Author: Ben Debski

A tower of treasures

Posted on by Ben Debski

Hotel Panorama by Rhombus, recently announced as one of the Best Business Hotels in China by the 9th China Hotel Forum, is at the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, one of Hong Kong’s most popular shopping and business hubs. Just one minute away from the MTR metro station, Hotel Panorama sits amid a vast collection of shops, boutiques, museums, restaurants, bars and entertainment centres.

Each of the 324 guestrooms is contemporarily designed with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering breathtaking views of either Victoria Harbour or the city. Silver guestrooms are fitted in comfort and style, with Gold and Platinum rooms passing through luxury and into opulence. Naturally the Platinum Suites provide the utmost in extravagance, with an elegant interior providing a home away from home and magnificent views of the harbour from the hotel’s upper floors.

Santa Lucia Restaurant and Sky Bar, on the hotel’s 38th floor, combines modern cuisine and magical ambience to create a truly unforgettable dining experience. By day it is a bright, naturally lit room with scenic harbour and city views, while after sunset it transforms into a serene canopy of stars and city lights. For a less prestigious (but equally satisfying) repast, the lobby level Café Express is an informal all-day restaurant, providing casual breakfasts, brunches, light lunches and deluxe buffet dinners.

Castle in the clouds
Other world class facilities include a sky garden, fitness centre, executive lounge and business centre. The sky garden and putting green are located on the 40th floor, where guests can relax amid some of the most spectacular and idyllic scenery on earth. The Rhombus Club Executive Lounge, one floor below, offers state-of-the-art meeting facilities and personalised business and concierge services; it is an exclusive retreat for conducting business or simply relaxing and enjoying a soothing cocktail after a long day. The business centre at lobby level, meanwhile, offers a wide range of personalised administrative and internet services.

8A Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong; tel: +852 3550 0388; fax: +852 3550 0288; reservations@hotelpanorama.com.hk; www.hotelpanorama.com.hk

The beds of beirut

Posted on by Ben Debski

Beirut is an exceptional destination. Combining a history that spans the Roman, Phoenician and Ottoman ages with a modern and fun-loving culture, it offers a dazzling nightlife with excellent restaurants, shopping locations, sandy beaches and skiing resorts.

Voted number one destination in 2009 by the New York Times and top party city for 2009 by CNN, Beirut has a variety of interesting international attractions, and a high-end tourism infrastructure to match its recent accolades. The Monroe group’s three locations each have an individual and distinctive charm and style, but the dedication and friendliness of their staff is common throughout.

Monroe Hotel
The Monroe Hotel is a modern and trendy four star offering in downtown Beirut. Close to exhibition centres and shopping areas, it overlooks the beautiful marina and is equipped with all facilities for the modern traveller, including California King size beds. Fully equipped meeting and conference rooms, including an auditorium, can be customised to meet the needs of groups up to 400, while a ballroom provides ample break-out space and a venue for social events. The Sanderson bar and restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and serves a tasty selection of international fusion dishes, while Awtar restaurant serves authentic Lebanese cuisine with live entertainment for typical Lebanese ambiance.

Markazia Monroe Suites
A luxurious five star suite-hotel in the heart of downtown Beirut, just five minutes from the famous Gemmayze Street – the hub of local nightlife – and walking distance from a number of business centres, archaeological sites, restaurants and cafés. The suites are very spacious and ideal for long stays, and personal services include massages in-suite and Rolls Royce hire. The restaurant India is locally renowned for its authentic Punjabi cuisine and international fusion dishes, arousing all senses with delicate blends of spices.

Printania Palace
A five star hotel with 86 rooms and suites, the Printania Place was renovated this year to recreate a more traditional Lebanese style. Located in the mountains in the centre of beautiful Brummana, it is only 20 minutes away from downtown Beirut. All rooms have balconies overlooking the mountains and with a clear view of the city. Fully equipped conference rooms offer space for up to 400 people, while private offices, meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi in public areas provide capable facilities for ad-hoc business matters.

The Printania is home to Le Restaurant, a French-Swiss affair with fondue and raclette selections to help guests warm up on winter evenings. It also serves an exquisite selection of international dishes. The Garden café is an outdoor café surrounded by greenery, where guests can enjoy snacks and refreshments, as well as narguileh, a Turkish waterpipe smoking custom.

Reader offer: Quote code “BD020310” for a complimentary night when reserving a stay of three nights or more at any of the hotels. Valid until end of April 2010.

