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September 21, 2016

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Travel talk with Westin GM

GREG Findlay

Nationality: New Zealand

Profession/title: General manager of The Westin Bund Center Shanghai.

How often do you travel? A few times a year.

Favorite traveling style? Sailing or trains if I have the time.

Q: What do you always do after returning from a trip?

A: Unpack, wash and check how many plants have survived.

Q: What do you always search for during a trip?

A: Local experiences, the best of local restaurants/food and the must-see sights/experiences to tick off the attractions list. I enjoy boutique designer hotels, if possible, or rent a beach house to escape from hotel life.

 

Q: What do you always pack?

A: My iPad with my music and travel speaker, gym gear and sunglasses.

 

Q: What is your preferred airline?

A: Singapore Airlines and Emirates, both of which have great service and in-flight comfort and movie selections.

 

Q: Do you have any tips about seating on a flight?

A: Window seats for me — and as I generally fly economy, not too close to the toilets!

 

Q: Best in-flight meal or activity?

A: Catching up on reading and movies.

 

Q: How do you get over jet lag?

A: Go to the gym and don’t sleep until the evening/local time. And a glass of wine does not hurt.

Q: What are your favorite hotels? What makes these hotels so memorable?

A: W Hotels and Edition, as both brands focus on lifestyle experiences that I look for, and are really reinterpreting the traditional hotel stay to include elements of design, fashion, food and music. I also like small boutique hotels with friendly local people or the simple pleasure of a house by a beach.

 

Q: What do you value most when choosing a hotel?

A: Accessibility to the destination/location, design, comfort and service.

 

Q: What hotels do you look forward to staying at in the future?

A: The W Goa and Westin Ubud, Bali.

 

Q: Recommend one of your favorite destinations. Why is it so special?

A: Queenstown, New Zealand. No matter what time of the year it is, there is always something exciting to experience … snow sports in the winter and stunning scenery in the summer; mountain biking, vineyards, adventure sports and great food and wine at any time!

 

Q: Best purchase in Queenstown?

A: Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir Wine and a woolen jumper.

Q: What do you do upon arriving in Queenstown?

A: Soak up breathtaking views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Mountain Range with a cup of tea or glass of wine, and look for a great restaurant with hopefully an open fire if winter or a terrace if summer.

 

Q: Where are you planning to go next and why?

A: Yunnan Province to explore Lijiang and Dali.


 

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