W Hotels Debuts In Washington DC

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has opened its first W Hotels property in Washington DC. Located on the corner of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the W Washington DC is converted from the former Hotel Washington built in 1917, combining its Beaux Arts architecture with edgy yet elegant designs synonymous with W Hotels.

 

The hotel features 317 rooms, comprising of 7 accomodation types designed by Los Angeles-based designer Dianna Wong in sleek and chic shades of black and white. These include the Cozy, Wonderful and Fabulous rooms, furnished with the signature W bed and 350-threadcount bedsheets with hypoallergenic pillows, spacious bathroom with waterfall showers accompanied by bath amenities from Bliss, 37-inch LCD television, iPod docking station, dual-line cordless telephone with voicemail capability, high-speed internet access and a multi-device charging station by Bluelounge Design. The rooms also boast a leather chaise sitting space, spacious workdesk, Munchie Box and laptop-compatible in-room safe.

 

The W Washington DC also has 4 suite types available, including the Fantastic Suites, Marvellous Suites, WOW Suites and a signature 109-square meter Extreme WOW Suite, offering panoramic views of the Washington Monument, Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street. In addition to the standard room amenities, suites offer guests a separate living room, dining areas, double vanity and spacious bathtubs in bathrooms and 2 flatscreen televisions.

 

Dining at the W Washington DC promises to be an epicurean experience with venues helmed by world renowned figures in food and beverage circles. Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten makes his debut in Washington DC with the J&G Steakhouse, offering dishes from his New York restaurants and an inspired menu. Located below the dining room is J&G’s Wine Bar, an intimate lounge where guests can sample a selection of new and old world wines, cocktails and bottled beers from around the world.

 

The famed rooftop terrace of the Hotel Washington has been transformed into POV, the latest ultralounge by cocktail expert Sasha Petraske. The striking red, black and white decor complements the night sky, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the cityscape as guests enjoy Petraske’s artisanal spirits and classic cocktails, which are also available at the W Living Room.

 

W Washington DC also introduces the brand’s Bliss Spa to the US capital. The facility offers more than 370 square meters of space housing 4 treatment rooms, a luxury nail lounge, steam showers and saunas. As with other Bliss Spas around the world, guests can experience the trademark rhythm & blues tunes, a retail boutique and the legendary brownie buffet.

 

Other facilites at the hotel include the state-of-the-art SWEAT fitness center, WIRED business center and over 1,114 square meters of convention space with The Great Room and Altitude Ballroom.

 

W Washington DC is the 25th property in North America for the brand and joins other recently opened W Hotels in Hoboken, New Jersey and South Beach, Miami. Forthcoming hotels include properties in Bangkok, Boston, Dubai, London, Marrakech, Milan, Shanghai and St. Petersburg.

 

For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

Celebrity Equinox Officially Named In Southampton

Celebrity Cruises has officially named its newest ship, the 122,000-GRT Celebrity Equinox, in formal ceremonies at the port of Southampton in the UK. The second of the Solstice-class cruise ships, Celebrity Equinox was christened by her godmother, Nina Barough, Commander of the British Empire and founder of the breast cancer charity “Walk the Walk”.

 

The ceremony was opened by buglers and a bagpipe and drums corps, followed by a piano rendition of The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun”. In an industry first, Celebrity Cruises invited the godmother of Celebrity Equinox’s sister ship Celebrity Solstice, Sharon Smith, to the ceremony. Together with Celebrity Cruises’ Chairman Richard Fain, both godmothers cut the pink ribbon – a symbol in recognition of breast cancer causes – to release the bottle of champagne that crashed against the ship’s stack.

 

The bottle was created by the renowned Corning Museum of Glass, a strategic partner of Celebrity Cruises since 2008. Like her sister ship, Celebrity Equinox will offer the usually standing-room-only Hot Glass Show, becoming only the second cruise ship to showcase the glassblowing demonstration at sea. Other notable features onboard include the top deck Lawn Club, Sky Observation Lounge and Cellarmasters, inspired by the vineyards of the Napa Valley. Gourmet dining at the Silhouette Dining Room, Murano Restaurant, Tuscan Grill Restaurant and the Silk Harvest Restaurant offer an epicurean experience for guests.

 

Leading the variety of accomodation options onboard the ship is the luxurious Penthouse Suite. At 120 square meters, the suite features its own living and dining areas, verandah with whirlpool and lounge seating, creating the intimate atmosphere of a private yacht within the ship. Guests can also indulge in the AquaClass staterooms, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors leading out to the verandah, Hansgrohe shower panel paired with luxury amenities from AquaSpa and dining at the exclusive Blu Restaurant.

