2005 Business Travel Poll Results

Our Business Travel Poll received 768 votes, which was more votes than ever before.
The results are in, the votes have been counted and we are pleased to unveil Asia's best and worst in business travel. You are demanding travellers and our poll has long reflected as much. Even the best hotels cannot rest on their laurels.



Indeed, in one of the poll's more noteworthy findings, the Peninsula was replaced this year by the new Four Seasons in Hong Kong as the SAR's best hotel - a result that will surprise some, given that the Four Seasons has only had its doors open for a matter of weeks.



As with years past, business travellers in Asia have responded overwhelming to our poll. Building on the 472 replies received in 2004, respondents jumped at the chance to rate the best and worst elements of Asian travel, with a record 768 responses submitted. Again in 2005, the Business Travel Poll illustrated that airlines and hotels are attracting steady business from the region's travellers and that respondents eagerly await the chance to commend and lambast both.







Similarly to last year's poll, readers again spent significant time away from home. Exactly 175 readers, or 24.3% of total respondents, spent more than 50 nights per year in hotels. Consistent with 2004's percentages, 43.6% of all respondents spent between 21 and 50 nights in hotel, while just under 24% stayed between 11 and 20 nights.



For both hotels and airlines, competition for a larger slice of the Asian business travel pie will continue into 2006. According to replies in this year's survey, 88.6% of polled readers expect to increase their travel loads in 2006.



However, this expected boon for both the airline and hotel sector may face a force majeure event. In 2004, we asked readers if the SARS epidemic would prove a major disruption to business travel. This year we asked readers to plot the effects of avian flu on business travel over the next 12 months - and the outcome was telling.



In a result largely derivative of global opinion, 50.1% of voters believed that the unfolding bird flu situation would pose a problem and ultimately hit the business travel industry over the next few months. But in a result that reflects the fact that nobody really knows the answer, the yes and no check boxes for this question was separated by a solitary vote.



Like 2004, we again asked respondents for their opinions on the regional dilemma of air pollution. As an increasing number of readers travel extensively around our smog-laden metropolises, we believe that final results present a pretty strong idea of Asia's best and worst pollution offenders.



Unsurprising to those readers that reside in the once fragrant harbour, Hong Kong was again judged Asia's most polluted city. Mirroring the 2004 count, Hong Kong pipped Beijing by handful of votes, with Bangkok, Shanghai, Jakarta, Manila and Bombay following in the same positions as last year.



On the opposite end of the pollution stakes, readers deemed Singapore, Seoul and Taipei as the cleanest major centres. In contrast to the humiliating response to Hong Kong's worsening air troubles, Singapore did not register a single a negative vote on the issue of pollution.



Flying colours



Voters were again quick to praise and ever quicker to condemn airlines. When lavishing admiration on international carriers, two airlines stood out as the region's standout carriers. Singapore Airlines was again considered by business travellers as the best in class, taking the top spot for best all round quality and service, most outstanding food and beverages and friendliest cabin staff.



Although upgrades remained as the most frequent swinging vote, several readers were more specific in their praise for Singapore Airlines.



"Every time that I travel on Singapore Airlines I'm constantly met with extremely tasty food, friendly service and good entertainment during flights," said one respondent. "Singapore Airlines is unmatched."



"When I took the wrong bag from the carousel and realised my mistake on the (Hong Kong) Airport Express, the mistake was quickly rectified and my bag was at the hotel before I arrived to exchange the wrong bag with the actual owner," adds another satisfied traveller.



What was more interesting about this year's results is that we asked readers to specify their ‘preferred airline' ie the one on which they travelled most. The bulk of readers specified that Cathay Pacific was their ‘preferred airline'. This piece of data supported a theory we had long had: that while the voters in our poll are more likely to fly Cathay (due to their place of residence and mileage programmes), they still hold the belief that Singapore Airlines is actually superior.



In terms of airports and airport lounges, Hong Kong prevailed. Cathay's The Wing was again deemed the finest in Asia, as was its home base, Hong Kong International Airport.



