Author: Ben Debski

Nirvana in Ghana

Posted on by Ben Debski

The stuff of dreams, often seen from afar in glossy magazines, but these exotic experiences can seem all too far away; those immaculate hotel rooms that stir so much emotion and invite for some serious indulgence. After or during vacations, following the day’s grind in the brainstorms and conference halls – or just when time to unwind is required – the extent to which the Labadi Beach Hotel has gone to bring you the luxury of your very own nirvana is simply breathtaking.

The Labadi Beach Hotel – sophisticated, sensual, soothing and pampering has raised the standards yet again. In a manner matched only by its own records and which only Ghana’s sole five star-hotel can surpass, the Labadi Beach Hotel has created 104 totally refurbished rooms and 60 new executive rooms for its discerning guests.

The entirety of the interior décor is made to reflect contemporary Ghanaian flair, tradition and culture whilst the corridors of this new wing are decorated with miniature chief stools supplied by Wild Gecko. Walking through the corridors and bedrooms one cannot but admire the opulent rugs that sink beneath your feet, giving the feeling of a stroll within an Arabian sultanate palace.

The room furniture is made in Italy from kiln dried wood obtained from sustainable forests in the United States whilst the furniture installers were flown in from Italy to ensure top quality installation. The furnishings have soft closing drawers and a unique recessed make-up mirror that pops up from the desk surface with illuminating lights to aid that flawless facial touch. In the desk drawer there’s even a high-wattage hairdryer with an extra long-length cord.

When the gourmet within comes alive, you have a mini bar with a refrigerator stocked with assorted drinks before you call on the enthusiastic staff to wait on your every need.

Each room has a distinct, intricately carved chief’s stool, an exquisitely spiraling stand turning lamp made of wood and a velour chair seat. With its soft cushions and throws in the living suite, a truly glamorous style of living is created. The rooms are enhanced by a long stem orchid contrasted by dark wood; and should the illumination in the room be too much for your taste, the blackout curtains will surely come in handy for the perfect lie-in or afternoon snooze.

The bathroom modeling is unique with its subtle lighting, which provides a sensuous aura to any bathing experience – the perfect way soothe after the hectic daily grind. All come with a walled shower and separate bath for the optimum of choice when bathing. The showerheads are also adjustable for massaging, and a full walled mirror has been made available for the narcissist that lurks somewhere within! To top it off -sumptuously soft white bath towels are always on hand while a gorgeously ornate armoire for your garments and a luggage rack stands at knee height for easier access.

For soothing sleep, the king size bed with its adinkra decorated bedspreads and scatter cushions will bestow upon you that long-awaited rest. And just in case sleep eludes you, you can simply relax with some laidback entertainment on the 40-inch LED flat screen and choose from 18 entertaining TV channels. If you would rather do some reading, adjustable reading lamps, (the kind only available on first class flights), will certainly do you the honours.

When finally you embark for the journey home, you will leave redefined and pampered – you’ll also leave with no doubt that the Labadi Beach Hotel’s reputation as Ghana’s only five-star hotel is an honour well earned. If all of this fails to inspire some awe in you, then surely nothing on earth can guarantee your desires.

Tel: +233 302 772501 6, fax: +233 302 772520; email: Labadi@legacyhotels.co.za;
www.legacyhotels.co.za

Like father, like son

Posted on by Ben Debski

For starters, John Jameson established his now legendary whiskey distillery in Dublin in 1780. A true family affair, the original John Jameson passed his distillery to John II and he to his son John III. Some fathers give their sons bicycles as gifts; John Jameson gave his the secrets of how to distil quality whiskey. “John Jameson & Son” you see became a family business through and through.

Unusual yes, but maybe not unique. How many whiskeys though can say without fear of a lie that their Master Distiller learnt his trade from his father? Jameson’s current Master Distiller, Barry Crockett, stepped right into his father Max’s shoes. Not only that, Barry first saw the light of day in The Distiller’s Cottage at the Old Midleton Distillery. Talk about being born for the job.

Together with the other Jameson Masters, Barry has crafted the Jameson Reserves, a collection of whiskeys to be proud of and which any father would be delighted to receive.

The Jameson Reserves
Created and blended at our Single Distillery in Midleton, using only the limited stocks of distillates on hand, the Jameson Reserves embody this unbroken heritage and pursuit of excellence.

Jameson Signature Reserve celebrates the legacy of John Jameson. His signature, which over the centuries has come to be recognised as a stamp of quality, to this day appears on every bottle of the world’s No. 1 Irish Whiskey. Exclusive to travel retail, Jameson Signature Reserve also delivers the signature taste and triple distilled smoothness of Jameson with a significant contribution from Oloroso sherry casks.

