www.businesstraveller.pl | 9,60 zł (8% VAT included)| N°9/2013 (43) september 2013|

Road to Rio

Alsace ❘ turkey ❘ slovenia ❘ Delhi ❘ Copenhagen ❘ seville C o n t e n t | September 2013

Editorial 4 On Top • Hotel, restaurant, and airline news 6 • What’s on The most interesting cultural events 12 Cover Story • Road to Rio 14 Tried&Tested Describet places • New PLUS and GO classes 20 • Paderewski Suite. Crème de la crème 22 • Dylewskie Hills - Villas 24 • Odrowąż Palace Manor House–spa 26 • Immerse yourself in luxury 28 • Sound Garden Hotel 30 • Consistently at the top of its class 32 Report • Open door 34 Air Travel • Lufthansa in Poland? We offer more and more! 40 • Lot is changing 42 Hotels • Mercure Warszawa Airport is now open! 44 • Triple Benefits 46 Interview • Quality is of utmost importance for us 48 Destinations • Alsace abounding in wine 50 • 4 hours in... Seville 72 A Business Person on Holiday • The New Faces of Delhi 56 • Club Med Belek 60 • The Top Academy 62 Business • Alternative Investment Options in Polish Private Banking 64 Moto&Techno • The Sensual S Series 68 • Top Accounting for You 71 Ask Peter 74 Where to go

Business Traveller Poland ul. Świętokrzyska 36, 00-116 Warszawa tel. +48 22 455 38 14, +fax +48 22 455 38 13 this autumn? www.businesstraveller.pl

Redaktor naczelna Marzena Mróz he ending summer favours introspection and [email protected] making new travel plans. Where should we go Sekretarz redakcji Joanna Kadej-Krzyczkowska this autumn, which airline to choose, which [email protected] T Dyrektor artystyczny Barbara Scharf hotel to book? For the coming cold months we would [email protected] like to inspire you with some new destinations. One of Skład/łamanie LACRIMA them is Rio de Janeiro, which was visited by our UK [email protected] Wydawnictwo ul. Świętokrzyska 36, correspondent who wanted to see how this South R&S Media Sp. z o.o. 00-116 Warszawa American metropolis is changing before the Olympic tel. +48 22 455 38 33 fax +48 22 455 38 13 Games, which it will be hosting in 2016. The author Wydawca Robert Grzybowski met the mayor of Rio, to ask him about the level of [email protected] safety in the famoust city of Brazil. She also visited Szef serwisu www.businesstraveller.pl Filip Gawryś some of the newest hotels in the city to recommend the [email protected] best of them. If not to South America, then perhaps Reklama, sponsoring [email protected] to India? Qatar Airways will take you safely to Dystrybucja, prenumerata TM Media, Delhi and from there, it is a stone’s throw to the Al. Jana Pawla II 61 lok. 239 tel.+48 22 252 80 38 beaches of Goa, Rajasthan, Agra, to Sri Lanka fax +48 22 252 55 07 and even the Himalayas. Those who prefer Druk Drukarnia TINTA 13-200 Działdowo, European escapades should visit Alsace – a ul. Żwirki i Wigury 22, charming French province, which is a perfect www.drukarniatinta.pl destination for a trip along the trail of the OFERUJEMY POŁĄCZENIA DO Business Traveller Managing director Julian Gregory legendary Riesling, pinot gris and muscat. The Perry Publications, Cardinal House, PONAD 125 MIAST NA CAŁYM ŚWIECIE Alsatian wine route is a 180-kilometre trail that 39-40 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4TE leads from Marlenheim to Thann. It is winding CODZIENNIE WYLOTY Z WARSZAWY tel. +44 (0)20 76 47 63 30 and varied, and at times absolutely idyllic. Another www.businesstraveller.com interesting option would be an autumn trip to the

In the US, Business Traveler is published at 303 Fifth recently opened Club Med Belek located on the Avenue, 1308, NY 10016, tel 1 212 725 3500. In Germany, Turkish Riviera, 55 km east of Antalya. The club is open Business Traveller is published at Schulstrasse 34, 80634 Poznaj świat na pokładzie jednej z najmłodszych flot samolotów na świecie. Munich, tel. 89 167 9971, all year round and offers luxury spa, a golf course, as fax 89 167 9937. In Denmark, Business Traveller Szybko i komfortowo podróżuj przez stolicę Kataru - Dohę do miast Bliskiego is published at Rymarksvej 46, 2900 Hellerup, well as business facilities. Whatever you choose, have a tel. 45 3311 4413, fax 45 3311 4414. In Hungary, Business Wschodu, Azji, Australii i Afryki. Traveller is published at 1074 Budapest, Munkas utca 9, great autumn trip! tel. 36 1266 5853. In Hong Kong, Business Traveller Asia-Pacific and China are published at Suite 405 4/F Chinachem Exchange Square, 1 Hoi Wan Street, Quarry Rezerwuj bilety na stronie qatarairways.com/pl Bay, tel. 852 2594 9300, fax 852 2519 6846. In the Middle East, Business Traveller Middle East is published lub odwiedź najbliższe biuro podróży. jointly by Motivate Publishing, PO Box 2331, Dubai UAE, tel. 9714 282 4060, and Perry Publications. In World’s 5-star airline. Africa, Business Traveller Africa is published by Future Marzena Mróz Publishing (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 3355, Rivonia 2128, South Editor-in-Chief Africa, tel. 27 11 803 2040. © 2009 Perry Publications Ltd – a subsidiary of Panacea Publishing International Ltd, United Kingdom

September 2013 | 5

BT_POLAND.indd 4 8/27/13 9:03 AM B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | On Top

Airlines British Airways First A380 in BA fleet On 24 September, the first A380 in the fleet of British Airways will set off on its inaugural flight to Los Angeles. On this occasion, BT has been running a promotion for flights from Warsaw to the City of Angels. Another planned destination of Beauty the Superjumbo is Hong Kong. For demanding The first flight will take place on October 22. Also on this route (Warsaw-Hong Kong), BT offers Kosmiczna tickets at promotional prices. metamorfoza Passengers can book them via www.ba.com website or the hot- We all know how precious time is. line on That is why Kosmiczna Metamor- 00800 4411592 and 22 5299000. foza beauty studio, which aims at Hotels More info on the A380 at: www. the most demanding customers, britishairways.com/en-gb/ offers comprehensive care from Radisson Blu information/flight-information/ the very first visit. airbus-a380 A detailed analysis of cosmetic treatment services and aesthetic 3-2-1 FOR THE ORGANIZERS medicine market, allowed the OF EVENTS AND CONFERENCES Gadget studio to select the most innova- Holding your promotional and corporate events in South Eastern Europe Tissot tive medical equipment which and Poland has never been more rewarding! guarantees spectacular effects on 3-2-1 is our exclusive Meetings & Events promotion for our South Eastern Travelling the body. European and Polish destinations, rewarding planners with free accom- The studio specializes in fat modation. heritage reduction, body shaping and re- This year Tissot celebrates its The concept is easy: hold at least 3 meetings in our participating hotels ducing the effects of skin aging. It 160th birthday. Tissot celebrates and receive 2 nights free accommodation for 2 persons at any 1 of the collaborates with Consilium Vitalis its 160th Anniversary with a piece hotels (terms & conditions apply). Additionally, if your events achieve the nutritional centre, in order to pro- first created for Tissot’s cente- highest accumulated revenue within this campaign, you'll win a one week vide customers with professional nary in 1953, which reflects its accommodation voucher for 2 persons for any Radisson Blu or Park Inn assistance in the area of proper love for new horizons. The com- by Radisson hotel in Europe. functioning of the body. pany has always aimed to provide Terms & Conditions: Promotion is valid for contracts signed between Kosmiczna Metamorfoza is the its clients with indispensable 1 July 2013 and 31 March 2014 for events that include a minimum of 40 only studio in Poland equipped tools of precision, and after 160 room nights. Only valid with bookings made outside of your country of with Body Sculptor device which years, this watch shows that it is residence. uses alternating magnetic field still the case today. The features Participating hotels: and lymphatic drainage. Thanks of the anniversary edition include ● Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, Bratislava ● Radisson Blu Grand Hotel, to this breakthrough technology, automatic chronometer move- Sofia ● Park Inn Danube, Bratislava ● Park Inn by Radisson Sofia ● Radis- treatment carried out in a special ment officially certified COSC, son Blu Hotel, Bucharest ● Radisson Blu Resort, Split ● Radisson Blu suit leads to reduction of visceral domed scratch-resistant sapphire Beke Hotel, Budapest ● Radisson Blu Palais Hotel, Vienna ● Park Inn by fat cells. crystal with antireflective coating, Radisson Budapest ● Radisson Blu Hotel, Gdańsk ● Radisson Blu Resort Kosmiczna Metamorfoza Studio and water resistance up to a pres- & Spa, Dubrovnik Sun Gardens ● Radisson Blu Hotel, Krakow ● Park Inn offers a free consultation. Do not sure of 3 bar (30 m / 100 ft). by Radisson Linz ● Radisson Blu Hotel, Szczecin ● Park Inn by Radisson say that you will start from tomor- www.tissot.ch Hotel Ostrava ● Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel, Warsaw row. Today is the tomorrow you Radisson Blu Riverside Hotel Prague ● Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel, were talking about yesterday. Warsaw ● Park Inn Prague Radisson Blu Hotel, Wroclaw ● Park Inn by PROMOTION: September is the Radisson Sarvar ● Park Inn by Radisson Krakow month of the man: Gentlemen For more information contact Louise Păduraru; who decide on treatment this e-mail: [email protected] month, will receive a 40% discount. www.kosmicznametamorfoza.pl

6 | September 2013 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | On Top

Airlines Emirates The Polish Favourite Emirates has revealed that in June Tokyo was the second most popular city among the airline’s passengers. Dubai took the first place and Singapore the third one. The popularity of Japan can be explained by convenient con- nections that Emirates offers to this country. The carrier offers flights to Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airport, as well as to Kan- sai port in Osaka. A flight from Warsaw to Tokyo takes about 20 hours. Many cus- tomers, however, take advantego of Dubai Connect service, which allows you to make a stopover on your flight and visit Dubai. For more information go to www.emirates.com/pl. Beauty Eisenberg Radiant and illuminated In response to the needs of women who often complain about their skin being dehydrated and dry, Eisenberg has introduced SKIN ILLUMINATING CARE - a product which is a part of the EXCELLENCE line. Perfectly selected natural oils are combined here with an ideal mixture of active ingredients in the galenic formula that provides maximum nutrition for dry and very dry skin. Eisenberg’s SKIN ILLUMINATING CARE saturates Tourism the skin with lipids, causing long-lasting relief. Norway Well-nourished skin regains its natural smooth- ness and radiance. The bottle made from cut glass provides appropriate protection to the active ingre- holiday with adrenaline dients. The product should be applied onto a clean Norway's mountains and trails are waiting to be discovered. The town of skin and spread until completely absorbed. Åndalsnes, situated on the coast of Romsdalsfjord, is where you will find one The SKIN ILLUMINATING CARE can of the larger climbing centres. Other popular areas with climbers include the be treated as a serum before stunning Lofoten Islands and the county of Rogaland, among others. applying other EXCELLENCE Klatring – a Norwegian magazine devoted to rock climbing - compiled a or CLASSIC EISENBERG list of the 10 most beautiful places recommended for mountain climbing care products. The best in Norway. For the experienced climber there is ample opportunity to results on hair are achieved set out alone. Trollveggen is a good example. Remember to respect the by spraying the product on mountainsand make sure that you have good enough equipment with the whole length of the hair you, the weather can change suddenly. Some local enthusiasts also or- and leaving it for 15 minutes ganise courses for people who want to try something new. to absorb (then you should The Norwegian Climbing Federation supplies all necessary information rinse it). The cosmetics are to tourists. You can contact them by e-mail: [email protected]. For available at Sephora perfum- those looking to learn to climb, there are courses offered by the Norwe- eries; Price – about PLN 420/ gian Trekking Association (DNT) through its mountain sport groups. per 100 ml More info at www.visitnorway.com

8 | September 2013 certina_208x275+4mm_spad_BT.pdf 2013-06-27 14:33:38

B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | On Top

Beauty Dr Eris Lime & Lemon Balm The lightening body lotion with velvety texture and smell of fresh citrus, provides a huge dose of carefully selected ingredients to Hotels revitalize the skin. The unique Mercure combination of wild carrot oil and illuminating particles, gives skin golden colour. Hyaluronic changes acid moisturizes and smoothens the skin. This action is further in MERCURE enhanced by the nutritional Shea Orbis Hotel Group and its strategic butter. Additionally, vitamin E partner, Accor Group, are introducing protects against free radicals. The significant changes in the Mercure product perfectly highlights your hotel chain. Mercure’s new position- holiday tan. ing focuses on 4 lines of action: an Price: PLN 89/200 ml entirely modernized offer that meets new guest expectations, accelerated expansion, mostly through franchis- C es, with a target of 1,000 hotels within M Tourism 5 years, a global quality guarantee, a brand new visual identity Y

Jordan The brand has already started intro- CM ducing new lobby design according MY Jordan Tourism Board to a concept, which was previously CY tempts Polish tourists unknown in mid-range hotels. Mer- cure has also redesigned its food and CMY The Jordanian Tourism Board has announced its plans to enter the Polish beverage service. One of the changes K market. Representatives of the institution intend to attract to their country is the “Cave et Saveurs”, a new wine those discerning travelers who appreciate unique destinations. In order menu that showcases local vintages. to help increase the interest in Jordan, Royal Wings Airlines are going to Three F and B concepts have been launch new connections. In a series of meetings held in Poland, the Czech created to reflect these new trends: Republic and Hungary, the board presented a wide tourism offer of Jordan the Cuisine Lounge, where guests and the new charter connections. It was also an excellent opportunity to es- serve themselves at any time of the tablish contacts with representatives of the tourism industry in these coun- day or night in an area designed like tries. The conference in Warsaw was attended by representatives of Royal Airlines an apartment kitchen, the Restaurant Wings Airlines and Polish as well as Polish and Jordanian tour operators. Lounge, which reinterprets local Jordan has an enormous tourist potential. Last year, the country was visited Finnair or traditional recipes and the Bar by almost 700,000 visitors from all over the world, including almost 12,000 Lounge, warm and convivial where tourists from Poland. Even the most demanding travellers will find there To see guests can share a trendy snacking in something for themselves. The country has rich tourism offer for those the aurora a cosy atmosphere. interested in history and culture, those who want to embark on an unfor- Mercure has developed EasyWORK, gettable journey into religion, and those who love adventure, relaxation, Finnair will open a new route a solution for business people on fun and entertainment. Jordan is packed with breathtaking sights, unique to Tromsø for the 2014 winter the move that offers dedicated and nature, and excellent hotel facilities to suit every pocket. season. The arctic city in the far modular work spaces complete with Last year, the travel industry saw a rise in the number of tourists from north of Norway will be served a light meal service, equipment and Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. That is why we decided to organ- from Helsinki three times per Internet access. EasyWORK will be ize this road show, which we believe provides an excellent opportunity to week from January 1 until March available in a series of Mercure hotels showcase the diversity of Jordan as a tourist destination,” said Abdel Raz- 28, 2014. The offer is now avail- located close to stations, airports and zaq El Arabiyat, the director of the Jordan Tourism Board. able in the booking system. major regional and national business JTB is planning to publish a number of promotional materials in various Situated directly under the aurora hubs. languages, including Polish. The representatives of the board also an- zone in the arctic, Tromsø is ide- The brand also took a serious com- nounced the start of a broad-reaching advertising campaign in Poland, the ally placed for viewing the spec- mitment to ensure the same high Czech Republic and Hungary, which will promote both Jordan and Royal tacular aurora borealis (northern quality of service for all hotels belong- Wings Airlines. lights) on clear winter nights. ing to the chain.

