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JULY/AUGUST 2016 ON THE COVER 68 I WELL GROOMED Men are finding new confidence in lookin good through pampering sessions at dedic men’s grooming centres We investigate th phenomenon in Hong Kong 10 I UPFRONT Airline and hotel news worldwide 18 I INBOX Your letters and online posts 22 I TRIED & TESTED Air New Zealand B777-200ER Business Premier; Jet Airways A330-200 Première; Anantara Siam Bangkok; Four Seasons Seoul; Wanda Reign Wuhan 28 I IN THE ZONE Perth may be Western Australia’s state capital, but sharing a time zone with some of Asia’s major cities gives it a useful advantage that it is keen to exploit 34 I THE RIGHT DIRECTION Jakarta has had its problems in the past, but reforms have bred a new optimism and energy in Indonesia’s capital 28 40 I FRESH OUTLOOK Twenty-one reasons to choose a serviced apartment over a traditional hotel room – plus the region’s new offerings 48 I GARDEN CITY Examining the blossoming business landscape of Xiamen, one of China’s most attractive cities 54 I DATA MINE Hotel packages around the world 55 I LOYALTY Reward and redemption news businesstraveller.asia 40 JULY/AUGUST 2016 JULY/AUGUST 2016 58 I LIFESTYLE NEWS Your global hotlist 60 I EXTRA TIME IN SINGAPORE Exploring the Lion City’s many cultural, entertainment and dining options 64 I DYNAMIC MECHANICS The latest laptops use clever design features to broaden their appeal 72 I BUY & FLY Exclusive travel deals at airports in Asia-Pacific 74 I FOUR HOURS IN BIRMINGHAM Canals, churches and trendy enclaves in the UK’s Midland metropolis 76 I CAPITAL CUISINE London’s dining scene benefits from a fresh batch of upmarket eateries 82 I SNAPSHOT Heathrow began life as London Airport 70 years ago 76 60 JULY/AUGUST 2016 businesstraveller.asia I Check-in I n May I participated in the 2nd Global Tourism & Hospitality Conference in Hong Kong, coordinated and run by students of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) It was held at Hotel Icon in East Tsim Sha Tsui district – a property also operated exclusively by SHTM and its students This type of endeavour is praiseworthy, because it provides young people, who are just starting their careers in the tourism and travel industry, with real experience in a fully functioning, professional set-up – an excellent place to learn your craft The creative input that comes both from the top down and bottom up has allowed Hotel Icon to become a pioneer in Hong Kong’s hotel sector – especially in the areas of technology and the environment One example is the recent announcement that from July its fleet will be fully electric – consisting of two Tesla Model S saloons, a BMW i3 and Hong Kong’s first electric hotel shuttle bus – an excellent idea in this compact, polluted metropolis (take note, Hong Kong hoteliers) I stayed at this impressive property during the conference, and a tiny mistake made at breakfast (soon rectified) made me think about the ways in which we form judgements of a hotel – or indeed an airline I review hotels and aviation products frequently, and I am therefore constantly looking for standout features or services to differentiate them But ironically, it is when things go wrong that the quality of a hotel or airline becomes most obvious There are two instances of this in my reviews of a Bangkok hotel and Indian airline in this issue – in both cases the speed, ingenuity and unflustered manner in which minor issues were overcome made me more appreciative of them In the service industry the stated aim is to strive for perfection – an admirable ideal, but realistically impossible to attain Understanding and accepting that, it’s therefore the way in which hotels and airlines deal with the inevitable imperfections and irregularities that make me think “well done” and earn my loyalty I hope you enjoy this issue – and forgive any imperfections… READ MORE ONLINE In addition to our magazine, since our last issue we have published more than 100 news stories about flights, hotels and restaurants on our website visit businesstraveller asia/asia-pacific/ news Jeremy Tredinnick Editor JULY/AUGUST 2016 businesstraveller.asia I Contributors CATHARINE NICOL has been writing stories in Asia and further afield for nearly 20 years Even though she has been to Australia a number of times, this was her first trip to Perth (see p28), of which she says:“I loved the emerging creative energy of the city It’s a great destination for business trips, with work days followed by inventive local cuisine washed down with a craft beer or glass of Margaret River wine… or two.” DOMINIC ELLIS is the editor of HELEN DALLEY has been CHRISTOPHER BEANLAND is Business Traveller Middle East, based in Dubai Although he focuses on the hotel and aviation sectors in that region, he enjoys reporting from other parts of the world whenever possible On a recent trip to Singapore, he was pleasantly surprised to find the range of leisure and cultural attractions for single travellers and families is a