WAYFARER ISSUE ONE MAY/JUNE 2020

ISSUE ONE - MAY/JUNE 2020 - AUD$9.95

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO EXECUTIVE TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

Launch Issue Presenting the inaugural issue of Wayfarer magazine

The

2020

luxe hotels list

From Sydney to Paris, the hot hotels that need to be on your radar

Suite Dreams

How America's top airlines are upping the luxury ante

California Cool

Inside Los Angeles’ hip new Santa Monica Proper hotel

PLUS TRAVEL NEWS, INSIDER GUIDES, FREQUENT FLYER TIPS AND MUCH MORE

SAY HELLO TO QUEST ROBINA ON THE GOLD COAST

Located just footsteps from CBUS Stadium, the brand new Quest Robina boasts 80 stunning serviced apartments, a gym, lap pool and conference facilities.

✓ Modern self-contained apartments ✓ Complimentary WiFi ✓ Room service powered by Deliveroo ✓ Shuttle bus service ✓ Balcony rooms ✓ Pantry shopping service

VISIT QUESTROBINA.COM.AU

MAY-JUNE 2020 CONTENTS

In this issue.

FEATURES

22

40

The new Delta One Suites have upped the ante on transPacific flights

A behind-the-scenes look at Quest Apartment Hotels in New Zealand

SAN FRANCISCO STAR

BEACHFRONT BLISS

DELTA’S SUITE STYLE

26

Inside United Airlines' brilliant Polaris Lounge in San Francisco

28

LUXURY MOVES How American Airlines offers the ultimate airport transfers and experiences

38

EXECUTIVE DELIGHT A look at the re-modelled Crowne Plaza Paris Republique

KIWI SUCCESS

42

Hit the beach in style at the Kahala in Hawaii

48

EQUINOX’S EPIC ARRIVAL The world’s hottest gym brand has opened its first hotel

62

ST. MORITZ ACTION A journey to one of Switzerland's best towns

68

AUSTIN ROCKS Our essential guide to the capital of Texas

80

THE LUXE HOTELS LIST Twenty-four of our favourite hotels in the world right now

LA style: go inside the hot, new West Hollywood Edition Hotel (p83)

WAYFARER 3

CONTENTS MAY-JUNE 2020

In this issue.

REGULARS

06

16

61

Welcome to the inaugural issue

by James Wilkinson

Essential airline news and reviews from across the sky

Wayfarer's guides to top destinations around the world

THE HOT LIST

ROOM KEY

ACCESSORIES

EDITOR’S LETTER

10

TAKE OFF

32

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

78

What's on our travel radar across the world right now

The latest global hotel news, reviews and interviews

Essential accessories for your next trip

TOP TECH

APPETITTE

MOTORING

14

Hot technology for home, the office and on the road

53

We check out some of the best bars, restaurants, cafes and drinks brands

96

Hit the road: cars capturing our attention this month

98

NEXT TIME Coming up in the next edition of Wayfarer magazine

Dinner is served at qualia on Hamilton Island (p90)

4 WAYFARER

A WORLD-CLASS VIEW The finest of Swiss hospitality awaits at Swissôtel The Stamford, one of Southeast Asia’s tallest hotels.

Central Location | Connectivity Located right in the heart of the Central Business District, directly above City Hall train station, world-class shopping, entertainment are right at the doorstep.

Seated within an integrated complex with a wealth of dining and entertainment options, Swissôtel The Stamford is an urban sanctuary in Singapore’s thriving metropolis.

LIFE IS A JOURNEY. LIVE IT WELL.

@SWISSOTELTHESTAMFORD SWISSOTEL-SINGAPORE-STAMFORD.COM AMERICAS | ASIA PACIFIC | EUROPE | MIDDLE EAST

EDITOR'S LETTER MAY-JUNE 2020

Welcome to our inaugural issue

O

ver the past couple of years, the Wayfarer team has produced a popular global television show, insider videos, a website and weekly newsletter, and throughout that time, we been asked again and again to put together a magazine that showcases the best in executive travel and lifestyle.

Well, here we are with our first issue of Wayfarer, a magazine that has been designed to inform and inspire the best in executive travel across the world, from airlines to hotels and accessories to destinations.

We had planned to release the inaugural issue earlier this year, however we quickly faced a crisis the world had rarely seen before and one that would cripple the travel industry.

But now, as we look to the future and a travel rebound of epic proportions, we want to be at the forefront of inspiring and showcasing the best in executive travel, from reviewing some of the world’s best airlines and hotels

to uncovering some hidden bars and cafes in the most exciting destinations across the globe.

We also want to do our part to promote travel in all of its glory and help the global industry to recover, reboot and return in spectacular fashion.

Our inaugural issue is loaded up with reviews, destination guides, news and special features – including our cover story, the 2020 Luxe Hotels List – and I hope you enjoy the read. We have also included over 30 videos in this issue to take you behind the scenes like no travel magazine ever has before – just look for the TV icon throughout the edition.

I’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions on airlines, hotels, destinations and accessories we should feature next, so please drop me a line.

For the love of travel,

James Wilkinson Editor-In-Chief

TONS OF BONUS VIDEO CONTENT!

This issue of Wayfarer is loaded-up with over 30 original videos, exclusively filmed by our team. Look for the TV icon throughout the magazine and a video will pop-up! For more videos, visit wayfarer.travel

Editor-In-Chief

JAMES WILKINSON james@wayfarer.travel

Creative Director

ADRIAN TIPPER atipper@intermedia.com.au

Contributing Writer ANDY YOUNG

Managing Director SIMON GROVER

Production Manager JACQUI COOPER jacqui@intermedia.com.au

Sales Enquiries

Tel: +61 (0)2 8586 6204

Published by

james@wayfarer.travel

Subscription Enquiries 6 issues for AU$60 (inc. GST) james@wayfarer.travel

41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Australia Tel: +61 (0)2 9660 2113 ABN 940 025 836 82

DISCLAIMER This publication is published by FAB Media Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials.

The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication. Copyright © 2020 - FAB Media Pty Ltd.

6 WAYFARER

qualia.com.au

DEPARTURES. The executive travel hot list, plus the latest airline and hotel news and reviews from across the globe.

10

The Hot List

What needs to be on your radar this season

14

Top Tech

Hot technology for at home and on the road

16

Take Off

Essential airline news, reviews and features from the across the sky

32

Room Key

The latest hotel news, reviews and interviews from around the world

WAYFARER 9

01

DORCHESTER’S BLOOMING BUNCH

Iconic British hotel The Dorchester has had a blooming start to 2020, with the arrival of its own rose. The launch coincides with the opening of the Florist at The Dorchester, a boutique selling signature and bespoke arrangements under the curation of in-house designer, florist Philip Hammond. dorchestercollection.com

10 WAYFARER

THE HOT LIST DEPARTURES

02

BETSY BEER SOARS AGAIN Cathay Pacificʼs popular Betsy Beer is back and better than ever with a new taste, a new look and a new rollout making it available to passengers on long-haul flights in all cabins as well as in Hong Kong International Airport’s Cathay Pacific lounges. The beer takes its name from 'Betsy', Cathay Pacificʼs first aircraft, a Douglas DC-3, from the 1940s. cathaypacific.com

The Hot List What's on our travel radar across the world right now.

03

DALÍ POPS-UP AT TE PAPA

A unique collection of Surrealist art, headlined by Salvador Dalí, is heading to Te Papa in Wellington. Dalí and the Surrealists: Masterpieces from Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen opens December 5, 2020 and features 180 pieces from Dalí, Max Ernst, Leonora Carrington, René Magritte and Marcel Duchamp. tepapa.nz/surrealists WAYFARER 11

04

A ROYAL CELEBRATION IN WAIKIKI

In front of the 'Pink Palace' on the golden sands of Waikiki and with Diamond Head as a backdrop, Aha‘aina, a Royal Celebration honours Hawaii’s majestic history through food, song, stories, hula and culture in grand Royal Hawaiian style. Every Monday and Thursday at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. royal-hawaiianluau.com

05

MARGARET RIVER GOES DIRECT

The Margaret River region south of Perth finally has its first ever trans-Continental flights, thanks to the launch of new thrice-weekly Jetstar services between Melbourne and Busselton. Food and wine lovers can visit more than 85 cellar doors, many with restaurants and ocean views. jetstar.com

12 WAYFARER

THE HOT LIST DEPARTURES

06

MARSHALL HITS A NEW BEAT

Don’t hop on that next flight without a pair of the Monitor II A.N.C. headphones, which are inspired by the brand’s heritage. They are authentic, yet modern, delivering high performance sound through advanced active noise cancelling technology.

Featuring custom tuned 40 mm dynamic drivers, expect that signature Marshall-tuned sound. marshallheadphones.com

07

EXPLORE L.A, SUPERCAR STYLE

For a real adrenaline rush next time you’re in California, the team at Exotics Racing Los Angeles have just the ticket: a tour of LA behind the wheel of a supercar. Hit some of the most famous streets, including the Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard driving a Ferrari 488, Lamborghini Huracan, Corvette C7 Z06 and Maserati Gran Turismo. exoticsracing.com

08

GO OFF PISTE IN McLAREN VALE Head on a half- or full-day tour of South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula – home to the amazing wine and produce of McLaren Vale – with Off Piste 4WD Tours, an up-market, off-road adventure that showcases the hidden and rugged beauty of the region through thrilling journeys and hard-to-reach places. offpistetours.com.au

WAYFARER 13

DEPARTURES TECHNOLOGY

Top Tech Top technology for the travelling executive, at home and on the road.

01

BOSE PORTABLE HOME SPEAKER

The new Portable speaker with 12 hours of battery life delivers 360-degree sound, deeper bass than any other speaker its size and weighs just 2.3 pounds, ideal for around the house, at the office and taking on trips.

AUD$499.95. bose.com.au

02

SANDISK EXTREME PRO PORTABLE SSD

Leveraging lightning-fast technology to deliver transfer speeds to up to 1050MB/s, it enables you to move professional-grade videos and photos speedily and edit them right from the drive.

AUD$259. sandisk.com

03

BELKIN ‘BOOST-UP’ WIRELESS CHARGING STAND

The Boost-Up wireless charging stand for Qi-enabled devices delivers 10-watts for fast charging at your desk or on the road.

AUD$109.95. belkin.com/au

04

ARLO PRO 3 SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM

Arlo has released its revolutionary new camera system in the Pro series, the Arlo Pro 3. It features a highperformance, simple, wire-free security solution for your home or office, including an integrated spotlight with colour night vision and a 160-degree field of view.

AUD$949. arlo.com 14 WAYFARER

DEPARTURES TAKE OFF

Take Off

Essential airline news, reviews and features from across the sky.

Air New Zealand unveils sleep pods for Economy A brilliant new ground-breaking lie-flat prototype sleep product for economy class travellers has been unveiled by Air New Zealand.

Dubbed the ‘Economy Skynest’, the new product is the result of three years of Air New Zealand research and development, with the input of more than 200 customers at its Hangar 22 innovation centre in Auckland.

The airline has filed patent and trademark applications for the Economy Skynest, which provides six full length lie-flat sleep pods.

Air New Zealand Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Mike Tod, says that as the airline operates some of the world’s longest flights, such as the upcoming Auckland-New York service at up to 17 hours 40 minutes one way, it is committed to putting more magic back into flying.

“We have a tremendous amount of development work underway looking at product innovations we can bring across all cabins of the aircraft,” he says. “A clear pain point for economy travellers on long-haul flights is the inability to stretch out.

“The development of the Economy Skynest is a direct response to that challenge,” Tod says.

He says Air New Zealand will make a final decision on whether to operate the Economy Skynest next year after it has assessed the performance of its upcoming Auckland-New York operations. airnz.co.nz 16 WAYFARER

The ‘Economy Skynest’ would sleep up to six people

TAKE OFF DEPARTURES

Fiji Airways unveils cool new A350 Business Class South Pacific boutique carrier Fiji Airways has unveiled a stunning new Business Class offering on the airline’s recently-delivered Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

The two new Airbus A350s in the fleet feature 33 Collins Aerospace ‘Super Diamond’ fully lie-flat Business Class seats, with each offering direct aisle access – a significant jump from the flatbed seats in a 2-2-2 configuration.

“We are extremely proud to welcome the Airbus A350 XWB to our fleet. They represent a future of opportunities, our commitment to

quality service and a more luxurious flight experience for our guests and crew,” said Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO, Andre Viljoen.

Fiji Airways’ jets also feature 301 Recaro ‘CL3710’ seats – including 39 with extra legroom – which are ranked among the most comfortable long-haul economy class seats on the market.

Onboard, customers can also now expect WiFi connectivity and the Avant inflight entertainment system, which will keep guests entertained for the hops initially from Fiji to Australia and the United States. fijiairways.com

Fiji Airways' new Business Class cabin on the Airbus A350

Alaska to join oneworld as part of new American deal

Alaska Airlines is set to join the oneworld alliance

Two of the USA’s leading carriers, Alaska Airlines and American, have announced a massive new partnership alliance.

As part of the deal, Alaska Airlines intends to join the oneworld alliance, the world’s fastest growing global airline alliance, by summer 2021, which will connect Alaska guests to more than 1,200 destinations worldwide.

The airlines will also continue their domestic codeshare that offers customers hassle-free booking and travel between the two networks. The codeshare will expand to include international routes from Los Angeles and Seattle.

Alaska and American loyalty members will enjoy benefits across both airlines, including the ability to earn and use miles on both airlines’ full networks, elite status reciprocity and lounge access. alaskaair.com WAYFARER 17

Cathay Pacific’s new bespoke travel experience Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific is indulging passengers with an elevated premium travel experience through an array of thoughtfully chosen enhancements to the service, soft products and culinary offerings on board its First and Business Class cabins.

The airline says these enrichments are designed to offer passengers a more holistic, sensory experience that begins from the moment they begin their journey.

Business Class travellers can bask in an enriched sleep proposition that includes newly-introduced and greatly enhanced bedding and slippers, ensuring passengers arrive at their destinations refreshed and ready for what awaits them.

At the heart of Cathay Pacific’s elevated premium experience is a new collaboration with Bamford, which has designed a range of exclusive amenities, travel kits and plush bedding for the airline’s travellers in both cabins that are certain to delight the senses. cathaypacific.com

Cathay Pacific has upped the onboard First and Business Class experience

Delta to expand footprint at New York’s JFK Airport Terminal 4 at New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport is set for a major expansion, with the Delta-run building set to add 16 new gates.

The expansion – which includes a renovation of the Terminal 4 arrivals and departures hall – is expected to be complete in early 2023 and will see Delta’s JFK operations consolidated into one terminal.

The move comes as Delta also expands its operations at New York City sister airport LaGuardia as part of a USD$4 billion makeover and will see the carrier offer world-class facilities at both air fields.

Delta CEO, Ed Bastian said: “With transformational projects now underway at both JFK and LaGuardia, we’re creating the airports our New York customers have long deserved.” delta.com 18 WAYFARER

Delta’s new-look LaGuardia Airport terminal

United has ordered the Airbus A321XLR

United orders Airbus A321s to replace Boeing 757 fleet United Airlines has placed an order to purchase 50 new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, enabling the carrier to begin replacing and retiring its existing fleet of Boeing 757200 aircraft and further meet the airline’s operational needs by pairing the optimal aircraft with select transatlantic routes.

The state-of-the-art aircraft, which United expects to introduce into international service in 2024, will also allow United to explore serving additional destinations in Europe from its East Coast hubs in Newark/ New York and Washington.

The next-generation A321XLR offers customers an elevated inflight experience and features modern amenities including LED lighting, larger overhead bin space and Wi-Fi connectivity. united.com

TAKE OFF DEPARTURES

London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 goes robot friendly

British Airways trials robots at London Heathrow In the latest stage of British Airways’ investment in airport automation, the airline has announced that from 2020 it will trial AI-powered autonomous robots at its home at Heathrow Terminal 5.