10 | September 2013 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | On Top

What’s on The most interesting cultural events

Cracow Temptress Museum of Contemporary Art in Cracow Exhibition is open until 29 September 2013 The provocative images by Charlotte Beaudry recall to mind the methods that women use to seduce men. The exhibition named Temptress, pre- EXPERIENCE sents more than a dozen of paintings, a video, and a sculpture. Charlotte Beaudry is a Belgian artist who was awarded the Georges Col- lignon Art Prize in Mamac, and was nominated to Ariane de Rothaschild Award. She also won a scholarship in the CERA program "Partners in MEETINGS Art". The artist's oeuvre is dominated by presentation of women and their world of rituals and accessories associated with the fairer sex. SPOTKANIA Z SUKCESEM. SALE KONFERENCYJNE DLA KREATYWNEJ PRACY. MENU DLA SPRAWNEGO UMYSŁU. BEZPŁATNE SZYBKIE ŁĄCZE WIFI. WYKORZYSTAJ W 100% POTENCJAŁ UCZESTNIKÓW SWOJEGO SPOTKANIA. wrocław reflections The National Museum in Wrocław, 16 September – 3 November 2013 Colourful, expressive glass sculptures by Czesław Zuber - one of the world's most important contemporary glass artists - can be seen in the National Museum in Wrocław. The exhibition will present 25 objects and EXPERIENCE an extensive photographic documentation. Zuber drew the attention of critics already in his debut, when he used an innovative method to combine two methods of shaping glass. He also created sculptures in multi-coloured shaped hot glass, that he polished, SUCCESS revealing its internal structure. His own, original style that brought him in- ternational success, developed in the 1980s in France. Expressive, neon col- oured glass heads are today the hallmark of the artist. However, the most important elements that make the works of Zuber so unique are drawing and colour. The artist engraves in glass dynamic silhouettes of animals or rotating characters, and fills them with aggressively bright colours.

Madrid Museo del Prado From 8.10.2013 to 9.10.2014 Prado, the most famous Spanish museum will hold an exhibition ZAPYTAJ O PAKIETY KONFERENCYJNE EXPERIENCE MEETINGS "Velázquez and the family of Philip W HOTELACH SIECI RADISSON BLU Marseille flavours of the art, IV". The king ordered a portrait W GDAŃSKU, KRAKOWIE, SZCZECINIE, WARSZAWIE, WROCŁAWIU from Velazques was so pleased taste of culture with it that he made the artist the 11-15 September Friche Belle de Mai - a former tobacco manufacture court painter artist. The exhibition Cuisines en Friche is a series of events which stresses the richness of this presents the most important works often-quirky dialogue, between creative cuisine and artistic creation. The of the last 11 years of the author of subject will be treated by representatives of different artistic disciplines, Las Meninas (The Maids of Hon- who will tell about it through music, film, performances…The organisers our) - an image which guaranteed have not forgotten about the real food – tickets to some events include Velazques his place in history. The meals related to the topic of a performance. There will also be themed ban- exhibited paintings include a por- RADISSON BLU HOTELS & RESORTS quets and a food market. You can also attend cooking classes conducted trait of the Infanta Maria Theresa National Sales Offi ce Poland by prominent French chefs. More details at www.mp2013.fr/ and of Pope Innocent X. More info Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel, Warszawa cuisines-en-friche/; ticket can be purchased via: www.lafriche.org at: www.museodelprado.es T: +48 22 321 8878 F: +48 22 320 1754 [email protected] radissonblu.com/meetings RADISSON BLU HOTEL, FRANKFURT

149050 KRKZH Ad EXME Business Traveller PO (208x275).indd 1 14/08/13 14.23 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Cover Story Cover Story | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

Road to Rio As Brazil’s most colourful city prepares to host the World Cup and Olympics, Jenny Southan investigates how measures to improve safety in its favelas are boosting prosperity

14 | September 2013 September 2013 | 15 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Cover Story

t’s my first time in a favela, and I have to confess I am a little nervous. I have been given a tip-off about an ex-BBC correspondent called Bob Nadkarni who Iwas the first Westerner to take up residence in one of Rio’s notorious slums in the 1990s – not only building his own house-cum-bou- tique hotel and hosting wildly popular jazz nights, but taking it upon himself to drive out the gun-wielding drug dealers that ran the place. After being dropped off at the top of a steep hill at the entrance to the Tavares Bas- tos slum, I follow the hand-painted signs through a complex of narrow dirt alleyways lined by ramshackle brick and tin houses. “I expected you earlier,” is the first thing Bob says, before grumpily complaining that the electricity is out again – a common problem as it’s bootlegged from the grid via bundles of black wire strung up through the streets. His place is called the Maze for good rea- son. Still a work in progress, the Gaudi-style structure is made up of numerous bedrooms – three for his family, the others for guests – interconnected with spiral staircases, while up on the flat roof there is a small tower with steps leading to a seating area. The view is magnificent – the favela tumbles down to the blue of Guanabara Bay and the unmistakable form of Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance.

The bloodless war To the right, further up the hillside, is an imposing grey building – the headquarters of the Batalhao de Operacoes Policiais Espe- ciais police force. In 2000, Bob won his cam- paign to have the government establish an Elite Squad base here – a first for any favela in the city. Until this time, the slums were run by militia, and these fragile communi- ties were frequently turned into feral battle- grounds. It was with Bob’s help that a prec- edent for peace was set and, as life in Tavares Bastos improved, eight years on the authori- ties initiated a large-scale “favela pacification project” to bring law and order to other com- munities. About a third of Rio’s six million-people live in slums, but since 2008, more than 30 favelas – with populations equating to about 500,000 – have been pacified. The operation begins with the Elite Squad rolling in with tanks and riot shields on a publicly broad- cast date, and driving out or arresting the criminals. When their work is done – with amazingly few shots fired – young, specially trained Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) are Positioned on the sunkissed shores of the roaring Atlantic Ocean, assigned as a permanent presence. Public Rio weaves its way between steep hills – it is to these that the favelas services such as wifi, sewage systems, fresh cling, and from where the poorest Cariocas enjoy the best views. water, electricity and cable TV are delivered as part of the “social invasion”, and, in some

16 | September 2013 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Cover Story e-Travel Management Podróżuj mądrzej. Wydawaj mniej.

Kontroluj wydatki i zgodność wyjazdów służbowych z polityką firmy. Zagwarantuj podróżnym dostęp do najlepszej na rynku oferty usług turystycznych.

Zarządzaj globalnym communities, such as Complexo do Alemao, ing industrial hub built on shipbuilding, pet- “This means 18,000 new rooms on top of the budżetem na podróże służbowe education centres unveiled with free access rochemicals, steel, pharmaceuticals, oil and 29,000 we already have,” Senise says. Chains łatwo i bez wysiłku, realizując to computers and training courses. gas. Two of Brazil’s biggest oil companies – such as Hyatt and Hilton are confirmed to Tour guide Arnaldo Bichucher acknowledg- Petrobras and Vale – are headquartered here, open in time for the Olympics, with Barra da swoje długoterminowe cele biznesowe. es that the project may not be perfect, but it is and the US’s Halliburton and Schlumberger, Tijuca on the southwesterly shores of Rio – ultimately an improvement: “There are still and the UK’s BP also have a presence. the site for the Olympic Village – being the drug dealers in the pacified favelas but they Paulo Senise, executive director for the Rio hot new area for development. (Windsor is have to hide – they can’t walk around with Convention and Visitors Bureau (rcvb.com. planning two more hotels here for 2014.) Dowiedz się więcej AK47s anymore and sell cocaine openly with br), says: “In Rio there has always been a Aby uzyskać więcej informacji skontaktuj się z naszym, lokalnym działem sprzedaży: e-mail: big queues of people. They can’t feel they are good relationship between the residents of The great opportunity [email protected], tel. +48 22 539 42 70 lub odwiedź naszą stronę www.amadeus.com.pl the owners of the place. They don’t make the the favelas and residents in the city itself be- More than R$8 billion (£2.4 billion) is being same amount of money. Now the idols for the cause those in the favelas are a good work- invested in the waterside Porto Maravilha little kids are the Elite Cops.” force in the hospitality industry, and also for (Marvellous Port) zone. Still a dusty con- domestic employment such as maids, nan- struction site when I visited, Brazil’s largest Zarządzanie podróżami służbowymi: łatwiej, szybciej, taniej Economy goes first nies, cooks and drivers – and even more so public-private partnership will see the demo- Not only an important step for Brazil from a now with the pacification.” lition of the ugly Perimetral viaduct, the Wdrożenie i konsekwentne korzystanie z internetowych narzędzi do zarządzania podróżami służbowymi może humanitarian standpoint, but as a 2009 ca- He adds: “Pacification also creates the right building of the Binary Highway, 4km of tun- zmniejszyć wydatki firmowe na ten cel nawet o 20 proc. ble from the US Consulate in Rio published environment for the small entrepreneur. Be- nels and 650,000 sqm of new pavement, plus by Wikileaks reveals (tinyurl.com/lmjdofe), fore it was impossible to run any business in the unveiling of a Central Light Rail Transit Wydatki na wyjazdy biznesowe często stanowią dla przez przewoźnika. Stąd tak istotne jest wprowadzenie w fir- pacification is also anticipated to bring in them, but now we have people [from the out- system and two museums – the Rio Art Mu- przedsiębiorstw czy instytucji publicznych znaczącą mach polityki podróży służbowych, dzięki której można nie tyl- new business and boost the economy. The side] building pousadas in the favelas – some seum opened in March and the 15,000 sqm inwestycję w budowanie relacji z klientami czy partnerami. ko egzekwować zasady wyboru oferty przez pracowników, ale document reads: “There are significant eco- are B&Bs, some are boutique design hotels.” Museum of Tomorrow is due in 2014. “By un- Nie sposób z nich zrezygnować. Szukając oszczędności w tym również negocjować atrakcyjne warunki z dostawcami usług nomic interests at stake, with some analysts There are still hundreds of other slums un- dertaking all of this, we aim to revolutionise obszarze, warto wdrożyć Amadeus e-Travel Management – turystycznych – mówi Paweł Rek, dyrektor generalny Amadeus estimating Rio de Janeiro’s economy would der the thumb of dealers but as the process the port’s urban mobility and to transform efektywne, przetestowane przez ponad 6000 firm na całym Polska i dyrektor regionalny Amadeus na Europę Środkową. świecie – internetowe narzędzie do zarządzania podróżami grow by R$38 billion should favelas be re- continues, it is hoped that another 70 favelas the area into a tourist, business and residen- Rozwiązanie Amadeus e-Travel Management jest dostępne incorporated into mainstream society and will be pacified over the next two and a half tial hub,” says Mayor Paes. służbowymi. Pozwala ono łatwo i szybko uzyskać znaczące oszczędności i kontrolować wydatki ponoszone na ten cel, również jako aplikacja na urządzenia mobilne, a łatwość markets… Some economists have forecast an years – timely given that next year Rio will Meanwhile, Rio has partnered with IBM to a w perspektywie długofalowej pomaga w optymalizacji przełączania się pomiędzy obiema wersjami pozwala increase of R$90 million in new property and host the FIFA World Cup and, in 2016, the create a high-tech “mission control” fed with budżetu przeznaczanego na wyjazdy biznesowe. wyjeżdżającym w delegację pracownikom samodzielnie service taxes that would go towards the Rio Olympic Games. These events will attract live footage from 900 cameras around the planować podróż i rezerwować poszczególne usługi tu- municipal government, should all favelas more than 1.5 million visitors between them, city, enabling authorities to monitor roads, Proces implementacji narzędzia zaczyna się od stworzenia rystyczne, w dowolnym miejscu i czasie. Podróżni mogą też come under the authority of Rio state.” so ensuring safety for all will be paramount. buildings and bridges, and react immedi- w firmie zbioru zasad i reguł dotyczących delegacji czyli tzw. z łatwością porównywać na jednym ekranie stawki trady- Positioned on the sunkissed shores of the In preparation for the influx of visitors, the ately when there are landslides, flooding or polityki podróży. Dotyczy ona m.in. wyboru preferowanych cyjnych i niskokosztowych przewoźników, a następnie wybrać sieci hotelowych lub konkretnych obiektów, linii lotniczych czy optymalną opcję, zgodną z polityką przedsiębiorstwa. Ponadto roaring Atlantic Ocean, Rio weaves its way hotel market is expanding rapidly. At the other problems such as overcrowding during wypożyczalni samochodów, ustalenia ograniczeń na korzys- korzystając z aplikacji, pracownicy mają dostęp do najbardziej between steep hills – it is to these that the moment there is only a handful of five-star public events like Carnaval. tanie z klasy biznes czy pokoi o podwyższonym standardzie, kompleksowej bazy hotelowej, włączając ofertę HRS. favelas cling, and from where the poorest hotels in the city including Copacabana Change is afoot in Rio and a renewed sense a także wprowadzenia zasady wykupu świadczeń z odpowied- Cariocas enjoy the best views. The wealthy, Palace, the 245-room JW Marriott and the of optimism is in the air. Whether or not you nim wyprzedzeniem. Wprowadzając internetowe rozwiązanie do zarządzania on the other hand, live down low in dis- 388-room Sofitel in Copacabana. Four-star have tickets for the World Cup, or are plan- podróżami służbowymi typu self-booking tool, organi- tricts such as Flamengo, Leblon and Barra properties include Sheraton, Golden Tulip ning to book them for the Olympics, coming – W wielu instytucjach i przedsiębiorstwach pojawia się prob- zacja zyskuje kontrolę i przejrzystość wszystkich procesów lem braku kontroli nad pracownikami przy planowaniu przez związanych z tym aspektem jej działalności. Pracownicy mają and Novotel. da Tijuca, as well as in the picturesque here on business is likely to surpass your ex- nich wyjazdów służbowych. Wybierają oni bardziej ekskluzyw- do wyboru preferowanych dostawców i wynegocjowane staw- Santa Teresa district. Despite a visible di- Meanwhile, 70 new hotels are in the pipeline, pectations – so make sure you are not miss- ne hotele czy droższe oferty przelotów albo decydują się na ki zaakceptowane przez zarząd firmy, a jeśli chcą skorzystać vide between rich and poor, Rio is a burgeon- more than half of which are four- or five-star. ing out. najtańsze ale bardzo restrykcyjne taryfy lotnicze, które w przy- z usługi nieuwzględnionej w przyjętych zasadach wyboru padku zmian wiążą się z dodatkowymi opłatami pobieranymi oferty, muszą odpowiednio uzasadnić to odstępstwo. 18 | September 2013 Tried & Tested SAS Airline Warsaw-Copenhagen track check-in and security con- trol, as well as visit SAS lounges free of charge. Frequent flyers who are members of EuroBo- new PLUS and GO classes nus programme, receive 200% points for each flight, while members of SAS Credits pro- gramme receive extra 4% cred- its. SAS PLUS passengers can also use free onboard wifi, how- ever only on Boeing aircraft that, unfortunately, do not operate on Warsaw-Copenhagen route. I booked my ticket just one day before my trip. I chose SAS PLUS, because the price differ- ence was just €50 - not much as for what you receive in return. I especially liked the fast track check-in and security control, as well as a free access to the business lounge at the Okęcie airport.