world away from his first visit to the Lion City in the mid-1990s (see p60) based in Hong Kong for 11 years and writes for publications such as the South China Morning Post, Travel + Leisure, Prestige and Tatler Researching Hong Kong’s male grooming centres (see p68) was an eye-opener: “The hottest trends seem to be anti-ageing products, with creams and facials that target wrinkles Men are seemingly feeling the same pressure as women to look young!” based in London and writes for The Independent, The Guardian and The Telegraph, as well as magazines worldwide Having previously lived in Birmingham for five years, he is always fond of going back and seeing what’s changed – and in this forward-looking city, the answer is usually “everything”(see p74) Editor Jeremy Tredinnick Deputy editor Tamsin Cocks News reporters Clement Huang, Valerian Ho Art director Loretta Lam Designer Julia Yau Contributors Chris Beanland, Helen Dalley, Dominic Ellis, Catharine Nicol, Caramel Quin Email editorial@businesstravellerasia.com Group publisher Iris Kwan Regional sales directors Gracy Siu, Iris Yeung, Juliet Lim Sales manager Queenie Kwong Admin & production manager Renee Chiu Marketing manager Cynthia Ng Circulation manager Allan Chan Senior marketing executive Cherrie Wong Managing director Julian Gregory Editorial director Tom Otley Director Peggy Teo CONTACT Editorial tel +852 2594 9393 Email editorial@businesstravellerasia.com facebook.com/BusinessTraveller.AsiaPacific Advertising tel +852 2594 9300 Email advertising@businesstravellerasia.com Subscription tel +852 2594 9318 Email enquiry@businesstravellerasia.com JULY/AUGUST 2016 Business Traveller Asia-Pacific is published 10 times a year at the address at left The magazine is entirely independent of all commercial interests within the travel industry All rights reserved in respect of all articles, illustrations, photography, etc, published in Business Traveller Asia-Pacific anywhere in the world Reproductions or imitations are expressly forbidden without the permission of the publishers Unsolicited contributions will not be accepted for publication and Business Traveller Asia-Pacific accepts no responsibility for loss of or damage to them The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers, who cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Panacea Publishing Asia Ltd Regional Head Office: Suite 405, Chinachem Exchange Square, Hoi Wan Street, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong tel +852 2594 9300 fax +852 25196846 businesstraveller.asia Singapore Office: Level 28, Gateway East,152 Beach Road, Singapore 189721 tel +65 6827 5666 fax +65 6295 2567 The UK & Europe edition of Business Traveller is published at: Warwick House, 25/27 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0PP, UK, tel 44 20 7821 2700, fax 44 20 7647 6331 email editorial@businesstraveller com In the United States, Business Traveler is published at: Eleven Ryerson Place, #201 Pompton Plains, New Jersey 07444, USA, tel 973 839 6200, fax 212 725 2646 email editor@btusonline.com In China, Business Traveller is published by the Hong Kong office (address above) In Germany, Business Traveller is published at: Schulstraße 34, 80634 München, Germany, tel 49 89 167 9962, fax 49 89 1678 3914 The Middle East edition is published at: Motivate Publishing, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE, tel 971 282 4060, fax 971 282 4436 In Hungary, Business Traveller is published at: 1074 Budapest, Munkás Utca 9, tel 36 1266 5853, fax 36 1338 4293 email info@turizmus.com In Denmark, Business Traveller is published at: Rymarksvej 46, DK-2900 Hellerup, Denmark, tel 45 3311 4413, fax 45 3311 4414 In Poland, Business Traveller is published at: 36 Swietokrzyska Str, 00 116 Warsaw, tel 48 22 455 3807, fax 48 22 455 3813 In Russia, Business Traveller is published at: Ul M Raskovoy, 34-14 127005 Moscow Russia, tel 495 662 44 39 In South Africa, Business Traveller is published at: Future Publishing (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 3355, Rivonia 2128, South Africa, tel 27 11 803 2040, fax 27 11 803 2022 In India, Business Traveller is published at: Panacea Publishing 20, Vaswani Mansion, 120, Dinshaw Vachha Road, Churchgate, Mumbai 400 020, tel 91 22 4220 2100 Printing by: Elite Printing (HK) Co Ltd, 1401-8 Hong Man Industrial Centre, Hong Man Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong © 2016 Panacea Publishing International ISSN 0255-7312 businesstraveller.asia 10 I Upfront Clement Huang compiles the latest news from www.businesstraveller.asia Cathay Pacific welcomes first A350 CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS (CX) CELEBRATED the delivery of its first A350-900 aircraft – one of 22 on order for 2016 and 2017 – on May 29 The aircraft features all-new in-flight products and began its operational life on the Manila route on May 31 The Airbus A350 is packed with engineering and technological innovations that increase its operational efficiency by 25 per cent