Monroe Hotel – tel: +961 137 1122; info@monroebeirut.com
Markazia Monroe Suites – tel: +961 199 1200; info@markaziamonroesuites.com
Printania Palace ­– tel: +961 486 2000; printania@printania.com

Unique chic

Posted on by Ben Debski

Bobos – the Bohemian Bourgeois – seek unique, natural locations away from major tourist destinations, where they can enjoy cultural, sporting and other specialised leisure activities from the discreet luxury of their accommodation, says Santikos Hotels. Since 2001 this professional, efficient and passionate company has been providing these eclectic holidays on the Greek island of Skiathos.

Santikos Hotels and Resorts has always connected hospitality with society and its trends, needs and expectations, and their new holidaying concept is a projection of this emerging lifestyle – its aesthetic awareness, likes and dislikes are all reflected in the resorts’ services.

The 131 room Skiathos Princess Hotel and the Aegean Suites Hotel on Skiathos are both members of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Led by the Santikos family of seasoned hoteliers, the properties boast style, gourmet delights and casual sophistication appealing to a niche market of elite travellers from all over the world.

Imagine a beautiful sandy beach, crystal clear water sparkling in the sun and the scent of flowers and pines in the air. This piece of paradise is called Skiathos Princess Hotel, a luxury resort on the Greek island of Skiathos that is the perfect holiday destination for families and couples alike.

The Princess – considered the island’s deluxe hotel for adults – also appeals to families, after introducing the Little Seals crèche club, a unique facility that is free of charge for hotel guests.

The destination features ‘nouveau-taverna’ beachside dining, upscale a-la-carte dining with signature Mediterranean dishes, and the Harmony Spa, which offers tropical rain baths and exotic treatments.

The design-led Aegean Suites Hotel, on the other hand, attracts young couples and singles with 60sq m suites. Romance and relaxation are the way of life at this beautiful island bolthole overlooking the glittering Aegean Sea and a talcum-fine sandy beach.

It’s where those in the know go to cocoon themselves in luxury, with friendly hospitality, delicious gourmet cuisine, holistic spa treatments and unparalleled service – all in a stylish setting on Skiathos.

While the property includes a gym, holistic beauty centre, open-air Jacuzzi and idyllic swimming pool, its strength lies in its architecture and décor, complete with original artwork by budding Greek painters in the rooms. Gourmet dining is also on offer, particularly at the intimate Pelagos restaurant with dishes by award-winning chefs served to just four tables.

Skiathos Princess – tel: +30 24270 49731-9; princess@santikoshotels.com
Aegean Suites – tel: +30 24270 24060-9; suites@santikoshotels.com
www.santikoshotels.com

Beyond Bordeaux

Posted on by Ben Debski

While many Bordeaux chateaux have been producing wine for centuries – and some estates in Saint Emilion and Graves claim evidence of winemaking going right back to Roman times – others are just starting out. To create a new estate alongside the 10,000 that exist in Bordeaux takes determination and passion, and show that there’s more going on in the world’s most traditional wine region than you might expect…


Chateau Acappella, 2006 Montagne St Emilion (approx €40)

An indulgent wine full of coffee, chocolate and sweet black fruits, emphasised by being both unfiltered and unfined. Made of 60 percent Merlot and 40 percent Cabernet Franc, it is farmed organically and uses only natural yeasts to begin fermentation. In the cellars, everything is small-scale and Burgundian, with open-top barrels for breaking up the grape skins by hand, and all movement of the grapes and juice done solely by gravity. Husband-and-wife team Béatrice and Christophe Choisy created this 3.5ha estate in 2001, with celebrated wine consultant Michel Rolland instrumental to its success since launch.


Domaine de la Passion Haut Brion, 2007 Pessac Léognan (released April 2010, TBC)

The First Growths of Bordeaux are sought-after world over, and go for prices that make them unobtainable for most people. So to discover some vines that, for 30 years, were being used in Chateau Haut-Brion under a crop-share agreement, but are now being bottled under their own name, is pretty exciting. Owned by Dr Michel Allery, this tiny 1.5ha estate is farmed entirely organically, with horses ploughing the vines and grass cover between the rows encouraging water competition (and so making the roots head lower to where the nutrients are). The team is led by star consultant Stéphane Dérénencourt, and produces around 2,400 bottles a year. An unusual mix of 60 percent Cabernet Franc and 40 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a firm, structured wine with delicate, violet-filled aromas.

Chateau La Connivence, 2008 Pomerol (Approx £150, first vintage to be available May 2010)

One of the smallest appellations in Bordeaux, where land is expensive and highly sought after, it’s particularly unusual to find new estates in Pomerol. The estate is jointly owned by Alexandre de Malet Roquefort (of Chateau La Gaffelière in Saint Emilion), along with local businessman Jean-Luc Deloche, and two well known French footballers Matthieu Chalmé and Johan Micoud. As with most Pomerols, the fruit is firmly on centre stage, but there is also lovely elegance and balance; a sense of power builds on the palate but doesn’t overwhelm, and the final impression is of fresh blackcurrant leaf and pure red fruits. Unfortunately the first vintage of this new wine will only find its way onto the market in Spring or Summer 2010 (the 2008 vintage, with just 2,000 bottles).