Copenhagen-Warsaw I arrived at Kastrup airport in Copenhagen two hours before the departure, but it turned out I had just enough time to not be late. First of all, you have to take into account the security control at the airport is very detailed and if you fly with SAS GO, you need to wait in a long queue. Be- sides, the port in Copenhagen has a lot of tempting stores and boutiques where you can quick- ly forget how fast time flies. The boarding procedure be- gan exactly at 11.40 a.m. It went CONTACT ast year Scandinavian port just an hour before the the gate, at 10.25 it took off, and smoothly, and we walked to the of hand baggage up to 23 kg. lounges. This might be espe- www.flysas.pl Airlines underwent a departure. I used the fast track at 10.28 we reached the cruising plane parked on the apron. At The ticket is non-refundable cially important to people who Last year true revolution. The security control, and still had speed. At about 10.38 the in- 12.10 the plane painted in the and it must be purchased with- frequently travel to Denmark on Scandinavian Airlines PRICE carrier is no longer a enough time to have a cup of flight service began. The choice characteristic SAS livery, took off in 24 hours from the time of business. underwent a true from PLN 1246.33 for two tickets LBusinessman's Airline, but coffee and browse daily press in included a sandwich with from the runway. This time I flew the reservation. Passengers can This year, for summer 2013, revolution. – one in PLUS and the other in since June 2013 – a Travel Class the lounge. cheese or chicken, water, juices, in SAS GO class and my seat was check in online and get points SAS was able to double the Three service classes GO class, plus a service charge Airline. Three service classes Boarding began at 9.45, and coffee and tea. At about 11.15 the situated in one of the last rows. for the flight in SAS EuroBonus route network, extending it to were replaced by two, for transactions at flysas.pl were replaced by two, which then we got on a bus which took “fasten your seatbelts” signal I also had to pay for a meal and and SAS Credits loyalty pro- more than 80 flights per week. can be regarded as an entirely us to the plane. The aircraft was went on and at 11.30 landed in drinks. A glass of orange juice grammes. The airline now flies from which can be regarded new offer. I flew to the capital of Canadair Regional Jet 900 with Copenhagen. costs €1, a sandwich €5-6, and Gdańsk to Copenhagen four as an entirely Denmark in PLUS class and re- 88 seats configured 2-2, includ- snacks €2-3. A bottle of mineral Verdict times a day, six times a week on new offer. turned in GO, as I wanted to see ing 12 ones in SAS PLUS class. SAS PLUS water costs €3, beer €5 and wine Since I had the opportunity to Gdańsk-Oslo route, three times the difference between these Since I travelled with a large What privileges can you expect €7. The journey took an hour and compare my travel experiences a day on Poznań - Copenhagen two offers. hand luggage, I had to hand it from SAS PLUS class? You can ten minutes. At about 1.30 p.m. in both service classes that SAS and Warsaw – Copenhagen over to the crew before boarding purchase a ticket just before the we landed at Okęcie. introduced last year, I think it routes, as well as twice a day Warsaw-Copenhagen and I collected it after landing. departure, return it, change the is definitely worth paying extra from Wrocław to Copenhagen. SAS offers several connections Being a SAS PLUS passengers, I date of your flight without any SAS GO €50-100 to travel in SAS PLUS. SAS is also planning to expand from Warsaw to Copenhagen, had a seat situated in one of the extra charge, take two pieces The fare in SAS GO class in- For this money you get such the Łódź-Copenhagen connec- including the one at 10.15 which first rows of the aircraft. Then of checked luggage up to 23 kg cludes: complimentary coffee, privileges as fast track check- tion, which is now operated five I chose. Since I had checked things went quickly. At 10.20 each, enjoy a delicious onboard tea and water on board, one piece in and security control, free re- times a week. in online, I arrived at the air- the plane was pushed back from meal, take advantage of the fast of cabin baggage plus one piece booking, and access to business Rafał Sobiech

20 | September 2013 September 2013 | 21 Tried & Tested Hotel Warsaw creative and generous person. Or, perhaps genius loci came here to play, as earlier this was exactly where the Tarnowski Palace used to be located. Any- PADEREWSKI SUITE way, when the hotel was built, it became clear that Warsaw had never seen anything so luxuri- ous. The hotel had everything, Crème de la crème including its own power plant and a crystal lift. Although the construction cost 2 million ru- bles (which was more than half the annual budget of Warsaw at that time), it was money well spent.

Belle Époque revisited Bright interiors, still captivate with the original furnishings from the early twentieth cen- tury. The sofas and armchairs with beautiful decorative up- holstery, or the gilded escritoire (writing desk), look so delicate that you might think twice be- fore you use them, but when Furniture, crystal chandeliers and mirrors come from the era. you do, you will see that they are The desk and the chair in the living room were used by Ignacy incredibly comfortable. Crystal Paderewski himself. This is where the history of Poland was made. chandeliers and incrusted mir- rors also come from the era. The living room also features the original desk and the chair of Ignacy Paderewski - here the history of Poland was made. The interior also boasts a unique fireplace, as well as delicate stucco mouldings which per- fectly match the artfully draped curtains, crystal chandeliers and mirrors. And despite this his- toric background, you do not feel here like in a museum, because the suite is surprisingly comfort- able. The area of 106 sq m, apart from the living room also fea- tures a spacious bedroom with a king-size bed, where, in fact, slept several crowned heads. Contact simple question. History was made here Suite – a unique place whose There is also a dining room and Hotel Bristol What is the differ- Indeed, such hotels are almost stylish interiors best reflect the two luxurious bathrooms, fin- A Luxury Collection Hotel ence between the gone. Hotel Bristol has seen a rich history of the Hotel Bristol. ished in grey marble. 00–325 Warszawa Hotel Bristol and the lot and hosted great guests. It You do not even have to close The suite’s spacious balcony Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44 Amajority of other five-star ho- has been a faithful companion your eyes here to move straight - the very one from which Jan Great guests and Marlene Dietrich. Hem- 48 22 551 1000 tels? The correct answer is: his- to the city and its inhabitants for to the days of the Belle Époque. Kiepura sang - provides a won- The hotel hosted numerous dis- ingway used to say that Dietrich [email protected] tory. An anecdote says that the over 100 years. It is and has al- This largest and most luxuri- derful view of the most beauti- tinguished guests, including would get out of a car in such a www.hotelbristolwarsaw.pl hotel’s manager asks this ques- ways been a symbol of elegance, ous suite in the hotel is named ful street in Warsaw – the Royal Queen Elizabeth II and her hus- manner as if she was doing a tion to all potential staff candi- a touch of a truly great world, after the eminent Polish pia- Route. And if you need more band, Emperor Akihito, Woody street a favour. Bristol is a hotel Price dates. In this way she is able to the very cream of the Polish cap- nist and politician - Ignacy Jan space – no worries – the suite Allen, Bill Gates, and slightly that brings honour to the place PLN 9 000 pick out the best employees. ital. The ultimate touch of this Paderewski, who was the first can be combined with up to earlier John and Jacqueline where it stands. luxury can be felt in Paderewski owner of Bristol. He was also a seven additional rooms. Kennedy, Charles de Gaulle, Joanna Krzyczkowska

22 | September 2013 September 2013 | 23 Tried & Tested Hotel Wzgórza dylewskie They are situated in the heart of Western Masuria in a secluded idyllic area. On one hand, Dylewskie Hills - Villas the villas are equipped with all the mod cons, on the other - their architecture was modelled on traditional houses built here from centuries, thus combining tradition with modernity.

the third one has also a bath. ramic view of the surrounding Verdict There is also a beautiful flower fields and woods. Great place for an autumn out- garden (colourful until late fall), ing - with the whole family or two terraces, a small library and Additional privileges a group of friends. Since the light furniture. Each villa is original and dif- villas are available all year long Villa 1 delights with its large ferent, but all of them present are year-round, many people lobby, the beauty of the stone a high standard of accommoda- choose to spend there their which covers several walls in tion. Importantly, guests of the Christmas or Easter. The luxu- the living room, as well as the villas may also use the services rious, secluded location offers view from the window – onto of the nearby hotel. The can use privacy unattainable in large the open space with greenery free of charge the hotel pool, as hotels. Here you can hide here on the horizon. It can accom- well as its saunas and Jacuzzi. and escape from everyday life, modate 8 people. Each villa is monitored by not losing all contact with the Villa 21, in turn, is a perfect CCTV and each of them offers world. An additional advantage CONTACT he idea was to recre- are available from the reserva- fee maker, electric kettle, dish- holiday house for up to 10 peo- free Internet access. You can are interesting walking and cy- Hotel Spa Dr Irena Eris ate traditional Masur- tion system of Hotel Spa Dr Ire- washer), terrace with comfort- ple. It is situated on a small also - for a fee - order breakfast cling trails, as well as the nearby Wzgórza Dylewskie ian villas next to the na Eris. You can see their imag- able outdoor furniture and hill, so that the windows and from the hotel, as well as use Grunwald. Wysoka Wieś 22 luxurious hotel with es on the Internet and it is quite outdoor grill. Guests will also terrace offer a wonderful pano- the hotel restaurants. Marzena Mróz 14–100 Ostróda Ta swimming pool, a spa, Ital- important to do it as each villa find there a safe, an iron and an tel. 89 647 11 11 ian stables and tennis courts. looks a bit different. However, ironing board, wireless inter- www.DrIrenaErisSpa.com This is how these unique white- they have one thing in common net, telephone with a direct con- washed houses with dark beam – the vast space outside the win- nection to the hotel and a TV. In prices and stone foundations came dows, location among the green the bathroom you will find hair- Villa with 3 bedrooms into existence. They are situated meadows and the nature almost dryers, towels, and bathrobes. If – PLN 1,300 per night in the heart of Western Mas- “invading” the villas. Absolute necessary it is possible to put a (PLN 1,500 at the weekend); uria in a secluded idyllic area. bliss! baby cot in the bedroom. Villa with 4 bedrooms It is a perfect spot for holidays The villas are different from – PLN 1,450 per night with kids or a weekend trip with Similarities one another, although all 20 of (PLN 1,650 at the weekend) friends. and differences them are decorated in a simi- On one hand, the villas are The complex of villas is situated lar style. For example, villa 11, equipped with all the mod about 1.5 km from the main which can accommodate six cons, on the other - their archi- building of the Hotel Spa Dr people, has three 2-person bed- tecture was modelled on tradi- Irena Eris. Each house has a rooms with twin beds (one on tional houses built here from spacious living room with fire- the ground floor, two on the centuries, thus combining tra- place, dining area combined first floor). Each of them has its dition with modernity. These with a fully equipped kitchen own bathroom - two of them are luxuriously furnished homes (refrigerator, microwave, cof- equipped with a shower, while

24 | September 2013 September 2013 | 25 Tried & Tested Hotel chlewiska The floors are made of wood, and the walls finished with ecological materials. The bath- rooms in OFURO rooms are a real masterpiece of design. Eve- Odrowąż Palace ry detail is important. A beauti- ful stone shower tray, wooden stairs and furniture, the smell of salt and oil, sliding glass doors. Manor House–spa The facilities include: hair dry- ers, bathrobes, while the visitors can listen to relaxing music, or enjoy a Japanese bath.

SPA In the heart of the Castle Ther- mae there is a fantastic 24 x 9 m swimming pool with crys- tal clear ionized water. There is also a Jacuzzi bath, a wild river, and a lot of surprises like geysers, massage couches and seats, as well as back, neck and spine massagers. Next door there are Roman baths. The sound of the water in the fountains, geysers and water cascades gives you a feeling of Przydacka, the spa manager, fers Polish, Italian and fusion tranquillity and harmony. The can advise you on an appropriate dishes. In the morning guests Guests have also access ice-salt room with fountains and therapy. I was suggested a basalt can enjoy a buffet breakfast, at to rejuvenation salons, cascades of light is truly impres- stone massage and magnetic noon eat a light lunch, have a designed in such sive. If you prefer higher tem- stimulation. Other treatments glass of fresh juice or coffee, a way that the patients peratures, you can choose from are based on the use of snake ven- and try dishes from the menu can relax and feel better a Finnish sauna with music om, snail slime or musk rose for- in the evening. I recommend from the very moment. and colour therapy, an infrared mulations and holistic therapies fusion sole and perch-pike This principle is obeyed sauna, or a Roman bath with aro- using the power of colours. For matic oils. Here you can regain the first time in Poland I've heard Verdict throughout the hotel. strength, calm down and relax. of a massage with Tibetan sing- Tradition and modernity. It is Guests have also access to rejuve- ing bowls. These are performed an excellent place to relax dur- nation salons, designed in such by Marzena Karkoszka - a mar- ing a weekend, for business CONTACT What's it like oneself and the environment. a hot Polish barrel or breathe a way that the patients can relax vellous gong player meetings, events and confer- Odrowąż Palace Manor House Searching for the roots of my The hotel is located in Chlewis- ionized air in a salt cottage. All and feel better from the very mo- ences. A good choice if you ul. Czachowskiego 56, family, I found myself in a ka, at the foot of the Holy Cross these will help you to cool down ment. The rejuvenation salons of- Restaurant and Bar need quick rejuvenation. 26-510 Chlewiska unique place - The Odrowąż Pal- Mountains. The area features and relax the body and the mind. fer many types of massage, facial, The chef of the restaurant, Katarzyna tel./fax (+48) 628 70 61 ace, about which my grandmoth- the Odrowąż Palace from the body and hair, and Małgorzata located in the Plater Stable of- Siekierzyńska [email protected] er used to tell me. This is the 16th century, the Plater Stables Rooms www.manorhouse.pl place where her mother, Emilia from the 19th century, the Ro- The Palace offers 18 rooms, in- Węgrecka, the daughter of Prince man Baths, the Vital Village cluding the 80 sq m Odrowąż PRICES Joseph Odrowąż grew up. and a horse stable. All of this suite. The Castle Thermae has Double room with breakfast The palace is one of the oldest surrounded by a landscape park only 8 rooms, including 4 rooms from PLN 490 (about €115) estates in Poland. I couldn't with the Mysterious Circle of with OFURO baths. The three see it in all its glory, as it was Power - perfect for meditation buildings altogether offer 61 being reconstructed after the and enjoying the cosmic energy. rooms for about 170 guests. fire. Since 1999, the property You can also feel the energy at All rooms come with air condi- has belonged to private owners the nearby Horus Pyramid in tioning, LCD TVs, and Wi-Fi in- who, having travelled to the Far the park and a small pyramid in ternet access. There is also a tea East, are trying to keep the his- the Wellness Studio. bar, magic cushions with buck- toric feel of the place, and offer The Vital Village also offers wheat hulls (facilitating sleep), guests relaxation for both the amazing attractions where salt lamps, candles, incense spirit and the body. All based on guests can enjoy a Finnish sau- sticks, as well as head, hand and the philosophy of harmony with na, a Russian banya, get into finger massagers.

26 | September 2013 September 2013 | 27 Tried & Tested Hotel & SPA serock Immerse yourself in luxury

CONTACT ou do not need to go to pines and India. You should also in hibiscus with thyme, parfait, Hotel Narvil Conference & Spa Masuria to enjoy the try a session in Amazonia Room, or scallop tartar with dill. As for ul. Czesława Miłosza 14A sound of water and where you can relax on a unique main dishes, you should try the 05–140 Serock feel harmony with the Soft-Pack water bed. Their spe- roasted turbot with sweet onion tel. 22 566 10 00 Ynature. Located on the bank of cial construction allows for sort and vinegar. And for dessert: e-mail: [email protected] the Narwia – one of the cleanest of "levitation", lifting the body young birch with white choco- www.hotelnarvil.pl Polish rivers – is Hotel Narvil on the surface of hot water, but late. Conference & Spa, which offers ... without direct contact with it. The dishes tempt not only with prices close contact with nature, luxury Cosmetics used during treat- their unique taste and aroma, double standard room suites and exceptional spa. ments contain many natural in- but also with their beautiful - from PLN 415 The hotel is situated in Serock, gredients - herbs, essential oils, presentation. All of them are in promotion – PLN 280 just 40 km from the centre of extracts of flowers and fruit. Vis- prepared with fresh regional Warsaw, and has been integrated itors to the spa especially praise products. The sophisticated food into the surrounding nature. treatments with the use of prep- choices can be neatly combined The hotel’s two patios feature a arations with Goji extract, made with selected wines straight 100 years old oak and 18 great by the Spanish brand Casmara. from the cellar. Spirit connois- linden trees. Narvil is divided seurs will certainly be tempted into a business and leisure area. Culinary feast to try the homemade cordial You can spend here your day in Aruana restaurant is one of the called Narvilówka and made a lot of ways - contemplating the most important parts of Narvil from blackcurrant. Apart from nature, practising sports, or un- Hotel Conference & Spa. It is the restaurant, the hotel also has dergoing relaxation and wellness located near the aquarium, in two bars and a large patio. treatments, rounding it off with the very heart of the hotel. The a fine meal. menu created by the restaurant’s Impressions chefs - Adam Kotomski and The uniqueness of this place is Massages of the world Witek Iwański – features unique proved by the awards it has re- Niagara Spa is a journey to the dishes prepared with local ingre- cently received for the Best Con- parts of the world where reigns dients. ference Spa and the Best Well- peace and relaxation thanks to Aruana specializes in modern ness Centre in Poland. Narvil is original wellness ceremonies Polish cuisine. The dishes have a haven of tranquillity, offering and luxury spa treatments. The a traditional taste served in an you close contact with nature décor of the eleven treatment intriguing form. The menu is and absolute relaxation in the rooms and the warming ther- seasonal. You can choose dishes comfortable environment of the mal zone reflects the world’s a'la carte or opt for the tasting remarkable Niagara Spa. It is continents. Guests are especially menu. This includes such origi- also a journey into extraordinary fond of the massages performed nal delights as cold asparagus corners of the world. by therapists from the Philip- soup with roasted leek, apples Joanna Krzyczkowska