Jameson Gold Reserve is a creative blend of three whiskeys of advanced years, one of which is uniquely matured in virgin oak barrels. It’s the inspired choice of this virgin oak, coupled with the bourbon barrels and sherry casks that account for the whiskey’s opulent taste and satisfying complexity. This is a marvellously rich pot still character whiskey.
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve is the oldest and rarest whiskey in the collection. A triumph of the collaboration between the Jameson Masters and winner of Double Gold at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this 46 percent ABV non-chill filtered masterpiece represents the pinnacle of the distiller’s art.

The peak of perfection, Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve is the most exclusive expression of Jameson. This magnificent Reserve features the pick of the oldest grain whiskeys and a rare pot still whiskey that was aged to a fantastic mellow sweetness in specially commissioned port pipes. The resulting union has a glorious, fruit rich character.

If time is essential…

Posted on by Ben Debski

Since its opening in 2001, the Hilton Copenhagen Airport has been dedicated to excellence and the success of this mission has been greatly acknowledged by local as well as international guests, making the hotel one of the most award-winning and renowned hotels in Copenhagen.

Whether you are staying for business or pleasure, this five-star Hilton Copenhagen Airport is an ideal choice. The hotel enjoys a unique location in Copenhagen. It is situated right next to Copenhagen Airport – a central hub in the Nordic region – and is directly connected to the Terminal 3 via a covered walkway. Furthermore, the city centre is just 12 minutes by train or Metro as well as the city of Malmoe on the other side of the impressive Oresund Bridge. Similarly, it takes only ten minutes to reach major congress facilities at the Bella Centre.

Entering the premises, you are met by a stylish, contemporary Scandinavian ambiance. A special feature of the hotel is the artwork made by renowned Danish artists from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. In the Lobby, guests are also serviced by self-check in machines for airlines and a dedicated Concierge to make travelling as well as staying at the Hilton as comfortable and hassle-free as possible.

A meeting convenience
The Hilton’s meeting concept – Hilton Meetings – is respectfully renowned, offering a total of 29 varied modern meeting rooms. Some of the rooms, along with an additional Business Centre, are located at Terminal 3 of Copenhagen Airport reachable within two minutes. All meeting rooms have natural daylight, wireless internet access and are equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment. The Hilton Meetings Team, led by the Hilton Meetings Manager, in the Business Centre is at the visitors’ disposal to ensure all those important details are in place to guarantee a successful meeting.

For large events the elegant Ellehammer Ballroom, located on the hotel’s ground floor, accommodates up to 450 people and also offers a large foyer suitable for coffee breaks. A unique feature of the ballroom is the direct access from the outside through three-metre wide flexible doors, making the room ideal for events such as car launches.

Green and social commitments
For many years, the hotel has worked determinedly to safeguard the environment. General Manager Claus Steiner led the hotel to its first international certification with the eco-label the ‘Green Key.’ To accomplish this, the hotel has engaged team members in the scheme by creating a Green Team. Committing and educating team members have long been one of the strengths of the Hilton brand, and the Copenhagen Airport team fulfilled 50 different environmental requirements to achieve the certification. Even the Hilton Meetings concept now has a green approach, with meeting collateral reduced and made recyclable.

But the Hilton Copenhagen Airport is not all about business. The hotel also engages in the local community and in a great number of charity events. In 2010, the hotel initiated several campaigns in the name of the ‘Hilton in the Community Foundation’, Hilton’s global charity organisation. A prestigious charity ball hosted by the hotel alongside other campaigns, have raised more than £13,000 to support ‘Children with Cancer’ as well as other organisations supporting children in need. The strong enthusiasm of the team towards charity work continues in 2011 with new, exciting projects.

Feel at home
On the 12th floor is the renowned Executive Lounge – an area exclusively for guests staying in Executive rooms, providing extra comfort and service such as complimentary breakfasts and evening drinks, snacks and canapés. It aims to provide a home away from home; a place to sit back in front of the open fireplace with an international newspaper and relax from the day. The Lounge is designed with a focus on modern simplicity and comfort, inviting guests to enjoy the special Nordic ambiance underlined by the use of iconic design furniture. A dedicated Executive Floor Manager is present all day to assist guests.

All 382 rooms have a distinct Scandinavian look and are fitted with everything to retain the feeling of home. In every room there is a floor-to ceiling window letting in floods of light, providing beautiful views of the Oresund, the airport and the roof tops of Copenhagen. Make the stay special with an upgrade to the Executive floors where you find the Executive rooms offering even more space and comfort as well as Lounge access.