Chateau Haut Bacalan, 2006 Pessac Léognon (€17.50)

The Gonet Champagne family, led by Frédéric and Charles-Henri, bought this estate in 1998, and began replanting vines on ground that had been without them for nearly seven decades. The first harvest was in 2001, and since then modern wine-making techniques have made things better and better. Cold soaking before fermentation ensures the fruit flavours stay fresh, and micro-oxygenation during winemaking keeps the tannins soft and fixes the lovely rich purple colour of the wine. With 65 percent Merlot and 35 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, there is good structure and ageing as you would expect from this part of Bordeaux, but with an exuberant kick to the finish.

Aura de Cambon, 2006 Margaux (€26)

This tiny half-hectare plot, lying between Chateau Margaux and Brane Cantenac in the glamorous Médoc appellation of Margaux, was sold in 2003 by the local village butcher, a man who for years had supplied the best cuts of meat to the illustrious properties that surrounded his shop. It was woodland at the time, with plantation rights for vines, and he decided to sell it on to a family instead of a big business which would simply have swallowed it up into its already huge estate. Jean-Pierre Marie, of cru bourgeois Chateau Cambon La Pelouse was the lucky recipient, buying it for a fraction of the cost of land already planted with vines. Their first harvest was 2006, with the resulting wine made available in 2008. With 50 percent Merlot and 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a feminine take on Margaux, with warming blackberry and brambly autumn crumble flavours.

Girolate, 2003 Bordeaux (approx €50)

Since its first vintage in 2001, this wine from the lowly Bordeaux appellation regularly beats classified wines in blind tastings. A single-varietal, 100 percent Merlot, it comes from the highly talented Despagne family, led by Thibault Despagne and working with technical director Joël Elissalde (and consultant Michel Rolland). The vines are cropped low to around a third of the levels allowable in the appellation, and everything is done by hand, by gravity, and by design. Fermentation takes place in new oak barrels, each rotated at least once a day to ensure the tannins are soft and smooth. The result is a rich, beautifully polished wine, with intense red fruits that are easy to enjoy.

Stockists Aura de Cambon – Binnys Beverage Selection, Illinois, USA; www.binnys.com, www.cambon-la-pelouse.com Chateau Acappella – www.chateau-acappella.com Chateau la Connivence – www.laconnivence.com Chateau Haut Bacalan – www.chateaulesparre.com, www.caves-direct.com Chateau Haut Brion – to be confirmed Girolate – www.vinogusto.com, www.despagne.fr

Grape expectations

Posted on by Ben Debski

This year the Decanter World Wine Awards gave Croatian wine an impressive 27 medals – eight gold, five silver, 11 bronze and three commended. Angela Muir MW, who led the panel of judges for Central and Eastern Europe, described Croatia as the discovery of the year: “Some great white wines, both dry and dessert, with bags of character and a whole bouquet of varieties and styles.”

However, the eight gold medals all went to sweet wines, suggesting the country’s vintners still have a lot of work to do before they can compete with the more popular old world regions. One distinct problem they face is that the grape varieties grown in Croatia are little-known outside the area. Plavac mali, malvazija and graševina may be well known and popular in Croatia – in fact the locals’ enthusiastic love for these wines is one of the reasons they’re little known outside the region – but few foreign laypeople would be able to identify them as reds or whites, let alone offer a more involved description.

The other biggest problem is the region’s history. It was the Greeks who first introduced vineyards to the Croatian coast in the fifth century BC, and the Romans who cultivated and organised the industry, which flourished until the end of the 15th century.

But the arrival of the Ottomans and strict Islamic anti-alcohol laws almost completely erased eastern European viticulture. It was only the Ottoman Empire’s tolerance of Christianity that saved this great swath of the old world vineyards: priests and monks were allowed to continue producing wine for use in church services. This limited growth continued until the Ottomans’ defeat by the Austrian Habsburg Empire, when wine production was again allowed to thrive.

In the 1800s European vineyards were swept by a plague of phylloxera – tiny, yellow, sap-sucking insects that spread blight across the continent and completely eradicated some forms of grape from Croatia. The industry was disrupted once again in the 20th century – first by Yugoslavian communist rule that discouraged private ownership and prioritised quantity over quality – then by the Croatian war of independence, which destroyed a great number of vineyards and wineries.