 

Celebrity Equinox enters service on 31 July 2009, sailing a 8-night Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton, before returning to the British port to embark on her maiden voyage on 8 August 2009 to the Mediterranean. The vessel will present a series of Mediterranean sailings from Civitavecchia (Rome) through fall, after which it will transit to Fort Lauderdale to sail the Caribbean in the winter.

 

For more information, visit www.celebritycruises.com.

Banyan Tree Unveils New Accomodation And Dining In Thailand

Luxury resort and spa operator Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has unveiled new accomodation options at its Bangkok property and new dining experiences at the award-winning Banyan Tree Phuket.

 

Ideal Family Suites And Club Rooms At Banyan Tree Bangkok

Located at Bangkok’s central business district on South Sathorn Road, the Banyan Tree Bangkok has unveiled luxurious new 1- and 2-bedroom accomodation and a Club room product. With the new rooms, the hotel increases its capacity to 327 rooms and suites, fully available from 2010.

 

The 1-/2-bedroom Banyan Suites are luxuriously furnished and offer a large area for living, working and dining. Each unit is ideally equipped with state-of-the-art appliances for long-staying guests, including a kitchenette with a double hob and espresso machine. The master bedroom in each suite features a expansive bathroom with double vanity area, rainforest shower, separate bathtub and steam room. The 2-bedroom suites also have a twin bedroom with ensuite bathroom.

 

Banyan Tree Bangkok’s 2-bedroom Grand Banyan Suites has ample lounging and dining space. Each suite is furnished with a separate kitchenette and guest powder room, while the master bedroom features a walk-in closet. The luxurious bathroom is equipped with a jacuzzi, rainforest shower and a steam room. The twin bedroom boasts an ensuite bathroom with a bathtub that can accomodate up to 2 guests.

 

Decorated in subtle shades of green and grey, the Grand Club Suites feature a spacious living area with an ergonomic desk flooded with natural light, bedroom with a chaise lounge by the window offering panoramic views of Bangkok. The bathroom has been designed to invite guests to linger, with an oversized bath for 2 guests, rainforest shower and twin vanity. Guests also enjoy access to the exclusive Club Lounge situated on the 19th floor and its complimentary services, while business travellers will have the use of the hotel’s boardroom for up to 4 hours per stay.

 

Banyan Tree Bangkok is 40 minutes away from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and features a full range of facilities, including 12 food and beverage outlets such as the Saffron fine dining restaurant and the iconic Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar situated 61 floors above the streets.

 

Banyan Tree Phuket Hosts Michelin Star Chef, Offers Destination Dining

Banyan Tree Phuket, the flagship property of the group, will host 3-star Michelin Chef Christian Le Squer of the Ledoyen Restaurant in Paris from 5 August 2009 to 8 August 2009 at Tré, the resort’s contemporary French Vietnamese restaurant.

 

Hailing from Brittany, the celebrated French chef will collaborate with the resort’s Executive Chef, Alex Nassar, to create exclusive dishes such as red wine marinated foie gras terrine, beetroot and smoked eel, as well as truffle crusted turbot fillet. Accompanying the creations will be wines by French Master Winemaker Pascal Jolivet, who will also make a guest appearance.

 

Guests can also experience 2 unique dining experiences inspired by the local culture. Dinner of the Spirit is an intimate dinner for 2 where guests dine under a majestic banyan tree overlooking the lagoon and to the tunes of the “Khim”, a traditional Thai string instrument. 6 different types of freshly prepared Thai rice are offered to guests to accompany the main courses including the wagyu beef curry with pineapple and grape, stir fried tiger prawns, steamed white cod and wok fried sponge gourd and truffle oil.

 

Dinner of the Senses is served over the lagoon at the resort. Guests are transported to their table by a traditional Thai longtail boat, where they can enjoy a 4-course meal incorporating ingredients from the land and sea. These include the wagyu beef salad, yellow curry duck confit, scallops and jasmine rice infused lobster. For dessert, a rice pudding filled with crispy rice and hot chocolate coconut is offered.

 

Located at Bang Tao Bay on the northwestern coast of Phuket, the award-winning Banyan Tree Phuket offers 150 luxurious villas surrounded by tropical gardens and majestic watercourts.

 

For more information, visit www.banyantree.com.

Shangri-La Villingili Resort And Spa Now Open

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has opened its latest property, Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa, in the Maldives. Located on Addu Atoll, the resort is accessible by a 70-minute flight from the capital Male and a 8-minute boat ride from the new Gan International Airport.

