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Volume 6, Issue 24, June 18, 2008 |
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MasterCard recently ranked 75 Worldwide Centers of Commerce on a scale that ranged from the top city, London (79.17) to No. 75, Caracas (26.11). New York came in No. 2.
Regardless of the dollar’s current woes, the United States has the most cities on the list — 11 — of any single country. China came in second, with six. Europe is the continent with the most global commerce centers, 27.
The list does not purport to name the top 75 commercial cities; rather, it chooses the major business cities around the world considered to be most “global” and ranks them all on the same seven-point scale. Ratings points were given for the legal and political framework (Stockholm got the most points); economic stability (Vienna ranked highest); ease of doing business (everything from starting a business and getting credit to holding meetings and enforcing contracts; Singapore ranked highest); financial flow (London); transport volume for passengers and goods (Hong Kong); knowledge creation and information flow (London); and livability (Vancouver). The latter dimension was recently added to the study for its role in attracting and retaining “the talent that drives the knowledge economy.”
“Successful companies of the future will be truly transnational”, the report says; “This approach will require a deep understanding not only of how global cities are interrelated, but also of how they compete with and complement each other.”
The report is interesting, not so much for its news value as for the insights it offers into the interplay of a variety of factors and how the cities in which you do business stack up. 
The New York (JFK) – Tokyo (TYO) route will be the first recipient of redesigned first- and business-class cabins on Japan Airlines’ new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, effective Aug. 1. The new JAL Suite in first class provides 20 percent more space than the previous version, an ottoman for companion dining, a 19-inch TV screen and extra storage. The new business-class cabin features increased seat width and pitch, a lie-flat bed and more center-console storage, plus a photo gallery opposite the self-service bar. Flights featuring the new service will operate on alternate days until Aug. 11, when they become daily. A month later, the new equipment will begin operating on the San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo route.
Delta Air Lines is teaming up with Clear Registered Traveler to offer its Verified Identity Pass fast lanes. Clear will establish the fast lanes at Delta terminals in New York (JFK and LGA) and Los Angeles (LAX) sometime this summer. Clear enrollment centers are also being set up at the Delta Crown Room clubs in Atlanta (ATL). Various promotions are planned, including bonus miles for Delta SkyMiles members who enroll.
Kempinski’s hotel in Ajman in the U.A.E., overlooking the Arabian Sea, was the hotel group’s first property in the Middle East, and is now the first to incorporate the new suite of amenities known as the Leisure Club. The Kempinski Ajman’s Leisure Club comprises 24 rooms on the hotel’s top floors, and includes private early check-in, personal butlers, and complimentary suit or dress pressing.
By the end of the month, travelers to Mexico will be able to have value-added tax (15 percent) rebated on purchases of more than $116 (1,200 pesos) at their departure airports. Provisions for the rebates have been on the books for two years, but the paperwork was primarily geared to purchases for export; the kiosks for short-term visitors are new. Cash transactions for purchases (excluding food and lodging) up to 3,000 pesos are eligible, while the cap on credit- and debit-card transactions is higher. Half the rebate (which is capped at 10,000 pesos) can be received in pesos; the balance will be posted to a credit or debit card, or sent in a dollar-denominated check, within six weeks of departure. Airports due to get the rebate service this month include Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara (GDL) and Los Cabos (SJD). All Mexican international airports and seaports will eventually participate.
We seem to be reporting weekly on new fees being added to air travel, from baggage to drinks onboard, thanks to high fuel prices. Latest new twist comes courtesy of US Airways: The airline will begin assessing “award redemption processing fees” as of Aug. 6. The fees range from $25 for domestic flights to $50 for international destinations. USAir has also joined American in assessing a $15 fee for the first bag checked. The airline is also closing its US Airways Clubs at Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) and Raleigh-Durham (RDU), and will no longer offer arrivals lounges at Munich (MUC), Rome (FCO) and Zurich (ZRH).
To explain the changes, the airline released some figures that tell the story: At current fuel prices, it costs the airline $299 in fuel per average round-trip passenger; one year ago that number was $151. That’s almost double in one year, whereas it took six years to double 2000’s fuel cost per passenger, $70.