28 | September 2013 September 2013 | 29

006-011_news2w.indd 7 26.03.2013 18:59 Tried & Tested Hotel Warsaw Sound Garden Hotel

his new Warsaw hotel in Swedish style. The swivel cof- breakfast (PLN 25) which can be is distinguished by fee table by the bed is a perfect collected at the reception desk, Swedish attention to place to work with a laptop. It consists of salad, a sandwich, detail and self-service can also be used to control the yogurt, fruit, and coffee or tea. Tconcept, which brings a whiff of lighting in your room. The other option is a good qual- fresh air into the world of tradi- ity meal served in “Good Com- tional hotels. Sound Garden Ho- Entertainment pany” restaurant (PLN 45). tel is located on Żwirki i Wigury A flatscreen 32-inch Samsung Street, near Chopin airport. It TV mounted on the wall is the Conferences is operated by the Estonian Leg- entertainment centre of the The conference centre consists end Hotels & Spa group. room. The “City” tab provides of 9 space with a total area of you with lots of useful informa- 800 sq m, access to the natu- Self-service tion about Warsaw, including ral light, air conditioning and The first step is booking. The ho- addresses of shops, eateries and free wifi up to 70 Mbit/s. The tel’s website (www.soundgarden. clubs. In Music tab, you can lis- largest, Symphony room, is 7 pl) is simple and intuitive. Click ten to tunes and sounds which metres high and can accommo- "Book Online" and choose your correspond to the hotel’s floors, date about 300 people. Guests room. The hotel offers 206 rooms, that is jazz, pop, rock, nature, or can also use smaller execu- most of which are well-designed silent. tive rooms for several people, 14 sq m Classic Single Rooms You can also surf the net us- where e.g. exquisite dinner can CONTACT with full size 140 cm wide beds. ing the TV’s built-in browser be served. There is also a glass Sound Garden Hotel There are also larger (can also be and the remote control as a lobby, which can accommodate Żwirki i Wigury 18 double) Classic Rooms (beds 160 keyboard. For those who have several hundred people and has 02–092 Warsaw cm wide), Mezzo Rooms - with their own mobile devices, the access to the fastest internet tel. +48 22 279 14 00 the twin bed option and a desk, TV is also a wifi hub, provid- connection with data transfer www.soundgardenhotel.pl as well as Grande Room suites ing guests with impressive 40 reaching 70 Mbit/s. In summer [email protected] which consist of a living room Mbit/s download and 12 Mbit/s you the back garden can also be and a bedroom. upload data transfer (according used for various events. Prices The spacious lobby of the hotel to www.speedtest.pl). Classic Single Room features four self-service kiosks. Verdict – from PLN 179 This is where you check in, by Food and eating The hotel’s close proximity to Grande Room –from PLN 519 entering your reservation num- In the reception area there is the airport as well as discreet underground car par – PLN 50 ber or your name. You will re- a wine dispenser which keeps service make the Sound Garden ceive your key card and printed appropriate temperature for a highly commendable hotel. information including check-in, various types of wine. You can It is especially useful for those check-out, and breakfast hours. choose from eight white and red who value peace and free high- In the event of any difficulty, wines. Spirits are also available. speed internet access. Event you can always turn to a host The hotel offers two types of organizers will certainly like sitting at a small reception desk. breakfast (you can select your the remarkably large and well I chose the 16-metre Classic preference when making your equipped conference rooms. Room. The interior is decorated reservation). The "Grab and Go" Filip Gawryś

Good airport rail connections save travellers money, time and temper. Alex McWhirter rounds up ten of Europe’s best

30 | September 2013 September 2013 | 31 Tried & Tested Car Volvo XC60 consistently at the top of its class

More details at: ow is it possible headlights you can concentrate runs like a sprinter. The credit www.volvocars.pl that for more than on the road and see farther, for this goes to D5 engine – an two years VOLVO while not blinding other drivers. inline, 5-cylindre twin turbo Price XC60 has been the High ride height and the option- unit producing 215 hp and 440 from PLN 133,000 Hbest-selling model of the pre- al all-wheel drive make the XC60 Nm. The vehicle has an auto- mium segment in our country? a perfect car for any terrain. matic transmission which can I decided to check it out. In the mountainous parts of operate in sports and sequen- Since I have a long way to go, I the Kłodzko Valley I was able tial modes, as well as a fifth- have decided to set off early in to check the car's off-road capa- generation Haldex all-wheel the morning. The car is waiting bilities. The XC60 is at home in drive. in the driveway. With its black all terrains thanks to its high One might think that with paint and rims, tinted windows, ground clearance and optional such a monster you can forget and dynamic silhouette, it looks All-Wheel Drive. Combined about any fuel economy. It is scary and dignified. Excited, I with Hill Start Assist and op- hard to imagine, but this big get into it and off we go. tional Hill Descent Control, SUV is surprisingly easy on you can I could take routes less fuel. In the urban cycle it con- Ekscytujące piękno, Comfort and Safety travelled in the secure knowl- sumed about 8.5 litres per 100 If you have never driven an SUV, edge that my car can cope with km, while on motorways and you cannot imagine how much what lies ahead. expressways it went down to futurystyczna technologia. comfort and pleasure such a The ride quality is also ensured 5.6 l/100 km. car guarantees. Volvo XC60 is by brilliantly balanced chassis a classic representative of the – Touring, Dynamic, R-Design Verdict www.siemens-home.pl segment. It is tall, spacious, and Sport Chassis, or electronically The only detail that I would gives the feeling of control on controlled Four-C Chassis that change in this car is the centre the road. And those seats? They performs up to 500 calcula- console. Although it is revered are by far the most comfortable tions per second. Combined by many, for me it seems a bit Aktualnie projektanci wnętrz kuchennych coraz częściej najwyższej jakości kryje innowacyjne rozwiązania ones I have ever sat in. with Corner Traction Control, too banal rather than elegant in proponują proste formy wkomponowane w otwartą, jasną i zaawansowaną automatykę, która zapewnia And this pervasive sense of safe- the car gives the driver power- its simplicity. Apart from this przestrzeń. Najnowsze modele urządzeń Siemens świetnie urządzeniom maksymalną samodzielność i efektywność. ty. This car not only allows you ful assurance everywhere from aspect, the XC60 is extremely spełniają te wymagania. Zarówno piekarniki, płyty Kontrolowane przez elektroniczne systemy sensorowe, to feel like this, but it actually is motorways to country roads. comfortable and the version grzewcze, jak i chłodziarki oraz okapy wyróżniają się pracują oszczędnie i cicho, z gwarancją doskonałych very safe. At the speed of up to 50 that I had an opportunity to ponadczasowym wzornictwem o niezwykle eleganckiej, efektów. Dla Twojego komfortu i dla dobra natury. km/h the innovative City Safety Power and economy test (D5 AWD Summum with oszczędnej linii. Ekskluzywna obudowa z materiałów Więcej informacji: www.siemens-home.pl system brakes for the driver, and And what about the engine? Polestar package) is a real fun with the active system which The car feels big and heavy, but to drive. controls the intensity of the when you press the gas pedal, it Marta Wilk Siemens. The future moving in. 32 | September 2013 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Report Report | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

Open door We investigate how demand for data-based service and personalised travel can undermine your e-privacy.

34 | September 2013 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Report Raport | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

hen was the last time Think it will never happen? Israeli facial wristbands on special screens around the journey, meal preferences and previous says: “You might click on an advert and then you Googled yourself? recognition software company face.com has resort that automatically log them into the travel experiences, and find out what pas- your information is passed to other parties. WEven if nothing much comes up, don't im- already “discovered” 18 billion faces online. network. According to travel technology sengers look like on Google Images so they Suddenly, your data is shared with a com- agine you can relax. Think about the infor- And in June last year it was sold to Facebook. website tnooz.com, “all content captured can recognise them. The ITC Grand Chola pany in the US, a company in Russia and a mation you freely give away on a daily basis Jane Frost, chief executive of the Market using the hotel’s swipe machines [is] also hotel in Chennai, meanwhile, has placed company in India without you really being but that might not show up in a web search Research Society, says: “Up until very re- collected on the hotel’s own Facebook page” RFID scanners in the corridors that read aware that that is taking place.” – whether it's when booking a flight, sign- cently, everyone assumed data was discrete and “guests will be encouraged to tag them- your room key as you pass by, then send an According to BA’s privacy policy: “Cookies ing up to a loyalty programme, downloading – but data algorithms can actually put these selves in each of their pictures”. Think alert to the phones of nearby staff with your are used to enable us to present appropriate an app, filling in a customer survey form or things together and start to understand to that’s weird? You can also pay for food and name, photo and other personal details. messages to our customers. For example, sending an email. Then consider how this an individual level the person whose data it drinks with just your fingerprints. Another novelty is an online social seating to allow [us] to serve up different versions contributes to your data shadow. is. You might have thought you were just a Over in Las Vegas, the Aria Resort and Ca- platform, such as KLM’s Meet and Seat, of a page for marketing purposes, control piece of digital data but with facial match- sino hands out digital menus in its restau- which essentially enables you to choose who invitations for instant credit card offers, al- Electronic tatoo ing, Facebook can do a hell of a lot to tell rants so, according to Paul Berry, vice-presi- you sit next to on a plane based on data from low third parties to display appropriate ad- Futurist Juan Enriquez gave a TED lecture who you are.” dent of hotel operations, it can “understand their LinkedIn or Facebook profile. Some vertising and to track its effectiveness, and in February entitled “Your online life – per- Cutting-edge technology is already begin- what people like, what is popular, and what will even pair you up automatically with display messages which offer a selection manent as a tattoo”. He presented the idea ning to harness data in creative ways, be it is visually stimulating”. It also stores infor- someone an algorithm has decided will be of products based on what you’re viewing, that our digital selves will outlive our physi- through Google Glass (voice-activated aug- mation on what temperature, lighting lev- a good match. which are presented to you by our agency cal selves, and our data may reveal more mented reality spectacles that perform like els, “curtain operations” and wake-up alarm Sergio Mello is co-founder and chief execu- when you visit other selected websites.” about us than we'd like to believe. a smartphone), social booking platforms, or sounds they prefer in their room. tive of business-to-business platform satis- However, it also says: “You can choose to opt “What happens if Facebook, Twitter, Google, RFID (radio frequency identification) tags. fly.com, which has so far teamed up with Air out of this type of advertising permanently LinkedIn, cell phones, GPS, Foursquare, And there is plenty of potential for applying Personalised service Baltic to offer a service for finding a compat- by going to networkadvertising.org/choices. Yelp, Easy Pass, security cameras, Wikipedia, it to the world of travel – in fact, innovative The demand for personalised service, par- ible passenger to sit with on the carrier’s Please note, though, that if you delete your credit scores, credit cards… all these things hotels and airlines are already dabbling in it ticularly within the high-end market, has flights. He said: “We can see the brands you cookies too, we’ll no longer know that you’ve we deal with every day, turn out to be elec- in an attempt to improve or personalise the seen a rise in travel companies using your like, the companies you have worked for, the opted out, so the banners from our third- tronic tattoos?” Enriquez asks. He also posits customer experience. data to create guest profiles. As discussed in check-ins you have made, the people you party will reappear when you visit other se- what could happen when facial recognition these pages before (“The future of luxury”), have in common. It is a tool to improve your lected websites.” gets so accurate that you could take a photo Partying online some airlines and hotels are taking this fur- experience – your details are not published, of a man in a bar on your smartphone and In Ibiza, the Ushuaia Beach hotel enables ther. British Airways has given iPads to sen- we just match your data with other people.” A global product instantly download his name and records be- partygoers to “socialise” their experiences ior cabin crew so they can access important What else could your data be used for? Dis- cause he is “plastered by electronic tattoos”. on Facebook in real time by tapping RFID passengers’ Executive Club status, onward The app to track your move- concertingly, it lists: “Accounting, billing ments and audit, credit or other payment card veri- SeatID is a similar B2B service that was fication and anti-fraud screening, immigra- launched earlier this year, and is designed “Data is the new oil” tion and customs control, safety, security, to harness the information you share on was a phrase coined health, administrative and legal purposes, social networks to enhance your booking by British data commercialisa- statistical and marketing analysis, opera- experience. As well as airlines, it also offers tion entrepreneur Clive tion of frequent flyer programmes, systems applications for hotels and trains. In talks testing, maintenance and development, cus- with “one of the biggest train operators in Huby in 2006 to reflect tomer surveys, customer relations, and to Europe”, Eran Savir, chief executive and co- the financial importance help us in any future dealings with you, for founder, explains how it works: “We have a this new commodity has. example by identifying your requirements widget that asks you to log in – after you do and preferences.” Other major airlines carry this, it follows you on the web and when you similar statements on their websites. make a reservation we take this information and making sites easier to navigate – but “Data is the new oil” was a phrase coined – we know who you are – and show others. you won’t always be aware of what is taking by British data commercialisation entre- “If you opt in, we get access to your profile, place behind the scenes or have any control preneur Clive Huby in 2006 to reflect the but what is visible is defined by your own over what happens to your data once you financial importance this new commodity privacy settings. If you are on Expedia have shared it. has. According to IBM, the world’s popula- booking a hotel in Bangkok but are not sure tion creates 2.5 quintillion (one followed by which one to choose, we put a small widget Cookies say everything 18 zeros) bytes of data a day. What’s more, next to each hotel to show you who else that Consider how cookies store your activity so 90 per cent of data in existence has been you know has stayed there. All of a sudden that when returning to an airline website, created in the past two years alone. It’s no The demand this is an important factor in your decision- for example, it remembers what flight you wonder that all of this has been branded Big for personalised service, making process – social proofing.” were searching for or your loyalty scheme Data, and its perceived value has even led particularly within the high-end Many of these data-based services are opt- login information, and tailors offers to to the mind-blowingly Herculean task of ar- market, has seen a rise in travel in, so what travellers should really be aware suit you. This can be a useful feature, but chiving the entire digital universe. companies using your data of is the pervasive harvesting and subtle as soon as this information is passed on to to create guest profiles. collation of personal information that takes third parties, it gets murky. 100 terabytes per year place online in your day-to-day life. Much of Lindsey Greig, chief executive of global e- In April, the British Library was granted the it is for your own benefit, saving you time privacy consultation service Data Guidance, right to preserve the entire UK web space

36 | September 2013 September 2013 | 37 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Report

Facebook, Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, mobile phones, GPS, CCTV cameras, Wikipedia, credit cards... can simply become a sort of our electronic tattoo. with about a petabyte of data stored over ten A number of companies were quick to issue people become savvier about online reputa- years – that’s 100 terabytes a year, or one denials but there is little doubt that many of tion and their “digital tattoos”. billion pages a day stored for posterity. In us have been under surveillance, and will con- the US, the Library of Congress has now ar- tinue to be so as governments continue hap- Configure your device chived more than 170 billion tweets. (Don’t hazardly to juggle civil liberties and security. Selecting “Do Not Track” in your browser forget just how big one billion actually is – if settings is one solution to this problem – In- one million seconds is 12 days, one billion The law can help ternet Explorer, Safari, Opera, Firefox and seconds is 31.7 years.) Though what use Before you panic, in the EU steps have been, Google Chrome support various methods these billions of 140-character musings will and continue to be, taken to safeguard peo- of tracking protection. According to Firefox, have is yet to be seen. ple’s e-privacy, but bear in mind that leg- when the feature is enabled, it will “tell ad- Frost says: “Clearly, data – the right sort of islation is complex, evolving and arguably vertising networks and other websites that data, I would have to emphasise – helps always going to be out of date as technology you want to opt out of tracking for purposes businesses and governments to understand advances so fast. A spokesperson for the Of- like behavioural advertising”. But Do Not what their customers and general public are fice of the Information Commissioner says: Track “may interfere with some personal- doing, and help them communicate in a tar- “Any organisation that processes personal ised services you enjoy”. geted fashion. We have software that can col- data in the UK must comply with the UK This might sound like a reasonable compro- lect and deliver it almost instantaneously so Data Protection Act. The act places legal mise, but in April, an article on wired.com we can use it to frame decision-making about obligations on organisations that help to by Peter Swire warned: “Without effective pricing. So if you are a Sky viewer they will ensure that they are looking after people’s targeting and tracking, advertisers argue ad look at your viewing patterns and suggest information correctly; this includes mak- revenue could plummet and lead to the shut- things you might want to watch, or if you are ing sure that the information is secure and tering of many popular websites that rely a Kindle user it will have ‘recommended for that organisations are open with users about on third-party ads as their primary source you’ based on your purchasing pattern.” how their information will be used.” of revenue.” And an “arms race” could be- At once recognising that protecting your gin whereby “the digital cookies currently Is it ethical? personal data is a fundamental right, and used to track user habits are blocked by the As we are all well aware, not all data is be- that the free flow of personal data is a com- browsers – only to have the advertisers re- ing collected in ethical ways, or with noble mon good, EU law states that “personal data spond with even more sophisticated track- intentions. Security breaches and heated de- can only be gathered legally under strict ing methods like digital fingerprinting”. bate over privacy settings is commonplace. conditions, for a legitimate purpose” and So what can you do? Frost says: “People Facebook is rarely out of the headlines and “you have the right to complain and obtain need to be aware. They don’t need to be June bore witness to a particularly outra- redress if your data is misused anywhere in frightened, but they need to take a grown- geous scandal regarding details leaked by a the EU”. up attitude towards this. If you get value former CIA technical worker claiming that There is even an initiative (though being from giving your data away, do it with care. the US National Security Agency had been shirked by the UK) being discussed as part If society benefits from your data, do it with using a top-secret programme called Prism of the EU’s General Data Protection Regula- care because if you let your data go astray it’s to collect citizens’ emails, phone calls, social tion that will allow people “the right to be very difficult to retrieve it. You should give it media messages, photos and documents by forgotten” – where all their details can be away to someone who will respect it, and for accessing the servers of Apple, Facebook, Mi- deleted from cyberspace if they so choose. something that you value.” crosoft, Yahoo, Skype, You Tube and Google. This will become a more pertinent issue as Agata Janicka PRASOWE MATERIAŁY FOT.:

