Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition January - February 2017

Tekniska Högskolan metro station in Stockholm is our cavernous yet futuristic cover image this issue. The Swedish capital has a lot in common with December’s cover image metropolis, Singapore. Stockholm’s city council wants to make the Swedish capital“the most connected city in the world”by 2040. They’ll be contending for that title with the Lion City, which has its own aspirations to be the world’s first“smart nation”. As technology continues to evolve at a bewildering pace – read“Nordic vision”on page 36 to learn of plans for 5G connectivity next year – conversely, in the world of finance we learn of a retrospective trend that harks back to a world long before the internet: buying gold and silver as a safe haven investment (“Solid investment”, page 32). I must admit that while talking to…

MARK GRAHAM , who compiled our guide to Sydney’s new lifestyle zones (page 52), can usually be found in Beijing – so appreciates a pollution-free, mild, harbourside city more than most. He was impressed by the Barangaroo development, which is transforming the waterfront into public parkland, and by the fast-gentrifying, bohemian Chippendale Creative Precinct. DELIA YIN is the editor of Business Traveller China, and as such racks up a lot of hotel stays all around the country. For this issue’s feature on Chinese hotels (page 18), she sampled the opulence of Wanda Reign on the Bund, a new addition to Shanghai’s luxury hospitality sector. “It might not be to everyone’s taste, but this is Chinese luxury on a grand scale,”she says. TIMOTHY BARBER is The Telegraph’s watch editor, having formerly edited QP,…

Dragonair officially rebrands as Cathay Dragon REGIONAL HONG KONG CARRIER Dragonair has officially completed the transition to its new Cathay Dragon identity. The rebrand of Cathay Pacific’s sister airline aims to“provide customers with a more seamless travel experience across the airlines’respective regional and international networks”, according to the airline. In particular, the aim is to appeal to“the increasingly large number of passengers from mainland China who seek the convenience and assurance of an internationally recognised premium airline with global connectivity”. In addition to the new logo and livery that highlights the overall group brand, the G16 lounge in Hong Kong, which is currently undergoing renovation, will reopen as a group lounge this year. cathaydragon.com Shangri-La and Taj Hotels form loyalty alliance SHANGRI-LA HOTELS AND RESORTS has entered into an “industry-first” alliance with Mumbai-based luxury hotel group…

COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL HONG KONG has rebranded as the Dorsett Wanchai Hong Kong following a renovation of all its 454 rooms and the addition of new themed rooms, including a Grand Deluxe Course View room with views of the Happy Valley Racecourse, and an amusement park-themed Ocean Park Family Suite. DOSSEN HOTEL GROUP has signed a number of new project agreements with investors from Seoul, Malacca, Bandung and Jakarta. The news follows an announcement in February 2016 that the Chinese hotel group had signed an agreement with Marriott to manage the American hotel company’s Fairfield by Marriot brand in China. DUSIT INTERNATIONAL has opened the Dusit Princess Resort Panzhihua, Sichuan and DusitD2 Kenz Dubai, with a further 20 resorts in China and 42 worldwide in the pipeline. HYATT REGENCY has returned to Sydney with…

• This month’s prizes come from Lanson Place Hospitality Management Ltd. Lanson Place properties offer award-winning service with high-end comforts and high-tech conveniences. Two prizes are up for grabs in January and February, with a three-night stay available at both Lanson Place Hotel, Hong Kong in a Deluxe room (top picture), and Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon Serviced Residences, Kuala Lumpur in a One-bedroom residence (lower picture). Both properties are members of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection. The competition runs until February 28, 2017. NOVEMBER’S ONLINE COMPETITION WINNER: Lenny Cheng (Hong Kong) won two round-trip Elite Class tickets from Hong Kong to North America aboard Eva Air.…

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS will begin operating direct flights between Tokyo Narita and Mexico City – the longest flights in its network – starting February 15. The Japanese carrier is the first airline to offer direct daily flights between Japan and Mexico. CHINA AIRLINES and KLM are set to cooperate more closely following a codeshare agreement that offers passengers a choice of 11 weekly services. The Taiwanese carrier is also set to launch its non-stop Taipei–Amsterdam route on January 9, 2017. FLYDUBAI has begun operating a double daily B737-800 service between Dubai and Bangkok, the first route by the airline to operate twice a day outside of the Gulf region. HONG KONG AIRLINES will expand its services to North America in 2017 starting with a new daily direct service to Vancouver, which will begin…