Many are seeing the country’s success at the Decanter awards as a herald for improved international trade – it is certainly a testament to the resilience of the craft. But according to AIG chief executive Robert Benmosche, who has a unique interest in the area, “they are not really there yet. They are just struggling coming back from the war, they are still struggling with this whole idea of capitalism.”

Mr Benmosche first visited Dubrovnik on a corporate retreat in the 1980s, and was charmed by the city and scenery. He dreamed of retiring to Croatia and producing wine from the nation’s vineyards, and spent millions to make his dream come true. He bought and renovated a massive villa, acquired vineyards and spent a year seeking approval from US and Croatian authorities to import 1,500 zinfandel vines from their more well-known home in California.
At the time DNA testing had linked the Croatian grape crljenak to zinfandel, suggesting this more well-known grape had been among those destroyed by blight in the 19th century. “I was curious to see what would happen,” says Mr Benmosche. “If zinfandel grapes came from Croatia – they weren’t sure then, but they are now… why not see if it grows?”

Mr Benmosche took the helm of AIG in August this year, but angered many by leaving on holiday just days later. It transpires this particular vacation had been planned to coincide with the first harvest of his imported vines – now multiplied to 6,000 plants. “My hope is that the vineyard becomes a source of true, high-quality wine for this region,” he says.

Experts say that reintroducing zinfandel wine to Croatia makes good business sense. Carole Meredith, the geneticist whose 2001 DNA tests identified zinfandel’s origin in Croatia, says that assuming the quality is good, Mr Benmosche’s wines will be able to compete in the world market because of the popular name.

“Zinfandel is an established wine variety with a global market,” she says. “There is almost no market for the other Croatian grapes because the names are unfamiliar.”

But export isn’t going to happen any time soon, says Boris Mrgudic, who manages Mr Benmosche’s vineyards in Viganj. The first harvest in August went well, but it will take years to show a profit.
Meanwhile, with no mainstream British retailers selling Croatian wine, the only way to enjoy the country’s recent success is to find a specialist importer or – better still – visit.

Power at your fingertips

Posted on by Ben Debski

1) Weight – You travel frequently and do not want to lug around heavy gear. 2) Power – You need processing muscle that works quickly and can multi-task with ease. 3) Screen size – You need a laptop with a bit of real estate to comfortably read and compose documents and surf the internet, all without making you squint. The laptop options listed below fulfil all three of these requirements, albeit in each case a little differently. We have looked at the lightest weight computers sporting 13 inch screens (except for the Samsung X460, which comes with a 14.1 inch screen and a little more weight because it is one of the best and lightest 14 inches around). All these models have fast duel core processors and all of them (save for the MacBook Air) are equipped with read/write DVD drives – an important feature if you want to watch movies, load software from discs or back up to CD/DVD.

lenovo Lenovo ThinkPad

X301 – £1,800 Upsides: Extremely thin and light (at just 0.7 inches thick and 1.5 kg in weight) but with a very solid feel; extra sharp 1,440 x 900 display resolution; 1.3 megapixel webcam and noise-cancelling digital microphone for web conferencing; built-in DVD burner; lots of connection ports; excellent keyboard (the same size as those found on Lenovo’s 14- and 15-inch models) with nice glowing light. Downsides: Costly and the touch pad’s location makes it easy to accidentally graze while typing. Final analysis: The Lenovo ThinkPad line is legendary for it solid construction; the 13.3 –Think Pad X301, which is equipped with Intel’s latest Centrino 2 platform, also offers strong performance. The X301 is expensive, but well worth the outlay for highly mobile users seeking extensive features in a sleek lightweight case.

samsung

Samsung X460 – £977 Upsides: Very slim and lightweight (measuring respectively 1.3 inches and 1.9 kg) given its 14.1 inch screen; 1.3 megapixel webcam; fingerprint reader for extra security; distinctive and sturdy solid brushed-metal construction; excellent battery life; lots of connections ports; comfortable keyboard; surprising big speaker sound; built-in read/write DVD drive. Downsides: Expensive, compared with similarly featured 14 inch laptops, but they won’t be as slim ?or light for such a big screen. Final analysis: For those who like a really big work space and don’t mind carrying just a little extra weight, then the Samsung X460 is the ticket. Solid performance is provided by a fast Intel Core 2 duo processor with 3GB of RAM which means you’ll have plenty of memory to open several different programs at once. While not excelling at any one specific task, the X460 is an all-purpose machine and still comes close to qualifying as an ultra portable. The amazingly bright 14.1 inch screen does not blast out saturation and is therefore extremely easy on the eyes; in fact, you can see the display in just about any lighting condition, outdoors or in. Sony Vaio Z Series – £1,500 ?(carbon fibre model starting at £3,000) Upsides: Simple, elegant design; very lightweight thanks to its sturdy carbon fibre case, which also helps protect against shocks; a clever switch that allows users to choose between ‘Stamina’ (improved batter life) and ‘Speed’ (improved computer power); the most extensive overall feature set of the four laptops reviewed here. Downsides: Pricey Final analysis: A top-of-the-line laptop that does it all. The Sony Vaio Z Series combines ultra-portability with a very impressive level of computing power and is available in many different configurations (so there are possibilities to lower the prices; eg, by choosing a smaller hard drive, slightly slower processor, or staying away from the carbon fibre model).

