W Hotels Unveils Extreme Wow Suite in Sao Paulo

W Hotels Worldwide unveiled a new “Extreme Wow Suite,” designed by Jouin Manku, the architectural firm of Paris-based designer Patrick Jouin and his associate Sanjit Manku. An interpretation of the conventional hotel Presidential Suite, the “Extreme Wow Suite” has been a part of W Hotels vernacular since the brand was founded in 1998. To further emphasize the importance of innovation and design, W Hotels engaged Jouin Manku to design a forward-looking, innovative lifestyle experience created in a three-dimensional installation. The “Extreme Wow Suite” will be unveiled this week at the Instituto Tomie Ohtake in Sao Paolo, Brazil as part of a special touring exhibition entitled “Le Paris de Patrick Jouin.”

The W Hotels “Extreme Wow Suite” will be featured in the context of an art museum, providing a work-of-art-in-progress feel, as opposed to a polished model room. The installation is draft-like in that certain elements are refined and reworked to a sophisticated finish, emphasized by the use of color, lighting, texture and materials, while others remain in development, outlined softly in white, giving the impression of a three-dimensional sketch or an evolving project in motion.

As “The Year of France in Brazil” celebrations continue this year, Jouin has been asked to exhibit his designs at the launch in Sao Paulo. The event will include a rich and diverse sample of Jouin’s projects over the past 10 years, including more than 150 objects from 50 different projects created in collaboration with manufacturers and designers all over the world. “Le Paris de Patrick Jouin” will run from July 29 to Sept. 27, 2009, at the Instituto Tomie Ohtake, a non-profit organization showcasing visual arts, architecture and design. The exhibition will then travel to soon-to-be-announced key international destinations in Europe and Asia.

W Hotels will soon debut in South America with the opening of W Santiago, slated to open this August. Developed by The Territoria Group and with interiors by international designer Tony Chi, W Santiago will feature a Whiskey Blue, from nightlife entrepreneurs Rande Gerber and Scott Gerber; signature W lounge experience; Osaka, featuring a menu of Peruvian-Asian cuisine by Chef Ciro Watanabe; NoSo and Terrasur, Mediterranean restaurants by Chef Jean-Paul Bondoux; a Tea Library; a lively Wine Bar; and W Hotels The Store, W’s hotel gift shop. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

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OpenSkies Suspends New York-Amsterdam Service

OpenSkies, the British Airways-owned business-class carrier, is suspending its service between Amsterdam and New York starting Aug. 16, and will refocus its efforts on the Paris-New York route. Customers of OpenSkies who currently hold tickets for the Amsterdam-New York route will receive the choice of either the opportunity to travel on British Airways via London or a refund. A spokesman for British Airways, which owns OpenSkies, said that the New York-Paris routes are doing very well. There have been some European press reports that BA is considering selling the carrier, but the BA spokesman said that it has said nothing about selling OpenSkies. OpenSkies was created by BA originally to serve cities on the continent with business-class service. It later acquired L’Avion, another business class carrier that offered Paris-Newark service. For more information, call 866-581-3596 or visit www.flyopenskies.com.

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Delta New 125,000 Qualifying Mile Top Tier… Unimpressive.

It’s been all over the media since yesterday, but Delta is introducing a new fourth tier to their elite program. It’s been mentioned before, but now there are details. And I should say it’s at least been as all over the media as elite status issues get!

One Mile at a Time has a rundown. The new level, Diamond, clocks in at 125,000 elite qualifying miles. That’s not as daunting as it sounds when you can get more than halfway there with credit card spend if you’re a high enough volume charger and use the right cards.

The biggest benefit is that Diamonds are ahead of Platinums for upgrades. With a low top tier of only 75,000 qualifying miles, with plenty of non-flying methods of earning qualifying miles, and with a huge combined Delta/Northwest route network there are simply too many Platinums. I’m a Northwest Platinum this year via status match (and will requalify for mid-tier at least without trying, I won’t make Diamond, so this decision makes it less likely that I’ll go for Platinum). I’ve actually been #26 on the upgrade waitlist after everyone else clears. That’s somewhat a function of the DC market where government fares book into Y and full fare buckets are eligible for upgrade on Delta ahead of status consideratoin. But it’s also an indication of how many elites they have now. The new higher tier will properly re-align the upgrade pecking order. Though I do hope they upgrade Diamonds on mid-tier fares ahead of Silvers on cheap government full fares.

The next big benefit of the tier that has been announced so far is lounge membership. Delta used to provide this gratis to Platinums. And it’s included in the premium Delta Reserve American Express, which is one way to earn qualifying miles. I wonder whether Delta will offer a fee reduction to Diamonds with that card, or a pro-rated refund to those members who have paid for lounge access but receive it free under this new elite benefit? At a minimum they should offer something else to Diamonds who have the Reserve card.

