The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World group and part of The Doyle Collection, an iconic family-owned group of stylish boutique hotels. It has just been named Best Business Hotel, Ireland by Business Destinations for the second year running – and for very good reason.
This iconic Dublin hotel enjoys an unrivalled location just off Grafton Street, halfway between the historic Trinity College and St Stephen’s Green. At the heart of the city’s premier business, retail and entertainment quarter, it is the perfect place from which to do business and entertain clients.
The Westbury Hotel has traditionally been one of Dublin’s favourite meeting places
The Westbury Hotel has traditionally been one of Dublin’s favourite meeting places. Guests can relax in the magnificent setting of the Gallery – the hotel’s design showpiece – which features marble floors, handmade rugs, mahogany columns, bespoke 1960s chandeliers and one of Ireland’s foremost private art collections. From here there is a street-side view of city life being played out in front of you. The Gallery has become synonymous with informal corporate meetings and sumptuous afternoon tea.
The Marble Bar meanwhile, named after its Nero Marquina marble, provides a dash of edgy sophistication in which to enjoy the finest selection of champagne and cocktails the city has to offer. The recent redesign has broadened the bar’s appeal as an all-day meeting place, an informal space for business lunches that transforms into a buzzing cocktail bar in the evening.
The hotels AA award-winning Wilde – the restaurant named after Irish literary figure Oscar Wilde – offers a fine-dining experience in contemporary, metropolitan surroundings. The executive chef performs his magic using the finest local and seasonal produce to create menus of simply cooked, exquisitely presented dishes. As the restaurant’s namesake once quipped: “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”
Then there is Café Novo, a cool, contemporary bar and brasserie with a menu of traditional favourites – presented with a fresh twist to appeal to the time-conscious business executive.
Style and substance
Chic design is the order of the day in the 178 guest bedrooms and 27 suites. Each features extraordinarily comfortable Sealy beds adorned with Irish Lissadell linen, duck-down duvets, Blanc d’Ivoire throws, custom-designed George Smith furniture and Porto Romano lamps.
The hotel has state-of-the-art technology to make doing business a pleasure, including complimentary wi-fi, flatscreen LCD TVs, media hubs, iPod-compatible entertainment systems, and US and European ports. All of this and a Nespresso coffee machine comes as standard in all rooms.
The Westbury’s seven magnificent boardroom suites can host from eight to 50 people, offering cutting-edge technology and round-the-clock support from the hotel’s experienced staff.
The grandeur of the Grafton Suite, capable of hosting 200 guests, is matched by its versatility, making it a regular venue for private dinners, events and prestigious international forums.
Whether guests are checking in for business or leisure, they will be welcomed by enhanced services, including a curb-side check-in programme, express check-out, the availability of 110v adaptors for international business travellers, a one-hour pressing service and an express breakfast for the time-constrained business guest.
A luxurious portfolio
The Westbury Hotel may be the flagship of The Doyle Collection, but there are other equally luxurious boutique-style hotels in the family. The group consists of eight hotels located in the most fashionable neighbourhoods of five major cities around the world – London, Bristol, Dublin, Cork and Washington DC. Each hotel has its own unique and contrasting character, but all offer the same sense of understated elegance. Designed to an exceptionally high specification, no stone has been left unturned in creating a collection of beautiful, individual hotels.
One of the Westbury’s presidential rooms
Over €200m has been invested in The Doyle Collection, positioning it as a brand for those seeking something different. Also in Dublin is The Croke Park Hotel, conveniently located beside the famed Croke Park Stadium and, like The Westbury Hotel, it is a favoured meeting place for business and leisure travellers alike. Moving outside the capital, The River Lee Hotel in Cork offers the perfect retreat with its getaway spa, lively bistro and bar, and an enviable location on the city’s riverbank.
Meanwhile in London, The Kensington Hotel, in the southwest of the city, is a collection of Georgian townhouses, now home to one of the capital’s finest pied-à-terre hotels, offering exceptional comfort, elegance and period charm. An exciting addition to the Kensington’s rooms is the Kensington Suite, which, as London’s largest townhouse suite, offers guests impressive and spacious apartment-style accommodation. With uninterrupted views over leafy South Kensington and just steps away from fashionable Knightsbridge, the Kensington Suite offers the very best personal service.
The Marylebone Hotel, with its stylish furnishings and photographs, exudes urban cool and cosmopolitan flair. It has Oxford Street, Bond Street and the whole of theatre-land within hailing distance. The Bloomsbury Hotel, a listed Lutyens-designed building, is an architectural gem and a convenient base for exploring specialist shops, historic sites and museums, – including the British Museum just down the street. It also provides every facility for dining, meetings and events.
Traditions of hospitality The Bristol Hotel in the West Country city of Bristol is a contemporary classic, which sits perfectly on the waterfront of the city’s vibrant harbour.
In North America, an unrivalled location and exquisite design are among the hallmarks of The Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington DC. Business events can be curated by the in-house team in a variety of meeting spaces, including the exclusive Level Nine penthouse floor, offering spectacular views across the city from its private terrace.
Seeking to revive the traditions of hospitality, when travel was a delight and the exploration of a new city exhilarating, The Doyle Collection offers a unique hotel experience. The hotel properties are an eclectic mix of the historic and the modern. With stylish decor, exquisite art collections, highly knowledgeable concierge services, central neighbourhood locations and a team that will go the extra mile, guests are assured a pleasant welcome and attention from hosts that care for their comfort and wellbeing. With a broad range of facilities and attractions underpinned by a commitment to bespoke luxury, The Doyle Collection is perfectly tailored for business or pleasure.
Having built up a significant hotel and conference sector, Copenhagen is a centre for corporate travel, but also attracts mounds of leisure visitors. Innovative architecture and unique interior design have helped the Danish capital stand out from the crowd in the global hotel sector. Having hosted Eurovision twice and the COP15 climate change conference in recent years, the demand for hotel capacity has increased, but hasn’t meant a compromise on design.
Known for their Scandinavian style, several of Copenhagen’s hotels have won awards and public attention for introducing concepts such as a floor entirely for women and complete hotel sustainability. Functionality has been key for Copenhagen over the last few years as it built to facilitate a larger visitor capacity, but design and originality were never left on the backseat.
Innovative architecture and unique interior design has helped the Danish capital stand out from the crowd in the global hotel sector
“Copenhagen’s hotels stand out because a great number of the hotels are either family or individually owned, making the personal touch more present. I also think, that the use of Scandinavian design makes them stand out,” explains Ulrika Mårtensson, Head of Communications, Meetings and Incentives at the tourism organisation Wonderful Copenhagen.
In her opinion, the city boasts a slew of hotels and conference centres with unique design and architecture. The Bella Sky Comwell by Danish architects 3xn, stands out with its daring and award-winning architecture, while the Tivoli Congress Centre, designed by Danish architect Kim Utzon and the Radisson Blu Royal, is known as the world’s first design hotel, with all furnishings and interiors created by Danish cult architect and designer Arne Jacobsen.
Beyond functionality The Bella Sky Comwell has become a landmark for Copenhagen’s skyline with two skewed towers inclined at 15 degrees and reaching 76.5m each. In comparison, the Tower of Pisa only inclines 3.99 degrees. The hotel is well known for its stand-out design and draws in thousands of visitors each year.
The choice of the unique architecture isn’t just random either, says General Manager Anders Duelund.
