Singapore Airlines Premium Economy

SINGAPORE AIRLINES ENHANCES THE PREMIUM ECONOMY EXPERIENCE

This month Singapore Airlines unveiled its revamped Premium Economy Class in-flight experience, which includes an improved and expanded selection of food and beverage options, as well as a new amenity kit. These will be available on flights from 31 March 2024.

Premium Economy Class customers will now be offered a glass of Charles de Cazanove Brut Tradition NV champagne shortly after take-off. They can peruse a hard copy menu card that lists the wide variety of meal, snack, and beverage options that are available on their flight. Their selected meals will be served in elegant custom-made porcelain Premium Economy Class serviceware.

On flights that are at least seven hours long, an all-new Out of the Woods amenity kit, designed exclusively for Premium Economy Class customers, will also be available.

These mark the first comprehensive revamp of SIA’s Premium Economy Class in-flight experience since this cabin class was introduced in 2015, allowing the Airline to continue delivering a distinctive level of service to customers.

Mr Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Singapore Airlines, said: “Since its introduction in 2015, Premium Economy Class has become popular with our customers. They appreciate the added amenities, heightened comfort, and the extra personal space it offers, all at an excellent value.

“At Singapore Airlines, though, our philosophy is to never stand still. We regularly gather customer feedback and conduct market research, learn more about the evolving value drivers for travellers, and find innovative ways to continue delivering a personalised and world-class in-flight experience.

“Based on these insights, we have undertaken this comprehensive revamp of our Premium Economy Class in-flight offerings, which we believe will delight our customers. The result reflects Singapore Airlines’ dedication to enhancing the Premium Economy Class experience to a class of its own.”

Virgin Launches Industry-Leading Baggage Tracking Tool

VIRGIN’S INDUSTRY-LEADING BAGGAGE TRACKING TOOL

  • Virgin Australia has expanded its industry-leading baggage tracking tool to service all domestic and international routes*, including Queenstown, Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Japan.
  • In an offering not comparable to any other Australian airline, Virgin Australia guests will now receive notifications when their bag is ready to fly, loaded onto the aircraft and again when the luggage has arrived at the baggage carousel.
  • The first-to-market technology which first launched on two-thirds of the airline’s domestic network last year, has since been used approximately 1.3 million times by Australian travellers, with Virgin Australia having seen a 12 per cent increase in app downloads.
  • To use the tool, guests can simply download the Virgin Australia app and enable push notifications.
  • The announcement forms part of Virgin Australia’s more than $400 million investment in digital innovation, technology, and customer experience initiatives, which includes newly launched websites, apps, digital systems, reduced call-wait times and Rapid Rebook – a tool for guests to self-manage their bookings end-to-end in the event of disruption.
Christchurch scenery

ONE OF ATPI’S OWN INVITED ON EMIRATES PREMIUM ECONOMY

Our very own Claire Winnel, Manager ATPI Cruise & Travel at our flagship store in Terrigal, NSW was lucky enough to fly Emirates Premium Economy class to Christchurch recently.

She is delighted to report back “The cabin is lovely, very spacious with lots of room to move around. You have your own bathrooms at the front of the aircraft and dedicated cabin crew.  The leather seat is very comfortable with plenty of leg room, a footrest and decent recline of 8 inches.”

“There are only 56 seats in the cabin with 2 cabin crew looking after you. The meals are more similar to business class served on china plates with cutlery wrapped up in a linen napkin.”

“Unfortunately, there are only certain destinations that operate the premium economy seats, but we are very lucky out of Australia with Sydney and Melbourne offering fabulous connections to London.”

A smooth, sophisticated experience for Claire.

Turkish Airlines to launch in Australia

TURKISH AIRLINES TO COMMENCE FLYING FROM AUSTRALIA

Turkish Airlines, the airline flying to more countries than any other, is now incorporating Melbourne, Australia, into its flight network.

Turkish Airlines, which consistently expands its unique flight network as one of the most significant cornerstones of its growth strategy, is strengthening this performance by adding Australia, a destination of considerable interest and long on its agenda, to its flight network.

The flag carrier, which will schedule 3 flights a week to Melbourne, its 346th destination in 130 countries starting from 15 March 2024, will thus contribute to the tourism and trade volumes of both countries by carrying thousands of visitors on the Istanbul-Melbourne route every year. With the flights relayed via Singapore, Turkish Airlines will also have the distinction of being the only European airline to currently operate flights to Melbourne Airport.

Access the special launch price for this exciting new route.

  • The special launch price for Turkish Airlines’ Melbourne to Istanbul flights is $1,499.00.
Bali Rice Fields

NEW TOURIST TAX IN BALI NOW PAYABLE

The Bali Provincial Government has introduced a new tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per person to foreign tourists entering Bali.