Highlights include: s!QUIETERENVIRONMENT Loyalty I 55 Airline and hotel scheme news and promotions Oneworld axes interline benefits Oneworld has updated its ticketing policy, eliminating interline benefits for customers who have booked multiple legs of their journey on separate tickets Previously, connecting Oneworld passengers were entitled to have their baggage checked through to their final destination Under the new ruling, this benefit is no longer an entitlement and will be left to the discretion of the operating carrier The controversial update seems to go against the principles of a global aviation alliance – to create and offer a seamless travel experience for customers flying with member airlines oneworld.com Aeromexico offers status match Travellers who hold an elite status with an airline can now use it to get the equivalent tier status on Aeromexico’s Club Premier programme The Skyteam member is offering status match for both Gold and Platinum tiers of its frequent flyer programme Interested parties are required to fill out a status match form, and provide proof of their existing tier status with another airline’s loyalty scheme Matched status is valid for six months, but Aeromexico will automatically renew it if the user racks up 40 per cent of the mileage required to requalify aeromexico.com Plaza Premium launches in Australia Choice Hotels introduces status match scheme The first Australia-based Plaza Premium Lounge has opened in Brisbane Airport The new lounge is located on level of the departures area and features a rustic design Along with a dedicated F&B dining area, the facility also features Plaza Premium’s signature honeycomb seating – productivity booths that provide privacy for single travellers looking to work in the lounge There are plenty of electrical outlets available and complimentary wifi is also offered The lounge is open to all travellers regardless of airline and travel class A visit to the facility (up to five hours) costs US$46 plaza-network.com Choice Hotels is offering free status matching for its loyalty programme Choice Privileges The US-based hospitality group, which offers more than 6,300 properties around the world, will allow members of other hotel loyalty schemes to enter the corresponding tier on its own programme (up to Platinum status) To apply, customers must first register for free Choice Privileges membership Once registered, members must email status_ match@choicehotels.com to provide proof of their elite status with other hotel loyalty programmes Requests will be responded to within 48 hours choicehotels.com La Compagnie offers unlimited hall pass on business class flights French airline La Compagnie, which operates all-business class Paris–New York and London–New York flights, is offering a one-year “hall pass” for unlimited flying on both routes Priced at US$35,000, the “L’Unlimited” pass will go on sale on July 18, and is valid for a year from the date of the user’s first flight (though it will expire on December 15, 2017) Only ten passes will be released, but those who have them will receive the services of a personal concierge for all booking and flight management needs lacompagnie.com/en businesstraveller.asia JULY/AUGUST 2016 Lifestyle Contents I 57 74 58 I LIFESTYLE NEWS 60 I SINGAPORE 64 I LAPTOPS 68 I MEN’S GROOMING CENTRES 72 I BUY & FLY 74 I BIRMINGHAM 76 I LONDON DINING 82 I SNAPSHOT 76 JULY/AUGUST 2016 58 I Lifestyle News Get in touch at editorial@businesstravellerasia.com EVENT BAR High-octane thrills in Singapore STRAP yourself in for an epic weekend at the 2016 Formula Singapore Grand Prix, held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, September 16-18 In addition to all of the racing action, performances on the upgraded Padang Stage will include Queen + Adam Lambert, Kylie Minogue, Bastille, KC and the Sunshine Band and Pentatonix A variety of ticket options are available Three-day, all-zone inclusive “Pit Grandstand” tickets start from S$1,288 (US$948) singaporegp.sg Nightclub fantasy HONG Kong’s otherworldly new club Ophelia begins in Mr Wong’s Aviary – a secret entrance resembling a tiny bird shop in Wan Chai’s The Avenue Behind the curtain a cavernous lounge emerges, reminiscent of a luxury 19th-century opium den and full of fantastical elements, from peacock motifs to cheongsamclad girls swinging on perches and live art performances in human-sized birdcages The new nightspot is the debut Hong Kong venture of Ashley Sutton – the brains behind a host of Bangkok and Tokyo hotspots including Maggie Choo’s and Iron Fairies Guests should be prepared for surprise entertainment performances, ranging from drag artists to acrobatics Reservations recommended Shop 39A-41A, 1/F, The Avenue, Lee Tung Avenue, Wan Chai Open 6pm-2am Tuesday to Thursday, 6pm-3am Fridays and Saturdays facebook.com/opheliahongkong GOLF Bintan tees off again GOLFERS’ paradise Laguna Golf Bintan in Indonesia has reopened after a complete redesign and extensive renovation The revamped 18-hole, par-72 