MIDDLE EAST SEPTEMBER 2022 businesstraveller.com THE RED SEA PROJECT TALKING WATCHE S PEDAL TO THE METAL PLUS John Pagano on the progress of the mega tourism development Breitling CEO Georges Kern is challenging the status quo A closer look at how Ferrari aims to navigate its future Art in AlUla • Elevator Pitch • Etihad’s A350 to NYC A KINGDOM’S SOUL Diriyah, a multi-billion dollar mixed-use project on the outskirts of Riyadh, ushers in a new era for Saudi Arabia UAE DHS12 OMAN RO1.30 BAHRAIN BD1.30 SAUDI ARABIA SR12 KUWAIT KD1 IN A WORLD OF WONDERS THERE IS ONLY ONE DIRIYAH Kingdom of Saudi Arabia diriyah.sa CONTENTS REGULARS 08 UPFRONT The latest airline, hotel and travel news 14 GLOBAL NEWS An update on international travel 22 SUSTAINABLE TRAVELLER Best practices in sustainability from across the region and beyond 24 ELEVATOR PITCH Greg Moses, hotel manager of The First Collection Business Bay 25 AIR MILES Emirati Rashed Al Fahim, founder of DRVN by Porsche in Dubai 40 OPINION Derek Picot and Richard Tams share their insights 42 HOURS IN MANCHESTER Take a stroll through the Mancunian Innovation District 54 LIFESTYLE This season we are inspired by the sand tones of Saudi Arabia 66 POSTCARD The Line is an upcoming futuristic city within Saudi’s Neom project FEATURES 26 GALLOPING GROWTH 28 CHANELLING ENERGY An exclusive interview with The Red Sea Project’s John Pagano 32 AN ART AWAKENING Art takes centrestage in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla 34 GRECIAN GETAWAY 16 A KINGDOM’S SOUL We go behind the scenes of an ambitious mixed-use project being built on the outskirts of Riyadh As visitors return, Athens is gaining a range of new hotels 44 A VICTORY L AP What the future has in store for Italian icon Ferrari 48 52 BREITLING CEO Georges Kern on the watchmaker’s business strategy NICK HENDRIX The English actor checks in to The St Regis Downtown Dubai 34 44 TRIED & TESTED FLIGHTS 58 Etihad Airways A350-1000 (business class) Abu Dhabi-New York City TRIED & TESTED H O T E L S Midtown, Dubai 62 Mandarin Oriental, Milan 63 Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island ON THE COVER Radisson’s Basel Talal on regional growth plans THE REPORT 60 Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof 61 Paramount Hotel COVER IMAGE: DIRIYAH GATE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SEPTEMBER 2022 61 SMART TRAVELLER 64 Our guide to Donating hotel points to charity 48 SEPTEMBER 2022 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K WELCOME I t’s an exciting time to be in Saudi Arabia Stepping out of the airport in Riyadh last month, I could sense the urgency in the way the city operates and the manner in which its residents conduct themselves This, I’m told by those who live there, is representative of the mood in the rest of the kingdom too Saudi Arabia is after all the world’s largest Arab economy and a G20 member state which has earned itself a seat at the high table – no favours curried in the process It is a country that isn’t waiting for the future to happen, but is making sure it is actively shaping it with razor-sharp focus and determination Need proof ? Just look at what it aims to with its Vision 2030 agenda and all the mega projects that are coming up across the length and breadth of the kingdom From the 170km long emissions-free The Line project in Neom (pg66) and The Red Sea Project that is championing the cause of regenerative tourism (pg28) to permanent art installations being built in AlUla (pg32), Saudi’s time is now I was fortunate to go behind the scenes of the US$50.6 billion mixed-use Diriyah project (pg16) which is under construction on the outskirts of Riyadh Diriyah is the historical birthplace of the kingdom, and so it is only fitting for it to be one of the first giga projects to open to the public later this year Elsewhere in this issue, we fly aboard Etihad’s new A350 from Abu Dhabi to New York City (pg58), take a stroll through Manchester’s Innovation District which is filled with cultural gems (pg42), and hear from Ferrari’s CEO Benedetto Vigna on the direction in which the Italian carmaker is headed (pg44) Before I leave you to start exploring the issue for yourself, a quick reminder that we’ve got a great feature on some of the newest hotels to have opened in Greece (pg34), and also had English actor Nick Hendrix check himself into The St Regis Downtown Dubai (pg52) to report his astute observations on the property Hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did putting it together Varun Godinho, Editor THIS ISSUE’S PICKS Business Traveller Middle East is jointly published by Motivate Media Group and Panacea Media Ltd M OT I VAT E M E D I A GRO UP Editor-in-Chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Managing Partner and Group Editor Ian Fairservice Editor Varun Godinho Art Director Clarkwin Cruz Editorial Co-ordinator Londresa Flores Contributors Gemma Greenwood, Hannah Brandler, Allyson Portee, Paul J DeVries, Nick Hendrix, Gautam Sharma, Olivia Morris, Amy Sessions General Manager – Production S Sunil Kumar Production Manager Binu Purandaran Production Supervisor Venita Pinto Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Milne Group Director Andrew Wingrove Group Sales Manager Chaitali Khimji Senior Sales Manager Murali Narayanan PAN ACE A M E D I A LT D Managing Director Julian Gregory Associate Publisher Middle East Rania Apthorpe Global Editor-in-Chief Tom Otley b us i n e s strave l l e r c o m DIRIYAH ON THE RISE All you need to know about the mega development (Page 16) BOVET’S 200TH BIRTHDAY The Fleurier Orbis Mundi is a fitting gift (Page 50) ETIHAD AIRWAYS A350-1000 Aboard the new aircraft from Abu Dhabi to NYC (Page 58) HEAD OFFICE:Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 