Business travel poll 1998: A hard landing in Asia
Business travel poll 1998: Hotels
Business travel poll 1998: Airlines
Two years ago we described the senior executives who read Euromoney as a loyal and conservative group. Scratch that. Those who voted in our annual survey of business travel this year are discerning and somewhat fickle. While Hong Kong's Mandarin Oriental is the world's favourite hotel for the sixth year in succession, the Shangri-La group - last year's favourite hotel chain - has dropped six places.
This year two American airlines, Continental and Northwest, join the worst-airlines list. But Belgium's Sabena came out worst in this ranking. One travel planner whose job it is to make sure that 1,900 co-workers are happy with their travel arrangements comments: "When I propose to use Sabena, everyone always says 'no, no'. Unfriendly service and decrepit furnishings, it seems, are the chief reasons for their howls of disapproval.
Approval ratings for British Airways remain sky-high; this airline tops the poll in 12 out of 15 categories. Amsterdam's Schipol airport, which has earned a reputation as a leisure centre with its retail shops, casino, virtual reality golf course and luxury spa, has risen two places to claim the title of second favourite airport for business travellers after London's Heathrow.