Busii | am \ | suLY/AuBUsT 2021 £430 COME ON IN TESTING TIMES MAYAN TREASURES PLUS How horelsarestepping up | Navigate your way through Balancing conservation Hybrid events » Bristol ‘their game to keep you safe the new rales of travel and commerce in Mexico «Tried & Tested reviews MEETING THE CHALLENGE Malta prepares to welcome the world~NEW, ALL-ELECTRIC en RUT | o FROM £20,495* UP TO 199 MILE RANGEt 7" Digital Cluster ¢ Smartphone Cradle” Attention Assist een ROM ees an cen nme esa eaenem iets eae ele oe eee eeCONTENTS Traveller JULY/AUGUST 202 REGULARS FEATURES ON THE COVER a MEET IN MALTA TT The lates travel news “Ancient sites narra ‘Why oxganisxon ooking gaher once from around the globe wondesandhecallenge | moreshould consider the well connected of sustainable development along the Riviera Maya island inthe middle ofthe Med ‘Your online forum posts g a Exploringhow the words major hotel groupshave Sire art wife and adped othe Cod age seiking views inthe soutewatem ey a ‘Meetings have taken on The logistic of viral and yb formats oan ion daring the pandemic decatng ong say Schengen vis pose Bex a The complex process a of Covd 19 esting for Imagery from the UN, teave abroad andthe World Oceans Day problems facing providers Photo Competition 2021 and passen THE REPORT “The Mayfair Townhouse: Kingsland Locke, London; Aparthotel Adagio London Stratford SLS Cancun; JW Marriot Cancun Resoreand Spa We round up the airlines offering customers discounted Covid-19 testsWELCOME lcome othe July/August issue of Busnes Traveller. Uhad been hoping tha by the suramer we ould all be looking forward to world wiere travel ws getting back ro normal. Fis not the ese “Arthe time of writing this in mid. Jane we stil don't know what the next few months wil hold Governments havea dificl balancing ct o perform. On one side thers the sfety and security of citizens and the need to protect them from che virus. On she other ther ate the benef, both taional and international, chat come with eavel. At the momenta asin che UK, sfey itil de main concer, and consequently travel is very dificl other chan domestically. Some of you may have heen raelling internationally for busines under special exemption, and iso you willy now be expres in che vatous testing prosocols necessary for doings. hope you sie with recognition when reading our "Testing times” feature (page 56). ‘Most of us have ha vo accept that ou plans fortis sumer have forthe second year running, been diseupeed. What I don think i acceptable, however sche lack ofcoondinaion between the UK, the other European countries and even the US, and the mixed messaging fom diffrent member ofthe UK {government abou what che public isallowed todo, We already have a devolved system, meaning England, Scotland, Wales and NortheenIicland make theie own decisions about vel Add o that the fac that some tministes sem to get conised about the purpose ofthe government’ green, amber and red country system, and whether people ought vo be wavelling a all and you havea recipe where aidins, aisports and eeavel ‘management companies ae throwing their hands up in despa ‘We share that eusteation. Ie is not easy predicting the future during a pandemic bu che government not understanding or communicating the roles that treated is regrectable, Will we be teaveling again by oar September iste? Only time wil tll Tom Otley Fitoral drs IN THIS ISSUE VIVA MEXICO WELCOME BACK REGIME CHANGE Gowest Seunningbeaches and Hotels have reehoughe their We explain the new testing Take in Bristol's artistic and fascinatinghistory area winning entire operations to prorect ‘protocols in plae for architectural highlights in combination on the Riviera Mayes both sa and guests international eavel double quick rime (Page 38) (Page 44) (Page 56) (age 68) evaveust aon, businesstrvelier.comHello World. Hello Travel. \wwwsripactions.com/uk/return-to-travel TripActions Lets go.GET 30% OFF YOUR PRINT SUBSCRIPTION Busitiess| __Teveller__ Includes access to The Club by Business Traveller Wee ns Traveller oxo deco ln Gregory Grou publisher