It wasn't all high acclaim for the poll's most regarded airlines, with several voters quick to point out that both Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific has their share of problems.



One curious piece of feedback we had on Cathay Pacific was from a passenger who wrote: "Rolling out to the runway in Hong Kong, I noticed an odd piece of metal protruding from the wing. While I was attempting to point out the fact in English to the cabin crew, the man in the seat behind me who spoke Chinese also noticed it and pointed it out to the Chinese crew in his native tongue. We returned to the parking bay for an hour whilst the wing was fixed. After we landed in Vietnam, the airline gave a bottle of Champagne to the guy behind me and I got nothing!"



Outside of Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, readers were indeed harsher and more graphic in their appraisals for other airlines operating in the region.



United Airlines proved a popular target for ruffled travellers: "On a business class flight on United a surly, middle-aged attendant butchered the pronunciation of my name and then laughed at the sound of it," noted one.



Hotels, resorts and golf



As a general trend, business travellers around the region tended to stick to hotels they knew, with the majority of 2004 winners again taking home the spoils in 2005.



In Southeast Asia: The Oriental in Bangkok, the Grand Hyatt in Jakarta, the Ritz-Carlton Millenia in Singapore and the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur were again considered the finest hotels in their respective markets. In India, The Oberoi Group took top honours in New Delhi and Bombay, with respondents judging the latter operation superior to the newly opened Grand Hyatt. Readers again voted the Shangri-la Makati as Manila's best-rated hotel.



Throughout the developing North Asia hotel market, the Grand Hyatt repeated its reputation for unparalleled excellence with its Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei operations voted as the top business hotels in their respective markets. The group's Park Hyatt was again judged Sydney's best hotel. It wasn't all top laurels for the US-based luxury hotel and resort group, with its respondents switching loyalties from its Tokyo Park Hyatt to Four Seasons.



The most resounding result came in Hong Kong, with the previously untouchable surroundings of the iconic Peninsula Hotel dethroned as the territory's premier hotel by the recently opened Four Seasons. Predicted by several voters last year, the vote of confidence is perhaps not surprising when the central location and proximity to the Airport Express of the Four Seasons is considered. However, considering the hotel opened for business less than two months ago, its six star branding evidently played some role in the Four Seasons victory.



On a regional level, FinanceAsia readers again considered Singapore's Ritz-Carlton Millenia as Asia's finest hotel, with 152 votes. Shangri-La was named the best hotel group operating in the region.



For the unwinding business traveller, Phuket's Banyan Tree was the clear choice for the region's best spa. The Blue Canyon Country Club was voted the best golf course in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile Shenzhen's mammoth Mission Hills Golf Club was easily voted the top course in Greater China.
Do you anticipate doing more or less business travel in 2006?
More639
Less82


What is your favourite spa resort in Asia?
Banyan Tree Phuket88


What is Asia's best airport?
Hong Kong International Airport357
Singapore Changi International Airport271
Kuala Lumpur International Airport16


Which city in Asia has the worst taxi drivers?
Bangkok85
Beijing71
Bombay70
Manila63
Jakarta57


Which city in Asia has the worst air pollution?
Hong Kong133
Beijing129
Bangkok75
Shanghai65
Jakarta63


What is your favourite golf course in Greater China?
Mission Hills, Shenzhen77
Spring City, Kunming12


What is your favourite golf course in Southeast Asia?
Blue Canyon Country Club, Phuket41
Ria Bintan Resort, Indonesia19


Will bird flu cause a crisis for business travel in the coming 12 months?
Yes335
No334


Best Hotel in Bangkok
The Oriental148
Sukhothai110
Shangri-La104
The Peninsula101
Grand Hyatt Erawan68
Conrad67
Regent28
Metropolitan24


Best Hotel in Beijing
Grand Hyatt196
The St Regis125
Shangri-La118
The Peninsula Palace76
China World66
Hilton23
Great Wall Sheraton19
Kerry Centre18


Best Hotel in Hong Kong
Four Seasons162
The Peninsula153
Island Shangri-La135
Landmark Mandarin Oriental73
Grand Hyatt71
Conrad62
Ritz-Carlton41