427 3000; Fax: +971 428 2266, E-mail: btme@motivate.ae DUBAI MEDIA CITY: SD 2-94, 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 390 3550; Fax +971 390 4845 ABU DHABI: PO Box 43072, Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel: +971 677 2005; Fax: +971 657 3401, Email: motivate-adh@motivate.ae SAUDI ARABIA: Office 452, Regus Offices, 4th Floor, Al Hamad Tower, King Fahad Road, Al Olaya, Riyadh, KSA Tel: +966 11 834 3595 / +966 11 834 3596; Fax: +966 11 834 3501; Email: motivate@motivate.ae LONDON: Motivate Publishing Ltd, Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London, NW1 3ER, UK E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae Panacea Media Ltd 41-43 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PD Tel +44 (0)20 7821 2700 businesstraveller.com Panacea Publishing Asia Ltd #2408 24/F Dominion Centre, 43-59 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong, Tel: +852 2594 9300, Fax: +852 25196846 SUBSCRIPTIONS: email subscriptions@motivate.ae; tel +971 427 3542 © 2022 PANACEA MEDIA LTD AND MOTIVATE MEDIA GROUP SEPTEMBER 2022 Beauty, from every angle Apartments ready to move into Telephone : The Westmark at West End Gate is a bold new landmark, set over 29 storeys it boasts panoramic views of the most iconic buildings in London Nestled between Regent’s Park and Hyde Park and a short stroll from the tranquil waterways of Little Venice and Marylebone, this collection of beautifully appointed one, two and three bedroom apartments are complemented by a superb range of facilities creating a truly elevated lifestyle www.westendgate.co.uk 020 3993 6310 • Excellent connections via tube lines and the Elizabeth Line • Superb facilities including cinema, lounge, private dining, pool, gym and spa • 24-hour concierge • Tranquil landscaped gardens • Private underground parking* Photography and Computer Generated Images are indicative only Prices correct at time of print *Via separate negotiation UPFRONT SAUDI’S PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND AND CAIN INTERNATIONAL INVEST US$900 MILLION IN AMAN GROUP AMAN GROUP has secured US$900 million of WYNDHAM OPENS BEACHFRONT PROPERTY IN DOHA WYNDHAM HOTELS AND RESORTS has opened a 278-key beachfront property in Qatar’s capital The Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach was built in collaboration with Hala Real Estate Development Company The hotel includes on-site restaurants, a spa bath, steam room, sauna and outdoor pool as well as a fitness centre Business travellers can make use of the property’s six corporate meeting rooms, which have a combined capacity to host nearly 350 people The Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach is the latest addition to Wyndham’s portfolio of three operational hotels in Qatar, and two further properties which are currently under development Wyndham’s regional offerings include a development pipeline of 27 hotels It currently has approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries investment to accelerate its global expansion strategy Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and London-based real estate investment fund Cain International are providing the investment, which Aman said will bring the value of the company to over US$3 billion The funds will be used to construct the pipeline of Aman and Janu properties and support the acquisition and development of additional sites Aman was founded in 1988 and currently has 34 hotels across 20 countries, 12 of which include branded residences There are a further nine projects under construction, including three under the Janu brand in Tokyo, Saudi Arabia and Montenegro Etihad posts record H1 2022 profits ETIHAD AIRWAYS has declared a record core ROTANA TO ENTER ALGERIA UAE-BASED HOTEL management company Rotana will enter the Algerian market with a new property located in the Algerian port city of Oran The Azure Rotana Resort & Spa will be built on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and is set to open in March 2023 It will feature 185 rooms and suites, including eight sea view ambassador suites The property will have five F&B options including a lobby lounge, shisha terrace, an all-day dining restaurant, pool bar, and a speciality restaurant The resort will also include a spa, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, and a kid’s club The grand ballroom will be able to accommodate up to 300 people SEPTEMBER 2022 operating profit of US$296 million for H1 2022, compared to a US$392 million loss it accumulated in the corresponding period last year The carrier said that it managed to achieve that profit despite fuel costs increasing by almost 60 per cent over the same period last year The airline carried 4.02 million passengers in H1 2022 with an average seat load factor of 75 per cent, over three million more than in H1 2021 when it transported 980,000 passengers Etihad’s passenger revenues tripled in the first six months of 2022, climbing to US$1.25 billion versus US$320 million in H1 2021 Its cargo division reported revenues of US$802 million from January-June 2022, an increase of six per cent year-on-year H1 2022 PERFORMANCE OF DUBAI INTERNATIONAL (DXB) AIRPORT 27.9 MILLION The volume of passenger traffic 390,520 TONNES The amount of cargo handled 154,993 Total number of flight movements 175km Length of baggage handling system 27.1 MILLION Total number of bags processed 62.4 MILLION Revised forecast for 2022 passenger traffic EMIRATES BEGINS RETROFIT PROGRAMME FOR 120 AIRCRAFT EMIRATES HAS PROVIDED details of what it says is a $2 billion investment in its inflight customer experience A significant part of this is taken up by plans to upgrade cabin interiors across all classes, with retrofitted or