destinations of the world news - dotwnews - aprl 2012 issue

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April 2012

CONNOISSEURTokyo’s top hotels

SUITE DREAMSThe Chedi Muscat

INTERVIEWAuthor David Nicholls

The architectural masterpieces that line Prague's streets tell the story behind Europe's most picturesque city

NATURE UNTAMEDThe wild side of Iguazu Falls

LONDON WEEKENDThe art of British etiquette

24 HOURS: TORONTOCanada's shopping capital

SPEND ITHolidays of a lifetime

FOREVER PRAGUE

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THE GOLDEN AGE HAS RETURNED.

Located on the beachfront of the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, this majestic resort is stunning in every detail. Marvel at the magnificent Ottoman inspired decor, savour an array of international flavours at our 10 restaurants and bars, unwind in elegant guest rooms where your every need is met, or simply refresh mind, body and soul at Talise Ottoman Spa named the World’s Leading Spa Resort 2011 by the World Travel Awards.

For more information and bookings please contact Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Tel: +971 4 453 0000, visit www.jumeirahzabeelsaray.com or call your travel professional.

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52Ancient stones

Prague’s eclectic architectural history is evident on both sides

of the famous Charles Bridge

On the cover38 Iguazu Falls

Dorothy Waldman gets up close and personal with one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders

46 British charm One reason for London’s lasting appeal is the traditions that permeate everyday life, says Caitlin Cheadle

52 Eternal Prague Joe Mortimer traces the history of Europe’s most picturesque city through its architectural treasures

58 Toronto: 24 Hours From vintage to one-off designer boutiques, Caitlin Cheadle reveals Toronto’s shopping sweet spots

ContentsApril 2012

10 April 2012 dotwnews.com

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dotwnews.com April 2012 13

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ContentsApril 2012

In the news18 Retrospective Chicago River goes green for St Patrick’s Day

20 Europe Enzo Ferrari Museum opens in Italy

22 Middle East & Africa Exclusive escapes in Marrakech

26 Asia & Oceania Japan: one year after the quake

30 Americas Inside US Air Force One

34 Debut Hot hotels, chic boutiques and exclusive new resorts

36 Interview Best-selling author David Nicholls will always love Paris

Insider60 Diary Out and about this month? Don’t miss these events

62 Spend it Once-in-a-lifetime luxury travel experiences

68 Suite dreams Chedi Club Suite at The Chedi, Muscat

70 On the road Sometimes we’d rather keep our feet on the ground

75 Trends New travel and tourism concepts making headlines

78 Connoisseur Mary Gostelow picks three choice hotels in Tokyo

80 Album Jennie Hallam-Peel, chairman of The London Season

82 Final Word Mario Costa, owner of Miami’s iconic Marlin Hotel

Photo: Palais Namaskar/Oetker Collection

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Letter from the EditorConsidering most eConomists would

tell you we’re still on a tipping point between recovery and double-dip recession, it was rather refreshing to be among 500 yachts and leisure boats on display at the dubai international Boat show last month, and the

VIPs and billionaires who were buying them.Most exhibitors remained tight-lipped about

everything but their gleaming new motorboats during the media walkthrough, keen to protect their perfor-

mance figures from rivals no doubt, but one exhibitor nudged my elbow while we were chatting at the

supercar Promenade and pointed out a gentleman he said had placed an order for one of the largest

boats at the show the day before. Judging by the grin on his face as he admired the one-of-a-kind

Alfa romeo Pandian concept car, it looked like he might be persuaded to place more orders that after-

noon. Official sales figures for the boat show have not yet been released, but it was clear that buyer sentiment, at least, was positive. It’s no surprise

that as the home of a large number of Hnwis and a home from home for European and Asian billionaires, the middle east remains one of the largest market-

places for luxury products in the world.What is more surprising perhaps is that the region

is developing a reputation as a cultural hub. Last month, the emirates Airline Festival of literature

attracted a line-up of regional and internationally acclaimed authors to the emirate. We caught up with British best-selling author david nicholls

after the show to talk about his journey from actor to writer, including his experiences during a magical

summer in Paris that changed his opinion of the city forever. In the interview on page 36, David talks to

deputy editor Caitlin Cheadle about writing, travelling and the hurdles he overcame before taking the book

world by storm with his first novel, Starter for Ten.Prior to the festival, Caitlin visited the savoy in

London, where she was met by what she described as classic British service, inspiring her to write

the story on page 46, ‘Best of British’. Using the Debrett’s Guide to British Behaviour as her

reference, she retraces a weekend spent getting acquainted with British culture in London.

Meanwhile, I spent a weekend learning about the history of the Czech capital Prague through its amazing architecture, which tells the story of the city’s incredible evolution through the last 1,000 years. Walking among the ancient edifices is a hum-bling experience, as centuries of history unfold around you and architectural genres from romanesque to the new-brutalist style of the Soviet regime line the streets and squares of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Read the story on page 54.

Prague might be an old city, but the forces that created the natural wonder that is the awe-inspiring iguazu Falls, on the border between Argentina and Brazil, are even more ancient. The falls create a curtain of water around a wide natural basin – a huge depression that looks like a giant’s footprint sunk into the lush landscape. Writer Dorothy Waldman was in good hands at the two resorts on either side of the border, and even bad weather and repeated soakings didn’t dampen her enthusiasm for what she saw. Read her account on page 38.

There’s much more in this April issue, including a sneak peak inside the new enzo Ferrari museum in Italy, a review of the Chedi Club Suite at the Chedi muscat, and our top tips for a short shopping break in toronto, but you’ll have to turn the page and start reading to find out more. Happy travels.

Joe Mortimer [email protected]

Fairytale cityThe colourful city of Prague is home to an encyclopedia of building styles that tell the history of the Czech Republic

14 Editors Letter.indd 14 29/03/2012 18:29

Classic elegance in historic KyivFairmont Hotels & Resorts offers our guests an extraordinary collection of iconic luxury properties around the world, including The Plaza in New York, The Savoy in London and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai. This tradition of unrivalled hospitality continues with our first property in Eastern Europe: Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv, Ukraine, opening in 2012.

Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv is located in the heart of the capital city’s historic Podil district—a vibrant hub of industry, science, education and culture that offers a compelling blend of old and new. Whether travelling for business or pleasure, guests will be treated to magnificent amenities, exquisite cuisine and indulgent spa treatments—all adding up to a supremely comfortable stay that will not soon be forgotten.

For more information, visit fairmont.com/kyiv

opening march 2012

00 Cover.indd 20 31/01/2012 15:05

April 2012, Issue 70

Publisher Anna [email protected]

Editor Joe [email protected]

Deputy Editor Caitlin [email protected]

Online Editor Nicci [email protected]

Editor-at-Large Andy Round [email protected]

Contributing Editor Mary Gostelow

Sales Manager Karla Toledo [email protected]

Assistant Sales Manager Andrea [email protected]

Art Director Kris [email protected]

Advertising Art Director Fami [email protected]

Multimedia Executive Vandita [email protected]

United Kingdom Sales David [email protected]

Circulation department [email protected]

Cover imagePrague – Michele Falzone

International Commercial RepresentationsDestinations of the World News’ network of international

advertising sales and editorial representatives are based in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Egypt,

France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,

Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America. Destinations of the World News is published monthly by WNN Limited and

distributed globally to the world’s premier airport lounges, our subscriber network and a select number of five-star hotels in the UAE. The title Destinations of the World News is a registered trademark and the publisher reserves all rights. All material in Destinations of the World News is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and articles reflect the

personal opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the publisher. Destinations of the World News is not responsible for omissions or errors that result from misrepresentation of information to the publisher. Advertisers assume all liability

for their advertising content. All rights of the owner and the producer of this conceptual development and artwork

design are reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be imitated, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without

prior permission of WNN Limited.

Principal Offices WNN Limited, Reuters Building 1, Office 106, Dubai Media City, PO Box 500661, Dubai, UAE

Tel +971 4 3910680 Fax +971 4 3910688 WNN limited, 31 Archbishop Kyprianou Street, 3036, PO Box 51234,

zip 3503, Limassol, Cyprus

To subscribe to Destinations of the World News at an annual rate of $99 visit the website at www.dotwnews.com and hit SUBSCRIBE.

Images used in Destinations of the World News are provided by Gallo Images/Getty Images/Corbis/iStockphoto/

Photolibrary unless stated otherwise.DOTW News is printed by J G Cassoulides & Sons Ltd,

Nicosia, Cyprus and Al Nisr Publishing, Dubai, UAE

Published by

Contributors


Caitlin CheadleDeputy editor Caitlin Cheadle packed her things

and left her native Canada four years ago after catching the travel bug while backpacking

through Europe. Since relocating to Dubai she’s found herself exploring hotter climates, but she

returned to Europe recently to learn a lesson in British etiquette during a weekend at The

Savoy. Read her take on the essence of British culture on page 46. Caitlin also has the inside

scoop on where to shop in bustling Toronto when time is limited to 24 hours, on page 60.

Andy RoundAndy Round works between the Middle East and Europe and somehow finds the time to look after three beautiful young children, as well as writing

for a number of international publications. He has worked as the editor of a daily newspaper in Malta, run a portfolio of magazines in Dubai and got lost looking for gorillas in Rwanda. Andy also

has an eye for spotting the kind of travel trends that usually demand to be read out loud to col-leagues at the beginning of each month – you

can have a look on page 74.

Joe Mortimer Editor Joe Mortimer has been addicted to travel

since he got lost on the top of a volcano at the age of six. He didn’t know it at the time, but those few solitary minutes spent wandering around the

crater were to ignite a fiery fondness for travel that has plagued him ever since. This month Joe got

lost among the ancient buildings of Prague, where the architecture tells of centuries of history and cultural evolution. From its 10th century begin-

nings to its 21st century glamour, Prague remains one of Europe’s most picturesque cities (page 54).

Dorothy WaldmanAs a native Texan who spent summers fishing and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, Dorothy

Waldman has enjoyed most of the oceans around the world. She now travels and writes about exotic

ports of call, architecture, lifestyle and business from her home in Istanbul. Shortly after writing

about the Amazon for our January issue, Dorothy was on the road again, this time further south to

the mighty Iguazu Falls on the border between Brazil and Argentina, one of the world’s most

awe-inspiring natural wonders (page 38).

16 Contributors.indd 16 29/03/2012 18:36

April 2012, Issue 70

Publisher Anna [email protected]

Editor Joe [email protected]

Deputy Editor Caitlin [email protected]

Online Editor Nicci [email protected]

Editor-at-Large Andy Round [email protected]

Contributing Editor Mary Gostelow

Sales Manager Karla Toledo [email protected]

Assistant Sales Manager Andrea [email protected]

Art Director Kris [email protected]

Advertising Art Director Fami [email protected]

Multimedia Executive Vandita [email protected]

United Kingdom Sales David [email protected]

Circulation department [email protected]

Cover imagePrague – Michele Falzone

International Commercial RepresentationsDestinations of the World News’ network of international

advertising sales and editorial representatives are based in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Egypt,

France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,

Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America. Destinations of the World News is published monthly by WNN Limited and

distributed globally to the world’s premier airport lounges, our subscriber network and a select number of five-star hotels in the UAE. The title Destinations of the World News is a registered trademark and the publisher reserves all rights. All material in Destinations of the World News is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and articles reflect the

personal opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the publisher. Destinations of the World News is not responsible for omissions or errors that result from misrepresentation of information to the publisher. Advertisers assume all liability

for their advertising content. All rights of the owner and the producer of this conceptual development and artwork

design are reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be imitated, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without

prior permission of WNN Limited.

Principal Offices WNN Limited, Reuters Building 1, Office 106, Dubai Media City, PO Box 500661, Dubai, UAE

Tel +971 4 3910680 Fax +971 4 3910688 WNN limited, 31 Archbishop Kyprianou Street, 3036, PO Box 51234,

zip 3503, Limassol, Cyprus

To subscribe to Destinations of the World News at an annual rate of $99 visit the website at www.dotwnews.com and hit SUBSCRIBE.

Images used in Destinations of the World News are provided by Gallo Images/Getty Images/Corbis/iStockphoto/

Photolibrary unless stated otherwise.DOTW News is printed by J G Cassoulides & Sons Ltd,

Nicosia, Cyprus and Al Nisr Publishing, Dubai, UAE

Published by

Contributors


Caitlin CheadleDeputy editor Caitlin Cheadle packed her things

and left her native Canada four years ago after catching the travel bug while backpacking

through Europe. Since relocating to Dubai she’s found herself exploring hotter climates, but she

returned to Europe recently to learn a lesson in British etiquette during a weekend at The

Savoy. Read her take on the essence of British culture on page 46. Caitlin also has the inside

scoop on where to shop in bustling Toronto when time is limited to 24 hours, on page 60.

Andy RoundAndy Round works between the Middle East and Europe and somehow finds the time to look after three beautiful young children, as well as writing

for a number of international publications. He has worked as the editor of a daily newspaper in Malta, run a portfolio of magazines in Dubai and got lost looking for gorillas in Rwanda. Andy also

has an eye for spotting the kind of travel trends that usually demand to be read out loud to col-leagues at the beginning of each month – you

can have a look on page 74.

Joe Mortimer Editor Joe Mortimer has been addicted to travel

since he got lost on the top of a volcano at the age of six. He didn’t know it at the time, but those few solitary minutes spent wandering around the

crater were to ignite a fiery fondness for travel that has plagued him ever since. This month Joe got

lost among the ancient buildings of Prague, where the architecture tells of centuries of history and cultural evolution. From its 10th century begin-

nings to its 21st century glamour, Prague remains one of Europe’s most picturesque cities (page 54).

Dorothy WaldmanAs a native Texan who spent summers fishing and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, Dorothy

Waldman has enjoyed most of the oceans around the world. She now travels and writes about exotic

ports of call, architecture, lifestyle and business from her home in Istanbul. Shortly after writing

about the Amazon for our January issue, Dorothy was on the road again, this time further south to

the mighty Iguazu Falls on the border between Brazil and Argentina, one of the world’s most

awe-inspiring natural wonders (page 38).