All modern conveniences are available, making each stay relaxing and enjoyable. Separate baths and showers, Pay-TV, Samsung flat screen televisions (37” and 42”), an in-room safety box big enough for a laptop, iron and ironing board, mini bar, tea and coffee maker, and cable and wireless internet access. Deluxe and Executive rooms offer better views, while the family size and Executive Plus rooms are ideal if staying with more people.
Restaurants “Horizon All Day” and “Hamlet Nordic Dining” cater to delicious culinary experiences. “Horizon All Day” is the informal restaurant, providing a lavish breakfast buffet as well as a popular weekend “Taste of Europe” dinner buffet and the best Sunday Brunch in town; while the architectural beauty “Hamlet” offers Nordic dining in a stylish setting that’s perfect for formal business dinners as well as romantic evenings. The cosy “Axis Bar & Lounge” serves everything from coffees and authentic Danish beers to exciting cocktails.

For the ultimate luxury experience, indulge in a visit to the Ni’mat Spa. This Asian inspired spa offers a wide range of relaxing massages and exclusive treatments. Take a quiet moment in the aroma steam bath accompanied by the ‘Ice Buddha’, float in the heated salt-water pool, or powernap in the Golden Egg – a unique universe designed to de-stress in less than 15 minutes. Ni’mat Spa also offers special packages for the leisure traveller as well as for larger business groups and specific meeting events.

Tel: +45 32 501 501; www.copenhagen.hilton.com; cb.copenhagen-airport@hilton.com

Slavic serenity

Posted on by Ben Debski

It starts with the name; the City Hotel is a real downtown hotel with 204 rooms and suites, in the very center of Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. Although practically everything is within walking distance, the hotel still prides itself on offering peace and calm to guests. The bus and the railway stations are located just five minute’s walk away, a city bus stop is in front of the building and there is also underground parking available in a dedicated basement garage as well as shuttle services to the airport.

It must not be overlooked that the family owned City Hotel is steeped in more than100 years of tradition and prides itself on accommodating business and leisure guests with the services they can all expect from a place that feels like home: free broadband internet in every room, bike rental, exquisite cuisine, a sommelier on hand to offer advice and award winning barmen tending the bar.

Good service starts with friendly and helpful staff, offering information and a friendly smile. Our restaurant offers a full buffet breakfast that guests have always decided is worth returning for. Lunch and dinner from the menu are always on hand and home cooking takes pride of place to provide a great choice for guests during their free evenings. The contemporary and ambient design offers great natural light and the popular summer terrace is a green oasis that guests love to return to again and again. So, welcome to Ljubljana and be our guest! – Peter Sušnik, CEO

City Hotel Ljubljana, Dalmatinova 15, 1000 Ljubljana, tel: +386 1 239 00 00, www.cityhotel.si

Class act

Posted on by Ben Debski

The carrier of choice for many business flyers, Air Namibia offers various service options to choose from, whether travelling regional or international. The airline also offers comfort, convenience and best value for money across the fleet, which comprises of Airbus A340-300, Airbus A319-100, Boeing B737-500 and Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft to offer a broad range of travel options with one of Africa’s finest airlines.

Voted Best among four finalists in the Business Destinations Travel Awards, 2011 – Best Business Class Airline – Africa, Air Namibia’s dedication to business travel represents a dedication to quality of service and investment in customer care to achieve new industry standards in Africa.

Experience a “taste of the Namibia hospitality” in the skies – a relaxing atmosphere that comes with great-personalised service. Our wide range of in-flight services includes special requested meals, choice meals from our menu; wines, assorted premium beverages and refreshments; with on board entertainment and shopping experience from our duty free service on selected flights.

Upon departure, business passengers are given priority at the check-in counter, allowing for a swift check-in transaction. With the completion of the check-in process, as well as having gone through immigration and security, Business travelers are offered access to Business Class lounges at the different airports we operate from. Our lounges offer a service bar, buffer menu and a calming get away while you wait for your departure. These lounges are designed to offer travellers an idyllic setting to re-energise and freshen up for the trip.

Our lively ground staff and enthusiastic cabin attendants are always ready to effectively respond and assist our clients’ needs. Their warmth and friendliness helps passengers to travel in a relaxed mood.

On-board business class, passengers are welcomed by a warm friendly cabin attendant. The seats are built for comfort by reclining, with articulating armrests, which allow for ample room to relax and stretch. The level of comfort in business class is ideal especially for the overnight flights to Frankfurt; where passengers are able to enjoy a perfect night’s sleep.

Upon arrival, business passengers are given first priority to disembark and collect their baggage with the assistance of a friendly ground staff.  After you have experienced our personalised service, it is worth familiarizing yourself with our frequent flyer program that offers exclusive advantages and a more specialised personal service.

Getting there
Direct flights from Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, are available to the following destinations
– Frankfurt, Germany: six times per week
– Johannesburg, South Africa: 14 times per week
– Cape Town, South Africa: 14 times per week
– Luanda, Angola: five times per week
– Maun, Botswana: four times per week
– Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: four times per week
– Lusaka, Zambia (via Johannesburg): four times per week (*)
– Accra, Ghana (via Johannesburg): four times per week (**)
(*) with traffic rights between Johannesburg and Accra; (**) with traffic rights between Johannesburg and Lusaka.