The tourist levy is separate from the e-Visa on Arrival or the Visa on Arrival. It has applied since 14 February, so is now payable by all foregin tourists.

Cashless payments can be made online prior to travel or on arrival at designated payment counters at Bali’s airport and seaport.

Sebel Martin Place

SEBEL SYDNEY MARTIN PLACE REVAMPED

The newly unveiled The Sebel Sydney Martin Place is located in the desirable and prime location of Martin Place, Sydney, boasting sophistication and style with a bespoke, intimate and upscale experience.

Discover this 86 room boutique-like hotel featuring Classic, Superior and Deluxe rooms fitted with playful patterned carpet, in-room kitchenettes with signature Italian design marble, microwave, tea and coffee items including Nespresso machine, luxury bathroom amenities, and mini-bar with a selection of Australian snacks and beverages including cocktails from renowned Maybe Sammy.

The Sebel Sydney Martin Place also offers complimentary WiFi, 24/7 host desk and in-room dining with partners Bastardo and Piccolo Me.

Emirates

EMIRATES BACK TO ADELAIDE FROM OCTOBER 2024

Emirates’ Dubai-Adelaide service will provide SA with a link to 140+ destinations.

The major milestone for South Australia’s pandemic recovery will deliver an estimated $160 million to the state in tourism expenditure and freight exports.

By December 2024, Emirates will return to its pre-pandemic capacity offering 77 weekly services to Australia and with the ability to transport 68,000 passengers per week to and from Australia.

The route will be serviced by Emirates’ Boeing 777-200LR offering passengers Business and Economy Class cabins.

EDITION HOTEL SINGAPORE

MARRIOTT EDITION HOTEL IN SINGAPORE

Electrifying and energetic, Singapore has long punched above its weight. Measuring barely 700- sq km, this dynamic Southeast Asian metropolis consistently scores high marks for its enviable mix of warm tropical climate, peerless location with easy 24/7 connection to the world’s major hubs, and dazzling multi-ethnic attractions courtesy of its Malay, Chinese, Eurasian, and Indian residents.

Add to this exciting cultural melting pot a talented cohort of local and international designers, chefs and creative mavens who contribute to a world-class collection of buzzy culinary experiences, dusk-to-dawn nightlife and entertainment hotspots, a retail scene that is otherworldly in its depth and range, and a burgeoning arts scene.

The arrival of The Singapore EDITION raises the bar several notches higher by adding an unforgettable mix of distinct experiences and original concepts with a lifestyle and luxury quotient the city has never seen. It captures the essence of Singapore but is presented in a new and modern way, adding a unique twist. Exuding a fresh, sophisticated mood, it effortlessly captures the island-state’s incredible energy with a head-turning silhouette created by the renowned Safdie Architects led by Moshe Safdie and local studio DP Architects.

Firmly rooted in the EDITION brand’s strong sense of refined, timeless design and style, The Singapore EDITION – the first Southeast Asia outpost in the stable – seamlessly blends the dynamism energy of a major metropolitan city with a warm-weather resort sensibility.

Masterminded and conceived by Ian Schrager, in collaboration with interior design firm Cap Atelier, the 204-room hotel is located just off the west end of Singapore’s iconic upper Orchard Road. This once bucolic country lane lined with fruit orchards and pepper and nutmeg plantations is, today, transformed into a heaving stretch of restaurants, tree-shaded boulevards and marbled emporia bustling with bold-faced named fashion and lifestyle brands. Accessed from Cuscaden Road, the hotel’s main entrance with its cobbled stone driveway opens into a private, white-hued oasis that stands singularly apart from the bustle of upper Orchard Road.

At the core of the architecture and interior design of The Singapore EDITION is seamless access to nature with sweeping vistas and greenery integrated throughout, including a skypark and lushly planted, sunken garden that offers a tranquil escape from Singapore’s bustling Orchard Road shopping district.

This explains the delight that guests experience when they step through the hotel’s bronze and glass facade into the white marbled Lobby whose simple purity is contrasted by a stunning domed ceiling covered with gold leaf. Here, floor-to-ceiling windows are sheathed with the broad planes of plantation louvres, their broad slats gently evocative of the tropics.

Unfolding like a theatrical play, every level of The Singapore EDITION takes on a different personality, offering unique guest experiences. Each individual element stands on its own but when combined, the sum of these individual parts exceeds its sum, creating an alchemy where magic happens. The Lobby Bar, for instance, is an eye-popping space sheathed in sharp pink velvet where a rose-colored pool table of Calacutta marble and oversized pink backlit bar display hold center-stage. Christian Liaigre doe leather chairs and lamps accent the space, while the bar itself is styled with Lalique-inspired crystal decanters and sculptures.

