Monthly Archives: August 2013

JetBlue debuts door-to-door luggage delivery service

changi airport

US-based carrier JetBlue has launched a baggage delivery service that will allow flyers to bypass the carrousel and proceed directly home or to their resort holiday.

JetBlue unveiled details this week of its new Bags VIP concierge service, which will hand deliver checked bags to customers’ final destination within a 40-mile (64 km) radius of the airport.

Promotional pricing starts at $25 for delivery of one bag and $40 for up to 10 bags.

Flyers can place their order up to one hour before departure. At the airport, bags will be identified with a VIP tag and delivered by a representative within four hours of arrival.

The new door-to-door delivery service comes as industry insiders predict that airlines will begin charging for carry-on bags in an effort to discourage passengers from overpacking, reduce weight load and fuel costs, and find more revenue streams.

JetBlue follows the lead of American Airlines which also launched a delivery service last year.

For the truly jetset with no time — or inclination — to pack, services like Garde Robe in the US and Vault Couture in the UK will also store, pack and deliver people’s suitcases for them.

JetBlue’s VIP delivery program is the latest move from the low-cost airline to try and rebrand itself as a premium carrier for the business traveler. Recently, the carrier unveiled new lie-flat seats with massage features and private suites that slide shut. The new seating will be made available on their transcontinental flights between New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco next year.

Olympus launches Harrods Art Edition PEN camera

Olympus PEN Art

Olympus has teamed up with urban artist Susie ‘Suzko’ Lowe, fashion photographer Jay McLaughlin and Harrods to offer a strictly limited number of handpainted special edition cameras.

Available exclusively through Harrods in London, each ‘Art Edition’ camera has been individually hand-painted by Susie ‘Suzko’ Lowe, and has its matching Vespa Motor scooter and crash helmet.

The final cherry on the cake is that it comes with a one-one-one photography lesson with renowned fashion and street photographer Jay McLaughlin who was brought in by Olympus to document the customization process (he has created a special perfect-bound catalogue detailing the transformation) and to help decide the camera’s specification and accessories.

As well as a unique, hand-painted body, each camera also comes with a second, stock camera body for everyday use and one of each compatible Olympus-made lens currently available.

Harrods and Olympus have not confirmed how many Art Editions will be created. The Art Edition goes on sale from Thursday, exclusively at Harrods for £16,000 (about US$25,000).

Olympus Vespa

The Lulu Guinness Paint Project

London-based accessories designer Lulu Guinness has unveiled her latest project, an Anish Kapoor-style paint-splatter collaboration titled the “Paint Project”.

“I’m driven to create something unique” says Guinness, who teamed up with artist Joe Steele to create 180 exclusive paint-splattered Lulu Guinness bags.

Steele worked with explosive experts SysFX, to splatter the bags with red, white and black paint: “I find traditional forms of painting slow and boring. My work with explosives is about creating something beautiful out of a moment of chaos,” explains the artist in a video posted by the brand.

Bags from the Paint Project collection are available now for $446 in Lulu Guinness stores and online.

Three of the bags, as well as one from Guinness’s personal collection, will be auctioned off on eBay to benefit children’s charity The Art Room.

Lulu Guinness Paint Project

Fastest-growing tourist hotspots in Europe

Myvatn Lake

Iceland and Slovakia are among the fastest-growing tourist destinations in Europe for foreign tourists this year, according to the latest report out of the European Travel Commission.

Iceland experienced an impressive 30% spike in foreign arrivals in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the same period last year. Slovakia saw a 20% increase in international visitors this spring.

Overall, growth was strongest in smaller European regions such as the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Montenegro, Latvia, and Croatia, for example, each recorded a 9 percent growth, while visitor growth in Hungary and Poland also increased about 7 percent.

At the other end of the spectrum, the banking crisis in Cyprus earlier this year also dealt the country’s tourism industry a major blow, as visitor arrivals plummeted -12 percent.

Meanwhile, editors at Lonely Planet also named Iceland — or rather northern Iceland — one of their top European destination picks for 2013 earlier this summer, for the country’s rich natural landscape including dramatic geysers, lava fields and towering waterfalls.