Business lingua franca

Posted on by Ben Debski

$1trn in assets just so happens to be the worth of state-owned funds managed in the Middle East and North Africa, which of course translates to numerous business opportunities if the candidate has the right credentials. Speaking languages such as Arabic and Chinese Mandarin is emerging as a vital qualification requirement in a future employee.

Progressively more countries are trying to establish global business opportunities. South Korea recently agreed to join forces with one of the globe’s largest sovereign wealth funds, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. This union could make way for South Korea’s state-run funds including the National Pension Service, which has won around $270bn and Korea Investment Corp. South Korea is hoping to boost oversees investments and develop its presence in the global financial market.

Communication is key, and the success of sovereign funds or any other business will depend on the correct form of communication. Not only will it help a company to reach its target audience and meet the requirements and demands of its clients it will also garner respect for the business partner who made an effort to learn the other party’s language.

Arab speaking countries including UAE, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar and Oman are countries whose pockets of wealth have during the credit crunch kept the world afloat. These countries will always be using Arabic as it’s the key language of Islam and the dominant religion practiced in those regions. However, it is a common misconception that Islamic believers comprise of Arabs only, especially as most Islamic believers live outside the Middle East.

This shows that Arabic is used by followers of Islam even beyond those regions. Literary Arabic is the official language of 22 countries with around 1.3bn Islamic believers who have been in contact with Arabic due to the Koran having been written in Arabic.

In February a report researched by the University of California at Riverside, which analysed federal data tracking degree programmes over 35 years, found that French, German and Italian have been declining for decades. The traditional language decline was attributed to the increase of Arabic and Asian languages which can serve a more practical purpose post graduation, the report indicated.

A large proportion of US language schools have found the language with the greatest increase in enrolment as of 2009 is Arabic, which increased in enrolment by 46.3 percent from 2006 to 2010 alone.

This was confirmed by a recent article published in the Los Angeles Times, which indicates a heavy move away from Russian studies towards Arabic studies. Geopolitics and a shift in interest, from cold war issues to the Middle East, may well be the trigger for the change.

The increase in language enrolment was followed closely by Asian languages like Mandarin and Korean, the report stated. China is now home to one of the world’s most significant economies and more people speak Mandarin than any other language in the world.

China has also just overtaken Japan as the world’s second largest economy, and with new business possibilities emerging the wish to learn Chinese Mandarin has seen an increase internationally.

It has become much easier to tap into foreign commercial markets; yet corporate communication is frequently hindered by the usage of language barriers. Corporations are therefore progressively attempting to hire graduates with creative language skills such as Arabic and Mandarin to improve their reach and market presence in those markets.

Understanding the culture and language of your business partner is indispensable for the business to be able to grasp the client’s needs and continuous market trends.

Head above water

Posted on by Ben Debski

London
Forever immortalised in classic films such as Alfie and the sinister Hitchock shocker, Frenzy, the River Thames is one of London’s most recognisable symbols. Offering more than touristy pleasures and guided tours, the curvaceous river serves as an ideal commuting path. The city’s river bus service- which is operated by Transport for London and accepts the local travel pass scheme, Oyster-  runs from Hampton Court Pier in the west, and through  to Woolwich Arsenal Pier in the east. The service runs every 20 minutes during peak hours, and the most common route for business commuters is between London Bridge and Canary Wharf. The journey takes a modest 13 minutes, which saves a great deal of time, not to mention cutting out on pollution, as compared to travelling the same stretch in conventional traffic. To further utilise the convenience of river transportation, culturally inclined folks can board Tate Gallery’s special boat service and travel to and fro Tate Modern and Tate Britain, both of which are situated near the riverside, but at opposite ends of town.

Sydney
Sydney-siders are spoilt with an enviable quality of life, one of the reasons is that many have the option to travel to work on water. Ferries regularly run from Circular Quay, Sydney’s well-renowned harbour, situated next to the landmark that is the Sydney Opera House. Extensive and well-rounded, the ferry network connects to all of 39 destinations and spans approximately 37km. Stops include Watsons Bay Manly, Balmain, Double Bay and Parramatta, as well as more touristy spots like Toronga Zoo. For the business traveller with time to spare for leisurely activities, boat trips to different basins and harbours allows for some extraordinary experiences, such as mingling with the semi-tame Wallabies and Kookaburras at the national park of Pitwater. To get there, catch a ferry from Palm Beach, and get off at the camping ground, Basin.

