Emirates refreshes premium offerings in First and Business Class

Emirates has announced new luxury products in First and Business Class stemming from collaborations with BYREDO skincare, Bowers & Wilkins and Emirates’ longstanding partner Bulgari. 

Source: Emirates. The BYREDO for Emirates Wellness kit.

BYREDO for Emirates Wellness kit

The BYREDO travel wellness range of skincare is placed in Emirates First Class private suites. The allergen-free and Chamomile collections were exclusively created for Emirates. The collection by BYREDO was first introduced in Emirates’ new fully enclosed suites on the Boeing 777 last year and is now being rolled out across the fleet. 

The BYREDO for Emirates Wellness kit contains:

 
Cleansing face towelette
Facial toner 

Eye cream 
Chamomile roll-on sleep oil - this is applied on pulse points to ease into relaxation.
Chamomile pillow mist spray 

The kits are paired with a faux leather notebook and branded pen.

Bowers & Wilkins Active Noise Cancelling E1 headphones

The airline is also rolling out new Bowers & Wilkins Active Noise Cancelling E1 headphones in First Class. These headphones are created exclusively for Emirates using hybrid noise cancellation technology optimised for Emirates First Class cabins.

The headphones are lightweight and made of materials such as aluminium and sheepskin leather. Customers can use the headphones to view up to 3,500 channels of on-demand entertainment on a 32" TV screen. The entertainment selection on Emirates' ice platform across all classes includes up to 950 movies, 400 TV channels and 2,400 music and podcast channels. The headphones’ sound quality can also be tested on The Bowers & Wilkins Superior Sound playlist, a selection of tracks from ice selected for their acoustic excellence.

Bulgari amenity kits

The new kits for both First and Business Class feature Bulgari’s fragrance – Eau Parfumée Au Thé Vert (green tea) - and contain skincare essentials. 

The First Class kit bags, made from faux leather, come in eight designs with a new range of colours for men and women. Eight additional designs are available in Business Class – four for men and four for women. The amenity kits are available on long-haul overnight flights and designs are refreshed every nine months. The bags have been designed to be reused, and can easily store headphones, makeup or jewellery.

In addition to the Bulgari amenity kits, First Class customers will also be given Hydra Active moisturising sleep suits on long haul overnight flights.

Emirates’ premium onboard experience is complemented by on the ground with 42 dedicated Emirates Lounges located within major airports around the globe. First and Business Class passengers can also travel to and from the airport via Emirates’ complimentary chauffeur-driven service, available in over 70 cities.

Explore:

Fans of the First Class experience can purchase the Emirates sleep suits, First Class blanket or the Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones from the Emirates Official Stores.

Oman Air debuts premium lounge at new Muscat airport

Source: Oman Air. The new premium lounge at Muscat International Airport.

Oman Air, the national carrier of Oman, has opened a new premium lounge at Muscat International Airport. 

Oman Air passengers travelling in First Class and Business Class are eligible to use lounge facilities, which are inspired by the unique terrain found in Oman. The lounge reflects the natural beauty of the desert and the rugged landscape of the mountains. Mashrabiya (مشربية), the traditional windows screened by ornate latticework that are a traditional element of Arabic architecture, has been used to provide privacy in communal areas and add to the fluidity of the space.

Spread over two storeys, the lounge offers guests food and beverage services including dining areas and bars, a luggage room, entertainment area, a smoking room, prayer rooms, business centre, kids’ room, nap area, shower facilities, baby-changing facilities and a wellness area.

Covering 429.35 sq m with an overall capacity of 100 people, the area designated for First Class guests offers premium services including a personal chef, limousine service from the lounge to the aircraft and relaxation rooms. The Business Class area is 2,313.92 sq m and can accommodate 516.

All First Class and Business Class international guests travelling with Oman Air to Muscat International airport are also invited to enjoy the arrival lounge, which has semi-public spaces with plenty of light. 

The arrival lounge, on the mezzanine floor at the arrival side of the airport, is 237 sq m and has 90 seats. The service enables passengers travelling on short flights to freshen up after their flight, have some food or catch up on some sleep.

Hotel Jen Tanglin and Hotel Jen Orchardgateway to celebrate 1st birthday on 31 March

Source: Hotel Jen Orchardgateway website.