Thingvellir National Park Iceland

Carven goes to the woods for fall-winter 2013

Carven Fall 2013

The French brand has released its latest campaign, featuring blurred babes in the woods. Carven designer Guillaume Henry took the creative reins on the brand’s latest advertising campaign.

Once again working with Dutch art photographer Viviane Sassen, the images were created in the Forêt de Fontainebleau, south of the French capital, the ancient hunting grounds of monarchs.

French model Marine Deleeuw appears blurred and out of focus in the photographs, which show off the deer skin and car headlights prints, pastel tones and voluminous satin shapes of the Parisian brand’s Fall-Winter 2013 collection.

Giorgio Armani dresses ‘Paranoia’

Harrison Ford and Liam Hemsworth

The Italian designer has designed costumes for the upcoming Hollywood thriller, and also shows off his interior design skills.

Back in 1980 Giorgio Armani first burst into American movie and fashion culture with his slick outfits for Richard Gere in Paul Schrader’s hit film “American Gigolo.”

Now he’s returned to the silver screen for “Paranoia,” Robert Luketic’s film starring Hollywood legends Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman alongside up-and-comers Liam Hemsworth and Amber Heard.

The Italian designer created suits for the characters, including his old friend Ford and also helped dress the set with interior design elements from his Armani Casa line.

Armani Casa apartment

Working with production designer David Brisbin, Armani placed signature Armani Casa sofas, lamps, tables and chairs in the luxurious modern apartment moved into by Hemsworth’s character.

“Collaborating with David Brisbin on his vision for this movie provided me with the opportunity to showcase Armani Casa on film in a way that is absolutely believable and appropriate to the story.”

“Paranoia” hits movie theaters in the US on August 8.

McD Japan blackDiamond

McDonald’s Japan charges $10 For Truffle Burger

McDonalds Japan quarter pounder jewelry

McDonald’s Japan went highbrow recently, releasing a trio of special-edition gourmet burgers filled with thick slices of pineapple, black truffles and chorizo sausage for about $10 a pop.

Released in one-day only sales, the premium sandwiches were presented in glossy, white boutique bags emblazoned with the golden arches.

Replacing generic burger boxes were fancy, shiny gift boxes housing sandwiches with names like the Gold Ring, Black Diamond and Ruby Spark, a limited-edition series dubbed the Quarter Pounder Jewelry Series. Sandwiches were released intermittently throughout July and sold for one day only.

Black Diamond burger

Kicking off the series was the Gold Ring, filled with thick slices of grilled pineapple, smokey thick-cut bacon, Monterey Jack cheese and barbecue sauce.

The Black Diamond burger was perhaps the most decadent, featuring grilled mushrooms, onions, cheese and a black truffle sauce, while the Ruby Spark was filled with slices of spicy chorizo sausage, avocado and Pepper Jack cheese.

Major fast food burger chains have faced increasing pressure from smaller, mid-sized brands such as Five Guys, Shake Shack and In-N-Out which tout made-to-order, premium offerings.

Plane

The greenest airlines in the world

United Airlines Eco Skies

Want to fly with a green conscience? Fly United Airlines, airberlin, Qantas or Air Canada.

Because according to the 2013 Eco-Aviation Awards hosted by Air Transport World, these are the greenest airlines in the world, whether it be for building a fuel-efficient fleet, making concerted efforts to reduce fuel burn or exploring sustainable fuels.

At the top of the heap is US carrier United Airlines, which took the top prize as the Gold Eco-Airline of the Year for its “realistic and practical approach to environmental action,” said magazine editors.

Last year, the airline saved 83 million gallons of fuel by replacing its fleet with more fuel-efficient aircraft, thereby reducing its carbon emissions by 811,000 metric tons.

It’s also on track to meets its 2013 goal of reducing fuel usage by 85 million gallons and associated carbon emissions by nearly 828,800 metric tons.

Editors likewise lauded the carrier for spearheading talks on sustainable biofuel initiatives: United undertook the first US commercial flight powered by advanced biofuel in 2011.