38 | September 2013 SeptemberCzerwiec 2013 | 39

028_TT endorfina.indd 29 26.03.2013 18:29 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Air Travel Air Travel | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

Lufthansa in Poland? we offer more and more Marzena Mróz talks to Bart Buyse, General Manager for Poland at Lufthansa German Airlines

How important is Poland in more than 5,000 companies Lufthansa’s global strategy? based in Poland. I am extreme- Bart Buyse: Almost 10 years ly pleased that Poland is our ago the Board of Lufthansa number one market in Central included Poland in the group and Eastern Europe. of markets of strategic im- portance. The Polish aviation What so special about Luf- market is very attractive and thansa’s offer aimed at Pol- is growing year by year. It is ish passengers? worth noting that Lufthansa is BB: We regularly launch new the only international airline connections to our main hub in that consistently expands its Frankfurt, in order provide Pol- flight network from regional ish travellers with an even easi- airports. We are a leading air- er access to our comprehensive line among traditional carriers and attractive route network. which serve regional routes. At On 12 September we will in- the same time, despite growing crease the frequency of our competition, we have managed services on Frankfurt-Rzeszów to maintain a strong position route. We will also soon double among all international car- the number of connections on riers present in Warsaw. In Bart Buyse Poznań-Frankfurt route. Our niversary of Lufthansa’s pres- high standards are appreci- to our online newsletter, where Poland we operate nearly 230 market share (among tradi- ence in Katowice. We want to ated by our customers. We you can find all the hot offers Polish passengers flights per week from seven cit- opportunities for the use of our tional airlines) at the airport in consistently expand our offer are also praised for the FlyNet and promotions. can take advantage of ies (Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań, global route network. Within Rzeszów is now almost 30 per on the Polish market, and the service, which is a broadband numerous ‘last minute’ Wrocław, Katowice, Cracow PartnerPlusBenefit, which is cent, while in Poznań it is more future decisions will be made Internet access on board our When will Lufthansa launch offers that can be found and Rzeszów), which provides our incentive programme for than 40 per cent. This year we on the basis of an analysis of aircraft. Our passengers are its new Premium Economy on our website. Polish travellers with excellent enterprises, we cooperate with also celebrated the 20th an- the economic indicators. very fond of being able to surf class? In addition, five times the Internet with their own BB: The new product will be a year we post special Why should Polish pas- laptops and smartphones. We presented in the spring of offers of flights sengers choose to fly with are the only airline that offers 2014, when we start upgrad- Lufthansa? this service on all interconti- ing our entire intercontinen- to selected cities BB: Our biggest advantage nental routes. tal fleet. I can assure you that in Africa, is the well-developed flight Premium Economy Class will America, Asia network. Lufthansa enables Polish customers love all be available soon after the of- and the Middle East. Polish passengers to reach sorts of special offers and ficial presentation. Ultimately, almost 200 cities worldwide. promotions. Are you plan- about 10 per cent of all the Quality in every detail - both ning any special deals? seats on board our planes will at the airport and during the BB: Polish passengers can be Premium Economy ones. flight, modern fleet and at- take advantage of numerous They will offer more space and tractive price promotions ‘last minute’ offers that can much more adjustment options are the main reasons why be found on our website. We to provide passengers with as the Poles often choose to fly also hold special two-day pro- much comfort as possible. The with Lufthansa. Our Business motions on selected routes. In fares in the Premium Economy Class product is also highly addition, five times a year we cabin will be closer to Economy valued by Polish customers. post special offers of flights to rather than Business class. Our In the latest Skytrax ranking selected cities in Africa, Amer- offer is aimed at both tourists Lufthansa has been recog- ica, Asia and the Middle East. expecting more comfort while In Poland we operate nearly 230 flights per week from seven cities, which provides Polish nized as the best airline in We are now about to start a new traveling, as well as business Western Europe and on the price promotion with attrac- travellers. travellers with excellent opportunities for the use of our global route network. transatlantic routes. This is tive fares to Asia and Africa. I a clear sign that Lufthansa’s recommend you to subscribe Thank you for the interview.

40 | September 2013 September 2013 | 41 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Air Travel

Lot is changing! LOT Polish Airlines has introduced a new level of service on board their planes on all routes in Europe. The catering offer has been enriched by adding new sandwiches, salads, wraps, pizzas as well as a selection of beverages, including the renowned Starbucks coffee. LOT will also propose additional services, such as Taxi&Fly, Limo Service, Meet and Greet, as well as Pre-order and Duty Free, all under the Air Kiosk.

he first part of the a Greek salad, and on flights which is a dedicated assistance changes aimed to fa- longer than 120 minutes - at the Chopin Airport. LOT’s cilitate travelling by vegetarian pizza and chicken staff will welcome passengers LOT will include an wrap. During flights lasting at the entrance to the airport Taccess to a mobile version of lot. no longer than 90 minutes pas- and will facilitate all proce- com booking platform and to sengers will have a choice be- dures prior to departure - from applications for mobile phones tween ham or cheese sandwich luggage check-in to boarding. and tablets (Android and iOS). and snacks. During all flights From September this year LOT Ticket reservation and check-in LOT also offers alcohols and a Polish Airlines will also launch prior to departure will be pos- wide selection of soft drinks. the PlusGrade service. It will sible from any place and at any Passengers in economy class allow passengers who book a time - simply, quickly and high- on domestic and European ticket to bid for transfer from ly intuitively. LOT will also pro- flights are provided free of economy class to Premium vide passengers with faster and charge with mineral water and or Business class. The Polish easier access to all information a sweet snack. On domestic national air carrier has also relevant for them, including and European routes, the "LOT introduced a useful service special offers, as well as to the Gourmet" offer includes, in ad- called LOT Info SMS service, "cheapest price" search. dition to new meals, Starbucks which keeps you updated on coffee and Dilmah Ceylon Gold the status of your flight. It may ● LOT Polish Airlines is the tea, specially composed dietary be activated in two ways - by first airline in the world to apply porridge flavoured with apples completing a free form via the It is a symbolic full "Cloud Computing" tech- and cinnamon or chocolate and lot.com website or by sending moment, comparable nology on such a large scale. orange, served by Starbucks. a text message from a mobile to the replacement Cloud computing is a model for Prices for meals are much phone. There are two service of old Ilyushin aircraft IT environment management, lower than those at airports or options: standard, which in- with Boeing 767 with solutions borrowed from in in-flight sales of other air- cludes a one-time information in the late 1980s. the ideology of functioning in lines: sandwiches cost PLN 10, about the current status of the LOT Polish Airlines Internet. Cloud Computing while salads and wraps - PLN flight (which costs PLN 1 + responds to the needs associ- 12. Starbucks coffee costs PLN VAT) and Premium, providing now have five Boeing ated with a growing number of 8. It is worth noting that meals passengers with all the infor- 787 Dreamliners connected devices, continuous and soft drinks in economy mation about the flight (its cost in three-class streams of information and class and in business class on is PLN 5 + VAT). configuration, Web 2.0 applications, such as the most prestigious LOT long- And the last - historical change. Ingredients of culinary excellence offering the highest open collaboration, social net- haul flights remain free. Starting from 10 August, the standard of on-board working and mobile solutions. long-haul flights to New York, We invite you to taste the delicious dishes of modern Polish cuisine service. Passengers have had access ● Taxi&Fly and Limo Service - Chicago, Toronto and Beijing with a distinct touch of the most sophisticated culinary trends. to the mobile version already this service allows passengers are now operated only by Boe- since mid-August, while the who purchase tickets via the ing 787 Dreamliners. It is a applications will be available lot.com website or through the symbolic moment, comparable Pałac Sobańskich, Al. Ujazdowskie 13, 00-567 Warsaw from September. 24/7 call centre to book trans- to the replacement of old Ily- Booking: (+ 48) 22 523 66 64 portation from home to the ushin aircraft with Boeing 767 www.amberroom.pl ● "LOT Gourmet" - new, up- airport and back after return- in the late 1980s. LOT Polish graded menu. From 1 August, ing to Warsaw. For those who Airlines now have five Boeing on flights lasting no longer appreciate luxury we offer an 787 Dreamliners in three-class than 120 minutes, the "LOT opportunity of transport by configuration, offering the Michelin Guide Recommendation Gourmet" menu includes a limousine to a plane. Another highest standard of on-board pasta salad with chicken and LOT proposal is Meet & Greet, service.

42 | September 2013 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Hotels Hotels | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

Mercure Warszawa Airport is now open! ercure brand has been develop- ing dynamically over the past few Mmonths. At the beginning of July this year another hotel - Mercure Warszawa Airport – was added to the chain’s portfolio. The ho- tel operates under a franchise agreement and will be the first in Poland with an utterly new visual identity. This is the third Mercure hotel in Warsaw and The dishes include Polish speci- by an unexpected surprise and our current identity, at the same the eighteenth in Poland. alities as well as Mediterranean inspired by a stay at Mercure. time becoming part of a global Hotels of Mercure food. Its spacious room, which brand that offers great oppor- brand are inspired For travellers can seat up to 75 people at the Mercure brand tunities for growth. Mercure by tradition of the place The former 3-star hotel DeSilva same time use, provides excel- Hotels of Mercure brand are in- has attracted us mainly with its they are located. Warszawa Airport has been re- lent atmosphere at every meal. spired by tradition of the place distribution channels, excellent branded as Mercure Warszawa they are located. They combine image and its global loyalty pro- They combine Airport. It is located in the rap- New identity local history with modernity. gramme - Le Club Accorhotels,” local history idly growing business district of Mercure Warszawa Airport This is reflected in the interior said Iwona Świtek, the manager with modernity. the city, just 5 km from the city is the first hotel in Poland to design, as well as the menu full of Mercure Warszawa Airport. centre and 3 km from Frederic have received the new Mercure of regional delicacies. For fran- Mercure Warszawa Airport is Chopin Airport. logo. This change is a part of chisees Mercure brand is an ex- 18th hotel of the chain in Po- The hotel offers 117 comfort- the brand’s new visual identity cellent opportunity and a way to land. Other hotels of the brand able rooms. There is also a bar, that aims to foster “harmony be- preserve local character of their are located in Częstochowa, a restaurant, and nine meeting tween places and people”. Mer- hotel, while enhancing opera- Gdańsk, Jelenia Góra, Kar- rooms. Another advantage is cure has also launched a new tions through global standards pacz, Lublin, Mrągowo, Opole, the hotel’s own car park as well advertising campaign which and solutions used by the the Poznań, Toruń, Warsaw, as an underground garage. features a black and white TV chain."Joining the brand was Wrocław, Zakopane, Cieszyn, Mercure Warszawa Airport is advertisement that focuses on for us a strategic move, as we Piotrków Trybunalski, Krynica the perfect choice for those who the positive emotions prompted wanted to keep a large part of Zdroj and Zamość. wish to be within easy reach of the capital. It is close to major business facilities and tourist attractions of Warsaw, and its close proximity to E77 European route allows you to quickly set off in the direction of Cracow, Katowice and Wrocław, making the hotel a perfect place for a stopover in Poland.

Business-oriented hotel Mercure Warszawa Airport has 9 conference rooms, which can accommodate up to 345 people. The modern facilities can hold several meetings, conferences, seminars and banquets at the same time. more info The hotel’s restaurant offers accorhotels.com interesting and tasty menu. mercure.com

44 | September 2013 September 2013 | 45 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Hotels Hotels | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

Taylor, Vice President, Market- and beverage related benefits SPG members can continue ing, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, to its members worldwide. For to earn Starpoints when they Europe, Africa & Middle East. guests to be up to date with all dine at these outlets. They Triple Benefits “As a result we have launched the promotions Starwood has now have the opportunity to Triple Benefits, SPG's first prepared a special section on explore new restaurants and Starwood Hotels never cease to pamper their guests global food and beverage mar- its website: www.spg.com/res- bars nearer home, or discover keting campaign, designed to taurantsandbars, where you new venues while travelling. give our guests even more rea- can obtain necessary informa- sons to enjoy Starwood's F&B tion about the offers of all the Starwood Preferred options when they are on the restaurants and bars partici- Guest® (SPG®) road or at home in their local pating in the programme. SPG® is an innovative loyalty destination. We believe these SPG members can also enjoy programme for regular cus- Until the end benefits will make SPG even themed monthly promotions at tomers of Starwood Hotels & of September SPG more relevant to our members participating restaurants and Resorts, where members col- members can enjoy and encourage them to discov- bars, as well as earn Starpoints lect Starpoints® and redeem three exclusive benefits er the unique and compelling when dining at these venues. them for great prizes. In this whenever they drink experiences available in our SPG Gold and Platinum mem- way, SPG® programme offers or dine at one of 650 restaurants and bars world- bers at some outlets may enjoy its members a great opportu- participating wide,” added Taylor. perks such as complimentary nity to enjoy new and unique restaurants and bars beverages and desserts or free experiences. in Starwood hotels SPG® enters the world tickets to hotel events. At oth- SPG® members collect Star- and resorts around of cuisine ers, families who dine togeth- points® with every night they the globe. SPG gives members all-year- er may receive free desserts for spend at any of Starwood ho- round savings of up to 30% kids or 4 for the price of 3 din- tels, as well as during visits at more than 1000 restaurants ing offers. Promotions change in hotel restaurants and bars. and bars in more than 400 every month so be sure to reg- The collected points can be re- Starwood hotels around the ularly monitor the information deemed for free nights at over world. appearing on the programme’s 1,000 hotels around the world, It is the only loyalty pro- website. flight with more than 350 air- gramme in the travel industry Aside from discounts at partic- lines, room upgrades, prizes offering comprehensive food ipating restaurants and bars, and many more.

more info ntil the end of Sep- and Sopot, as well as Hotel Bris- six and 50% savings for kids www.spgrestaurantsandbars.com tember SPG mem- tol and Westin Warsaw. under 12, bonus Starpoints® bers can enjoy three when dining in a group, a 15% exclusive benefits For relaxation, for kids, discount on a relaxing spa treat- Uwhenever they drink or dine for gourmets… ment, as well as a complimen- at one of 650 participating res- Each participating venue will tary glass of wine or a cheese taurants and bars in Starwood offer three Food and Bever- platter. hotels and resorts around the age (F&B) benefits, including “In our region in the last year, globe. The promotion includes, a 10-30% discount, during this expenditure by SPG members of course, also Polish hotels of three-month promotion. Perks dining in Starwood's restau- the chain, that is Sheraton ho- that members may enjoy in- rants and bars when ‘out of

tels in Warsaw, Cracow, Poznań clude a free meal for kids under stay’ has doubled,” said Steven prasowe materiały fot.:

46 | September 2013 September 2013 | 47 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Interview Quality is of utmost importance for us

I think most of our readers desk. Trying to meet the chang- The crisis is noticeable in the do not even know that when ing needs of our agents, we form of devaluation of the av- they go on a business trip, have developed solutions for the erage value of bookings, which they use services provided most demanding business travel means that customers often by Merigo… agents and travel managers. choose a lower standard of ho- That's right. We have been coop- tels, but this does not translate erating with leaders in business In what way does you into a decrease in the num- tourism, which is why compa- company stand out from the ber of reservations. For sev- nies sending their employees on crowd? eral years, despite the crisis, business trips often do not even First of all, we focus on quality Merigo has recorded growth know that those trips are organ- of service, offering our custom- in sales of business and lei- ized via our system. It is worth ers a solid support from quali- sure trips. The Certificate of noting that Merigo is used by fied professionals. Taking care of Business Credibility awarded more than 2,000 travel agencies the safety of travel, we provide an to us for the second time by Marzena Mróz in Poland. emergency phone number avail- Dun & Bradstreet, as well as interviews able in Polish language 24/7. We establishing the department Roman Mandyna, How did you manage to offer the largest, continually ex- responsible solely for Warsaw achieve this success in such panding hotel base in the B2B area, are a proof of our stable the CEO of Merigo Sp.z.o.o a competitive market? sector. Merigo has also the wid- position in the market. More than 10 years ago, when est range of products that allows our company was entering the agents to use such an innovative What are your goals for the market, only few travel agencies tool as dynamic packaging. Keep next year? used IT solutions, such as on- in mind that with our system, We are ready for the challeng- line reservation systems. Merigo the company that uses the ser- es that will be brought by the has always been ahead of the vices of a travel agency is able to changing market. We will be competition with our innovative reduce costs of business travel striving to maintain the posi- solutions and a wide range of by as much as 60%. A big plus is tion of the market leader in the products. It is worth noting that the ability to make group book- B2B hotel bookings. We would from the very beginning, our ings. And for our partners, we also like to arouse interest of the system and the customer service are able to offer the most flexible tourism industry in the perspec- department have been based in terms of cooperation. tive and a very attractive offer of Poland. For most other systems, cruises - also available via the their HQ are outside Poland, How do you assess the cur- Merigo system. and the whole operation is based rent situation on the busi- only on the call centre and help ness travel market? Thank you for the interview.