Stockholm
Stockholm is a city surrounded by water, something that locals take advantage of to the full. There are countless ways to embark on nautical expeditions in and around the Swedish capital, and the plethora of ferries, boats and cruise ships that line the harbours is vast. A trip to Stockholm without hopping on a boat and exploring the city’s extraordinary archipelago is considered something of a sin. If visiting Stockholm on business without much time to spare for sightseeing, a good way to explore the city’s historical centre is to join one of the historical canal tours that travels along the narrow waterways that snake around the Old Town, and continues out on Lake Mälaren.

Berlin
Berlin’s two rivers, Havel and Spree, function as the city’s natural arteries. Berlin’s waterways are perhaps not as sophisticated as those found at the above mentioned nautical prime locations, at least not in terms of commuting. Yet, Berlin still makes the cut as travelling along the river offers some spectacular views and the chance to take in many of the city’s historical sites as well as the cityscape’s more industrial quarters that can be just as intriguing. A wide range of cruises and shorter trips are available, including day and night cruises, as well as shorter journeys designed to transport Berliners and tourists from one end of town to the other.

Wheeling glory

Posted on by Ben Debski

Stepping out on to the streets of Amsterdam, one almost expects to be hit by a zealous swarm of bikes whizzing ahead at blazing speed, giving no mercy to unsuspecting pedestrians.  But don’t rest assured you’re any safer in other cities across Europe. In a bid to save the planet, as well as to encourage residents to ramp up their exercise regime, governments across Europe are doing their best to encourage bike riding. Amsterdam, not surprisingly, is still the role model, and bike riding accounts for nearly half of all commuting in the city. Hot on the heels of Holland, Denmark doesn’t lag far behind, and the cycle docks of Copenhagen are famously well used. To further prove Denmark’s strong association with cycling, few Scandinavians’ went through their youth without embarking on at least one obligatory school trip to the hilly Danish island of Bornholm, riding bikes with one gear only.

Speaking of the cycling trends of eco-inclined Scandinavia, another strong contender is Sweden. The Stockholm city authority has spent quite some effort in upgrading and building new cycle lanes in the last decade, resulting in twice as many Stockholmers’  taking to the streets on their bikes today, compared to the figure in the 1990s. To cater to the ever-expanding number of bike riders, the cycle lane network in Stockholm has been extended from 675km to 760km over a ten year stretch, with further expansion in the works. Determined to kick Amsterdam off the throne of ‘King of European cycling destination’, the aim is to  make cycling as straightforward, convenient and safe as other means of transport. The efforts are paying off. ‘ It’s definitely noticeable that cycling is the most desirable way of commuting in Stockholm these days. People even cycle during the harshest winter months when temperatures can drop below -20. To make it possible in the first place, they’re of course properly geared out in high-tech performance clothing and winter tyres,’ notes local resident Anders Lindstrom, who commutes daily from a northern suburb in to central Stockholm.

To list yet another cycling happy locale, picturesque and pint-sized Prague is a city that lends itself perfectly to bike riding. Not only an viable option for residents with own two wheeled vehicles at their disposal,  Prague also offers sound  a bike scheme for tourists with companies such as City Bikes offering standard rental as well as guided city tours on bike.

Put up against Europe’s prime spots of cycling excellency, the UK didn’t stand a fighting chance in the past. Thankfully, change is in the air. Boris Johnson’s famous public bike hire scheme, that was launched in July 2010, is gathering momentum and is under significant expansion- by Spring 2012 the cycle hire area will extend eastwards as far as Bow, with about a hundred more docking points being added in central London. The self-confessed bike aficionado, Wendy Scott, who’s been getting around the capital for years exclusively on her bike, has noticed a significant increase in the number of cyclists descending on London’s streets: ‘ Everyone seems to cycle these days in London, and I often find myself stuck in severe cycle traffic jams. In some areas, such as Broadway Market in east London, bike parking spaces are treated like gold dust.’

Portugal’s pleasures

Posted on by Ben Debski

With a warm embrace, Portugal welcomes its visitors like a member of the family. The Portuguese call it ‘um país de brandos costumes’ or a ‘country of gentle ways’, because of its laid-back lifestyle, and its hospitable atmosphere can be felt even on the shortest of visits to the country.

Portugal’s position, stretched out along the Atlantic Ocean on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula, has shaped the country’s culture, architecture and history. It has a rich tradition of sea explorers, who were the first to discover the ocean routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan, while at the same time founding settlements on both African coasts. As a consequence, vestiges of centuries of exposure to different world civilizations can be seen in the artistic and architectural heritage of the country today.

Traditionally a seafaring country, Portugal has experienced considerable economic change since it joined the European Union in 1986. Today its major exports are clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork, paper products and hides. Despite its change towards a more industrialised nation over the past few decades, Portugal has lost none of its traditional charm. Indeed, although small in size, Portugal packs a punch in terms of its sheer scenic and cultural diversity. Portugal has a vast coastline of breathtaking beaches, towering cliffs and secluded coves, while inland in the north and centre dazzling green forests and valleys are adorned with rivers, lakes and waterfall, and the dry plains of the Alentejo region are toned down by olive and orange groves, vineyards and montados or cork forests. In a country with such diverse scenery, there are plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, surfing, windsurfing, horseriding, big game fishing, kayaking, diving and, of course, golfing – in fact, Portugal is home to over 60 golf courses.