The Spanish Kitchen
826 North LaCienega Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
tel 310 659 4794
www.TheSpanishKitchen.com
Sometimes “lively” is used to describe a restaurant where the atmosphere is more interesting than the food. Happily, I can honestly say that The Spanish Kitchen does boast a lively atmosphere — as a backdrop for delicious Mexican cuisine.
A large curved bar adds to the mix of this upscale but relatively authentic place. Despite the palpable energy, the noise level is not overpowering; intimate conversations can be had, as well as large group debates. Large booths line the bar area, and the separate dining rooms have tiled floors and tabletops with lots of arches and wrought iron.
As befits a place with a lively bar scene, the drinks menu is fairly extensive. One interesting option is the tequila sampling: For varying, but reasonable, prices, you can get four 1-ounce samplings of different tequilas. Also worthy of note is the frozen pomegranate margarita.
But we came for the food, and we weren’t disappointed. The appetizer selection was large and diverse. For something simple and traditional, the quesadilla Americano (with chicken or steak) was a light and delicious snack. On the more adventurous side, the lobster crepe and the coconut salmon ceviche were zesty, but not overpowering, starters.
For dinner, again, the choices went from simple to exotic and everyone seemed satisfied with whatever choice they made. The carne asada (smoked and grilled marinated steak) was served with Spanish rice, guacamole and delicious smoky white beans. Several varieties of enchiladas are offered, with the blue crabmeat version topping my list. The plantain-crusted mahi served in a pomegranate sauce was tender, flavorful and light.
Visitors are well advised to save a little room for one of the interesting and tasty desserts. The vanilla bean flan, topped with fresh berries, was a tangy option. The Mayan Pyramid is a decadent delight: a chocolate mousse with a caramel center and chocolate sponge cake covered in a chocolate ganache, served in a vanilla and raspberry sauce. The Spanish Kitchen’s rice pudding and bread pudding dishes are less ambitious, but others in my group found them equally enjoyable.
The Spanish Kitchen offers a great experience, which is helped along by fantastic servers, who are insightful and offer suggestions without being intrusive. They are quick to help, and quicker to fade into the background.
Score: ••••• John Wroblewski
Here’s an introductory deal for the recently launched Northwest/KLM service between Seattle (SEA) and London (LHR): Fly business class and get free chauffeur service in London. The service is available for both pickup and dropoff anywhere within a 50-mile radius of Heathrow. You must hold a ticket with a J, C or D class code, and can book your chauffeur through KLM, travel agents, or Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services, which is operating the program.
Even if you’ve “been there, done that,” you probably haven’t done this: Lived with a tribe on a remote Fijian island. Tribewanted is recruiting travelers to live and work with the tribal community on the island of Vorovoro while creating a sustainable village. Only 30 guests from the outside world are invited at any one time, so stays are limited to one week. The cost, not including airfare, is $600 for seven nights sharing a local bure or vale, airport transfers, and five meals a day. You can pitch in with building projects, gardening, fishing or cooking for the tribe, or simply relax, hike and snorkel.
You still have six weeks to enter the Global Traveler/Air Berlin sweepstakes for a chance to win two round-trip business-class tickets to Europe. Fill out the online entry form no later than Aug. 1. The prize can be used from any Air Berlin U.S. gateway to any of the airline’s European destinations.
If you’re looking for a Caribbean getaway in the fall, the Barbados Tourism Authority has your number: $599. That’s the per-person price for a package that includes round-trip airfare from Miami (MIA), five nights’ accommodations, daily breakfast, one free massage per person, ground transfers, hotel taxes and service charges. Travel from Newark (EWR) is $699 a person. The Barbados Bliss package is good for travel from Sept. 1 to early December.
If you could pay the same for airfare to one city in Italy or for airfare, hotel, and transportation between two cities, which would you choose? The more-for-your-money option is available from Alitalia Vacations, starting at $999 out of New York (JFK), Boston (BOS) or Chicago (ORD), slightly more from Miami (MIA) or Los Angeles (LAX). You can choose any two-city combination from among Rome, Florence and Vienna options; the package includes rail transfers between the two, and five nights’ hotel accommodations. Or visit all three cities over six nights for $1,049. Lowest package prices are good for various departures November through February.