The robots will be deployed to help some of the 90,000 customers who travel through the terminal each day navigate through the airport, freeing up the airlines’ award-winning airport hosts to help customers with more complex queries.

The cutting-edge robots are programmed to interact with passengers in multiple different languages using the latest translation technology to answer thousands of questions, including real-time flight information.

Additionally, using geo-location technology and dozens of advanced sensors to constantly monitor a 360-degree radius, the robot will move around the airport terminal freely and safely, escorting customers to specific locations such as the airline’s dedicated Special Assistance and Family Check-In zones. ba.com 19

The bar at the new Finnair Business Class Lounge at Helsinki Airport 20 WAYFARER

TAKE OFF DEPARTURES

Finnair opens brilliant new Business Class Lounge in Helsinki Finnair has unveiled the final phase of its non-Schengen lounge expansion with the opening of its new Business Class Lounge at Helsinki Airport, which comes on the back of the new Platinum Wing Lounge which debuted in June 2019.

The new Business Class Lounge, which has seating for 600 people, showcases contemporary Nordic design throughout and offers a series of new spaces to explore alongside upgraded food and beverage options.

The aesthetic of the new lounge complex marks the emergence of Finnair’s new design language which centres on Nordicness, simplicity, clean lines, natural materials and texture to provide a warmer and more “human” experience.

The furniture selection includes both modern and classic design pieces from esteemed Nordic brands that stand the test of time.

For example, the entrance area features Eero Aarnio’s ball chairs.

Guests can taste the Nordics with a menu that features the best local produce in season. The lounge is operated in partnership with Finnish food provider Fazer, who will be preparing food in a new open kitchen concept which is coupled with a dedicated dining area. The rotating menu consists of a choice of three main courses with meat, fish and vegetarian options, six salads and a wide selection of desserts.

A new full-service bar will operate at peak times offering an enhanced range of beverages including premium alcohol and specialty coffees. Several beverage stations are dotted throughout the lounge, alongside a quick coffee area at the front of the lounge for those who are in a hurry.

The new lounge is broken up in a variety of smaller areas aligned to different customer needs and activities, from working to relaxing. finnair.com

Qantas will fly to Vancouver with a Boeing 787-9

Qantas’ Vancouver flights to resume for ski season Direct Sydney-Vancouver flights on Qantas are set to return for the 2020-21 Northern Winter season.

The flights will be operated by a three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the first time and will be flown three times per week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 12 December 2020 to 27 February 2021.

“Previously the service operated in December and January, but given the popularity of the route, that’s been extended by a month next season,” a Qantas spokesperson said. qantas.com

American’s staff get stylish new uniforms

American's new uniforms

After more than three years of collaboration with frontline team members and union representatives, more than 50,000 American Airlines team members have debuted a new stylish uniform collection manufactured by Lands’ End. Through this partnership with Lands’ End, American says it has delivered a refreshed collection with new suiting color, Aviation Blue, and shirting and accessories that are unique to each workgroup.

aa.com

Singapore Airlines to add Brussels flights Brussels will become the latest European destination in Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) route network this year, when non-stop flights are introduced from Singapore to the Belgian capital with a modern Airbus A350-900 on October 25.

“We are excited to launch services to Brussels – a city that is both an important economic and political hub in Europe.

This also represents SIA’s commitment to constantly expand our network reach and provide our customers with a more seamless travel experience,” said SIA’s Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Tan Kai Ping.

singaporeair.com

Singapore Airlines’ popular Business Class seat WAYFARER 21

SUITE dreams Delta’s new business class Delta One Suite is now in the sky and it’s a game-changer on trans-Pacific flights, writes James Wilkinson.

22 WAYFARER

REVIEW TAKE OFF

W

hen Delta unveiled its new Delta One Suite in 2017, expectations were high that the product wouldn’t just be one of the best business class cabins in the United States, but anywhere in the world.

Few airlines at the time – and since – have unveiled business class cabins with sliding doors (Delta was first and now also find them on ANA, China Eastern, Qatar and semiclosing doors on Delta’s partner Virgin Atlantic) as this has been something reserved for first class on many carriers.

It was a big move from Delta to go down this path but having a hybrid first/business class cabin – along with an all-new premium economy cabin called Delta Premium Select – is where the airline sees the future of flying.

The airline has certainly got it right, because the new Delta One Suites – now available on the Boeing 777-200LR and Airbus A350-900 – are more of a global first class offering than a business class product and the offering is nothing short of exceptional.

To find out what you can expect onboard, Wayfarer tested out the Delta One Suite on a Boeing 777-200LR flight from Los Angeles to Sydney recently.

SUITE OVERVIEW

The first thing you will notice is a wide, spacious area for the seat and side table. Then you’ll find the sliding door, which

The new Delta One Suite offers plenty of space to sleep, work and relax

when closed offers plenty of privacy and you don’t remotely feel claustrophobic.

Delta was the first airline to unveil a sliding door in business class and they have created a residential-style area that’s more than just a seat with a door hinged onto the sides.

The suite seats are wide at 24-inches and recline to 79-inches on the 777-200LR and 81-inches on the Airbus A350. They recline to fully-flat beds and have memory foam cushions that are also some of the most comfortable in the air.

The suites are in a 1-2-1 layout (all with full aisle access) and the pick of the seats are most definitely the window booths. Should you be travelling with a friend or a loved one, the centre seats are spacious and when the doors are closed, offer a lot of privacy and makes the experience most definitely a fun one. If you end up in one of the centre seats and don’t know the person next to you, you’ll find a privacy screen.

What I really like about the Delta One Suites is the amount of space the area offers. There’s a large table next to the seat, which means you can put your laptop, tablet or book next to you while you eat and there’s still plenty of room.

The slide-out tables are sturdy and well-sized, meaning your suite can turn into a mini office or a personal flying restaurant.

When it comes to storage, there are dedicated compartments for headphones, laptops and shoes and large overhead bins above each suite. >> WAYFARER 23

TAKE OFF REVIEW

IN-SUITE TECH & ENTERTAINMENT

Delta really impresses when it comes to in-Suite technology.

You’ll find high-powered USB ports and universal power outlets, alongside high-speed inflight WiFi. Entertainment is available in the form of an 18-inch, highresolution in-flight entertainment TV screen, which offers brilliant clarity and sound, especially when you bring your own noise-cancelling headphones – or if you forget them, the LSTN headphones on offer also impress.

Delta’s current onboard offering has hundreds of options and includes popular movies such as A Star is Born, alongside action, comedy, drama and family films and much more.

There are also TV programs to watch, games to play and albums to listen to.

The Suites also come with customisable ambient lighting and a 'Do Not Disturb' light on the outside for extra privacy.

IN-SUITE DINING

Delta One features menus created by some of America’s leading culinary stars including Los Angeles-based chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (known for meals such as marinara braised meatballs and BBQ chicken with mac and cheese) and dishes are wellsized and presented on stylish crockery and cutlery from renowned design company Alessi.

The food onboard the flight from Los Angeles was delicious (especially the meat, potatoes and beans) and well-presented while the wine list, curated by Delta’s Master Sommelier, Andrea Robinson – that included international and American wines such as the Ventenac Les Plos Chardonnay, Ritual Pinot Noir, Robert Hall Cabernet Sauvignon and Centerpiece Chardonnay – had some enjoyable drops.

With the suite offering so much space, the personal dining experience was elevated as a result. Having the room to be able to have your drinks on the side table – or continue working on your laptop – while eating is a significant bonus and step-up from the old Delta Business Class offering.

SLEEPING, PAMPERING & SERVICE

When you arrive at your Delta One Suite, you’ll receive an impressive Tumi hard shell amenity kit that’s loaded up with the luxurious Kiehl’s skincare products (Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 and grapefruit-scented Deluxe Hand and Body Lotion 24 WAYFARER

with aloe vera and oatmeal) alongside socks, an eyeshade, toothbrush and toothpaste, mouth wash and ear plugs.

After freshening up, the cabin crew will get you ready for sleep with the Westin Heavenly in-flight bedding that feels soft on the skin and will ensure you’re comfortable for the 14-hour flight to Sydney.

It is a shame that no pyjamas were available on Delta, so bring your own and you’ll be comfortable in the Westin Heavenly bedding products.

On the service front, the hospitality from cabin crew on the flight was impeccable and having the Do Not Disturb sign and a closing door meant an opportunity for plenty of rest on the flight.

AIRPORT EXPERIENCE

Delta operates from T2 and T3 at Los Angeles International Airport. At present there are significant upgrades underway (the airline is spending USD$1.9 billion on the project) and the Delta Sky Club is available before departure.

Given LAX is in the throws of massive upgrades – including the re-modeling and expansion of terminals and the addition of a new sky train – you should aim to get to the airport around three hours before your flight and enjoy the food and drinks in the lounge.

At Sydney Airport (if flying to LAX), you’ll have access to the SkyTeam Lounge just past security and duty free.

LAST WORD

Delta has upped the ante in business class with the new Delta One Suite, especially on such a busy route as Los Angeles-Sydney where there is competition from American Airlines, Qantas, United Airlines and Virgin Australia directly and Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways and Hawaiian Airlines with one-stop offerings.

Having complete privacy in a suite that feels like an international first class product is absolutely a game-changer from Delta, especially when you consider the airline didn’t just upgrade the hard product, but the soft offering as well.

On the overnight flights, you’ll eat and sleep well, while on the day flight back to Los Angeles, it’s a great opportunity to work or relax in a very comfortable environment.

It’s a five-star offering and one that truly is nothing short of exceptional. delta.com

The Delta One Suite is more of a first class offering than business class

‘Delta has upped the ante in business class with the new Delta One Suite.’

WAYFARER 25

United’s San Francisco star San Francisco is home to one the world’s best airport lounges and for owners United, it represents a huge step-up in the airline’s pre-flight offering, writes James Wilkinson.

United's San Francisco Polaris Lounge features five private daybeds

LOUNGES TAKE OFF

U

nited Airlines started upping the ante with its lounge network across America in late-2016, when the first Polarisbranded venue opened in Chicago, part of the carrier’s major makeover of its long-haul-offering.

Alongside a new all-aisle-access seat onboard, United created a completely new lounge product available to passengers only in business class on international flights and it truly has been revolutionary for the airline.

For the first time, United’s premium passengers in the United States have had access to stylish lounges with a full restaurant menu, ultrapremium beverages at no cost and daybeds with blankets and pillows.

What started with one venue in late-2016 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport has now turned into five across the United States, with Polaris Lounges also now open at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and most recently in 2019 at Los Angeles International Airport.

The airline set a benchmark with the opening of the first Polaris Lounge in Chicago, which was the only lounge of its kind by a USbased carrier – you have to be ticketed in business class on a long-haul flight to access it, no matter your frequent flyer status – and brilliantly continued that across the nation.

In the process, United picked-up some major awards, including in San Francisco which was named Best Business Class Lounge in the World at the 2019 World Airline Awards from Skytrax.

That award was for good reason, because what United Airlines has created in San Francisco is nothing short of an exceptional experience.

Here you can expect to find a lounge spread across two levels that spans

some 28,000 square feet. It has seating for up to 440 people – and you’ll stay powered-up because there are almost 500 USB charging ports – and there is also a unique Bay Area feel from the artworks to the food.

Leading the way at the Polaris Lounge – located in International Terminal G – are eight pieces of art by prominent Bay Area artists, who are all San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA) Art Award honourees.

Style is at the forefront here from the furniture and lighting to the five private daybeds (complete with Saks Fifth Avenue bedding), 19 different seating options from barstools to sofas and the eight shower suites that are highlighted by rainfall showers stocked-up with premium spa products.

As you take in views of the airfield, order a meal in the dining room, where you can enjoy fresh, local Californian cuisine and beverages in another great nod to the Bay Area that this Polaris Lounge offers.

In the dining room, you can expect a full à la carte menu designed by Chef Tritia Gestuvo, who hails from

California, that is both locally-focused and internationally-inspired with dishes such as hand-cut pappardelle pasta with mushroom ragout, a chicken bento box and United’s popular Polaris burger.

For those who want to pick and choose on the go, there is also a buffet that includes a ramen noodle bar and local San Francisco delights during the morning, afternoon and evening.

Where the lounge also impresses is on the drinks front, in the form of locally-inspired cocktails (including the Mai Tai, which was invented in Oakland in 1944) and wines (led by The Prisoner cabernet sauvignon blend from the Napa Valley), alongside an excellent cappuccino.

The investment in the new Polaris Lounges has been a huge hit with premium travellers, who have seen an exponential rise the quality of the lounge product right across the United States.

Given how busy United’s hubs can get, these Polaris Lounges offer a fantastic opportunity to relax and dine before the flight and then enjoy the new flatbed seats in the sky.

United Airlines’ Vice President of Marketing, Mark Krolick, said the focus and investment in the Polaris Lounge product has most definitely been worth it.

“Our customers are telling us that the Polaris lounges are a gamechanger in providing modern, tranquil spaces to relax, recharge and enjoy top-notch food and drinks,” he said.

“The entire Polaris experience begins in the lounge, which is why we’ve placed so much emphasis on getting it right.”

Not so long ago, you couldn’t wait to hop onboard for that premium meal in the sky. Now, United is giving us even more reasons to get to the airport earlier.

Save room for that sundae in the sky though; it’s always worth the wait.

San Francisco International Airport Terminal G concourse, San Francisco, California, USA. united.com

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TAKE OFF AIRPORTS

American Airlines’ brilliant luxury offering

American Airlines has expanded its exclusive Five Star Service options for its top customers travelling through Los Angeles and New York and Wayfarer looks at what’s on offer.

A

merican Airlines has been upping the ante for luxury travellers of late in its key hubs of Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK), by offering a range of enhancements aimed at making the journey even more seamless.

The new additions include an off-terminal entrance and private screening service with The Private Suite (PS) in LAX, and a unique effortless travel experience to JFK or LAX airports with Blade, a digitally powered aviation company.

American Airlines' Five Star Service is a premium and personal airport experience available for departures, connections or arrivals in select markets.

Customers purchasing a Five Star Service experience can take the worry out of travel and customize their experience to fit their interests.

The services provided by Blade and PS are available as add-ons for customers purchasing Five Star Service or Five Star Select — an elevated Five Star Service experience with access to Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining.

“We understand the value our customers put on their time and a personalized end-to-end travel experience — whether it is a private travel experience, a little more luxury, fine dining in the airport or getting to the gate quickly, we have them covered,” said American Airlines Vice President of Global Marketing, Janelle Anderson.

Customers in the Los Angeles or the New York areas can skip the traffic and get to the airport faster with a private helicopter transfer from Blade.

When traveling with Blade, customers will be picked up in the city at a destination of their choice and flown to LAX or JFK where they’ll be greeted by an American

Airlines team member and escorted in a Cadillac to Flagship First Check-In. After clearing security, customers can spend their extra time relaxing or working in the Admirals Club, Flagship Lounge or Flagship First Dining before their flight. Blade service is also available for arriving customers.

“The number one pain point of traveling from New York City and Los Angeles to the airports is traffic. Our Blade airport transfer product turns an hour-and-a-half drive into a helicopter flight that’s five to seven minutes,” said Blade CEO and Founder, Rob Wiesenthal.

Premium cabin customers who value efficiency, luxury and privacy when traveling through LAX can choose to access the PS private entrance to LAX, away from crowds and traffic.

The exclusive, first-of-its-kind terminal offers customers with departing flights private, expedited security screening on site with Cadillac escort across the tarmac directly to their gate or to the Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining.

Similarly, arriving customers can clear international customs in fewer than five minutes at the dedicated international arrivals hall inside PS. “LAX is one of the busiest airports in the country,” said PS co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Josh Gausman.

“Now, American Airlines customers can skip typical airport congestion, clear security in seconds, and be whisked across the airfield directly to their flight or to the exceptional Flagship First Dining. There aren’t many better ways to experience LAX.” aa.com

SUITE STYLE IN LOS ANGELES The Private Suite (PS) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was one of the hottest travel offerings in America when it debuted two years ago and now, in 2020, it has become more popular than ever thanks to an offering that keeps getting better.