48 | September 2013

1/2 mak.indd 1 23.08.2013 12:24 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Destinations Destinations | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r Alsace abounding in wine Alsace, enclosed with The Vosges, has a semi-continental climate, dry and warm - ideal for viticulture. Not surprisingly, the wine from this region has been highly regarded by the gourmets for a thousand years. Marzena Mróz invites you for an autumn trip along the trail of the legendary Riesling, pinot gris and muscat.

50 | September 2013 September 2013 | 51 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Destinations Destinations | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

lsatian wine route is a 180- duce wines whose recipe was developed on to muscats from the Mediterranean area - it mile trail that leads from the basis of noble varieties. After 1945, this is a dry wine. It tastes as an aperitif, and it Marlenheim to Thann. It policy has been further improved by the in- is especially liked by asparagus enthusiasts. is winding and varied, and troduction of rules on demarcation of the Pinot Gris is - in the opinion of oenologists sometimes offers absolutely boundaries of the vines and set strict rules - strong, round and long. Its aroma resem- Aidyllic views. The route goes through the of production and vinification. In 1962, the bles the forest undergrowth, sometimes hills with vines, small towns full of cob- Apellation d'Origine Contrôlée Alsace cer- with a hint of smoked bacon. It is served bled streets and monuments, and villages tificate was officially introduced, in 1975 - with foie gras, game, white meat and offal. dominated by timber-framed houses. The Alsace Grand Cru, and in 1976 - the name Gewurztraminer is famous for its aroma of trail is full of wine bars called winstubs Cremant d'Alsace was officially recognized. flowers, fruits and roots. It is great with ex- (from German) and restaurants offering Today, the producers, middlemen and deal- otic dishes, cheese and desserts. Pinot Noir simple tasty dishes. ers associated in CIVA, have partnered to develops the aromas of red fruits - cherries, promote Alsace wines in the world. raspberries, currants. It matures in barrels, A region on the trail which gives it a more complex structure. The geographical location of the Alsace Seven vine varieties It goes well with venison, ham and goat region, at the crossroads of Germanic and Alsatian wines are created on the basis cheese. Roman influences, explains the history of of seven grape varieties. Fresh and light, wine-growing shrubs, introduced here 2000 D'Alsace Sylvaner, is famous for its fruit Appellations years ago by the Romans, and then revived and flowery bouquet with dominating aro- and certificates by the Merovingian and Carolingian, who mas of citrus, white flowers and freshly cut It is obligatory to bottle all the Alsace wines valued the "strengthening" effect of wines grass. It is served with seafood, fish and cold in the region of origin. They are poured from this region. A thousand years ago, the meats. Pinot Blanc is distinguished by aro- into characteristic, slender bottles with vines were grown in 160 villages of Alsace, mas of fruits straight from the orchard. It slightly longer necks. An additional guar- and in the Middle Ages, these wines had a is soft, delicate and fresh. It is suitable for antee of quality are the three appellations. reputation of one of the best in Europe. most dishes. Riesling from this region is a AOC Alsace - is a guarantee of the authen- Growing vines in Alsace reached its zenith dry, substantial wine with a subtle bouquet, ticity of wine from that region, preserving in the sixteenth century, and then was bru- with citrus, flower and minerals overtones. local characteristics and the high skill of tally interrupted by the Thirty Years' War. It is great with white meat and sausages - the producer. It was revived only after the First World not just the ones from Alsace. Muscat has For varietal wines, the label may include War, when the winemakers decided to pro- a bouquet of fresh grapes and - in contrast the name of one of the seven varieties.

Growing vines in Alsace reached its zenith in the sixteenth century, and then was brutally interrupted by the Thirty Years' War. It was revived only after the First World War, when the winemakers decided to produce wines whose recipe was developed on the basis of noble varieties.

52 | September 2013 September 2013 | 53 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Destinations

Worth remembering Sometimes the Edelzwicker or Gentil signs latest and most unusual Gothic paintings - are also included. AOC Alsace Grand Cru the altarpiece panels from the monastery in ● Hotel – Grand Hotel Bristol, is a proof that the product is a real rarity. Isenheim by Mathias Grünewald. It can be 7 Place de la Gare, Colmar; This label is awarded to big, substantial seen in Musee d'Unterlinden. www.grand-hotel-bristol.com wines, unique and famous for its high qual- Your next stop might be Riquewihr - a vil- ● Hotel – Hotel de L'Illwald, ity. These wines are produced in one of 51 lage situated among the vineyards. With Schnellenbuhl 67600 Selestat; separate locations and are named after the its fortifications and characteristic timber- www.illwald.fr village they come from. The AOC Cremant framed buildings, it is one of the best pre- ● Restaurant - Le Rendez-vous de Chasse, Col- d'Alsace - is gives to delicate sparkling served, harmonious and beautiful places in mar, www.grand-hotel-bristol.com wines, produced mainly from Pinot Blanc Europe. A visit in this medieval town is defi- ● Restaurant - I'ami Fritz, 8 rue des chateaux, and Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Noire nite must when it comes to culinary experi- Ottrott-le-Haut; www.amifritz.com (pink Cremant). Recently it has been gain- ences, and nearby vineyards, among which ● Wine tasting - Domaine Dopff et Irion, 1 Cour ing popularity - not only in France. you can find well-known grand crus proper- de chateau 68340 Riquewihr; www.doff-irion.com ties - Le Sporen and le Schonenbourg - pro- ● Wine tasting - Domaine des Marronniers, Colmar, Riquewihr, Selestat duce one of the finest Rieslings in the world. Martha and Guy Wach, 5 rue de la Comman- You should start your adventure with Alsace You should also stop in Selestat, as nearby derie, Andalau; www.guy-wach.fr (the owner in the charming Colmar, known as "the cap- there are several castles, the largest and speaks Polish). ital of Alsace wines," which is exactly half- best restored one, Haut-Koenigsbourg, ● Museum - Musee d'Unterlinden, Colmar, way between Strasbourg, Basel, Switzerland dates back to the 12th century and is lo- www.musee-unterlinden.com and the bordering Rhine. But there is much cated at an altitude of 800 m above sea ● Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, Orschwiller; more to Colmar attractions than just his- level. On clear days, when walking around www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr toric buildings and wineries. Tourists from its courtyard, you can see the peaks of the More about Alsace on: www.tourism-alsace.com all over the world come here to see one of Alps.

The geographical location of the Alsace region, at the crossroads of Germanic and Roman influences, explains the history of wine-growing shrubs, introduced here 2000 years ago by the Romans, and then revived by the Merovingian and Carolingian, who valued the "strengthening" effect of wines from this region.

54 | September 2013 September 2013 | 55 | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r A Business Person on Holiday A Business Person on Holiday | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

velopment centres in major cities of India. The country’s exports in this sector are now The New Faces worth tens of billions of US dollars. India is also booming with many compa- nies outsourcing there their business pro- cesses, including call centres, data process- of Delhi ing, remote customer service, consulting, accounting, industrial design, medical ser- It is widely predicted that by 2035 India will have become the world’s third largest vices (including analysis of clinical trials), economy, after the US and China. It is barely surprising then, that the Indian capital city and many others. is already frequently visited by not only tourists, but also businesspeople seeking new City of the new era investments. Marzena Mróz explains why Delhi is a city you simply need to visit. The capital of India is undergoing major changes. The slums of New Delhi may not disappear overnight, but new modern hous- ing districts pop up like mushrooms and the city’s famous monuments are gradu- ally being renovated. What is there to see in the capital of the world's largest democratic country - a city populated by the incredible number of 15 million people? Another site, which is frequently visited by both locals It is worth starting the tour with the mod- and tourists, is the spectacular and modern Lotus Temple completed ern part of the city, especially with Con- in 1986 and notable for its flowerlike shape. naught Place - a commercial hub of Delhi, structured in the form of rings comprising of inner and outer circle, where you will find numerous hotels, shops, restaurants, cafes, and cinemas. Connaught Place is a stone’s throw from the iconic India Gate. The monument was built in 1931 by the British administration in honour of Indian soldiers who were killed during the World War I on the north-west front. It rises to a height of 42 metres, and used to be an offi- cial gateway to the city. It is also close to the presidential palace, the buildings of the par- liament, as well as to the former residence of the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which after her death was converted into Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum (1, Safdarjung Road). In the garden, the last few steps that she walked are now covered in glass, while the very spot where she fell after being shot is also marked with a large glass panel. The in height from 18 m on the riverside to 33 the largest and the best-known mosque in house features a number of family memora- m on the city side. The impressive struc- India. Chandni Chowk area is also home to bilia, including Indira’s wedding sari, which ture was designed according to the Quranic Lal Mandir - the oldest and best-known Jain was painstakingly woven by his father. description of Paradise, and is a true city temple in Delhi, which is also known for a Another place which is worth visiting is the within a city. It consists of five palaces, a charity bird hospital run by monks. National Gallery of Modern Art (ngmain- mosque, gardens and baths. One of the pal- In the Raj Ghat Park, in the eastern part of dia.gov.in), situated south of India Gate. It ace chambers featured the famous golden Old Delhi, there is a memorial to Mahatma preserves and displays modern art from the Peacock Throne inlaid with precious stones, Gandhi with a black marble platform that 1850s onwards, including pieces by such which was looted by Persian leader Nader marks the spot of Mahatma Gandhi's cre- famous Indian artists as Raja Ravi Verma, Shah in 1739. mation in 1948. Another site, which is fre- Amrita Shergill, or M.F. Hussain. Lahore, the main gate of the fort overlooks quently visited by both locals and tourists, is the bustling main boulevard of Old Delhi the spectacular and modern Lotus Temple ndia, which is still often regarded as a of the intellectual potential. India is a coun- branches there, and many global companies City of monuments called Chandni Chowk, or the Moonlit completed in 1986 and notable for its flower- poverty-stricken country, is now phas- try which understands the importance of seek new employees in cities like Delhi, Old Delhi is renowned for the 18th century Square. It is also home to Old Delhi’s old- like shape. Surrounded by over 100 hectares ing in a new reform, which focuses education. It has 260 universities and over Mumbai, and Bangalore. Qudsia Garden, the Kashmiri Gate, but est and busiest markets where at numer- of gardens and nine ponds, this impressive on development through education. 14,000 colleges, which produce 2.9 million The country invests heavily in research and above all the famous Red Fort. The fortress ous stalls you can buy almost anything. structure designed by the Fariburz Sahba, IThe first results of this strategy are already graduates each year, including 350,000 engi- is one of the top ten global players in this was built of red sandstone and covers a total Right next to the market there is the Golden is gradually becoming a new icon of the city. visible. Experts estimate that India is the neers and 200,000 IT specialists. The world's field, with many global IT and electronics area of about 254.67 acres enclosed within Mosque with three gilded domes. It was The temple is open to all people, regardless number two country in the world in terms best universities have already opened their companies building their research and de- 2.4 kilometres of defence walls, which vary built in the 17th century and currently is of religion, or any other distinction. Anyone

56 | September 2013 September 2013 | 57 A Business Person on Holiday | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

can come here to pray or meditate in the Its height of around 35 metres is about the properties are full-service business hotels main hall of the temple, which can accom- same as the length of the base, and is ac- with room facilities such as 30 free minutes modate up to 1,300 people. centuated as it sits on a cylindrical "drum" of wifi (unlimited in the business centre), which is roughly 7 metres high. safes and mineral water. Room rates in- You must see it The romantic charm of the tomb is further clude a buffet breakfast. The 81-room Lem- While in Delhi, it is worth traveling an addi- stressed by arabesques, floral motifs and on Tree Premier at Leisure Valley is more tional 200 km to Agra to see the famous Taj meticulously crafted jail screens. The place upscale, offering larger rooms with superior Mahal - an icon of India and one of the most is best viewed at dusk, when the changing facilities, a pool, spa, bar and all-day café. spectacular buildings in the world. This light brings out all kinds of colours from the All three have a gym. unique palace/mausoleum is an almost per- stones - from white, through gold, pink, red City Centre: 287, Millennium City Centre; fect building and, according to many, you and even blue. tel +91 12 4416 0303. Rooms from Rs 6,732 (£83) must see it with your own eyes to be able to Udyog Vihar: 866 Udyog Vihar; fully appreciate the beauty and mysticism of How to get there? tel +91 12 4442 3232. the place. Taj Mahal was built as a testament You can fly to Delhi with Qatar Airways, Rooms from Rs 5,263 (£65) to the great love of Mughal emperor Shah which offers some of the best fares on this Leisure Valley: 48 City Centre; Jahan to his prematurely deceased wife. It route. If you want to organize a business tel +91 12 4448 0200. was built from the finest species of white meeting or a conference in Delhi, there are Rooms from Rs 7,957 (£98) marble from Rajasthan by 20,000 workers, several options to consider. Not so long ago, ● Radisson Blu Greater Noida The hotel’s and the stones with which it was decorated Connaught Place was the heart of Delhi’s 175 rooms are stylish, soundproofed spaces came to India from various countries of business activity, but now most offices have with 40-inch TVs, free wifi, floor-to-ceiling the East: jade from China, sapphires from moved elsewhere, leaving behind mainly windows and premium bed linens. The 24- Ceylon, corals from Arabia, turquoise from government blocks. Gurgaon, 30km to the hour restaurant serves a huge free break- Tibet, agates from Yemen, Malachites from south with its neon-bright skyline, is the fast, and there is a Pan-Asian eatery and bar. Russia, and pearls from the coasts of the In- new business and financial hub, with Great- The hotel also has its own spa and a rooftop dian Ocean. The proportions of the build- er Noida – a new township with wide ex- grill. The Radisson Blu allows easy access to ing, which was erected between 1631-1648, pressways and green, uncluttered industrial offices in Noida, Greater Noida and central surprise with their simplicity: the height spaces – fast catching up. There are plenty Delhi, and is 45km from the airport. C-8, Site IV, Second Cross Avenue Road; tel +91 12 0451 7777; radissonblu.com Rooms from Rs 5,999 (£74) ● Ramada Gurgaon Central Brand new 5-GWIAZDKOWE PODRÓŻE and centrally located, this 94-room hotel is close to the city’s malls and clubs. The rooms are more luxurious than you might DO INDII expect, with wooden flooring, plush sofas, ROZSMAKUJ SIĘ 32-inch LCD TVs, free wifi and turndown service. A huge breakfast is included, as W NIEPOWTARZALNYCH of good four-star business hotels offering There is a gym and a pool, and the hotel is are airport transfers. A coffee shop, Orien- WIDOKACH I SMAKACH five-star facilities at very competitive prices. a 30-minute drive from the airport and 20 tal restaurant, bar, spa, fitness centre and minutes from the CBD. terrace pool complete the leisure facilities. Where to stay? Main Sohna Road, Sector 49; There are three meeting rooms, with the ● Ibis Gurgaon Situated in Gurgaon’s tel +91 12 4398 8444; fortunehotels.in largest holding 160 people. Ahmedabad • Amritsar • central business district, 25km from the Rooms from Rs 7,550 (£93) Site No 2, Sector 44; Bangalore • Chennai • Delhi airport and next to an 18-hole golf course, ● Lemon Tree East Delhi Located in Kaush- tel +91 124488 6400; Goa • Hyderabad • Koczin India’s first Ibis hotel has 217 small yet ful- ambi, the industrial zone of East Delhi, this ramadagurgaoncentral.com • Kalkuta • Kozhikode • ly-equipped rooms, with flatscreen TVs, tea hotel is on the top two floors of a mall and Rooms from Rs 6,999 (£87) Bombaj • Trivandurum and coffee facilities, minibars and free wifi. offers all the ambience and mod-cons the There is a 24-hour restaurant – the buffet chain is associated with. The 55 rooms are breakfast is one of the hotel’s best features contemporary in style, with flatscreen TVs, Aby zarezerwować bilety, – along with a bar, fitness centre and two tea and coffee facilities, minibars and 30 odwiedź qatarairways.com/pl meeting rooms. minutes of free wifi (then Rs 160/£1.90 per lub odwiedź najbliższe biuro podróży. Block 1, Sector 53, Golf Course Road; hour, or free in the 24-hour business cen- CODZIENNE tel +91 12 4475 5000; ibishotel.com tre). There are rooms with special amenities * World’s 5-star airline. Rooms from Rs 5,183 (£64) for female travellers, a coffee shop, gym, REJSY DO DELHI ● Fortune Select Excalibur This Gurgaon pool, and a free buffet breakfast. Note that property offers 135 rooms with a writing the hotel does not serve alcohol. desk, flatscreen TV, tea and coffee maker, Plot No 1, Kaushambi, tel. +91 12 0442 3232; minibar and safe. Guests get two hours lemontreehotels.com of free wifi (six in Fortune Club rooms), Rooms from Rs 5,283 (£65) and those in suites have access to the ● Lemon Tree, Gurgaon The brand has The famous Red Fort was designed according to the Quranic *WSZYSTKIE REJSY description of Paradise, and is a true city within a city. Club lounge, which offers breakfast, all- three hotels in the satellite city. The 45- PRZEZ DOHĘ day drinks, evening snacks and cocktails. room City Centre and 49-room Udyog Vihar