Rania Apthape ii eT Oy fo Mark Caswell 6 Annie Has su a Ale Metter Sut: Hannah andl cr Meel Ha uo Derek et dlls Cs Das Ady isan se th Calis Ciena pradution manage ae Hing ance nog Vina Murphy sal 49 (e070 rs edloralbushesselarcom Save Son avo yee sbecson ‘trot Won athe er sbsrpion voto contest and Repali of land san @hushessalenk (oe yea £425; two years £16 ors 4 (ROTTS three years 21580, val aderisngobusestavrcom Conners Europe (ne yea £5555 wo years 247 esc thes yas, £720 To +4 (steer 0043 ie Eats of ed nalling@businessvaeetcom One en 7875 wo year, £4965; thee years £2285 ns or pled esa ao es io ces Tal et age dTs kd pwd eX ase toa pins the and Ese id ap San pis anny 2 US pes Terrogurlerdgorot Saleem meets Yd ay Ussh russ tie snp Props eer cans eit es alte ses noe ace ssl ayes oss (CB i ttre ‘ns opr te long embossed ero an, a Pue Ov i Ras aa eordsor Me enalownseusrssalaca ‘OnePass d- esi tPaoc Me ngom SORHSEeee ens} oe RB)UPFRONT BA DOUBLES GUARANTEED REWARD SEAT AVAILABILITY BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS INCREASED the ‘minimum numberof seats available for reward redemprions on all ofits ight. The extra availability takes effect for Rights from July 28 and sees the minimum number of seats in Club Europe and Club World inerease from eo to four and in Euro and World Traveller cabins from four to cight. In World Traveller Plas there will now be a minimum of ewo seas available for reward bookings. BA says more than 250,000 additional rewaed seats have been added ‘wits booking system, n Stevens, BA’ director of brand and customer experience, said eh the extrier had. ed to feedback fom customers, adding: rs that a family holiday, or that ip trip away, will be much easier —a - UNITED HAS SIGNED an agreement with Boom designed to fly at speeds of Mach 1.7 - twice the speed of ‘Supersonic to buy 15 ofits Overture aircraft. The deal current commercial ets - which would potentially halve the = hich includes an option fora further 35 - would see the journey time on United's New York Newark-London route to cartier purchase the sirraft once Overture meets United's three and a haf hours. demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements United isthe first US erline to sign @ commercial ‘Overture is scheduled tobe rolled out by Boom in 2025, agreement with Boom Supersonic ~ the company also has ‘ake fight in 2026 and carry passengers by 2029. tis pre-orders fram Japan Airlines and Virgin Group.Frankfurt and Munich reopen terminals GERMANY'S TWO BIGGEST AIRPORTS have reopened terminals to passenger fights as demand increases. Frankfurt Terminal 2 resumed passenger ‘operations on June 1 forthe fst time since March 2020. ‘The airport has used the dovintime to carry out “extensive upgrades, repairs and modernisation projects Munich (pictured) reopened its Terminal 1 on June 23, ater the airport recorded its highest daily wat figures in more than nine months, with about 400 fights and 36,000 passengers ona single Sunday. Allcariers that had temporal been relocated to T2 have moved back 10 withthe exception of Eurowings a” —_— - NOVOTEL UNVEILS | FOUR DESIGN CONCEPTS FOR ITS ‘NEW VISION’ ACCOR’S NOVOTEL has chosen designs from four firms folowing a global competition = ‘that it says will bring the brandis new vision cof modern 2ist-century style to the world’ The four concepts (including that from Hypothesis, pictured) will make their debut ‘aver the next several years in select hotels in Brazil Mexico, Russa, Ukrsine, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo before tultimately being rolled out worldwide Stobart Air and Air Antwerp cease operations TWO MORE CARRIERS have ceased flying asa result ofthe pandemic Stobart Air operated fights for Aer Lingus Regional under franchise agroement but terminated all seevies in mid-June. The collapse has afected 12 routes in che UK and Ireland, including ftom Dublin to Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow and from Belfast City o Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, Belgium’ Air Antwerp also ceased all fights