With a promise of delivering the most seamless and luxurious approach to airline travel that California has ever seen, PS at LAX has turned travelling through one of the world’s busiest airports into an absolute breeze.

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PS is a private terminal opposite Tom Bradley and American Airlines’ T4 and T5, and inside you’ll find private TSA screening, on-site customs and immigration processing (a process that takes just five minutes even when arriving from overseas), plus high-end suites that you can relax in before and after the flight.

You will be greeted by PS staff at the aircraft door before being taken on an exclusive tarmac transfer in BMW 7-Series sedans to the private terminal and the reverse when you are heading off

from Los Angeles International Airport.

The staff will collect your luggage from the belt – or deliver it to the terminal and have it checked-in – as you receive unprecedented privacy, comfort and fantastic service while you relax in your suite, complete with fine wines (think the Stag’s Leap Artemis Cabernet and Patz and Hall Chardonnay, as well as Veuve Cliquot) and top-notch food from Wally’s Beverly Hills. reserveps.com

PS drops you off airside

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GREEN LUXE IN NEW YORK CITY

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WAYFARER x CONRAD NEW YORK DOWNTOWN

Conrad New York Downtown only features suites

In 2020, it’s all about luxuriating in a green experience at brilliant business hotel Conrad New York Downtown.

THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST of a more sustainable future has increased at a rapid rate, with travellers making more conscious decisions when planning their vacation.

One hotel that continues to make impactful changes is Conrad New York Downtown, a 463-suite luxury property in Downtown Manhattan’s Battery Park.

A bold leader in sustainable luxury, the LEED Gold Certified property has created an impressive series of green initiatives aimed at addressing climate concerns.

MINIMIZING WASTE, ONE PROGRAM AT A TIME

Conrad New York Downtown is dedicated to creating a sustainable experience for its guests, starting with impactful programs locally and beyond.

In 2019, the hotel established a collaboration with Rethink Program, an organization that repurposes excess food to create nutritious and delicious meals for underserved New York City residents.

Since working with Rethink, the hotel has donated more than 12,000 pounds of food.

Not only has Conrad New York Downtown found a great partner in Rethink, but has also established other programming into its operations.

The hotel has shifted its menus to focus on items that do not promote food waste, and has utilized compostable straws, glass water bottles and compostable to-go containers.

All these efforts have contributed to the hotel’s on-site casual-luxury restaurant, ATRIO Wine Bar and Restaurant, serving as an Ocean Friendly Restaurant.

This program requires restaurants to be a leader in their community by reducing plastic pollution and conserving

water and energy, furthering the hotel’s position on making environmental changes for our future.

Conrad New York Downtown also has a growing mix of other initiatives that reduce waste. Some initiatives include soaps and empty toiletry containers items recycled through Clean the World; LED lights throughout the building; recycled Nespresso pods; motion sensor-controlled lighting and HVAC systems; water dispensers that track the amount of water bottles saved and more.

“From eliminating plastic straws to recycling soap, Conrad New York Downtown is committed to making changes that will have a positive ripple effect on our planet,” said Marlene Poynder, General Manager of Conrad New York Downtown.

“Our guests have come to appreciate our vision of sustainable luxury, and we look forward to expanding on our existing green initiatives.”

THE STRENGTH OF A PARTNERSHIP

As part of an ongoing effort to eliminate plastic waste, Conrad New York Downtown recently joined forces with Rocean, the leading supplier of sustainable smart water solutions.

Through this new partnership, the hotel will now offer Rocean Zero smart filtration devices inside each of the luxury property’s 463 suites, with the goal of eliminating single-use plastic.

“Conrad New York Downtown was designed and built solely using strategies that aim to preserve precious resources, and the addition of the Rocean system further strengthens Hilton’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact by 50% in 2030 by offering plastic-free solutions for our guests,” Poynder said.

Taking the venture one step further, Rocean is also providing reusable aluminum bottles to be distributed upon request. conradnewyork.com WAYFARER 31

DEPARTURES ROOM KEY

Room Key The latest hotel news, reviews and interviews from across the world.

Cradle Mountain Lodge debuts reimagined King Billy Suites Cradle Mountain Lodge at Tasmania’s UNESCO World Heritage Listed site is undergoing an upgrade valued at more than AUD$10 million as part of a major redevelopment.

The vision for 86-cabin Cradle Mountain Lodge, which is nestled in 23 acres of wilderness, carries with it the significance of its history, with the newly upgraded King Billy Suites to ensure the highest level of comfort through a generous in-room offering for guests.

The King Billy Suites create a new standard for high-end luxury accommodation, re-invigorating the signature statement central fireplace and famous outdoor spa baths, through to the elevated mini bar featuring a curated selection of local Tasmanian products.

The Lodge’s restaurants – Highland and The Tavern Bar and Bistro – have also seen upgrades. Maintaining its casual food offering for lodge guests and day trippers alike, the lodge’s restaurants showcase seasonal and local produce, displaying the best of the food bowl state.

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In conjunction with the upgrades, the lodge has also introduced new sustainable practices to aid improving the ecosystem of its surroundings, starting with the introduction of beehives to produce honey for guests to enjoy but also to increase the number of bees in the area.

The Lodge's owners say the property will continue to offer an unparalleled adventure opportunity in this important wilderness site, as it pays homage to the original vision of its role in Tasmania.

“Cradle Mountain is a special location that connects guests with both the adventure and tranquility of nature,” says owner, HTL Partners' CEO, Marianne Ossovani. “We understand the significance of the lodge and its history and know that it belongs just as much to the state of Tasmania and to the guests who come back year and year again.”

Located at 1,545m above sea level, Cradle Mountain is Tasmania’s sixth highest peak and one of the most stunning locations in the state. cradlemountainlodge.com.au

An artist’s impression of Eos by SkyCity

SkyCity readies to open stylish, new Adelaide hotel SkyCity Hotels Group has revealed its new luxury hotel at the Adelaide Casino will be called ‘Eos’.

The new 120-room luxury hotel – the centrepiece of the $330 million Adelaide Casino expansion – will open its doors in late-2020, offering guests bespoke experiences from in-room styling to on-call mixologists providing a custom cocktail service.

SkyCity Entertainment Group General Manager – Hotels, Brad Burnett, said he was thrilled to announce this exciting phase of development in Adelaide, the fourth instalment in the SkyCity Hotels Group portfolio.

“Eos by SkyCity will become our ultimate, luxury hotel brand in a stable that also includes The Grand by SkyCity, Horizon by SkyCity and SkyCity Hotel in Auckland,” he said.

“With a variety of personalised experiences on offer, every guest will have a unique experience that can’t be found anywhere else,” Burnett said.

Construction of the 12-storey Adelaide expansion, including the new hotel, is running to schedule with work on the sweeping, curved golden façade of the building now complete and attention turning to the interior fit-out.

In addition to the new hotel, there will also be new restaurants and bars, conference and event facilities, a stunning spa and wellness centre and expanded gaming experiences. eosbyskycity.com.au

The Regent Shanghai Pudong expands the brand’s presence in China

Luxurious: Cradle Mountain Lodge’s reimagined King Billy Suites

Regent Hotels adds luxury Shanghai property InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Shanghai 21st Century Hotel Co., Ltd. to operate its luxurious property located in Lujiazui, Shanghai, China.

From May 16, 2020, the hotel will be officially branded as Regent Shanghai Pudong and ready to welcome guests with a truly unique and luxury experience, which the legendary brand is famous for.

All existing reservations will be automatically forwarded and honoured by Regent Shanghai Pudong and guests will be able to experience the understated luxury and intuitive service brought by Regent seamlessly.

The Regent Shanghai Pudong will join existing hotels in Beijing and Chongqing in Mainland China, while the InterContinental Hong Kong recently closed to start a major upgrade that will see the property transform into a global-flagship Regent hotel in 2021.

“Welcoming Regent Shanghai Pudong to the Regent family represents a significant milestone for the brand not only in Greater China but also in the world,” said Regent Hotels and Resorts’ Managing Director, Justin Channe. regenthotels.com WAYFARER 33

DEPARTURES ROOM KEY

First look at Ovolo’s new Bali resort Contemporary hotel collection Ovolo Group has offered a stylish first-glimpse inside the company’s first property in Indonesia, 'Mamaka'.

The first hotel outside of its Australian and Hong Kong offerings, Mamaka by Ovolo is located on the beachfront of Bali’s bustling and rejuvenated Kuta.

Having purchased the Citadines Kuta Beach Bali late last year, Ovolo Group will transform the existing structure into an urban resort and re-open in late-2020 with 191 designer rooms and suites, innovative food and drink concepts, and unique experiences.

No 'rule book' existed and adding to the continued rejuvenation of the Kuta precinct is what drove Ovolo in the creation of Mamaka, says Ovolo Group Founder and CEO, Girish Jhunjhnuwala.

“Convention was not considered, this is our take on a resort,” he says. “It will be a playground for travellers through food and drink with attitude, wellness and activities, a surf school and shop, and a little self-indulgence – they won’t want to leave!”

In an ode to Bali, the hotel’s design has embraced vibrant colours and traditional Balinese textiles like kebaya baju, alongside natural materials, ample weaving, bold patterns, and lantern effect lighting.

In true Ovolo style, the food and drink experience will be innovative and bring a new culinary dynamic to the Kuta precinct.

A first-of-its-kind on the island is the highest rooftop pool-club with 270-degree views of the Bali’s western beaches from Jimbaran to Canggu and beyond.

A dining destination in its own right, Mamaka by Ovolo’s edible offerings will remain in line with Ovolo’s existing focus on outstanding food and drink and expect the announcement of a Creative Culinary Partner to direct the Cocktail Bar and the Rooftop concept in the coming months.

Mamaka Kuta Beach joins this distinctive collection of hotels which includes Nishi Apartments Canberra Australia, Mojo Nomad Aberdeen Harbour Hong Kong and soon-to-launch The Sheung Wan Central Hong Kong, expected to open during 2020. ovolohotels.com 34 WAYFARER

An artist’s impression of Mamaka by Ovolo in Bali

Zagame’s House has a new ‘Maitre Z’, Daniel Gamba

Zagame’s introduces the ‘Maitre Z’ Melbourne’s boutique Zagame’s House is taking service to the next level with the launch of its new-tomarket ‘Maitre Z’ role.

The concept combines the role of a concierge, host, and Maitre D all in a unique Zagame’s House style.

Daniel Gamba has joined the Zagame’s House team of ‘Z Agents’ to launch the exciting role of Maitre Z. He is originally from Italy and has over four years’ experience in the travel and hospitality industry working as a Concierge at Ovolo Hotel Sydney and as Managing Supervisor at the Leichardt Hotel Sydney. zagameshouse.com.au

Skye Suites fast-tracks new Sydney hotel opening Skye Suites fast-tracked the opening of its third hotel, a luxe new property within the AUD$575 million architectural precinct, Infinity by Crown Group, in Sydney’s Green Square, in response to what the company says has been a surge in demand from the long-stay market.

Skye Suites Green Square was set to officially open as a hotel in July, but since mid-April, Skye Residences has been offering luxurious serviced-apartment stays of three months or more to long-stay residents.

The property features a range of studio, one and two-bedroom apartments. The kitchens have SMEG cooktops, microwave ovens and a fridge, and there is a washing machine and dryer as well as ample bathroom and living

space. Rooms also feature an enclosed balcony or courtyard and second wall-mounted flatscreen TV in the two-bedroom apartments.

Little kids and big kids alike can catch a movie on Foxtel or watch Netflix by streaming their own content to large in-room TV screens through Google Chromecast.

Keyless entry and ‘virtual concierge’ tablets in each suite allow guests to access hotel services, and there is an option for mobile check-in – ensuring a contactless check-in and stay.

Other fine touches include ‘Sleeping Duck’ bedding, which allows guests to choose mattress firmness on each side of the bed. skyehotels.com.au

Skye Suites Green Square has debuted in Sydney

Take home the sounds of Hawaii

Play the sounds of aloha at home with Four Seasons

Four Seasons Resorts Hawaii has launched a Spotify music profile featuring custom playlists from the five properties in the collection.

The unseen energy of the aloha spirit is dominant throughout Hawaii, and emanates through the islands’ local people, cultural practices and natural landscapes.

Through sound, Four Seasons Resorts Hawaii say they aim to bring this feeling of aloha to people throughout the world.

Resort playlists feature songs about the island, artists with connections to the island, music played throughout the Resorts, and guest favourites.

The playlists take travellers at home on a musical journey, virtually surrounding them with tropical breezes and the warm spirit of aloha. spotify.com WAYFARER 35

DEPARTURES ROOM KEY

Locke opens stylish London hotel

Susan Sarandon is Fairmont’s new ambassador

Susan Sarandon joins the Fairmont family Oscar-winning actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Susan Sarandon, has been announced as Fairmont Hotels and Resorts’ new Global Brand Ambassador.

In this unique role, Sarandon will star in a global brand campaign that will portray the transformative power of travel, connecting Fairmont’s history and majestic hotels with modern sensibilities and the dreams of a new generation of travellers.

The collaboration between Susan Sarandon and the Fairmont brand will focus on their shared values. Both Fairmont and Sarandon are dedicated to professional excellence and award-winning achievement. With Oscar, BAFTA, and SAG awards, along with a filmography of over 100 films, Sarandon continues to inspire audiences with new work, including roles in The Meddler, The Jesus Rolls and Ray Donovan.

“It is a privilege to work with Fairmont, a company for whose values I have great respect and whose extraordinary hotels are a joy to experience,” said Sarandon.

“Together we hope to convey a sense of life as a grand journey that we hope will be meaningful and inspiring to guests and fans of Fairmont around the world.” fairmont.com 36 WAYFARER

Hot hospitality brand Locke has opened its second hotel in the capital on the Thames at London’s Millennium Bridge.

The 113-room Locke at Broken Wharf is located minutes from both Cannon Street and Blackfriars on the north bank stretch of the river path.

Locke takes its cue from the evolving and varied demands of the contemporary traveller – blending the advantages of a high-end lifestyle hotel with the space and flexibility of an apartment.

Its dynamic social spaces comprise an all-day restaurant, bar concept and buzzy co-working area, which is activated through a mind-expanding cultural programme spanning wellness, fitness, art and music.

Situated on the banks of the Thames with views of the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe, Locke at Broken Wharf draws inspiration from its surroundings with each studio accented by subtle aesthetics featuring natural tones, pastel colours and white marble worktops contrasted with brass details.

Each of the 113 studios have been considered with the guest, location and brand essence in mind.

Generously-sized rooms and fully equipped high-spec kitchens create a sense of freedom truly unique to the hotel scene, where guests can enjoy the option of a short stay in a Locke Studio (average 29sqm) or retreat to one of the larger premium River Suites (average 33sqm) for a long term stay in London.

On the food front, Deli Cat and Sons – a modern New York-style Deli with local flavours – offers a selection of freshly baked bagels and salads, along with a vast selection of breakfast and brunch dishes, available for eating in or taking away. lockeliving.com

Hot debut: the stylish Locke at Broken Wharf in London

ROOM KEY DEPARTURES

Hip arrival: Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank

Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank officially opens Next Story Group has launched its Ink Hotels brand with the opening of Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank.

Located at 167 City Road in the heart of Melbourne’s waterfront hub, the recently acquired new-build, 162-room hotel bears the hallmarks of the new Ink Hotels brand which is on track to open its second hotel in Singapore in 2021.

Next Hotels and Resorts CEO, Darren Edmonstone, said Ink hotels are vibrant, playful and comfortable places to stay and hang out with locals and travellers.

He said Ink hotels are designed to host, connect and inspire a new wave of curious, plugged-in explorers who thrive on new experiences.

“Ink Hotels is a compelling brand that resonates with travellers with a Gen Z mindset,” he said. “It is a great addition that strengthens Next Story Group’s brand portfolio which will boost our expansion plans.

“Our differentiated brand portfolio enables us to have the right brands in the right locations and to capture key segments in our key markets, including Australia and South East Asia, where we are continuing to drive strong strategic growth.”

