News

Just landed

8 Jul 2008 by Mark Caswell

Puff piece

Swissotel has employed a female “cigar sommelier” at its Krasnye Holmy property in Moscow. Elena Terekhina, who has represented Russia at the “Festival del Habano” cigar competition in Cuba, says she is there “to find the cigar for you that will be yours for a long time”. Businesstraveller.com wonders if the whole idea will go up in smoke?

Flying minijumbo

German aircraft model-maker Reinhard Oetken has built a five-metre long version of the A380 superjumbo. The working model weighs around 100kg, has a wingspan of 5.35 metres, and takes just 21 litres of fuel. Perhaps cost-conscious airlines will be snapping up the minijumbo for their fleets.

Bathing culture

The Clarendon Hotel in downtown Phoenix is offering a US$20 voucher for guests who check in wearing their bikini or swimming trunks. The gift can be used against room service or in the hotel’s restaurant, but beware – men checking in wearing thongs will apparently be charged an extra US$20 “hammock-handling fee”.

Is it a bird?

To celebrate its 85th birthday, Finnair has unveiled an Airbus A319 with a retro silver livery. Appropriately named “Silver Bird”, the plane has been painted like a 1950s Convair aircraft, the type used by the airline under its previous name of Aero. Rumours that the captain will be sporting a leather jacket and teddy-boy haircut are unfounded.

Business butlers

Business travellers visiting the Dylan hotel in Dublin can now call upon the services of Marcin and Madison, the property’s resident business butlers. Their responsibilities range from providing in-room laptops for guests, to co-ordinating printing facilities and booking restaurants. Unfortunately, their remit doesn’t stretch to closing that million-dollar deal or taking your place at the next “blue sky” meeting.

By Mark Caswell

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