And since 2008, the airline has recycled more than 23.5 million pounds of aluminum cans, paper and plastic items from flights and other facilities.

Airberlin, meanwhile, took the silver award for being the first European network carrier to decrease fuel burn per 100 revenue passenger kilometer (RPK) to 3.4 liters, resulting in the reduction of total CO2 emissions by more than 100,000 tons.

Australian carrier Qantas took home the Eco-Pioneer of the Year award, for being an industry leader in exploring sustainable fuels long before the term “eco-aviation” became known, editors said.

And a partnership between Air Canada and Airbus was also recognized for an initiative made last year in which strategies like best practices, optimized operations, air traffic management, and alternative fuels helped slash CO2 emissions by more than 40 percent on a flight between Toronto and Mexico.

Meanwhile, want to feel less guilty about your flight? Several airlines such as Qantas, United, easyJet and Cathay Pacific, as well as airports in Manchester, Stockholm and SF offer carbon offset programs that allow you to make a donation towards an environmental program to render your trip “carbon neutral.”

Burberry Store Logo

Burberry set to launch new men’s scent

burberry store

Burberry will soon release its first fragrance to be produced in-house after the brand announced it would go it alone without a separate perfume licensee in April this year.

Since creative director Christopher Bailey took over at Burberry in 2001, music has undeniably become an integral part of the London-based luxury label’s DNA.

Whether it’s the brand’s live shows, sponsored performances or the music section on the site, there’s a certain rock ‘n’ roll guitar-toting aesthetic that Bailey has tried to blend into the fashion brand. And music was the main inspiration for the new men’s scent, Burberry Brit Rhythm.

“It’s really that kind of adrenaline feeling that you get from music. The effect of hairs rising on the back of your neck. The moment where you are anticipating your favorite band coming on, or when you are listening to a beautiful piece,” Bailey told WWD.

Concocted by Dominique Ropion, Anne Flipo and Olivier Polge the fragrance reportedly opens with a blend of basil, spicy cardamom and juniper berries. The heart of ‘Rhythm’ mixes black leather, patchouli and styrax resin while base notes of cedar, incense and tonka bean round out the scent.

“It’s a sexy fragrance because I think there is a sexiness to that kind of rock ‘n’ roll world. It’s very leathery. It’s sexy and a little bit smoky and sensuous and I kind of like that idea of skin and leather. They were the starting points,” explained Bailey.

Bottled in a textured glass flask (featuring the Burberry check), the eau de toilette will comes in three sizes: 90 ml ($79), 50 ml ($60) and 30 ml (for $49), joined by an aftershave balm and shower gel.

Gucci eyewear campaign

Behind-the-Scenes with James Franco and Gucci

After unveiling its latest eyewear campaign last month, starring the American actor and director James Franco, the Italian luxury brand has now shared footage of the shoot from behind the scenes.

The brand’s eyewear campaign is the creation of eminent fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Scenes feature the star posing behind shades from Gucci’s new Bamboo collection.

The glasses are mainly aviator-style, made of metal and glass with a ruthenium finish. The use of bamboo in the earpieces, a Gucci tradition dating from 1947, explains the collection’s title.

While this is his first time posing for an eyewear collection, James Franco is already accustomed to commercial appearances, having featured in Gucci fragrance ads for several years now.

personally built by 5 million Porsche fans

Facebook fans design their own Porsche 911

Facebook Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Porsche recently reached 5 million fans on Facebook, and to celebrate the milestone, the German automaker launched a campaign that allowed its fans to customize a 911 Carrera 4S.

The finished result is an aqua or ‘Facebook’ blue 911 with black and white racing stripes and a fixed rear spoiler. It sits on white 20-inch white alloys and its doors are embellished with the words “5m Porsche Fans”. Inside the illuminated door sills and the aluminum dashboard trim both feature the phrase “personally built by 5 million Porsche fans.”

Porsche claims that 54,000 Facebook fans took part in the design process and, now, the company is launching another competition which will give 1 fan the chance to drive it at UK race circuit Silverstone.

The winner will be the Facebook-using registered Porsche fan who has the largest number of official Porsche-loving friends and will be named on August 18.