 

The 3 kilometer-long island features 12 hectares of lush vegetation, including 17,000 coconut trees, ancient banyan trees, 45 species of flora and 3 natural freshwater lagoons. There is also over 6 kilometers of coastline and nearly 2 kilometers of white, sandy beaches, allowing guests to experience the distinct and unspoilt natural ecosystem.

 

The Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa offers guests 142 spacious villas, ranging from the 133-square meter Pool Villas to the luxurious 957-square meter Villa Laalu, furnished with carefully selected artwork and various precious artefacts from Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The resort also has 16 unique Tree House Villas, each with separate living room, bedroom and private infinity pool, perched on stilts providing a bird’s eye view of the island. Other accomodation options available include the Water Villas and Beach Villas. All villas at the resort feature luxury bedding, an indoor and outdoor shower, private terrace leading to the beach, a waterfront or lush garden and are equipped with a 40-inch LCD television, Bose DVD player, 2 iPods with docking stations, complimentary high-speed internet access, minibar and Nespresso coffee machine.

 

A selection of restaurants and bars await guests at the resort. The Khazaanaage Restaurant, inspired by 14th century Islamic traveller Ibn Battuta, serves cuisine from the Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and South China Sea using fresh ingredients and spices from the chef’s organic garden. At the all-day dining Javvu Restaurant, guests enjoy quality cafe dining during the day and elegant Western cuisine in the evenings. 4 bars (Endheri, Fashala, Manzaru and the Khazaanaage bar) offer a wide variety of drinks and shesha.

 

Located in its own spa village within the resort with spacious treatment villas, CHI will offer its signature treatments, therapies and well-being programmes based on Asian, Chinese and Himalayan healing rituals. The spa will also feature the “Kandu Boli” experience, a series of indigenous treatments inspired by the cowrie shell.

 

Guests can also explore the natural environment Villingili has to offer, with a nature trail in addition to stretches of beach. Traditional Maldivian villages and prime diving sites can be easily accessed via a short boat ride to the nearby islands. At the heart of the island is the 30,000-square meter Village Center, where there is an eco-centre, water sports center, free-form swimming pool, 2 tennis courts, a dedicated indoor and outdoor area for children and entertainment center.

 

Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa is the group’s first resort in the Maldives and joins over 62 hotels worldwide.

 

For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com.

Qatar Airways Opens New USA Offices, To Offer Inflight Mobile Communications

Passengers flying Qatar Airways can look forward to more service enhancements from the airline. The Doha-based carrier has increased its presence in the USA with the opening of new sales offices in Washington DC, Houston and New York. Qatar Airways has also announced it is to offer mobile communications onboard flights from October 2009.

 

Grand Opening of Washington DC Office

Located at 1430 K Street NW near McPherson Square metro station, the new Washington DC office of Qatar Airways was officially opened by CEO Akbar al Baker in a ceremony attended by local VIPs and business leaders, including Qatar’s Ambassador to the USA, His Excellency Ali bin Fahad Al-Hajri.

 

The new office will provide an important access point for travellers in the city for Qatar Airways and is staffed by trained employees to assist business and leisure travellers with their travel arrangements to Doha and beyond on the airline’s network.

 

The airline will also open another 2 sales offices in the USA. Qatar Airways’ Houston office is located at 1200 Smith Street in the heart of the city, while its New York office is conveniently situated on the 22nd floor of the Trump Tower.

 

Qatar Airways currently offer daily nonstop flights from its Doha hub to Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

 

Inflight Mobile Communications From October 2009

Passengers flying with Qatar Airways will soon be able to speak on their mobile phone, as well as access the internet and check emails, during their flight.

 

In a first for Middle Eastern carriers, the airline will begin offering inflight mobile phone services later this year on selected flights with the Mobile OnAir system fitted to one of its Airbus A320 aircraft. This would allow travellers to remain connected while they fly, which will be especially important for business travellers.

 

However, the service will be controlled and passengers will not be allowed to use it at all times. The crew will be able to switch off the access entirely or partially if its use disturbs other passengers or the serenity of the cabin.

 

Qatar Airways expects to retrofit the technology to its entire fleet by 2014.

 

For more information, visit www.flyqatar.com.

Cathay Pacific Adds Jeddah, Expands Saudi Arabian Operations

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways has announced it will launch flights to Jeddah via Dubai from 25 October 2009. The airline has also announced that it will increase frequency on its Hong Kong-Riyadh/Bahrain flights from 5 times weekly to daily service. 