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18 December 2010 dotwnews.com

Sectiony title

The Chicago River is dyed green by the Journeymen Plumbers’ Union of Chicago in celebration of St Patrick’s Day on March 17.

The river was first dyed green by the group in 1962 and it has since become an annual tradition in the city. Chicago is home to the largest population of Irish-Americans in the country, and its residents spare no expense on St Patrick’s Day. The day begins with the dyeing of the river, before the St Patrick’s

Day Parade kicks off in the streets of down-town Chicago, one of the largest annual parades in the US.

Smaller celebrations and afterparties take place throughout the city at its various Irish heritage centres and Irish pubs and bars, with performances by Irish dancers and pipe bands usually on the agenda. A total of 36,278,332 American citizens (11.9 percent of the population) reported Irish ancestry in the most recent US Census.

tive retrospec

Retrospective

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18 December 2010 dotwnews.com

Sectiony title

The Chicago River is dyed green by the Journeymen Plumbers’ Union of Chicago in celebration of St Patrick’s Day on March 17.

The river was first dyed green by the group in 1962 and it has since become an annual tradition in the city. Chicago is home to the largest population of Irish-Americans in the country, and its residents spare no expense on St Patrick’s Day. The day begins with the dyeing of the river, before the St Patrick’s

Day Parade kicks off in the streets of down-town Chicago, one of the largest annual parades in the US.

Smaller celebrations and afterparties take place throughout the city at its various Irish heritage centres and Irish pubs and bars, with performances by Irish dancers and pipe bands usually on the agenda. A total of 36,278,332 American citizens (11.9 percent of the population) reported Irish ancestry in the most recent US Census.

tive retrospec

Retrospective


dotwnews.com May 2011 19

title Sectiony



The story of motorcar legend Enzo Ferrari came full circle last month, with the opening of the Enzo Ferrari Birthplace Museum in Modena, Italy.

A yellow-roofed purpose-built exhibition space has been built next to the old house where the Ferrari legend was born. Although Enzo Ferrari was unable to buy the fam-ily home back from its new owners later in life, Ferrari has been able to lease the property for 100 years and incorporate it into the grounds of the museum.

Inside the museum, the inaugu-ral exhibition features 21 different cars, including a Ferrari 125S from 1947 and a vintage collection of Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, Fiats and other Ferraris that were built by Enzo Ferrari in the first half of the 20th century.

While this chapter of Ferrari his-tory comes full circle, another is just beginning. Following the relaxation of regulations governing Europe’s high-speed rail network, Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Mon-tezemolo and Diego Della Valle, owner of luxury goods company Tod’s, set up a company that they said would revolutionise high-speed rail travel in Italy.

Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV) promises high-speed ser-vices, luxurious design and interi-ors, and superlative service when it launches this month, providing an attractive alternative to Italy’s state-owned Trenitalia.

The company has invested more than EUR 1 billion (US$1.33 bil-lion) in 25 new high-speed trains, which will be capable of travelling at 360kph between major Italian cities.

The first services are planned between Turin in the north of Italy and Salerno in the south, with stops in Milan, Rome and Naples, as well as a service between Rome and Ven-ice, according to Reuters.

The Ferrari-red trains, designed by Alasto, feature three classes of travel, with interiors by design house Italdesign Giugiaro. The top-end Club carriage has 19 spacious Frau leather armchairs, each with nine-inch touch-screen TVs.

Onboard services include network-wide, tunnel-proof WiFi service, TV and entertainment systems includ-ing a cinema coach, and in-seat din-ing. Italo lounges at all of the major stations served by NTV will have their own dedicated waiting areas and ticket offices.

Prices for one-way journeys in a private carriage are expected to start from EUR 275 ($365).

04.12 News

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Luxury London hotel The Berkeley has launched a range of hand-made delicacies resembling some of the most iconic hats worn by members of the British Royal Family to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Prêt-à-Portea – The Royal Collection will be available at afternoon tea from May 29 until June 9, to celebrate the monarch’s 60th anniversary. The exquisite treats include a vanilla biscuit decorated with intricate icing and sugar diamonds that resembles Queen Elizabeth’s crown and the Philip Treacy fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice at the Royal Wedding last year, transformed into a delicious praline profiterole.

An Extreme Wine course is being held at La Verrière, near Avignon, from June 17-21. Owned by top banker and bee-keeper Xavier Roley, who in his spare time competes in Paris-Dakar rallies, the 150-hectare estate works with fly-ing winemaker Zelma Long. There is an 11-room hotel, too.www.laverriere.com Milan traditionalists have had their eyes widened by the Excelsior boutique that opened recently off Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the Vegas-look glittery exterior contrasts with an interior that offers everything from Ladurée macaroons through to Christian Louboutin shoes. The artistic director is Antonia Giacinti, who has her own Antonia boutiques.www.excelsiormilano.com One of the most alluring sites of toys for boys is the Brazilian www.toolsandtoys.com.br. The Malibu Boats page would surely make even a bookworm nerd sit up. For women, the most influential per-fume blog is the million-follower Now Smell This, started in 2005 by Penn-sylvania-based Robin Krug. She shares what is new in the world of scents and occasionally berates brands for dubious formulations and advertising. www.nstperfume.com Want some unusual ideas for super-active holidays? Roko Koell, self-styled Professor of Powder, has developed a collection of heli-ski trips in Canada to hone your skills. Powder University, as it is called, is based in Banff, Alberta, www.cmhski.com/powder-u

At the opposite extreme, so to speak, how about diving off the coast of Malay-sian Borneo, a must-try dive spot. Origi-nal Diving, previously Dive in Style, is headed up by Maldives-based Tim Simond, who says he fully intends to still be diving when he is an octogenarian.www.originaldiving.com

Mary GOSTElOW

The latest in luxury travel

Mary SayS...

ViENNa’S premium shop-ping district is undergo-ing a major facelift that will see the opening of a new luxury shopping mall, a five-star hotel and the extension of the area’s pedestrian-only zone.

The new developments start with the opening of a new luxury mall this month on the corner of Bogn-ergasse and Tuchlauben. The former bank building

will house a new flagship store for French fashion label Louis Vuitton, which will cover four floors of the development. A total of 15 luxury stores will fill the building, including a branch of Prada’s Miu Miu label, as well as new offices and apartments.

Louis Vuitton’s former premises on Kohlmarkt will be taken over by Dior, and the row of stores opposite

the new mall are being con-verted into a flagship store for a renowned jewellers.

By the end of 2013, the existing pedestrian area will be extended to Tuchlauben, making the entire fashion district a pedestrian friendly zone.

A few blocks away, the new 143-room Park Hyatt at Am Hof is currently under construction, and is expected to open in 2013.

Vienna jazzes up fashion quarter

Europe News

20-21 Euro Newscc.indd 21 29/03/2012 18:28


Luxury London hotel The Berkeley has launched a range of hand-made delicacies resembling some of the most iconic hats worn by members of the British Royal Family to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Prêt-à-Portea – The Royal Collection will be available at afternoon tea from May 29 until June 9, to celebrate the monarch’s 60th anniversary. The exquisite treats include a vanilla biscuit decorated with intricate icing and sugar diamonds that resembles Queen Elizabeth’s crown and the Philip Treacy fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice at the Royal Wedding last year, transformed into a delicious praline profiterole.

An Extreme Wine course is being held at La Verrière, near Avignon, from June 17-21. Owned by top banker and bee-keeper Xavier Roley, who in his spare time competes in Paris-Dakar rallies, the 150-hectare estate works with fly-ing winemaker Zelma Long. There is an 11-room hotel, too.www.laverriere.com Milan traditionalists have had their eyes widened by the Excelsior boutique that opened recently off Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the Vegas-look glittery exterior contrasts with an interior that offers everything from Ladurée macaroons through to Christian Louboutin shoes. The artistic director is Antonia Giacinti, who has her own Antonia boutiques.www.excelsiormilano.com One of the most alluring sites of toys for boys is the Brazilian www.toolsandtoys.com.br. The Malibu Boats page would surely make even a bookworm nerd sit up. For women, the most influential per-fume blog is the million-follower Now Smell This, started in 2005 by Penn-sylvania-based Robin Krug. She shares what is new in the world of scents and occasionally berates brands for dubious formulations and advertising. www.nstperfume.com Want some unusual ideas for super-active holidays? Roko Koell, self-styled Professor of Powder, has developed a collection of heli-ski trips in Canada to hone your skills. Powder University, as it is called, is based in Banff, Alberta, www.cmhski.com/powder-u

At the opposite extreme, so to speak, how about diving off the coast of Malay-sian Borneo, a must-try dive spot. Origi-nal Diving, previously Dive in Style, is headed up by Maldives-based Tim Simond, who says he fully intends to still be diving when he is an octogenarian.www.originaldiving.com

Mary GOSTElOW

The latest in luxury travel

Mary SayS...

ViENNa’S premium shop-ping district is undergo-ing a major facelift that will see the opening of a new luxury shopping mall, a five-star hotel and the extension of the area’s pedestrian-only zone.

The new developments start with the opening of a new luxury mall this month on the corner of Bogn-ergasse and Tuchlauben. The former bank building

will house a new flagship store for French fashion label Louis Vuitton, which will cover four floors of the development. A total of 15 luxury stores will fill the building, including a branch of Prada’s Miu Miu label, as well as new offices and apartments.

Louis Vuitton’s former premises on Kohlmarkt will be taken over by Dior, and the row of stores opposite

the new mall are being con-verted into a flagship store for a renowned jewellers.

By the end of 2013, the existing pedestrian area will be extended to Tuchlauben, making the entire fashion district a pedestrian friendly zone.

A few blocks away, the new 143-room Park Hyatt at Am Hof is currently under construction, and is expected to open in 2013.

Vienna jazzes up fashion quarter

Europe News

20-21 Euro Newscc.indd 21 29/03/2012 18:28

t h e m o n t h i n n u m b e r s – Q A t A r

US$65 billionAmount the Gulf state of Qatar is investing in trans-portation over the next five years. That includes the $11bn Doha International Airport, the $6bn Doha Port and a $25bn metro and railway network.

US$1.1 billionValue of Qatar’s tourism economy in 2012, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. That figure is expected to rise significantly by 2022, when the Gulf state will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

US$20 billionAmount Qatar is investing in its tourism infrastructure in the lead-up to 2022. The country plans to have 75,000 hotel rooms by 2022, equal to around 5,000 new hotel rooms every year for the next decade.


EntrEprEnEUrS have been converting old riads and palaces in Marrakech into luxurious boutique hotels for the last 10 years, which is why the current wave of aspiring hoteliers are going to great lengths to create original properties and authentic experiences for guests.

This month sees the opening of Palais Namaskar, a 41-suite and villa property owned by French business-man Philippe Souliere and managed by the exclusive Oetker Collection. Built following strict Feng Shui prin-ciples between Marrakech’s Medina and the Djebilet Hills, the resort is surrounded by intimate gardens dot-ted with ponds and waterfalls.

Souliere, a first-time hotelier who made his money running a logistics business in Nigeria, said he wanted to create a home he could share with guests, where every last detail was carefully thought through to ensure perfection in the finished product.

Managed by the Oetker Collection, whose other properties include Le Bristol Paris and the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, and part of Leading Hotels of the World, the resort promises high standards for its exclusive clientele.

Not far away, Ina and Christian Krug and architect Moritz Theden have opened a pocket-sized boutique hotel in the historical Sidi Bin Toua-hame district of the medina, with just four guestrooms and two suites. The Great Getaway Medina, part of Design Hotels, occupies a recently renovated palace, which has retained the regal air of its former incarnation, with intimate alcoves, soft lighting and rich decorations.

The Medina is a preview to a larger hotel outside the city, The Great Geta-way Marrakech. The latter is the trio’s first project, but construction started from the ground up and it won’t open until the end of this year.

These new openings are only the latest in a string of exciting new prop-erties to emerge in Marrakech over the last 12 months, including a new Four Seasons Marrakech and the Taj Palace Marrakech. And there’s more to come. By the end of this year, the city will welcome a new Pearl by Hiv-ernage, a new 72-suite “urban resort” from the Hivernage Collection, and the new 80-room Baglioni Marrakech and Six Senses spa.

Magic in Marrakech

“The current wave of aspiring hoteliers are going to great lengths to create original properties and

authentic experiences for guests”

News Middle East & Africa

22-24 ME & Africa NewsJSM.indd 22 29/03/2012 17:54

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Oman: the next big thing

Sleek yachts and sailboats jostle for space at the 20th Dubai International Boat Show, where the world’s leading yacht manufacturers met with some of the region’s wealthiest buyers to showcase the most luxurious vessels available today. From Gulf Craft’s floating palace, the Majesty 135, to smaller pleasure vessels like SeaDoo’s state-of-the-art RXP-X 260 RS jet ski, as well as a lineup of luxury cars at the Supercar Promenade, the show was proof that buyer sentiment is buoyant in the region.

Oman has been earning a reputation as an up-and-coming destination for family friendly adventure and eco-tourism for the last few years, but the impact of the Arab Spring and a shift in hotel investment strategy, plus major infrastructure expansion, could position the sultanate for an even more rapid growth.

According to a new report released by Euromonitor International, new hotels in tourism developments like The Wave, Muscat Hills and Muriya in Salalah are providing a much-needed boost to the availability of high-quality accommodation.

“The Omani government has ambitious reform and development ideas, outlined in the Sultanate’s ‘Vision 2020’ plan, which touches on different sectors of the economy in a bid to diversify revenues away from oil,” said Nadejda Popova, Euro monitor’s travel and tourism analyst.

“Travel and tourism is at the cen-tre of these ambitions, with the ulti-mate objective of luring 12 million tourists to the country per year by 2020, although current figures are closer to three million.”


News Middle East & Africa

Born to rideAnantara has opened a rid-ing school on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island, where two stable barns, built using sustainable lighting and irrigation technology, will be home to up to 30 horses. A number of riding experiences will be avail-able at the stables, from 20-minute beginners rides to a two-hour Royal Bay Ride, and 45-minute horse-riding lessons start from AED200 (US$54.50).