golf course spreads over 60 hectares of tropical paradise, with views of the South China Sea The course offers a mix of challenging holes and beautiful landscaping, stretching from the beach to the jungle, with two beachfront hotels on site To celebrate the reopening, both the Banyan Tree Bintan and Angsana Bintan hotels are offering “Stay and Play Unlimited Golf Packages” starting from US$130, valid until September banyantree.com, angsana.com JULY/AUGUST 2016 SPA Rest and relaxation in Macau THE MGM Macau has launched the Tria Spa – an elegant urban sanctuary with a host of exclusive treatments The So Sound lounger uses gentle musical vibrations to balance heart rate and blood pressure and displace tension and stress, while the non-surgical Hydra Facial MD treatment promises instant results by exfoliating dead skin cells and deploying a medical-grade serum In addition to signature treatments, a menu of wellness options includes a “Thai Herbal Ritual” massage (90mins MOP1,880/US$235, two hours MOP2,080/US$260) and an “Invigorating Coffee Scrub” (60mins MOP1,080/US$135, 90mins MOP1,480/US$185) Other facilities at Tria include a vitality pool, sauna, hammam, experience-showers, and several relaxation spaces where guests can rejuvenate with bubbling footbaths and heated ceramic recliners mgmmacau.com/triaspa businesstraveller.asia Lifestyle News I 59 CRUISE Follow in Shackleton’s footsteps VISIT the remains of whaling operations and traverse the Antarctic Peninsula as you retrace the steps of the famous Endurance expedition The 18-day Shackleton Centenary Voyage, hosted by Silversea Expeditions, will set sail from Ushuaia, at the tip of South America, on December 22, 2016 Passengers will be joined by a team of naturalists, geologists, biologists, historians and ornithologists for an in-depth exploration of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Elephant Island and the Antarctic Peninsula Fine dining and personalised butler service will be available on board, as well as an exclusive exhibition of the work of official Endurance photographer Frank Hurley Fares start from US$10,215 silversea.com/expeditions STAY An island to call your own EXPERIENCE the ultimate island getaway and escape to the Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah, Baa Atoll Opening later this year, the secluded two-hectare (five-acre) oasis offers seven guestrooms catering to a maximum of 22 guests A beach house offers an open-air living room, dining room, kitchen, pool deck, gym, library and loft lounge Also on site is a PADI-certified dive centre from which guests can explore the abundant reef, part of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, or hop aboard the 19-metre private yacht Meanwhile, the Oceans of Consciousness Spa offers a range of massage and spa treatments The island is accessible via a 40-minute seaplane transfer from Malé International Airport, or a 20-minute speedboat ride from Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru Rates on request fourseasons.com/maldivesvoavah DINE International buffet meets urban street-style PLAYT (as in“plate”) is the funky new restaurant offering from Park Lane, a Pullman Hotel in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Labelling itself a“kitchen theatre”, the industrialchic design features exposed piping in the ceiling, raw bricks and crate-like furniture, plus cool graffiti wall murals from street artist Victoriano The international buffet has an extensive selection of light, main and sweet dishes A standout is the seafood station, with live, freshly shucked oysters, lobster, crab legs, scallops and more Desserts include homemade gelato ice cream with original flavours ranging from moutai to foie gras and brandy cherries Buffet prices start from HK$538 (US$70) for adults, extra for drinks packages (see businesstraveller.asia for full review) parklane.com.hk/playt.html businesstraveller.asia Life in the fast lane THE newly refurbished Landmark Mandarin Hong Kong has partnered with premium German automaker Porsche to bring guests the exclusive Porsche X Landmark Staycation package The deal includes a threehour driving experience in one of the three newest Porsche sports cars (including the coveted 911 Carrera S) with a selection of“insider”driving routes In addition, guests will enjoy a picnic hamper curated by twoMichelin star chef Richard Ekkebus, a new in-room bath experience, HK$1,000 spa or dining credit, plus other treats Landmark Suite guests will also have a chance to win an exclusive VIP trip to the 2017 Porsche Snow Force in Inner Mongolia – and test the car’s limits on ice-carved roads and frozen lakes Rates start from HK$6,800 (US$875), valid for stays from Fridays to Sundays and public holidays until December 31, 2016 mandarinoriental.com/landmark JULY/AUGUST 2016 60 I Focus on Singapore Extra Singapore time in any bus ness trave ers et n and out o the Lion City, but stay on with friends or family and you’ll find plenty of entertainment and dining options