The hotel features a fun and playful design which creates many Instagram moments for its guests.

Its striking lobby artwork was created by Blender Studio and showcases colourful and funky murals.

Against this backdrop is an inclusive, casual social space where guests can hang out to chill, work or connect with fellow travellers and locals. The guest rooms have walls adorned with art, designed and customised by New York-based Australian artist Brolga.

Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank is also environmentally and socially conscious. It adopts a sustainable approach to amenities which guests can appreciate. Australian-made Metis bathroom amenities include refillable pump bottles that eliminate the need for single-use toiletries.

Sparkling and still water dispensers in public spaces enable guests to fill up reusable bottles on their way out, hence reducing plastic bottle usage.

It also serves Streat coffee and each cup of coffee sold goes towards training and education programme organised by Streat which supports disadvantaged youth.

While staying at the hotel, guests can enjoy tasty bites, great Victorian wines and beers and cocktails at the hotel’s Kitchen and Bar. Its grab and go selection of snacks are also available 24/7. inkhotels.com WAYFARER 37

ROOM KEY BRAND INSIGHT

Crowne Plaza’s brilliant business move Popular accommodation brand Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts has debuted its all-new public space design in Paris, France and it has quickly become popular amongst business travellers.

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BRAND INSIGHT ROOM KEY

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rowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts has unveiled its new public space design for the first time in Europe at Crowne Plaza ParisRepublique in France.

The transformed lobby and public spaces, called ‘Plaza Workspace’, are the future direction for the brand globally.

The newly-launched spaces at Crowne Plaza Paris-Republique have been designed in collaboration with leading global design studio Conran and Partners.

The hotel has maintained its unique nineteenth-century architectural features, whilst re-thinking its public spaces, approach to guest service, and food and drink offering to ensure it meets the needs of today’s society, who are blurring the lines between business and leisure.

Plaza Workspace is an entirely new take on the traditional hotel lobby space, offering inspiring surroundings where hotel guests and locals can feel comfortable to do some work, enjoy a coffee over a business meeting or socialise with friends.

Throughout Plaza Workspace there is an abundance of access to power, wireless phone chargers integrated in the tables, and access to highspeed WiFi, designed to answer the growing trend in flexible work and life preferences, and people’s desire to work from anywhere.

The modern, design-led spaces have been crafted to be suitable for solo work, team huddles or meetings with friends, as well as offering noise-reducing booths for more private meetings.

The new designs also include a bookable-by-the-hour Studio which offers a more relaxed approach to meetings, moving away from the typical hotel boardroom.

Alongside the newly designed spaces, the Crowne Plaza brand has challenged the preconceptions of hotel food, and developed a new food and drink offering that fits with the preferences of today’s travellers and locals.

The food and drink philosophy is intended to welcome guests at any time of day, offering dishes that reflect

Crowne Plaza Paris-Republique has new public spaces that are setting a new benchmark for the brand

modern lifestyles. The menu focuses on natural plant-based ingredients with dishes designed to be restorative and inspirational.

Power-up items, such as matcha, chia and kombucha will be offered at the start of the day and sleepinducing components like Jersey Milk with valerian feature towards the end, to ensure guests start and end their day right.

“I have always loved travel and staying at an inspiring hotel is often why I am excited about a business trip,” said Crowne Plaza’s Global Vice President, Libby Escolme.

“Today’s traveller, like me, wants to stay somewhere that inspires them, where design creates great spaces that work well.

“We have worked with Conran and Partners, a best-in-class design firm, and I feel genuinely excited about how our new hotel spaces will enhance a guest’s stay with us.

“It is also critical we have the food and drinks guests expect and deserve.

Personally, if I can’t enjoy a great salad for dinner or a fabulous latte in the morning, I don’t feel ready for the work I need to do.

“Our latest research also shows a growing demand in France for flexible workspaces, but there are barriers discouraging people from exploring alternative places to work. Plaza Workspace delivers a flexible work environment, which equips people with everything they need.

“Whether they are a new start-up or a CEO, we look forward to welcoming locals, business and leisure travellers to experience the newly transformed Crowne Plaza Paris-Republique,” Escolme said.

The completion of Plaza Workspace at Crowne Plaza Paris - Republique is the latest milestone in the brand’s global flagship strategy. Several other Crowne Plaza hotels also feature the new product – Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia (Georgia, USA), Crowne Plaza Hamburg – City Alster (Germany), Crowne Plaza Wuzhen and Crowne Plaza Shenzhen (China).

More hotels are coming soon in Australia (Adelaide, Hobart and Sydney) and the United Kingdom (London Heathrow), bringing new designs and innovations to life. crowneplaza.com WAYFARER 39

Quest for Kiwi success

For 21 years, Quest New Zealand has been offering stylish, spacious and wellappointed accommodation designed specifically to meet the needs of the extendedstay corporate traveller across in-demand locations.

I

n the last 12 months, Quest New Zealand welcomed 560,000 guests over 750,000 room nights and it's showing the model is proving a winner for the popular accoomodation provider.

Quest New Zealand is now firmly established as the New Zealand industry leader in apartment hotels and the company prides itself on having the perfect solution for every guest, whether they need a comfortable, functional studio to retire to after a long day of meetings or a welcoming open-plan three-bedroom apartment with dedicated living and dining spaces to act as home base for the whole family (or the entire sales department) for the duration of their stay.

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“Quest was established to fill a gap in the market for accommodation that offered convenient locations, flexible and spacious living solutions, and reliable standards,” says Quest New Zealand and Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Mansfield.

“When you book a stay at any Quest property, you know you can expect us to fulfil our promise to provide the very best in serviced apartments.

“We are proud to be the leading apartment hotel provider in every region where we operate, thanks to the team at Quest New Zealand, our franchisees, our staff, and of course, all our wonderful guests,” he says.

The story of Quest in the Land of the Long White Cloud began in 1998

when Mansfield took on the Master Franchisor Rights in New Zealand and promptly opened Quest Auckland and Quest Wellington for corporate travellers. The first purpose-built Quest hotel was opened in 2003, being Quest Parnell.

The years from 2012-2016 was a period of staggering growth for the company, with 12 new properties opening during this time. By 2018, Quest New Zealand boasted 35 properties and was the fastest-growing accommodation provider in the country.

Over the last 12 months, new Quest properties have opened in Christchurch (Quest on Manchester) and Tauranga Central, while four new franchisees have also joined the Quest NZ network

BRAND INSIGHT ROOM KEY

taking over management of the existing properties, being Quest on Thorndon, Quest Napier, Quest Rotorua Central and Quest on The Terrace.

The next 18 months are shaping up for Quest New Zealand as a record number of new apartment hotels are scheduled to open, including: Quest Palmerston North (opening May 2020), Quest Hastings (opening December 2020), Quest on Cambridge (opening December 2020), Quest Takapuna – Auckland (opening March 2021), Quest Mount Maunganui (opening March 2021) and Quest Mt Eden - Auckland (opening July 2021).

The Quest Network in New Zealand now turns over in excess of NZD$75 million dollars per annum, and has in excess of half a billion dollars of property and business assets under its system.

Mansfield says that whilst the new growth is great, it is the “quality of stakeholder relationships that the organization has established within the New Zealand marketplace, that is its real underlying value relationships with its customer companies and community both at a national and local level, iconic travel organisations such as Air New Zealand, the landlords and of course its franchisees of each of its locations”.

Quest have managed to secure, maintain and grow these relationships during all phases of the economic cycles in New Zealand as well as the various challenges that the nature and the landscape of the country has thrown at them from time to time.

Quest have taken the steps to strengthen the organisation for the future, which includes the appointment of their first independent director to the board, the recruitment of Adrian Turner to take on the operational role of Group General Manager, significant investment in their information systems and IT platforms all designed to improve the engagement and effectiveness between operations and its customers.

More upcoming developments include another two to three New Zealand hotels in the pipeline, while there are soon to be 200 properties worldwide.

International expansion is on the agenda for the company, on the back

of the first hotel in Europe, Quest Liverpool City Centre, which opened in July 2019.

Quest also recently announced a partnership with Ascott Limited, one of the leading international lodging businesses, with more than 700 properties in more than 170 cities in 30-plus countries across the AsiaPacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA. “The Quest brand just keeps going from strength to strength, and our new partnership will ensure that even more travellers from all around the world will recognise Quest as a name they can trust in apartment hotels,” Mansfield says.

“It’s been a very exciting first 21 years [in New Zealand] and now that Quest is ‘all grown up’, the future looks even brighter still.”

Meanwhile, Quest New Zealand is always looking for ways to improve their existing properties and the value they offer to customers.

Each Quest location boasts fullyequipped kitchens in every apartment, laundry facilities, and internet access on-demand, while the unique services Quest offers include local restaurant chargeback arrangements, a pantry shopping service, and valet laundry and dry cleaning. Quest will even book the babysitter, meaning no stress for the guests at all.

Quest also recently debuted a new booking app for the company’s hotels in New Zealand and Fiji, which has already had a significant uptake from corporate and leisure travellers. questapartments.co.nz

Quest Apartment Hotels is adding six new hotels across New Zealand

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REVIEW ROOM KEY

For the past 56 years, the Kahala Hotel and Resort in Honolulu has been one of the most luxurious properties on the island of Oahu and has played host to Presidents, Royalty, rock stars and travellers from across the world.

James Wilkinson checks-in.

OAHU

STYLE

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hanks to its pure oceanfront location on a pristine white sand beach and just a 10-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, the Kahala Hotel and Resort is about a relaxing Hawaiian escape with some of the world’s best shopping and nightlife a short distance away.

What you’ll find at the 338-room resort is an experience usually saved for an outer-island escape on the likes of Maui or Kauai, enhanced with some of the best cuisine to be found on Oahu.

Few hotels on the island can boast what the Kahala offers – pure beachfront rooms and suites, which have balconies that overlook the ocean.

The Beachfront Lanai rooms, our pick of the accommodation on offer at the hotel, are located in the Dolphin Lagoon Wing and are in the quietest area of the resort.

The 51-square-metre rooms feature a stylish tropical décor, have either one king or two double beds, premium sheets and pillows, well-appointed bathrooms with luxury amenities, 42-inch HD televisions and a balcony with ocean views or patio that opens up onto the lawn and beach.

While the beach is not owned by the resort, it usually only features resort guests and it is shallow and sheltered, ideal 44 WAYFARER

for toddlers and older kids alike. Several metres out from the shore is a pontoon to jump on and off, while there are also complimentary deck chairs and towels available.

Off the beach is a temperature-controlled swimming pool, a spa and a kids’ pool, ideal for crawlers and toddlers to play in.

One of the best things about the beach and pool is the service that comes with it, particularly in the way of food and drinks available from the Seaside Grill, from Hawaii’s favourite cocktail the Mai Tai to fresh poke and the double cheese wagyu beef burger and fries.

A fun order from the Seaside Grill menu is the Keiki (kids) Royal Pine, a non-alcoholic drink featuring pineapples, bananas and peaches alongside coconut, pineapple and passionfruit juices and served in a whole pineapple.

On the dining front, breakfast and casual meals are served at the Plumeria Beach House, home to one of the best buffets and brunches on Oahu, served up oceanfront next to the lawns and the beach.

There are many local favourites on the menu to start the day, including the butter-poached lobster benedict, the plumeria omelette and the upcountry breakfast, loaded up with local produce. It’s also hard to skip past the ‘rainbow pancakes on the beach’, starring bananas, pineapple, coconut and macadamia nut.

REVIEW ROOM KEY

While the Plumeria Beach House will become your daily breakfast destination, you’ll also find the lunch and dinner menus impress as well. At lunch you can’t skip past the ahi spring rolls, grilled island catch sandwich and the island street tacos, while at dinner, the large seafood cocktail is a stunner (lemon poached lobster tail, jumbo prawn, king crab, plus ahi, salmon and Hamachi sashimi), as is the Kalua salt, rosemary and garlic roasted half chicken, and the New York strip steak.

What Plumeria Beach House do very well is ensure the kids are happy and well-fed. The Keiki menu – which can also be coloured in with pencils provided by the restaurant – has some children’s favourites like spaghetti, a cheeseburger, and grilled fish with steamed vegetables and brown rice. Pretty sure they will also want the hot fudge sundae afterwards.

When it comes to great dining at the Kahala, there is however, one restaurant that stands-out from all the others.

Above Plumeria Beach House is Hoku’s, one of the most celebrated and talked about restaurants in Honolulu that’s home to star chef Eric Oto, who is widely recognised for using time-honoured Pacific ingredients from local farmers and fishermen in his own unique style.

Chef Otto has several menus available at Hoku’s, which is open for dinner every night and brunch on Sundays. Right across the menus, expect dishes that take inspiration from the chef’s roles as a fisherman, craftsman, farmer, planter and cultivator of soil and food.

The a-la-carte menu is broken down into two categories – Lawai’a (‘The Fisherman’) and Mahi’ai (‘The Farmer’) – and include seafood, meats, vegetables and fruits that are of the highest quality and sustainable.

For the real Hoku’s experience, leave your choices in the hands of Chef Otto and go for the tasting menu, which showcases some amazing flavours and culinary artistry.

Current standouts include torched kampachi, Big Island abalone, shellfish ravioli, sautéed foie gras, grade A5 Miyazaki Wagyu and a strawberry and hibiscus pavlova.

Where Hoku’s also stands-out is on the wine front and Master Sommelier-in-residence, Roberto Viernes, has curated a list that features both the best of America – including some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon ever produced in the Napa Valley from Opus One, Stag’s Leap, Caymus and Jordan – alongside several of the top French and new world wines being produced. >>

The Kahala is set on absolute beachfront on Oahu, Hawaii (and left)

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ROOM KEY REVIEW

“For the real Hoku’s experience, leave your choices in the hands of Chef Eric Otto and go for the tasting menu, which showcases some amazing flavours and culinary artistry.”

Next to Hoku’s is the Veranda, which offers light fare, premium wines and high tea, along with live music from Tuesday to Saturday nights. While the high tea and champagne is a highlight, the Veranda impresses with its drink ‘flights’, featuring tastings of several sakes, whiskies, rums and wines.

It is a good opportunity to taste some new drops while taking in views of the Dolphin Lagoon and the South Pacific Ocean.

When it comes to those adorable mammals, the Kahala's natural ocean water lagoon is home to its own resident Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins cared for by Dolphin Quest.

There are a range of programs on offer and here, you can become a trainer for a day or a week and play with them in the shallow lagoon, while supporting marine mammal conservation, education and scientific study at the same time.

The Kahala is also often home to Hawaiian green sea turtles and two, Kamalani and Kaimana, were recently released as part of the resort’s Ocean Ambassador program, an initiative to protect the native turtle species.

Alongside Dolphin Quest and the Ocean Ambassador program, the little ones are also kept busy at the ‘Keiki Club’ which offers a schedule of outdoor and indoor experiences for young guests (aged 5-12) that are unique to the area, such as learning about Hawaiian history, getting to know the local reef animals and making seashell Rafia bracelets.

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For the adults, the resort has several retail outlets, a fully equipped gymnasium, complimentary bicycles, kayaks and snorkel gear for hire. Across the road, you’ll find the Waialae Country Club – home to the Sony Open in Hawaii – which is recognised as one of the best golf courses on Oahu.

With the Kahala Mall just around the corner and Waikiki and the Ala Moana Center a short drive away, the resort is in a prime position for relaxing on the beach or indulging in some of America’s best shopping.

5000 Kahala Ave, Honolulu, HI, United States.

Tel: +1 808-739-8888. kahalaresort.com

GETTING TO HONOLULU

Jetstar flies to Honolulu from Sydney and Melbourne. The Business Class on Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners that serve Honolulu is one of the best value cabins in the sky: you’ll get top quality food and wine, seat back entertainment, pillows, blankets, amenity kits, in-seat power, leather seats with a 38-inch pitch and 19-inch width and if you choose a ‘max bundle’, you’ll also get lounge access and Qantas points. jetstar.com

The Kahala's stunning lobby, star chef Eric Oto (left) and popular Hoku's restaurant (far left)

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Believe the

HYPE The world’s first Equinox Hotel in New York was hyped for years before it opened in the Hudson Yards development in mid-2019 for good reason – it was the first hotel from a brand that re-defined the fitness sector in the United States and expectations were high for another peak performance.

