Short cuts: Frieze Art Fair, ‘Business Workbox’, and biodegradable golf balls

New York If there is a downside to the US edition of Frieze Art Fair (May 9-12) it is that the Randall’s Island site is a tricky journey or a ferry ride even from its partner hotels (The Standard, High Line; The Surrey; the forthcoming CitizenM; the Wythe in Williamsburg et al). How much more convenient, not to mention cooler, to stay in the fair’s tent, inside an actual work of art? Commissioned by Frieze Projects, Al’s Grand Hotel is a reimagining of the fully operational hotel set up by conceptual artist Allen Ruppersberg, which was located for six weeks at 7175 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, in 1971. Booking for its two guest rooms, each a “functional installation”, opens this month. The exact date hasn’t been divulged, so keep checking the website. friezeprojectsny.org/projects

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London Travellers at Gatwick airport will soon be able to escape the bustle of the departure area by retreating into a private 4 sq metre “Business Workbox”. The pods are being created by Regus, the office space provider, and Gatwick will be their first location. Regus says they are designed to allow businesspeople to maximise the use of their time by making phone calls or finishing emails while waiting to board. The first four workboxes will be installed this summer. Users can input their credit card details into a keypad to gain access, which costs £5 per hour, or £10 per day. Membership schemes are also available. Regus will also open a business centre in arrivals at Gatwick, as well as another at Heathrow, which is due this summer.

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Vietnam Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas is doing what it can to reduce the environmental impact of golf at its property on Con Dao island by using biodegradable golf balls on its beachfront driving range. Whereas a conventional golf ball might take up to 1,000 years to decompose, Ecobioballs dissolve when submerged in water, releasing a core of fish food. sixsenses.com

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Amsterdam Pending the opening of the Waldorf Astoria in April, which promises to be the ritziest hotel in the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s other top hotels are raising their game. Last week, the Dylan unveiled 14 elegant, understated new rooms and two suites, branded the Serendipity Collection and designed by Dutch interiors specialist Remy Meijers. From €550 including breakfast, dylanamsterdam.com

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Rome The Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria has introduced gladiator training to its range of exercise classes, which already runs to power yoga and pre-boxe (basically boxing without blows). One of the instructors, Piero Giusto of Rome’s gladiatorial school, says: “We try to bring people back to the first century AD [when men were motivated to fight] for fame, glory and, above all, money. We give them a tunic, Roman sandals, a belt and protective gloves and then they have to sweat, sweat and sweat. It’s a special experience.” Indeed. romecavalieri.com

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Macau The Macau Government Tourist Office has launched a free app containing details of four self-guided walking tours, with real-time directions, intended to help visitors explore beyond the “beaten tourist trail”. Focusing on art and culture, history and nature, each takes between 90 and 130 minutes. macautourism.gov.mo