Fancy a private jet?More than US$2 72.2 5 million worth of private aircraft deals were signed at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo last month, showcasing the region’s thirst for private avi-ation. The event was held at Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Exec-utive Airport – the region’s only dedicated private airport, with parking for more than 100 private aircraft – which recently launched a full service pri-vate airline concierge ser-vice, DhabiJet FBO.

Glory for RoryJ u m e i r a h G r o u p ’ s investment in global b r a n d a m b a s s a d o r Rory McIlroy paid off last month, when the young golfer won the Honda Classic in Flor-ida, which catapulted him to the top of the world rankings. Jumei-r a h h a s s p o n s o r e d McIlroy since he first turned pro in 2007. “This is an amazing achievement for Rory, which we have always believed was coming – it was just a matter of time,” said Jumeirah exe c u t i v e c h a i r m a n Gerald Lawless.

Legend rebornThe hotel has stood on the banks of the Nile since 1899

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The expansion of airports in Muscat and Salalah and plans for six new airports will improve acces-sibility for international carriers and regional low-cost airlines, and plans for a new coastal railway line will open up the country.

The impact of the Arab Spring in Oman was not necessarily a nega-tive one, according to the report. As unrest made other destinations such

as Egypt less popular, many tourists turned instead to Oman, which offers a similar experience in terms of diving and beach attractions.

Meanwhile, the Sultanate will also benefit from hotel companies that “revise their strategies to stay away from high-risk markets and make the most out of emerging destinations such as Oman,” the report concluded.

22-24 ME & Africa NewsJSM.indd 24 29/03/2012 17:53

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Japan: one year after Fukushima One of those iconic moments in his-tory, most will never forget where they were when they first saw the footage of the 9.0 magnitude earth-quake and tsunami that ravaged Japan on March 11, 2011.

One year later, the country is still trying to pick up the pieces. Over 19,000 were lost to the earth-quake and 65-foot tsunami, and the country is still recovering from the subsequent nuclear crisis, after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station suffered a meltdown and triggered the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

Across the country, at 2.46pm local time, exactly one year on from the time the quake struck, people bowed their heads and observed a moment of silence in mourning as sirens blared.

In Tokyo train services came to a standstill while the Emperor, Empress, Prime Minister and for-

eign dignitaries attended a cere-mony at the national theatre. Many continued their silent mourning well into the night, with paper lan-terns being lit and community gath-erings across the country in remem-brance of loved ones lost.

Today, some 325,000 people remain homeless, and an additional 100,000 have been displaced from their homes in the area surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi station.

But progress is being made. Only two of Japan’s 54 reactors are now running, while those that have been shut down are undergoing tests to

check their ability to withstand similar disasters. Japan’s govern-ment has also pledged to reduce its reliance on nuclear power, which accounted for 30 percent of the nation’s total energy needs before the disaster struck.

Tourism in Japan has suffered a major blow, with international tourist arrivals falling 30 percent in 2011. But upcoming luxury hotels from companies including Four Seasons, Aman Resorts and Ritz-Carlton are expected to help attract travellers to the destination over the next two years.

Japanese Emperor Akihito leads the national mourning on March 11, one

year after the Fukushima disaster

“Only two of Japan’s 54 reactors are now running, while those that have been shut down are undergoing tests to check their

ability to withstand similar disasters”

Dinner in JavaHere’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture while visiting Java. Guests staying at Aman resorts’ Amanjiwo can dine with local Pak Bilal in his home, and enjoy authentic Javanese food prepared over charcoal burners by his son. Meanwhile chat with Pak and take in the views of the Kedu Valley, its surrounding volcanoes and the temple of Borobudur.

StreetwiseGetting the most out of a destination’s culinary scene usually means having a local show you around, so kudos to Anantara Bangkok Riverside and its Streetwise Guru pro-gramme, where guests can join local Khun Chettha as he embarks on a tour of the best street vendors and markets in Bangkok, giving a colourful backstory of the city’s history and culture in the process.

Boutique PhilippinesWe love the look of Ariara private island resort in the Philippines’ undiscovered Calaman islands, a 125-acre tropical island covered in jungle and white sand beaches. Conceived by British couple Charles and Carrie McCulloch, Ariara will accommodate up to 17 guests on an exclusive basis, giving guests the experience of an impecca-bly managed private home.

Old schoolMandarin Oriental, Hong Kong has recently partnered with John Lobb to offer guests a new luxury shoeshine ser-vice. Customers can relax in an elegant custom-designed wood and Hermes buffalo leather chair with a newspa-per and a coffee while one of four specially trained ‘shoe shine butlers’ goes to work.

News Asia & Oceania

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Wide Berth The Queen Mary 2 berths at Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia last month, where a new anchoring point was installed to allow larger ships to dock, making it possible for the US$800 million luxury liner to dock for the first time at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. The QM2’s arrival in Australia’s most populous city marks the end of her maiden circumnavigation of the country, which included inaugural ports of call in Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin and Cairns.

Shangri-La Villingili is home to the Maldives’ first nine-hole golf course, situated on 7.5 hectares of previously undeveloped land at the southern end of Villingili Island.

“Apart from our other recrea-tional options, the Villingili Golf Course will add a new and unique activity for our guests – a game of golf amid expansive views of the Indian Ocean and the tropical land-scape”, said Rene D. Egle, general manager of Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives.

Each of the nine holes on the course, mostly par-three, features

spectacular sights, making it a fun way to explore the island whether you’re an avid golfer or a beginner.

Developed with the island’s natural beauty in mind, the course is surrounded by lush tropical gar-dens and enhanced by scenic walk-ing paths. Other facilities include a clubhouse, refreshment bar and a pro shop.

To mark the occasion, Shangri-La Villingili is offering an introduc-tory package, available until May 9, featuring various waived fees and discounts based on the type of room booked.

News Asia & Oceania

t h e m o n t h i n n u m b e r s

1,040The number of new aircraft Indian carriers will need in the next 20 years according to a forecast by Airbus. India will become the world’s third largest aviation market by 2020, according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

19:05The departure time of Korean Air’s new daily flights from Incheon International Airport to Jeju Island, which was recently named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

2014The expected opening date of IHG Hotels’ first Hua Luxe property, its new upscale hotel concept specifi-cally for the Chinese market, featuring tea rooms in place of bars and garden views in every room.

Shangri-La goes green in the Maldives


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News Americas


We couldn’t resist this story, especially when we saw the pho-tos of British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama engaging in all sorts of chummy, back-slapping male bonding during the PM’s recent visit to the US.

Cameron and his wife Saman-tha were greeted at the White House with a 19-gun salute on arrival, before president Obama whisked the Prime Minister off to Ohio on Air Force One, the presi-dent’s custom-built and entirely secure private plane, where they took in a good old American pas-time: a game of basketball.

Cameron thus became the first non-US world leader allowed to board Air Force One, a further indication (as if any were needed) of their “special relationship,” if only for a short 70-minute flight. So what did he see when he stepped aboard?

From the outside, Air Force One is a typical Boeing 747 200B. But inside, the US$317.5 million, three-level, 4,000 sq ft aircraft is comfortably furnished with car-pets, curtains and leather arm-chairs in shades of cream, beige and taupe (the colour scheme is the work of former first lady Nancy Reagan).

There is also a conference room linked up to a worldwide communications network, a state room and a presidential office, plus two galleys capable of feed-ing 100 people, and a medical area that can be used as an oper-ating theatre if needed.

The aircraft is home to 87 phones, 19 TVs, a gym and a home entertainment system. It can be refuelled mid-air, and best of all, as a guest onboard Air Force One, Cameron would have received the customary commemorative box of presi-dential M&Ms, embossed with Obama’s autograph.

The ultimate private plane? US Air Force One

It’s a jungleMaruba, a unique spa and boutique hotel nestled in the lush rain forest of Belize, has introduced the world’s first ‘jungle spa’, featuring a blend of Mayan, Creole and African designs to complement the natural flora and fauna. On the property you will find a Japanese mineral bath, jungle falls swimming pool, medi-tation room, exercise room and full body spa with mud treatments. Besides the spa, guests can partake in horse-back riding, photographic jungle safaris, jungle riverboat tours and fishing trips.

Style high clubWe wish we could have been among the lucky few to board Banana Republic’s Mad Men-themed Virgin Atlantic flight from New York’s JFK to LA’s LAX last month, featuring a fash-ion show at 30,000 feet, plus 60s-inspired in-flight cocktails and goodie bags crammed with merchandise from the American label’s n e w e s t M a d M e n -inspired collection.

The suite lifeAmanyara, Aman Resorts’

secluded Turks & Caicos

retreat, has introduced two

new Pool Pavilion Suites,

with two bedrooms con-

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tennis lessons, yoga classes,

private bar and afternoon

tea. Nice.

“As a guest onboard Air Force One, Cameron would have received the customary commemorative box of presidential

M&Ms, embossed with Obama’s autograph”

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News Americas


Green House The fountain of the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC flows green on St Patrick’s Day, March 17. US president Barack Obama met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and US Vice President Joe Biden to attend a St Patrick’s Day lunch, before president Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted a St Patrick’s Day reception at the White House. In the 1820s, the great potato famine of Ireland forced much of its population to migrate to the US, with nearly two million arriving in the US during the peak of the famine in the 1840s.

THE Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC has launched a new exhibition, The Art of Video Games, which it describes as, “one of the first exhibitions to explore the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual e�ects and the creative use of new technologies.”

Starting with the ground-breaking Atari VCS system and spanning all the way up to the PlayStation 3, 80 video games were selected by the public out of a possible shortlist of 240 to demonstrate the evolving face of the video game landscape.

The galleries also include video interviews with 20 developers and artists, and five games, one from each gaming area, will be available for visitors to play: Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst and Flower.

Each was selected to demon-strate how video game players interact with virtual worlds, and were highlighted as examples of the most ground-breaking games of their time.

History of gaming at the Smithsonian

Game worldThe Smithsonian’s exhibit explores video games as an artistic medium

Everybody is flab-bergasted that the security guard wouldn’t let them stay at the airport. He basically put them out on the curb in this terri-ble rainstorm.Department of Transportation spokesman Daniel Meisenzahl com-ments on a security guard’s decision to kick a group of 20 stranded pas-sengers at Hawaii’s Lihue airport out after their flight was cancelled.

American airlines flight attendent [sic] talking about how the flight is going to crash, making 4 kids sitting around me start crying...A passenger on American Airlines’ flight 2332 tweets after a flight attendant declared that there were mechanical problems with the aircraft and that it was going to crash. The female attendant was met by police o cers at the gate.

While recognising that terrorists are willing to manipu-late societal norms to evade detection, our o�cers con-tinue to work with parents to ensure a respectful screening process.TSA comments on a video of a three-year-old boy in a wheelchair being patted down before a flight to Disneyland, which went viral after his parents posted it on YouTube.

If you don’t get a chance to view it in its home at the Smithsonian, fear not: the exhibit will travel to 10 other cities in the US from Octo-ber 2012 through to January 2016. www.americanart.si.edu/

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Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & SpaMallorca, SpainSituated on a dramatic cliff top overlooking the sparkling blue waters of the port of Soller, all 120 rooms feature stunning views of the Mediter-ranean and the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains, recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Offering Jumeirah’s signature exquisite ser-vice, the hotel comprises 11 buildings that follow the slope of the mountain, blending into the natural landscape.

Palais NamaskarMarrakech, MoroccoThis stunning boutique-style hotel features 41 suites and villas, developed following Feng Shui principles and situated in a picturesque location between the Atlas Mountains and the Djebilet Hills. Rooms range from the vibrant Residence, with spacious suites overlook-ing private pools and Jacuzzis, to secluded

Pool Villas with enclosed private gardens and heated pools. Dining venues include Le Namaskar, overlooking the main pool and The Tea Lounge, which offers a unique setting to enjoy snacks and Parisian-inspired afternoon tea. No Mad Bar is a stylish rooftop bar with stunning views across the mountains and hills beyond.

DEBUT

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Hot hotels | chic boutiques | exclusive resorts

signature restaurant, Arola, features creative Spanish cuisine created by Michelin-starred chef Sergi Arola, and spectacular views of the Opera Garnier can be enjoyed not only from rooms but from the trendy W Lounge.

W Paris OperaParis, FranceLocated in a stunning 1870s Haussmann-era heritage building near Opera Garnier, Galer-ies Lafayette and Palace Vendome, the W’s distinctive modern style blends with chic French architecture for a unique experience. The hotel’s


Viceroy MaldivesVagaru Island, MaldivesThe brand new resort’s 61 beachfront and water villas are some of the most spacious in the Maldives, offering private plunge pools, ensuite baths and generous outdoor areas. Guests will arrive by seaplane and will be transported by golf cart to their villas. To dine there is everything from beachside casual to Italian fine-dining, with restaurant concepts incorporating Asian and European influences and private venues including an underground wine cellar.

Sofitel So BangkokBangkok, ThailandThe achingly contemporary Sofitel So features rooms inspired by earth, water, wood and metal, and a restaurant inspired by fire with its ‘Red Oven’ offering traditional cuisine in an open kitchen. The Park Society Restaurant & Bar on the hotel rooftop overlooks a stunning pano-ramic view of the city of Bangkok, featuring the exclusive HI SO lounge, with a series of elegant cabanas providing a perfect place to lounge with a loved one or friends. An infinity-edge swimming pool offers another sweeping view of Bangkok, and guests can unwind at the SO Spa, designed to resemble a forest.

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interview DaviD Nicholls

Best-selling author and screenwriter David Nicholls thought travelling was reserved for the self-indulgent, until he found inspiration for his first novel in Paris

The road less travelled

Interview: Caitlin Cheadle

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DaviD Nicholls


David Nicholls was once an actor working in London, but Paris proved to be where he would find inspiration for his first novel, Starter

for Ten. The book launched his career as a best-selling author and eventually a screenwriter, the film version becoming a cult classic when it was released in 2006. David’s third novel, One Day, stayed on the Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller List for 10 weeks, reducing even hardened critics to tears for its heart-wrenching portrayal of true love and missed opportunities. The film version, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, was released in 2011.