“We wanted the hotel to have a new Nordic cool expression, and we wanted to deliver precision and through this, impress our guests with high service levels and unique design. This is why we incorporated ‘hygge’ into the hotel – so even with its 812 rooms, this big hotel is still cosy,” explains Duelund.
Hygge is an impossible-to-translate, yet inherently Danish word, which means cosiness, good times, a friendly atmosphere and homey design. Hygge is at the core of all social interactions in Denmark and, maybe, the basis for the Danish hotels’ success. Nordic exactitude is another one.
“Copenhagen has been good at handling major events primarily because it offers a good combination of hardware such as accessibility, infrastructure, hotels and meetings facilities and because we are good at working together as an industry, across official and private sectors. On top of that we offer a lot of creativity and innovation. Being such a small destination you have to stand out in terms of performance, and that’s what we do,” explains Mårtensson.
Meeting business needs Standing out is key in a competitive industry such as the hotel business, and with a women’s only floor and a two-storey green wall of live plants, Bella Sky Comwell is hard to miss.
A glimpse into the stunning interior of the Bella Sky Comwell. The hotel draws in thousands of visitors each year
Nearby, Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers is one of the leading sustainable hotels in the world, offering rooms with electric car and cycle hire, and bathroom products in biodegradable materials. The hotel is also equipped with solar panels, meaning it uses 65 percent less energy than other comparable hotels. Similarly, the Tivoli Congress Centre has a “fearless design and signature play with light of it’s architect, Kim Utzon,” according to Claus Isling, Head of Marketing at the Arp-Hansen Hotel Group, referring to the multi-coloured spotlights radiating from its skewed facade.
The hotel is a popular choice among corporate travellers, having made several improvements in order to facilitate this growing group of visitors, which currently accounts for half of the total amount of tourists visiting Copenhagen on a yearly basis. The improvements include three executive floors with amenities specially designed for business travellers, as well as a state-of-the art conference hall with a movable stage and an in-house AV technician, Isling explains. The combination of hotels offering large-scale meeting facilities along with rooms has helped attract corporate travellers, as it cuts down transport time and creates ease for the firm.
“Copenhagen is a very good destination for business travellers – it’s easy to get here, easy to get around thanks to our efficient infrastructure and very short distances. It’s also a safe, clean and professional city with highly educated people where the vast majority speaks English. More importantly, the selection of hotels and convention centres is an important factor, as many visitors take this into account when choosing a destination for a meeting or event,” says Mårtensson.
Looking for competition Yet, with more visitors every year, Copenhagen’s hotels are reaching capacity more and more often. To this end, Duelund would like to see increased international competition in the local hotel industry.
“If we could get more international corporate hotel brands to Copenhagen, we could attract more corporate clients. I’m not scared of competition – this would help us bring in even larger conferences and that would benefit all of us.”
Duelund’s wish could be about to come true – several of the large-scale Danish hotel groups are actively looking to establish partnerships with chains such as Intercontinental, the Four Seasons and Marriott Hotels in the hopes that this can push more of the Danish hotels with a local brand into the international sphere.
In the last three years Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has embarked on a proactive re-fleeting and enhancement programme. Today its fleet is one of the youngest in the region with an average age of 5.7 years, while the airline’s Falcon Gold product is undergoing a complete makeover both in the air and on the ground.
The new business offering, including the airline’s new and renovated lounges, were designed incorporating passenger comments during the development stage for the first time, to ensure the end products met their requirements. The company’s exquisite attention to detail and desire to please premium passengers has seen it named Best Business Class Airline, Middle East, 2014, in the Business Destinations Travel Awards.
[P]remium customers enjoy an enhanced experience throughout their journey
High-class comfort
A critical element of the airline’s new business offering is its newly retrofitted A330 aircraft which feature a total of 214 seats in a two-class configuration of 30 Falcon Gold class and 184 economy seats. Designed specifically for Gulf Air and integrating features based on passenger feedback, the airline’s new Falcon Gold seat converts into a fully flat bed measuring 1.9m, guaranteeing a comfortable night’s sleep. Falcon Gold offers more personal space between seats than the airline’s previous business class product, allowing passengers to sit back and relax in a 22-inch wide armchair that converts easily into the passenger’s desired position. Additionally an in-seat massager offers passengers the perfect way to relax on a long flight.
Armrests are fully adjustable to different heights making sleeping, dining and working more comfortable. There is significant storage space, including a shoe pocket and a side compartment specifically designed for laptops.
For optimum onboard entertainment, the Falcon Gold seats come with complete on-demand audio and video features, an individual 15-inch touchscreen in every seat and high-quality noise-cancelling headphones. A suite of movies and audio titles in several languages are available, in addition to games. A USB port is available in every seat to allow passengers to easily charge electronic devices during their flight.
Another of Gulf Air’s premium lounges in Bahrain
Beyond the airline’s premium product, Gulf Air’s A330 economy class seats have also been upgraded to offer passengers the very latest in comfort and technology. Featuring a four-inch recline, an 18-inch seat-width and an adjustable head and footrest allowing greater passenger comfort, the seats are fitted with nine-inch seat back TV monitors, ideal for the airline’s extensive in-flight entertainment options.
Gulf Air’s planned A330 retrofit is scheduled to be completed in the last quarter of 2014 and the highly anticipated transformation of the national carrier’s long-haul product demonstrates the airline’s desire to offer superior products and services to passengers, while underlining Gulf Air’s longstanding commitment to its international operations.
Gulf Air’s A330 retrofit will be supported by three key partners: Avianor, Zodiac Aerospace and BE. Avianor has been appointed as turn-key provider, with responsibility for the engineering, certification and installation of this extensive upgrade. Zodiac Aerospace is supplying the economy class seats and the seat-centric IFE system while BE Aerospace are supplying the Falcon Gold class seats.
Falcon Gold lounge
Gulf Air officially opened its premium Falcon Gold lounge at London Heathrow Terminal Four in March 2011. The expansive, 6500sq ft lounge – one of the largest in the terminal – seamlessly mixes contemporary design and architecture with Arabic influences, creating an environment that combines tranquility with modern business facilities.
The open-plan design of the lounge gives guests a sense of space and freedom, with the central area featuring a bar surrounded by all the facilities necessary for business, dining, and lounging, as well as TV areas and private rooms.
The lounge has superb views over the runway through a 4 metre high glass wall, creating a bright space as you wait for your flight. There is a fully equipped business centre with tools including super-fast Mac computers, printers, fax and other office support functions, as well as wi-fi throughout the lounge.
Visitors can relax on huge, plush lounge chairs and sofas, while enjoying the central area and its ‘moonlighting’, which changes with the light of the day. For refreshment, a self-service buffet offers a wide section of a Halal menu, and there is an exclusive Illy Café counter serving a select variety of Italian coffee blends.
Every need is met with a prayer room, washrooms and showers, two private family rooms that can be combined into one large room, baby-changing facilities, and secure lockers.
Gulf Air ethos
Air travel has become savvier and passengers, particularly premium ones, are now more discerning. With airports becoming busier, lounges are no longer just a place to wait for flights or transit spots between connections. Premium passengers look for an oasis of peace and comfort, and expect a higher class of facilities and personalised service.
One of the key components of Gulf Air’s business strategy is to constantly improve the products and services offered to customers. The lounge is an example of this. As the company keeps improving customer service on the ground, they also aim to add more features and facilities in the air, so that premium customers enjoy an enhanced experience throughout their journey.