Best Hotel in Jakarta
Grand Hyatt148
Four Seasons115
Shangri-La102
Mandarin Oriental80
Dharmawangsa65
Ritz-Carlton65
Hilton13


Best Hotel in Kuala Lumpur
Mandarin Oriental188
Ritz-Carlton147
Shangri-La128
JW Marriot70
Hilton40
Sheraton Imperial26
Regent21


Best Hotel in Manila
Shangri-La Makati284
The Peninsula135
Mandarin Oriental107
InterContinental49
Dusit10


Best Hotel in Bombay
The Oberoi199
Taj Mahal140
Grand Hyatt88
Hilton25
Le Meridian22
InterContinental20
Sheraton Grand Maratha17
Renaissance12
The Regent10


Best Hotel in Delhi
The Oberoi199
Hyatt117
Taj Palace84
Taj Mahal54
Hilton34


Best Hotel in Seoul
Grand Hyatt173
Westin-Chosin148
Shilla84
Park Hyatt80
Ritz-Carlton69
Hilton21
Intercontinental19


Best Hotel in Shanghai
Grand Hyatt266
Portman Ritz-Carlton112
Pudong Shangri-La85
Westin46
Marriot43
Intercontinental Pudong33
Hilton11


Best Hotel in Singapore
Ritz-Carlton Millenia302
Fullerton146
Four Seasons92
Shangri-La47
Grand Hyatt45
Oriental21
Intercontinental16
Regent6


Best Hotel in Sydney
Park Hyatt196
Sheraton on the Park98
Ritz-Carlton93
Shangri-La63
Intercontinental54
Hilton15
Wentworth13
Avillion6


Best Hotel in Sydney
Park Hyatt196
Sheraton on the Park98
Ritz-Carlton93
Shangri-La63
Intercontinental54
Hilton15
Wentworth13
Avillion6


Best Hotel in Taipei
Grand Hyatt252
Far Eastern Plaza115
Sherwood92
Grand Formosa Regent89
Hilton35


Best Hotel in Tokyo
Four Seasons221
Park Hyatt174
Imperial94
Okura50
New Otani36


What is your favourite business hotel in Asia?
Ritz-Carlton Millenia152
Island Shangri-la90
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong84
The Peninsula, Hong Kong51
Grand Hyatt, Shanghai45
Oriental, Bangkok33


Best Hotel Chain in Asia
Shangri-La251
Hyatt156
Four Seasons130
Mandarin Oriental104
Peninsula34


Which airline offers the best all round quality and service for business travel in Asia?
Singapore Airlines360
Cathay Pacific278
Dragon Air14
Malaysian Airlines11
Qantas11
British Airways10
Virgin9
JAL8
Thai Airways8


Which airline class do you normally fly?
First17
Business476
Economy226


What is your preferred airline? (ie which airline do you normally travel on)
Cathay Pacific301
Singapore Airlines247
Dragon Air29
Qantas28
Malaysian Airlines17
British Airways16
United Airlines16
Korean Air13
Virgin10
JAL9
Thai Airways8


Do you have the impression that your preferred airline is upgrading you more, less or about the same?
More112
Less157
About the same451


Is the food generally improving on your preferred airline?
Improving472
Detoriorating238


Which airline has the most outstanding food and beverages?
Singapore Airlines369
Cathay Pacific178
JAL43
Malaysian Airlines23
British Airways16
Dragon Air16
Qantas16
Thai Airways16
Virgin12
Korean Air5
United Airlines1


Which airline has the friendliest cabin attendents?
Singapore Airlines352
Cathay Pacific163
Thai Airways45
Dragon Air32
JAL26
Malaysian Airlines22
Virgin18
Qantas14
Korean Air10
British Airways8
United Airlines1


Which airline has the best flat beds in business class?
British Airways238
Singapore Airlines220
Cathay Pacific98
Virgin45
Qantas24


What is the best airline lounge in Asia?
The Wing, Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific)392
Singapore Airlines Kris Lounge258
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