mac MacBook Air – £1,600

Upsides: Incredibly thin (it is, after all, billed as ‘world’s thinnest notebook) yet surprising sturdy; new track pad controls are very useful. Downsides: The absence of an Ethernet port means limited connectively (you’ll have to access the internet via Wi-Fi unless you buy an adapter); less powerful than other MacBooks, with capacity limited to 80G on a relatively slow drive; just one USB port; no DVD drive. Final analysis: The design may be revolutionary, but Apple’s Mac-Book Air generally appeals to a more specialised audience than the standard MacBook, thanks to a stripped-down set of connections and features. Deciding whether this computer is worth having poses just one major question: How much are you willing to compromise? Admittedly, the darn thing is gorgeous, and for many the Mac platform is non-negotiable because it’s simply not as fiddly as Windows (although the MacBook Air can also run Window programs by allowing you to boot up in that platform if you have windows installed); on the other hand, MacBook Air is also the slowest laptop in Apple’s current product line. Nonetheless, for those who factor size, weight, and – yes, I’ll admit it – style into the equation, the MacBook Air begins to make much more sense, and it will still take care of most tasks you would need to handle on your travels.

The height of luxury

Posted on by Ben Debski

The 422-room Hilton Singapore is located at the heart of Orchard Road, Singapore’s premier entertainment and shopping district. It was one of the first international hotels to bring its trademark level of service excellence and culinary innovation to the city-state, today offering a range of excellent event settings, including modern, flexible function rooms and a rooftop swimming pool.

Meeting planners can take advantage of the hotel’s revamped, versatile function rooms, spanning 1,735sq m. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities, including multimedia technology built into the connecting spaces, the rooms enjoy natural daylight and views of the bustling Singapore city. The refreshed spaces are elegantly styled in hues of white and beige with contemporary furnishings for guests to experience the Singapore establishment anew.

A sophisticated charm
The guest rooms and suites have also had a contemporary makeover, and are now decorated with Sycamore veneer furnishings and stylish fittings, offering a welcoming ambience for guests from the first moment of their stay. All guests can enjoy high-tech facilities such as fast broadband and large 37” LCD televisions, as well as sophisticated amenities like bath and body care products from Crabtree & Evelyn.

For busy corporate travellers, the executive floors include access to the exclusive executive lounge and its host of business support facilities. The new ‘Executive Plus’ category, meanwhile, offers an enhanced guest stay with greater convenience and views of the Lion City from level 22 – the highest guest floor at the hotel.

Guests can enjoy bonus benefits including easier access to lounge privileges, an additional private space at the balcony, as well as a daily complimentary one-hour use of the Business Centre on the fifth floor.

Specially tailored for business executives, guests can enjoy the Executive Plus’ extra private and outdoor space. The room is spacious at 37sq m, built with floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony. Furnished with large workspace and wireless broadband access capabilities, guests have the option to work or relax, indoors or outdoors.

“Busy executives often welcome some fresh air after spending most of the day in an air-conditioned environment,” says Silvia Yeo, Director of Sales for the Hilton Singapore. “Working through presentations or relaxing in an additional private al fresco space offered by the Executive Plus rooms’ private balconies will be a treat.”

Sensory pleasures
The Harbour Grill and Oyster Bar, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, enjoys a reputation for excellence. Offering fine continental cuisine, it is considered one of Singapore’s finest gourmet restaurants and has been rated highly in the Singapore Tatler’s top 100 restaurants since 1985.

To unwind, guests can choose from leisure facilities which include a fully equipped, 24-hour gymnasium, aerobics studio, sauna, steam bath and a rooftop swimming pool. Two spa therapy rooms offering revitalising massages and facials are also available to soothe away the stresses of city life.

The hotel’s central location makes it an ideal choice for meetings and conferences. Its refurbished Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 600 guests. A further 10 function rooms, all fully equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment, provide options for events and meetings of any nature.