Open from 6am to 11:30pm daily, the lounge can accommodate up to 110 persons. It is available to all Platinum, Gold and Silver card-holding FFP members of Gulf Air, and premium class ticketholders of Gulf Air’s code-share partner airlines.
Nestled between a dramatic backdrop of rugged mountains and the pristine waters of the Sea of Oman, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa is set on 124 acres of stunning land and is home to three spectacular hotels.
The property is comprised of the exclusive Al Husn, Al Bandar and the family-oriented Al Waha hotels. All 640 rooms and suites overlook the Sea of Oman, providing guests with 600m of pristine coastline.
Al Bandar’s dominant feature is its large, unconventionally shaped swimming pool, spanning 1,400sq m
Opulence aplenty
The exclusive Al Husn hotel is inspired by the historic architecture of Omani forts. Al Husn means ‘the castle’ and the hotel’s appearance reflects Moorish design in the style of the Alhambra, emphasising the strong Portuguese influence on Oman’s architecture. Typical to the traditional forts of Oman, the central courtyard has been deliberately left empty, apart from peaceful water features and palm trees.
All 180 deluxe guestrooms and suites face the sea and are generously proportioned, each spanning a minimum 48sq m. All rooms have a balcony or terrace, and are among the most spacious in Oman. The distinctive bathrooms are designed with sliding wooden panels so guests can view the sea while luxuriating in the bath.
Guests enjoy exclusive use of a fully appointed gym, private beach with bar, infinity pool, library and hospitality lounge. Moreover, Al Husn guests are welcomed to a daily afternoon tea, pre-dinner evening cocktails and complimentary in-room mini bar.
While guests staying at Al Husn are welcome to enjoy the facilities of the entire three-hotel resort, the services and facilities within Al Husn are reserved for its guests.
Heart of the resort
Al Bandar means ‘the town’ and the hotel’s architecture is inspired by the aesthetics of old Muscat, featuring beautiful buildings of varying heights, most with their own ornate balconies. The deluxe property provides 198 guestrooms, each offering a minimum of 38sq m of space, and a balcony or terrace with views of the garden, sea or swimming pool.
Al Bandar’s dominant feature is its large, unconventionally shaped swimming pool, spanning 1,400sq m and with a maximum depth of 1.2m. Its unique sunbeds are half-immersed to allow guests to lie down and relax within the pool. Al Bandar also provides a jacuzzi and a children’s pool, as well as access to the lazy river.
The 500-metre lazy river gives guests an unusual method to travel between Al Bandar and Al Waha by floating between their swimming pools on water. Guests can relax and enjoy something to eat or drink at Al Waha then drift leisurely back to Al Bandar.
For in-house guests, Al Bandar’s Health Club is available, with cardio and weight studios, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. It also has four lighted tennis courts, supervised by professional tennis coaches.
Family destination
The name Al Waha means ‘the oasis’. The hotel is nestled at the foot of a mountain range through which vehicular access has been made possible by a man-made tunnel. The architecture of Al Waha is traditional Dhofari, from the southern region of Oman. It comprises 262 guest rooms with a minimum room size of 32 sq m each.
The resort sits on the coast, framed by rugged mountains
Ideal for families with children, Al Waha features Cool Zone, one of the three children’s clubs within the resort. It offers a wide range of supervised indoor and outdoor activities for the young ones.
In addition to the hotel’s main swimming pool, there is a toddler’s pool with a rubber cushioned floor and a separate pool shaped like a water mushroom for older children.
Dining and meeting venues
The resort has seven main restaurants, two all-day dining outlets, three pool bars and a beach bar, three lobby lounges, three cafés and two bars. Each of the main restaurants specialises in a unique cuisine, such as Lebanese, Moroccan, Italian, Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian and South American. The array of fine dining and all-day dining outlets, as well as live cooking stations, ensures something delicious for each and every guest.
The meeting and banqueting facilities of the resort define elegance, versatility and convenience. Stylishly appointed, the 1,008sq m Barr Al Jissah ballroom, with its large pre-function area, can accommodate up to 850 guests for conferences or cocktail receptions. The ballroom features nine large chandeliers made of 46,656 single Bohemian crystal strands, state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, and an outdoor terrace that faces the beach and offers spectacular 180-degree views of the ocean.
In addition to the ballroom, the resort offers eight impressive function rooms covering more than 360sq m. Other outdoor reception venues include the Omani Heritage Village and the Al Midan Amphitheatre, with seating for 1,000 people.
After meetings, the CHI spa lets delegates relax. Designed to create a sanctuary of tranquillity inspired by the legend of Shangri-La, CHI features some of the largest and most luxurious private spa suites and villas in Oman, all within a secluded, village-like setting of landscaped gardens. There are 12 treatment villas, eight of which are doubles and another four for single guests. Each has a private bathroom and vanity area, shower, bath and a relaxation area, and a garden court complete with outdoor showers.
Dive centre
Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa offers boating enthusiasts, anglers and divers the very best with the latest facilities and professional service at the resort’s marina and dive centre, operated by Extra Divers.
The resort’s ballroom decorated with a black and white theme
Diving is one of the most popular pastimes at the dive centre, and the breathtakingly beautiful Omani sea has much to offer enthusiasts. There are many dive sites teeming with a myriad of marine life, as well as coral reefs and shipwrecks waiting to be explored. The unspoiled waters off the resort offer divers an experience they will remember forever.
The marina at Barr Al Jissah is designed to complement the fully integrated resort and neighbouring residential villas. It has 55 berths for various vessels ranging in length from nine metres up to a maximum of 40m. The marina’s services and facilities include round-the-clock berthing assistance, advanced security system, boat cleaning and water and electricity supply.
Omani heritage
Aside from its many facilities, the resort is also home to a unique Omani Heritage Village, where well-preserved local culture and architectural heritage blend into the remarkable landscape.
The first of its kind in Oman, the village provides a first-hand glimpse of a traditional Omani rural lifestyle. Visitors can also view local artisans at work, demonstrating the techniques of traditional crafts, including khanjar making, silver making, weaving, basketry, henna tattoo decoration and pottery.
Adjacent to the Omani Heritage Village is Al Mazaar Souk, which houses a diverse shopping experience, offering collections from both Omani-style and designer shops. Adventure Zone, GameZ, Mini Golf and Zafran Café are located within this arcade. The resort’s Art Gallery within Al Bandar is a collaboration between the hotel and Bait Al Zubair Museum. The exhibition area displays works by locally based artists to promote the art and culture of Oman and the Arab region.
With its breathtaking beaches, tropical forests and delectable food, Sri Lanka is a tourism hotspot, receiving an estimated one million visitors each year. The Lonely Planet even named the country its best place to visit in 2013, praising its culture and value for money.
Travellers are encouraged to visit the region, but at the same time be aware of ethical practices that will promote the livelihood of the Sri Lankan people
But behind the beauty, Sri Lanka has a dark history. Scars from the country’s 25-year civil war, which only ended five years ago, still run deep. While tourism is an essential part of Sri Lanka’s economic growth, it is important travellers understand the area’s history before splashing out.
An uncivil government The war began in 1983, rising from ethnic tensions between the country’s majority Sinhalese and minority Tamil population. The Sinhalese had come to resent what they saw as favouritism towards Tamils during Britain’s colonisation of Sri Lanka. Following independence from Britain in 1948, the bitterness grew.
