EXPERT

TRAVEL

Informed, intelligent and infl ight, we present an executive summary to life across the destinations.

VERY IMPORTANT PASSENGERS

BIGGER, BETTER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE FACILITIES IT replaces, a new VIP centre was recently unveiled at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Decked out in typically Dutch design, it is intended for a very select band of travellers. Reserved for royalty, ministers, secretaries of state, diplomats, trade delegations and top company directors, it has a stringent door policy, and seems intended to bring some glamour back to international air travel. Just how far the authorities will stretch the definition of “top directors” remains to be seen, but gain access to this inner sanctum of privilege and power and you’ll find a surprisingly relaxed environment that combines open lounges and private rooms, all of them decorated, furnished and filled with the very best of Dutch design. Accessible from landside and with an exit into airside, Schiphol’s VIPs are able to drive up to the door, leave their car in the private parking area and enjoy the luxury facilities, only tearing themselves away from the good life in time to catch their fl ight. www.schiphol.nl

LEISURE
CITY SURFERS

TAKE A LOOK OUT OF THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE AT LONDON CITY AIRPORT, and even on a blustery day the water surrounding the runway shows little more than a ripple. Yet an ambitious new project aims to create vast waves just minutes away in the form of the Silvertown Quays Venture Xtreme surf centre, due for completion in late 2010. A world first, the 9m wave tank will be filled with filtered river water, which the planners hope to warm using solar power plus waste heat from local industry. By controlling the waves, the centre will suit anyone from beginner to seasoned surfer, and hopes to draw amateurs from nearby homes and businesses. “Corporate use is going to be a big part of what we do,” says Steve Jones, managing director of Venture Xtreme. “We’re putting together a range of packages for entertaining or for private use.” There will also be a climbing wall, a 100m white sand beach, restaurants, bars and surf shops. Part of the £2bn (€2.6bn) Silvertown Quays development that will include 5,000 new homes, offices, retail and entertainment facilities, Venture Xtreme promises to become a focal point for this slice of the Docklands. www.venture-xtreme.com

NETWORKING
SPEED MEETING

INTENDED AS AN ANTIDOTE TO THOSE endless presentations and awkward networking events that are the bane of many working lives, Pecha Kucha Night was created in 2003 by architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham as a way for young designers to meet and show their work in public. In the past five years the concept has spread to over 100 cities around the world, and now attracts professionals from throughout the creative industries, including design and architecture, marketing, film, fashion, and publishing. The key to this global success is in the rules that govern Pecha Kucha’s speakers, with each allowed 20 slides to present their idea, and a total of 20 seconds per slide, giving them just six minutes and 40 seconds in the spotlight before the next person takes over. The up-tempo atmosphere and focused presentations continue to be popular, and Pecha Kucha (Japanese for the sound of conversation) evenings took place in Groningen and Rotterdam in April, with Hamburg and Amsterdam lined up for May and more cities announcing dates for the coming months. www.pecha-kucha.org

INVESTMENTS

ETHICAL LIVING IS A BOOM INDUSTRY, AND it’s not just about Fairtrade bananas and using less plastic bags. Last year in the UK alone, almost six times more money was invested in ethical funds than in the previous 12 months, and the financial services industry is responding to the soaring demand. Running from 18-24 May, the first ever National Ethical Investment Week has been organised by the UK Social Investment Forum (UKSIF), a non-profit ethical investment membership body that has drawn backing from institutions including Norwich Union and Friends Provident. Intended to further raise awareness of ethical investing, it represents the first time that the financial services industry has worked together under the umbrella of the UKSIF, and should help to make ethical a more attractive proposition to more investors. “There are many myths surrounding green and ethical investing,” says James Dalby, fund propositions manager at Norwich Union. “One example is ‘ethical funds usually under-perform’. This is generally untrue – and National Ethical Investment Week will help to bust this and other common myths surrounding this growing area.” www.uksif.org