Has it delivered? James Wilkinson checks-in to find out.

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The first Equinox Hotel has debuted in Midtown New York

I

t has been over two decades since the first Equinox health club opened in the United States and the brand has pushed the boundaries for fitness in America ever since, continuously raising the bar and creating a unique, luxury workout experience.

Equinox – which now has over 100 clubs in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom – created the ‘fitness as lifestyle’ movement, so it’s no surprise that the next step for the company was to move into hotels.

“The philosophy, ‘it’s not fitness, it’s life’ has grounded Equinox and fuelled a cultural movement for more than 25 years,” says Equinox Executive Chairman and Managing Partner, Harvey Spevak. “And introducing Equinox Hotels is a true culmination of our brand promise.

“Steeped with deep knowledge of how to cater 24/7 to the high-performance needs of the most discerning community, we are a company that has always seen the world differently and defined trends rather than following them.

“Everything we’ve done to this point has given us true license to enter hospitality and chart its future with a completely fresh, uniquely ‘Equinox’ experience and point of view,” he says.

A centrepiece of the new Hudson Yards megadevelopment on the West side of Midtown Manhattan, the

REVIEW ROOM KEY

“Everything we’ve done to this point has given us true license to enter hospitality and chart its future with a completely fresh, uniquely ‘Equinox’ experience and point of view.”

Equinox Executive Chairman, Harvey Spevak

first Equinox Hotel was always going to draw significant attention – as the first hotels for major brands do.

With that comes a lot of expectation and hype, particularly from Equinox’s thousands of members, who live and breathe the brand every day and were eagerly awaiting the debut of the first hotel.

There was also a lot of talk about the project amongst luxury travellers who have been looking for a new Midtown Manhattan offering and particularly one loaded up with arguably the city’s best gym and world class shopping next door.

“In hospitality, lifestyle hotels have grown up and luxury hotels have gotten younger in their outlook and experience,” says Equinox Hotels CEO, Chris Norton. “Now, as health becomes the new wealth, Equinox is uniquely positioned to define an emerging category that is disrupting the entire industry.”

What Equinox has been able to do with the flagship New York property is create a luxury lifestyle hotel complete with what’s perhaps the most impressive health club the brand has also developed. It means each stay can be immersed in fitness, wellness, comfort and nutrition.

It adds up to what the brands calls a ‘high performance lifestyle’ experience that is found in the 212 rooms, restaurateur Stephen Starr’s eatery Electric Lemon, the expansive day spa >> WAYFARER 49

“What stands-out the most in this property is the attention to detail found in the rooms.�

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REVIEW ROOM KEY

Equinox Hudson Yards is stylish as it is fit-centric

and in the 60,000-square-foot Equinox Fitness Club, which also includes a space by sister brand SoulCycle.

When you book a stay at Equinox Hudson Yards, you become members of the Fitness Club for the entirety of your stay – that means access to the signature group fitness classes, private Pilates, personal training services, a performance-driven spa, 25-yard indoor salt water pool, hot and cold plunge pools and an outdoor leisure pool.

Impressively, the cuisine on offer at Electric Lemon, at the poolside bar and the in-room dining menu, from breakfast to dinner, continues that wellness balance with healthy, local-ingredient-driven meals.

What stands-out the most in this property is the attention to detail found in the rooms, from the soundproofing and totalblackout window system to the beds that use COCO-MAT allnatural fibre mattresses and the well-stocked mini-bars.

Well-stocked would be an understatement for the minibars, because you’ll find over 70 items from local beers and spirts to vegan and gluten-free snacks, recovery aids, facial creams and of course, stylish work-out wear for the Equinox Fitness Club downstairs.

Add to these elements the views over the Hudson River and Manhattan, adjacent access to the Hudson Yards shopping mall and the brilliant High Line walkway, and the impressive service and you have a world-class luxury property.

It is most definitely an urban retreat that’s rarely been found in the United States in the past and one that will set the benchmark for both the Equinox brand and any other company looking to enter the luxury fitness and lifestyle hotel space.

33 Hudson Yards, New York, NY, United States.

Tel: +1 212-812-9200. equinox-hotels.com

GETTING TO NEW YORK

United Airlines flies daily to New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport from across the globe, with many longhaul aircraft now featuring the airline’s new Polaris Business Class suite. The new suites are available on selected Boeing 777, 787 and 767 aircraft and feature direct access to the aisle, a seat that reclines into a 180-degree flat-bed, a 16inch high-definition entertainment screen, storage spaces, universal A/C power and 2-USB ports, top-notch food and drinks and excellent service. united.com

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STEP INTO NEWLY TRANSFORMED ROOMS AND SUITES AT

A wealth of dining and entertainment options await in the heart of the Lion City @fairmontsingapore

An extensive choice of 13 restaurants and bars

www.fairmont- singapore.com

APPETITE. Hot tables, bars and distilleries across the world, ideal for client entertaining or fun with friends.

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British delight

Dining at the re-imagined Grill at the Dorchester in London's Mayfair

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The rhubarb rules

Meet the team behind Britain’s hottest gin distillery

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Emerald cocktails

Go inside Australia’s best bar, Maybe Sammy in Sydney

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APPETITE RESTAURANTS

British delight Recently appointed head chef of The Grill at The Dorchester, 26-year-old Tom Booton, has given the famous dining room a fabulous re-boot through his personal interpretation of a modern-day British grill.

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The Grill at the Dorchester's brilliant thermidor lobster tart and new Chef Tom Booton (left), with some of his leading dishes

R

epresenting a new era in the restaurant’s 88year history, Chef Tom Booton’s British dishes complement the new interpretation of The Grill with an update in the interiors and a more relaxed dining experience.

A statement ‘Pudding Bar’ has added an element of theatre to the dining experience and you’re invited to dine at a chef’s table for the final course to watch the pastry chefs in action.

A creative selection of sweet treats, innovative cocktails and Champagnes will delight, whilst the addition of banquette seating will allow guests to relax into a long lunch or dinner.

Shining a light on London suppliers and British growers, Booton’s signature dishes include: homemade Stout bread served with black pudding and freshly churned butter; Prawn scotch egg, warm tartar sauce, pickled gherkin; The Grill’s Lobster Thermidor Tart; Soft serve fig leaf ice cream, beignets; and Tom’s take on the classic chocolate treat, Double Decker.

Award-winning bartender at The Bar at The Dorchester, Lucia Montanelli (as seen on the Wayfarer TV show) has created a new cocktail menu concept for The Grill inspired by Booton’s modern interpretation, leading off with a drink named Gentleman Tom, made using The Dorchester’s Old Tom Gin. Booton is one of London’s finest young chefs and presents a fresh energy across both the food and service, providing a place for Mayfair locals, hotel guests and beyond to feel

at ease, to come often and to celebrate in London’s longstanding restaurant.

Along with the new look and menu, a brigade of fresh talent under the age of 30 have joined the team including Adam Nevin as sous chef, Eugenio Egorov as head sommelier and Jennifer Santner as general manager, sharing a mutual commitment to creating a unique Mayfair dining experience suitable for all occasions.

Lunch menus at The Grill at The Dorchester are priced at £23 for two courses and £30 for three courses. Dinner menus are priced at £60 for three courses and £75 for four courses.

53 Park Ln, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom.

Tel +44 20 7629 8888. dorchestercollection.com

GETTING TO LONDON

British Airways flies daily to London’s Heathrow Airport from more than 200 destinations in 80 countries across the globe. Wayfarer recommends flying in Club World (Business Class), which features flat-bed seats, hundreds of hours’ entertainment on demand, a great selection of wine and some of the best meals in the sky. ba.com

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The rhubarb rules Warner’s Distillery in the British country town of Yorkshire is making headlines around the world for its brilliant Rhubarb Gin and Andy Young meets the team behind the brand to find out some secrets to success.

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BRAND INSIGHT APPETITE

Warner's Rhubarb Gin (and far left) has become popular across the world for owner Tom Warner (above left)

O

ne of the great things about this job is meeting people whose life is what they are producing: their passion for their product is infectious.

One such man is Tom Warner; a farmer turned distiller and the founder of Warner’s Distillery in the UK. Full disclosure here: as someone who grew up in the wonderful UK county of Yorkshire, I have a love for rhubarb – Google ‘Rhubarb Triangle’ and you’ll understand – us Yorkies love the stuff and my mum’s Rhubarb Tarte Tatin is out of this world. So Warner was always going to have to have done something pretty bloody terrible for me not to like this gin.

I am delighted to say he hasn’t. This is an amazing gin. This is what summer and pink drinks should be all about – paired with Fever-Tree Ginger Ale you have a delight in your glass.

And so it should be, as Warner told Wayfarer, the process to create this gin was not a simple one and the care

he has taken has been reflected in the final product.

“My definition of a flavoured gin is that you make a London Dry Gin and then you use natural organic material to flavour it, post distillation,” he said. “Sadly, that’s a very thin piece of what flavoured gins are turning into, particularly in the UK, where it is pretty much ethanol, flavourings, water, sugar, bottle. It’s a fucking travesty.

“We make an elderflower gin, which was inspired by my mum and we’ve planted elderflower trees at the farm so we can be self-sufficient. We make it once a year and we’ve got three weeks every summer to make a year’s supply,

GETTING TO LONDON British Airways flies daily to London’s Heathrow Airport from more than 200 destinations in 80 countries across the globe. ba.com

not really available in Australia yet, but it was out first flavoured gin.

“We then made a Sloe Gin, but that’s a bit niche, and then we started the rhubarb revolution. And we made the first rhubarb gin in the world – there were rhubarb gin liqueurs, but no fullstrength rhubarb gins.

“And we didn’t do it because we thought rhubarb would be popular.

We didn’t do it because we thought pink would be popular because it was pretty much the first pink gin and why everyone is now making pink gin. We did it because we got offered a crop of rhubarb from a Crown estate in Lincolnshire that was Queen Victoria’s, and I just thought that’s a great story.”

Try the Rhubarb Gin neat or serve it with Mediterranean Tonic or Ginger Ale. Garnish with fresh orange or rhubarb and nail the pink drink trend.

34 High St, Harrington, Northampton, England. Tel: +44 1536 710623. warnersdistillery.com WAYFARER 57

Emerald cocktails Maybe Sammy ranked highly on the World’s 50 Best Bars list last year and that was thanks to a team that pushed the boundary for cocktails and service in the Emerald City, discovers Andy Young.

Maybe Sammy serves up some of the best classic cocktails in Sydney 58 WAYFARER

BARS APPETITE

B

ack in January 2019, a new bar opened in The Rocks in Sydney. Maybe Sammy was the new bar concept from the team behind Maybe Frank and over 12 months later, it is enjoying huge success.

The bar was named Best New International Cocktail Bar at the 2019 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards; it received multiple nominations at the 2019 Australian Liquor Industry Awards, including Best New Bar, Best Cocktail List and Bar of the Year and then was named as the highest ranked Australian bar by the World’s 50 Best Bars.

Maybe Sammy ranked 43rd in that list, the only Australian bar in the top 50, and co-owner Vince Lombardo told Wayfarer that good recruitment, creative freedom and staff training were just some of the things that had helped the team to be so successful in such a short period of time.

“One of the big things when we decided to open Maybe Sammy was that we recruited really well, we put a really strong team together and we’ve let them be as creative as the want to be,” Lombardo said.

“We knew exactly what we wanted to do with Maybe Sammy, being honest I didn’t expect it to be this successful this quickly – it’s a good surprise – but it’s really down to the team. We’ve got an amazing team working down there and it’s like a soccer team. If you put Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the same team there’s a big chance you are going win.

“The great thing about this bar team is they constantly want to keep changing things, they are looking at new things. We really give them creative freedom.”

He added: “We wanted to create something special, it’s a hotel bar without the hotel. But being one of these top bars it’s about more than the fitout. It’s about the way you feel when you walk into the bar, it’s the way you are greeted, the service you get. It’s the quality of the drinks and cocktails, it’s everything and to win these competitions everything has to be on point all the time.

“You walk into Dante [world number one] and you just say ‘I love it, it’s cool’ and that’s what it’s about. I think it’s impossible that anyone would walk in there and not like it.

“And that’s what we want with Maybe Sammy, we want people to walk in and say ‘wow’ but that can’t last, so we then want to take that wow to another level. Stef and I look at that in two ways, one is to let our guys show their personality and the second is staff training.

“We make sure everyone understands it’s always about the customer and never about our egos, if customers don’t like something or it’s not selling then we just take it off the menu even if we think it’s great. It’s not about us, it’s about the customer.”

15 Harrington St, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Tel: +61 (0)2 9241 4970. maybesammy.com

GETTING TO SYDNEY

Virgin Australia flies direct to Sydney from across Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, United States (Los Angeles), Hong Kong and soon, Japan (Tokyo). virginaustralia.com

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Insider guides, executive style.

Catch all 25 TV episodes of Wayfarer Series 2 now on our website and YouTube channel.

Take a stylish break at qualia (p90)

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Essential St. Moritz Checking out one of Switzerland’s leading year-round escapes

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Austin rocks

The best of Austin, Texas, uncovered from top hotels to brilliant barbecue

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Head wear

The latest-release headphones, essential for home and away

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The 2020 Luxe List Our annual guide to hot hotels that need to be on your radar for 2020 and beyond

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Concorde-inspired Aston Martin A partnership with British Airways leads to an exceptional new machine

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE. Guides to some of the world’s hottest destinations, hotels, cars, accessories and much more.

WAYFARER 61

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SWITZERLAND TRAVEL

One of Switzerland’s most popular alpine escapes for executives, St. Moritz is known for its luxurious hotels, top restaurants, ski polo, snow cricket and impressively, hundreds of kilometres of ski trails on offer. But it’s fast becoming a year-round getaway as James Wilkinson discovered.

St. Moritz offers epic downhill runs (left) and fantastic après-ski spots

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St. Moritz is popular year round, especially for mountain biking

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SWITZERLAND TRAVEL

The legendary Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains

he picturesque Swiss alpine village of St. Moritz – home to the Winter Olympic Games in 1928 and 1948 – is famous for its winter activities the world over, from the postcardperfect ski runs through the Engadin Valley to the quirky polo and cricket matches held on the town’s frozen lake each year.

A snow trip here is an annual pilgrimage for many people in Western Europe, but with some of the best luxury shopping on the continent, it’s the fashion off the ski field that is also making it more popular than ever.

OUT & ABOUT

To find out some of essentials for any trip, Wayfarer enlisted the guidance of the General Manager of the town’s most famous establishment, Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, Konstantin Zeuke.

Naturally, first-up Zeuke recommends skiing and if that’s something you’ve never done before, don’t be concerned because the luxury hotel offers its own Kempinski Ski School.

Zeuke says the best areas are Corviglia, Piz Nair, Diavolezza, Lagalb and Corvatsch.

“These are just some of the ski areas to be discovered in the Engadin Valley,” he says. “With some 350km (217 miles) of slopes to explore, you’ll never be stuck for options and there’s always a new challenge to take on.

“The Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains is located right next to the cable car taking you up to the skiing area of Corviglia and from skiing area Corvatsch there is a valley slope taking you right back to the hotel,” he says.

On the slopes, but off the skis, Zeuke says tobogganing in St. Moritz should be next on your list, where it’s about amazing views and the adrenaline rush.

“There are several toboggan runs to discover in the region, and if you have never jumped in a toboggan before, you will find it is just as much fun as it looks,” he says.

“The Muottas Muragl run is the fastest in the region, and offers 20 curves and a hair-raising 705m vertical drop as it travels through pine larch forests – fantastic for thrillseekers, and one run won’t be enough.