The Tamils began to break away from the rest of Sri Lanka, forming a rebel group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE or Tamil Tigers), and demanding an independent state. But this bid for freedom angered the government and they made it their mission for the next three decades to stop the Tamil Tigers.
It was a dirty war on both sides, but the bloodiest months came towards the end of the conflict. In 2009, over 50,000 civilians and Tamil Tigers fled to the country’s ‘no fire zone’ in the hope of respite. Human Rights Watch and UN satellite images suggest government forces then indiscriminately shelled the area. The scene of this atrocity came to be known as ‘the killing fields’.
Ethical tourism As Sri Lanka recovers from the conflict, tourism will play an increasingly prominent part in its economic prosperity. Travellers are encouraged to visit the region, but at the same time be aware of ethical practices that will promote the livelihood of the Sri Lankan people.
Tourists in Sri Lanka should look for family-run hotels and local businesses. Many businesses have been subsumed by the country’s military since the war; to spend money at these places would be to deny local traders valuable business. These companies can be easily detected, as workers tend to wear military uniform.
Visitors can also engage in a number of community projects – such as helping plantation workers, turtle conservation, or working with children – to further the recovery of the area.
The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice recommends that tourists travelling in the region speak to citizens about what it is like to live in the country, and how they feel in the aftermath of the war – so that they can spread awareness back home. The organisation hopes such activity will encourage the UN to prosecute the Sri Lankan government for war crimes. The organisation does add, however, that tourists should speak to people with sensitivity – bad-mouthing the government can be dangerous.
Ultimately, now that the country has recovered from the war, it is important to Sri Lanka that travellers visit and spend money there. But they must ensure it goes to the right hands.
Reunited after a 35-year separation, Lynne Martin and her husband Tim decided that their retirement should be spent not at their home in California, but travelling the world, experiencing things they’d never dreamed of. Not content with a weeklong jaunt, the couple sold most of their possessions – house included – boxed up the rest, and embarked on a journey that would see them living out of suitcases and laying down roots in countries across the globe.
After discovering they were never happier than when travelling, the couple saw their twilight years as an opportunity to up sticks and go, taking only a suitcase of essentials and each other for company. Lynne, 73, and Tim, 68, liken themselves to senior gypsies, and have spent the past few years moving from place to place in search of fulfilment.
Now the couple’s radical lifestyle choice is the subject of a new travelogue autobiography entitled Home Sweet Anywhere. Put together by Lynne, the bestselling book is a lesson in why baby boomers should postpone nothing and seize the moment.
Postpone nothing. Do not overthink it, because life may not let you do that thing you want to do. If you’re going to do it, get on
with it
Describe the events of your new book My husband and I decided in 2011 that we would rather live in other countries and experience the world than stay in our retirement house, despite our family, garden and dog being there. After a series of discussions we got rid of almost everything and have since been on the road, living only in rented accommodation around the world. The book is an account of our first year of living internationally without a home base.
How did the initial conversation with your husband come about? It was wonderful. We were sitting on a beautiful terrace in Mexico watching the sun go down, and I had been thinking about this idea for quite some time and finally plucked up the courage to say: “I’m going to be 70-years-old soon and there are still so many places I’d like to experience before I get out of here. It seems to me that we should spend these last few years of our active lives together doing something we really want to do.”
Here there was a long pause and he started to laugh, which is when I said: “Why are you laughing?” To my surprise he had been thinking the exact same thing but was hesitant to say so because he thought I’d never consider leaving our home. Four months on we had done just that.
Were you well travelled before you set out? We had both travelled the world beforehand but really wanted more time. The difference for us really is that when you’re on holiday you’re in a big rush and there are so many things you want to see and do in such a short space of time. We wanted the luxury of living among local people and experiencing what it’s really like.
Have you found this experience liberating? Oh yes. There are many things we’ve experienced that we never dreamed we would. One revelation that came very soon after we started out on the road was that I found there were less barriers for us when getting to know people. Of course, when you don’t have a home you don’t have things, and we found that these ‘things’ can often prevent people from getting to know one another on a human level.
How far ahead, if at all, do you plan your travels? We do plan very far ahead. For two reasons: one, we’re not young anymore, and the other, we’re not wealthy. These factors together demand that we plan far in advance, because making it up as we go along is really beyond us age-wise. Also, from a budget standpoint, when one plans far ahead, one has the ability to negotiate, and the properties we’re looking for are more readily available if we plan in this way.
Of all the places you’ve been, which was your favourite? Every place we have been to so far has some element to it that is utterly amazing. I am particularly fond of Paris, for many reasons: it’s flat, it’s easy to get around, the people are friendly and the food is incredible. My husband is very fond of our time in Portugal.
Are there any luxuries you’ve struggled to live without? Oh my, yes! Furniture – and it may sound terribly shallow – is the thing we miss the most. In most rental accommodation, no matter how lovely it is, there is really never any completely comfortable furniture.
You travel light, but is there anything you keep with you at all times? Well, because we have such wonderful electronic equipment we’re able to see the people we love, whether it is in photos or via Facetime or Skype. Aside from that, we don’t take much with us. There’s not much room for anything other than clothes and essentials.
Do you ever pick up souvenirs along the way? Almost never. I do buy a little piece of jewellery here and there – just to remind me of the places we’ve been – but unfortunately we just don’t have the room to do that; our photographs are our souvenirs.
To what extent is this lifestyle about travel? Or is it just one way of following the ‘postpone nothing’ philosophy you mention in the book? You know, I do think it’s about this ‘postpone nothing’ lifestyle more than the travel. Our decision is not just to travel, but to go to different places and take our life with us. We still have our little routines, and it’s not nearly as exotic as it may sound. For one, due to health reasons and budgetary constraints, we cook dinner at home most of the time.
It’s about the challenge of being in new places and experiencing the way other people live, and having to adapt your ways accordingly. When we talk about bringing this experience to a close, neither of us are keen, because we’re having such a wonderful time.
One of the biggest joys of this whole experience is that we’re beginning to talk to people, through our book and so forth, and to encourage older people in particular to adopt this postpone nothing mentality and tell them they have the opportunity to do something similar.
We’re healthier now than we have ever been, and we have the opportunity to experience things that we’ve always wanted to do. So if we have a message then really that’s it: to encourage people to get out and do whatever it is they most want to do. It might be starting a charity or building a garden shed, but whatever it is you need to do, just get on with it.
Were there any moments on your travels where your eyes were opened to something new? All the time. I’m always struck by the kindness of people. To me it’s just astonishing. I think that Americans are not very well-travelled people, and have the impression that people elsewhere in the world are not going to like them very much, which is absolutely untrue. Everywhere we go we find people more than willing to help us, who are courteous and kind, willing to direct us. We have never experienced any unkindness anywhere in the world, and even in places where we have no language in common it always seems to work out.
How have you changed since your journey began? We have both become more patient. It takes an awful lot to make us worried or upset nowadays, and we are much more flexible than we’ve ever been. I guess you learn that on the road; you have to be flexible or you just could not hack it, you have to take things as they come.
What would you say to those considering doing something similar? Postpone nothing. Do not overthink it, because life may not let you do that thing you want to do. If you’re going to do it, get on with it.
Having said that, I would suggest to people thinking of doing something quite as drastic as us that they consider renting their house out and trialling it for a few months. This way they can head out on the road and see how they feel. Perhaps, most importantly, see how their relationship holds up – if they’re comfortable being on the road and flexible enough to encounter the many different experiences ahead. In order to do this you’ve really got to like the person you’re with.