Hotel Jen, the newest brand of the Shangri-La Group, will be celebrating her first birthday on 31 March 2016. Both Hotel Jen Tanglin and Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, the two Hotel Jens in Singapore, have teamed up to host their first birthday party in style, as all nine cities across the Asia-Pacific region celebrate together - from a Mad Hatters tea party in Beijing, China, street art-inspired menus in Brisbane, Australia to a pool party in the Maldives.

Hotels in nine locations will host adventurous, fun events, each capturing the unique spirit the city are in. Both Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore and Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore invite guests to join in the celebrations on 31 March, where they will host a hawker-themed buffet dinner at the J65 and Makan@Jen restaurants respectively.

The concurrent celebration buffet dinners will kick-off from 6pm, featuring famous hawker stall favourites in addition to the usual international buffet menu. As part of its commitment to embracing local talent in the food and beverage industry, J65 at Hotel Jen Tanglin will be showcasing popups from Singapore food heroes including:

· The Hungry Bazterdz, who will be serving grilled soy garlic chicken with truffle fries/ nacho fries as well as jerk chicken and fries

· The new Kaffles specialty waffle shop, which will whip up buttermilk and Thai milk tea waffles with maple syrup, mini cone and icing sugar

· Resident Hotel Jen coffee specialist Nomad the Gallant Coffee will be offering Thai iced tea.

A complimentary shuttle bus will connect the two hotels from 6pm to 8pm for guests to celebrate That Jen Feeling - which will culminate in a cake-cutting party at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore at the rooftop bar, BayWatch@Jen, at 8:30pm. The huge cake will be infused with local flavours, fragrances and decorations, giving a true taste of the Lion City.

Clifford Weiner, General Manager at Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore and Herve Duboscq, General Manager at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore jointly commented, “We look forward to welcoming guests to help celebrate a big year of rebranding and the beginning of Hotel Jen. We’ll be celebrating by highlighting local talent, flavours and culture in both our Singapore hotels.”

Interested?

The We Are One Party at Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore and Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore will be held from 6pm to 9.30pm on 31 March 2016. A hawker-themed buffet dinner will be held at J65 and Makan@Jen, with a cake-cutting ceremony at 8:30pm, BayWatch@Jen, Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore. Tickets cost S$31++ per adult, with children aged 6 to 12 at half the price.

J65 is at Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore, level 1, 1A Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249716
Tel: +65 6831 4374
Email: j65 at hoteljen.com
Book or visit the birthday web page

Makan@Jen is at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore, level 10, 277 Orchard Road, Singapore 238858
Tel: +65 6708 8899
Email: taste at hotejen.com
Book or visit the birthday web page

Hashtag: #NextJenPartySingapore, #NextJenParty

Staying in a pool-view room overlooks the greenery and #NextJenArt perfectly! The long weekend awaits, have you booked your Easter Staycation yet? Stay and enjoy complimentary breakfast from SGD 175, valid for stays from 18 March - 3 April. Book by 27 March for this special Easter promotion! Credit: @jasminemalaysia • • • #ThatJenFeeling #HotelJenTanglin #Art #Poolview #sgig #igsg #ExploreSingapore #SgArt

A photo posted by Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore (@hoteljentanglin) on Mar 22, 2016 at 2:26am PDT

Capital Express Service from Singapore Airlines connects Singapore, Canberra and Wellington

• New service to bring international flights to Canberra

• First to link Canberra with Wellington

Singapore Airlines is to introduce services to both Canberra and Wellington with the launch of a new ‘Capital Express’ route. The new flights from Singapore will connect the capitals of both Australia and New Zealand. Subject to regulatory approvals, flights will be operated four times per week from 20 September 2016 on a Singapore-Canberra-Wellington routing. Return flights will be on a Wellington-Canberra-Singapore routing.

Flights will be operated with 266-seat retrofitted Boeing 777-200s fitted with 38 Business Class seats and 228 Economy Class seats. Singapore Airlines will be the first airline with flights between Canberra and Wellington. It will also be the first airline to operate regularly scheduled international services to and from Canberra.

“This new service linking Singapore, Canberra and Wellington reflects the close ties between the three countries,” said Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong. “We are excited about the prospects for our new ‘Capital Express’ route, which we are confident will appeal to leisure, government and corporate travellers. We are especially pleased to be bringing more convenient travel options to customers with Canberra’s first regularly scheduled international flights and the first non-stop links between the capitals of Australia and New Zealand.”

The new Canberra services will add to Singapore Airlines’ already extensive Australia network, which currently includes flights between Singapore and Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Subsidiary SilkAir also serves Cairns and Darwin, while a wide-ranging partnership with Virgin Australia extends Singapore Airlines’ Australia network to another 40 codeshare destinations.