Speaking with David after a visit to Dubai for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, he admits he considered travelling a frivolous use of time until that fateful trip to Paris. Here he shares a few things he’s learned on the road to success.

You originally set out to be an actor. How did you then become a writer?As an actor I wasn’t necessarily working a great deal. Even when employed, I tended not to say very much on stage. But watching other actors – reading endless scripts, seeing how they worked – all of that was a great help. It took me eight long years to realise that what I loved about act-ing wasn’t the actual performance, but the daily contact with words, characters and stories.

Is the life of a writer as glamorous as people assume it is?I don’t think ‘glamorous’ is the word, unless you find sitting by yourself all day glamorous. Largely I sit around and think and worry. I’d never com-plain though – being paid to write is a great privi-lege and I’ve been very lucky. And it has allowed me to travel and to meet fascinating people. But for the most part, it involves staring at a laptop.

Are you surprised by the success of One Day and Starter for Ten?I loved writing them, which is always a good indicator of the quality of the work. But certainly I had no sense of One Day taking off in the way that it has. Now the trick is to forget about it and move on to the next thing.

Where do you turn to for inspiration?Other people’s work. I have a list of books and films on my desk – the kinds of things I aspire to myself. Of course, reading a page of Philip Roth or Dickens or Salinger or Fitzgerald can also make me wonder what the point is – those writers are all untouchable. But it’s important to remind oneself of how it should be done.

“Certainly I had no sense of One Day taking off in the way that it has. Now the trick is to forget

about it and move on to the next thing”

How much travelling do you do?Far too much at the moment. I really need to get back to my desk. But I love Paris, Rome, Venice – they’re great cities to walk and eat.

What are your favourite books to travel with? I love those 1000-page, substantial, gripping reads. I read a lot of Dickens when I travel, because it’s entertaining and brilliant. I’m an obsessive Dickens reader and always have been. I like that feeling of complete immersion in a book. I suppose if I had a guilty pleasure it would be Ian Fleming – Casino Royale or On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The early Bond books I think are classic for light reading.

Can you name a few of your most memorable travels?When I started writing I spent a month in Paris subletting an apartment – a very unflashy, tiny little place in the northeast of Paris, and I grew to love that part of the city. It’s very much off the tourist trail and one of the few remaining parts of the city where families live. That was a very happy time. I loved writing in the mornings and walking in the afternoons. I’m an obsessive city walker and I love exploring one end of a city to the other, so that was a pretty perfect time for me. I was writing my first book, Starter for Ten – it was in August, so the city was very quiet and melancholy and I really got to know it in a way that I hadn’t before as a tourist.

One of the main themes in One Day is that life is short and our fears often hold us back from finding happiness. Is there anything that held you back?For me, it was having the confidence to write and to believe that people might actually read something I’ve written. I thought the idea of calling yourself a writer sounded very preten-tious and unrealistic and self-indulgent, and I never really had the confidence to show things to people and expect them to read them. But I had a lot of encouragement from a lot of very good friends who insisted that I keep going and that I finish things. I’m always grateful for that support.

Does it get easier once you become a published author?Not at all. I’m a nervous wreck. I’ve never been anything but terrified of the whole thing and I think that’s good. If you don’t care and you’re not losing sleep, you’re not doing it properly.

Is writing for your blog any easier?I don’t really enjoy anything about blogging. Often the writing you see in blogging is kind of ill-considered and self-absorbed. I think that there are times when opinions should be kept to yourself. Private thoughts are a good thing and I think their value has been a bit lost. When I’m nearer publication I’ll blog a little bit more, but I like solitude as well. I like being left alone, really.

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?I think you just have to read and read and read. Nearly all the best parts of my books have either been borrowed or inspired by other books. The more you read the more you draw upon – you learn good prose and good dialogue by absorb-ing it, and to read obsessively is the only way.

What are the best parts of your job? I really love travelling. I didn’t really travel when I was younger, so I didn’t really see much of Europe. I always thought it was a little lazy or decadent to fly to places and not get on with work. And now I’ve been to wonderful cities and met people from all over the world, which is great, but it does distract me from writing.

And the parts you like the least?I’m not very good with reviews, whether they be formal critic’s reviews or online reviews. By the time a book is criticised it’s way too late to do anything about it, even if you agree with the criti-cism, so it becomes a bit like being poked in the ribs while you’re trying to get on with the next thing. I have to get better at dealing with it.

If you could trade jobs with anyone for a day, what would you be?I’d be a lighthouse keeper. I like that kind of soli-tude. Of course for one day I’d manage, but any longer and I’d probably go crazy. n

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Explore Iguazu falls

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Iguazu Falls Explore

South America’s most awe-inspiring natural wonder has to be seen to be believed

– welcome to Iguazu Falls WORDS: Dorothy Waldman

WATER WORLD

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Iguazu insider Explore the Argentine side of the falls from the Sheraton Iguazu

Resort & SpaI’ve been to Niagara Falls and have been soaked by the wayward waters sweeping over the Maid of the Mist, so I thought

I knew what to expect at Iguazu Falls. I was wrong.

Eleanor Roosevelt was absolutely correct when, upon seeing these Falls, she commented, “Poor Niagara!” The South American waterfalls, located at the convergence of three countries – Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay – are twice as large as their North American counterpart between the United States and Canada. Adding to the spellbinding intrigue of Iguazu Falls, which can best be accessed from the Argentinean and Brazilian shores of the Iguazu River, is the glimpse it provides into their surroundings of spectacular, unspoiled nature.

According to legend, the Falls were born when Caroba, a local Guarani warrior, fled with the lovely Naipi in his canoe down the Iguazu River. When a forest god, who was also in love with the fair maiden, saw this, he became angry and made the land under the river disappear, causing the canoe and Naipi to drop over the edge. She turned into a rock at the bottom of the Iguazu Falls and Caroba turned into a tree that overlooks this rock.

The reality of the falls is even more dynamic than the legend. Formed where the lush green Amazonian land falls sharply away from the jungle, like

a giant’s footprint in the rainforest, the waters of the Iguazu River gush over countless precipices, and foam and boil at the bottom before continuing on to join with the waters of the Parana River, where the Argentina/Brazil border meets that of Paraguay.

My first glimpse of the falls is from the Argentinian side of the river. We arrive mid-morning and check into the Sheraton Hotel, a Starwood property and the only hotel in the Iguazu National Park. From the balcony of our room, we can hear a distant roar and see the dense spray rising above the trees beyond the hotel grounds.

For a closer look, we follow the signs along the eco-friendly walkways, where entire families marvel at the dense forests and rugged terrain that culminate with torrential vistas. Wherever the view is especially spectacular, informative graphics, some even in brail, explain the whys and hows of what we are looking at.

The upper circuit of the walkways cuts a path past numerous individual waterfalls, some picturesque pillars of water cascading through the trees to pools below, others wide, massive walls of water that thunder as they surge beyond the rim of a cliff, sending up a deluge of spray.

As we walk through the lush forest we see numerous varieties of toucans and parakeets, which are among

the multitude of winged creatures that make the national park a prime destination for ornithologists.

Delicate lavender, pink, white and yellow flowers bloom in the trees and from crevices in rocks in the middle of streams trickling towards the massive falls. We see a sampling of the 4,000-plus varieties of exotic butterflies, their gentle fluttering of colour creating a serenity that contrasts sharply with the turbulent river, and watch flocks of Great Dusky swifts frolic in the mist below us, their nests hidden behind the great walls of water. Frisky coatis ignore the two-legged paparazzi who snap photos of their playful antics.

The lower circuit leads to the river’s edge, where the water crashes down, drenching everyone in the vicinity. My heavy-duty rain poncho provides only minimal protection, and even less when we board an open, high-powered boat that zooms in tight figure eights through the bucking currents, fighting against the potent water to take us right up to where the water crashes beside us – a thrilling adventure, even if I am soaked and cold by the end.

The next morning we ride the park train through the forest to the visitor’s centre that features an informative museum, making a stop at the most incredible of the three distinct circuits that loop around the falls.

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The peaceful one-kilometre walk along a long pier over deceptively calm water takes visitors to the gigantic Garganta Del Diablo (the Devil’s Throat), the highest of approximately 280 separate falls. At 82 meters high, 150 meters wide and 700 meters long, it is the largest in the entire system. The vast volume of water and the intensity of its descent are overwhelmingly awe-inspiring, even after having experienced the falls from the other two circuits.

At this point I am convinced I have seen and experienced the ultimate waterfalls, and I know exactly why they have been named a Natural Wonder of the World and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. I cannot imagine what could possibly be more spellbinding. But then we go to Brazil.

In less than two hours, including the time it takes us to cross the border between the two countries, we arrive at the Hotel das Cataratas, an Orient-Express hotel and the only lodging in the Iguassu National Park on the Brazilian side of the border. As an American, I was required to obtain a visa prior to leaving the US, a process that turned out to be less complicated than the Brazilian website had led me to believe, but still time-consuming and expensive. These pre-trip hassles proved to be well worth the effort.

The first indication that this leg of our adventure is going to be beyond the ordinary is the exceptionally knowledgeable driver who transports

us from the entrance of the Park to the hotel. He informs us that from the Brazilian side, it is possible to see 75 percent of all the falls. I have no concept of what he was talking about until we check into our room.

The decor is colourful Portuguese-colonial, and the windows frame a view of the falls that seem to be only about 100 metres away. Within a few minutes we cross the manicured front lawn of the hotel to the footpath that leads to even more spectacularly impressive vistas, completely different from the view from the other side. From Argentina you can see many different falls, some so close you can

almost touch them, but only one at a time. From the Brazilian side we see a vast panorama of multiple falls all at once. Here we are captivated by how the cascading streams of water relate to one another, pouring from the top level to a plateau, from where another series drops to a third level, where more converge into the river below, in effect creating three levels of spectacular waterfalls.

From here it’s possible to see the hotel we had stayed in the night before over the border in Argentina, emphasising how close, yet how far away we were from our first introduction to this natural wonder.

Perfect scents (left)Delicate flowers bloom all year round in the warm tropical climate

Bird life (right)Toucans are among thousands of bird species that fill the canopy around the falls Noisy neighbour (bottom)Orient-Express’ Hotel das Cataratas is close enough to the falls that you can hear their roar from your suite


“As we walked through the lush forest, we saw numerous varieties of

toucans and parakeets”

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WWW.PAULSMITH.CO.UK

Optimistic_Ad_143_235x335_DotWNews.indd 1 27/06/11 12:34


“Massive walls of water create a deafening thunder as they surge beyond the rim of a

cliff, sending up a deluge of spray”

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Iguazu Falls Explore

Hotel das Cataratas+55 45 2102 7000www.hoteldascataratas.com

Sheraton Iguazu Resort & Spa+54 3757 491 800www.starwoodhotels.com

Yet, from here we realise that just around the bend from where we had been in the river boat, there is another universe of falls that you cannot see from Argentina. With each step along the catwalks over the raging river, more and more cascades come into sight. Once again, we get completely soaked, but by even more formidable waters than before. In spite of the wet cold of mid-September, the view and experience is worth it. At the end of the path we ascend to the top of the observation tower, where the height allows visitors to more fully grasp the magnitude, vastness and sheer numbers of the waterfalls.

After witnessing the power of the water, we enjoy a different type of energy in the night, in the form of the Rafain Churrascana and Folkloric show in downtown Foz do Iguassu. The multilingual MC takes visitors through a high-octane South American dance and music tour as they gorge on tasty Brazilian barbecue. Special effects and beautiful costuming makes this more like Las Vegas than a typical tourist show.

Unfortunately, we don’t have time to tour the rainforest with the hotel’s resident eco-guide, nor to view Iguazu by helicopter, go white-water rafting or abseil down the gorge, although we did hike along some of the trails into the forest where the wildlife took shelter from the rain.

Although tour information indicated that both sides of this awe-inspiring natural wonder could be seen in one day or a day and a half at most, I recommend at least two full days. Three would be even better. Rushing does not allow time to stare in awe and to allow the wonder and power of nature to envelope your entire being – and that is what makes these immense falls so mesmerising. n

Vibrant jungle Colourful wildlife abounds in

national parks either side of the river

Sunset spectacle The full sweeping panorama

of the mighty Iguazu Falls

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City London

Best of BritishThe Debrett’s Guide to British Behaviour was our reference for a weekend spent getting acquainted with English culture, starting with a stay at one of London’s most iconic hotels, The SavoyWORDS: Caitlin Cheadle

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London City


City LondonCity London

Discretion“The British have a reputation for discretion…In the days when life was lived in front of a flock of servants, there was an absolute expectation that the household sta� would observe their employers’ comings and goings with complete sang-froid.”

Debrett’s Guide to British Behaviour: DiscretionThe Savoy hosts countless celebrity guests, so discretion is of the utmost importance. Check-in isn’t done in a public lobby, but rather in what looks like a private study, a quiet room with soft carpeting, leather-bound armchairs and a fireplace. Here my passport is taken and I’m escorted via a tiny private elevator to my room. I discover only after my departure that Rihanna and David and Victoria Beckham had been staying at the hotel during my visit.

Perhaps you are not a celebrity but would still prefer to enjoy some of the finer things in London without the hassle of the crowds. If so you’ll appreciate By Appointment, Harrods’ private, bespoke shopping service. Book in and a personal shopping consultant will attend to your every desire both within the store and beyond, whether it be clothing, jewellery, interior design – even private jets. To book, email [email protected].

Chivalry“Historically, chivalry was seen as an integral, and indispensable, feature of the British ‘gentleman’. Throughout history and literature, flawless manners and polite masculinity were the defining characteristics of the British gent.”

Debrett’s Guide to British Behaviour: ChivalryI am pleased to report that the code of chivalry is expertly executed at The Savoy, and in an age where chivalry does seem to be nearly extinct, it is refreshing, to say the least. From the moment I step through the hotel’s revolving lobby doors, I’m surrounded by well-mannered, beautifully turned-out sta� – the doormen welcome me in top hats and tails, and bags are immediately taken from my tired arms as I am ushered through the lobby in a flurry of, ‘Let me get that for you, Madam’, and ‘Right this way please, Miss’.