Do you think you’ll ever buy another home and settle down in one place again? You know, I think we probably will, in the end, return to California. Right now our health is excellent and there are many more places we want to see. We want to go to south-east Asia, we want to see Australia, and we want to go back to South America and Canada.
For the time being, I think we’re going to continue until we don’t feel up to it, and at that point we’ll return home – as a courtesy to our family apart from anything else.
Vegetarianism has taken off in the west over the last few decades but its been engrained in many cultures for centuries. Corporate travel can send executives to the farthest flung corners of the world, with some countries more accommodating than others. With that in mind, we count down the best places to head for a vegetable-only gastronomic experience.
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country, with an approximately three-million-strong Hindu population, giving rise to its vegetarian dining culture. Although some strands of Buddhism do encourage a vegetarian diet, it is especially common in major paths of Hinduism where the concept of ahisma (kindness and protection towards all living things) is preached. Top dishes to delve into include a Sri Lankan jackfruit curry and Mallum leaf green salad.
Italy In 2011, a Euripses study found that seven million (12 percent) of Italy’s population is vegetarian – a pretty substantial figure considering it was 1.5 million in 2000. Vegetarians are spoilt for choice, with pasta options such as maccheroni and cannelloni, pizzas including margherita and quattro formaggi, as well as tasty risottos.
United Kingdom According to an FSA survey, two percent of adults and children in the UK are vegetarian. Vegetarians will find supermarkets in the UK especially accommodating to their needs, as many stock products such as Quorn – a meat substitute – and tofu. Cities including London and Brighton have some of the best vegetarian restaurants in the world. Head to the latter to visit Terre à Terre, where you can try ginger beer slow-poached egg tempura, or Food for Friends where you can taste their warm mild ewe’s halloumi salad.
Israel With over a third of Israeli restaurants believed to be kosher, it’s no wonder the country has such a high vegetarian population. A survey revealed around one million of its eight million population does not eat meat. Kosher laws stipulate that meat and dairy products should not be mixed – which means for many, sticking to a vegetarian diet is easiest. Traditional vegetarian delicacies include humous, baba ghanoush, falafel and vegetable salads.
Dubai – multicultural, cosmopolitan and always expanding – is the focal point of the Arabian Gulf. Its rich history of business began centuries ago when it became a trading post on the well-trodden route between Oman and Iraq. Pearls were Dubai’s traditional source of wealth until the discovery of oil in the 1960s. With oil came investment, then wealth, then expansion. Dubai is now home to over two million people, drawn in by the diverse business scene, the incomparable leisure options, the shining sun, and the tax-free salaries. But with so much to do and see, you’ll need our handy guide to navigate the city.
Dubai International Airport: the gateway to an international business destination
When to go:
Dubai is warm all year and sun is likely whatever the month. However, summer can be overwhelming, with temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees Centigrade from June to September. Winter offers reprieve, with average temperatures around 20 degrees. Regardless, the city’s business facilities are well air-conditioned, so no need to worry about sweating inside your suit.
Transport:
Fly into one of the emirate’s two impressive airports. Dubai International Airport is served by more than 145 airlines flying to more than 260 destinations across six continents. It is currently the world’s second busiest airport for international passengers, with almost 66.5 million in 2013.
October 2013 saw the opening of Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central. Currently Dubai’s second airport, Al Maktoum International aims to become the world’s largest airport, with an eventual capacity of 160 million passengers.
Once you’ve landed, get around the city on the Dubai Metro – a fast, convenient and, vitally, air-conditioned train system. Or if public transport isn’t your thing, try a reliable taxi from government-run Dubai Taxi Corporation. Look out for cars labelled DTC.
Dubai timeline:
3000BC
The area becomes habitable and nomadic peoples move in
5th century
Jumeirah becomes a caravan station on a trade route connecting what is now Oman and Iraq. Area is under control of Sassanid Empire
7th century
Umayyad dynasty moves into the area
1095
The earliest written mention of Dubai, by Al-Bakri, an Andalusian Muslim explorer and historian
19th century
Al Abu Falasa dynasty of the Bani Yas tribe establish Dubai
1833
Dubai breaks from Abu Dhabi, becoming a separate sheikhdom
1892
Sheikh Maktoum signs business deal with the British. Dubai becomes British protectorate, granting tax exemption for foreign traders
1938
Uprising, but new government only lasts a few months before sheikhdom is restored
1966
Oil is discovered offshore in the Fateh field
1969
Dubai exports oil for the first time with a shipment of 180,000 barrels
1971
Britain leaves the Persian Gulf and the UAE is formed, with Dubai as a member
1999
Government-owned Emirates National Oil Company opens Dubai’s first oil refinery
2001
Work begins on the manmade Palm Islands
2006
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum becomes Emir. He is credited with much of Dubai’s rapid expansion and economic success
2010
Burj Khalifa opens – it is the world’s tallest skyscraper
2013
Dubai wins bid to host World Expo 2020
Leisure in Dubai
From pre-historic ruins and ancient marketplaces to modern-day luxuries and mankind’s most innovative feats of engineering, Dubai is quickly establishing itself as the base of a proverbial cosmopolitan renaissance
What to see:
In the last two decades, Dubai has become synonymous with extravagant contemporary architecture, yet this ancient emirate has a rich heritage. This is evident in Dubai’s Bastakia Quarter. A winding maze of courtyard houses and wind towers built from coral and gypsum, the neighbourhood is home to an oasis of traditional Arabian souks. From fragrant spices to glittering gold, the open-air markets prove an intoxicating trip through time.
From there, stroll up to The Creek, a natural seawater inlet that cuts through the city. Along its banks, traditional dhows sell foreign goods from their holds, or offer romantic excursions across the harbour. To explore further, seek out the ancient Jumeirah archaeological site –one of the most significant historical sites in the Middle East, the well-preserved ruins date back to the third century AD when the Persian Sassanid Empire ruled the region.
Culture fans wishing to explore Dubai’s more recent cosmopolitan influences will find satisfaction at the Global Village – a sprawling entertainment pavilion, jam-packed with mouth-watering cuisine and local crafts.
What to eat:
In a city littered with world-class restaurants and Michelin-star chefs, it’s easy to get lost in a jumble of contemporary cuisine. Yet there are scores of tantalising Emirati eateries in Dubai, such as Bait 1971 or Al Fanar, where distinct local flavours are served in delectable dishes. One of the city’s most beloved courses is shawarma, a lamb dish accompanied by a colourful array of fresh vegetables and a spicy garlic sauce. Other staples include ghuzi – a distinct roasted lamb recipe exemplifying the core, earthy flavours of classic Emirati cuisine.
Klayya Bakery along Al Barsha is one of Dubai’s top bakeries, offering sweet breads and chai teas that pack enough punch for a day of sightseeing. For dinner, seek out Dubai’s top delicacy – stuffed camel. Boasting the Guinness World Record for the globe’s largest dish, Emirati camel is slow-roasted on a spit and stuffed with a combination of lamb, chicken, boiled eggs, fish and rice. Wash it down with erk soos, a black, bittersweet drink made from liquorice root and filtered for maximum smoothness – it’s a bit of an acquired taste. The traditional drink is typically associated with Ramadan but can be purchased year round.
Where to stay:
Navigating Dubai’s seemingly infinite accommodation options is no easy task. Thanks to sky-high demand and substantial foreign investment, new luxury hotels appear along the harbour every year. Yet for all the competition, there are several clear standouts.