Singapore Airlines’ new Wellington services will complement existing services between Singapore and both Auckland and Christchurch. Singapore Airlines also has an extensive partnership with Air New Zealand.

Flight Schedules*

Flight Number	SQ291	SQ291
Routing	Singapore-Canberra	Canberra-Wellington
Days of Operation	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Time of Departure	23:00	09:50
Time of Arrival	08:35+1	15:05

Flight Number	SQ292	SQ292
Routing	Wellington-Canberra	Canberra-Singapore
Days of Operation	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Time of Departure	20:15	23:30
Time of Arrival	22:05	05:50+1

*All times stated are local based on a launch date of 20 September 2016. Timings will change soon after due to daylight savings in Australia and New Zealand.

Interested?

Flights will be available for booking on a progressive basis through the Singapore Airlines website, call centres and travel agents in the coming weeks.

posted from Bloggeroid

Qatar Airways adds third Doha-Jeddah daily flight

Qatar Airways launched a new daily All-First Class service from its hub in Doha to Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, adding a third daily flight to the route.

The Airbus A319 aircraft, which is fitted with a single aisle, two-by-two seating configuration with 40 seats, will enable passengers to experience the comfort of a private jet complemented by Qatar Airways’ five-star hospitality. Passengers on the A319 All-First Class flight are eligible to visit the Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

Source: Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways’ A319 first-class seats recline into fully-flat beds while the recently-launched Oryx One inflight entertainment system has increased the number of movies and TV shows on board from 950 to up to 2,000. Personal entertainment can be enjoyed with noise-cancelling headphones.

The new daily flights between Doha and Jeddah are scheduled as follows:

Depart Doha QR3002 at 9am. Arrive Jeddah at 11:20am.
Depart Jeddah QR3003 at 12:20pm. Arrive Doha at 2:40pm.

Going mobile-first can be the path to success

Source: Spotify. Kaur.

Spotify launched in Asia with mobile support as a priority, not as an afterthought or nice-to-have, says CommunicAsia2015 speaker Sunita Kaur, Managing Director, Asia, Spotify, as it saw that Asia is a growing mobile-only market. 

The mobile-first freemium strategy has fuelled growth in Spotify’s user base, which subsequently bumped up premium subscriber numbers at an average conversion rate of about 20%, Kaur said.

“We’re so committed to the freemium model on mobile because we completely agree with the labels that subscribers are key to bringing the industry back to health — and we need the free 'funnel' to drive subscription,” said Kaur. "By bringing listeners into our free, ad-supported tier, we migrate them away from piracy, which is rife in this part of the world.”

Ads are a big part of the strategy. In the second quarter of this year, Spotify is announcing the rollout of a new video ad product. Sponsored Sessions give brands ownership of 30 minute ad-free mobile sessions. Users opt-in to an ad-free experience by viewing a 15 or 30 second video on their mobile device.

For Spotify, another advantage of going mobile is the ability to provide personalised recommendations to fans across their daily activities. The result of tailoring the streaming experience is that users are spending an average of over 160 minutes listening, dancing or singing along to Spotify every day, she disclosed.

"There is no cookie-cutter approach, so consider if your mobile strategy will add value to your consumers’ lifestyles. Learn to build for the user, go beyond mobile-first, and go user-first,” concluded Kaur.

Kaur will be sharing insights on how businesses can implement a mobile marketing strategy at CommunicAsia2015 this June.

CommunicAsia2015 / EnterpriseIT2015 Exhibition
Incorporating:	SatComm2015
Date:	2-5 June 2015, Tuesday - Friday
Venue:	Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Levels B2,  1 & 3
Opening Hours:	2 to 4 June 2015: 10:30 am - 6 pm  5 June 2015: 10:30 am -  4 pm
Admission:	Business and trade professionals only
Website:	www.communicasia.com | www.goto-enterpriseit.com
CommunicAsia2015 Summit
Date:	2 to 5 June 2015, Tuesday - Friday
Venue:	Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Level 3
Admission:	Registered delegates only
Website:	www.communicasia.com/conference/conference-highlights/

Accor re-enters Myanmar with The Lake Garden in Nay Pyi Taw

Source: Accor Hotels. The Lake Garden, Nay Pyi Taw.