to enjoy, reports Dominic Ellis JULY/AUGUST 2016 businesstraveller.asia Focus on Singapore I 61 ingapore has so much more going for it than when I first came here 20 years ago, when there really wasn’t much to beyond shopping on Orchard Road and eating in food courts Since then, Singapore has invested heavily across a slew of sectors including retail, leisure, hospitality, dining and more recently, arts and culture Walking down the main artery today, barely recognisable now with its vast malls disappearing beyond subterranean walkways or up cavernous escalators, you’re reminded of the enormous changes that have taken place and given a taste of the eclectic array of delights now accessible to visitors So if you’re thinking of tagging on a break after business, or simply in town for some leisure time, here are some highlights worth exploring New arts showcase Two of Singapore’s national monuments, the former Supreme Court and City Hall, have been transformed into the National Gallery Singapore, which opened last November to coincide with the 50th anniversary of independence It’s an attractively designed space (look up at the glass“Reflecting Pool”roof) with permanent galleries housing two long-term exhibitions:“Art in Singapore since the 19th Century”and“ Art of SouthEast Asia since the 19th Century” The first major international collaboration was with France’s Centre Pompidou in March, and will be followed by one with Tate Britain in October The JulyAugust calendar includes“Chua Ek Kay: After The Rain” You’re never short of eating options in Singapore and here alone you’ll find eight venues on site Admission is S$20 (US$14.70) for visitors and S$15 (US$11) for children nationalgallery.sg ISTOCK Timeless heritage meets striking newcomer businesstraveller.asia Main: Singapore’s Marina Bay and downtown district After a sneak peek at the one-of-its-kind Sir Stamford Raffles suite (US$10,000 a night), I peered down into the lobby of the iconic Raffles Singapore and heard the antique grandfather clock – which has been part of the hotel since it was founded in 1887 – chime precisely on the half hour A timeless moment of continuity amidst all the urban change; across the road is the avantgarde South Beach Development, with its wave-like aluminium and steel canopy, comprising offices, retail space and 654-room hotel The South Beach Designed by Philippe Starck, the property has 43“Imaginative Social Spaces”and three experiential bars (Court Martial Bar, Laugh and Prefix) The Raffles isn’t so much a hotel as a museum piece (it’s actually been declared a National Monument by the Singapore Government) If you’re lucky enough to stay here you’ll enjoy every heritage-fuelled minute, and even if you’re not, you should make a point of JULY/AUGUST 2016 62 I Focus on Singapore visiting the hotel and arcade, rounding off with a Singapore Sling in The Long Bar – and if you’re peckish, try the delicious satays and burgers after you’ve tossed your peanut shells on the floor A new family suite-staying package, The Raffles Generations, provides under 12s with an Adventure Passport with which they can discover aspects of the heritage hotel (prices from S$918/US$668, among other benefits) Another suite package, The Raffles Experience, focuses on the hotel’s 12 Personality Suites, named after famous names who’ve stayed in the hotel (Ava Gardner, Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne, etc) and includes a tour by resident historian Leslie Danker Both packages run until December 31 UDIÁHVFRPVLQJDSRUH and WKHVRXWKEHDFKFRPVJ Family fun at all levels As the cable car soars skywards en route to Mount Faber, offering a breathtaking 180-degree panorama of the city, I haven’t got the nerve to sit back in the seat We’re so high up the giant Superstar Gemini cruise ship squeezes into the cabin’s window and far down below little dots are splashing around on the Adventure Land rides From this vantage point it’s clear that Sentosa Island, the city’s main leisure destination, is a triumph of design as much as entertainment, with no end of attractions and top-brand hotels crammed into its leafy environs The Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, situated on the extremity by Siloso Point, is one of those resorts that instantly relaxes you as you walk through its windowless lobby and take in the balmy air, pool and sea views It remains in good shape for a property that had a S$80 million (US$58 million) facelift six years ago We stayed in a top floor (11th) corner terrace seaview room which has striking resort and island views ahead, with tankers and container ships moored to the right (we were told it appeals to one UK guest so much he comes twice a year, each time for 45 nights) From behind the port to the right, majestic sunsets sink behind hazy cranes, their orange glow burning the waters JULY/AUGUST 2016 Clockwise from below left: National Gallery Singapore; Gardens by the Bay; cable car ride to Mount Faber; and Lau Pa Sat This 454-room resort must be