The Burj Al Arab is one of the city’s most imposing hotels. Officially, there’s no such thing as a ‘seven-star hotel’, but the mythical rating has been bestowed upon the lavish Burj Al Arab regardless. The billow-shaped hotel is the world’s tallest, and its interior is awe-inspiring. Every inch is liberally adorned with gold leaf, and impossibly cavernous foyers give a grandiose aura. The hotel’s fleet of Rolls Royces and hourly firework displays are the icing on the cake. But be warned: the only way to gain entry into the hotel without buying a room is by booking a table at one of its countless eateries.
Beach life in Dubai
Across town, along Dubai’s renowned man-made palm island, sits the equally majestic Atlantis. The hotel’s imaginative architecture is reason enough to book a room. More importantly, the perfectly situated resort boasts some of the emirate’s top white beaches, multiple world-class spas and plenty of water rides to occupy younger guests. For those who prefer a quiet hideaway from Dubai’s sleepless city centre, desert escape Al Maha is the ideal choice. Nestled in a dramatic oasis southeast of the city, Al Maha is Dubai’s original dune retreat. The eco-friendly hotel proves a relaxing escape, and is adorned with all the lavish comforts one would expect to find in the inner city.
By 2016, it is estimated over 100 new hotels will provide an additional 29,000 rooms. Although hotels with five (and seven!) stars will always be popular here, Dubai is also expanding its three- and four-star offerings, catering for a wider segment of business and leisure travellers.
Click on the markers to view the locations mentioned in the guide.
City thrills:
Dubai is also home to some of the globe’s most ambitious, cosmopolitan distractions. Ski Dubai is one such amusement. Situated in the city centre, Ski Dubai offers overheated visitors the opportunity to hit the slopes on its imposing indoor mountain. It offers everything from skiing and tobogganing to extreme sports. It even goes the extra mile by providing guests with their own winter clothing options – few visitors to the city will have packed a parka.
After your fill of snow, however, visiting one of the city’s immaculate, man-made islands is a necessity. The aptly named Palm Jumeirah archipelago was built in 2001 to provide guests with better access to world-class beaches. Now, they’ve got miles to choose from. Further inland, would-be racers can experience life in the fast lane at The Dubai Autodrome – a 5.39km circuit with eventual Formula One ambitions. Its ‘arrive and drive’ service lets guests get behind the wheel of single-seat racecars for a daylong crash-course in competitive driving.
No visit to Dubai is complete without a trip to the top of the Burj Khalifa. At a whopping 828m, the world’s tallest building is an engineering marvel. Above the tower’s 124 floors, the Burj Khalifa’s observation deck offers breath-taking views unlike anywhere else on earth. Like the city it overlooks, the Burj Khalifa is an astounding testament to the region’s progressive atmosphere and its lofty ambitions.
Learn the language
Greetings
How are you?
Do you speak English?
How do I get to?
How much?
Where is the bathroom?
Thank you (very much)
Can I see the menu, please?
The bill, please
Goodbye
Assalam Alaikum
Kaeef halak
hal TaTaKalam alanglizia
Kaeef yomKanany El Hosool ala?
Kam ath-thaman
Ayna Al Hamam
Shukran (jazeelan)
qā’imatu t-tacām, min fadlik
‘al-fātūra, min fadlik
MaAa es-salama
Business in Dubai
Like its emirate cousins, Dubai rose to prominence in the oil boom of the 1960s. Its leaders accumulated vast wealth as a succession of offshore fields was discovered – at its peak, Dubai’s oil industry was pumping out 410,000 barrels per day. Although the emirate’s role in extraction and production is slowing – by 2030, experts reckon Dubai’s four billion-barrel reserves will have gone – that doesn’t mean Dubai will lose its leading role in the global oil sector.
Dubai’s resources
410,000
Dubai’s peak oil production in barrels per day
170
The number of shipping lines connected by Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port
At firms such as Dubai Petroleum and Dragon Oil, focus has shifted from domestic production to international exploration. New fields in Tunisia, Iraq and the Philippines are being managed from Dubai – transforming the city into a vital trade link. State-owned Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) has taken particular interest in Dubai’s geographical advantages by shifting its business focus from refining to trade and storage. The firm has also established an up-and-coming shipping business.
Port-based trade and shipping now make up nearly a third of Dubai’s economic activity. In the last two years, government officials have made bilateral trade agreements allowing an unprecedented rise in exports passing through Dubai’s harbour. In the last five years, Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port has grown to become the largest container port between Rotterdam and Singapore. Connecting over 170 shipping lines, the port has allowed owners DP World to become one of the largest marine terminal operators in history. The port’s status as an entrepôt (duty-free) zone hasn’t hurt either, and by 2020 the $3.1bn business is expected to double its reach across the globe.
Investment prospects:
With impressive streams of revenue pouring into the emirate, it’s hardly surprising Dubai has established itself as a global leader in finance. Banking, trading and asset management now account for roughly 11 percent of the local economy.
The charge has been led by Emirates NBD. Although it suffered with the rest of the emirate after Dubai’s real estate bubble burst in 2009, there’s renewed momentum on the bank’s consumer side. First quarter profits were up 25 percent on 2013, and new acquisitions have boosted the bank’s wealth management business. Emirates NBD is now the largest bank in the Middle East in terms of total assets.
Equally important is Dubai’s trading activity. Established in March 2000, the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has grown to become the Middle East’s top secondary market for local and international securities. Simultaneously, the recently formed Nasdaq Dubai dominates regional markets in the trading of equities, derivatives and Islamic financial products. Local commodity exchanges are equally dynamic. With over 600 tonnes of gold passing through every year, Dubai is now ‘the city of gold’. In turn, riches earned from the emirate’s thriving financial sector are funding Dubai’s infamously lavish real estate industry.
In 2004, government officials shifted investment towards infrastructure to safeguard the economy from overdependence on oil. Now, property and construction in Dubai account for nearly a quarter of its economy. Great building incentives have afforded city developers the chance to pursue adventurous feats of engineering, with gulf construction giant Arabtec Construction LLC leading the way. Arabtec is responsible for Dubai’s most awe-inspiring undertakings – from the man-made Palm Islands and the Burj Al Arab to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
Like it’s skyline, Dubai’s real estate industry has had ups and downs
Where to entertain:
Dubai has a plethora of unique venues in which to wine and dine potential clients. A popular city spot is the Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Located in the city’s heart, close to the emirate’s top golf club, Jumeirah applies its five-star quality to its corporate suites. The palatial hotel boasts 12 boardroom-style meeting rooms alongside a number of outdoor venues – all of which are catered by Jumeirah’s 15 world-class restaurants. The hotel is perfect for a press launch or board meeting.
For a creative atmosphere, head up the road to Al Fattan Marine Towers. Within lies MAKE – the city’s top communal workspace. The minimalist interior, curvy shared desks and high-tech conference pods at this hybrid café and business hub are sure to get the creative juices flowing. For something more imposing, try Dubai World Trade Centre. With space for 12 to 12,000 people, the centre is ideal for professional expos. The venue can handle ostentatious entertainment (compete with pyrotechnics), boasts a team of 135 contemporary chefs, and will make a powerful business statement.
Business etiquette:
Investors in Dubai jump at an attractive portfolio, but would-be partners must observe rules of etiquette.