“It is easily accessible via the funicular railway, and the panoramic views of the Upper Engadin are well worth the trip too,” he says.

For those who want to slow things down or who want to enjoy the romance of the region, Zeuke says go on a classic sleigh ride.

“There is no better way to experience the snow-covered splendour and beauty of St. Moritz, than from a comfort of a horse-drawn sleigh,” he says. “Enjoy the breathtaking vistas with the ambience of the horses’ hooves lingering in the background.”

When it comes to the summer months, St. Moritz is loaded with sporting activities on some of the most spectacular takes and mountains in Europe.

“Make the most of the fantastic Maloja winds and try your hand at kiting, surfing or sailing during your stay,” Zeuke says. “Lake Silvaplana offers some truly great conditions for those keen to get on the water, and is a best-loved location for water sport enthusiasts.”

As far as year-round activities go, some people just want to shop until they drop and St. Moritz offers just that.

“It’s a small village with big brands,” Zeuke says. “Via Serlas is St. Moritz’s answer to Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse or Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles… just on a smaller scale.

“From Jimmy Choo and Gucci to Prada, our stylish shopping boulevard features not only the world’s top fashion names >> WAYFARER 65

Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains offers epic service alongside brilliant food and beverage and leisure facilities (right) 66 WAYFARER

SWITZERLAND TRAVEL

but also dazzling gems, stylish designer furniture, exquisite wines and a wide selection of delicacies,” he says.

EAT, DRINK & STAY

The Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains (kempinski.com) is one of the world’s oldest hotels, dating back to 1864. Here you will find 184 comfortable rooms and suites, 27 luxury residences, three gourmet restaurants, a day spa and in the winter, a ski school.

When it comes to accommodation, leading the way are the prestigious tower suites of Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, which are located in the two hallmark towers which give this grand building the appearance of a sleek northern Mediterranean palace. The two-bedroom 120-square-metre suite extends over three floors, offering a separate living room on the third floor with 360-degree views, as well as a dining room and lounge area.

Carefully selected stylistic elements of the Engadin valley and the chalet-style decor create a cosy yet elegant look, while historical photo motifs tell of the initial blossoming Alpine lifestyle. The highlight of this suite is a spacious rooftop terrace with views to the mountain peaks of the Engadin as well as to the chic Alps resort of St. Moritz.

On the eating and drinking front, start your day off at restaurant Les Saisons, which offers one of the best breakfast buffets in not just St. Moritz, but all of Switzerland. The buffet features meats, cheeses, eggs, yoghurt, pastries, coffee and champagne served up to the music of the grand piano that fills this historic room of the hotel. At night, Les Saisons offers top-quality steaks from around the world (including Wagyu, Swiss dry-aged and USDA Prime) as well as a high-class international food and wine menu.

At Restaurant Enoteca, it’s about top Mediterranean and local dishes, from antipasti to veal, duck, homemade gnocchi, truffle pasta, Sicilian style sea bass fillet, vension and more. Also find a large regional and international wine list, led by some top drops from across the Alps in Italy.

On the wellness front, Kempinski The Spa has four different saunas, a steam bath, a laconium, an indoor pool, Kneipp baths, a gym, a sun terrace and a separate ladies’ spa.

In the winter, the hotel offers its own Kempinski Ski School for guests staying in-house. Here, instructors are available for just a few days or for the whole duration of a holiday. No matter what skiing level you are at, Kempinski Ski School’s instructors can provide support and in many languages as well. Ski lessons are also available just for kids and they can be taught the right technique for conquering any mountain.

GETTING TO ST. MORITZ

British Airways flies daily to Zurich via London. Wayfarer recommends booking a ticket in Club World, which offers flatbed seats, restaurant calibre cuisine, top wines from across the globe, thousands of hours of entertainment on demand and great British service from check-in to disembarking. ba.com From Zurich Airport, the best way to get to St. Moritz is on a Swiss Federal Railways train and in Switzerland they are efficient, modern and clean. On the journey up to St Moritz, you’ll travel over some of the world’s highest viaducts, which is an adventure in itself. Trains from Zurich Airport take roughly 3hrs and 30 mins. myswitzerland.com/rail

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TRAVEL AUSTIN

Down in Texas, Austin find some of the most culturally rich and fun experiences in the United States, from museums and galleries to festivals, cocktail bars and world-class cuisine. Editor-in-Chief James Wilkinson heads to the live music capital of the world to uncover some of the best things to do over a few days on both business and leisure trips.

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Austin is home to some of the best meat joints in America, including La Barbecue

he capital of the great state of Texas, the city of Austin is well known across the world for its live music scene, amazing events and fun bars and restaurants. Here, you’ll find some of America’s culinary delights from seafood to barbecue, alongside amazing museums, shops, hotels and incredible live music, where you can catch everything from country to rock and roll.

OUT & ABOUT

Austin is well-known for its thriving festival scene, which is headlined by South by Southwest (March 2021, sxsw. com), which annually attracts visitors from across the world for top talks, seminars and brilliant performances 70 WAYFARER

and events in the interactive, film, and music industries. Still on tunes and the Austin City Limits Music Festival (October 2020, aclfestival. com) should be on your radar and is recognised as one of the best of its kind in the United States and features some of the world’s best musicians.

The city’s Circuit of the Americas plays host to the United States Grand Prix each year (October 2020, circuitoftheamericas.com), attracting the world’s leading drivers to one of the most picturesque racetracks in the USA. Here you can also take a few laps of the track when the GP isn’t on through one of the many available experiences every week.

The capital also has a fantastic collection of museums and galleries, including one that is steeped in Presidential history.

Learn the fascinating campaign trail and eventual Presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) – the 36th President of the United States who took control of the national following the assassination of John F Kennedy (JFK) – at the LBJ Presidential Library (lbjlibrary.org). Here, walk through exhibitions showcasing LBJ and JFK’s campaign and the tumultuous times Johnson endured during his tenure as President from 1963 to 1969. Also find a fantastic bookstore and shop that sells some Presidential memorabilia from LBJ’s time in office and other leaders of the United States.

At the Bullock Texas State History Museum (thestoryoftexas.com), you’ll uncover fascinating stories of this state, including a permanent exhibition that looks at 16,000 years of Texas history, particularly the

AUSTIN TRAVEL

Brilliant dining and great style at the South Congress Hotel

early American Indian civilizations in the state prior to European arrival.

The Bullock also has areas that look at Texas ranching, oil, civil rights, science, space exploration, sports and music. Also catch some special effects shows in the Texas Spirit Theatre.

At the Blanton Museum of Art (blantonmuseum.org) at The University of Texas at Austin, find a permanent collection that includes over 17,000 works including European paintings, prints and drawings, alongside modern and contemporary American and Latin American art.

Austin is home to some fantastic music performances and alongside the festivals, every week Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater (acl-live.com) is one of the best places to catch some big-name acts. Here you can see performances from Iggy Pop

to Foreigner and The Jayhawks, with many events filmed live for the Austin City Limits TV show.

When it comes to shopping, head to the neighbourhood of South Congress, find a range of shops from fashion boutiques to classic motorcycle showrooms, nail bars and antiques.

Some of our favourites are Sunroom (sunroomaustin.com), a showcase for independent Austin womens’ fashion designers; the Heritage Boot Co (heritageboot.com), which has hundreds of high-quality shoes on offer that have been crafted by a thirdgeneration bootmaker; and Revival Cycles (revivalcycles.com) for vintage resorted motorbikes, custom helmets and gloves, and a range of accessories and clothing. Then finish with a margarita and live music at Guero’s Taco Bar (guerostacobar.com), >>

“When it comes to shopping, head to the neighbourhood of South Congress.”

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One of Austin's many classic murals and (below), the popular LBJ Presidential Library

EXECUTIVE TRAVEL TIPS

Austin’s cafés have some of the best coffee in the state alongside excellent high-speed WiFi. Grab the laptop and head to Café No Sé or Hillside Farmacy and knock-out some emails there rather than at the desk in the room. Also ensure you get to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (austintexas.gov/airport) a couple of hours before your flight and bring your appetite, because you’ll find some of the best pre-departure food in America, including an outlet of the brilliant Salt Lick Barbeque, another of the best meat joints in Texas where the brisket reigns supreme.

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AUSTIN TRAVEL

“The capital also has a fantastic collection of museums and galleries, including one that is steeped in Presidential history.”

Bedroom style at the South Congress Hotel

which made an appearance in the hit film, Chef, starring Jon Favreau.

Austin is one of the most picturesque cities in Texas, particularly the grounds that surround Lady Bird Lake, a riverlike reservoir that runs through the city and was named in honour of former First Lady of the United States, Claudia Alta ‘Lady Bird’ Johnson. Here, you’ll find a number of trails for running or cycling and on a sunny day, canoeing and kayaking.

EAT & DRINK

When it comes to barbecue, Austin is home to some of the best meat joints in America, where it is all about brisket that’s been smoked for hours in an indirect-heat pit and served on assimple-as-you-like butcher’s paper.

At La Barbecue (labarbecue.com), owned by LeAnn Mueller – who hails from food royalty in this state; she’s the granddaughter of the founder of the famous Louie Mueller Barbecue – and her partner Alison Clem, you’ll find some of the best smoked USDA Prime brisket in the state, alongside pulled pork, ribs, turkey and homemade sausages. Here, the brisket is cooked for 12-15 hours and some of the rubs the team use, particular the saltand-pepper, is downright tasty. You can go straight up with the meats or have them on a potato bun, alongside sides such as coleslaw, pinto beans and pickles. La Barbecue is open from 11am Wed-Sun until the meat runs out and you’ll need to get here early and line-up.

At legendary Austin chef Kevin Williamson’s South Texas-style eatery Ranch 616 (theranch616.com), expect classic flavours of the Gulf Coast with beef and spices from right across the state. Williamson is well-known for his signature dishes, including fried oysters served up with chipotle tartar sauce, and the ‘divorced quail’ where one is buttermilk battered and fried with ranchero, and the other is sugarcured and grilled with tomatillo.

Here, the chipotle honey glazed lamb, Texas black Angus ribeye, vegetable quesadilla and shrimp tacos (with a must-have side of ranch cheese and bacon mashed potatoes) also standout, as do the cocktails, including the Ranch Water, which is Hornitos

Reposado tequila, Citronge, lime juice and a top-up of Topo Chico mineral water, and the Fire in the Hole, a freshly-cored jalapeño filled with Tito’s Vodka, Paula’s Orange and fresh lime juice. Score a seat on the patio, where the atmosphere is at its best.

On the south side of town, Central Standard (centralstandardaustin.com), helmed by chef Kendal Duque and located in the popular South Congress Hotel, has a menu that is loaded-up with Modern American classics, from oysters to grilled Amish chicken, prime New York strip steak and seasonal flatbreads. There’s also a fantastic raw bar and a must-have whiskey cake, best washed down with classic cocktails and over 100 wines by the bottle. Book ahead for a table outside and should you be here over a weekend, head to Central Standard for brunch, highlighted by a delicious prime rib hash and a special cocktail list.

Rainey Street is one of the mostlively areas of Austin and it’s lined with bungalow-style bars, food trucks and happening restaurants. Book a table at Emmer & Rye (emmerandrye.com), which serves-up modern American cuisine from a kitchen loaded-up with James Beard-nominated chefs. Here, you’ll find a daily changing menu that features fresh herbs from the garden and locally-sourced vegetables, meats and seafood from as close to Austin as possible. Emmer & Rye also mills grains freshly in-house, creating its own flour on a daily basis that’s used for several brilliant pasta dishes and the notable sourdough boule. The signature pasta here is the classic Cacio e Pepe, loaded up with challerhocker cheese, while you also need to order the six-ounce Wagyu steak served with caramelized sotol butter, oyster mushrooms and confit vidalia onion, and save room for the blackened citrus panna cotta. While the food undoubtedly impresses, also find a well-curated wine list featuring European and American drops, as well as a cocktail list loaded-up with classics and modern creations that are a very good match with the fresh, seasonal produce.

Still on the drinks front, head up Rainey Street to Half Step (halfstepbar. com), a happening bar that’s one >> WAYFARER 73

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“Enjoy some canoeing and kayaking on Lady Bird Lake.”

Looking towards Austin over Lady Bird Lake and (right) catch some live music at the Moody Theater

of the most popular cocktail spots in Austin. Here you can find classics like the Old Fashioned, Negroni and Manhattan, which are stirred and served up with the bar’s hand-made ice cubes, something Half Step is wellknown right across America for. The bar also has some tasty draft cocktails, a ginger paloma and a margarita – which are also in 1 litre bottles – and an impressive list of local craft beers.

Half Step often hosts live jazz bands, blues and soul, so you can enjoy the bar until the late hours. You should also head here for happy hour (4pm7pm Mon-Fri), where you’ll find $8 happy hour classic cocktails and $4 craft beers.

Next door is the always fun and happening Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden (bangersaustin.com), where you will find over 30 house-made sangers, more than 100 craft brews on tap and loads of pickled vegetables, best 74 WAYFARER

enjoyed in the back of the bungalow that’s been converted into a giant beer hall and garden that often plays host to bands. Order up some beers from local brewers 512, Blue Owl, Frontyard and Last Stand, while sausages heating-up the list now include the drunk chicken, spicy smoked andouille, rabbit and mushroom, and jalapeño cheddar bratwurst. There are also some fantastic smokehouse sandwiches (we’ll have a whole hog) and on Sundays, also find a special brunch menu that includes one of the most epic drinks in Texas, the ‘Manmosa’, a beer stein filled with an entire bottle of sparkling wine and a splash of orange juice.

A few blocks away at Garage Bar (garagetx.com), look for the parking station with a sign that says ‘cocktails’ instead of ‘entrance’ and it’s under a carpark ramp that you’ll find a small semi-circular bar with barkeeps that will load you up with small batch Old

Fashioneds for just $9 alongside the city’s best Corpse Reviver No2, as well as a must-have Gin-Gin Punch, a tequila and mescal lashed Someday Baby, and well-crafted Black Manhattan with rye, Averna and Punt e Mes. Austin’s food and drink scene might feature some of the best after-dark spots in Texas, but it is also known for fantastic coffee, morning meals and light bites.

Housed in a 1950s drugstore and complete with vintage cabinetry, Hillside Farmacy (Hillsidefarmacy. com) serves up farm fresh sandwiches, salads, healthy breakfasts, charcuterie plates alongside homemade fountain sodas, craft brews, classic cocktails and a house punch loaded up with gin, sparkling wine, hibiscus syrup and grapefruit juice. Score a table outside and wash down a knuckle sandwich with a Country Doctor that’s been splashed with a small-batch bourbon. >>

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The pool at the South Congress Hotel and (below) Austin is home to fantastic shopping, festivals and nightlife

“Austin’s cafés have some of the best coffee in the state.”

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AUSTIN TRAVEL

Around the front of the South Congress hotel, Café No Sé (cafenoseaustin.com) is the place for a well roasted and ground soy latte, a slice of Kouign-amann and fruit bowl for breakfast; a yogurt braised chicken thigh and chayote slaw salad for lunch; and glasses of Siduri Pinot Noir, braised rabbit pappardelle and grilled lamb ribs for dinner.

WHERE TO STAY

Austin offers a fantastic range of hotels across the city, which are ideal for business and leisure travellers. You’ll find both big-brand and boutique hotels here, which are perfect for both weekends away and week-long stays.

The 83-room South Congress Hotel (southcongresshotel.com), which debuted in September 2015, has been one of the city’s best establishments thanks not just to its location in the heart of a thriving neighbourhood, but for its hardwood floor and custom designed furniture-laden rooms that also boast mini bars stocked with local produce, large walk-in showers and balconies overlooking downtown Austin. There’s also a rooftop pool, lobby bar that makes a brilliant Bobby

GETTING TO AUSTIN

United Airlines flies daily to Austin, with many long-haul aircraft now featuring the airline’s new Polaris Business Class suite. The new suites are available on selected Boeing 777, 787 and 767 aircraft and feature direct access to the aisle, a seat that reclines into a 180-degree flat-bed, a 16-inch high-definition entertainment screen, storage spaces, universal A/C power and 2-USB ports, top-notch food and drinks and excellent service. Many flights operate via Houston, which has a brandnew Polaris Lounge in Terminal E that features a restaurant, bar, buffet, shower suites and workspaces. www.united.com

Burns, Café No Sé for morning delights and Central Standard for grilled Amish chicken and whiskey cake.

