The new Melbourne business travel office of corporate travel agency, BCD Travel, officially opened on February 15.

Located on Level 7 of 99 Queen Street, the new office is larger and in a more central location, enabling the travel management company to service its growing business travel client base from a more convenient location.

Corporate travel management company, BCD Travel, also has a Sydney business travel office and a Brisbane business travel office, with the trio of offices servicing corporate travel clients based all over Australia.

The phone number for BCD Travel’s Melbourne business travel remains 03 9595 6900.

Corporate travel management company, BCD Travel, says business travel for meetings incentives conferences exhibitions is now twice the level of this time last year due to greater confidence in the business world.

Demand for business travel and bookings of meetings incentives conferences exhibitions was lower than usual in 2009 due to the fall-out of the global financial crisis, said BCD Travel Head of Sales & Client Services, Stephen Finlay.

However, it seems a significant turn-around in 2010 is already underway with twice as many clients requesting assistance with corporate travel bookings and the planning and execution of meetings incentives conferences exhibitions in the first quarter, he said.

The surge in demand reflects predictions in BCD Travel’s 2010 Global Industry Forecast Paper.

Among the best in the skies

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will offer passengers one of the world’s most comprehensive in-flight entertainment systems when it launches its new Panasonic eX2 system next month.

The new in-flight entertainment incorporates a range of up-to-the-minute features including:

• An iPod connector in every seat on the aircraft, for playing and recharging iPods, with an additional RCA connection in first and business class making it possible to connect other portable entertainment devices (MP3’s, DVD players etc) to the IFE system
• An easy-to-use interactive interface in Arabic and English;
• A specially designed ‘Just for Kids’ interface for children under 12, featuring a sub-set of all the entertainment options that would appeal to a younger audience.

The system has been fitted on the first of five new Airbus A330-300 in December 2009. The Panasonic eX2 system will also be available on Etihad’s new fleet of Boeing B777 aircraft scheduled for delivery from 2011.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “As a long haul premium carrier – and the world’s leading airline – whatever we offer our passengers has to be the best in class.”

Additional features available with the new Panasonic eX2 system include:

• 23″ personal wide screen TV monitors in first class; 15.4″ wide screens in the new business class offering and 10.6″ wide screen monitor in each economy class.
• Over 600 hours of entertainment, including a selection of 85 movies, 114 popular TV shows and a CD library of over 450 albums.
• A premium handset in first and business class providing short-cut keys to the various IFE options. An LED display provides information about the media currently playing as well as an update on the time to and time at destination.
• Picture-in-picture feature.
• Keyword search functionality.
• An option for first class for passengers to use Etihad Room Service by placing a telephone call to the crew from the comfort of their suite.
• A new “Do Not Disturb” feature in business class that can be activated via the E-Box IFE system and posts a message outside the suite.
• A games portal offering 60 games, including a selection of 3-D games. Players can create their own profiles and avatars, and invite other passengers to join in multi-player games. The portal displays the five most played games on each aircraft, and also provides articles and news on games.
• A “My Videos” feature where favorite movies or TV titles can be added to a play list to make the selection process easier.
• “My Audio” enables passengers to create a jukebox by selecting and storing CDs or their favorite tracks.
• “Magazine Rack” features interesting articles and travel tips on a range of popular destinations.

Passengers will also be able to use the system to access a range of services and information, including a variety of interactive maps, and downward and forward facing cameras for viewing the passing landscape or the view from the front of the aircraft.

In-seat telephones in all classes allow calls to be made from every seat to anywhere in the world at a charge of US$6 per minute using a valid credit card – or to other seats on the aircraft.

Noise cancelling headsets are available in all travel classes. Passengers can provide feedback on Etihad’s services by completing a survey via the IFE system. On flights to Abu Dhabi, information on connecting flights and arrival information will also be accessible.

Diverse and dynamic

San Francisco’s geography makes it one of the United States’ most unique cities. The city lies between the ocean, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the redwood forests and the California desert. Sitting atop the San Andreas Fault, San Francisco has been shaped by earthquakes – in particular the legendary 1906 quake and subsequent fires, which destroyed 80 percent of its structures.

San Francisco has more than 50 hills within city limits and some neighborhoods are named after the hill on which they are situated, including Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, and Russian Hill.

San Francisco is a bustling city rich in ethnic diversity, with an eclectic bohemian subculture and a myriad of languages, customs, shops and restaurants packed into its compact 49 square miles.

Getting to and from the airport:
San Francisco International airport (SFO) is located 15 miles south of downtown. The best way to get downtown is via BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), which operates a direct rapid rail service. To get from SFO to Embarcadero (financial district), for example, will cost around US$8.10. The BART Station can be found on the departures/ticketing level of the International Terminal.

Taxis are also available and depart from designated taxi zones located at the roadway center islands, on the arrivals/baggage claim level of all terminals. Approximate taxi fare to downtown is US$40.