Portugal’s towns, cities and villages are as varied as its scenery. Sophisticated resorts line the Lisbon and Estremaduran coast, as well as the southern Algarve, while old fishing villages provide a glimpse of traditional Portuguese life. Inland, the countryside is peppered with towns and villages, such as Évora, Coimbra, Guimarães and Braga, strewn with historical treasures and World Heritage sites, and cities where the modern and old world coexist.

The country’s capital city, Lisbon is one such place. Lisbon is a lively city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere on the one hand, while on the other, it is a charming traditional town. Beautiful mosaic pavements snake away from wide-open plazas, and wooden trams trundle up and down the city’s hillsides. Lisbon is a patchwork of picturesque neighbourhoods, such as the medieval quarter of Alfama, which sits below São Jorge castle, and is home to many museums, churches and palaces. It also has an appetising mix of restaurants and cafes, and the Bairro Alto or “upper town” area of Lisbon is particularly lively when the sun goes down, with the Lux, one of European’s coolest clubs, a popular place to dance until dawn.

Offering a similar mix of old and new is Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, which sits on the mouth of the Rio Duoro. Its Ribeira area is a tangle of cobbled alleys and passageways from past times. Bars, cafes and restaurants abound especially along the Ribeira, Porto’s waterfront, where hundreds of tables look out over the river to the port wine lodges on the other side.

When it comes to food and drink there are plenty of specialities. Seafood is popular especially in Lisbon and along the coast, with Bacalhau (dried cod) begin a particular delicacy. Other dishes include Açorda de mariscos (shrimp stew cooked in a bread bowl) and Cabrito assado (roasted kid), not to mention the famous dessert, Pastel de nata (custard tart).

So relax and enjoy – Portugal truly is a destination to enliven all the senses.

Top choice for travellers

Posted on by Ben Debski

Situated in a prime location on Hainan Island, China, just 15 minutes from Phoenix International Airport and Sanya city centre, Narada Resort & Spa Sanya is located on the only private beach in the area. Sanya enjoys more than three hundred days of sunshine each the year and with the local temperature averaging at 25°C, Sanya has become the top choice for travellers both domestic and international.

The resort has a total of 396 spacious rooms which includes a 2,400m2 Presidential Villa, 12 Spa Villa rooms, 20 Suites, and 20 Cabana rooms which are luxuriously appointed and designed to provide the utmost in comfort and style. Besides all the amenities and guest services expected of a luxury hotel, all guest rooms have the luxury of a private balcony fitted with a unique bath tub outside which offers spectacular views of Sanya hills or ocean. The room size varies from 55m to 110m squared.

The resort also offers the luxury of an Executive Wing where guests can enjoy a much wider range of privileges such as an Exclusive outdoor pool, an Executive Lounge serving complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, snacks and drinks throughout the day, a separate entrance and reception, free in-room internet access and much more. Specially fitted rooms are also available for the physically challenged and we also offer non-smoking floors.

Restaurants and bars
Paulaner Brauhaus is a unique themed restaurant, famous for its traditional German food and freshly brewed Paulaner beer. A distinct feature of the restaurant is that it offers guests a first hand glimpse of how beer is freshly brewed in-house by our Master Brewer. Watch the most beautiful and astonishing sunset on the terrace and live entertainment while you enjoy a sumptuous feast.

A signature international restaurant for the Narada brand, the Tiffany Restaurant offers diners a wide range of Asian and Western dishes, while Dragon Palace offers Cantonese cuisines with traditional dim sum and Hainanese specialities. Watch the sunset, have a refreshing drink, surround yourself in this quiet beauty and feel the ocean breeze caress you at our 300 metre-long private beach at the Sunset Bar & BBQ. It is an ideal place for dining or celebrating.

The Shades & Waves Bar is classic burger territory, with beef , fish, vegetarian burgers, the list goes on to include more than ten on the menu!

Meanwhile, the Tai-Fon Ice Cream Bar Serves world famous Movenpick super premium ice cream that uses only the purest ingredients such as fresh strawberries and rich Dutch cocoa to craft the finest icecream.

For after dinner relaxation, step into the “Wine & Cigar” lounge and the sweet and intoxicating smell of hand rolled tobacco will perk up your senses. A fabulous range of both imported and local wine and fine whiskey are on offer.