If you’d like to brush up on your own gentlemanly (or ladylike) behaviour, spend a day with etiquette gurus Jennie Hallam-Peel and Patricia Woodall, who are available for private lessons. Topics covered include meeting and greeting, dining etiquette, entertaining, grooming, business manners and dress codes. You’ll even learn the proper way to greet the Queen, should the occasion arise. www.londonseason.net



London City

History“Britain is a country with a discernible history that stretches back several millennia, and everywhere you look you will see ample evidence of Britain’s past. From Stonehenge to St Pancras and Ironbridge, Blenheim Palace to Hadrian’s Wall and Lindisfarne, the past permeates the British present.”

Debrett’s Guide to British Behaviour: HistoryHonouring its original Edwardian and art deco interiors, The Savoy’s recent three-year, GBP 220 million (US$ 347 m) renovation retains the essence of its illustrious 123-year past, without feeling stu�y or outdated. It is classic style to suit a modern taste. River View Deluxe Suite 826 is full of traditional Edwardian touches like black and white chequered and parquet hardwood floors, a fireplace of carved white marble, and twin crystal candelabra chandeliers in the living room and bedroom, where the panelled walls are decorated with gold-framed paintings of fox-hunting on autumn days.

If Edwardian is not to your taste, stay in the newly refurbished art deco wing, a salute to the hotel’s glamorous days hosting the world’s most famous movie stars, politicians and fat cats at the turn of the 20th century. Here rooms are understated and elegant, accented by bold touches like dark lacquered furniture and leopard-print carpeting. The art deco theme returns in the intimate American Bar, the brand-new Beaufort Bar and The Grill restaurant, once frequented by Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe.

While Brits may be blasé about the historical monuments that blend into their daily lives, visitors delight in the pieces of history that lay frozen in time as the bustle of modern life whizzes by. A short walk from the hotel is St Paul’s Cathedral, completed in 1710. In 1897 Queen Victoria chose to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee here, and this year, Queen Elizabeth II will hold a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral for her own Diamond Jubilee on June 5th, with a public formal carriage procession taking place beforehand.

Last month, Kensington Palace in London’s upscale Chelsea neighbourhood reopened its doors after a US$19 million refurbishment. There are four new permanent exhibitions: Victoria Revealed; Diana, Princess of Wales; Queen’s State Apartments; and King’s State Apartments, each giving visitors an intimate glimpse at a di�erent chapter of London’s extensive history. www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace




City London

The Savoy+44 (0)20 7836 4343www.fairmont.com/savoy

HarrodsBy Appointment bookings:+44 (0)20 7893 8000www.harrods.com

British Airwayswww.britishairways.com

Visit Britainwww.visitbritain.com

Debrett’swww.debretts.co.uk

Tea“The quiet gentility of the English tea ceremony is seen as a reflection of the reserved national character.”

Debrett’s Guide to British Behaviour: TeaOf course a weekend in London wouldn’t be complete without afternoon tea. The Savoy’s Thames Foyer, with its delicate wrought-iron gazebo, oil paintings and marble statues, lets you bask in one of the finest and longest-running tea services in the country as you people-watch and chat over the sounds of a live pianist.

For a more adventurous tea experience, head to Sketch, the brainchild of French culinary master Pierre Gagnaire and famed restaurateur Mourad Mazouz (of London’s Momo restaurant), located between artsy Soho and upscale Savile Row. The eclectic venue is divided into five distinct concepts comprising art, food, and music. Take afternoon tea in The Parlour, a cross between a cosy library and an art gallery, where you can sit in plush sofas and indulge in the Champagne Afternoon Tea with Dom Perignon.

If you miss the chance to sit down for a proper afternoon tea during your visit, British Airways serves up a second chance. The airline’s Boeing 474 jets o�er Club World (business class) seating on the second floor of the plane, where the atmosphere resembles an intimate drinks party pre-takeo�, with passengers mingling in wide aisles over glasses of champagne. At 4pm UK time, wherever you are in the open skies, high tea is served, complete with tea sandwiches and scones. A delightfully British touch from the country’s national airline.

Dress codes“Dress codes are strictly observed in Britain – failure to comply would be considered rude or, at worse, you would be refused entry to the event.”

Debrett’s Guide to British Behaviour: Dress CodesIf you have ever attended a British high society event such as the horse races, you’ll know that the right headpiece is essential. When in London, make time to stop by milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan’s exquisite 17th century atelier in St James’, central London. Here you can procure your own bespoke headpiece, made to order to suit your style; her designs can even be dyed to match your outfit. Trevor-Morgan has been in the business since 1990 and has been appointed to design hats for HM Queen Elizabeth II, who has worn her designs at the Royal Ascot horse races, and her recent 80th birthday celebrations at St Paul’s Cathedral. www.racheltrevormorgan.com


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The architectural masterpieces that line Prague’s streets tell the story behind Europe’s most picturesque city WORDS: Joe Mortimer

Eternal cityPrague:

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Prague City

Eternal city High above the Vltava River on the wooded slopes near Prague Castle, a 23m red metronome swings slowly back and forth, a

reminder to the Czech people that life has its ups and downs. It’s a rather fitting metaphor for a country that has seen so many changes over the last century.

Czechoslovakia was born when it gained independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and enjoyed two decades of prosperity before it was occupied by Germany at the beginning of World War II in 1939. The subsequent era of Nazi oppression saw the extermination of hundreds of thousands of Czechoslovakia’s intellectual elite, and lasted until Soviet troops liberated Prague in 1945.

The Czech capital Prague, once the principal city in the Kingdom of Bohemia, and consequently one of Europe’s most fairytale-esque cities, was largely spared from bombing during the war that destroyed much of Europe, and retains the magic and charm of more than 1,000 years of architectural evolution.

Over the next few years the wounds inflicted by the war began to heal, but in 1948, the Iron Curtain fell over Central and Eastern Europe. A country celebrated for its forward-thinking scholars, its enlightened intellectuals and benevolent rulers was mired in communism for the next 40 years, until the Velvet Revolution of 1989 saw students rise up to bring about an end to Soviet oppression. Four years later, the country split into two when Slovakia made a bid for independence, and the Czech Republic was peacefully born.

The architectural styles visible in Prague today could fill an encyclopaedia from A-Z. From round Romanesque churches and dark Gothic cathedrals to Renaissance-style palaces, Rococo mansions and neo-Renaissance theatres, the city is full of structures that speak of a long history of change and development.

IF THE WALLS COULD TALKIn 1918, Czechoslovakia declared independence in the Municipal House in Republic Square – a beautiful art nouveau building that served as both concert hall and theatre. The exterior reflects the prominent nationalist style of the day, with floral patterns created by some of the most influential artists of the era.

Today the building is home to the rather splendid Kavarna Café, where locals and visitors pay top dollar for Viennese coffees in the splendid art nouveau surroundings, and the neighbouring Francouzska Restaurant, with high ceilings, large windows and elaborate chandeliers that hark back to its glory days in the early 20th century.

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City Prague

Adjoining the Municipal House is the 15th century Powder Gate, a looming smoke-blackened gothic edifice that was one of the original 13 gates leading into Prague, and later used as the depot for the city’s gunpowder stores.

Another neighbour on Republic Square is Kotva, a Soviet-era mall from the 1970s built in the new brutalist style. Today it looks somewhat out of place among the more aesthetically pleasing buildings that surround it, but it has been preserved as a landmark to remind people of the era.

“I think Czech people are not too interested in history – they have their own problems,” says Michal van der Laan, my Dutch guide, who moved to Prague when he was 10 and enjoyed the one privilege afforded to holders of dual citizenship at the time: he was able to leave the country. “They feel like communism is something a bit retro now. They don’t see the bad associations – it’s part of the past and it didn’t affect them much in their lifetimes.”

The real heart of Praha, as the city is known locally, is the Old Town Square, home to some of the city’s most striking landmarks. From the top of the tower at the Old Town City Hall, on which visitors gaze in delight upon the famous astronomical clock, whose carved figures appear mechanically on the hour, it’s possible to look out over the panorama of the red-roofed city.

On the other side of the cobbled square, filled with stalls selling traditional Czech food and other delicacies, Tyn Church is one of the world’s most stunning examples of gothic architecture. The twin towers of the north-facing façade soar urgently skywards, dominating the skyline, and the lofty interior sends those with vertigo scuttling for the exit.

Behind the Tyn Church, a warren of cobbled streets and courtyards are home to antique shops, art galleries and coffee shops that have found refuge in this peaceful historic quarter.

In the other direction, Prague Castle and St Vitus’ Cathedral sit atop the hill that rises above the pretty Lesser Quarter, commanding sweeping views over the city below. St Vitus is a giant gothic construction that is still unfinished more than a millennium after the site was first consecrated as a religious building. On the slopes between St Vitus’ and the Vltava River, tiny art galleries and studios line the ancient streets of the Lesser Quarter, which climb steeply towards Prague Castle.

City Prague

“Tyn Church is one of the world’s most

stunning examples of gothic architecture”

Postcard perfectViews over the former capital of

Bohemia from Prague Castle

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Prague City

Etheral city Morning mist from the Vltava River over the Charles Bridge

The two sides of the city are separated by the Charles Bridge, a 500-metre causeway built on 16 arches in 1357, on the orders of King Charles IV – monarch of Czechoslovakia and Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – who is credited with making Prague the cultural centre of 14th century Europe.

Today, the bulk of the traffic on the bridge is human – tourists in their thousands cross the bridge from dawn until dusk, snapping photos of the 30 baroque statues that line either side of the cobbled bridge and the impressive gothic gates at either end.

The Museum of Czech Cubism at the House of the Black Madonna, a wonderful example of cubist design, is also home to the magnificent Grand Café Orient. The café opened when the building was inaugurated in 1911, but closed in the 1920s when other architectural styles gained prominence. Thankfully the café reopened at the turn of the millennium to celebrate this uniquely Czech movement, and has maintained its distinctive old world atmosphere.

HISTORIC HOTELSNew real estate developments in Prague are subject to tight regulations, and the entire historic centre of Prague – which comprises the Old Town, the Lesser Town and New Town – is a UNESCO protected site, which limits the extent to which developers can modify existing buildings and regulates the style of new ones.

Just ask the owners of the Four Seasons Hotel Prague, on the banks of the Vltava, who had to abide by painstaking regulations in order to restore the property to its former glory and meet the necessary requirements of a modern five-star hotel.

The hotel comprises a trio of original buildings from three architectural periods, and one new edifice. The combined effect is much like that seen across the city – consistency through diversity. The neo-classical and neo-renaissance buildings today house guestrooms and suites; a baroque house contains the hotel’s conference facilities on the ground floor and a vast presidential suite on the first floor; and the new building houses guestrooms and the public areas.

54-58 PragueJSM.indd 57 29/03/2012 18:17

City Prague

Mandarin Oriental Prague+420 233 088 888mandarinoriental.com/prague

Kempinski Hotel Hybernska Prague+420 226 226 111kempinski.com

Four Seasons Hotel Prague+420 221 427 000fourseasons.com/prague

Augustine Hotel Prague+420 266 11 22 33theaugustine.com

Buddha Bar Hotel Prague+420 221 776 300buddha-bar-hotel.cz


“The art galleries and museums that now occupy old palaces

and former mansions, hidden behind covered archways and narrow alleyways, capture the

spirit of modern Prague and its people”

City Prague

On the other side of the river, literally in the shadow of Prague Castle, Rocco Forte’s Augustine hotel occupies a collection of seven historical buildings, one of which is the Augustinian St. Thomas Monastery, dating from the 13th century. Inside, the rooms pay tribute to more recent history, with decorative items that reflect the 20th century cubist style.

Not far away, Mandarin Oriental Prague is also located in a beautifully restored 14th century monastery, with a mixture of contemporary and modern interiors. The guestrooms feature original vaulted ceilings and recesses, with views into the peaceful courtyard or up the hill towards Prague Castle, while the exterior retains the peaceful charm of the Renaissance-style monastery.

LOOKING AHEADCuriously for a country steeped in so much history and with an architectural legacy that outdates nearly all of its neighbours, the Czech Republic is fiercely focused on the present, with booming arts and music scenes that explore the prevailing themes of the fragility of human existence and happiness.

The art galleries and museums that now occupy old palaces and former mansions, hidden behind covered archways and narrow alleyways, capture the spirit of modern Prague and its people. The traditional jewellers, glassmakers and marionettes are a major draw for tourists, but it’s places like the new Museum of Young Art and its edgy exhibits that truly reflect the forward-thinking, philosophical culture.

In fashionable Parizska Street, where the city’s top-end shops line two blocks dedicated to high fashion, boutiques from international brands including Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Dunhill and Hermes mingle with local designers and jewellers such as Klára Nademlýnská, Natali Ruden and Lia Halada.

While life goes on at street level, the Metronome continues to tick slowly from side to side. The government is still looking for a more permanent use for the site (which was once home to the world’s largest statue of Stalin, until it was blown up in 1969) but until it does, Vratislav Novak’s contribution to Prague’s skyline remains a fitting tribute to a city that has been adapting to its environment for thousands of years. n

Modern sanctuaryMandarin Oriental Prague occupies a 14th century monastery on the slopes below Prague Castle

UNESCO Heritage The restored buildings of Four Seasons Prague

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Words: Caitlin CheadleWords: Caitlin Cheadle

Canada’s financial capital has been quietly evolving into a buzzing metropolis with a shopping scene to rival NYC

60-61 24 Hours.indd 60 29/03/2012 17:01


08.00 Arrive at Pearson International Airport (gtaa.com). From here you can either take the shuttle bus into downtown Toronto (torontoairport-express.com), or grab a taxi from the queue outside, which will cost you around CDN$50 (US$50).

09.00 Check into The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto (ritzcarlton.com/toronto, +416 585 2500) Test the king-size bed in room 1816, open the curtains and take in the views over downtown Toronto and grab a breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs and coffee in the 20th-floor Club Lounge.

