Radisson Hotel Group Auckland

RADISSON DEBUTS ‘RED’ HOTEL IN AUCKLAND

Radisson Hotel Group will introduce its first brand to Auckland, New Zealand with the playful and dynamic Radisson RED. Located in the heart of Queen Street, the purpose-built 322-key Radisson RED Auckland will offer a modern lifestyle experience to its guests and add to the cosmopolitan ambiance of New Zealand’s largest city.

Radisson RED offers stylish spaces with standout designs where guests can feel inspired, engaged and connected to the heart of the destination. The new launch draws inspiration from Aotea’s surrounding arts and entertainment venues, creating social spaces designed for guests to unwind and relax in the informal and inviting hotel environment.

Since the reopening of the country’s international borders in August 2022, New Zealand’s tourism industry has enjoyed robust growth, with 2.96 million overseas visitor arrivals in the year ending December 2023, up by 1.52 million from the previous year. The property is owned by Stonewood Group, a prominent developer with a robust track record in New Zealand’s property sector. This underscores Radisson Hotel Group’s commitment to engaging with owners through various diverse business models within the Auckland and New Zealand hospitality market.

“The signing of the Radisson RED Auckland marks a key milestone in our Australasia development strategy. As one of our fastest growing lifestyle brands, Radisson RED offers an attractive value proposition for hotels in key urban locations like Auckland, making the brand a great fit for owners and partners looking for a pragmatic, yet differentiated and innovative solution to their real estate,” said Elie Younes, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer at Radisson Hotel Group.

“This is the perfect time to join forces with Radisson Hotel Group to introduce Radisson RED to Auckland. The Radisson RED brand is an ideal brand that diversifies our real estate portfolio, with a strong commercial and operational value proposition with a distinct design concept that helps guests immerse themselves into Queen Street’s thriving arts district. With Radisson Hotel Group’s strong network of loyal guests, and wide appeal to the modern-day traveller, we’re looking forward to opening the doors of the property in 2025,” said Michael Chow, Co-founder and Director, Stonewood Group.

Guests can choose from stylish Standard Rooms to spacious two-bedroom suites, and enjoy access to an all-day dining restaurant, a wellness facility as well as four function rooms for meetings and events. The hotel forms an integral component of a mixed-use commercial development, incorporating dining establishments including a rooftop specialty restaurant, and retail outlets. With close access to Auckland’s key attractions, guests can take a 10-minute walk to the Auckland waterfront which is surrounded by upscale shops, restaurants and bars. Moreover, the hotel boasts proximity to popular tourist attractions, including casinos, art galleries, parks, and museums.

The new Radisson RED hotel in New Zealand marks the latest expansion for the brand with nearly 80 hotels in operation and under development including recent openings and signings in Berlin, Tbilisi, Belgrade, Liverpool, Lagos, as well as upcoming openings in Phuket and Cebu.

Qatar Airways

QATAR AIRWAYS INTRODUCES NEW FIRST CLASS CABIN

A new era of innovative growth including exciting product reveals are in the pipeline.

In a major development, the GCEO said a new First Class cabin will be introduced by Qatar Airways.

His strategy for Qatar’s national carrier includes pioneering innovation in digital technologies, products, fleet growth and employee engagement as Qatar Airways continues its global expansion.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, has revealed several major new developments in line with his vision for the future of Qatar Airways. Designed to invigorate the global airline and its group of businesses, his roadmap for success includes innovation as the key pillar, which is reflected in Qatar Airways’ upcoming products and services – including the introduction of new First Class cabins on some of its fleet.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC – his first since being appointed Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer in November 2023, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer stated: “This is a new era.”

The far-ranging interview touched on the overall positive outlook for the Group as Engr. Al-Meer detailed his approach to developing a high yielding concept for Qatar Airways’ new First Class cabin.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, stated: “Based on the demand from certain sectors, we see a high demand for First Class, and as such, have decided to introduce a newly-designed First Class cabin unique to Qatar Airways. No one can develop a First Class cabin better than us – we are combining the experience of flying commercial and executive jets to develop something new. We are 70 to 80 per cent ready and are only finalising colours. We are hoping to announce it soon.”