reupholstered seats, and new flooring Emirates has begun upgrading the entire interior cabins of its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft The target is to completely retrofit four Emirates aircraft from start to finish every month over a period of two years Once the 67 earmarked A380s are refreshed and back in service, 53 777s will undergo their facelift This will see nearly 4,000 new premium economy seats installed, 728 first class suites refurbished and over 5,000 business class seats upgraded by the time the project concludes in April 2025 Ras Al Khaimah announces its first music and wellness festival RAS AL KHAIMAH’S FIRST music and wellness festival – Raktopia – will take place from October 22-23, 2022, at the 300-metre stretch of the Longbeach Campground in the emirate The organisers have announced the lineup of activities and performers at the festival It includes body movement awareness with Raktopia ambassador Allaoua Gaham who will introduce a yoga-meets-breakdancing workout, as well as Systema, a form of martial arts that focuses on physical, mental and spiritual wellness There will also be guided meditation sessions with Sarah White and a pilates class with Tamara Khoury Besides a jamming session with Charl Chaka, several local and international DJs will join live artists to perform at the upcoming festival JUMEIRAH OPENS FIRST PROPERTY IN OMAN JUMEIRAH GROUP has unveiled its first hotel in Oman, located around 15 minutes from the capital Muscat Plans for Jumeirah Muscat Bay were first revealed in 2017, with the 206-room property situated within the cove of Bandar Jissah The hotel features five F&B venues, including multi-cuisine restaurant Peridot, Tarini lounge for afternoon tea, poolside eatery Zuka, and Anzo bar and terrace Signature seafood restaurant Brezza will open this month Other facilities at the property include a Talise Spa with a hammam, sauna and steam room, as well as a fitness centre, adults-only and kid's pools, yoga studio, tennis court and water sports centre SEPTEMBER 2022 UPFRONT Kingdom Suite unveiled at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh KUWAIT’S AGILITY ACQUIRES JOHN MENZIES IN £763 MILLION DEAL KUWAIT-BASED SUPPLY chain services and infrastructure company, Agility, has acquired 10 UK-headquartered John Menzies in a £763 million deal Agility will combine John Menzies with its National Aviation Services (NAS) business to create a company called Menzies Aviation which will provide air cargo handling, fuelling and ground services at airports around the world Menzies Aviation is expected to become the world’s largest aviation services company by the number of countries it operates within and the second-largest by the number of airports served It will have approximately 35,000 employees and operations at 254 airports in 58 countries, handling 600,000 aircraft turns, two million tonnes of air cargo and 2.5 million fuelling turns per year The combined revenues of Menzies and NAS exceeded US$1.5 billion in 2021 Turkish Airlines resumes full operations to Saudi Arabia TURKISH AIRLINES has fully restored services to Saudi Arabia following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions by Türkiye The flights to the kingdom have now resumed to pre-pandemic conditions with Saudi citizens able to travel to or transit through Türkiye once again Turkish Airlines flies to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah and connects travellers from Saudi to 335 cities in 128 countries, including 51 cities in Türkiye Passengers can fly to Türkiye without a PCR test or vaccination proof With the resumption of the airline’s complimentary Touristanbul service, Turkish Airlines passengers with connecting flights in Istanbul airport, and a stopover of between 6-24 hours, will have the option to visit select tourist sites in the Turkish capital courtesy of a guided tour organised by the airline itself SEPTEMBER 2022 OVER THE PAST 18 months, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre has undergone an extensive US$150 million renovation One of the highlights of the revamped property is the new Kingdom suite The hotel’s signature penthouse suite is spread across the 48th and 50th floors and covers an area of 330 sqm The design of the contemporary ceiling pendant in the main living area references the phases of the moon The suite is also decorated with Saudi objects d’art from Alwaleed Philanthropies, a US$45,000 Master Innovation turntable handmade in Germany and a selection of rare vinyl records A dedicated butler is assigned for this suite to offer guests exclusive personalised services during their stay WORDS & STYLING AMY SESSIONS LIFESTYLE 54 Business Attire Your answer to smart-casual workwear – this season we are inspired by the sand tones of Saudi Arabia Kent Suede Bomber Jacket Dhs20,384 Loro Piana ae.loropiana.com SEPTEMBER 2022 Álvaro 47 Suede Holdall Dhs6,188 Álvaro mrporter.com Straight-Leg Cotton and Silk-Blend Suit Trousers Dhs3,781 Tom Ford tomford.com Jerry Merino Wool Polo Shirt Dhs801 APC bloomingdales.com LIFESTYLE Aviator-Style Silver-Tone Sunglasses Dhs1,315 Gucci Eyewear gucci.com 55 Wyatt 30 Suede Chelsea Boots Dhs17,842 Saint Laurent ysl.com Clic Card Leather iPhone 12 Pro Case Dhs156 Native Union nativeunion.com Straight-Leg Pleated Wool Trousers Dhs1,685 Stòffa stoffa.co SEPTEMBER 2022 TIK-TOK ANNA ALAIMO CARMINE DE MICHELE SLINGS INTO CIAO BELLA Social media pizzaiolo star Carmine De Michele joins Media One Hotel’s Ciao Bella’s Chef De Cuisine Anna Alaimo in the kitchen curating an exclusive Italian menu SEPTEMBER 12 TH & 13TH the eport Tried, Tested, Tasted TR IED AND TE S TED F LIGHT Etihad Airways A350-1000 (business class) Abu Dhabi-New York City TR IED AND TE S TED HOTEL S 58 