Meeting and conference facilities
The Narada Resort & Spa Sanya is the perfect venue for meetings, incentives, corporate events. The column-free, 800m2 Grand Ballroom with ten-metre high ceiling, a spacious foyer, several break out rooms and an adjoining tropical garden to hold a full scale conference, a formal banquet or a high level meeting. The hotel offers eight meeting rooms with a total of 1,400m2, that can accommodate 15 to 1000 guests. All meeting facilities are located on one level with a business centre and convention services centre and a separate entrance. The tropical Lawn area is ideal place for exhibitions, photo shoots or a cocktail party.

Health and water sports facilities
The luxurious Angsana Spa by Banyan Tree features exclusive rejuvenating wellness and beauty treatments. Surrender your senses to the soothing Dream therapy or soak in the goodness of Yin & Yang Balancing that melts the stress away. For a special treat, pamper yourself with the signature Angsana treatment with two masseurs; these are just some of the tempting choices that await you.

Narada Resort & Spa Sanya spreads over 1,533m2 on two levels and features two beautifully appointed double deluxe outdoor spa pavilions and ten indoor treatment rooms plus two Spa Salas on the beach. Attached showers with Steam rooms in every treatment room ensure guests the convenience and absolute privacy essential for a complete and relaxing experience.

The treatment rooms on Level One boast additions of dip pools, Jacuzzi and outdoor showers for a natural garden appeal. The spa retreat also includes a vitality pool, beauty salon and a dedicated area for pedicure and manicure with hair and nail services provided by the spa.

Experience the longest water slide in any pool in China! Enjoy a variety of water sports from diving to jet ski or just relax on the 300 metre private beach or build your own sand castle in the sun.

Have a game of golf on a nearby golf course, have a workout at the Pulse gym center, play a game of tennis or volley ball or take a bicycle ride through the virgin forest of Sanya.
You can also visit our delightful Sister resort, Narada Perfume Bay, with all the above facilities above available for your perfect stay in China.

For more information visit www.naradasanya.com Narada Resort & Spa Sanya, Sanya Bay, West Sanya 572000, Hainan Island, China,  Tel: +86 898 3889 8902

Vive le Paris

Posted on by Ben Debski

Which city in Europe has an average of 10.5 million business tourism visitors a year? Or, putting it another way, which city in Europe has an annual average of 400 trade shows and over 100,000 businesses exhibiting within its boundaries every year?

Is it London? Is it Berlin or Madrid? Perhaps it might be Amsterdam? No. It’s Paris!
Yes Paris, the capital of France is the top region in the world for business events and gatherings, and the top spot in Europe for fairs and trade shows. A title it has held, apparently, since 1979. This might surprise many who would immiediately, when the city is mentioned, think of romance or culture; of the Eiffel Tower or The Louvre or of the River Siene or a café on the left bank.

But Paris as Europe’s major city for business travel or business tourism? Well that fact may well raise a few eyebrows, even among the most travelled corporate executive.

However it is for that exact reason that Paris has been chosen to host the 2011 Global Education Conference of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). For Paris is a leading global business and cultural centre, as well as an eternally popular tourist destination and it was those reasons that helped sway the ACTE board’s decision to choose the city as the venue for ACTE’s premier European event.

The heart of Paris is just two hours and 15 minutes from the heart of London if you travel by Eurostar. If you fly, then Paris is one hour from London and slightly over an hour from Madrid! Add in that it’s under two hours from Berlin and Rome and a mere three from Moscow and it is easy to see that the French capital is ideally situated to host the business travel sectors leading industry event dedicated to bringing together hundreds of senior level business travel executives from around the world.

The president of ACTE, Chris Cowley, puts the choice of Paris as the host city very succinctly: “We believe that Paris has a similar position to that of New York on the North American continent. Most of the Fortune 500 businesses are located in and around Paris, and our members and delegates will want to take advantage of their visit to the city of lights to conduct business with colleagues and customers located in the area, which of course will give an even greater return on the time they invest in attending the ACTE Conference.”

And Crowley is correct. The quaintly named La Défense district of the city is home to no less than 1500 corporate head offices, including those of 15 of the top 50 companies in the world, which makes it the biggest business centre in Europe. Situated at the far end of the historic Parisian axis passing by the Louvre, the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe, it is also a busy shopping area and is very well served by public transport.

Typically, the ACTE Global Education Conference, last year hosted in Berlin, Germany, sees an attendance of 800-plus corporate travel buyers, travel executives, suppliers and journalists. This year Paris may well attract even more business travel professionals than in years gone by.

So what will Paris offer the executive combining a business travel trip with a business tourism trip?

Well first some facts. France is the World’s most popular tourism destination according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which ranks countries as part of its thrice-yearly World Tourism Barometer publication. With 78.95 million visitors annually France is comfortably ahead of the United States which ranks number two in the World’s most popular destinantions.

So what is it about France, and more relevant to the ACTE conference, Paris that attracts so many overseas visitors for business and pleasure? And what is there to see in the city immiediately before and after the ACTE Global Education Conference?