10.30 A five-minute walk from the hotel, Queen Street, Toronto’s bohemian boulevard, is packed with vintage and high street shops, cafes, restau-rants and trendy design hotels. Start at Spadina Avenue and head west along Queen St, down to Durumi & Chocolate Shoes (416 Queen St West). This charming boutique is co-leased by Korean-based label Durumi (durumi-apparel.blogspot.com) and independent label Chocolate Shoes (choco-lateshoes-toronto.blogspot.com). It’s a great place to find pieces you won’t see on anyone else – Durumi carries limited numbers of each item. Floaty silks and gauzes are used to create versatile pieces, many with adjustable elements such as ties and wraps, allowing their one-size-only concept to work surprisingly well. In the middle of the shop you’ll find a table displaying Chocolate Shoes – they’re well-made, unique designs of small quantity, so it’s unlikely you’ll see them on anyone else.

11.30 Walk further west down Queen Street and you’ll come across House of Vintage (1239 Queen Street West; houseofvintage-toronto.blogspot.com), which has just opened a second location in London. Vintage aficionados who love the thrill of the hunt will no doubt find some wonderful hidden gems here. Best of all, it’s cheap as chips and prices are negotiable. A few blocks further west you’ll encoun-ter Ossington Avenue, where you’ll find I Miss You (63 Ossington Ave; imissyou.ca). Owner Julie Yoo scours auctions, estate sales and liaises with pri-

vate collectors to source a timeless collection of vintage high-end designer labels like Pucci, Halston, Hermes and Chanel. Back on Queen Street, carry on to 69 Vintage (1100 Queen St West; 69vintage.com), packed to the rafters with everything from mint condition fur coats to elegant wedding gowns. The pieces are in great condition – I found a white, floor-length macramé dress and with more time, I could have spent hours trawling the racks.

13.30 Grab a taxi and head to Toronto’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood for a spot of lunch at MoRoCo (morocochocolat.com; +416 961 2202), a tiny French patisserie and chocolate shop that serves delicious sandwiches, soups and salads. Sit on the terrace with a glass of pinot grigio, then pop over to next-door neighbour Second Time Around (99 Yorkville Avenue), a designer consign-ment store where you can pick up mint-condition labels at 50-70 percent off the original price. It was here I found a very covetable pair of white pat-ent Todd Oldham T-strap heels, and was seriously tempted by a limited edition lime green Chanel 2.55. The Bloor-Yorkville district (bloor-yorkville.com) is Toronto’s answer to NYC’s Fifth Avenue, its immaculate streets lined with Prada, Hermes, Chanel and Gucci boutiques. Here you’ll also find Canadian designer department store Holt Renfrew.

15.30 Head to Toronto’s newest trendy district, The Distillery (thedistillerydistrict.com), a pedes-trian-only maze of shops, galleries, bars and res-taurants that only 10 years ago was nothing more than a collection of dilapidated Victorian-era indus-trial buildings dating back to 1859, known as the Gooderham & Worts Distillery thanks to its past life as a whisky mill. This is a great place to window-shop; if you’re looking for unique jewellery, artwork or homewares from independent labels and artisans, let the cobbled streets guide you in and out of the Distillery’s elegant exposed-brick boutiques. For a treat pop into SOMA Chocolate (somachocolate.com) and try the 100 percent cocoa bean bar. After-wards, pull up a chair on one of the many outdoor

patios and sip a locally-brewed beer before heading back to the hotel.

18.00 Arrive back at the Ritz-Carlton, unpack your new purchases and get dolled up for an evening out.

19.00 Debut your new look at the hotel’s DEQ, where the speciality is whisky cocktails made with fresh ingredients like blackberry and cucumber. The spacious patio is where the after-work crowd likes to convene in the summertime – expect well-dressed, suited types.

21.00 Arrive at Origin, a much-lauded tapas bar in the heart of downtown Toronto (origintoronto.com). The roomy patio is nestled between an 18th-century cathedral and the skyscrapers of Toronto’s financial district. The crowd is hip and trendy, and so is the menu. Take your time over dinner select-ing the small plates you most want to taste and pairing them with Canadian wines. Try the deviled eggs with crispy pancetta, miso black cod with soba noodles and the unbelievably good dolce de leche, poured over rich chocolate wafers and topped with frozen raspberry sorbet ‘beads’.

24.00 Retire to the Ritz-Carlton for a much-needed sleep.

06.00 Pack your new purchases safely in your lug-gage and have the concierge arrange your taxi to the airport - there’ll be more chances to shop there.

The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto+416 585 2500www.ritzcarlton.com/toronto

Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto+416 214 2800www.trumptoronto.ca

STAY


60-61 24 Hours.indd 61 29/03/2012 16:58

Chaumont sur Loire International Garden

FestivalApril 25 – October 15, Chaumont

sur Loire, FranceWhether you’re a keen gardener, an

artist looking for inspiration, or a lover of beautiful French culture, you’re

sure to enjoy what is one of the most unique and visually stunning garden

shows in the world. Each year an international crowd comes to admire

the beautiful gardens, dine in the exquisite restaurants and take in the

stunning natural landscapes.www.domaine-chaumont.fr

The Boat RaceApril 7, River Thames, LondonThis 158-year-old tradition began in 1829, with a challenge between two school friends, one studying at Oxford, the other at Cambridge. Today the annual rowing contest remains between the two British Universities. Every year crowds gather along the River Thames in West London between Putney and Mortlake for a variety of events centred around watching the races, taking place in parks, restaurants and pubs along the embankment. www.theboatrace.org

Easter Egg RollApril 9, Washington, DC

Last year we featured the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Easter Egg Hunt,

taking place annually in Cumbria in the English Lake District. This year

why not try America for some family Easter fun? A tradition started by US president Rutherford B. Hayes

in 1878, the annual Easter Egg Roll opens up the South Lawn of the White House for children age 12

and under and their families to race their Easter eggs with long-handled spoons across the lawns. There will also be games, cooking classes, live

musical performances and a visit from the Easter Bunny himself. The

event is so popular it attracts over 40,000 visitors per year.

www.whitehouse.gov

04.12Diary

62-63 Diary.indd 62 29/03/2012 16:48


Arabian Travel Market

April 30-May 2, Dubai, UAEThe Middle East’s largest travel

exhibition, ATM gives travel industry professionals the chance to showcase their latest plans and

developments. Hot on the heels of the Arabian Hotel Investment

Conference, this is a surefire way to network and get the inside scoop through events, seminars and of

course, the hospitality afterparties, which range from intimate a�airs to

no-expenses-spared blow-outs.www.arabiantravelmarket.com

April What’s on

The Chelsea Art FairApril 19-22, Chelsea, LondonA sophisticated art fair for discerning collectors and art lovers, the event is open to galleries based in the UK rather than individual artists, meaning a high-quality selection with works by renowned artists will be on o�er. An invitation-only day, with guests invited by gallery owners, will take place on April 19 from 4pm to 9pm, after which the fair will be open to the general public. www.chelseaartfair.org

Arabian Hotel Investment ConferenceApril 28-30, Dubai, UAEThose in the business of hotels know this is one week not to miss. The three-day conference, held at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, brings together industry leaders and media from all over the world for a series of seminars, discussions and networking events, plus incentives like the AHIC Golf Day on April 28, held at Al Badia Golf Club, InterContinental Dubai Festival City.www.arabianconference.com

62-63 Diary.indd 63 29/03/2012 16:48

Spend it Itineraries


An afternoon on a superyacht, the royal treatment in London, or your own colonial manor in Singapore - how will you choose to spend it this month?

Chasing the dragonAman resorts’ Amanwana, the luxury tented camp on Moyo Island, East Bali, will be run-ning its Komodo Cruise from April 1 to Octo-ber 30 this year. The seven-night journey starts and ends with a two-night stay at Amanwana resort, before guests board the 32-foot luxury cruiser Amanikan, with three above-deck cab-ins, a foredeck with outdoor dining area and bar, and extensive diving and snorkelling facili-ties. The next five nights will be spent cruising the pristine waters surrounding the mystical and little-known Nusa Tenggara island chain, before visiting Indonesia’s Komodo National Park to visit the only two islands in the world that support the Komodo dragon’s natural habi-tat. Whether you’re an intrepid explorer, diving fanatic or sailing aficionado, this is guaranteed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.Cost: US$14,020 per person based on six people sharing the Amanikan. The price includes five nights on board and two nights at Amanwana, all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, and two dives per day From: April 1 to Oct 30, 2012Book: [email protected]

Splurge on Gucci If you appreciate the beauty of all things Italian-made, this one’s for you. Award-wining Tuscan villa Il Salviatino is launching The Gucci Experience, in honour of the Italian fashion house’s 90th anniversary, including two nights accommodation with breakfast in a room or suite, two tickets to the Gucci museum in Florence, and a beautiful Gucci book to keep as a memento of the trip. Guests will also be treated to a delicious three-course dinner of traditional Tuscan fare carefully crafted by Il Salviatino’s resident Michelin starred executive chef, Carmine Calo, and a one-hour massage per person in the villa’s on-site spa. Outside the spectacular villa, roam the hills of Fiesole that surround Il Salviatino, or wander down to historic Florence nearby and marvel at the history of the picturesque city while you shop, dine, and visit its famous piazzas, monuments and galleries.Cost: from EUR 852 (US$1,121) for two people in a double roomFrom: until December 28, 2012Book: [email protected]/

Spend it

Il Salviatino

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Itineraries Spend it

Diamonds are foreverIn honour of HRH Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, the iconic Lanesborough Hotel London is offering a special four-night package that will showcase the very best of British. Arriving on June 2, you’ll be driven by chauffeur to the Epsom Derby, where you’ll be served morning tea and pastries, before a Pimms and champagne reception and five-course luncheon with fine wines. The fol-lowing day, board the HMS Belfast, with hospital-ity at an exclusive party to watch the Thames River Pageant as it reaches Tower Bridge, beginning with a cocktail and canapé reception before a buffet lunch, followed by a full afternoon tea. On June 4, you’ll enjoy a five-course dinner at Michelin starred Apsleys, a Heinz Beck restaurant. The next day, enjoy an exclusive view of the Royal Carriage Procession to St Paul’s Cathedral from the hospitality suite on The Strand. Cost: GBP5,400 (US$8,530) per person based on two people sharing, including four nights in an Execu-tive Double. Two-night packages are also available for GBP1,755 ($2,772) per nightFrom: June 2-6, subject to availabilityBook: [email protected]

*All prices are subject to change. Please contact the listed companies for further information.

Amanikan luxury cruiser

Anything but plain sailingLaunched just last month in the UAE, Sovereign Prestige Solutions offers VIP itin-eraries for corporate and personal luxury yacht excursions. With yachts ranging from 50 ft to 350 ft, SPS will merge its beauti-fully designed vessels with top-of-the-line talent to ensure your onboard experience is just as you wish, with professional service staff and gourmet cuisine from interna-tionally renowned chefs. To celebrate the launch of Sovereign Prestige Solutions in the UAE, the company is offering a two-hour lunch onboard the 85-ft Black Pearl, with a customised gourmet menu by celeb-rity chef Andy Campbell and a carefully selected wine list. Begin your journey in the Dubai Marina and cruise past iconic sights like the Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab as you feast on an incredible array of dishes and savour the Arabian Sea breeze. Cost: from US$3,000 From: unlimitedBook: [email protected] www.globalsps.com

Lanesborough Hotel

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title Sectiony


Doha delightsFor a weekend of luxury, immerse yourself in one of the Middle East’s fastest developing cities, Doha. The new InterContinental Doha, The City is offering a chic luxury getaway, beginning with return BMW airport transfers and two nights in the hotel’s expansive Diplo-matic Suite. Explore the city via Rolls-Royce, stopping for luxury shopping excursions, the chance to buy precious stones at the gold souk and a visit to The Pearl, Doha’s latest lifestyle residential and shopping destination. You’ll also be treated to afternoon tea for two in the Lobby Lounge, and the highlight of the weekend is dinner for two in Strata restaurant, Doha’s highest dining experience, 55 floors above the twinkling skyline. Cost: from US$2,500 From: available until the end of MayBook: [email protected]/dohathecity

Join the ClubCapella Singapore has just released one of two Colonial Manors, formerly only available for short-term hotel stays, as part of The Club at Capella Singapore’s long-term accommodation inventory. Spend your days like a colonial gent in your luxurious 436 sq m Colonial Manor, meticulously restored by Lord Norman Foster, with interiors by world-renowned designer Jaya Ibrahim. Built in the 1880s, the manor features three bedrooms, a stately dining room, designer kitchen and a private pool. Located just minutes away from the city on Sentosa Island, you’ll feel worlds away once you enter the Capella Singapore’s 30 acres of lush green landscape, surrounded by the sparking sea. Dedicated staff will be on hand 24/7 to ensure all your needs are met during your long-term stay.Cost: from US$33,150 per month From: nowBook: +65 6591 5000www.capellasingapore.com

64-67 Spend It.indd 67 29/03/2012 16:40

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Lessons in discretionFlames create a romantic

ambience at The Restaurant

70-71 Suite Dreams.indd 70 29/03/2012 16:35

Ashort drive along the highway that heads south out of Muscat, we turn o the road and briefly disappear into the rocky landscape. A few

moments later we emerge in an open area in front of The Chedi Muscat, a modern-looking collection of bright white buildings tucked away on a thin strip of coast between the Hajar Mountains and the stunning Indian Ocean.

In the lobby, 44 gold and red lanterns hang down from the high canvas ceiling, which is held up by a giant pillar of dark marble, framed by a couch covered with cushions. A host serves us Arabic tea and dates while we complete the check-in formalities. Arabic accents in the décor – domed archways and latticed woodwork – remind us we’re in the Middle East, but for the most part, the atmosphere is contemporary and youthful.

A wooden door swings open into my Chedi Club Suite and into the living room, where black marble floors and low backless couches covered with scatter cushions and a tray of Arabian snacks dominate the room. Arabic lanterns and a tray of decanted premium beverages make it feel cosy and inviting, but the bedroom beckons.

The spacious room welcomes me in – dark browns and creams with burnt orange couches and divans make up the colour scheme, while dark hardwood floors and Venetian blinds oset the pure white walls. It’s light and airy, and incredibly comfortable. There are full-length mirrors and tall Arabic lamps on either side of the bed, and a third mirror on the opposite wall. From the middle of the round recessed ceiling hangs another angular Middle Eastern light fixture.