SMAR T TR AVELLER Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof 60 Mandarin Oriental, Milan 62 Paramount Hotel Midtown, Dubai 61 Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island 63 Our guide to Donating hotel points to charity 64 TRIED & TESTED FLIGHT Etihad Airways A350-1000 (business class) ABU DHABI-NEW YORK CITY 58 B A C K G R O U N D On June 30, 2022, UAE airline Etihad Airways celebrated the inaugural flight of its new A350-1000 flying from Abu Dhabi International Airport to New York’s John F Kennedy International airport (JFK) The 14-hour business class flight offers a seamless experience from the moment you step into the airport to the moment you touch down at JFK The newly-launched flight accommodates 371 passengers and is one of five new Airbus A350s Forty-four of the seats are in the business cabin and “provides a luxurious experience comparable to first class on other international airlines,” according to Martin Drew, senior vice-president of Global Sales and Cargo, Etihad Airways Not only does the business cabin provide a plush in-flight experience, but the aircraft itself is also highly efficient, enhancing the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s sustainability goals “This is an incredible aircraft with highly-efficient fuel consumption and CO2 savings, which enables us to support our goals to reduce carbon emissions and deliver an unmatched flight experience for our guests,” Drew explains SEPTEMBER 2022 F I R S T I M P R E S S I O N S With a departure time of 1015, I was picked up from my home in Downtown Dubai by Etihad’s complimentary business class chauffeur service at 0600 It was a smooth and quick journey to the UAE’s capital, with ample time for check-in I arrived at the airport at around 0715 and was welcomed by the friendly Etihad staff at the business class check-in area An attendant assisted with my bags and led The aircraft is highly efficient, enhancing the airline’s sustainability goals me to the check-in desk where I was shown to a seat while I waited for my bags to be checked and to receive my boarding pass I furnished my passport, along with my ESTA (the visa required to enter the US) and vaccine certificate which I had obtained via the Alhosn app At the Etihad business class and first class check-in, there is a separate immigration and security section which ensured I got through with plenty of time to spare THE LOUNGE I then headed to the Seamless flight Etihad Business experience from start Class lounge where to finish I enjoyed some downtime before C ONFIGURATION the long-haul flight 1-2-1 The lounge is expansive with sofa SE AT WIDTH AND areas, individual PITCH seating and dining 20.25 inches / 44 inches tables – plenty of options for SE AT RECLINE whatever you need 180 degrees It was relatively quiet when I BED LENGTH entered and the 78.7 inches staff were welcoming and FLIGHT friendly, ready to DURATION help with anything 14 hours to JFK I needed. PRICE For F&B Internet rates for return offerings, there business class flights were a plethora of from AUH to JFK start at options at the buffet Dhs10,740 – everything you could want for a CONTACT hearty breakfast etihad.com and a coffee to kickstart your travel day There were also fully-stocked fridges with soft drinks and other snacks for passengers to help themselves to The bar was quiet in the early hours of the morning, but it was a welcoming space to relax before a flight Overall, the lounge is a great space for guests to recharge before their flights, get last-minute emails done prior to take-off and enjoy a bite to eat BEST FOR B O A R D I N G Those travelling to the US from Abu Dhabi need to be mindful of the time when heading to the gate because you’re able to go through US customs whilst physically still in the UAE This is all done through Etihad’s US pre-clearance, the only United States Customs and Border Protection facility in the Middle East While it means you need to leave slightly earlier when heading to the gate at Abu Dhabi airport, it saves a huge amount of time and effort when arriving in the US, avoiding immigration and queues The whole US immigration process went smoothly and I then headed to the gate where I arrived just as business class passengers were being TRIED & TESTED FLIGHT called to board My ticket was scanned at the gate, and I then headed down the walkway to board the new A350 to New York City T H E S E A T Business class is the highest cabin class on the A350 and is complete with 44 seats, all with a generous amount of space The layout is a standard 1-2-1 layout with cream, brown and gold interiors which gives the cabin a relaxing ambience It also felt extra spacious as there were no overhead bins in the centre of the cabin – not to worry though, there was no shortage of hand luggage space The seat pods were designed with technology and style in mind with faux marble finishes and the colour hues of the rest of the cabin echoed in the seats The fold-out table expands out to be approximately 42cm long and 46cm wide, perfect for those who want to work during their flight There are also several charging spots including a standard power outlet, a USB-A and USB-C charging ports The seat itself was incredibly comfortable with huge amounts of space and privacy afforded by the double closing doors of each pod When fully reclined, the seat turns into a 200cm bed T H E F L I G H T I was welcomed by the friendly Etihad flight attendants who were attentive from the moment I boarded After making myself comfortable, and ready for take-off, I was given a welcome drink and asked to look at the menu to let them know my meal of choice We took off in great time, with an effortless transition from the runway and into the air As for entertainment, there