Delight in the district

Posted on by Ben Debski

The Mandarin Oriental, near the Southwest Waterfront in Washington DC, is a carnival of architecture and design. To step through the doors is to dive into a sea of marble, limestone and glass: the lobby was inspired by the work of John Russell Pope, designer of the Jefferson Memorial, and boasts the familiar domed ceiling and column placement of the neighbouring landmark. The columns are American walnut and white oak, and the patterned Emperador and Amarillo yellow marble floor beneath a rotunda of gold and silver leaf is as striking as it is serene.

Just beyond the circular lobby is the Empress Lounge, a sunken enclave with inviting overstuffed furnishings resplendent with rich, warm tones. A wall of glass looks over a tranquil Zen garden and opens to an expansive flagstone patio for al fresco seating. All is under the watchful eye of the Empress Dowager, depicted in a gigantic oil painting which looms over the lounge.

Lap of luxury
Guestrooms and suites delight with décor that fuses Asian simplicity with traditional touches, all set against the hotel’s signature water and city views. Rooms are decorated in a golden palate with sumptuous fabrics, while the jaw-dropping views are lightly diffused through crepe silk window dressings. Deluxe guestrooms measure between 40 and 65sq m; the three-bedroom Presidential Suite comes in at 325sq m, and was named one of world’s greatest suites by Elite Traveller. Panoramic views from oversized windows stretch from Georgetown to Old Town, offering vistas of city landmarks such as the Jefferson Memorial, with its tranquil Tidal Basin and famed cherry trees.

The hotel features two celebrated eateries: the regionally influenced all-day restaurant Sou’Wester and the AAA Five Diamond CityZen, with celebrated chef Eric Ziebold. Sou’Wester boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for a bright and airy experience of comfortable and approachable American favourites, each with a southern lilt. CityZen is a culinary journey set within effortless service and hints of the elements; a wall of dancing flames reflects in the chrome étagères and on a carved wall of stainless steel behind the bar.

Over 3,500sq m of executive meeting space is also available, allowing up to 700 guests at grand occasions as well as intimate diners to experience Mandarin Oriental’s signature service and award winning cuisine.

Capital comfort
The spa at Mandarin Oriental offers a blend of eastern and western wellness, reaching far beyond any traditional spa experience. Visitors can check in for a Signature Time Ritual or select from the many exclusive seasonal therapies regularly featured.

This Zen sanctuary is the region’s only Mobil Four-Star spa, and has also been recognised by readers of Spa Finder magazine as one of the top ten urban hotel spas in the United States of America.

It also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness centre with Italian designed TechnoGym fitness equipment, and offers an indoor swimming pool with tranquil views through floor to ceiling windows.

Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC is a destination unto itself; an urban oasis perched on the edge of the most powerful city in the world.

Tel: +1 202 554 8588; mowas-sales@mohg.com; www.mandarinoriental.com

Expenses made easy

Posted on by Ben Debski

It’s no secret that today’s economic environment is forcing organisations of all sizes to take a hard look at their budgets. Finding ways to cut costs and streamline operations is a priority and it often means that organisations need to examine their business practices.

Automating travel and entertainment (T&E) processes can result in up to 10 percent overall reduction in T&E spend.* And, for most businesses, T&E is one of the largest areas of controllable spend – second only behind payroll. Despite this, many companies still rely on multiple, disconnected processes to manage their T&E that are difficult to manage and inefficient.

The beginning of every business trip starts with gaining pre-trip approval from management, then booking business travel. From the cumbersome task of manually gaining pre-trip approval to travel agency fees to lack of corporate travel policy enforcement – manually booked travel arrangements can cost companies significant time and money. Plus, they don’t provide visibility into valuable travel data that online booking tools capture and provide. While this process may eventually result in travel being booked, it’s not efficient, and it only covers the first step.

As most road warriors will attest, the business trip isn’t really complete until the expense claim is submitted and out-of-pocket costs are reimbursed. Traditionally, paper receipts are gathered and expenses are manually entered into a spreadsheet – leaving substantial room for error or even fraud. Once the expense claim is finally filled out, it can take weeks or even months for the traveller to be reimbursed. And, throughout the whole process, the organisation likely doesn’t have visibility into – or control over – spend, and often lacks auditing and reporting capabilities.

Thanks to technology, what’s considered the ‘traditional’ way to manage travel booking and expense claims doesn’t have to be a lengthy process with minimal control. In fact, solutions are now available to seamlessly automate the travel booking process with the expense claim process – from the time travel is procured all the way through to payment and reporting.

Implementing an automated T&E solution empowers employees to adhere to company travel policies, because they can easily book travel and file their expense claims from one system.