Accor, the largest international operator of hotels in Asia-Pacific, has opened The Lake Garden, Nay Pyi Taw, the first Accor hotel in Myanmar. This newly-built, upscale hotel, is part of the MGallery Collection and five minutes away from Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC) and 20 minutes from Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.

“This hotel opening will officially mark Accor’s return into Myanmar,” says Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer of Accor Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines. “This opening comes at a time when the capital is seeing an influx of visitors with a strong demand for an upscale accommodation with international standard facilities and superb services. The Lake Garden is the perfect accommodation for discerning travllers looking for a memorable hotel experience in this capital city.”

MGallery is a collection of unique, upscale hotels selected through their individual personality and characteristics. MGallery hotels are categorised according as Signature, Heritage or Serenity hotels. Due to its architecture amidst tropical surroundings by a lake, The Lake Garden is under the Serenity category.

David Daguise, The Lake Garden, Nay Pyi Taw’s General Manager says, “The hotel is a serene sanctuary which offers guests a unique experience through an extraordinary journey of modern Myanmar influenced by its rich, cultural heritage. Its contemporary, lush comfort and a sense of ‘Serenity’ can be felt throughout the property, while its five-star hospitality and local charm offer guests a memorable experience throughout their stay.”

The hotel features 165 rooms and suites – two Presidential Suites, eight Executive Suites, 30 Deluxe Suites, 64 deluxe rooms and 61 superior rooms. For gastronomic experiences, The Lake Garden offers The Grand Bell for all-day dining, including local Myanmar cuisine, and the Primo, an Italian restaurant.

The hotel’s meeting facilities consist of a conference room which can accommodate up to 250 delegates, six breakout meeting rooms for smaller functions, and two boardrooms.

To celebrate its opening, The Lake Garden, Nay Pyi Taw has an introductory rate of US$90, valid until 29 October 2014. For more information, please visit www.thelakegarden.com or contact H9096-RE@accor.com.

Etihad launches Sydney First & Business Class Lounge

Source: Etihad.

Etihad Airways has officially opened its First and Business Class Lounge at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport – the airline’s first in Australia and the newest addition to its collection of premium lounges worldwide.

Located in the international terminal’s Pier C, adjacent to Gate 51, the new lounge offers guests a relaxing environment with quality furnishings and a contemporary design inspired by Etihad Airways flagship lounges in Abu Dhabi.

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, who was in Sydney for the ribbon-cutting ceremony said: “It’s all about offering an experience in the lounge that not only sets the tone for but is also consistent with the flight experience ahead. I’m confident the wonderful team of hospitality professionals we have in our Sydney lounge, together with our check-in staff and guest service agents, will ensure we deliver on that promise.”

Set over two natural light-filled levels and an area of 792 sq m, the Sydney lounge offers business amenities with Macintosh computers; complimentary Wi-Fi; multi-zone electrical and USB power outlets; dedicated male, female and accessible bathrooms with shower facilities; male and female prayer rooms; and armchairs in the relaxation zone.

Lounge guests will also be treated to Etihad Airways signature food and beverage service with a choice of restaurant-style a la carte dining and a sumptuous buffet.

The Sydney lounge is open to Etihad Airways Diamond First Class and Pearl Business Class guests and qualifying members of the Etihad Guest loyalty programme. Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members and Virgin Australia Business Class guests flying to Abu Dhabi are eligible to access the lounge pre-flight. Qualifying guests of other codeshare and partner airlines may also use the lounge when flying on Etihad Airways or Virgin Australia operated Sydney-Abu Dhabi services.

The new First and Business Class Lounge in Sydney complements premium lounge facilities in Abu Dhabi, Dublin, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Manchester, Paris and Washington DC. New lounges are planned for Los Angeles, New York (JFK) and Melbourne over the next 12 to 18 months.

Etihad Airways commenced services to Sydney in March 2007 and today offers twice daily non-stop flights together in partnership with Virgin Australia. The route is served by a mixed fleet of three-class Airbus A340-600 and Boeing 777-300 aircraft. The Sydney route will be among the first in the Etihad Airways network to experience The Residence by Etihad - the world’s most luxurious living space in the air – when the UAE flag carrier commences scheduled A380 services to Sydney in June 2015.

Etihad redesigns new aircraft for boutique hotel experience in the air

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has completely re-imagined what plane travel will look like in first, business and economy classes onboard the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to be delivered later this year.

Five years in the making, the airline's design vision is to bring the individuality and exclusivity of a luxury boutique hotel experience to the sky in a way that embraced Arabian Modernism, an aesthetic that combines the traditions of the region with contemporary design.