one of the busiest I’ve ever seen, so busy that even the“overflow”Horizon Pavilion, above Dine on 3, was packed for breakfast Although the Shangri-La in the city is considerably larger, at 747 rooms, it didn’t feel quite so condensed on account of its split tower, valley and garden wings The Rasa’s outdoors cater for everyone, with an adult-only pool section at the top, and generous beach beyond When I could wrestle my nine-year-old off the water slides – where staff have an excellent, effortless rapport with the children – we went kayaking around the bay and had the best views of the daredevils descending on the Megazip cables VKDQJULODFRPVLQJDSRUHUDVDVHQWRVDUHVRUW Flora and fauna surprises Tame peacocks, including one albino who we saw sleeping on the branches, are undoubtedly the stars of the show at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa They strut their stuff and are adept at hopping onto the loungers and skirting the waters Watch out for the monkeys too – height is no barrier, we saw one on a ninth floor balcony – and monitor lizards, which seem to fit in with the resort aura as they waddle past without much alacrity In a corner near the waterfront a garden is taking shape, featuring laksa leaf/Vietnamese mint, Thai holy basil, banana, mango and mangosteen trees, identified by annotations A sizeable orange dragonfly caught my eye; this isn’t the urban trip I quite imagined In between the cable car rides, we’re encouraged to touch a large snake, as more lizards dash past, and I’ve never seen so many koi carp in the space of 72 hours as we marvel at the beautiful fish in the resort and by the Waterfall in the Shangri-La city hotel, and feed them in the pond by the café at Mount Faber businesstraveller.asia Focus on Singapore I 63 I’d forgotten how green Singapore is too, providing a soothing environment from the moment you step out of Changi Airport Gardens by the Bay, spanning 101 hectares of reclaimed land adjacent to the Marina Reservoir, is teeming with botanical varieties and the Flower Dome is the world’s largest greenhouse, while the soaring green towers of the Super Tree Grove are designed with large canopies that provide shade by day and are illuminated at night gardensbythebay.com.sg Universal thrills If you’re travelling with family, a visit to Universal Studios Singapore on Sentosa is a must Granted, it won’t be the most relaxing few hours of your life, but your kids are sure to love it In the space of an hour, I had Donkey sneeze on me in the Shrek 4D animation in Far, Far Away, saw my heartbeat go into orbit on the Ancient Egypt indoor rollercoaster (beware long queues) and lost my hat in the windy, watery tunnels of Madagascar Beyond the rides are activities such as rock climbing in Jurassic Park, and visual features such as Lights, Camera, Action, which replicates a hurricane on a film set A scarily lifelike Frankenstein gave us a hug on the way out rwsentosa.com Dining delights Walking into Telok Ayer Market (known colloquially as Lau Pa Sat), even before we’ve taken a seat or ordered our first satay, I can tell this is going to be a gastronomic treat as we manage to grab a table amid the lively atmosphere This grand dame of hawker centres was built in the 19th century and is still going strong into the businesstraveller.asia 21st (its most recent facelift was in 2014) The choice is bewildering, with every imaginable Asian dish served up beneath its distinctive octagonal design and ornamental columns, but we go for a few safe classics, such as the crab, chicken rice and sambal green beans with chillies If you’re intending a pincer attack on the black pepper chilli crab – and you can’t come to Singapore and not get your fingers dirty – bring your own tissues or wipes as we couldn’t find any on site According to Mastercard’s 2014 survey on dining habits, Singaporeans spent an impressive average of US$198 per month eating out, second only to Hong Kong’s US$218 Every time I visit Singapore I come away frothing about the flavours and variety If nothing else, stay on for the food Q Click on yoursingapore.com for more details on yearround attractions, festivals and events JULY/AUGUST 2016 D YN AM IC 64 I Technology MEC Cara that mel Qu in tran sfor review m in to ta s the la te blet s wi st lapto th th e he ps, inclu lp o f a h ding co nver inge tibl HAN es ICS C ompetition for the humble laptop comes in many forms – smartphones, “phablets” (phone-tablet hybrids), tablets and even smartwatches But manufacturers continue to up their game The most interesting laptop trend for 2016 is mechanical – some boast a 360-degree hinge so that the screen can be completely folded back on itself This lets you prop the device up for presentations and movies but, more impressively, allows it to become a tablet When buying, whatever your size preference, look for a screen with as many pixels as possible – some have 4K ultra high-definition displays or better Apple’s Macbook Pro now has 5K (five million pixels) for razor-sharp images