Diamonds will earn 125% of flown miles, what Platinums earned through the end of last year.

Finally, there are going to be two ‘choice’ benefits - something that already exists (’extra perks’) for Platinums flying beyond the required threshold to retain status. The particulars of what those choices are bonus miles, club passes, gifting lower tier status (Platinums gift Silver, Diamonds gift Gold), a retail gift card, or systemwide upgrades. Sadly, those upgrades are still as bad as they were before. They’re confirming when upgrade space is available on only the highest fares — Y, B, or M internationally and K fares or above domestically. The new innovation is that they’re usable day of departure, so elites wishing to use a certificate to upgrade internationally (and presumably who are on a high enough fare to qualify) won’t sit in the back while seats go out empty or go to nonrevs.

Delta has announced rollover qualifying miles, where extra miles earned beyond status ‘roll over’ to the next qualifying year to give the member a head start requalifying. That’s a great innovation, it gives members a real incentive to keep flying even after they’ve stretched to requalify for their status.

Ultimately the 125,000 mile level is all about being ahead of Platinums for upgrades. The actual benefits - as announced so far - are nothing particularly exciting. Both United and American offer more to their 100,000 mile flyers than Delta appears to be offering to their 125,000 mile flyers. That’s no real surprise. United and American offer their top tier elites confirmed upgrades at booking both domestically and internationally with most fares qualifying. Delta’s confirmed elite upgrade intruments are next to useless. I’ve often found paid discounted business class on other carriers for the price of upgradeable coach on Delta. It’s truly sorry that Delta failed to address the confirmed upgrade deficiency relative to United and American. Their top tier just still is not competitive.

Of course, Delta miles are also worth less than those of most competing carriers. So the redeemable miles side remains deficient. At the 125,000 mile level one could wish (in a snap your fingers and you have a pony sort of way) that they’d offer guaranteed redemption the way that Air Canada does for its 100,000 mile members — redeem the standard miles for business class even on any Air Canada flight. Delta just isn’t that rewarding, of course, and likely never will be.

W Hotels Unveils New W South Beach

W Hotels Worldwide announced the grand opening of W South Beach and The Residences at W South Beach, the W brand’s 31st hotel property. Owned and developed by Tristar Capital and RFR Realty and executed on behalf of ownership by Related of New York, W South Beach features 408 W-branded residences, including Ocean Suites, Beach Bungalows, and the signature Extreme WOW suite (W’s reinterpretation of the presidential suite); Wall, an exclusive bar and ultra-lounge operated in partnership with Miami nightlife impresarios and restaurateurs; celebrity dining hotspot Mr. Chow; Soleà, the signature restaurant serving contemporary Mediterranean cuisine; Grove, an outdoor garden; Bliss, New York’s spa, arriving in Miami for the first time; Wet, with two alluring pools and stylish cabanas; more than 10,000 square feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space; Sweat fitness center; basketball court; tennis court; and W Hotels The Store, the W brand’s twist on the traditional hotel gift shop.

The unique design of the building positions rooms on a 25-degree angle, providing guests with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. The W Living Room (W’s take on the traditional hotel lobby) has been designed by Anna Busta and features artwork from noted collector Aby Rosen’s private collection. Strongly influenced by art deco elements, the Living Room features sleek floors inlaid with bronze and wood with a terrazzo border and a row of white quartzite columns set against a soaring 120-foot-long marble wall. Furnishings create intimate conversation areas throughout the space, including tufted leather ottomans, sofas imported from Italy, velvet curtains in eggplant purple, modern white and gray sofas complemented by oversized, inlaid horn tables, armchairs covered in white pony or slate velvet, and white pony rugs splashed with gold paint. A 20-foot-high beaded curtain set off by glass walls ushers guests into the W Living Room Bar, offering views of the Wet pool deck and the hotel’s lush garden known as the Grove. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

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Volaris Launches First International Service at LAX Published on: July 6, 2009

Volaris Airlines, Mexico’s leading low-fare air carrier, has launched its first international service at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with daily non-stop service to Toluca and Guadalajara, Mexico, with flights operating from Terminal 2. Using a modern fleet of Airbus A320s, Volaris offers air travelers an on-time and baggage policy, more service options and value for travel to Mexico. Since its inception three years ago, Volaris has transported more than 8 million customers to 21 cities in Mexico and has received awards for its high customer satisfaction and on-board services. The Volaris aircraft average only 2.5 years old. For more information, visit www.volaris.com.mx.

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