Located adjacent to popular Rainey Street, the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt (hotelvanzandt.com) is one of the most stylish boutique and lifestyle properties for the brand in North America, thanks to its location, views of Lady Bird Lake, spacious designer guestrooms, full-service rooftop pool and the food, drinks and live music on offer at Geraldine’s. Here, find a great happy hour from 5-6pm Monday to Friday, including $7 classic cocktails and $6 bites from the kitchen. You’ll also find Kimpton’s custom designed bikes, that

are ideal for a spin around town and alongside Lady Bird Lake.

The newest business and big-brand hotel to have opened in the city has been the Fairmont Austin (fairmont.com/ Austin) and it carries many of the luxury hallmarks the popular brand is known for. Here you will find 1,048 rooms and suites in the 37-storey luxury hotel, some which come complete with Fairmont Gold Club access that includes daily refreshments, drinks and bites.

The hotel is also home to five bars and restaurants, a seasonally heated pool and private cabanas, a day spa and offers direct access to the Austin Convention Center.

Score a table at Emmer & Rye, one of the hottest restaurants in town

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LIFESTYLE ACCCESSORIES

Head Wear Wayfarer looks at some of the latest headphones on the market, ideal for your next trip.

01

RIMOWA X BANG & OLUFSEN BEOPLAY H9I bang-olufsen.com

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02

MARSHALL MONITOR II A.N.C. marshallheadphones.com

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BOSE NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES 700 bose.com

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TRAVEL THE 2020 LUXE LIST

The

2020

luxe hotels list From Brisbane to New York and Paris to the Whitsundays, Wayfarer looks at the luxe hotels that need to be on your radar in 2020 and beyond.

Stylish: the lobby bar the Santa Monica Proper Hotel

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SANTA MONICA PROPER HOTEL Santa Monica, California, USA

One of the most exciting new openings in the United States over the past 12 months has been the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, thanks to its California-cool interiors, stunning architecture and brilliant food and beverage.

The property has been a vision of the Proper Hotels team of Brad Korzen and Brian De Lowe (also founders of popular Viceroy Hotel Group), for more than a decade and it exudes sophistication, seaside glamour and laid-back California living.

The work from interior designer Kelly Wearstler – in the form of nature-inspired palettes, light hardwood floors and organic textures throughout the 271 rooms and lobby areas – is brilliant and masterfully at home in the hotel’s two buildings, a 1928-built Spanish Colonial Revival landmark building and a sleek, contemporary new-build.

Food and beverage accentuates the experience, courtesy of indemand Angeleno chefs Jessica Koslow (Sqirl) and Gabriela Camara (Contramar) at their Californian- and Mexican-inspired collaboration restaurant Onda, and atop the hotel at Santa Monica’s hottest new rooftop venue Calabra featuring Mediterranean cuisine from executive chef Kaleo Adams.

The hotel also has a rooftop pool with cabanas, co-working spaces and the most stylish lobby bar to have graced LA’s Westside in decades.

700 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, USA. Tel: +1 310-620-9990. properhotel.com

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The makeover of Raffles Singapore saw a legend re-born

RAFFLES SINGAPORE Singapore

When it comes to legendary hotels, Raffles Singapore is truly one of the greats. The luxury hotel first opened in 1887 and over that time it has become a National Monument and a treasure for Singaporeans. And it has never looked better.

The hotel re-opened in August 2019 after a careful and sensitive three-phased restoration, which began in February 2017, and firmly saw a legend re-born.

The revitalised Raffles Singapore, with its famed butler service, offers 115 suites across nine distinct categories, including some exceptional Presidential Suites, along with an all-new Raffles shopping arcade loaded up with bespoke brands, a luxurious spa and an amazing array of restaurants – in collaboration with globally-renowned chefs AnneSophie Pic, Alain Ducasse and Jereme Leung – and cocktail dens, including a reimagining of the legendary Long Bar, famous for the Singapore Sling.

1 Beach Rd, Singapore.

Tel: +65 6337 1886. raffles.com

Fun in the sun: InterContinental Hayman Island Resort

INTERCONTINENTAL HAYMAN ISLAND RESORT Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia After a $135 million refurbishment, Hayman Island reopened under the InterContinental brand in July 2019 and it saw the resort elevated to a new luxury level.

InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, located at the northern most point in the Whitsunday Islands, features 166-rooms across three distinct wings, including the pool wing, beach wing and lagoon wing, each offering views across the Coral Sea. One of the most impressive parts of the makeover was the introduction of five distinct restaurants and bars, from Bar Fifty in the heart of the resort to poolside dining at Aqua, Italian inspired cuisine at Amici Trattori and pan-Asian at Bam Bam. As it has been for decades, one of the best things about Hayman is still the day spa, which offers meditation and energy healing practices, as well as signature treatments featuring products from leading Australian brand Sodashi.

Hayman Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD, Australia.

Tel: +61 (0)7 4940 1234. intercontinental.com

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THE WEST HOLLYWOOD EDITION

West Hollywood, California, USA The collaboration between Ian Schrager, the godfather of the boutique and lifestyle movement, and global powerhouse Marriott International has produced some brilliant Edition hotels across the globe, from London to New York, Miami and Barcelona.

Few have able to bring together so much style, finesse and excitement as the brand’s latest opening in the vibrant Los Angeles hood of West Hollywood, which is sexy as it is luxurious and curious as it is happening.

Here it is about the sense of arrival – down the tree-lined driveway and through the oversized front doors, past the happening lobby bar and fireplace-donned terrace – as much as it is about lying by the rooftop pool, glass of Napa Cabernet in hand, taking in an epic California sunset.

The 140 guestrooms and 50 suites are light-filled, feature light a neutral palette and whitewashed Siberian Larch wood throughout, and are the perfect blend of a working and relaxing environment – exactly what you want from a Los Angeles hotel.

Find an excellent range of cuisine on offer at Michelin-starred chef John Fraser’s Ardor restaurant, SoCal cocktails at The Roof and Lobby Bar, world-class DJs in the club ‘Sunset’, alongside several impressive event spaces that are ideal for movie screenings, events and meetings.

9040 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA, USA. Tel: +1 310-953-9899. editionhotels.com

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CRADLE MOUNTAIN LODGE Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia

Wilderness style: Cradle Mountain Lodge

EMPORIUM HOTEL SOUTH BANK Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The new flagship Emporium Hotel South Bank in Brisbane burst onto the scene in 2018, creating a new level of luxury in one of the city’s most popular precincts.

Located in the $600 million mixed-use Southpoint development on Grey Street, the 143-suite property was developed with luxury firmly in mind and here you will find some of the best rooms and facilities in the city.

The stars of the show are the 23-metre infinity edge pool and rooftop bar The Terrace – complete with retractable roof – alongside fine dining-restaurant Signature, which serves up modern Australian cuisine and fine wine, French brasserie Belle Epoque, the Piano Bar off the lobby and the rooms and suites on offer.

Headlining the offering is the Frangipani Suite, one of the most impressive hotel rooms in the city, which features separate living, dining and sleeping rooms, alongside a spacious bathroom with a tub, a karaoke and media room, full-size bar, double-sided fireplace and an outdoor terrace.

A stay is most definitely rounded out by the complimentary inner-city chauffeur service in a brand-new Maserati Levante.

267 Grey St, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia.

Tel: +61 (0)7 3556 3333. emporiumhotels.com.au 84 WAYFARER

Nestled in the Lake St Clair National Park, Cradle Mountain Lodge has quite the spectacular location. The Park was recognised as one of the last true wilderness regions on earth – World Heritage status was granted in 1982 – and it covers approximately 1,584,000 hectares of pristine Tasmanian wilderness.

In the heart of it on 23 acres is the 86-cabin Cradle Mountain Lodge, which is fresh from a $10 million makeover to its famed King Billy suites and popular restaurants.

In conjunction with the upgrades, the lodge has also introduced new sustainable practices to aid improving the ecosystem of its surroundings, starting with the introduction of beehives to produce honey for guests to enjoy but also to increase the number of bees in the area.

4038 Cradle Mountain Rd, Cradle Mountain, TAS, Australia.

Tel: +61 (0)3 6492 2100. cradlemountainlodge.com.au

The elegant Emporium Hotel South Bank

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ROSEWOOD HONG KONG Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Over the last few years, Rosewood Hotel Group’s CEO, Sonia Cheng, has grown the luxury operator to some incredible heights by opening, remodelling and continuing to invest in some remarkable hotels across the world.

She has taken a company that formerly had a handful of luxury hotels in the Americas to one of the most powerful brands in the hotel industry and in the process has continued to set new benchmarks, particularly with Rosewood’s global flagship property in Hong Kong, which debuted in 2019.

What Cheng and her team created with Rosewood Hong Kong has been nothing short of remarkable, given the style and phenomenal attention to detail right throughout the 413-room hotel.

Here at the property that sits atop a brilliant new mall right on Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui, you’ll feel like you’re at home in a luxury mansion, given the residential design and touches throughout the hotel from the rooms and suites – which start at an impressive 53 square metres – to the impressive Manor Club Executive Lounge, outdoor infinity pool and spa.

Where the property also excels is in the bars and restaurants on offer, including our favourites, The Legacy House Chinese restaurant – which includes seven private dining rooms, each modelled after a different landmark moment in the life of Cheng family founding patriarch, Dr. Cheng Yu-Tung – and the DarkSide bar, which offers classic cocktails, an excellent wine list and live jazz every night.

18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Tel: +852 3891 8888. rosewoodhotels.com

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New look: Fairmont Singapore has undergone a total makeover

FAIRMONT SINGAPORE Singapore

Fairmont Singapore has always been one of our favourite business hotels in the world and in recent months, the experience has become dramatically better thanks to new rooms and an expanded, premium club product.

With the existing floor-to-ceiling windows a key focus, the rooms were given a top-to-bottom makeover that is undoubtedly stylish: expect a union of dark wood panels, warm whisky and cognac hues, herringbone tweeds and opulent leathers. The guest rooms are further adorned by impactful pieces of art and bespoke furniture which 86 WAYFARER

celebrate Singapore’s heritage.

A fantastic highlight of the new rooms are the leather-wrapped headboards, which position the bed as an island in the middle of the room, facing out to give guests optimal visual vantage of Singapore’s skyline. You’ll also be impressed with the plush sofa by the window and a 55-inch television.

Up on the 25th floor, find a completely re-modelled Fairmont Gold Lounge, where you’ll find an open kitchen counter for breakfast in the mornings and canapes, alongside cocktails and premium beverages, in the evenings.

Where this hotel truly excels as well is in the range of bars and restaurants on offer and here you’ll find six, including popular Italian restaurant Prego, which has also had a sleek makeover.

When it comes to sustainability, the hotel more than impresses with the installation of filtered water dispensers in every room and the construction of the city’s first urban Aquaponics farm, which supplies fresh food to the hotel every day.

80 Bras Basah Rd, Singapore.

Tel: +65 6339 7777. fairmont.com

1 HOTEL WEST HOLLYWOOD West Hollywood, California, USA

One of America’s hottest brands, 1 Hotels, opened its West Coast flagship property in mid-2019 and it immediately added some sustainable luxury to one of West Hollywood’s most popular streets, Sunset Boulevard.

Formerly the Jeremy, the 1 West Hollywood underwent a total transformation, taking its cues from the raw natural beauty of the Southern California landscape, while at the same time retaining some influences from the popular neighbourhood.

From the lobby to the restaurants – where you’ll find zero-waste dishes from Executive Chef Chris Crary – as well as the 285 guestrooms and outdoor pool, the property is entrenched in sustainability and with an Energy Star score of

Poolside delight: a cabana at The Calile

95, the 1 West Hollywood is one of the most energy-efficient hotels in Los Angeles.

The property has an earthy design that was inspired by the beauty and simplicity of raw materials: reclaimed timber and steel, recycled fiber carpeting, abundant native greenery and stunning stonework.

Other property-wide conservation practices include native and adaptive vegetation, a smart irrigation system, a 100% organic and sustainably-grown vegetable garden, neighbouring beehive and 100-year-old olive trees.

8490 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA, USA. Tel: +1 310-424-1600. 1hotels.com

THE CALILE HOTEL

Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia At the heart of Brisbane’s James Street precinct in Fortitude Valley, the Calile Hotel stands tall as one of the most stylish properties to have made its debut in the city in recent years, thanks to a happening pool deck, impressive food and drinks and spacious guestrooms.

Here, you’ll want to score a poolside table at brilliant Greek restaurant Hellenika, grab an Old Fashioned or a flat white from the Lobby Bar and most certainly want a room with a balcony overlooking the pool.

There is a lot of ‘pool’ talk here and that’s because it most certainly is a centrepiece of the hotel and when the sun is out, you will have wanted to ensure a cabana has your name on it. Impressively, there is also a Medispa on the pool deck level with 10 treatment rooms and a gym, Forme Fitness, which has a team at the ready with full fitness services.

The Calile Hotel, part of the TFE Hotels Collection brand, has 175 spacious rooms on offer, each with an individual balcony, Bluetooth sound bar, motorised blackout blinds, and a 55-inch flat screen television loaded-up with complimentary new-release movies.

48 James St, Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia.

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LE MEURICE Paris, France

Since 1835, Le Meurice has been one of the most beautiful, iconic and storied hotels in Paris, thanks to its style, location and incredible list of regulars from Salvador Dali to Pablo Picasso, Woody Allen and Jay-Z. Here opposite the stunning Tuileries Garden, Le Meurice has been what owners Dorchester Collection call an ‘ever-changing canvas’ and it’s such a fitting description of a hotel that combines 18th century opulence with contemporary chic courtesy of interiors

by Philippe Starck and Charles Jouffre.

The latest makeover, completed in July 2019, saw 29 rooms and suites artfully restored, including the property’s legendary Belle Etoile Suite, which has the most incredible terrace in Paris with 360-degree views of the city, from Parisian rooftops to the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Coeur, Musée d’Orsay and Eiffel Tower.

Together with a garden, curated by landscape designer Pierre-Alexandre Risser, the suite takes up 620-metres-squared and features three bedrooms, a cinema-style sitting area and one of the most luxurious bathrooms in Paris.

Adding to the experience, the Le Meurice has a twoMichelin-starred Alain Ducasse restaurant, home of the World's Best Pastry Chef, Cedric Grolet, and the city’s only Valmont Spa. 228 Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France. Tel : +33 1 44 58 10 44. dorchestercollection.com

Expect 18th century opulence at Le Meurice in Paris

The Mandrake in London is one of the world’s most eclectic hotels

THE MANDRAKE

Fitzrovia, London, England The Mandrake Hotel in London’s Fitzrovia can lay claim to being one of the most eclectic and mysterious hotels on the planet.

Every touch of the 30-room hotel owned by London entrepreneur Rami Fustok is inspired by the medicinal and hallucinogenic properties of the plant it’s named after.

Inside the hotel, which opened in September 2017, you will find eclectic, vibrant interiors combined with carefully curated artwork and intriguing soundscapes, alongside some fitting offerings like the in-room spiritual concierge.

The hotel is set across four floors, which rise up from a central open courtyard. At the heart of this space lies a lush, evergreen sanctuary where trails of jasmine and passion flowers cascade down.

On the dining front, there is Yopo, which servesup a modern European menu with influences from South America, including as you’d expect here, experimental ingredients.

At the hotel’s Waeska bar, find plant-based cocktails on what is one of the most creative drinks lists London has ever seen. The signature creations – including the Wakamomo with Perrier Jouet Champagne, plum, rhubarb, almond and wakamomo – are the standouts here and are some of the most creative drinks in the capital.