were plenty of in-flight movies from all genres to enjoy, as well as television shows and even a few live TV options, all of which could be watched on the 18.5-inch touchscreen TV There was also on-board wifi However, business class guests only receive a 350MB complimentary voucher Thereafter, it’s chargeable with a 24-hour session for 350MB priced at US$29.99 F O O D A N D D R I N K I ordered from the a la carte menu prior to departure and I could choose the time that I wanted to eat my meal I opted for the Arabic mezze starter which was a great option – filling but not too heavy on a long-haul flight I then had the truffle pasta which was superb However, I was sufficiently full, so didn’t opt for dessert The US pre-clearance at Abu Dhabi airport is the only one of its kind in the Middle East A R R I V A L The landing was smooth as we touched down at JFK and we made it to the arrival gate ahead of schedule The whole immigration process was already completed in Abu Dhabi and so we arrived as if we were domestic passengers, heading out through the domestic exit The whole process was easy and faultless as I headed to get my bags and enjoy a cool 48 hours in New York City V E R D I C T From start to finish, the service of the whole Etihad Airways A350-1000 business class was seamless If you’re due to travel from the UAE to New York City, I couldn’t recommend flying from Abu Dhabi enough, even if you are based in Dubai Olivia Morris SEPTEMBER 2022 59 TRIED & TESTED HOTEL pasta options and lamb too There is a buffet breakfast served every day filled with a generous selection of cheeses and cold cuts Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof B A C K G R O U N D The Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof opened in 1876 It was the first hotel in Germany to have electricity, as well as the first in Frankfurt to have a telephone landline for long-distance calls Eventually, it was Albert Steigenberger’s son Egon, who inherited the Frankfurter Hof from his father, and propelled the hotel’s profile to a global stage W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The hotel has an oldworld charm to it The staff are phenomenal, remember your name throughout your stay, and go above and beyond to meet your every need The main floor includes the reception and concierge, the restaurants as well as Autorenbar 60 W H E R E I S I T ? The hotel is located in the heart of Frankfurt, in its financial district and historical centre It is only a 10-minute walk to the main train station, and not far from attractions such as the Main Tower, Römer, and St Paul’s Church R O O M S The property has 261 rooms and 42 suites The Superior Single rooms range from 25-35 sqm and offer free access to The Spa Deluxe rooms range from 36-45 sqm and are a glamorous statement, while the Studio suites are bigger at 60 sqm The rooms were recently renovated and include large marble-finished bathrooms, a rain shower, bathtub and flatscreen TV For the ultimate luxury experience, there’s the 300 sqm Royal suite on the fourth floor It includes an electric fireplace, a full-size kitchen and a reading nook in the spacious bedroom – as well as a steam bath and Finnish sauna bathroom F O O D A N D D R I N K Oscar’s is a restaurant filled with Art Deco inspirations and a brasserie with great steak options The oysters that are served as starters come from Germany and France, while for the mains you must not skip the classic German dish of Oscar’s Wiener Schnitzel paired with cranberries, cucumber dill salad, and fried potatoes Other mains include There are 19 renovated function rooms, including the grand Festsaal ballroom B U S I N E S S There are 19 renovated function rooms, including the grand Festsaal ballroom Frankfurt is the financial hub of Germany, and so the hotel regularly hosts business events It offers 3D meeting room previews as well as the option to book a personalised virtual tour of the space for clients who want to inspect the property remotely A Green Meetings initiative by the hotel allows for the use of energy derived from renewable sources and conference equipment made of recycled and sustainable materials L E I S U R E The 1,000 sqm spa has a Turkish bath for men and women, besides an exclusive sauna facility only for women It also features a spa suite that can be rented for an entire day There is the Beauty-Plus booth and Nail Bar, as well as a Hommage Gentlemen’s Barber The gym meanwhile was recently renovated with new weightlifting and cardio equipment The hotel offers the option to engage a personal trainer and is open 24 hours a day V E R D I C T There are great meeting room facilities at the property, but it is also an ideal luxury weekend getaway The food, mocktails, service, gym and spa are all top-notch Allyson Portee BEST FOR Its meeting rooms DON’T MISS The spa PRICE Internet rates for a weekend stay at the hotel in September start from €340 CONTACT 33 Bethmannstrasse, Am Kaiserplatz, 60311 Frankfurt, Germany; +49 69 21502; steigenberger.com SEPTEMBER 2022 TRIED & TESTED HOTEL Paramount Hotel Midtown, Dubai B A C K G R O U N D It’s the second Paramount hotel in Dubai It opened in March this year and, according to its staff, has been close to full capacity on several occasions since then W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The reception on the ground floor serves as a welcome area for guests They are then whisked up in an elevator to the lobby which is located on the 14th floor The lobby includes images of famous Hollywood stars including Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, besides a life-size statue of Charlie Chaplin Marble flooring and hints of gold, as well as a beautiful floral arrangement in the centre of the space, keeps