Facebook Porsche 911

Top 10 most expensive hotels in the world

The North Island Lodge, located in the Seychelles, is the most expensive hotel in the world. That is the main takeaway of a new survey from Luxury-Hotels.com.

North Island Seychelles

The survey was conducted in June and July and is based on double occupancy for the month of August. Resorts surveyed had a minimum 20-guest capacity.

According to those criteria, the private island sanctuary of North Island Lodge is the world’s most extravagant, at $5,843 a night per couple. Part of what makes the resort so expensive is due to the fact that guests are helicoptered into the site, which sits 30 km off the coast of the main island of Mahé.

North Island Seychelles spa

With 11 guest villas at North Island, the private paradise is also described as a modern-day ‘Noah’s Ark’ for a massive conservation program which aims to protect and rehabilitate local flora, fauna and wildlife like the Hawksbill and green turtles and Seychelles blue pigeons.

Luxury villas meanwhile, are built using scavenged, natural materials from the surrounding area and invite guests to lounge in “barefoot luxury.”

North Island Seychelles room

Photos show white sand beaches leading into azure waters, palm tree-fringed villas decorated in sumptuous yet natural materials like stone, recovered wood and wicker furnishings.

The most luxurious hotels list is dominated by resorts and lodgings in Africa, remote islands and destinations in Oceania, and a handful of listings in Italy, France and Canada.

North Island Seychelles outdoor dining

Here are the Top 10 most expensive hotels around the world

1. North Island Lodge, Seychelles $5,843 USD per couple
2. Laucala Resort, Fiji, $5,040
3. Khwai River Lodge, Botswana, $4,060
4. Savute Elephant Camp, Botswana, $4,020
5. Eagle Island Camp & Spa, Botswana, $3,970
6. Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania, $3,570
7. King Pacific Lodge, Canada, $3,249
8. Mnemba Island Lodge, Tanzania, $3,100
9. Hotel Cala di Volpe, Italy, $2,939
10. Queen Charlotte Lodge, Canada, $2,800

For the full list, visit www.luxury-hotels.com/press/survey-2013.html.

New Mini set to debut on November 18

new mini

The BMW-owned company has chosen the 107th birthday of the iconic car’s creator, Sir Alec Issigonis, as the date for the next Mini’s global debut.

The reveal will take place at the Mini production plant in Oxford and will be followed up with a party in London before the new car heads to Los Angles and Tokyo for its first motor show appearances.

One of the world’s most enduring automotive brands, the Mini has been in production since 1959 and was revolutionary upon its launch.

The first car with a transversely-mounted engine to save space and improve balance, the Mini was nimble, surprisingly spacious and because it had one wheel at every corner, was great fun to drive. As such it was not only a hit with car buyers it also established itself as a serious race and rally car.

Since rescuing the brand some 19 years ago, BMW has done everything it can to recapture that excitement and to align the Mini with innovation and excitement and for the most part it has succeeded.

BMW has confirmed that the car will feature new engines, new chassis technologies, even greater levels of quality and comfort and a host of connected car features.

Park Hotel Tokyo Artist Room Zen

Park Hotel Tokyo completes Artist Room Zen

As part of the Artist in Hotel program, the Park Hotel in Tokyo has handed four of its rooms to four Japanese artists to be transformed into works of art.

Park Hotel Tokyo Room

Art is an important aspect of the philosophy of the Park Hotel located in Shiodome, Tokyo, Japan. The four-star hotel has developed an Art Colors program in order to introduce Japanese culture to visitors. Throughout the year, several exhibitions are planned for the atrium, restaurant and even guestrooms.

calligrapher

Until September 1, visitors will be able to take in the creations of the Yokai Tour exhibition, dedicated to unusual phenomena. They are also invited to spend a night in an actual piece of art. Reservations for the Zen room by artist Seihaku Akiba, have been open since August 1.

The calligrapher, who usually works around the theme of meditation, has just applied the finishing touches to the room as part of the Artist in Hotel program.