This doesn’t just mean pristine movie performance, but pin-sharp text Apple is also leading the way with its use of IPS LCD technology for brighter colours As always, consider battery life How long are you on the road for and will you have access to power? Eight hours of longevity is now pretty common, but one laptop featured here (from Dell) offers up to 17 hours JULY/AUGUST 2016 businesstraveller.asia Technology I 65 The hinge allows you to use it in a variety of positions – as a laptop, folded back on itself for use as a tablet, or at an angle for watching movies ACER ASPIRE R11 HP ELITEBOOK FOLIO LENOVO THINKPAD YOGA 260 From US$349 acer.com From US$999 hp.com From US$824 lenovo.com A good price for a capable Windows 8.1 laptop The Aspire R11 is a great option for taking on the road because its clever 360-degree hinge allows you to use it in a variety of positions – as a regular laptop, folded back on itself for use as a tablet, or folded back at an angle for watching movies or giving presentations The 11.6-inch display has a damage-resistant coating as well as touchscreen capabilities so you can use it just like any Windows tablet Battery life is a respectable eight hours The unit weighs 1.6kg and storage is 500GB-1TB The thinnest (1.2cm), lightest (under 1kg) notebook HP has ever created Running Windows 10, it has a sleek aluminium body and an unusual 180-degree “piano hinge” so that it can be opened flat for collaborative working using the 12.5-inch display A 4K touchscreen doesn’t come as standard but is available as an upgrade As with Asus’s Zenbook (see next page), it also has ten hours of battery life alongside its noiseless, fan-free solid state drive But its collaborations give it an edge – it’s certified by Skype for Business (optional extra) and the sound system is by Bang & Olufsen This robust business laptop has a 12.5-inch touchscreen display and is designed to withstand the knocks and bumps of airport security Its 360-degree hinge lets you use it in four positions, including tablet mode It features a pleasant keyboard with separate “chiclet” keys that stand proud of the case when in use, but cleverly retract into their frame when converted, reducing accidental keystrokes Battery life is up to ten hours, and there’s a fingerprint reader for added security The Thinkpad runs Windows 10, weighs 1.3kg and, customised, can store up to 512GB PROS Converts to a tablet, good value CONS Screen resolution could be higher PROS Svelte, innovative design CONS No 4K screen as standard PROS Convertible, retractable keyboard CONS Not cheap businesstraveller.asia JULY/AUGUST 2016 66 I Technology It looks the business thanks to Apple’s Retina IPS display, which reduces glare but retains excellent colour quality TOSHIBA SATELLITE RADIUS 12 APPLE MACBOOK PRO 15-INCH ASUS ZENBOOK UX305CA US$841 (from amazon.com) toshiba.co.uk From US$1,999 apple.com From US$649 asus.com The world’s first 12.5-inch ultra-HD 4K convertible-hybrid, the Satellite Radius 12 is available with a full- or ultra-HD 4K touchscreen The latter offers four times the clarity of most laptops for a crystalclear picture, and sound is handled capably by built-in Harman Kardon speakers with DTS Studio Sound Storage in its solid state drive isn’t huge (256GB) but is fast It has Windows Hello for biometric login authentication, including face detection using the built-in HD webcam Battery life is six to eight hours It runs Windows 10 and weighs 1.3kg The latest 15.4-inch Macbook Pro model looks the business, thanks to Apple’s legendary “Retina” IPS display, which reduces glare but retains excellent colour quality This one has 5K resolution, meaning images are crisp, made up of more than five million pixels It’s pricey but powerful and good for creative work Despite its slim aluminium body, the battery life is a respectable nine hours and its 256GB-512GB solid state storage is quick and quiet Measuring 1.8cm x 35.9cm x 24.7cm, it weighs a little over 2kg A 13.3inch version starts at US$1,299 The Zenbook has a svelte, 1.2cm aluminium body but packs a punch, thanks to its 3K, 13.3-inch touchscreen display and Intel’s sixth-generation Core M processor, which promises faster performance but reduced power consumption It has 128GB-512GB of solid state storage so is completely silent Battery life is up to ten hours, even with wifi connected, and “Ice Cool” technology keeps the palm rest cool This Windows 10 machine weighs 1.2kg and is available in a white, metallic or “classic obsidian” finish PROS Very high-resolution screen CONS Battery life isn’t great PROS 5K display CONS Expensive, no touchscreen PROS Silent, slim CONS No 360-degree hinge JULY/AUGUST 2016 businesstraveller.asia Technology I 67 This Windows 10 device packs all the power of a serious gaming PC into a 15.6inch laptop, with up to 1TB of storage DELL XPS 15 ALIENWARE 15 LENOVO THINKPAD X1 CARBON From US$999 dell.com From US$1,199 alienware.com From US$951 lenovo.com The XPS 15 claims to be the highest-resolution 15.6-inch