Month: February 2023

Megha Sharma from The CEO Magazine – Reports

From boutique developments nestled atop mountains to charming estates finding a spot in bustling neighborhoods, these are the upcoming hotels to consider for your next Europe-bound vacation.It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that any traveler in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a vacation in the rolling hills and turquoise beach towns of Europe.

And this year, with a range of hotels opening their doors to visitors from across the world, the holiday spots to choose from are many. We round up a few that made our list.

Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Located amidst the idyllic Swiss Alps in Crans-Montana, this property is reminiscent of fairy tales. The champagne skiing, mountain biking trails, paragliding, watersports, horseback or on-foot trekking, plus a range of other adventure activities, make it a must-visit spot for thrill-seekers. But that’s not all.

The culture devotees should take note that Crans-Montana is famous for its rich history and cultural heritage. In the old towns nearby, you can enjoy traditional Swiss architecture and a plethora of museums, art galleries, historic churches and monuments.

Besides this, a few winning features of the hotel are that it’s sun-soaked 300 days a year, houses a heated rooftop pool and offers the slope-side mountain living that sparks joy.

Bvlgari Roma, Rome, Italy
Italy is a melting pot of style and culture — and the Bvlgari establishment in Rome captures the spirit of both.

The highly anticipated luxury hotel boasts a sleek and modern design, staying true to the aesthetics of the brand. Its prime location in the heart of the Campo Marzio neighborhood, in close proximity to the Spanish Steps, the Bvlgari flagship store and Via Del Corso, add to its appeal.

It goes without saying that the property also boasts luxurious amenities, including more than 100 suites, a private spa, an indoor pool, a library dedicated to the history of jewelry as well as the prestigious Il Ristorante curated by Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito and The Bulgari Bar. The rooftop will offer sweeping views of the city.

COMO Le Montrachet Burgundy, France
COMO Le Montrachet offers an upscale experience in Burgundy – a French region known for its green landscapes, historical architecture and world-renowned red wines.

Surrounded by vineyards and wineries, the estate is an ideal holiday destination for food and wine aficionados, while also being a great escape from the city life. A case in point is the Shambhala retreat, a first-of-its-kind in the country, offering Tibetan Buddhist wellness treatments.

Set within four heritage buildings spread around a historical village square, COMO Le Montrachet offers luxury amenities, a huge gastronomic scene and a range of cultural experiences.

To top it all off, allow the hotel’s sommelier to guide you through the best wine selections from the region.

100 Princes Street Edinburgh, Scotland
With a design that honors the adventures of great Scottish explorers, this hotel offers a truly immersive experience to guests in the heart of a heritage city.

You can select delicious offerings from a curated menu that boasts rare libations, time-honored classics, delectable cocktails, exclusively hand-crafted spirits and Scotland’s “liquid gold”, before calling it a day at the fireside with a splendid view of Edinburgh Castle.

Inspired by Alexander McQueen, the design team at 100 Princes Street worked with local artisans to create bespoke pieces for the interiors. At the same time, the facade of the building adds to the charm of the striking architecture you’re privileged to witness in the locale.

One&Only Aesthesis Athens, Greece
Housed in a beautifully restored neoclassical building, which dates back to the early 20th century, One&Only Aesthesis is set to find favor among travelers who seek culture, quiet and seashores.

The hotel’s exclusive beachfront makes it a summer paradise, while its strategic location makes it a peaceful home just a few minutes away from the buzzing city.

Apart from several other luxury offerings, another winning feature is the Chenot Spa that combines science-based health and beauty expertise with alternative therapies.

The OWO Raffles London, England
A trip to Buckingham Palace, the British Museum and the like is the norm when visiting the English capital. The OWO Raffles is a stone’s throw away from many such significant sites, halving your hectic tube journeys on a relaxing vacation. However, that’s not why it’s one of the most sought-after hotels opening their doors this year.

The property’s elegant interior design, with luxurious furnishings and a refined decor, has a timeless appeal – something that is further enhanced by the cutting-edge amenities guests have access to.
These range from a Guerlain Spa with nine treatment rooms offering traditional beauty therapies to several restaurants and bars overseen by world-class chefs.

Apart from being an ideal holiday abode for tourists, it’s also suitable for business travelers and those attending events and weddings set to be hosted on the premises.

Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park, Amsterdam, Netherlands
If you’re visiting the Dutch capital, chances are that its range of museums, vintage stores, picturesque canals and lush parks will demand most of the space in your itinerary. But the soon-to-open Pillows Maurits is nestled snugly inside Oosterpark – a site you would spend a sunny afternoon at, in any case.

With the entire city just a few short walks or tram rides away and a calming yet lively ambience right at the doorstep, the property’s location offers the best of both worlds.

As for the indoors, the boutique hotel features a contemporary design with pops of artwork and color, luxurious rooms and suites with windows framing the green outdoors, an urban spa, authentic French and Italian cuisine and much more.

La Fantaisie Paris, France
If you visited Paris and didn’t observe either a stunning skyline or a bustling neighborhood from your French balconette, did you even visit Paris at all?

La Fantaisie, situated in the ninth arrondissement, has many such spaces that open onto beautiful Parisian streets, cityscapes and courtyards.

The property’s serene garden and spacious rooftop bar will make it stand out among sociable travelers, while the garden inspired spa offerings will make it a favored spot among those who look for a slower, calmer experience.

Son Bunyola Hotel Mallorca, Spain
British billionaire Richard Branson is all set to open his first luxury hotel in Spain. The establishment is restoring a historic finca – dating back to the 15th century.

With two restaurants, lounges, three private villas and outdoor dining terraces that overlook rolling hills and valleys, Son Bunyola promises to be a sight to behold and a luxury experience to revere.

