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Volume 5, Issue 41, October 9, 2007 |
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Sixty-two percent of business travelers often enjoy their business travel, but only 18 percent always enjoy it. That’s the result of a survey taken of 1,500 business travelers around the globe, primarily American and European, by TripAdvisor.com.
Americans are much more likely to tie in some leisure time with their business travel. Leisure add-ons were common with 53 percent of Americans, but only 28 percent of Europeans; globally, the average was 49 percent.
Americans are also slightly more loyal to hotel brands. Overall, 59 percent of business travelers said they often stay at the same brand of hotel, while only 7 percent always do. Americans were 5 percent more likely than Europeans to regularly stay at the same hotel chain. And while loyalty program points are motivating — 78 percent of those surveyed belonged to a loyalty program and 53 percent said they are often loyal to the hotels in that program — only 10 percent are committed to only staying at their programs’ hotels.
One more interesting finding: Many business travelers are more generous with the company’s money than with their own. More than one in three — 36 percent — said they tip better when they are spending the company’s money. 
If you’re flying Emirates Oct. 28 or later from New York (JFK) to Dubai (DXB), you may be in for a treat. The airline’s reconfigured B777-300ER aircraft flying the evening departure will be equipped with new, enhanced first-class suites. And it’s not just first-class passengers who benefit from the new design: Business class on the aircraft will have lie-flat seats and more space, and economy class is getting extra legroom. The morning flight gets the new treatment as of Feb. 1.
Last week, the latest hotel in Munich opened: The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte property. Located in the heart of the city, the eight-story hotel overlooks the Lenbach Garten area and is in walking distance of the business district and the main train station. The brand-new building has Bavarian limestone floors, Nymphenburg porcelain in the bathrooms, and original 19th-century Lenbach artwork in the 132 guestrooms and 28 suites. The Charles has an Italian restaurant overlooking the Botanical Gardens, a gym, a swimming pool and a spa. Rates start at about $510.
Boston Logan (BOS) has now joined the list of gateway airports offering cell phone lots for drivers waiting to pick you up at the airport. The new lot is on Harbor Drive, near the Hyatt Harborside hotel. Right now the lot is small, and a 30-minute maximum waiting period is being enforced, but Massport, which controls the airport, says it will be expanded if there is enough demand.
Just announced: US Airways’ plans to cut back flights and routes out of Pittsburgh (PGH). Cities to lose service from PGH as of Jan. 1 are Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Toronto (YYZ), Norfolk, Va. (ORF), Charleston, W.V. (CRW), Erie, Pa. (ERI) and possibly Washington Dulles (IAD). Also expected to be on the block are eight more small cities in New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
As of Nov. 1, JetBlue is going cashless. The folding green stuff will no longer be accepted for onboard purchases; if you want to buy alcoholic beverages or movies, you’ll have to pay with a debit or credit card.
Bellanotte
600 Hennepin Ave # 170
Minneapolis, MN 55403
tel 612 339 7200
www.bellanottempls.com
A few weeks ago, five of my friends and I were in Minneapolis on our annual baseball trip. Traditionally Saturday night is the one night we skip the sportsbar scene in favor of some fine dining and conversation, like true Renaissance men. Bellanotte’s name suggests a beautiful night, and it did a good job in living up to the promise.
Bellanotte features fine Italian dining and a very energetic atmosphere. It is located in the heart of the downtown Minneapolis area, just a few blocks’ walk from the Metrodome and the Target Center, Minneapolis’ sports arenas. Members of the Timberwolves (NBA team) showed up later in the evening.
The appetizer selections are quite numerous. Whether you choose from the antipasti, flatbreads or pizze, you are bound to get a flavorful dish. The calamari with hot cherry peppers puts a fiery twist on an old favorite. Of the five excellent salads, the best is the spinaci con pignoli, featuring apples, pine nuts and apricots sitting on a bed of fresh baby spinach. I’ve rarely had a salad so visually pleasing and full of taste and textures.
For the main entrée, the staff highly recommended the veal or chicken Marsala, and rightly so. The wild mushroom glaze was incredibly flavorful and full of huge chunks of mushrooms. Of course, there are also many pasta dishes, including the butternut squash ravioli, which is served in a brown butter-sage sauce. This is another wonderful blend of color, flavor and fresh ingredients. You can also find top-notch steaks, lobster tail and pork dishes, but the Italian selections are the better way to go at Bellanotte. Portions are large. The wine list is pretty extensive, too.
The side dishes are somewhat limited, but once you have the (Peruvian) purple potatoes, you will probably never look back; mashed potatoes never tasted better.
My only small complaint was that the music got a bit loud too early on the Saturday evening. While this worked well around the large bar, it hampered the conversations a bit in the dining areas. It was almost as if a dance club and a quiet restaurant were fighting for space.
A typical meal for two will cost around $100, not including wine choice.
Score: ••••• John Wroblewski
Book by Oct.17 to receive a special fare and up to 12,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for American’s new route between New York (JFK) and London Stansted (STN), which starts flying Oct. 28. The special business-class fare is $2,730 round trip, good for travel between Oct. 30 and March 29. Those who purchase business class or full-fare economy tickets will receive 6,000 bonus miles for each leg flown by Jan. 31. You must register to qualify for the bonus-miles offer; use promotion code NYSTN.
The new Podium Restaurant and Bar at the London Hilton on Park Lane is making a get-acquainted offer good until Nov. 7. Dine at the restaurant with no more than five other people and get 25 percent off your food. The modern restaurant is located just off the hotel lobby and features what it calls “seasonal modern European cuisine.” Call (44) 020 7208 4022 to book; mention “introductory offer.”
Twelve trips and 100,000 WorldPerks bonus miles are up for grabs in Northwest Airlines’ Mystery Miles promotion, which runs through Dec. 31. Starting Oct. 8, clues are posted each day to the current location of “Detective Max Miles;” the first person to correctly identify where he is each week wins a trip. Mileage-earning promotions are also posted for WorldPerks members.
Delta SkyMiles members can save 15 percent on weekend passes to the upcoming 2008 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival scheduled for Miami Feb. 21-24. Use promotion code DELTASBWFF2008P to buy passes to the Publix Grand Tasting Village, where chefs such as Emeril Lagasse and Rachel Ray will be featured, or DELTABWFF2008N to buy passes for the entire festival including the Tasting Village. Call 877 762 3933 by Oct. 14 to get speed-line access to the tastings; tickets are also available online.
Moments by Starwood Preferred Guest, Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ online auction site, has added its first Asia-Pacific items — such things as VIP seats for concerts in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Members can bid with their Starpoints, or with a combination of points and cash.