For organisations of all sizes, automating the T&E process reduces costs – from an increase in compliance, to reduction in spend due to better control, to shorter reimbursement times. By automating this process, the time to complete an expense electronically is twice as fast as manually completing an expense claim.** Plus, because these automated solutions are delivered on-demand with no software or hardware to purchase and little need for IT support, they can be implemented within a matter of weeks for very little upfront cost and reasonable monthly fees that translate in very low cost of ownership.

Whether you see this uncertain economic environment as a mandate to drive down costs or simply as an opportunity to set your organisation up for quick success when the climate improves, one thing is certain: best-in-class organisations use technology to control the entire travel and expense management process. Cutting business travel is not an option. But, reducing spend is mandatory.

* Concur Client Success Metrics, August 2008
** Aberdeen Group, April 2008

For further information: Website: http://www.concur.co.uk/

Congress city

Posted on by Ben Debski

As the host of leading international trade fairs such as Hannover Messe and CeBIT, Hannover has been in pole position for decades. Large events such as the EXPO 2000 world exposition and the FIFA 2006 World Cup have established Hannover’s reputation around the world as a cosmopolitan city, and considerably expanded the demand for a whole range of event locations. As a congress location, Hannover today provides its visitors with a spectrum that covers all of the desired capacities, and satisfies even the most unusual criteria.

Professional, hospitable, diverse
The state capital, the towns and local authorities in the region provide optimal conditions for congress participants – from appropriate accommodation to customised catering and shuttle services. Around 26,000 beds are available in over 500 hotels in all classes. Visitors to Hannover benefit from the short distances between conference locations, sightseeing highlights and transport hubs. Professional and hospitable hosts cater to individual needs, and ensure the success of congresses, trade fairs and events.

Tourists from all over the world are attracted to the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, enjoy the maritime flair of the Maschsee city centre lake, experience an enormous diversity of cultural offers in numerous theatres and museums, not to mention the internationally renowned state opera house. Sports events, open air concerts and local festivals attract visitors throughout the year, who combine attendance at these events with an enormous range of other leisure and recreational activities.

Picturesque corners in historic city centres are perfect for relaxed sightseeing, exotic worlds in the Hannover Adventure Zoo fascinate whole families, and shoppers can enjoy themselves in the largest pedestrian precinct in Germany.

Parties and festivals
Hannover’s events calendar includes festivals, cultural events and sports events throughout the year. Open air concerts are held in the AWD-Arena, the Gilde Parkbühne and at the Expo Plaza. The city turns into a Jazz Mecca on Ascension Day when the big “enercity swinging Hannover” all-day jazz concert takes place in front of the New Town Hall. The live music festival “Fête de la Musique” featuring 800 musicians, attracts hundreds of thousands to twenty stages around the city for the 10-hour-long festival. The TUI Arena and AWD-hall are indoor locations for thousands of rock and pop fans.

The unique atmosphere of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen makes it a much-loved venue for classical concerts, variety acts, and the legendary International Fireworks Competition.

Hannover, the trade fair and event city, is quickly and comfortably reached via Hannover Airport, the A2 and A7 motorways, as well as the Deutsche Bahn ICE high speed train network. The whole region is also covered by a dense local public transport network – additional aspects which help make Hannover an optimal location for your event.

Contact Details
HannoverKongress
Prinzenstr. 6
D-30159 Hannover
Tel: +49 511 168-45313
Fax: +49 511 168-45314
Email: info@hannoverkongress.de
Website: www.hannoverkongress.de

The wish list

Posted on by Ben Debski

Hublot Big Bang
Swiss firm Hublot has been making watches for the last 30 years, and its most successful model, the Big Bang, has received international recognition and accolades since its release in 2005, including the ‘2005 Design Prize’, the ‘Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix’ and the award for ‘Watch of the Year’. This new white ceramic model features Hublot’s signature natural rubber strap and its automatic movement features a tungsten carbide oscillating weight.

Microsoft Zune
For the music fan who doesn’t want to follow the crowd and is looking for something a little different from the ubiquitous iPod, the Microsoft Zune represents a sound choice. Its intuitive, easy-to-use interface and Zune Marketplace software rival the best aspects of the iPod, but where it really comes into its own is on sound quality.

Bianchi Caal 8200 Bike
It would be a shame to leave a Bianchi bicycle out of any review of white gadgets, as Bianchi translates into ‘white’ in Italian. It would also be a shame to leave it out simply because Bianchi have been making some of the best bikes in the world for almost 125 years.