 

Hong Kong – Dubai – Jeddah

Flight CX 745 will depart Hong Kong at 2355 hrs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrive in Dubai at 0500 hrs the next morning. The flight then continues on to Jeddah at 0610 hrs, where it arrives at 0810 hrs. The return flight, CX 746, departs Jeddah every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 1410 hrs and lands in Dubai at 1740 hrs in the evening, before travelling onward back to Hong Kong at 1850 hrs for a 0600 hrs arrival the next morning.

 

Located on the Red Sea coast and Saudi Arabia’s second largest city, Jeddah will be Cathay Pacific’s 46th destination and offer passengers greater flexibility when travelling between the Middle East and Asia. The 4 times weekly service will operate using a 2-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

 

Hong Kong – Riyadh/Bahrain Service Goes Daily From August 2009

Currently flown 5 times a week, Cathay Pacific will increase its flights to Riyadh to daily service with effect from 2 August 2009.  The flights will be routed via Bahrain enroute to and from Hong Kong depending on the day of operation using Airbus A330-300 aircraft until 26 October 2009, where the airline will increase capacity by offering a combination of 4 times weekly Boeing 777-200s and 3 times weekly A330-300s.

 

Flight CX 733 departs Hong Kong at 1605 hrs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Bahrain at 1950 hrs before continuing on to Riyadh at 2100 hrs for a 2210 hrs arrival. The return flight CX 732 departs the Saudi Arabian capital at 2320 hrs and flies direct back to Hong Kong, where it arrives at 1315 hrs the next day.

 

On Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, flight CX 743 departs Hong Kong at 1605 hrs, flying direct to Riyadh where it lands at 2020 hrs. The return flight, CX 742, takes off from Riyadh at 2130 hrs, landing in Bahrain at 2240 hrs, before continuing on to Hong Kong at 2350 hrs, where it arrives at 1315 hrs the next day.

 

For more information, visit www.cathaypacific.com.

His Space At Hong Kong’s The Fleming

One of the first hotels in Hong Kong to introduce female-only rooms, The Fleming, a boutique hotel located in the Wanchai business and entertainment district, has launched a new room concept.

 

“His Space” is a male-dedicated floor, where 4 of the hotel’s 66 rooms have been remodeled to cater specifically for male travellers. In addition to the standard room amenities, His Space rooms are furnished with Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii video consoles, iPod docking stations, in-room golf putting greens, men’s magazines and a personal DVD library.

 

Guests also enjoy American breakfast at Cubix, the hotel’s restaurant, a 50% discount on selected imported beers, complimentary local telephone calls, high speed internet, cable television and access to the nearby California Fitness gym.

 

The Fleming also offers Executive and Deluxe room types with a separate kitchen and amenities such as foot massagers and multifunction fax machines. Female travellers have the option of staying in the 5 “Her Space” female-dedicated rooms which were launched in 2007.

 

For more information, visit www.thefleming.com.

South African Developments For UAE Carriers

The major carriers of the UAE, Etihad Airways and Emirates, have announced developments for their operations in South Africa. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad will be launching daily flights to Cape Town in September 2009, while Dubai’s Emirates has opened its latest international lounge in Johannesburg.

 

Etihad Airways To Fly Abu Dhabi – Johannesburg – Cape Town

From 30 September 2009, Etihad Airways will commence daily flights to Cape Town, its second South African destination. The service will operate via Etihad’s existing Abu Dhabi-Johannesburg route with an Airbus A330-200.

 

Flight EY 602 will depart Abu Dhabi at 2220 hrs, arriving in Johannesburg at 0455 hrs the next morning, before continuing to Cape Town at 0625 hrs for a 0825 hrs arrival. The return flight, EY 601, departs Cape Town at 1050 hrs, arriving in Johannesburg at 1250 hrs and taking off again at 1355 hrs back to Abu Dhabi, where it lands at 0010 hrs the next morning.

 

Etihad began flying to Johannesburg in December 2005 and the service has proven popular with travellers. The new flights to Cape Town will offer further travel choices to and from South Africa in time for the 2010 World Cup tournament.

 

For more information, visit www.etihadairways.com.

 

Africa Gets Its First Emirates Lounge

Emirates has opened its first airport lounge in Africa. The new facility at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport is the Dubai-based airline’s fourth new lounge to be opened this year, following similar facilities in Dusseldorf, Mumbai and Beijing.

 

The lounge features furnishings and services catering to passengers’ leisure and business requirements. As with other Emirates Lounges around the world, there are plush couches and comfortable seating areas, designer showers, full bar service and a selection of hot and cold food available. The fully-equipped business center with individual workstations and complimentary wireless high speed internet access allow business travellers to keep up to date with work before their flight.