the experience classy W H E R E I S I T ? It’s located less than a two-minute drive from the Dubai International Financial Centre It takes less than a 10-minute drive to reach other landmarks including the Dubai World Trade Centre, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and La Mer Located just off Sheikh Zayed Road, it’s a short walk away from the Business Bay Metro station too R O O M S There are 281 rooms and suites that offer up views of either the Burj Khalifa or the coast The suite we stayed in – Premiere – had views of both since it was along the edge of the building Its living room opened out onto a balcony that ran the length of the suite Floor-toceiling windows meant the entire suite was lit brightly during the day There’s a large flatscreen TV set in a wooden cabinet in the living room and another one in the middle of the bedroom. The marbled bathroom with José Eber amenities has a stand-alone bath, rain shower and vanity desk The well-appointed suite also had a king-size bed and a writing desk Room service is prompt and the men who came to resolve a technical glitch with the TV were dressed in Tom Cruise-inspired Top Gun overalls F O O D A N D D R I N K There’s L-Café in one corner of the lobby and it’s a great place to wait while you check in There’s the bright and airy Cinescope all-day dining restaurant where a continental breakfast is served alongside regional specialities The highlight F&B offering at the hotel is the Paparazzi Tuscan fine dining restaurant on the 14th floor It organises a Friday night brunch with a set menu which is a musttry It features live music, muted lights, and an exquisite chandelier in the centre of the room The menu includes a delightful olive tapenade crostini, crisp calamari, a creamy spinach ravioli and perhaps one of the BEST FOR Easy access to the entire Downtown Dubai area DON’T MISS The rooftop pool with stunning views of the city PRICE Internet rates for the rooms start at Dhs520 per night and suites begin at Dhs800 per night CONTACT Al Mustaqbal Street, Business Bay, Dubai; +971 248 3333; paramounthotelsdubai.com/midtown The highlight is the pool that nearly wraps itself around the rooftop of the hotel finest tiramisus we’ve sampled in the city The restaurant excels in presentation – we’d be surprised if the Michelin inspectors don’t have this restaurant on their radar already B U S I N E S S The 15th floor has a modestsized business centre There are four meeting rooms that can be configured to accommodate up to 150 guests Keeping with the Hollywood theme of the property, the hotel refers to the meeting rooms as ‘Business Studios’ L E I S U R E If you want to stay in your room itself, the TV features Airtime – an entertainment programming platform that has several paid-for and free content – including, of course, Paramount Pictures releases Elsewhere in the property, there’s Pause Spa which has collaborated with French brand Château Berger There’s a kid’s room and gym as well, but the property’s highlight has to be the pool that nearly wraps itself around the rooftop of the hotel on the 64th floor The infinity pool has breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa, the coast, and the high-rises along Sheikh Zayed Road V E R D I C T If the first Paramount hotel that opened in Dubai was all about a big budget production, think of the Midtown property as an art house production – it’s cleverly designed, accessible for those on a more modest budget, but has an equally riveting storyline with a twist in the plot – in the case of this property, it is that stunning rooftop pool with a separate large spa bath Varun Godinho SEPTEMBER 2022 61 TRIED & TESTED HOTEL BEST FOR Michelin-star dining DON’T MISS The spa and swimming pool PRICE Internet prices in July showed room prices starting at approximately €1,200 and suites from €1,700 CONTACT Via Andegari, 20121 Milan, Italy; mandarinoriental.com Mandarin Oriental, Milan 62 F O O D A N D D R I N K Seta, by chef Antonio Guida, boasts two Michelin stars There is an indoor dining option for the colder months, whereas guests can sit in the courtyard when the weather permits The Mandarin Garden serves mocktails as well as dishes such as ceviche di ricciola, seabass with courgettes and several salad options too You can also order room service from an Asian-inspired menu that includes the likes of dim sums, spring rolls and noodles B A C K G R O U N D The Mandarin Oriental is housed in four 18th-century buildings overlooking two parallel streets It was originally a grand manor house, and later became Milan’s tax office and then a bank In the courtyard, you can see the original coat of arms of Lombardy’s historic provinces W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The hotel is modern and grand The doormen and those at the front desk are especially attentive and warm As you enter the lobby, you will notice the wooden interiors The colour palette in this space includes cream, purple and green The room corridors are lit dimly creating a relaxing and inviting feel as you make your way to your room W H E R E I S I T ? Sitting on Via Andegari in the heart of Milan, it makes the hotel centrally-located for business and social gatherings From the hotel, you can easily reach key sites like Via Monte Napoleone, the main luxury shopping street From here, you can also head to the Duomo di Milano and tour the church, and then pop into the famous Rinascente department store And just beside Rinascente is Panzerotti Luini, The Mandarin Oriental, Milan is housed in four 18thcentury buildings SEPTEMBER 2022 marble, while a movable desk also functions as a dining table Family rooms include two spacious connecting rooms that can accommodate up to four people The Milano suite