Reality Check ➔ HOTEL BROOKLANDS HOTEL, SURREY
THE HOTEL: This 120-bed hotel is near Weybridge, on the same site as the historic Brooklands motor racing circuit and adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz World Experience. THE CHECK-IN: The startlingly modern exterior opened up into a cavernous and dramatic lobby area with soaring atrium that dwarfed the reception desk. Formalities were dealt with quickly and we were in the lift to our fourth floor suite in no time. THE ROOM: A very striking albeit masculine colour scheme – grey carpets, chairs, curtains and brown leather headboard – filled this large contemporary suite, lifted by lots of chrome and softened by red cushions on big sofas. Floor to ceiling windows opened up onto a large decked terrace overlooking the skid track. Inside there were all the usual amenities such as large flatscreen TVs, iron and ironing board, tea and coffee-making facilities, minibar, and marble bathroom. THE BUSINESS: There's free wifi throughout plus a clutch of nine meeting rooms on the ground floor that enjoy a separate entrance from the car park and open up into a lobby and bar area. Each room is awash with natural light and hi-tech gadgetry all cleverly secreted behind sliding artwork. The Brooklands Suite is the largest single room,
accommodating 74 boardroom style, 120 for dinner, or 220 for a reception. Day delegate rates are from £50, and 24-hour rate is £170. Various driving experiences are the big magnet here, plus there's a selection of amazing cars for petrolheads to ogle. THE FACILITIES: There's a small lobby lounge next to reception with stylish high-back winged chairs and a grey/red colour scheme. A glass-walled cocktail bar with outside terrace has a centrepiece of five life-size propellers sitting above the central leather banquet. Next door is the Brasserie with an
Italian-influenced menu. There's also a spa and fitness area with seven treatment rooms and a hot tub, but no pool. THE VERDICT: Loved the vast tracts of space and contemporary design, while its location within Mercedes-Benz World makes any incentive or team-building event a breeze. THE DETAILS: Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 OSL. Lead-in midweek rates are £151 and suites £300, including VAT. Breakfast is £10. Tel: 01932 335700. For more information see:
www.brooklandshotelsurrey.com. GILLIAN UPTON
➔ FLIGHT BMI, BRITISH MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL
THE FLIGHT: Flight BD537 from London Heathrow's Terminal 1, departing at 8.55 and landing at Stavanger Sola Airport 11.50 local time, travelling in economy. THE CHECK-IN: I'd tried checking in online the previous day but accidentally clicked on the wrong button and was blocked in further attempts to check in. A quick call to bmi enabled them to see the problem, check me in on the phone and email me the boarding pass. On arrival at the airport the next day I was able to proceed past the moderately busy bmi check-in zone and, because I was travelling only with hand luggage, straight to the quietest security zone I've ever experienced at Heathrow! THE BOARDING PROCESS: The flight departed from Terminal 1's gate 5 which was subdivided into A, B, C and D gates for bmi's various flights departing on this particular morning. The zone has its own Costa coffee shop, toilets and vending machines, plus a rack of complimentary newspapers. THE CABIN: The Airbus A319 had a 3x3 configuration and, according to the inflight magazine, capacity for 130 to 144 passengers. A quick glance around revealed a head count of no more than 40 passengers, around ten of whom were travelling in business class. Seats
were an attractive chocolate brown and the cabin looked fresh and smart. THE SERVICE: The cabin crew were particularly upbeat and friendly – perhaps because of the low passenger count – and were quickly doing the rounds with drinks and Monty's Bakehouse 'posh wraps' for breakfast. THE ARRIVAL: Despite pushing back slightly late at Heathrow we arrived in Stavanger five minutes ahead of schedule and promptly disembarked. There was a short queue at the small airport's immigration zone, and I was then able to hop on an airport shuttle bus that was waiting to depart for the 20 minute
journey into Stavanger city centre. THE VERDICT: The airport experience was a breeze – not a common occurrence at Heathrow – and the onboard service was refreshingly informal. The cabin was comfortable and the small size of Stavanger airport meant I went from plane to city centre shuttle bus in less than ten minutes. THE DETAILS: bmi flies daily from Heathrow to Stavanger and codeshares with SAS on its twice-daily service. bmi economy fares start from around £170 return including taxes. Tel: 0844 8484 888;
www.flybmi.com. ANDY HOSKINS
FIND MORE REALITY CHECKS AT
WWW.THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM I 91
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