Dubai’s working week runs from Sunday to Thursday (although some people will still work a half-day on Saturday) so bear this in mind when organising meetings. Forward planning is a critical Islamic business principle – a pitch will be better received if presented as part of a well-defined agenda.
Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Alcohol is served in some hotels and bars, but is not widely available, and public drunkenness is against the law. Shunning these habits during meetings demonstrates respect.
Western business attire is appropriate, but should remain conservative. Men should wear full-length trousers and sleeves, and women wearing skirts should pick items reaching below the knee.
Finally, efforts to speak Arabic won’t go unnoticed. When greeting a potential partner try the traditional Islamic greeting “Assalam Alaikum” or a pleasantry such as “Forsa saeeda” (nice to meet you). Above all, it’s essential that documents be translated into all relevant languages to ensure complete understanding between parties.
A network of hovering cars will be constructed in Tel Aviv, at Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAS) corporate campus.
This trial loop is described by skyTran, the company behind the project, as: “a network of computer-controlled, two-person ‘jet-like’ vehicles”. The IAS campus prototype should be completed and running by 2015.
If successful, skyTran plans to expand the network, creating a commercial service catering for the whole of Tel Aviv. Passengers would order a car via smartphone to their exact location on the track.
The small cars will travel at 43mph, but the speed could eventually increase. This combination of high-speed and privacy make it perfect for business travellers.
Utilising maglev technology similar to that found in Japan’s famous ‘bullet trains’, the skyTran system could be a viable alternative to public transport. Additional environmental and safety benefits make it an attractive prospect for urban areas.
For British buyers of property in the Eurozone and the USA, conditions have swung nicely in their favour during the first half of 2014, thanks to the strong pound.
Since the start of the year, the value of the pound has risen against both the euro and dollar, with the odd bump along the way. In fact, as of June 16, the pound had passed the €1.25 mark – a level not seen since November 2012 – while the dollar hit a five year high of $1.70.
Your starting point should be to not ask your bank to
do it
For anyone buying property in places such as Spain or the USA, who has their funds in pounds still, this is welcome news. Rewind a year and a €200,000 property in Spain would have cost approximately £10,000 more to a UK buyer than it would today. Why? Because in June 2013, the exchange rate fluctuated around £1/€1.17, whereas today’s rate is around £1/€1.25.
However, too many British purchasers fail to realise that key to getting a good exchange rate when you move money overseas is asking the right people to make the transfer for you. Your starting point should be to not ask your bank to do it.
Just ask Helen Taylor and Trevor Evans, for whom holidays at their Spanish home are set to be even more enjoyable thanks to the savings they made when they purchased the property. When the British couple purchased their pretty house in the northern Costa Blanca in February, they used currency exchange specialist called Smart Currency Exchange to send money to Spain to pay for the transaction.
It was a decision that meant they received far better exchange rates when converting their pounds into euros than if they’d asked a UK bank to make the same transfer to their Spanish bank account.
“Our property cost €128,000, plus taxes and fees,” said Helen. “In total, we sent around £110,000 worth of euros to Spain, using a forward contract to secure a good rate. We actually sent our first payment using a bank and not only did we get a bad rate but we also had to pay a fee. Luckily, we spoke to a friend who had bought a house in France and used a currency specialist, so we knew that we too could get a better rate. Using Smart meant we had more money to spend on the house and new furniture!”
Helen and Trevor’s Spanish home is inland in the town of Parcent, near the Jalon Valley. An old character property, it has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a swimming pool and garden. To top it off, it’s surrounded by orange and almond groves and boasts stunning views of the town and countryside. The couple found the house after visiting the Costa Blanca last year, when they viewed a selection of properties with a local English-speaking estate agent. If all goes according to plan, Helen and Trevor intend to move to Spain within the next three years.
Going forward, the couple will continue to use Smart to send money to Spain. “Smart are always really quick to respond and get back to emails and phone calls,” added Helen. “We would definitely recommend them to other people.”
For expats and property-owners like Helen and Trevor, the benefits of using a currency specialist don’t stop once you purchase a property. Monthly pension payments, rental income, sending money to cover running costs of a second home or to spend during your stay there – if you need to make lower value payments to an overseas account, regularly or intermittently, you’ll save money by using a currency specialist. Just think how much you could save over the course of a year or two.
Richard Way is Editor of The Overseas Guides Company, publisher of 15 country guides for people moving overseas or buying property abroad.
Spray-painted on the walls of a once downtrodden neighbourhood in east London are some pseudo-intellectual words positing whether or not capitalism is dead. Beside this, an image of a cow with googly eyes, and next to that a pop-up café serving freshly-squeezed orange juice and homemade hummus.
The neighbourhood I am referring to is of course Shoreditch – an area that little over 10 years ago was deemed undesirable by prospective tenants, but today plays host to trendy boutiques, tech start-ups and high-end eateries. House prices have more than tripled over the same period, and the upturn looks set to continue unchecked as demand among young professionals outpaces supply by quite some margin.
The process that has taken hold of east London is one that can be seen at work in locations across the globe – Vancouver, Manhattan and Berlin among them – and amounts to a phenomenon that is more commonly referred to as gentrification.
[T]he question here is not one of displacement, but rather, one of whether or not gentrification is an effective means of urban development
The term is without a simple or precise definition, but much rather amounts to a turnaround in neighbourhood conditions, with the most important factors being increased income, rising house prices, and wholesale occupational and educational changes.
“Social and political concerns with gentrification have waxed and waned since the term was first coined in 1964 to describe the movement of middle class families into the former working-class neighbourhoods of London,” writes Professor of Economics Stephen Sheppard in a report entitled Why is Gentrification a Problem? Many remain skeptical of gentrification’s supposed benefits and will no doubt continue to feel the same way for as long as the area’s demographics are forced to evolve at the same pace as they have been.
Negative connotations It’s now 50 years since its first use, and the term still carries with it a series of negative connotations. The prevailing image of gentrification is one of long-time residents being pushed out of their homes in place of wealthy individuals, and community spirit being sapped from the neighbourhood in favour of a faceless form of trendiness. However, while it has long been accepted that the process displaces hard-done-by residents from their homes, recent studies have revealed this not to be the case, and have even gone so far as to prove that gentrification could benefit them financially.
Research undertaken by Richard Hartley of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland shows that, from a financial perspective, it’s far better to be a resident in a low-price district undergoing gentrification than a resident of one that is not. “There may be these kind of side benefits to gentrification that we’ve been less focused on, that can actually help the original residents of the neighbourhood,” proposes Hartley.
Moreover, comprehensive studies of the same subject released in 2007 and 2008 by the Journal of the American Planning Associationand the National Bureau of Economic Research found the correlation between gentrification and displacement to be weak, if not non-existent. In effect, the long-held opinion that gentrification is nothing more than a system of inequality is without evidence.
Positive change Taking a step back and looking at the process objectively, gentrification does not inflict the damage so many believe it to. It has been proved time and time again that displaced individuals are no worse off than they were prior to the move, so the question here is not one of displacement, but rather, one of whether or not gentrification is an effective means of urban development.
Prior to the gentrification process, the affected area usually experiences a prolonged spat of decline as income levels nosedive and businesses shut up shop. Herein enter the early adopters, who make do with the limited opportunities at hand and boost the community’s reputation, enticing formerly uninterested real estate developers and wealthy individuals. From then on, crime rates fall, public funding picks up and construction activity gathers momentum, as the neighbourhood ploughs on with its urban regeneration.