Engr. Badr Al-Meer further revealed Qatar Airways’ redesign of its premium Qsuite set to debut at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024. Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite Business Class challenged industry norms when it was launched in 2017, and continues to be a benchmark for the aviation industry.

Qatar Airways GCEO also stated that the competitive aviation landscape in the GCC region is helping raise the bar when it comes to customer experience.  He stated that the pressure is on for potential rivals, and he welcomes any challenge for Qatar Airways. He remains confident in Qatar Airways continuing to hold onto its market leading position in the future to outshine any competition.
He also underlined the ways in which digital innovation is helping drive organisational efficiencies, as the airline continues to announce exciting new routes in growth markets including China and India, further enhancing Qatar’s position as a gateway to the world.
Qatar Airways currently serves over 170 global destinations, and will soon launch inaugural flights to Hamburg and Tashkent, and resumed flights to Lisbon and Venice. Qatar Airways will also resume several summer seasonal routes, including Adana, Antalya, Bodrum, Marrakesh, Mykonos, Sarajevo, and Trabzon.

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer was appointed Group CEO in November 2023, and he immediately focused on introducing innovative programmes to benefit both passengers and the airline’s global 60,000 strong workforce. In his first message to employees, he stressed the importance of cultivating trust and empowerment in the work culture. Under his leadership, various workplace initiatives have been successfully introduced that continue to improve employee satisfaction.

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.

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.

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EMIRATES RAMPS UP AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONS

ATPI Cruise & Travel welcomes the recent announcement by Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, that it will upgauge its second daily flight EK431/430 between Brisbane and Dubai to their flagship Airbus A380 starting with effect from 01 October 2024. The outbound flight will depart Brisbane at 01.55am and arrive into Dubai at 10.05am. This upgauge of equipment means that an additional almost 100,000 extra passengers per year will be able to travel between Queensland and Europe.

Travellers from Perth will also benefit from Emirates’ ramping up of its Australian operations, with a second daily service between Perth and Dubai being added from 01 December 2024. This service will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER and will depart Perth at 06.00am and arrive into Dubai at 13.10am. The reinstatement of Emirates’ second daily service from Perth will add another 250,000 seats per year on the Perth – Dubai route.

QANTAS TO TAKE OFF FROM THE TOP END TO SINGAPORE

Qantas has announced the relaunch of Darwin – Singapore services, commencing in December 2024. Qantas last operated non-stop flights between the city pair in 2006.

Subject to government and regulatory approval, the five-hour flights between Darwin and Singapore will operate five days per week initially and increasing to daily flights from March 2025. The route will be serviced by Embraer 190 aircraft operated for Qantas by Alliance Airlines and featuring Business Class as well as Economy Class.

The relaunched Darwin to Singapore service provides Territorians with a direct Qantas flight to/from Singapore for the first time in 18 years, as well as a seamless online connection to London Heathrow on QF1, with only a two-hour layover in Singapore.

oneworld’s FIRST DEDICATED AIRPORT LOUNGE OPENS IN SEOUL’S INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The team at ATPI Cruise & Travel encourages eligible oneworld Emerald and Sapphire customers (and eligible Business and First Class passengers flying Qantas, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Finnair and Malaysia Airlines) to relax, refresh and enjoy fine food & beverages in the vibrant, calming new airport lounge at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport.

Blending South Korean culture with contemporary design and enthralling glass artwork, the oneworld Lounge in Terminal 1 near Gate 28 offers a serene space for oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, First and Business Class customers, just a 10-minute walk from the furthest oneworld airlines’ departure gates.

The oneworld Lounge is open from 07.30am to 23.45pm daily.