Seihaku Akiba

In total, four rooms are destined to be transformed. “Sumo” by Hiroyuki Kimura celebrates famous Japanese wrestlers and has been welcoming visitors since February 2013.

Park Hotel Tokyo Artist Room Zen

As for the other two rooms to be unveiled in November 2013 and February 2014, the names of the artists and the themes have not been revealed yet.

maria sharapova swimming pool

Sharapova tops Forbes rich list of female athletes

maria sharapova swimming pool

Tennis stars dominated the list of the world’s 10 best-paid female athletes, Forbes magazine said on Tuesday, but highlighted the yawning earnings gap with their male counterparts in most sports.

Russia’s Maria Sharapova headed the list, published on forbes.com, earning a total of $29 million (£18.9 million, 21.9 million euros) between June 2012 and June this year.

Tennis took the top four positions, with world number one Serena Williams of the U.S. second ($20.5 million), China’s Li Na third ($18.2 million) and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus fourth ($15.7 million).

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark was in seventh ($13.6 million), followed by Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland ($7.4 million) and Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic ($7 million).

US Nascar driver Danica Patrick, South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna and American golfer Paula Creamer, were the only non-tennis stars in the top 10.

But the business magazine said disparities remained between men and women in terms of earnings in sport. World number one golfer Tiger Woods, for example, was the highest-paid athlete on the planet with earnings of $78 million in the 12 months between June 1, 2012 and June 1 this year.

Los Angeles Laker basketball star Kobe Bryant will earn $30.5 million next season but the highest salary in the women’s equivalent of the NBA is $107,000.

Park Inbee of South Korea won $585,000 for winning the women’s US Open but men’s winner Justin Rose was awarded $1.4 million, the magazine noted.

Forbes said that there was increasing parity in terms of pay in tennis, after moves in recent years to put prize money on a more equal footing.

Endorsements that come on the back of Grand Slam wins such as Sharapova’s 2012 French Open title dwarf most players’ winnings.

The 26-year-old earned $23 million in endorsements with sportswear manufacturers Head and Nike after her victory at Roland Garros. She has also launched her own brand of sweets, Sugarpova.

Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes 2013

1. Maria Sharapova (RUS), tennis, $29 million
2. Serena Williams (USA), tennis, $20.5 million
3. Li Na (CHN), tennis, $18.2 million
4. Victoria Azarenka (BLR), tennis, $15.7 million
5. Danica Patrick (USA), Nascar, $15 million
6. Kim Yuna (KOR), figure skating, $14 million
7. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), tennis, $13.6 million
8. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), tennis, $7.4 million
9. Ana Ivanovic (SRB), tennis, $7 million
10. Paula Creamer (USA), golf, $5.5 million.

Amazon Art store section

Amazon Debuts Online Store for Fine Art

Amazon Art store section

Amazon has launched Amazon Art, a marketplace that includes more than 40,000 works of art by the likes of Norman Rockwell and Claude Monet from over 150 galleries and dealers.

Among the first batch of artworks on sale are Andy Warhol’s “Sachiko” ($450k), Claude Monet’s “L’Enfant à la tasse” (a snip at $1.45m), Norman Rockwell’s “Willie Gillis: Package from Home” ($4.85m for the discerning collector), and a selection of Clifford Ross photography from $200 a pop.

“We’re thrilled to bring the excitement and emotional connection of art to our customers,” said Amazon Marketplace VP Peter Faricy in a public statement.

Emirates Launches Luxury Private Jet Service

Emirates Executive lounge area

Emirates has launched a private jet service promising “unsurpassed luxury” for well-heeled travellers.

The specs are impressive and nothing less than what would be expected of a service created to cater to the world’s obscenely wealthy. The reconfigured Airbus A319 includes, for instance, 10 private suites that slide fully shut, fully lie-flat beds and 32-inch flat screen TVs.

Emirates Executive Private Suites

A large shower and spa features heated floors, marble accents, all-natural skincare products and luxury toiletries from Bulgari.

Emirates Executive shower spa

The main salon can likewise be configured to guests’ needs, be it as a business center for videoconferencing and high-powered meetings, or as a comfortable living space courtesy of the mechanically-activated table, two 42-inch LCD screens, and two sofas.