58 | September 2013 September 2013 | 59

BT_POLAND.indd 6 8/27/13 9:04 AM

BT_POLAND.indd 5 8/27/13 9:04 AM | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r A Business Person on Holiday A Business Person on Holiday | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

Right next to the Club Med resort, there is Lykia Links Golf Club, the best 18-hole Golf Course in Turkey, which attracts the enthu- siasts of this sport from all over the world. Club Med guests can take lessons in a golf academy, where classes are tailored to the level (both advanced and beginner) of the players. The club offers also sports activities such as sailing, windsurfing, tennis, beach vol- leyball, volleyball, flying trapeze, fitness classes and Pilates. Everything is included in the price. There is a large outdoor swim- ming pool complex, and a huge indoor pool, which you can enjoy in winter, when the temperature drops to 20 ° C. For the body and the soul It offers all the possible seaside resort attractions to the golf Guests can also dine in several excellent enthusiasts, is a perfect holiday destination for families restaurants. The Rapsody - a modern res- with children and for business people who can use the club’s taurant, located by the beach, the Adalya, and the most elegant one - the Orientalist, high-tech conference centre. which serves dishes inspired by Turkish cuisine based on mezze, meat, fish, and fresh vegetables and fruits. The Links Res- taurant, on the other hand, serves varied breakfasts - you can choose from Turkish, Continental and American one, as well as lunch and dinner. The 1,300 sq m Club Med Spa by Carita con- sists of twelve treatment rooms, two treat- ment rooms for couples, saunas, a Jacuzzi, rooms for deep body scrubs, and a relaxa- tion area where you can have a cup of Turk- ish tea. It is very popular with the guests thanks to its professional massage thera- pists, skilled beauticians and formulations made by a well-known French brand Carita. You can choose from treatments which aids Club Med Belek relaxing, slimming, revitalizing and skin- renewal. The spa also features a Turkish The recently opened Club Med Belek village is located on the Turkish Riviera, bath, traditional and Russian saunas as well 55 km east of Antalya. A long sandy beach, the best golf course in the country in the as bio saunas. neighbourhood, as well as a spectacular wellness centre, make this place stand out from A unique place the crowd of other facilities in the area. Children are especially welcome at Club Med, as there are numerous attractions lub Med Belek is the latest con- takes no more than 45 minutes. The place is continental breakfast served in the room, aimed at them ranging from specially de- cept by the well-known organizer located by the sea in a spacious building, of airport transfer and spectacular views over signed swimming pools, playgrounds, to of summer and winter holidays. It a really high standard. There are 433 rooms the sea. You can also live in villas located sports activities and care service in the is also the only facility in Turkey, in four-and five-storey buildings equipped near the beach, and even buy one and earn Mini, Petit and Baby Clubs. Club Med Pass- Csituated by the very sea and open all year with elevators. The rooms are spacious with money as a landlord. world has prepared activities for teenagers round. It offers all the possible seaside re- modern furnishings, air-conditioned, with aged 11–17. sort attractions to the golf enthusiasts, is a separate bathrooms and toilets. Beach, tortoises and golf Staying at the club can be even more excit- perfect holiday destination for families with You can choose from three categories of The biggest advantage of this place is the ing if you go to Club Med trips to Istanbul, children and for business people who can rooms - Deluxe with a terrace or a balcony 2.5-kilometre-long clean beach, where tor- Antalya or decide to take a rafting adven- use the club’s high-tech conference centre. overlooking the sea or the swimming pools toises lay their eggs in the fine golden sand. ture. The fact that Belek is located near As- Other attractions include excellent cuisine (some of them have private Turkish baths); This phenomenon can be observed from pendos - the best preserved Greek theatre and a wide choice of entertainment types, Club rooms - larger, family-oriented, with April to September in the early morning or from the 2nd century AD where the perfor- sport activities, a spa, a babysitting service furnished terraces; and Suits - with two evening. On the beach guests have access to mances are organized to this day, makes the and thoughtful and caring service. bedrooms, a dedicated member of the staff lounge chairs, comfortable seats, and, natu- place truly extraordinary. Transfer to Belek from Antalya Airport to assist guests throughout their whole stay, rally, beach umbrellas. Karolina Wolska

60 | September 2013 September 2013 | 61 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | A Business Person on Holiday

with necessary rigging to let ficial finale of the event. It ends them experience what true sea with presenting awards and regatta looks like. The Portoroz course completion certificates. Bay will not give you a chance to face the "high seas", but the A good deal constant, steady winds, will BMW Sail Racing Academy still probably provide you with is an annual event, aimed at enough emotion. participants from Central and The equipment is also perfect. Eastern Europe, mostly to These Elan 210 yachts with a Germans, Austrians, Slovaks, ballasted low-centre-of-gravity Czechs, Hungarians, Roma- lifting keel, are about 6.5 me- nians and Slovenians. Two ters long, and feature a 17 sq m rounds of training are held in mainsail, a 12 sq m jib and a 52 June and September, each for sq m gennaker. The training a total of 24 participants. The staff consists of highly experi- price €1,100 covers training, enced instructors - Slovenians boat charter, lunches in Por- and Italians. This year they toroz marina, accommodation were led by Roberto Ferrarese, and full board at Kempinski who has for long been involved hotel, as well as transfers to in many prestigious regattas, and from the airport in the including the America's Cup. Italian Trieste. We believe it The three-day course starts is a very good deal, and al- with basic training and a the- though it cannot be compared oretical test, followed by the to sailing in the open sea, it instructors checking on your will still let you experience sailing skills on the water. The the taste of what the sailing first day ends with a training regatta looks like. regatta on the Portoroz Bay. More information about BMW The second day is devoted to Sail Racing Academy can be further training on the water, found on the website and discussing the common www.bmw-sailracingacademy.com errors. The third day is the of- Filip Gawryś

The Top Academy Odwiedź nowy BMW Sail Racing Academy is a high-end sailing school. portal lotniczy Cen- But what does BMW have to do with sailing? Well, it turns out, it has quite a lot. trum Lotów he question seems a people of all ages should have a was spared the atrocities of the most popular sea resorts in Aus- little surprising, and chance to go beyond their lim- civil war in the 1990s. tria. After several years of the the answer is not ob- its. Sounds like a cheap market- Participants to the BMW Sail socialist reign in Yugoslavia, vious, but when you ing? Maybe so. But what does it Racing Academy stay in the the hotel returned to its former Tlisten to the BMW marketing look like in reality? luxury Kempinski Palace Por- glory in 2008, when Slovenians people who run the project, it toroz hotel - the only five-star signed a 20-year lease agree- does sound convincing. The Fabulous Portoroz property of the chain in this ment with Kempinsky chain. German luxury automotive Slovenian Portoroz (the Port of part of Europe. It is situated in The renovation cost approxi- Najniższe opłaty serwisowe brand decides to start a high- Roses), is the most famous ma- the centre of Portoroz right by mately €70 million, but just one end sailing project whose main rina on the narrow, Slovenian the sea promenade. look at the hotel is enough to okazje Biznes i First elements are top class hotels, coastline, squeezed between Palace, which houses the hotel realise that it really was worth it. tanie linie Elan racing boats, and a calm Italy and Croatia. It is a place is over 100 years old - it was built bay of the Adriatic Sea, where, with a history dating back to in 1908 by the famous Austrian The sailing academy ofery hotelowe with favourable sea winds (3-4 the Empire Romanesque, Ital- architect Johann Eustacchio. It Every year, BMW organises a on the Beaufort scale) you can ian principalities, Austro-Hun- was opened in 1910, when the three-day, intensive course for dziesiątki porad sail, exercise and learn some- garian Empire, the twentieth- territory of the present-day Slo- those who can already sail, but Participants are offered six racing boats thing. BMW says that they are century wars, the collapse of venia belonged to the Austro- still want to know the ins and with necessary rigging to let them experience committed to this project be- Yugoslavia and the fall of na- Hungarian Empire. In those outs of sail racing. Participants what real sea regatta looks like. sprawdź nas cause they believe that active tions after 1989. Fortunately it days, Portoroz was one of the are offered six racing boats

62 | September 2013 September 2013 | 63 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Business Business | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

cess to experts in insurance, concierge, real estate, but also in such fields as the art, wine, and other luxury goods. When meet- ing with their advisor, the customer wants to be able to discuss the matters that they are interested in and would like to have an easy access to all the relevant services. That is why international banks, which of- fer a fine-tuned investment offer for private banking, are trying to meet the needs of customers in an even more sophisticated way, offering them access to miscellaneous professional services.

Are diamonds a customer’s best friend? BNP Paribas is an example of institution with an extensive Wealth Management of- fer (7th largest in terms of assets according to a report by Euromoney, February 2012), and a long tradition in providing services You need to be able to wealthy customers. The non-financial to establish a bond services offered by the bank are particu- larly dedicated to most affluent customers. with the customer The results of a market research carried out by KPMG in 2012, indicate that the lux- Joanna Kadej-Krzyczkowska talks to Joanna ury goods, the purchase of which is treated Szewczyk, Deputy Head of Private Banking as an investment, include jewellery, real es- Department at BNP Paribas Bank Poland SA. tate, luxury spirits, and works of art. In the case of real estate, the respondents What does a job of a wealth management invest mostly in land, flats, or luxury apart- specialist involve? ments. Investing money in property locat- A wealth management specialist is a person ed abroad tends to be less popular. dedicated to a particular wealthy customer. High-end art and antiques do not enjoy In the case of our bank this term refers to a such a great popularity among Polish customer whose assets exceed PLN 600,000. wealthy citizens, as it is the case in West- The specialist provides professional and com- ern Europe, the U.S. and even China. This prehensive banking service. Additionally, apart has its advantages in that the prices of from services such as investment, credit or such goods are considerably lower than in daily banking solutions, the wealth manage- developed markets, which provides great ment specialist also assists the customer in opportunities to invest capital in the long- making difficult financial decisions. These may term investment with promising rates of include tax optimization, currency exchange return. In recent years the market has been transactions, or alternative investments, such in a deep freeze, but now you can see clear as investments in real estate, artwork, luxury Alternative signs of recovery.1*’ goods, cars etc. ore and more often, custom- Real deals How does this cooperation work? ers expect from a bank to can still happen When a customer is planning a transaction, provide them with a compre- Real estate is considered a safe investment they may ask the specialist to provide them Investment Options hensive support in wealth alternative, because it is only partially with a comprehensive analysis on a given topic. Mmanagement. This support may mean ad- correlated with other asset classes. It is a That is why, the specialist must be a person ditional services accompanying liquid as- traditional and essential part of what we with high interpersonal and communica- in Polish Private set management (e.g. succession planning consider to be personal property. Real es- tion skills. They must be familiar with market or other solution related to asset optimiza- tate investments provide investors with the trends. In our bank, we try to choose our tion), as well as access to a number of ser- opportunity to diversify their portfolio and specialists in such a way that their characters vices and products which are not directly adapt it to their needs and the risk profile. match the customer’s profile. Of course, the Banking related to banking. Instead of direct investment, BNP Paribas specialist does not rely solely on their own A wealthy customer sees their advisor as Wealth Management proposes to use the knowledge or experience. Quite often their task Today private banking is not only about standard products not only a person who provides their exper- experience and advice of the bank’s experts is to establish the needs of a customer and and investment products, such as access to brokerage services, investment funds, tise in the selection of investment funds, in various real estate markets. The experts enable them to fulfil the goals. If a customer but also non-financial assets. To save their can help the customer to build a balance wants more information on a product or ser- asset management, or specialized investment products. time, the customer would like to have ac- real estate portfolio, using a variety of in- vice, the specialist arranges a meeting with an

64 | September 2013 September 2013 | 65 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Business

appropriate expert. In conclusion, the main role vestment opportunities around the world. FRANCE), or on real estate management of a wealth management specialist is to help Our experts assist the customer in mak- (BNP Paribas Real Estate). a customer make investment decisions. The ing decisions on direct investments in real In addition, customers have indirect access advantage of this solution is that regardless of estate, for example prestigious residences to funds investing in real estate markets, the area in which a customer wants to invest, and commercial space on the Côte d'Azur shares of property companies, as well as they always contact the same person. They do (BETI), investments in rural areas (AGRI- investment strategies based on the indexes not need to look for a reliable partner among related to the real estate market. e.g. real estate agencies, art galleries, auction houses or insurance companies. It is the role of Sensing trends the wealth management specialist to take care is half the battle of such matters. Investing in art is a very interesting and increasingly popular way to diversify your Alternative investments cover a very wide portfolio. Such investments should be treat- range of areas. What helps you make appro- ed as medium or long-term ones. In recent priate decisions? years, the global art market has expanded In the area of art we work closely with Art Ad- significantly and the prices offered for visory Team based in Paris. They hire experts works of art continue to grow. The upward who specialize in advisory services regarding trend is the result of a combination of an various fields of art. For larger transactions, for increasing number of potential buyers and example when a customer wants to purchase a the decreasing number of works of art that very valuable painting, we can bring the advisor are in good condition and available for sale. to Poland and arrange a meeting with a client. Quality works of art are most frequently Similar procedures apply to all areas of alterna- purchased by museums. For this reason, tive investment – not only to investments in they rarely appear for sale on the market. art. We try to meet all the expectations of our Our independence of the commercial customers and should it happen that we do world of art, allows us to be objective when not have permanent experts in a given field, we issuing recommendations. All of them try to find them on the market. Of course, with are formed on the basis and in accordance such occasional collaboration, all decisions are with individual interest and tastes of our evaluated and verified. customers. Our team of art experts based at BNP Pari- Are alternative investment options more fi- bas in Paris, are always on hand during the nancially risky than the “traditional” ones? process of purchase or sale of a work of art. Certainly they are less predictable. But I want The team continues to monitor the art to emphasize that a wealth management spe- market, current prices and trends. Our cialist or, more generally, the private banking experts can also provide assistance in department presents only an offer. All decisions determining authenticity and origin are solely made by the customer. I think an im- of an artpiece, its valuation, technical portant aspect of private banking is how wealth analysis and preparing a report on its management specialists are remunerated for condition, provide advice on specialist their work. When their salary does not depend insurance companies, conservation on the sale of particular products or services, and framing of paintings, managing there is no suspicion that their choice of prod- an art collection, renting works of ucts is biased in any way. art to national and foreign muse- ums, as well as organising visits to Private banking was established in countries the most popular and prestigious where wealth is built up over generations. I art fairs (e.g. in Paris, Maastricht, guess in Poland it is much harder to gain new or Basel). customers? Joanna Szewczyk For sure. In France, where our headquarters is located, the customer and the wealth manage- ment specialist often work together for years. In Poland, private banking has been present for about ten years. Alternative investments are www.bnpparibas.pl mostly long-term ones. In France, this assump- tion is obvious, while in Poland, customers are just starting to understand it. This probably has something to do with the fact that generational family businesses are still a rare thing in Poland. There are, however, situations where children of our customers also decide to become our loyal cliuents.

