided at the end of January to reduce its outstanding orders for the superjumbo to just 14 new aircraft over the next two years. Qantas also officially cancelled an outstanding order for eight A380s in February. That leaves Japanese airline ANA as the only carrier other than Emirates with firm deliveries for the aircraft. The carrier will be receiving three superjumbos for its non-stop Tokyo-Honolulu service, launching May this year. Airbus has struggled to attract new orders for the double-decker aircraft since more…

SINGAPORE Airlines rolled out a suite of changes to its Krisflyer frequent-flyer programme on January 24, offering a mixed bag of slightly positive changes and an overall increase to the number of miles needed to book award tickets. The increases to the number of miles required for redemption are not all huge, but they’re enough to make redeeming premium cabin award tickets that bit more difficult, especially on the airline’s longer routes. A one-way Saver Award ticket from Singapore to Tokyo used to cost 32,500 miles for premium economy, 43,000 miles for business and 65,000 miles for first class. Now, these cost 34,500, 47,000 and 70,000 miles, respectively. There are a few positives to the changes though. Travellers can now upgrade from economy direct to business even on flights that offer a premium…