First Apartments

The First Apartment on the airline’s A380 fleet will offer a complete living space with a reclining lounge chair and an ottoman which converts to become a separate 80.5 inch long fully-flat bed. Each First Apartment has a total area of 39 square feet, 74% more space than Etihad Airways’ existing First Class suite. 

The First Suite on the Etihad Airways B787 offers guests an enhanced suite with chilled mini-bar, complete privacy and centre seats which can be joined to create a double bed.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The final product is far superior to anything available in the market today and more akin to the offerings of the world’s top five-star hotels, as guests onboard our A380 and B787 will soon discover."

Nine First Apartments will be located in the upper deck of Etihad Airways’ A380s, six of which have ‘connecting doors’ that allow them to create apartments for guests travelling together. Configured along a single aisle, a first for the industry, Etihad Airways’ First Apartments include a 30.3 inch reclining lounge chair and separate full length ottoman which opens into an 80.5 inch long and 26 inch wide fully flat bed. 

The First Apartment also includes a chilled mini-bar, personal wardrobe, and a separate vanity unit with lit make-up mirrors and stocked with luxury branded amenities, as well as a shower room. 

The Etihad Airways B787 will feature eight First Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. The B787 First Suite boasts a 26 inch wide Poltrona Frau seat that converts to a comfortable 80.5-inch long fully-flat bed.

Like the First Apartments on the A380, the First Suites on the B787 will also offer a chilled mini-bar and Poltrona Frau leather upholstery. 

First Class Chefs will provide a five-star restaurant-style service in the sky, with guests able to request dishes prepared to their personal tastes and preferences.
 
Click here and here to view video of the new first class cabins. 
Business Studio

The airline will debut its new Business Studio onboard its Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, offering a standard of luxury associated with the industry’s first class travel.
 
A total of 70 Business Studios will be located on the upper deck of the A380, while the B787 will have 28 Business Studios, all offering aisle access and a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long.
 
“We’re confident this new product will meet the diverse needs and highest expectations of today’s business traveller who will experience the Business Studio onboard our new A380 and B787,” said Baumgartner.

The Business Studios, which are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving direct aisle access to all passengers, are also the airline’s first dovetail (forward and aft) layout, allowing optimal use of cabin space. The suite has a 22 inch wide seat and separate ottoman, which together create a fully-flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long.

The centre Business Studios, while ideal for those travelling together, also offer full privacy for passengers traveling alone with full-height screens between the suites. Generous storage is also available inside the Business Studio, including room underneath the ottoman for carry-on items and shoes, as well as a large top-loading cupboard for water bottles, head-sets, literature and other items. Each Studio also features an ample side-furniture surface convenient for resting laptops, tablets and books. A number of different lighting options provide flexibility, including a side lamp, a reading light, and mood lighting.
 
The A380 will have Etihad Airways’ full mobile and Wi-Fly connectivity, while the B787 is equipped with Wi-Fly.
 
The Lobby for First and Business

Source: Etihad. The Lobby.

On the A380, First and Business Class guests will be able to relax in The Lobby, a serviced lounge and bar area located between the First and Business cabins.
With semi-circular leather sofas, a marquetry table and a large TV screen, The Lobby is designed for relaxing and socialising.

The Lobby TV has a HDMI connection so it can be used for sharing content or it can also be set to the airline’s Live TV channels for sporting and other events.
 
Click here and here to view video of the new Business cabins. 
Economy Smart Seat

In the economy class the airline will debut its new Economy Smart Seat, which is customised with a ‘fixed wing’ headrest which offers greater comfort and relaxation to guests. Upholstered in locally-sourced camel leather, the fixed wing headrest is designed to provide a firm surface for guests to rest their heads, as well as additional privacy between seats.
 
Baumgartner said: “Etihad Airways has always understood the importance of providing a travel experience that cannot be matched by others, and we have spent the past five years creating an Economy Class product that will be favoured by millions around the world.”
 
Etihad Airways is introducing Panasonic's most advanced eX3 in-flight entertainment system across both fleets, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming and high definition screens across all cabins.

The system has touchscreen handsets that offer a second screen for passengers so they can view additional content while watching a movie. Noise cancelling headsets are provided across all cabins.
 
Across the entire fleet, Etihad Airways will continue to offer a choice of three main courses in economy class, as well as a café service with hot chocolate and cappuccino.

Click here and here to view video of the new economy class cabins.