meanwhile is a onebedroom suite with oak panelling and handcrafted furniture, whereas the Premier suite includes art by Spanish artists and is a tribute to designer Giò Ponti with a living area, bedroom and guest bathroom too B U S I N E S S The hotel can provide customised business meeting setups and support with microphones, projectors and screens It also offers various business and secretarial services, which can be organised by the hotel’s concierge The hotel chef can design a special menu for guests attending these business events too L E I S U R E The property’s pool will take where you can taste the famous sweet and savoury panzerotti filling turnovers that melt in your mouth R O O M S There are 70 guest rooms and 34 suites The Superior rooms are 35 sqm and adhere to the guidelines of feng shui The bathrooms are designed using Italian your breath away Located on the spa level, the rectangular pool is set in a dimly lit room The Asian touches of the hotel are found in the spa’s interior with feng shui principles applied for higher levels of relaxation and rejuvenation The property features six private treatment rooms including two couples’ suites, a dedicated Thai massage room as well as a spacious spa suite V E R D I C T Its location, excellent service and amenities make it a great option for those visiting the city Allyson Portee TRIED & TESTED HOTEL Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island B A C K G R O U N D Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island, is part of the six-property Yas Plaza hotels complex, providing guests with the flexibility of dining at other venues, depending on the room package/deal they have chosen W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? There’s a nice atmosphere at this hotel The lobby is spacious, filled with light and is the focal point, leading to its dining venues and the outdoor pool Although it’s a business property primarily, there is a leisure vibe, which is relaxing The staff are very friendly and helpful W H E R E I S I T ? Opposite Yas Marina Circuit (YMC) on Yas Island, if you are attending an event at the circuit, including Formula 1, it could not be more convenient Attractions including Yas Mall, Yas Waterworld, Yas Links golf course, and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi are just minutes away too, while a 15-minute taxi ride will get you to Abu Dhabi International airport, as well as Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Road R O O M S There are 397 rooms and suites with views of the Abu Dhabi coast on one side and the YMC on the other Some have private balconies I stayed in a 36 sqm Standard room with Plaza View, with an Insta-worthy view of YMC The room was spacious, comfortable and practical with a workspace, king-size bed, chair, mini bar, tea/coffee-making facilities, TV, hairdryer, plenty of complimentary water and ample hanging space in the wardrobe The shower was in the bath, so it’s something to consider when booking if your mobility is restricted in some way F O O D A N D D R I N K There are three restaurants, poolside dining and room service, plus the option to dine at one of the other hotels in the complex if your stay is longer than a few days and you’re looking for variety For lunch or dinner, the Belgian Café Yas Island offers classics like burgers and Belgian fries, and mussels too, with very generous portions, and if you’re into sport, there’s live coverage on the TV screens I enjoyed a Caesar salad and a club sandwich The Italian restaurant Filini Garden has a pleasant outdoor seating area The freshly-grilled catch of the day was prepared table side, served with grilled vegetables and a fresh and crispy salad At all-day dining venue Assymetri, the buffet breakfast could’ve been a little more generous with the options offered, but it was ample B U S I N E S S There are eight meeting and event spaces plus The Galaxy Ballroom that can be divided into three separate areas and features both a pre-function area and an outdoor terrace overlooking the island The pool area can also be converted into an events space The room was spacious, comfortable and practical with a workspace L E I S U R E If you have some leisure time, the outdoor pool has plenty of sunbeds and views of the dunes and mangroves around the island, so you can instantly switch off from work There’s also a good-sized gym, which opens at 0600 The hotel runs a complimentary shuttle bus service to Yas Mall and the island’s public beach V E R D I C T A comfortable business hotel in a central location with a great selection of dining and meeting venues It offers quick and convenient access to leisure facilities and local attractions Gemma Greenwood BEST FOR Business travellers or events DON’T MISS Dinner at Filini Garden PRICE Internet prices indicate a price starting at Dhs354 per weeknight in September CONTACT Yas Island, Yas Plaza, Abu Dhabi, UAE; +971 656 2000; radissonhotels.com SEPTEMBER 2022 63 SMART TR AVELLER Our guide to… Donating hotel points to charity 64 SEPTEMBER 2022 P reviously, we looked at the ways in which frequent flyers can transfer unused air miles to charity Here, we explore some of the main hotel loyalty schemes which allow travellers to donate hotel points to charity organisations ACCOR The Accor Live Limitless (ALL) programme lets you convert your points into a donation to Accor Solidarity, an endowment fund that helps local NGOs in the fight against economic and social exclusion, or the Community Conservation Fund Africa (CCFA) to support projects that help preserve Africa’s endangered wildlife and wilderness areas The latter requires a minimum donation of 2,000 points (€40). all.accor.com BEST WESTERN The Best Western Rewards scheme allows guests to donate