I’m immediately at peace, and when I walk out onto the terrace to discover picturesque views of the ponds, fountains and gardens directly in front of me, my remaining cares melt away.

Back inside, the bathroom is one of the standout features of the suite, with a vast sunken black granite bathtub surrounded by candles, and a walk-in rain shower, also decorated in black and red. It’s hard to leave the suite, but the short walk from the lobby on the way in takes me through

The Chedi Club Suite at Oman’s most exclusive hideaway transports guests into a world of calm

wonderfully cool courtyards with fountains and small gardens and one of the resort’s three pools, which demands closer inspection.

I make myself comfortable by the resort’s new 125m pool and an attendant brings over a tray with a bottle of herbal water and an iced face towel. The worries of work and home couldn’t feel further away.

By evening, the resort has taken on a very dierent feel, with flaming lanterns and subtle mood lighting creating an intimate and romantic atmosphere.

If the lobby and suite were distinctly Arabic in their feel, The Restaurant couldn’t be further from it. The elaborate glass chandeliers, black and white tables and floor-to-ceiling wine cellar make it feel like I could be in Paris or New York. Our hostess lays out napkins in black or white; whichever better matches what you’re wearing. The Omani seafood is even better than I expect it to be, and the extensive wine list and desert menu are nothing short of sensational.

When I return to the suite, unseen hands have turned it into a low-lit intimate space, with candles placed in front of the two bedside mirrors and rose petals scattered into a steaming hot bath.

The service at The Chedi is remarkable for its discretion and unobtrusiveness; there is always someone there when you need them but when you don’t, they are nowhere to be seen.

The next day, it’s hard to tear myself away from the resort, but I know I have discovered an Omani gem – one that I will return to the next time I need to escape from the world. ■

When I walk out onto the terrace to discover

picturesque views of the ponds, fountains and the garden directly in front of me, any remaining cares I had immediately melt

away

Lessons in discretion

The Chedi Muscat Suite dreams

What: Chedi Club SuiteWhere: The Chedi, MuscatPrice: from OMR 470 (US$1,220) per night until the end of April, then OMR 310 ($805) during the summer www.ghmhotels.com

The important bit

Ponds, pots and palm trees in one of many quiet courtyards

Minimalist design with Arabic touches in the Chedi Club Suite

Suite Dreams

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72 Month 20XX dotwnews.com

Sectiony title

“EXP 9 F had to represent the absolute pinnacle of the sport utility sector, setting a new benchmark for this type of vehicle”

Dirk van Braeckel, director of design, Bentley

Bentley EXP 9 FEngine: 6.0 litre twin

turbocharged W12Origin: UK

Cost:TBA

They did it. Whether they were trying to impress their friends or keep up with rivals, we’re not sure, but Bentley has unveiled its first ever SUV concept. It’s still at the planning stages, but the British carmaker plans to put the same W12 engine that powers the Continental GranTurismo in its new EXP 9 F, combining high performance with Bentley’s signature luxury design. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the new launch will no doubt be a hit among Bentley fans, but in the meantime, we’re waiting with bated breath to see what goes into the finished product.

ON THE ROAD

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dotwnews.com Month 20XX 73

title Sectiony


Motoring

Mercedes Benz’ new ML 63 AMG seems to literally have it all – performance, technology and fuel economy. The new V8 biturbo engine consumes just 11.8 litres of fuel per 100km, and features an ECO start/stop system, while still delivering a powerful 557-horsepower punch that gives it sports car performance. This AMG package also features sports steering and a high performance braking system, plus matte silver chrome touches and high gloss black radiator grille.

WRONG TURN

IN an age of increasing sensi-tivity to fuel consumption and emissions, you’d think that car manufacturers would shy away from producing large four-wheel drive vehicles, especially brands that have never dabbled in 4x4 territory in the past.

But if last month’s Geneva Motor Show is anything to go by, it seems that carmakers see things di�erently. For starters, Bentley unveiled its new EXP 9 F, presumably as a rival to Maserati’s Kubang, which was unveiled last year. Both cars promise to deliver the same high performance and luxury finishing as their legacy vehicles, but in SUV format.

Why these two brands – lead-ers in the luxury saloon field – have decided that they need to add SUVs to their portfolio is a mystery, especially when the segment’s giants, notably Range Rover and BMW, are producing innova-tive, attractive cars that match performance and design with fuel economy and low emissions.

Bentley says it’s working on the assumption that most traditional Bentley owners also own an SUV, and by providing them with an option to replace that with a car from the Bentley stable, the com-pany is capitalising on an existing market of enthusiasts who might like to add another B-emblazoned vehicle to their garage.

How the EXP 9 F and the Kubang will stand up next to more established models remains to be seen, but it seems bizarre for a prestige brand that makes a small number of cars very well to branch out in a new direction.

The reason why the legacy brands like Bentley, Maserati and Aston Martin have remained at the top of their game for so long is that they have consistently worked with a smaller range of vehicles and produced exception-ally high-quality cars as a result. If their plan is to become another mass producer that makes cars in all shapes and sizes, won’t they lose their unique exclusive status and become just another car company? Let’s hope not.

JOE MORTIMER

By far the most athletic specimen in BMW’s SUV stable, the X6 is a 4x4 that wants to be a sports car. Despite its athleticism, the new M50d sips a mere 7.7 litres of fuel per 100km and the six cylinder diesel engine achieves a quicker 0-100kph time than its petrol-powered V8 cousin. With BMW’s xDrive system and Dynamic Performance Control, the new X6 still performs like a much smaller sports car, and can launch out of corners when prompted. Pity it’s not available in the Middle East.

MERCEDES ML63 AMG

Engine: 5.5-litre V8 biturboBHP: 557

0-100kph: 4.8 secsTop speed: 250kph (limited)

Origin: GermanyCost: US$153,000

BMW X6 M50dEngine: V6 twin-turbo diesel

BHP: 381Torque: 740Nm

0-100kph: 5.3 secsOrigin: Germany

Cost: $136,666 (Europe)

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE CONCEPTOrigin: UK

After the launch of Range Rover’s futuristic looking Evoque last year, which was met with a mixed response by traditionalists, the company has gone and pushed the idea even further, with this concept convertible version. “We believe that the Evoque lends itself beautifully to the idea of a convertible,” said Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern at the Geneva Motor Show. Only a few models have been made and there are no plans to put it into production. Yet.

72-73 Motoring.indd 73 29/03/2012 16:24

18 Month 20XX dotwnews.com

www.arabiantravelmarket.com/registernowwww.arabiantravelmarket.com/registernow

Opportunity to connect with more than 2,200 exhibitors from up to 70 destinations.

Establish new business prospects, meet key contacts and discover developments that are driving the travel industry today.

Scan the code below to register now

Discover solutions to improve your future...Register as a visitor now at: www.arabiantravelmarket.com/registernow

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Trends

Look and learnZurich International is on a roll, a truly Swiss roll. Not only does everything run like clockwork here,

but now they’ve gone and added an interactive observation deck. If you’re a plane spotter, that’s a big wow. If you’re bored between

flights, at least it’s something di�erent to do. So, at observation Dock B, a company called

ART+COM has introduced telescopes that overlay live information over the things you

see. This can range from telling you what the buildings do, to providing details of where planes are flying to and from and what species they are

(or whatever the term is). Anyway the kids love it apparently. As do those people who get excited

when British Airways changes its livery.

Room for moreIntention-based websites are all the rage and that’s a good thing. More choice means more

options. Soverinn.com in the States o�ers would-be guests the chance to input their dates,

price expectations and interests. Hotels (mainly of the up-market boutique variety) then email

options in package form, gift-wrapped with (hopefully) a few interesting USPs. Soverinn says competition between the hotels can get intense,

but the bottom line is that the guests get a few more ideas than the usual browse o�ers.

Reality bitesIf you’re the sort of wannabe celebrity who lives for the prospect of 15 seconds of fame, we’d advise you to get to Tampa International Airport as fast as possible. The airport is going to be the backdrop to a new reality show called On The Fly, to be broadcast on TLC next year. Producers say they are “looking for the wacky and unusual aspects that take place at the airport on a daily basis”. So what are you waiting for? All you have to do is act “wacky and unusual”. Just make sure that your behaviour doesn’t land you in the interview room of the airport police.

Inflight nanniesWant to know what it’s like to be the most

unpopular person on a plane? Easy. Board really late. With three tiny babies and tons of milk/

nappy accoutrements. Even if you walked down the aisle su�ering from the Black Death you could not be more unpopular. So, we like the Californian concept NannyintheClouds.com,

a service that matches parents travelling with registered babysitters already booked on the

same flight. Hurrah! The sitters have checkable references, rates are negotiated direct and there’s

a US$10 fee to use the site.

Snooze controlThis Destinations of the World News correspondent has been slumming it in Barcelona, and quite frankly it’s been tapas-tastic. But there’s one Spanish/Catalan habit that’s been hard to adopt, the art of the siesta. After a lifetime of nine to five-ish work, a long afternoon snooze seems staggeringly indulgent. Not here. Many hotels here o�er special ‘siesta rates’ in the afternoon and often throw in lunch to give you something to sleep o�. Now there’s an online guide and app called ‘Day Use Hotels’ that o�ers ‘siesta rates’ in 200 hotels across Europe. Now we don’t want to sound too cynical but when there is a promise of “discrete reservations” that “don’t require credit card details,” we’re not sure we share the same definition of a little lie-down.

75-77 TrendsFINAL.indd 75 29/03/2012 16:18

JOIN

US

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AH

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01

2

2 012THE INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN THE NEW ARAB WORLDRe-imaging the region – what will the investment landscape look like from an investors’ perspective?What is the impact of changing geo-political dynamics on risk analysis and on investors’ decisions?

FINANCE FORUM – INVESTORS AND BANKERS TALK SHOPWhat are bankers and financiers looking for? When will they lend and at what ratios? When do hotel projects prove appealing?

THE AHIC EXPERIENCESpend three days learning, socialising and debating with the leaders of the hotel investment industry. AHIC is the only event in the Middle East, and one of the few in the world, that brings together the hotel investment industry at such a senior level.

Bashar Al Natoor Director, Corporates

Fitch Ratings

Iyad Duwaji Chief Executive Officer

West Asia Capital

Bassel HamwiChief Executive Officer

Bank Audi Syria

Iyad Malas Chief Executive Officer

Majid Al Futtaim Group

Gerald LawlessExecutive Chairman

Jumeirah Group

MODERATORMODERATOR THE INVESTORSTHE INVESTORS THE INVESTORSTHE INVESTORS THE INVESTORSTHE INVESTORS

Mark Wynne-Smith Global CEO

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels

Anil BhardwajDirector

A.A. Al Moosa Enterprises LLC

Amro NahasExecutive Director Head of Real Estate

SHUAA Capital Saudi Arabia

Joe SitaPresident

IFA Hotel Investments

THE BANKERSTHE BANKERS THE BANKERSTHE BANKERS THE BANKERSTHE BANKERS THE BANKERSTHE BANKERS

Lo’ai B. BatainehDGM, Investment & Development,

Head of Investment Management Group

Oman Arab Bank SAOC

Oliver EbnerSenior Manager at Project

and Structured Finance

National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD)

Fergal HarrisHead Of Real Estate Middle East

Standard Chartered

Santoshkhumar A. VasudevanPrincipal Investment Officer

International Finance Corporation(IFC)

REGISTER ONLINE

40 NEWSPEAKERSFOR 2012

www.arabianconference.com

HEAR FROM INDUSTRY GREATS ON THE FUTURE OF HOTEL INVESTMENT IN EGYPT

Kurt RitterCEO & President

The RezidorHotel Group

Samih SawiriChairman

Orascom Development Holding

AHIC is now clearly the best conference in the region and has evenbecome one of the top five hospitality real estate conferences worldwide

ELIE YOUNES, VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA, THE REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP

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12 WHAT’S NEW FOR 2012

ARABIC TRANSLATIONSimultaneous translation into Arabic, opening AHIC up to a broader audience.

NEW SPEAKERS,NEW TOPICSFresh new speakers and topics – the programme features over 40 new speakers.

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS Interactive ‘scenario planning workshop’ that helps to give you the tools to deal with the uncertainty and risk currently present in the region.

BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS‘Innovation through Collaboration’ Brainstorming Sessions focused on industry issues allowing you to networkand demonstrate your expertise to potential partners.

IN-DEPTH WORKSHOPS Workshops which enable you to have closer interaction with speakers and go deeper into specific topics.

INDUSTRY FACTS

According to STR Global:

• 2011 UAE demand increased by 16.9%

• Abu Dhabi demand increased by 20.2%

• Saudi Arabia demand increased by 11.3%

• Qatar demand increasedby 13%

• Egypt demand down by 38% hear from industry leaders on their views on rebuilding the industry

AHIC IN NUMBERS

• 80+ speakers

• 500+ attendees

• 40+ countries represented

Join the conversation

#AHIC

28 - 30 April 2012Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

120326 DOTWN 235x335.indd 1 26/03/2012 09:45


INProp power

Forget jets, propeller planes are back in vogue. ATR, which makes turboprops, enjoyed a record year

in 2011, with 240 orders. Who knew retro was so cool?

Pack like a manBilled as “giving you time to build the next Facebook and

slay dragons”, manpacks.com delivers online basic man-traveller

stock including razors, socks and undies, every three months.

Virtual reality sunglassesGoogle is promising to launch

sunglasses with augmented vir-tual reality displays on the inside

of their lenses next year. How cool is that? Virtual layers of informa-

tion without having to wave a smart phone around. Excellent.

Mystery flightsVirgin Australia has introduced a thing called a Mystery Break,

and we’re intrigued. Basically you buy a ticket to somewhere. You don’t know where, but it’s really cheap and the airline gets to fill

low capacity. Mysterybreaks.virginaustralia.com

OUTDis-SpiritedSpirit Airlines wins the rubbish- extra fee of the month award. To print your own boarding pass from a self-service kiosk, just US$2 please. Cheap. Them, not the ticket.