laptop on the market, with even more pixels than Apple’s Macbook Pro It features a virtually borderless ultra-HD “Infinity Edge” touchscreen that offers five times the resolution of a standard HD display Storage options range from a 512GB solid state drive right up to 1TB standard hard drive, but all models contain the latest generation processor Most importantly for travellers, battery life is an unbeatable 17 hours It ships with Windows 10 and weighs 2kg This Windows 10 device packs all the power of a serious gaming PC into a 15.6-inch laptop, with up to 1TB of storage It’s not especially slim or light, but it’s tiny when you consider the processing power, graphics and sound chips It also features “dynamic overclocking” to squeeze more out of the processor when it’s most needed You can choose between a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel display, or upgrade to ultra-HD 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), but neither is touchscreen Battery life is just over seven hours and it’s a hefty 3.2kg A tough, lightweight carbon-fibre case helps to make this the lightest, toughest 14-inch ultrabook available at 1.3kg Impressive when you consider its 11-hour battery life There are several display options, but top of the range is a 14-inch multi-touchscreen for better than full-HD (2,560 x 1,440 pixel) resolution A 128GB-256GB solid state drive comes as standard, but this can be upgraded to 512GB It’s slim (at 1.8cm), Intel-powered and, with Windows 10, is a solid choice for working on the move – a powerful rival to the Dell XPS 15 and Macbook Pro PROS 17-hour battery life CONS Not for the budget-conscious PROS Very powerful CONS Heavy, no touchscreen PROS Slim, light, good battery life CONS Less storage than the Dell Q businesstraveller.asia JULY/AUGUST 2016 68 I Style Well groomed Helen Dalley investigates the growing confidence among men in using salons to look and feel good Style I 69 M riser and facials were a woman’s domain a handful of imagecious dandies Times ge though, and today such products and services for men are big business, with the male grooming market estimated to be worth US$21.4 billion globally according to online statistics portal Statista More than half of men (52 per cent) consider their appearance to be either important or very important, and 29 per cent touch up their looks throughout the day, according to Datamonitor Consumer’s Global Survey 2014 “Men are putting higher stock into looking good It’s about selfconfidence as much as anything else, and the desire to feel more attractive, more successful and, increasingly, more youthful,”says Chris Bonnefoy, director of male grooming space Gentlemen’s Tonic (gentlemenstonic.com), which has seven locations globally including London and Delhi in addition to Hong Kong There has been a pivotal shift in male pampering culture during the last decade, he adds “Men’s toiletries used to consist of shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream and not much else But now many bathroom cabinets are full of moisturisers, facial cleansers, eye serums, bronzers, anti-agers and even mud masks – all designed specifically for men.” Anti-ageing is one of the big trends within the market, and the salon is launching an Advanced Derma-Care line to meet this growing demand.“The men who started this wave in male grooming in the late 1990s are now reaching their 40s and 50s and are looking for topical, non-invasive ways to maintain their youth,”Bonnefoy says Beverley Cappleman, founder of hair and beauty salon The Strand (thestrandhk.com) – which has a floor dedicated to men’s grooming – agrees that male clients are becoming increasingly mindful of their appearance.“They are taking care of their bodies, face and hair regularly – it is not an afterthought but a routine They are also very open to the various treatments that were formerly only thought of for women In recent years, men have moved towards making time to enjoy treatments that achieve good results.” Offering everything from traditional wet shaves to eyebrow tinting from its upscale location in Central, Gentlemen’s Tonic also operates the spa at The Pier First Class Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, where it will soon be introducing facials alongside existing massage services, says Bonnefoy The high levels of pollution and extreme humidity found in many parts of Asia can play havoc with skin To combat this, clients come in for hydration, rejuvenation and detox facials, with 30-minute express treatments including Indian head massages and foot treatments also proving popular with time-pressed customers.“As constant travel leads to dry skin which is more prone to breakouts, congestion and blemishes, we recommend a bimonthly facial to cleanse, scrub and hydrate and a multivitamin or steam facial to remove the excess oils and toxins Opposite page: The Strand Right: The Mandarin Barber in Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong businesstraveller.asia JULY/AUGUST 2016