points to charities including the International Committee of the Red Cross, Kiva and Project Cure The hotel group also has The Better World Fund, which supports all of its charitable initiatives and allocates funds to programmes with the most critical need bestwestern.co.uk HILTON Hilton Honors has teamed up with Point Worthy to enable you to donate points to a good cause To take part, you have to open an account on pointworthy.com, which links to your Honors account Make a donation of at least 3,500 points to one of the charities, which include World Central Kitchen and Project Hope (both of which are helping people affected by the conflict in Ukraine) hiltonhonors3.hilton.com HYATT Members of the World of Hyatt programme can support the American Red Cross in its relief efforts in Ukraine and neighbouring countries Travellers can donate in 1,000-point increments, which the loyalty programme will then convert into US$20 contributions world.hyatt.com IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS IHG Rewards allows you to redeem points within a 12-month period On the drop-down “shop all” tab, choose “donations”, which includes 15 organisations, including Care International UK, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Ozharvest, and WRAP among others You can donate 2,500, 5,000 or 10,000 points ihg.com/rewardsclub MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL Marriott Bonvoy allows you to donate points as part of its Serve 360 CSR programme, which has four pillars, with associated charities for each one Nurture focuses on aiding communities; Sustain is about reducing the brand’s environmental impact; Empower helps to ensure access to opportunities; and Welcome is concerned with advocating for human rights There are 31 charities included Members can donate in increments of 2,500 points to World Central Kitchen and Unicef Marriott Bonvoy will match donations point for point, up to 100 million points this year, for donations to World Central Kitchen, which provides meals and supplies to people in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, and Unicef, which supports the children of Ukraine through improved access to safe water, nutrition, healthcare and education giving.marriott.com NH HOTEL GROUP With NH Rewards you can contribute your reward points to non-governmental organisations Let NH Hotel Group know how many points you wish to donate, and it will transfer the equivalent amount in cash on your behalf nh-hotels.com/nhrewards RADISSON HOTELS Radisson Rewards enables you to donate points to carbon offset organisation First Climate, which is working on a carbon reduction project in Madre de Dios, Peru There is a 3,000-point minimum, with increments of 1,000 To donate, fill in a contact form or call the company radissonhotels.com SHANGRI-LA The Golden Circle programme allows you to donate points to Oxfam Hong Kong and Med Art, a Hong Kong charity that cares for people in psychiatric institutions, prisons and hospices, and the medical needs of orphaned children Donations start at 2,000 points (US$40) and cap at 10,000 The group is also running campaigns to raise funds for Make-A-Wish International shangri-la.com WYNDHAM HOTELS AND RESORTS Wyndham Rewards’ online shop lets you donate to Save the Children Donations start at 400 points and cap at 8,000 points wyndhamhotels.com SEPTEMBER 2022 65 POSTCARD 66 The Line is a futuristic city which will be constructed within Saudi Arabia’s Neom project The Line will fundamentally reimagine how a city is built – rather than a sprawling megapolis, it will be only 200m wide, 500m above sea level, and 170km long It will eventually accommodate nine million residents, and will have a footprint of 34 sq km – around two per cent of a conventional city It will also feature an outer mirror faỗade that will allow it to blend with its surroundings and will be created by a team of architects and engineers led by Neom Conceived around the concept of Zero Gravity Urbanism, The Line vertically layers all the components of a typical city allowing residents to move in three dimensions (up, down or across) It will be designed in such a way that most areas that a resident would require to access in their daily routine – retail outlets, schools, offices and public parks – are only a short walk away Should the city’s inhabitants wish to travel further, a high-speed rail will ensure that no two points in The Line are more than 20 minutes from each other The city will be powered 100 per cent by renewable energy and will be free from roads, cars and emissions The Line is not waiting for the future to occur – it is defining it neom.com SEPTEMBER 2022 NEOM Neom – The Line Welcome to the EXCEPTIONAL Radisson Collection is a unique collection of iconic properties, reflecting an authentic local influence, living design and vibrant social scene Our newly opened Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel features luxury rooms and apartments, with trendy dining options in the heart of Riyadh A C O L LE C TIO N OF OUR FI NEST HOTELS radissonhotels.com/collection ... Sustainable Business Travel Survey, June 2022 SEPTEMBER 2022 23 E L E VATO R P I TC H The elevator pitch Business Traveller Middle East gives Greg Moses, hotel manager of The First Collection Business. .. COVER IMAGE: DIRIYAH GATE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SEPTEMBER 2022 61 SMART TRAVELLER 64 Our guide to Donating hotel points to charity 48 SEPTEMBER 2022 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K WELCOME I t’s an exciting... 1, 2022, The First Collection Business Bay is on course to enjoy similar success SEPTEMBER 2022 The First Collection is a lifestylefocused brand which prides itself on meeting the demands of business