Leica M Series White Edition
Style and quality have always been an integral part of the Leica brand, and the new Leica M8 ‘White Edition’ is perhaps the most exclusive camera this highly respected manufacturer has produced to date. Limited to just 275 units, the White Edition is finished in chrome and white leather, as well as a special white paint finish that is highly resistant to dirt and scratches.

Fender Jaguar Classic
Whilst perhaps not as easily recognisable as the iconic Stratocaster and Telecaster, the Fender Jaguar has a very special place in the hearts of musicians – and fans – the world over. The Jaguar Classic with its classic design, more-or-less unchanged since 1962, has been associated with players as diverse as David Byrne, Kurt Cobain and Elvis Presley.

Neils Diffrient World Chair
Neils Diffrient is the godfather of ergonomic furniture design, and this new Diffrient chair, manufactured by Humanscale, is perhaps his finest creation to date. It combines form and function in a perfectly balanced design which adjusts to a user’s body shape and weight without any mechanism. The free-recline action means that the chair ‘moulds’ itself around the human body.

Get more for your money

Posted on by Ben Debski

There have been signs of recovery, the European Central Bank (ECB) base rate is now at 1.0 percent – its lowest ever level. The ECB has also signalled that it will start buying covered bonds up to the tune of €60 billion, in the form of quantitative easing.

The ECB cut, coupled with the Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates at 0.5 percent has already had a positive impact on the euro-sterling exchange rate. The pound has seen a slight rise from the record lows of the last few months, which had dramatically reduced British spending power abroad.

In fact, Moneycorp has seen a renewed interest from cash-rich investors looking to snap up holiday homes in popular locations across France, Spain, Italy and Portugal. People who had been tentatively searching for properties abroad are now starting to buy again.

Momentum in the property market is building and even if sterling remains at its current levels, this trend is likely to continue due to a sharp fall in the price of property abroad. The worst hit area has been Spain, where prices in some southern coastal resorts have fallen by up to 40 percent from their peak value. Popular areas of Italy, Portugal and northern Majorca have also suffered price falls of 10 to 20 percent, and there is no sign of this trend reversing in the short term. All in all, people who want to buy abroad will now be able to get far more for their money compared to 12 months ago.

For those looking to move overseas or for those who have already arrived and need to transfer money from the UK, the following tips can help you squeeze the most out of your sterling.

Shop around
Look for the best deal. Don’t assume that your high street bank will offer you good rates. A currency specialist will help you make the most of your funds by offering better rates of exchange and their lower transfer fees should help you save money. Many Brits already living abroad are suffering because of market fluctuations, but they could also be losing out on up to £200 million a year by using high street banks to transfer their payments – due to poor exchange rates and high transfer fees.

Plan ahead
Currency markets are in constant fluctuation and if you leave a payment to the last minute, you will have to accept the rate at the time of transfer – whatever that might be. If six months ago you knew you had to make a payment in euros around this time, but had done nothing to secure your exchange rate, the payment would now cost you a staggering 20 percent more. To avoid situations like this, you can use a ‘forward contract’, which allows you to lock into exchange rates for up to two years ahead. Forward contracts can be used to lock into favourable exchange rates, or to simply protect you against adverse currency movements – something which is important in today’s volatile currency markets. Some people prefer not to commit their entire requirement to a forward contract, as they would then not benefit from better exchange rates if they did become available in the future. However, with future prices notoriously difficult to predict, the opportunity to guarantee your rate can be hugely beneficial.

Don’t get stung by overseas bank charges
Be aware that overseas banks can often charge handling fees just for receiving your money. This can amount to 1 percent of the value of your transfer and soon adds up if you are making payments on a regular basis. However, a currency specialist will often absorb or eliminate these charges. In some cases you can also negotiate with the receiving bank before sending your funds.

Consolidate your payments
If you are sending money abroad on a regular basis, think about reducing the number of payments that you make and increasing the size of them. To avoid extra costs, expats can sign up to a Regular Payment Plan and take advantage of better rates, as well as the automation of their transfers via Direct Debit. The Regular Payment Plan from Moneycorp ensures that funds are fully automated, removing the hassle of making regular overseas transfers. From just £4 per transfer, or £8 for a premium ‘fast-track’ transfer (for same or next-day delivery), retirees can save significant sums of money – compared to making one-off payments with their high street bank. There are also different plan options available, allowing you to fix the sterling amount sent, the foreign currency amount received – or both. Plus, opening a Trading Facility with Moneycorp is completely free of charge.

Few countries have escaped the global downturn and the top expat destinations of Europe and further afield are no exception. The last few months have seen a surplus in the supply of overseas property, which has led to a decline in prices. Combined with the strengthening pound, this is a favourable environment for potential investors. By planning ahead and using an industry expert, buyers can make the most of the current situation.