Flanking the soaring white aerie of the lobby and reception is a high vaulted-ceilinged, timber-lined restaurant spearheaded by Josh Niland. Aptly named FYSH at EDITION, this lofty space is the acclaimed Australian restaurateur and multi-award-winning chef and author’s first restaurant outside of Australia, and it features an impressive sustainable seafood-focused steakhouse menu alongside responsibly sourced vegetables and meats. Anchored by a custom-made marble bar in green scalloped Antico Verde marble, the main dining room seats 80 across intimate jade-colored velvet banquettes and booths with Calacutta white marble tables. Art works frame the space; with 14-carat gold leaf etching greeting diners at the entrance, while a custom piece titled “Arrival” by the artist Christian Furr sits over the bar. A leafy conservatory has capacity for 22; this indoor garden is home to over 300 plants and 162 suspended preserved fern spheres, all born in Southeast Asia. A Luna Alabaster sculpture by Jan Vanderlaan finishes the room. An outdoor pergola provides a perch for a further 44 diners when the cooler tropical evening arrives.

From the lobby, a sculpted, white Venetian plaster staircase spirals elegantly down to the garden courtyard level to a dramatic bar lounge, ideal for a pre-dinner aperitif or a late evening cocktail.

For those wishing to extend the evening’s libations, an inconspicuous side-door leads to the adjoining Punch Room – EDITION’s signature bar concept that is a global brand in itself – where punch is championed as both a cocktail and a lifestyle necessity. Swathed in a shade of Yves Klein blue, the intimate bar is an indulgent cocoon. Lined with oak panels on the walls and ceilings, a sculptural blue ceiling pendant designed by the Parisian artist Eric Schmitt, and a stone fan-shaped floor mosaic, the space channels the intimate mood of a classic London gentleman’s club serving brandy with a modern and deviant approach. The cosmopolitan vibe is enhanced by a handsome bronze bar behind which the mixologist shakes up a unique punch cocktail menu inspired by Southeast Asian spices and imaginative bar snacks.

The spacious guest rooms unfold over six light-filled floors. Here, every detail has been designed to ensure that the experience of spending the night or a longer stay is as seamless and soothing as it is sophisticated. Every detail has been considered to ensure a comfortable and serene haven that is both sophisticated and simple, appealing to the in-the-know guest.

In every guest room, warm white rugs clad the customized white oak-planked floors while decorative pots of orchids and thick drapes frame the broad bay windows. The rooms also feature deep-seated sofas, and hand-sewn damask throws that swathe the beds. Temperatures are kept cool, literally, with layers of curtain sheers, black-out shades, and white exterior louvres that can be electronically adjusted to filter the sun while providing both views and privacy.

Equally unforgettable is the second-floor spa whose mood-lit reception leads to seven treatment rooms, his-and-her changing suites that feature sunken vitality thermal pools, an ice fountain, relaxation lounge, sauna and steam room, alongside a gym furnished with high-performance weights and exercise equipment.

The hotel boasts an 81-sq m boardroom which is adjacent to a stunning 340-guest events space whose sprawling 600-sq m pillar-less gallery can be divided into three smaller areas. Lit with diffused natural light, the spaces are equipped with state-of-the-art multi-media technology and floor-to-ceiling glass – ready at a moment’s notice to be transformed for every occasion from a high-octane society wedding to a more formal corporate shareholders’ meeting.

In a hotel already filled with so many unforgettable memories, The Singapore EDITION saves its bravura moment for the swimming pool and rooftop terrace. Accessible via The Roof bar, the pool is framed with languid day beds and stretches a full 43-m from tip-to-tip, seemingly floating like an all-white space vessel over the garden courtyard nine floors below. Here, vast swathes of stone and landscaping create a relaxed, one-of-a-kind outdoor oasis in the sky; though a further surprise awaits swimmers as they dive in and discover that the pool’s white-tiled base is embedded with a transparent acrylic oculus that provides them with surreal views into the garden courtyard far below.

Dressed in terracotta and shades of blue, The Roof, with its semi-al fresco setting, is the ideal venue to chill and catch the tropical breeze, whilst being enveloped on all sides by luxuriant greenery. All while snacking on Southeast Asian favorites in the comfort of either sunbed or shaded dining area, and as the balmy tropical evenings descend, the mood shifts to classic cocktails infused with tropical notes.

By fusing the indulgent comfort and service of a luxury hotel that is synonymous with the EDITION brand, with the refined glamour and energy of the tropics, the highly anticipated arrival of The Singapore EDITION in the heart of the island-state’s most iconic neighborhood signals a high-water mark of hospitality.

The Singapore EDITION will open in preview from November 9, 2023. The hotel offers an exclusive opening preview rate, available for a limited time only. Room rates start from SGD$680+++ per room, per night. Terms and conditions apply.

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