Fruita’s not LOLTourism heads at Fruita in Colo-rado have dropped their cunning promotion campaign entitled simply “WTF”. It was supposed to stand for Welcome To Fruita, but in other parts of the world, erm, it doesn’t.

Poor FlipperSmacked wrists, Hong Kong Airlines. The airline has been given a jolly good telling off for trans-porting seven dolphins in cargo to Japan in conditions described as “flying coffins”.

Shout it out loudVirgin Atlantic is recruiting a ‘whispering coach’ to teach cabin crew how to speak really, really softly during night flights. PR stunt or not?

Hotels are so passé. Globetrotting billionaires are now hiring entire villages for their holidays

In the time-pressed world of your average billionaire, there’s a lot to squeeze in when you go on holiday, and there are a lot of

things to consider. Is there somewhere to moor the yacht, is the chateau too cold in summer and will you be forced to share the island again with those noisy Brangelina children? Decisions, decisions, decisions.

But this summer the smart money is heading inland to Europe, bypassing the castles, grand dame hotels and villa clichés of the old school – to book entire villages.

It makes a lot of sense. These days not even billionaires are immune to the demands of inter-generational travel and if granny wants to tag along with her grandchildren, it’s a good idea to have separate accommodation options in which to put everyone.

Companies such as airbnb and Rent A Village by Xnet have villages for rent in Austria, Switzerland and Germany from just US$50,000 a night.

So why a village? Why not. There are loads and loads of different types of house that can be tailored to fit every requirement, and more activities than you can shake granny’s stick at.

For example, consider the chocolate box prettiness of Brand in the Eastern Alps of Austria. It’s just $65,000 a night for the entire village (a minimum of three nights are required) and for that you get 300 bedrooms of accommodation in a 700-year-old community, 1,000 metres above sea level in the shadow of the staggeringly beautiful Brand Glacier.

Nice, eh? But there’s more. Check-in can be arranged in a specially created igloo in the village square or in the giant riding hall, and a brass band led by the mayor can be arranged to provide a musical welcome. Then there are the activities. Obviously there’s plenty of great skiing, horse-riding, hiking, sledging, trekking and so on, but back at base, gourmet events can be arranged as well as parties, cocktail nights and a ‘Fire & Ice Open Air Show’.

Not keen on the cold? What about Goldegg in the heart of the Salzburg countryside? This

Forget the villa, rent a village

lovely village is also just $65,000 a night (again for a minimum of three nights) but features a golf course, cultural centre, paint academy, museum and 200 rooms. But the best bit of all is that it also comes with its own medieval castle and lake.

According to Karl Schwarzler, CEO of Rent A Village, there are also plenty of ways to ‘add value’ to your community experience. Many villages are able to provide branded street signs, personalised currency and even a custom-made theatre performance. In the Bavarian village of Bodenmais, the mayor can even arrange to create your own piste through the town square and “along houses and garden fences”.

This is all very well and good, but Schwarzler recommends making your village booking at least six months in advance. There’s a lot to organise and you want to make the most of everything your chosen village has to offer.

These villages are all active communities filled with local residents as well as billionaire’s guests, but for something a little more exclusive you could try a privately owned hamlet in France.

Through Petersham Properties you can rent a six-house hamlet near the village of La Garde-Freinet just 21km from St Tropez. Prices are on request, according to season, but this place comes with serious history. Owned by the film director Tony Richardson, it once played host to a glittering A-list party of Jack Nicholson, Anjelica Huston, David Hockney and John Gielgud.

Finally, if you like the idea of village life but don’t really require the entire place, check out the ancient hill town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Italy (pictured). Sympathetic millionaire Daniele Kihlgren stumbled on this wonderfully evocative place while motorbiking around Italy.

Virtually empty as the result of agricultural economic crisis and mass migration, the village was a monument to staggering neglect. Today, thanks to Kihlgren, who bought many of the homes and restored much of the public spaces, the community offers village homes for rent from just $500 a night. Now the concept of ‘dispersed hotels’ is catching on in abandoned communities all over Italy. And that’s a good thing. n

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Peter: The BarThe Peninsula Tokyo


Piacere Italian restaurantShangri-La Hotel, Tokyo

Here are three hotels in Tokyo that are handy for the Imperial Gardens. For those who want to cycle,

walk, jog or run the 4.5-mile circuit round the Imperial Palace complex, The Peninsula Tokyo is an ideal choice. Opened in 2007, the wedge-shaped, 24-floor building allows those in rooms at the thin end, so to speak, unparalleled palace and garden views. Telescopes and iPod local-history walks are thoughtfully provided. Run by general manager Malcolm Thompson, this hotel has thought of everything. It introduced nail-dryers as bathroom fittings, which are ideal for ladies doing their own manicures, although there is also a sensational ESPA. As if to make waiting for elevators fascinating, you can look into the hotel’s 220-foot high central void, artistically illuminated by glass-fibre suspended Ben Jakober sculptures. Go to the free gym and adjacent indoor pool, which is very popular with the Japanese, and you admire the sculpted ceiling. Enter the top-floor, multi-level Peter restaurant and, thanks to designer Yabu Pushelberg, you feel as if you are floating along a fashion catwalk applauded by metal trees. The hotel’s overall corporate responsibility is also to be applauded: it is currently sponsoring teenagers orphaned by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. When you leave (in a Peninsula-green Rolls-Royce) you will feel incredibly good about this hotel. www.peninsula.com

The Imperial Hotel is two blocks west of The Peninsula. What is now a 1,059-room giant is steeped in history. Watanabe House opened here in 1890 for the government to entertain foreigners. After surviving the 1913 Great Kantö earthquake it was razed by fire in 1916: a new Frank Lloyd

Wright building was itself replaced in 1968. Despite its size, it runs – thanks to ever-youthful president Tetsuya (Ted) Kobayashi and 1,879 highly-tuned employees – like personal clockwork. Ask for a room facing Hibiya Gardens. There are numerous restaurants but a favourite with foreigners is the 17th floor The Imperial Viking Sal, for its stupendous bu£ets, which attract not only hotel guests, but all ages of Tokyo residents. Another highly enjoyable pastime is lobby-watching, studying the comings and goings of top Tokyo society, with many of the women in exquisite kimonos. The gym and pool are free to Imperial Club members. www.imperialhotel.co.jp

Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo opened in 2009. The 2012 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winner – five blocks from the Imperial Palace – is next to Tokyo Station, which is handy for airport buses and the 16-carriage Shinkansen trains that leave, full, every seven minutes. Occupying the top 11 floors of the 37-floor Marunouchi Trust Tower, the hotel is enlivened with over 2,000 pieces of art belonging to its owner, the Mori Trust. The LifeFitness gym and 65-foot heated pool are free for all, and there is a six-room CHI Spa. Favourites among the 200 rooms are those with access to the 37th floor Horizon Club, says general manager Jens Moesker. Nadaman Japanese restaurant sometimes o£ers kaiseki, sushi and teppanyaki simultaneously. On the 28th floor, Piacere (pleasure) is a hot favourite with local ladies-who-lunch and others besotted by chef Paolo Pelosi’s superb bu£ets and pasta. Brilliant designer Andre Fu – who did Upper House in his native Hong Kong – has here shown a beige and silver-gold colour scheme dominated by three giant golden chandeliers and other Murano glasswork. Elsewhere, the hotel’s breathtaking white firework-like chandeliers, designed by glassmaker Jitka Kamencová Skuhravá, were made by Lasvit in Prague. www.shangri-la.com

Mary Gostelow

Lifestyle and luxury commentator

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Amalfi Coast, ItalyThe Amalfi coast has always been top of my list, especially the hill-top village of Ravello, with its iconic cathedral square, glorious gardens, ancient vi l las and astonishing views. In the summer the Wagner festival in the open air is unforgettable. The Hotel Caruso Belvedere is truly magical. My favourite suite has a private garden with breathtaking views over the Amalfi coastline, and this combined with the amazing food and local wines make it an incomparable destination.

Chairman, The London Season

The London Season is one of England’s oldest surviving traditions, a grooming and social introduction club for the city’s elite that still plays an important role in

the upper echelons of British high society.As chairman of The London Season, Jennie

Hallam-Peel works to preserve some of English society’s oldest rites of passage, such as the 200-year-old Queen Charlotte’s Ball and The Berkeley Dress Show at the House of Lords in London, which both help to orchestrate promising futures for the selected debutantes, who now come from all walks of life. The events also raise substantial sums of money for charities, both in the UK and globally.

Jennie, herself a former debutante whose mother and grandmother were presented at court before the Second World War, travels extensively and lives between London, Sussex and Dubai with her husband David. She recently debuted the London Season Debutante Ball in Shanghai, and will bring it to Dubai in November 2012. From wild boar hunting in Macedonia to holidays at Mick Jagger’s beach house, here Jennie shares her most treasured travel experiences.

Agra and Udaipur, IndiaFor an exceptionally spoiling holiday, stay at the Kohinoor suites at Amarvilas in Agra. To glimpse your first view of the Taj Mahal from your enormous bath strewn with rose petals with a glass of champagne in hand is surreal. The entire team of staff greets guests at the entrance and private butlers anticipate every wish. At Udaivilas in Udaipur, if you can tear yourself away from your private 50-foot swimming pool, your butler will arrange a private pontoon on the lake for a romantic dinner.

Jennie Hallam-Peel

Mustique, CaribbeanHere we stayed at Mick Jagger’s house, Stargroves, complete with full staff and situated directly on stunning L’Ansecoy Bay, touchingly filled with mementos and memorabilia. Life is very social on Mustique and we were met with a raft of invitations to drinks parties and dinners at amazing houses. The social epicentre of Mustique is Basil’s Bar, where everyone on the island converges after dark, arriving via buggies supplied to each house. Lobster and rum punch picnics are part of the fun, and to wake up and walk alone on a deserted beach and watch the sun go down over a cloudless horizon is a little bit of heaven on earth.

“The social epicentre of Mustique is Basil’s Bar, where everyone

on the island converges after dark”

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Giza, EgyptOne of our most memorable holidays was in Egypt at the Mena House Oberoi in Giza, an amazing relic of a bygone era where we were given the Montgomery Suite, filled with artefacts and mementoes of the Field Marshall, with a huge terrace overlooking the pyramids. We took a camel ride around the pyramids after they had closed to the public, led by two elderly Egyptians in robes, and felt thousands of years slipping away. To see the sun rise over the pyramids is a truly amazing experience.

Burma (Myanmar)Burma is so unspoilt and special. The people are so welcoming and we felt like intrepid explorers as there is little tourism. We stayed at the Governor’s Residence in Rangoon, in a gorgeous tropical garden in the diplomatic quarter, then took the Orient-Express Road to Mandalay cruise down the Irrawaddy River, spotting villages along the way. We then flew to Lake Inle to stay at the Princess Inle Hotel, and spent our days boating around the lake and stopping at local silver markets – time out of the 21st century.

Skopje, MacedoniaOur most adventurous holiday was wild boar hunting in Macedonia. It has an amazing culture, reflected in the architecture, food, wine and stunning churches and palaces. We stayed at the Kamnik hunting lodge near Skopje, whose owner arranged VIP entry into the country through the diplomatic gates, which he can do for all guests. A shooting range in the basement provides practice, and with archaeology tours, vibrant nightlife and overwhelmingly hospitable people, Macedonia is a fabulous destination for an unusual holiday.

Picture perfect Hotel Caruso Belvedere’s infinity

pool overlooks the breathtaking vistas of the Amalfi Coast

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The art deco façade of The Marlin Hotel has played a starring role in Miami’s South Beach

scene since its construction in 1939, witnessing the city’s ups and downs and hosting some of the world’s greatest musicians within its walls. We spoke to the man behind the Marlin Hotel’s recent renovation and re-opening to find out why Miami is booming once again, and how Art Basel Miami has trans-formed the city from run-down party town to a sophisticated arts and culture hub.

What is the best thing about Miami? Years ago my wife and I spent some time on South Beach and I was hooked by the architecture, weather, ocean, food and nightlife, the diversity of its people and the overall casually elegant energy. The more I got to know it, the more it felt like I belonged there, so much so that in 2008 I made the commitment to acquire The Marlin Hotel.

Can you describe the history of the Marlin Hotel and the concept today? The Marlin Hotel was constructed by famed art deco architect Lawrence Murray Dixon in 1939 and later acquired by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell in 1988. Blackwell’s unique persona and additions, including those of designer Barbara Hulanicki, were critically instrumental in transforming Miami’s South Beach into what it is today. The Marlin’s design, location and more importantly its adventur-ously bohemian South Beach Studios – a record-ing studio 20 years running that has been used by hundreds of artists including U2 (pictured above), Beyonce, Pink and Aerosmith – have made it the epicentre of South Beach’s transformation.

Miami has attracted considerable attention since the instalment of Art Basel Miami in 2001. How would you describe the Miami art scene today? Only if you’ve experienced South Beach and the greater Miami area can you appreciate why Art Basel has grown to what it’s become. It’s great to see the private jets passing overhead during both Art Basel and the annual Miami Beach Boat show, which is said to be the largest of its kind, attended by people from all over the world. What kind of attractions might art lovers and collectors travel to Miami to see? Just a short block from The Marlin is The Wolfso-nian, exhibiting approximately 120,000 pieces. Also nearby is The Bass Museum. In greater Miami we have the Miami Art Museum, Lowes Art Musem, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art District of Miami, named for its many galleries, which houses some international talents such as renowned Brazil-ian pop artist Romero Britto. Miami once had a reputation as a party town for college kids. Do you think that image has evolved ? During Spring Break, which falls in late March/early April, most college students now head for Mexico and the Caribbean. We do get some student visitors, which we welcome as they represent a youthful, fun-loving energy. Is Miami attracting a more sophisticated traveller? It’s certainly attracting a more discerning and in-the-know traveller, the kind who are also looking for the sun, beach and nightlife. www.themarlinhotel.com n

Mario CostaOwner, The Marlin Hotel, Miami

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82 Final WordJSMcc.indd 82 29/03/2012 15:58

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