Getting around San Francisco:
The best way to navigate San Francisco is via the city’s public transportation system Muni, which operates nearly 100 bus lines, the streetcar system and the city’s cable cars. Tickets cost US$2.00 and free transfer tickets are available on most Muni lines, which can be used for two connecting trips within 90 minutes (this excludes BART and the cable car).

If you’re up for a hilly challenge, why not cycle? San Francisco is bicycle friendly and many residents do use their bikes as their primary means of transport.

The Embarcadero, Marina Green, and Golden Gate Park are popular cycling areas and many companies rent bikes, such as Blazing Saddles and Bike and Roll.

Taxis can be flagged along downtown streets or booked over the phone. Credit cards are generally accepted, but double-check before getting into the cab. Tipping is customary and drivers expect about 10 to 15 percent.

What to do:
Native San Franciscan Joyce Cohen, director of account management & operations for BCD Travel in the U.S. recommends a visit to the following sites, some of which won’t cost you a dime!

No trip to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to the city’s landmark – the Golden Gate Bridge. This suspension bridge spans the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean, and stretches 1.7 miles long. You can cross the bridge via car, on foot or bicycle and take in the magnificent scenery.

In the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park you will find the de Young Museum. The landmark art museum showcases priceless collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, and art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific.  Adult entrance fees are US$10, but it’s worth noting that the first Tuesday of every month is free.

Head down to the piers and sidewalks of Fisherman’s Wharf where you can glimpse the sunbathing resident sea lions crowded onto pontoons. You will also find plenty of bay-view restaurants and souvenir shops nearby. Take a two-hour “duck tour” onboard a restored World War II landing craft for an excursion of the city by land and sea, operated by Bay Quackers. Tickets cost about US$35 per person. San Francisco’s Coit Tower is a 210-foot high Art Deco tower on Telegraph Hill.  The tower contains 19 painted murals, most of which are open to the public at no charge.

The viewing platform at the top of the tower (approx. US$3.75 entrance fee) offers sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Island, and other area attractions.

Visit the California Academy of Science – complete with an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof. It’s an architectural achievement with hundreds of unique exhibits and nearly 40,000 live animals. General admission adult tickets cost US$29.95.

Where to eat:
With generations of immigrants from Asia and Europe settling in San Francisco, dining out is one of the city’s great pleasures. You can enjoy some great classic Cantonese in San Francisco’s Chinatown, which was established in the 1850’s.  Head to North Beach and you’ll reach the city’s Italian district. If its sushi you’re after, then visit Nihonmachi where you will find a small but vibrant Japanese community – even the local McDonald’s has a slightly Japanese feel.

Here are some of Joyce’s top picks for dining on a budget:

Taylors Refresher
Address: Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Building, Space #6
Tel: 866 328-3663
Web: www.taylorsrefresher.com

For a cheap, cheerful and casual bite, head to Taylors Refresher. The “Eat” giant neon sign over the ordering counter gets right to the point of what Taylor’s Refresher is all about. Grab your fill of burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches, tacos and much more.

Yank Sing
Address: 101 Spear Street or 49 Stevenson Street
Tel: 415 781 1111 / 415 541 4949
Web: www.yanksing.com

This restaurant is located in the financial district and specializes in traditional and contemporary Dim Sum, offering over 100 different varieties. Unlike most restaurants, Yank Sing has no official menu. Instead food servers carry freshly cooked dim sum, which you can request as they pass by. Open to the public during lunch hours only, it’s a great place to pop in for a quick business lunch.

Pacific Catch
Address: 2027 Chestnut Street
Phone: 415.440.1950
Web: www.pacificcatch.com

Pacific Catch offers great fish and seafood dishes using local Californian ingredients, which are infused with flavors from Asia, Latin America and Hawaii. The reasonably priced menu includes dishes such as fish and sweet potato fries, grilled sandwiches, Island tacos, and Japanese rice bowls. Sit back, relax and watch the world go by.

Where to shop:
San Francisco is a haven for shopaholics, with numerous shopping centers, districts and malls. Although shopping in San Francisco can be an expensive venture, savvy shoppers will find possibilities for every budget.

Union Square is a popular shopping haunt where you can find stores such as Macy’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus, as well as designer boutiques. Street performers can keep you entertained as well as a visit to the nearby Theatres. If it’s urban sophistication or funky clothing you’re after, then head to Haight Street. The streets are dotted with Victorian houses, anarchist bookstores and piercing salons, and some shops still retain an air of the 60’s hippie counter culture.  Another great place for unconventional items is the Mission district. Here you can find offbeat boutiques and funky ethnic clothing.

Fancy something with an Asian twist? Then walk through the red dragon gates and enter the bustling Chinatown.  Complete with ornate lampposts and pagoda roofs, Chinatown offers everything from scented teas to vivid silks and statues of Buddha to mahogany furniture.