 

Emirates is one of a few international airlines to invest in its own lounge facilities outside of its base at Dubai International Airport, with 23 lounges across its global network. Emirates Lounges are located in Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, London (Gatwick and Heathrow), Melbourne, Mumbai, Munich, New York (JFK), Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Perth, Singapore, Sydney and Zurich.

 

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.

Hanoi Home To World’s First Sofitel Legend

Following an extensive renovation and restoration process, french hospitality group Accor has rebranded the renowned Sofitel Metropole Hanoi under the new Sofitel Legend brand, a collection of historic properties and palaces with its own unique history and personality.

 

Welcoming ambassadors, heads of state, celebrities and legendary writers for over a century, the hotel’s 364 rooms are situated in 2 wings. Guests can choose from the historical grandeur of the 110-room centenary Metropole wing, or experience the neoclassical elegance of the 254-room Opera wing. All rooms are furnished with the Sofitel MyBed, spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and shower, LCD television with DVD player, high speed internet access, telephone with voicemail function, in-room safe and minibar facilities.

 

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi offers guests 6 restaurants and bars, helmed by head chef Andre Bosia, for relaxing and socializing. The elegant Le Beauleau restaurant serves the finest French cuisine in Hanoi and is renowned for its evening dinners and sunday brunches, while Spices Garden restaurant features the exotic and indigenous flavours of the region. The Italian steak house and bar Angelina is the Vietnamese capital’s newest culinary address, where the ”who’s who” of Hanoi gather. Other dining venues at the hotel include the Bamboo Bar, La Terrasse du Metropole and Le Club.

 

For relaxation, the new Le Spa du Metropole features French colonial-style decor. 7 spa suites allow guests to indulge in treatments blending the rituals of the East with contemporary methods from the West. The spa uses products from Clarins and Ytsara, complemented by oil blends created exclusively for the hotel by French perfumer Laurent Severac. There is also an outdoor swimming pool and the SoFit gym offering the latest equipment and fitness amenities.

 

The Sofitel Legend portfolio is set to grow further with upcoming properties such as Cartagena Santa Clara, The Old Cataract, The Winter Palace and Cecil Alexandria in Egypt, the Moroccan palace Fes Palais Jamai and Amsterdam’s The Grand, which hosted the wedding of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1966.

 

For more information, visit www.sofitel.com.

AirAsia Bucks Trend With New Routes, Frequency Increases

Amidst the route cuts and capacity reductions adopted by many of the world’s airlines, Malaysia’s AirAsia has bucked the trend by inaugurating new routes and increasing frequency to existing points in its network. The low cost carrier has launched Denpasar-Perth flights and will expand its Kuala Lumpur-Taipei flights to daily services.

 

AirAsia Indonesia Starts Denpasar – Perth

AirAsia Indonesia commenced flights to Perth from Bali last friday, 17 July 2009, with a daily Airbus A320 service. Reflecting the strong demand for low cost services on the route, the inaugural flights enjoyed 100% loads.

 

Flight QZ 8620 departs Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport at 0030 hrs, arriving in Perth at 0410 hrs. The return flight, QZ 8621, takes off at 0450 hrs and lands in Denpasar at 0830 hrs.

 

From 19 August 2009, AirAsia Indonesia will add a second daily flight on the route. Flight QZ 8626 departs Denpasar at 1230 hrs and arrives in Perth at 1620 hrs, before returning as flight QZ 8627 at 1710 hrs for a 2050 hrs arrival back in Bali.

 

Perth is the first Australian destination to be serviced by AirAsia Indonesia and its fourth international route operated from Bali (after Denpasar-Kuala Lumpur, Denpasar-Bangkok and Denpasar-Singapore). The city receives 21 weekly flights of the AirAsia Group, including a daily Kuala Lumpur-Perth nonstop flight operated by the group’s long haul affiliate, AirAsia X.

 

AirAsia X To Fly Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Daily From 19 October 2009

Launched in April 2009, AirAsia X’s 5 times weekly Kuala Lumpur-Taipei route will be increased to daily service from 19 October 2009 in response to increased demand.

 

The outbound flight D7 2672 will now depart Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal at 1000 hrs (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) and 1800 hrs (Saturdays), arriving in Taipei at 1440 hrs and 2240 hrs respectively. On the return leg, flight D7 2673 takes off from Taipei at 1555 hrs (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) and 2355 hrs (Saturdays), landing in Kuala Lumpur at 2035 hrs and 0435 hrs on Sunday mornings.

 

The additional flights will be operated by the airline’s 2-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft configured with 383 seats, including 28 XL Class premium seats with a 60-inch seat pitch.

 

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.