in June. The airline was formed by Cityjet and KLM in 2019 following the demise of fellow Belgian carrer VLM, and launched is inaugural route to London City in September ofthat year, using a Fokker 50 sircratUPFRONT a DOUBLETREE LONDON WESTMINSTER REBRANDS AS CURIO PROPERTY HILTON HAS REBRANDED its Doubletree by Hilton London Westminster property under the group's Curio Collection portfolio. Located on John Islip Street, the hotels row known as the Westminster London following "a multimilion-pound’ conversion. It has 464 rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, 50-inch TV, Nespresso machines and "giant high-pressure rainfall showers! Food and crink options include STK Steakhouse, with its own bowing alley, and Bao Yum Café, Other facilities include 2 13th-floor gym with Thames views and five meeting rooms, LAVISH LIQUOR DICTADOR HAS A LONG history of erating aged tum from its base in Cartagena. Lately thas maved into investment grade rum - a bots recently sold at auction for £30000, Dictador Generations isa limited edition that uses a blend from 1976 and comes in a Lalique bot. Drink less, ink better COrkeep tin the hope it appreciates. £14000 from ‘Hedonism Wines: ictedorcom SINGAPORE AIRLINES PLANS ‘> Singapore Airlines rastart services from Manchester on July 1 with thre-tmes week to restart flights flights operated by an 350-800 f h aircraft, The cartier said it also hopes ‘to resume onward fights from rom Manchester ‘Manchester to Houston Karen Smart, Manchester airport's ‘managing director, said: "Singapore vine nee airings and its routes have been ‘extremely popular with passengers from across the north over the years” “We look forward to working with our colleagues at Singapore Airlines to make this returning service a success, especially siven the destinations inclusion on the UI yment’s green list Together, (we! tbe able to relaunch the Houston service as soon as possible once t 3d from the United pened unVirgin Atlantic plans short-haul electric network VIRGIN ATLANTIC HAS OUTLINED i ns to establish network of lights using eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Offand Landing) “The carrier has parencred JP MORGAN CHASE TO LAUNCH Aoerrs AIRPORT LOUNGE BRAND uraseupto 1S0e7TOL pln Thetwo ‘companies will explore ajoine veneure JP MORGAN CHASE HAS ANNOUNCED plans for anew simed at establishing shore haul electric sisport lounge concept “tailored tothe nceds of che discerning connectivity between UK airports, starting traveller The US firm is partnering with Airport Dimensions to with Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick, develop the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club brand, “with “The Virgin Adlantic branded service locations to be announced in select markets overtime" would se Filly electric, ero emission Details on lounge facilities and acces eligibility have yer to be VA-X¢ aircraft, which can carry up to four announced, bur the “Sapphire” par ofthe brand name suggests passengers in addition to the pilot, and that they wil be aimed havea range of more than 100 miles. the group’ Sapphire ex ‘A prototype isin production with the card holders, firsc tse flight slated for later this yea. Overtime they are ‘Commercial operations are planned for likely co go head-to-head 2024 following che relevant UK and with American Express European certifications newwork of gin sees the partnership asa way of Tounges wi ‘enabling “wstainable, price competitive developed forthe frm regional connectivity across the frst and premium card holders. last 100 miles ofthe customer journey” Ie Credit card specialise said there were 37 towns and cities with Capea One also recendly populations of more than 100,000 within announced plans to launch 100 miles of Heathrow: its own airport loungesPOST-PANDEMIC TRAVEL UK Priority Pass mombors revealed their views of airport experience and travel requirements in a Collinson survey re more ely to 8% re-order and cole ood ‘and drink pre-departure 16% sameeren 20% vimanred sitoe” ‘such as biometric Pessport kiosks 