Unquestionably, the Eiffel Tower holds first position among all the many wonderful tourist attractions in Paris because of its unmatched and fascinating architecture. It is world famous for its alluring structure. Its top can be seen from any part of Paris and in the evening the Eiffel Tower lights up with colored lighting – adding considerably to the beauty of Paris.

The 300-meter Eiffel Tower, built in 1889 to celebrate the French revolution, is the most visited (paid) monument in the world and when built was the tallest structure on the globe. Millions of tourists and foreign visitors visit Paris just to take a tour of the Eiffel Tower.

For delegates to the ACTE conference there is much to do at the tower, from observing the city of lights from the top of the tower to enjoying top class restaurants such as Altitude 95 located on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower and the Jules Verne located on the second floor.

Another must see in Paris for delegates will be the Louvre Museum & Pyramid, the most visited museum in the world is also one of the biggest containing an extensive collection of almost 35,000 artwork objects.

The Arc de Triomphe, located in the heart of the city, will also feature on the list of places to see for the culture conscious ACTE delegate. A monument that honors the fighters who gave up their lives for France during the wars, The Arc de Triomphe features the names of all those fighters while in the lower part there is a tomb of the unknown soldier of World War II. There is also an observation area at the monument from where the panoramic view of Paris can be captured easily.

So the city chosen as the 2011 venue for the Association of Corporate Travel Executives Global Education Conference will offer a truly unique combination of ingredients.

We may all have preconceptions about Paris – mainly built upon the popular ideals of romance and culture – but add in to the mix that it is the most visited city in Europe for business tourism, venue to the most trade fairs and exhibitions in the world and is home to the most corporate headquarters on the continent and one can see why the board of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives chose Paris as the venue for their Global Education Conference 2-4 October 2011.

African queen

Posted on by Ben Debski

The Laico brand is a big name in Africa. With an extensive portfolio throughout the continent, it offers more than 3,000 rooms in 14 hotels, providing consistently high levels of service in key destinations.

The group has been slowly and steadily expanding over the last few years, even through the global credit crisis. However, while other chain expansions can represent unique venues being swallowed into a homogenous mass, Laico are keen for their hotels to be distinct from each other, retaining a large part of their local traditions. “Business travellers will come to a Laico hotel and recognise the brand, the uniform, the stationery,” says marketing manager Renaud Bachoffner, “but each hotel still retains its own personality.”

So their Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe is a British colonial style destination, while the Djerba Hotel in Tunisia reproduces all the charm local Mediterranean architecture, and the Laico Bahari Beach in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania, the brand’s latest opening, offers luxuriously furbished rooms in traditional thatched beach houses, mere seconds from the Indian Ocean.

“Imagine a hard day working in the hot city centre,” says Mr Bachoffner. “After a short drive, you enter your cottage, take your suit off, and only steps away from your room, dive into the ocean.”

“It’s a unique feeling,” he says: “you’ve just washed your busy day stress away.”

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, surrounded by beautiful lush gardens featuring indigenous palms, tropical flowering shrubs and bright bougainvillea, the hotel offers 92 bedrooms, four suites and an ultra-modern conference centre – the best of its kind in Dar-es-salaam.

Meeting in paradise
The Bahari Conference Centre features three meeting rooms and a multi-purpose ballroom; all the venues are fully equipped with LCD projectors, screens, a translation room and modern furnishings providing delegates with all-in-one conference solutions.
Tembo, the multi-purpose ballroom, can host up to 600 people for a reception or 260 people in a classroom style. The three fully equipped meeting rooms on the first floor offer a spectacular atmosphere for board meetings and smaller events. Simba can host up to 70 people in reception style and 45 classroom; Chui holds 60 reception and 42 classroom, and Twiga fits 50 people reception and 35 classroom.

The conference centre is completed with three well furnished lounges where delegates can relax during their breaks, a VIP lounge for prestigious delegates, and ample secure parking around the facility to guarantee peace of mind. And with just a two minute walk to the beautiful Bahari Beach, it is the perfect venue to indulge in some wide-open, blue-sky thinking.

The country’s unique landscape and the hotel’s individual design makes it a fantastic destination for MICE visits, whether visitors wish to take advantage of the nearby national parks offering excellent safari opportunities, or simply enjoy the professional facilities of the hotel with a well deserved cocktail and delicious dinner under the tropical stars.

The design of the Laico Bahari Beach’s guestrooms and suites is influenced by old Swahili architecture, built in traditional style from coral blocks and palm frond thatched roofs. Every single room faces the ocean, offering spectacular views of the sun rising over the sparkling sea, and has its own spacious terrace or balcony accessed through wide glass doors. They are individually air conditioned, and elegantly styled and furnished with local fabrics in traditional colours.

www.laicohotels.com