Emirates Executive lounge

Other amenities include 1,500 channels of on-demand entertainment, high-speed internet and mobile phone connectivity, and an in-flight menu that offers guests a fine dining experience at up to 35,000 feet in the air.

Emirates Executive dining area

The luxury jet can accommodate up to 19 guests. The private charter service flies to most locations worldwide, and extends beyond the carrier’s network.

Emirates luxury private jet service

The launch of a private jet service comes in response to increasing demand from markets in the Middle East, Europe, India, Russia and China, says the carrier.

Airbus A319 aircraft

Miranda Kerr returns as face of Mango

Mango Fall Winter 2013

The Australian model has returned as the face of the Spanish brand for Fall-Winter 2013. The latest round of images were shot by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

The New York City skyline was used as a backdrop to the punky and oriental-influenced collection. Styling duties were carried out by Géraldine Saglio, while Lisa Butler took care of makeup, and famously non-conformist punk stylist Christiaan was in charge of hair.

“The clothing is especially fun this season with a punk-inspired edge,” added Miranda: “I loved that Inez and Vinoodh kept the look of the campaign very raw and natural and I think it complements the collection very well. They did a fantastic job, as always!”

Previous faces of the Mango brand include Kate Moss, Isabeli Fontana, Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz, Milla Jovovich, and Naomi Campbell.

Mango Miranda Kerr Blazer

First ‘Twitter experience’ hotel opens in Mallorca

Sol Wave House Majorca

The Sol Wave House in Majorca has launched an experiment for their guests — a demographic made up mostly of young party-seekers — that tries to create a virtual community through Twitter.

Using the hashtag #SocialWave which is available from the hotel’s wifi, guests enter a virtual chatroom where they can interact, chat, share photos and send their best pick-up lines in 140 characters or less.

Two Twitter “concierges” have also been hired to answer their guest requests via Twitter and generate conversation in the community.

Want to meet the guest with whom you’ve been exchanging those steamy one-liners? Arrange to meet at the #TwitterPoolParty held every Friday at the hotel.

But the concept of a Twitter hotel is getting mixed reviews, with some pointing out that the idea of being constantly attached to a smartphone defeats the purpose of a relaxing holiday and unplugging from the virtual world.

The top 10 chocoholic countries

Swiss Chocolate

Switzerland is home to the most devoted chocoholics in the world, where per capita consumption averaged about 12 kg in 2012, according to Confectionerynews.com. Rounding out the list of top chocolate-consuming countries are Ireland, the UK, Austria and Belgium. The US falls in at No. 15.

Given that chocolate is considered a small luxury, it’s no wonder that the majority of the top 20 countries boast a large middle class population with higher disposable incomes than the rest of the developing world, the report points out.

Meanwhile, though it doesn’t come close to cracking the top 20 list, India has emerged as the fastest-growing market for chocolate, with sales doubling from $418 million in 2008 to $857 million in 2011.

Per capita consumption in India was 70 g in 2011. But as pointed out by market research group Mintel, that just means potential for growth is high in this booming economy, where the appetite for premium, luxury goods shows strong growth.

Where the sweet stuff is having difficulty making inroads, however, is China, a country where palates are more accustomed to salty, savory foods over sweets.

The average Chinese eats a modest 100 g of chocolate a year — or the equivalent of two chocolate bars. Growth in the market is also projected to increase a lukewarm 10 percent to 2015.

While chocolate is an everyday treat in the Western world, chocolate makers like Italy’s Ferrero Rocher and Belgian brand Godiva are pitching the confectionery as a premium product ideal for gift giving.

Here are the Top 10 chocolate-consuming countries in 2012 – based on per capita consumption

1. Switzerland 11.9 kg
2. Ireland 9.9 kg
3. UK 9.5 kg
4. Austria 8.8 kg
5. Belgium 8.3 kg
6. Germany 8.2 kg
7. Norway 8 kg
8. Denmark 7.5 kg
9. Canada 6.4 kg
10. France 6.3 kg

melted chocolate