20-21 Newman St, Fitzrovia, London, United Kingdom.

Tel: +44 20 3146 7770. themandrake.com

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SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, AT THE SHARD Bermondsey, London, England Halfway through that early morning swim in London's highest hotel infinity pool, you’ll feel like James Bond as you take in the spectacular views of the City across the River Thames. Here at the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard, which is located on levels 34-52 of Renzo Piano’s iconic building opposite Borough Market, you’ll be mesmerised with the views during all experiences in the property, from that 007-style swim to lying in one of the oversized beds to drinking in Gŏng bar and dining at Tīng.

The lowest of the 202 rooms and suites in the property are 125 metres in the air, so you are guaranteed amazing views from every room and it makes for quite the unique stay, because most hotels in this city are located in lowrise buildings.

Alongside the views and fantastic food and beverage experiences on offer, especially at Tīng, where you can expect the highest buffet in the Capital at breakfast and a fantastic modern British menu with Asian influences

– loaded-up with locally-sourced ingredients, including some from Borough Market – for lunch and dinner.

Head up to Gŏng before or after dinner for a well-crafted Old Fashioned, Negroni or a small-batch gin Martini, three of the must-have drinks here on any occasion.

31 St Thomas Street, London, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (20) 7234 8000. shangri-la.com

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QUALIA

Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia In the heart of the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island is one of Australia’s favourite playgrounds and offers everything from world-class sailing regattas to brilliant food, adventures for kids and poolside relaxation.

Leading the way on the island is qualia, which has been one of world’s leading resorts since it opened and continues to be one of the most in-demand luxury lodges the nation has ever seen.

Here you’ll find 60 private pavilions – all with large soaking tubs, decks, views of the Whitsundays and some with private plunge pools – set amongst 30 acres of tropical landscaped gardens.

The resort is also home to Spa qualia, which offers an array of treatments with luxury Australian products, arguably the country’s most picturesque lobby and two restaurants, Pebble Beach and the Long Pavilion.

Down on Pebble Beach you’ll also find one of the resort’s two infinity pools and where you are guaranteed to capture a postcard moment or three.

While you’re at qualia, book in for a trip out to Heart Island, a floating luxury day room that’s accessible only by helicopter, and which offers glass-bottom boat rides and snorkelling around the Great Barrier Reef, including the legendary Heart Reef.

Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia.

Tel: +61 (0)2 9433 3112. hamiltonisland.com.au

Chic: Alibi at Ovolo Woolloomooloo

OVOLO WOOLLOOMOOLOO qualia is one of Australia's top resorts

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney is home to some fun boutique hotels right across the Emerald City, from the CBD to Surry Hills and Woolloomooloo, and it’s in the latter suburb you’ll find one that’s the most playful and exciting the city has ever seen.

At Ovolo Woolloomooloo, you’ll find an eclectic fuse of design, fashion and art-filled interiors, many which reflect the personality of the hotel’s owner, Girish Jhunjhnuwala, who has a penchant for 80s music.

Expect to ride in the lifts to the sound of Talking Heads, book a stay in an AC/DC or INXS-themed Rockstar suites and stream Radio Ovolo on Spotify, for some Duran Duran and Terence Trent D’Arby.

Within the cool property is Alibi Restaurant and Bar, Australia’s first hotel restaurant to serve a 100% plantbased menu. Alibi’s philosophy is simple: “clean eating need never compromise on taste” and they are indeed true to their word.

There are also plenty of perks on offer at Ovolo too – free continental breakfast, WiFi, in-room mini bar, laundry and happy hour drinks – all in a fun setting the brand continues to win global awards for.

6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW, Australia. Tel: +61 (0)2 9331 9000. ovolohotels.com

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THE 2020 LUXE LIST TRAVEL

FOUR SEASONS NEW YORK DOWNTOWN New York, New York, USA

The luxury brand’s latest Manhattan opening, Four Seasons New York Downtown, has been setting new benchmarks for the global chain right across the residential-style hotel.

Amazing touches can be found through the in-room technology, where curtains open and lights come on automatically when you enter the room, alongside Bose surround sound systems and 55-inch smart TVs. Then there are also refrigerated private drawer fridge-like bars and antique glassware, a fun stylish twist for in-suite drinks.

When it comes to the bathrooms, expect large tubs, oversized basins, TVs in mirrors and walk-in showers as standard in every room, something rarely seen in New York City.

Also find an indoor 23-metre heated pool, which features plush lounges and with views over the Occulus train station at the World Trade Center, ideal for a mid-afternoon swim between meetings in the city, and a day spa with a wellstocked boutique.

Then there’s the food and drinks on offer, led by a Cut by Wolfgang Puck eatery that’s one of the noted chef’s best dining installations on the planet yet.

While the property is top notch, what accentuates the stay here is the service, which is some of the best we’ve seen from Four Seasons globally.

Residential style at Four Seasons New York Downtown

27 Barclay St, New York, NY, USA. Tel: +1 646-880-1999. fourseasons.com

EMERALD PALACE KEMPINSKI DUBAI Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Poolside at Emerald Place Kempinski

One of the most talked about new hotels in the United Arab Emirates is the Emerald Palace Kempinski, which debuted on Palm Jumeirah in late-2018.

It is impressive from the moment you walk in, thanks in part to the 391room luxury hotel being designed in the style of an 18th century European palace from the lobby – which features a chandelier containing 40,000 Swarovski crystals – through to the guest rooms and gardens.

Where the hotel also impresses is through its impeccable service, worldclass day spa, its 500-metre long white sand beach, palatial sized swimming pool and seven bars and restaurants, including the first Alain Ducasse dining room in the Middle East.

Crescent West, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Tel: +971 4 248 8888. kempinski.com WAYFARER 91

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ANDAZ 5TH AVENUE

Apartmentstyle at Andaz Fifth Avenue

New York, New York, USA

Located opposite the New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building – well-known for its appearances in Ghostbusters and the Sex and the City movie – is one of our favourite boutique hotels in Midtown Manhattan, the Andaz Fifth Avenue.

The hotel partners with its famous neighbour extremely well – in the form of a book collection curated by the New York Public Library off the lobby, best enjoyed during the daily complimentary two-hour wine session from 6-8pm, and through personalized guided tours through the Schwarzman building.

While this has been one of our favourite things about the hotel since it opened, the stays have become all the better of late, thanks to a major makeover of the property that has seen its popular 184 residential-style rooms and suites take on an even more fashionable New York apartment feel (think new wood flooring, bedroom carpeting, new mattresses and bathroom finishes).

With a sumptuous in-room dining menu, unobtrusive service, a popular bar and restaurant below the lobby and the free mini-bars (non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, replenished daily), Andaz Fifth Avenue has all the essential elements for a brilliant night or a week away.

485 5th Ave, New York, NY, USA. Tel: +1 212-601-1234. hyatt.com

THE ST. REGIS ABU DHABI Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The towers of St. Regis Abu Dhabi

Located on the popular Corniche, the St. Regis Abu Dhabi is a fantastic fusion of authentic Arabian hospitality with over 100 years of bespoke service the luxury brand is famous across the world for.

Here you will find 228 guestrooms and 55 suites decked out with luxury products from the bathrooms to the minibars, alongside views of the Arabian Gulf and the UAE capital and one-call butler service.

Should you want to ramp-up the stay, the hotel is home to the world’s highest suspended suite, situated 220 metres above sea level, although you’ll be suitably impressed with the Nation Riviera private beach club with 200 metre beach, spacious swimming pool, children’s club and one of the UAE’s largest spas.

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi also features six restaurants and lounges, including our favourite Villa Toscana, which serves up some brilliant Italian cuisine, and the Terrace on the Corniche, home to a legendary Friday brunch.

Corniche, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Tel: +971 2 694 4444. st-regis.marriott.com

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THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL

Beverly Hills, California, USA The Beverly Hills Hotel made its debut in 1912 on a sprawling 12-acre piece of land at the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains, long before its famous suburb had been named and on open fields north of Los Angeles that were being promoted to retirees.

In the 108 years since then, the hotel has been a centrepiece for the glamour of Hollywood and jetsetting travellers from across the globe. In days gone by, you could find Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the rest of the Rat Pack drinking away in the hotel’s Polo Lounge; John Lennon and Yoko Ono hiding out to escape the press; and Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Howard Hughes residing, for long stays at times, in the hotel’s famed bungalows.

It’s the bungalows that are some one of the most historical, exciting and fascinating elements of the Beverly Hills Hotel and in recent years, have seen lots of love from owners Dorchester Collection.

Since 2016, the Beverly Hills Hotel has been restoring and carefully remodelling the famous bungalows and they each uniquely offer a nostalgic experience for those staying in them. Most recently, four bungalows have been completed in honour of Sinatra, Monroe, Hughes and Chaplin and they truly celebrate some brilliant Hollywood Royalty.

Each bungalow pays tribute to the famous former guests through amenities, film libraries and more and a favourite of ours is in number one: Monroe’s dishes of choice at the hotel, available on the in-room dining menu, including prawn cocktail, heirloom carrot salad, DiMaggio’s spaghetti and meatballs, grilled New York steak, and Marilyn’s ice cream sundae.

9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA, USA. Tel: +1 310-276-2251. dorchestercollection.com

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ONE ALDWYCH

Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom London’s luxurious One Aldwych hotel revealed a brandnew look in June 2019 – after closing for the first time in 21 years for a complete top-to-bottom makeover – and it quickly re-elevated the property as one of the most stylish in the West End. The hotel’s spacious rooms and suites, the lobby bar and Indigo restaurant were given a completely new look, on the back of recent makeovers to the popular Eneko Basque Kitchen and Bar and the modern in-house gym.

When you walk in to the lobby of this Leading Hotels of the World member property, you’ll find the bar in front of you and it has become quite the destination in itself – in the afternoons and evenings, it is buzzing with the high tea and cocktail set, many of whom are here for a delight and tipple before heading to a show (one of London’s best, The Lion King, is at home right behind).

The healthy meals on offer at Indigo restaurant on the mezzanine above are some of the best in Covent Garden, while the makeover of the rooms and suites has been exceptional. Expect pared back, subtle, not overly designed rooms with a modern English take.

One Aldwych is a popular West End hotel

1 Aldwych, West End, London, United Kingdom.

Tel: +44 20 7300 1000. onealdwych.com

The stunning new St. Regis Hong Kong

THE ST. REGIS HONG KONG Wan Chai, Hong Kong

As far as spectacular debuts go, The St. Regis Hong Kong made one of the best during 2019. Not only did it have the notoriety of being parent Marriott International’s 7000th property in the world, it completely elevated the hotel offering in one of Hong Kong’s most popular and fun neighbourhoods.

St. Regis hotels are known across the world for their impeccable butler service and that’s exactly what you can expect at this 129-room hotel, alongside brilliant food and beverage and stunning interiors courtesy of master designer, André Fu. Through Fu’s designs, the hotel pays homage to its location in Wan Chai, while also offering timeless elegance and the latest in technology.

On the food and beverage front, the hotel truly excels, from 18-Michelin-starred chef Olivier Elzer’s French haute cuisine at L’Envol to Rùn, the signature Cantonese restaurant led by renowned chef Hung Chi-Kwong, the afternoon tea service at The Drawing Room and the fantastic cocktails at The St. Regis Bar, including the signature Bloody Mary served alongside live jazz.

1 Harbour Dr, Wan Chai, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Tel: +852 2138 6888. st-regis.marriott.com 94 WAYFARER

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THE LANGHAM, SYDNEY Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Langham, Sydney has continued to excel after its recent makeover that saw the 98 rooms and suites come out like a brand-new property, with the hotel constantly offering innovative newbies from its Kitchens on Kent restaurant’s luxury buffet to the Observatory Bar’s classical remixes and the collection of inroom movies.

One of our favourite parts of this hotel is the Day Spa, where you will find an exceptional range of body treatments, massages and facials, from one-hour sessions to all-day-long luxury packages.

Don’t skip the high tea afterwards where it’s about decadent food and drinks in a glamourous setting, especially with a glass of Champagne or two.

Luxury style at The Langham, Sydney

89-113 Kent St, Millers Point, NSW, Australia. Tel: +61 (0)2 9256 2222. langhamhotels.com

ANDAZ WALL STREET New York, New York, USA

Stylish makeover: Andaz Wall St

New York’s FiDi (Financial District) became all the more hip in 2010 when the Andaz Wall Street opened its doors and in that time, it has continued to be one of the area's best hotels.

In August 2019, the hotel completed a rejuvenation of 253 guestrooms and it has given the property that’s popular with both business and leisure travellers a wonderful new feel.

Here, expect a modern style in the rooms and suites with veined quartz, end-grain bamboo, and grey wood finishes that now accompany sleek hardwood floors, walk-in rain showers, and 12-foot ceilings with oversized windows to let in ample amounts of light.

You’ll also find elegant bay window seating for reading and relaxation and a new hand-sketched wall that reflects downtown Manhattan’s evocative and rich architectural forms.

Andaz Wall Street is also home to one of our favourite eateries Downtown, Andaz Kitchen and Bar, which serves up a local and globally-inspired menu both in a comfortable restaurant setting and in the outdoor beer garden. Make sure you swing by the complimentary daily wine hour in the lobby for a tipple before dinner.

75 Wall St, New York, NY, USA. Tel: +1 212-590-1234. hyatt.com WAYFARER 95

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ASTON MARTIN MOTORING

Concorde-inspired Aston Martin British Airways and Aston Martin gear up for take-off through a very special DBS.

I

n the airline’s centenary year and on the anniversary of Concorde’s final flight, British Airways announced a partnership with Aston Martin, with a limited-edition sports car that honours the supersonic aircraft.

The luxury British car manufacturer has created the DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition. Launching in October 2020 each vehicle will feature titanium from compressor blades that were used across British Airways’ supersonic fleet.

Each model will have a unique CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) approved registration number and British Airways’ iconic Chatham Flag tailfin has been incorporated into the striking design.

The exterior features a bespoke painted livery in the airline’s red, white and blue colours, and a black tinted carbon fibre roof emblazoned with Concorde’s streamlined silhouette.

The paddle shifters will be made from the original Concorde metal and a Mach Meter graphic will be embroidered on the driver’s sun side visor; some of the many carefully judged design features that have been incorporated to celebrate the remarkable achievements of this aircraft.

Strictly limited to just 10 examples and priced at £321,350, all will be available to purchase exclusively from Aston Martin Bristol.

On November 26, 2003, Alpha Foxtrot, the last ever Concorde to be built, touched down for the final time at RAF Filton, which is just three miles from where the cars will be sold and home to one of the 10 Concordes that were made in Britain.

Parts of the proceeds from the sale of each individual car will be donated to the Air League Trust, a not-forprofit organisation that teaches under privileged children how to fly and work in engineering.

This builds on British Airways’ BA 2119: Future of Fuels initiative, which the airline partnered with Cranfield University on during 2019.

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Coming up next What you can expect in the next issue of Wayfarer magazine, distributed globally in July.

Hot property: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

98 WAYFARER

NORTHERN DELIGHT What you can expect on-board Finnair’s ultra-cool Airbus A350-900 business class to Helsinki and beyond

BEACHSIDE STAR The essential guide to a few days in Santa Monica, from hotels to bars, restaurants and supercar drives

ISLAND BLISS We look at some of the world’s best island escapes, from Fiji to Hawaii, the Bahamas and the Cook Islands

INTRODUCING

A new online booking application that will give healthcare companies and workers access to heavily discounted rates on self-contained apartments at hundreds of locations around Australia.

LEARN MORE AT QUESTAPARTMENTS.COM.AU/HEALTH-SUPPORT

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Finnair, together with our oneworld partners, offers multiple routes from Australia to Europe via Asia and North America.

Enjoy personal space, privacy and simplicity on board our flights.

Visit us at finnair.com/au Finnair, together with our oneworld partners, offers multiple routes from Australia to Europe via Asia and North America.

Enjoy personal space, privacy and simplicity on board our flights. Visit us at finnair.com/au