66 | September 2013 September 2013 | 67

[157-13] BNP_Paribas_Bankowosc_Pryw_BusinessTr_208x275.indd 1 13-05-20 15:49 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Moto&Techno Moto&Techno | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

The Sensual S Series It is not only the flagship project for Mercedes-Benz, but also for the development of the automotive industry in general. The slogan "the best or nothing", works here in every respect. No other car is able to deliver on this promise better than this one.

68 | September 2013 September 2013 | 69 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Moto&Techno Moto&Techno | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

eople all around the world in- "hot stone principle" and features a unique SUCCESS stantly recognize Mercedes- massage function with 14 separately actu- PBenz cars, by their classic silhouette and the ated air cushions in the backrest, as well as sophisticated design. The new S-Class con- an integrated warming function. Three new tinues this tradition and embodies sensual features improve safety in the rear: in the belt clarity. To underline its leadership ambitions, buckle feeder an electric motor automatically the air intake is now larger and has a three- raises and lowers the buckle. The reclining Support dimensional shape. seat is fitted with a cushionbag as standard. The body with a long bonnet, a sloping line This prevents the occupant from sliding un- of the roof and a subtly angled boot lid, rep- der the belt in the event of an accident. resents the classic proportions of a limou- In the first year of production, the S-Class Technology sine, and at the same time takes hints from include Drowsiness-Detection System AT- will be offered in two hybrid versions - with a sports coupe. TENTION ASSIST, or the Brake Assist BAS a petrol or turbo diesel motor. They boast Expertise The designers focused here primarily on PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist which helps class-leading efficiency and up to 20 per cent achieving a high level of passive safety, to prevent rear-end collisions and collisions lower fuel consumption than the outgoing lightweight design, excellent rigidity and ex- with cross traffic at junctions. model series. All the engines already meet tremely low levels of noise and vibration . The S-Class is also the world's first all-Light the requirements of the Euro-6 emissions DFK Emitting Diode car, with all its exterior light- standard. And this is just the beginning of connected to each sense ing and interior illumination courtesy of the "Green Leadership" initiative. The motor The essence of luxury is expressed here to LED sources. Another breakthrough comes range will include petrol and diesel engines, the last detail. The seats, the climate control, with the functionality of the new lighting hybrids in both versions, soon to be followed Outsourcing multimedia, comfort and safety of passen- system. Adaptive Highbeam Assist makes by the S 500 Plug-In HYBRID - the first S- gers on the rear seat, as well as new ideas, night-time driving even safer. The system Class with a fuel consumption lower than their meticulous execution and the high- adjusts the headlamp range automatically to four litres per 100 kilometres. est quality, embody unsurpassed standards the distance of oncoming traffic or vehicles that engineers at Mercedes-Benz established in front with their lights on. This provides Safety and comfort for the new S-class. The car’s has been the driver with the ideal headlamp range at The new S-Class sets standards in both these Top Accounting for You equipped with numerous assistance systems all times, enabling better and earlier recogni- areas. And although they are not identical making the new S-Class even safer and more tion of the course of the road, pedestrians or fields, research shows that overall comfort resent-day business means new two main elements. The first one is the ● safety. comfortable. What began with the PRE-SAFE other dangers. directly translates into the driver’s efficiency challenges and requirements. Suc- support by modern systems. The system, In practice, this means that you are provid- system, which is able to recognize an immi- and well-being. These requirements are meet cess, but also difficulties that we which helps accounting emerge from a ed with a flexible database navigation fea- nent collision, now enters a new dimension. Soothing reliability by the new S-Class. It is the quietest model in need to overcome, require neces- company’s shadows is undoubtedly Micro- ture, which is tailored to the requirements Comfort and safety come together, and their Interior design is the embodiment of a clas- history, offering unprecedented comfort and Psary information and internal support for soft Dynamics NAV (Navision). Its biggest of today's cyber-world. For example, you technological synthesis is described as the sic, soft, but also ultra-modern limousine. equipped with multimedia that allow you to your organization. The effectiveness of advantage is the ability to cover operations can learn why the amounts due are so high, "Intelligent Drive". Figuratively speaking, The ultimate comfort meets here with sensu- plan your journey more efficiently. With this these elements must be based primarily on of the entire company, providing virtually identify the exact cost structure, check who the nee S-Class will not just have eyes at the al elegance. Two high-resolution colour dis- model we can see how Mercedes-Benz is pur- the quality, but also on the speed and per- unlimited flow of information in any divi- generates the highest revenue as well as the front; it will have 360-degree all-round vi- plays that make up the new information cen- suing its aspirations to create the best car in ceptiveness. sion and the system. largest costs. sion, as well as numerous systems and sen- tre in the S-Class. The seats also get a new the world. Who can provide this important informa- What is necessary for Navision system to A good example of creating added value for sors providing assistance to the driver. These "energizing" massage function that uses the Zuzanna Krzyczkowska tion for the future? A sales or marketing be fully effective? A prerequisite is to have customers, using the combined power of department? Certainly. However, have you a support of qualified accountants who un- modern technology with activities of those ever thought that this can also be the role of derstand modern management processes. who understand the nature of business pro- the accounting department? Therefore, apart from the modern technol- cesses of professional accountants, is com- You may not have considered such an op- ogy, the second important element is knowl- pany DFK. Operating on the market for over tion, mainly because we quite often ac- edge and motivation that help you make 10 years, it has gained experience in work- cept a convenient stereotype. Stereotypical right decisions which, in turn, directly ing with clients from many different indus- views are not always bad. For example, we translate into profits. tries. DFK is not only an accounting office, know that the water in the Baltic Sea is Appropriate business management soft- but also an consultancy firm which is able usually cold, but there are special periods ware provides long-term benefits. In the to analyse the present situation and propose or warmer areas that surprise in a pleasant case of Navision the most important of an appropriate solution. way. There are also professions and ser- them are: With the use of fast and efficient commu- vices that come with certain stereotypes. ● generating quick reports nication technologies, professional account- This is exactly the case of the accounting ● simple transition from general view to ing services help in taking the right deci- department, which is often perceived as an details sion here and now. ossified entity, somewhat dusty, and con- ● the ability to analyze the results, bro- Professional partner demned to describe the past. ken down by any number of dimensions: Despite the unfair assessment, it is often product, cost centres, business goals, cam- With three engineering priorities - safety, performance and luxury possible to break with that image and give paigns, investments, etc. - the new S-Class extends the boundaries of technology in many ways. accounting services an appropriate place ● remote data access from anywhere in the www.dfk.pl in a modern century. This is possible with world [email protected]

70 | September 2013 September 2013 | 71 B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r | Destinations Destinations | B u s i n e s s T r a v e l l e r

hours in... Seville We usually associate Seville with the story about proud Carmen, the adventures of a famous barber, the rise of flamenco or the amorous conquests of Don Juan. Indeed - the past is present here at every step, but the current capital of Andalusia, Spain is a vibrant, modern city.

The Plaza de España It emerges suddenly and looks like a town 4 within a town. You can spend here a few hours strolling around and listening to mu- sic. A park, which was founded in the late 19th century, was designed by the French architect Le Forestier. These areas were named after the Infanta Maria Luisa Fer- nanda de Orleans, who donated them to Se- ville. Because of the Ibero-American exhibi- tion, between 1929-1930 beautiful exhibition pavilions were erected here for all 20 coun- tries which took part in it. A Seville-born architect Anibal Gonzalez won the contest for the best exhibition design. His designed the spectacular half-circle complex of Plaza de Espana with the towering Palacio Espa- nol In his work he referred to various styles characteristic for the Spanish tradition. The Plaza de España emerges suddenly and looks like a town within a town. You can spend here a few The Plaza is surrounded by a channel with hours strolling around and listening to music. bridges designed in Venetian style, deco- rated with ceramic art. On the plaza you can forming the fortifications, this one occupied carta and made of walnut, larch and chest- thanks to an intricate mechanism. There is admire the art representing all the provinc- a strategic position. At the time the watch- nut wood. It presents scenes from the life also a painting by Francis Goya which pre- es of Spain. Their history was symbolically tower was used to control access to the city's of Sevillan saints and the city panorama. In sents the patron saints of Seville - Justa and depicted on the ceramic azulejos tiles. The port. A large chain connected the Torre the middle of the south nave there is a tomb Rufina - young pottery makers, who were garden is divided by long avenues named del Oro with yet another tower across the of Christopher Columbus. It is not known thrown to lions by the Romans as a punish- after the famous conquistadors. river. When the chain was raised, it would whether the great explorers is actually bur- ment for destroying a statue of their god. block all ships from entering the city. The ied here, or on his beloved island - the Car- Cigar Factory tower was once tiled with golden azulejos, ibbean La Espanoli. It is worth spending Giralda The square in front of the old Cigar Factory and hence its name. Today it is white and a few minutes in the semi-circular Royal The construction which towers above all the of Seville is known worldwide thanks to the it beautifully contrasts with the river, on a Chapel. Under a silver canopy there is a fig- other buildings of Seville is the so-called opera "Carmen: by Georges Bizet. By the background of the blue sky in the vicinity ure of St. Mary, whose head and hands move Giralda - the former minaret of the great main gate crowned with a statue depicting of date palms. mosque, one of the most beautiful and the "Fame", there is a courtyard, which used to most distinctive buildings in the city. This be a walking passage to the factory halls, The Cathedral is the only part of a mosque that survived stables, warehouses, as well as the rooms of St. Mary of the See Where to go its demolition in the 15th century, and it for the guard and the prison. The place Today Seville Cathedral, whose construc- ● Hotel – Tryp Macarena, now serves as the cathedral’s bell tower. where once thousands of women rolled ci- tion started in the early years of the 15th San Juan de Ribera 2; www.hotelestryp.com The name comes from the word giraldillo gars using tobacco leaves, today is a univer- century, is the largest Gothic church in the ● Restaurant - Becerrita, Recaredo 9; - a weather vane, which was put on its peak sity building. Where does the name 'cigar' world. Only St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and www.becerrita.com in the 16th century. The entrance is located come from? From the Spanish word for ci- St. Paul's Cathedral in London boast a larger ● Restaurant - Robles Placentines, in the north-east corner of the cathedral, to cadas - 'cigarra', resembling brownish and cubic capacity. The cathedral was designed San Placentines 2; www.casa-robles.com the left of the Capilla Real. Only after climb- aromatic el cigarro. as a hall-shaped basilica and built on top of ● Tavern - La Taberna del Alabardeo, ing the Giralda (97 meters!), can you see the a rectangular base as in Muslin mosques. Zaragoza 20; www.tabernadelabardero.es details of Gothic sculptures of the church Golden Tower Its five naves are 126 metres long and are ● Flamenco performance - La Casa de la and see the city skyline. I was particularly The symbol of Seville - Torre del Oro - from 82 metres wide, which is unprecedented in Memoria, impressed by the interior of the bell tower the 13th century, overlooks the River Gua- church architecture. The altar in Spain was Cuna 6; www.lacasadelamemoria.es with its 35 gently sloping, wide ramps. dalquivir. Of all the 166 defensive towers, designed by a Flemish sculptor Pieter Dan- Marzena Mróz

72 | September 2013 September 2013 | 73 Ask peter Letters Piotr Kalita is related with air transport market for almost 20 years. He is specializing in corporate and diplomatic travel segment. Have a question? - ask Piotr. Mail your question to: [email protected]

Taking extra luggage Taking a tunnel ride across the ocean from Paris to London

At the end of September I will fly with LOT from Toronto to War- My boss wanted to take a journey from London to Paris by train, saw. I have extra luggage. How many items can I get without which goes through the Channel Tunnel. I checked that there is extra charge? How much does it cost to take an extra suitcase? much difference in the prices and different cars in three classes. Can I take more luggage when flying in business class? What are The names do not really ring a bell. My boss wishes to be able to the allowances for the carry-on luggage? change the ticket. Which car and which place should I choose? Adam How early should he be at the station? Does the train stop along the way? Dear Adam, Aneta With flights between Poland and Canada the airlines operate under the so called piece concept. If you fly in economy class, Dear Aneta, you can take just one piece of luggage weighing no more than 23 Travel by Eurostar under the English Channel is very popular kg. The dimensions of your baggage (length, width and depth) with business passengers, mainly because they save the time. should not exceed 158 centimetres. Although there are some ex- In about two hours and 15 minutes you can get from central ceptions regarding the dimensions of sports equipment. Higher London to central Paris or Brussels. limits for baggage are entitled to the Miles and More loyalty pro- You can choose from three different classes of service: Standard gram members who have a Frequent Traveller status. (equivalent to the economy class on an airplane, very popular If your luggage weighs more than 23 kg (but less than 32 kg), with tourists), Standard Premier (can be compared to Premium you will be charged a fee of CAD 130. If the weight of your lug- Economy) and Business Premier (the most elite, comparable to gage does not exceed the limit, but its dimensions are bigger - business or first class on airplanes). the fee is CAD 150. If you exceed both the weight and the dimen- Indeed, the price range is quite high. Standard class two-way sional limits - the fee increases to CAD 210. There are, however, ticket prices usually start from £69 and the most expensive some exceptions regarding the dimensions of sports equipment. one in Business Premier - £490. It is similar as with airplane The second piece of luggage (not more than 23 kg and 158 cm) is tickets - the cheapest ticket pool is very limited and closed well charged CAD 100, and for each additional one - CAD 200. in advance. Business travellers should check if a given rate is The carry-on baggage is also subject to weight and dimensional flexible, as this allows to change the ticket. Therefore, business- limits. The maximum limit in economy class is one piece weigh- men should consider higher rates in the range of £250-£390 in ing 8 kg. The Premium Club class members can have two pieces Standard Premier class (with the possibility of changes for £30), with a total weight of 12 kg (but one cannot weigh more than 8 or the highest rates in Business Premier class (all changes free kg). The limits in business class limit is the largest - 2 pieces up of charge). to 9 kg each. The dimensions of hand luggage must not be more The cars have no compartments. Standard Premium and Busi- than 55 x 40 x 23 cm, which ensures that it fits in the overhead ness Premium offer solo or double seats. The most popular locker or under the seat in front of you. In addition, you can take places are solo forward-facing seats with a table (you can work a bag with a laptop. Passengers are still not allowed to take liq- on a laptop). I recommend the seats in the central part of the car uids in containers holding more than 100 millilitres. (away from the luggage section and the restroom). As you noted, business class passengers have higher limits. Check-in stations are 30 minutes before train departs. Busi- They can check-in three pieces up to 32 kg each. Premium Club ness Premier Class passengers may check-in no later than 10 passengers are also entitled to higher limits - 2 pieces up to 23 minutes before the scheduled departure. Eurostar trains depart kg. So you might consider payment to upgrade to Premium Club from the St. Pancras International in London and arrive at the or Business (Elite Club). In addition to increased baggage allow- Gare du Nord in Paris. Some trains are direct, but some stop at ance you may also get extra points Miles and More program, Ebbsfleet or Ashford stations. Therefore, you should check the faster check-in and access to the business class lounge. specific train number.

September 2013 | 75

MT Polska reklama nowa 208x275 new.indd 1 12-03-13 20:55