It’s well worth considering that the process is not a conscious upheaval on the part of wealthy newcomers, but much rather a product of changing demographics and employment patterns. An area is not chosen at random, but selected as a hospitable site for specific reasons, with the most common being affordability and convenience.
Organic development Various studies have posed that the gentrification process could be an organic response to structural changes. Whereas, historically speaking, wealthy residents tended to move away from city centres and on to the suburbs in search of better schools and more land, a new generation of young professionals has opted instead to return to the centre. On a fundamental level, changes to industry have sparked this return, with the prevailing industries of present day – predominantly tech and finance – requiring close proximity to one another in order to succeed.
Therefore, the question of whether or not the process of gentrification will come to represent the natural pattern of urban development is one that troubles policymakers and real estate developers, as is their want to better understand the forces of social and economic change. Local authorities must take pains to ensure the positive repercussions of gentrification are better understood, balanced and sustainable.
For newly rejuvenated neighbourhoods, such as those in New York, Brooklyn and San Francisco to succeed, policymakers and residents must fight for a balanced recovery. Gentrification qualifies as development in all senses of the word.
On one hand we may be looking at the crass realisation of a hipster vision, or we might have stumbled upon an effective method of saving neighbourhoods from the depths of poverty and sending them on instead to long-term prosperity.
Whether you are looking for one great night’s sleep, or five, Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica has some of the most soporific surroundings available. What do you need to fall asleep? Holmenkollen Park knows: peace and quiet, fresh air, service-minded staff, an attractive room and an extremely comfortable bed. There is a room for everyone, no matter what your goodnight routine may be. The room list explains what each one has to offer, and how they are equipped to increase your comfort and make your stay as easy as possible.
The 336 rooms, many named after famous Norwegian sporting legends, are divided into categories: standard, superior, deluxe, junior suites and suites. But as inviting as the rooms are, don’t forget to look out of the window – the lights and the views of Oslo, Nesodden and Bærum are spectacular.
[I]t is a modern conference hotel, located in stunning
surroundings 350m above Oslo city centre
Remember to note how incredibly quiet it is when you go to bed. It is so silent that you can almost hear the city’s other hotel guests counting sheep…
Food for gourmets
Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica boasts a team of chefs and servers, many of them among Norway’s top professionals, who are passionate about food and wine.
The hotel’s restaurants are exciting meeting places for a variety of cultures and tastes. You’ll find visitors from abroad who want a uniquely Norwegian experience, and Norwegian guests seeking exotic culinary experiences – sometimes at the same table.
Guests will find menus that captivate and surprise, delight and beguile – some unmistakably Norwegian, others with a dash of Italian, French or east Asian. The hotel’s gourmet restaurant, De Fem Stuer, lives up to the most exacting expectations.
For those looking for something faster and more informal, there are plenty of alternatives. In the bar, settled in a comfortable chair before the open fire, you can relax after your meal or build up an appetite for the evening’s forthcoming culinary experience.
Extraordinary events
Just woken up to find that you and your company have agreed to organise a demanding conference? Relax – Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica offers some of the Norwegian capital’s most modern, hi-tech and flexible conference facilities. Whether you need to accommodate seven guests or 750, funky or formal, low-key or lavish, an evening meeting or an exhibition lasting several days, requiring 1,000sq m or vehicle access – it’s all here.
Located 350m above the city centre, and even further from life’s day-to-day trivialities, the hotel’s 38 conference rooms and halls stand ready to welcome you and your event. All are equipped with the very latest telecommunications solutions. Surrounding your carefully planned occasion is the spectacular natural beauty of the neighbouring forest and truly fabulous views over Oslo and the fjord.
Are you planning a one-off banquet, a couple of parties, or even a three-day celebration for someone you love? Smart and formal, intimate and romantic, or briskly business-like, the hotel can help you choose from a fantastic selection of venues, each with its own speciality. They are united by Norway’s age-old building traditions, a style appreciated by Norwegian and international visitors alike.
The choice is yours – you can welcome guests to a venue overflowing with rustic charm, or offer them a fairytale feast. Whatever you decide, the hotel guarantees complete satisfaction for all.
The Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica’s restaurants cater for a variety of cultures and tastes
A little pampering
Sometimes it’s good to recharge and give yourself some ‘me time’ before getting to grips with everyday life again. There is no better place to do that than Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica. A visit to the spa and fitness centre will ensure you leave rested and renewed, with a smile on your lips and a spring in your step.
A spot of training, a massage, skincare treatments, hairdressers, followed by a walk in the magnificent forest, and topped off with dinner at De Fem Stuer, is just one of the non-prescription pick-me-up suggestions. But the choice is yours; there is a wide variety of rejuvenating and inspiring solutions to boost your wellbeing in a relaxing atmosphere. For functions and meetings the hotel also offers dedicated spa events.
Challenges for playful people
At Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica you will find activities no other hotel in Oslo can offer. Just four pole pushes, a 90m ski jump, and a super-g turn away from the hotel, lies the Holmenkollen ski jump, the Ski Museum and the beautiful Holmenkollen Chapel. Guests will enjoy exploring some of Oslo’s biggest tourist attractions, and a wealth of opportunities.
The ski jump is the focal point of the Holmenkollen sports arena. More than a century old, it has been rebuilt 14 times, and today is a modern facility with a fantastic view from 417m above sea level.
There are activities of every sort, from the simple to the nail-bitingly risky. Abseil from the top of the ski jump, or try your hand at the biathlon (skiing and shooting combined) or snowball throwing. Why not stage your own mini-Olympics (summer or winter), featuring events of your choice, for your colleagues or business associates?
The Ski Museum opened in 1923 and is the world’s oldest. Exhibits include equipment from Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen’s polar expeditions. The museum is the perfect place to start an evening event with aperitifs, followed by a recital in the Holmenkollen Chapel, with a torch-lit stroll between the hotel and the chapel.
From sanatorium to luxury hotel
Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica was originally built as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. Completed in 1894, it was designed by the architect Baltazar Lange in the then hugely popular ‘dragon style’ at the behest of Doctor IC Holm, a Norwegian surgeon.
When the Holmenkollen Turisthotell burned down in 1914 its operations were transferred to Dr Holm’s beautiful place of rest and recreation, which was renamed Holmenkollen Turisthotell og Sanatorium. Today it is a modern conference hotel, located in stunning surroundings 350m above Oslo city centre, with fabulous views of the Norwegian capital and the fjord beyond.
The hotel has been modernised and extended several times. First, in 1948, following its occupation by the Germans during the Second World War. It was upgraded again in 1982, when four new accommodation wings were completed just in time for the Nordic World Ski Championships at Holmenkollen. In 1991 a modern conference centre, designed by Gabriel Finne, was added.
Today the hotel has 336 rooms, which includes the new wing built for the ski championships. This latest addition comprises two floors of suites and junior suites, all decorated with pictures of the greatest heroes of Holmenkollen’s skiing arenas and offering spectacular views. From here you see not only the entire hotel but, as they say in the fairytales, half the kingdom too.
Of course, some things are as they always have been: the hotel’s location at Holmenkollen, sheltered from the city’s hustle and bustle, rising majestically as the natural gateway to the forest’s many skiing and cycle trails.
This combination of majestic architecture and exquisite natural beauty explains why the hotel has for many years been the preferred location when international businesses, heads of state and royalty have sought a unique setting for their events in Norway.