43% iremontnotoera vaccinated 45% sorority 6 use airport lounge access than pre-pandemic 67% wert sveecie passport 76% ws coroner international travel UPFRONT me BUILDING MOMENTUM BENTLEY HAS RELEASED a new men's fragrance. Following on from Momentum Unlimited and Momentum Intense is Momentum Unbreakable, created by perfumers Ane Ayo and Fabrice Pellegrin and offering woody, floral and spicy notes, Housed ina bottle “inspired by the soaring, vetcal skyline of a modem metropolis, ithas a front stone plate made of mica schist {and etched with Bentiey’s "Bin Wings" logo. £69.50 (100ml); bentley-fragrances.com Retracing royal footsteps JUNE MARKED THE DEBUT of Aielles Chiceau de Verlles, Le Grand Conte, a 14-r00m bhotel set across hice I7:h- and 18th-censury buildings in the French palace’s ground. Interiors feature bespoke fabrics and period furnishings, and rate include a dedicated butler, breakfast, minibar, daily afiernoon tea and, aceess to electric eats and boats. Complimentary ours of the palace and ofthe Trianon (Matie-Antoinette’ estate) ate aso on offer “The property has an Alsin Ducasse restaurant and a spaby Valmmone. airellescom a kat ad READ: The LISTEN: vith specialists inthe el about Comfort Book, Unfinished Business the ins posites otc ‘at Haig TMispoeasthused by et downto Thebestaing Sh brary erator author’ test Polly Rusa detvesinto WATCH: Sherpa tome comesin theongoingfahtfor ‘This documentary by strain thetorm ofa wsra'rihts, fimakr enn Peed ives salto mana accompanyingthe an isightntthe Himaayan camprising a lary namesake guides whorepetey uti calletion af tnibton(endson ves al riktosupprt climbers oes quctes, Augesth psodes on Mount Everest Tefim thoughts and marasttatHaig inlte"Freawteelng omen, crcriles the ee avalanche of hascoleced overtheyearsto _wichdscusses the istry of 2014 whch ile 1 Sherpas, getthrough is hard times. womens ying wth guests andthe cononatons that IS tingly reassuring incluing Olympic okt ‘alowed betweon the ues, campeon fortteuneerantes medalist Vetora Penton, _forelgnexpedtin leaders and ofthe pandenic era and "The Acidertal ‘he Nepalese government, Canongate Boos: 1899 Technologists conversation Aalbeo watch on efiUnique Access to Confidential Opportunities InterExec is the global leader in enabling Top Executives to access £200k to £2m+ unadvertised vacancies worldwide. We act discreetly through a 15,000 strong international network. Inter Exec UNIQUE NETWORK # OUTSTANDING TALENT london@interexec.net www.interexec.net +44 (0)20 7256 5085UPFRONT NEW ROUTES: EUROPE BRITISH AIRWAYS IS LAUNCHING four new ‘Thursdays and Sundays to Wroclaw (pictured), short-haul routes in July from London Heathrow and on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to to Wroclaw and Gdansk in Poland, Riga in Latvia the other three destinations. The airline ‘and Cluj-Napoca in Romania, Flights will operate previously flew to Riga in 2007 and briefly served until September 26 and will take place on Gdansk between 1999 and the early 2000s, HAS THE AUDIENCE the humour ~ few ther ‘AND MOST CHALLENGING? ‘CHANGED OVER TIME? composershave his ange. 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OLIVER MEARS sdircctorof and hear Sittinghehind the The Komische Oper Bedin. opera tthe Royal Opera House conductor isaunique experience Few othershaveso much energy, INDISPENSABLE TRAVEL, in London ~ifyou don't mind wavingarms; fai and inevernce. GADGET? high up givesa fabulous view A portable phone charger WHATATTRACTEDYOUTO _incothepitsthebestsage View is MOST REWARDING TRAVEL ‘THE PROFESSION? the Grand Tier but the bes EXPERIENCE? FE PICK? (Oper isboth the ota arform —acoustiisin the amphitheatre. Any tipo Fay Is che 1c of Hilary Mancels Thomas 5 that combines all ofthe others combination of fod, culture, Cromwell books. © andaplaceofcazyexcessandFAVOURITECOMPOSER? scenery, history. mil ~ they 2 emotional energy. Whatcould [Dmitri] Shostakovich. he __haveallofthe erucessentils of Vit baimentravellercom forthe 3 bemoreeacitingthanchat? drive the raged the modemity, female. mis it fll nterne.