Largely sustainable, it is utilizing traditional and local materials for the design and architecture; something that gives it an old-world charm, yet allows for guests’ modern-day requirements.

Hotel Vermelho Melides, Portugal
Culture and creativity come together at the newest offering in Portugal’s under-discovered beach town.

For those looking to travel slow and experience collected art, antique Portuguese furniture and treasured seasonal recipes, Hotel Vermelho will be the place to consider. Stationed on the Alentejo Coast, the village of Melides offers a view of the Atlantic Ocean, quiet cobbled streets waiting to be explored, vineyards and rice fields to chance upon and a lot more.

Offsetting the tranquil charm of its location are the hotel’s high-end amenities that cater to visitors’ ever-evolving lifestyle needs.

Michael Wayne of the CEO Magazine – Reports

Experience unparalleled luxury at sea aboard the revolutionary new Scenic Eclipse II.

The luxury cruise industry is making a comeback by offering innovative, one-of-a-kind experiences at sea. One of the sector’s pioneers, Scenic, is set to reinvent the wheel yet again with a six-star ultra-luxury breakthrough. Some of the highest benchmarks in ultra-luxury travel have been set at sea. Five-star hotels and high-end travelers alike often look to the ocean for the latest innovations in luxuriant accommodation. The ultra-luxury cruise sector in particular has done the lion’s share when it comes to setting such an example, and a standout among that exclusive set is Scenic.

Since its inception nearly four decades ago, the Australian-founded company has been laser-focused on every detail of the guest experience. This has enabled Scenic to raise the standards of service, technology and all-inclusive ultra-luxury of the cruise industry to new heights.

Micro-innovations don’t send shockwaves through the sector, but they do make ripples that over time become waves. Scenic’s founders, Glen and Karen Moroney, have always believed that “true luxury is in the details”, and it’s these details that have shaped customer expectations and set what Scenic guests expect of a voyage on board Scenic Eclipse.

The Evolution of Ultra-luxury
Given the company’s impressive resume when it comes to ultra-luxury cruises and its Discovery Yachts, it may come as a surprise to learn that Scenic first took to the water in 2006, when it began to charter ships along the waterways of Europe.

After running river ships in Europe’s waterways for two years, Scenic’s owner decided to make the radical move to bring its ship design in-house. Thus, Scenic was able to create a fleet of 13 Space-Ships in seven years, and made it much easier to implement changes and redesigns that came as a result of guest feedback.

Scenic Eclipse II is really built from the bottom up to operate in the most extreme environments in the world.” – James Griffiths In fact, many of the innovations that set Scenic apart in the cruise industry have come from its customers. The introduction of Scenic’s sun lounge on its Space-Ships in Europe, for instance, is exemplary of Scenic’s dedication to opening up the world to its guests.

By combining sliding glass windows with guest balconies, Scenic provided a way for guests to enjoy Europe’s historic cities and towns passing by their suites with the touch of a button, no matter the weather. Scenic’s comprehensive range of on-board culinary experiences offer guests diversity of choice and round-the-clock dining in stark contrast to the usual cruise buffets.

A Commitment to Continuous Innovation
These improvements quickly set a formidable benchmark for Scenic’s five-star luxury river cruises, but it was the advent of the Scenic Eclipse in 2018 that elevated the company into a class of its own. The list of features boasted by the six-star ultra-luxury Scenic Eclipse almost reads like a rebuke to an industry that had become very set in its ways and happy to embrace expectations.

For starters, its 114 sophisticated suites, each with personalized butler service, allows for only 228 guests, creating a close to 1:1 ratio of guests-to-staff and a sense of exclusivity that shatters any assumptions of thousands of fellow travelers crowding the deck.

Everything else comes together to maintain the truly all-inclusive six-star ultra-luxury experience Scenic has worked hard to pioneer. Scenic Eclipse II will be the newest and most modern ultra-luxury expedition ship operating in remote East Antarctica and the Ross Sea region.” – Claudius Docekal

Scenic Eclipse is outfitted with a 550-meter-squared Senses Spa, featuring a full-bodied assortment of wellness treatments, including a dedicated Pilates and yoga studio; a specially designed marina for ease of boarding and accessing warm water activities; state-of-the-art GPS Dynamic Positioning, which spares sensitive seabeds from damaging anchor drops; and custom-built stabilizers to ensure greater stability and comfort.

But a standout feature, and one that best encapsulates Scenic’s sense of adventure, would have to be the range of elevated discovery options. While many cruises are known as floating hotels for a reason, Scenic Eclipse offers a truly amazing variety of ways for guests to explore beyond the bow.

Those looking to develop their sea legs can take a stand-up paddle board or kayak, or go exploring by Zodiac with the Scenic Discovery team, while a custom-designed submersible, Scenic Neptune, makes possible dives of up to 200 meters below deck for up to eight guests at a time.

To really get the most from Scenic’s destinations, Scenic Eclipse includes two Airbus H130-T2 helicopters for air excursions. As exciting as it is to see the world from above, this option takes on a new dimension in the polar regions.

A Seagoing Triumph
Never wanting to waste an opportunity, Scenic’s owners took the lessons learned from Scenic Eclipse’s first three years at sea and poured them into the company’s latest seagoing triumph – Scenic Eclipse II. This exciting new addition to the Scenic fleet will sail the seas of the Mediterranean, Arctic and Antarctic Peninsula before being based in the Southern Hemisphere. There, it will cruise the Kimberley, South Pacific and the seldom-explored East Antarctica and Ross Sea regions.

“Scenic Eclipse II will be the newest and most modern ultra-luxury expedition ship operating in these remote regions, setting the benchmark in providing once-in-a-lifetime journeys for our guests,” says Claudius Docekal, Scenic’s Vice President of Ocean Deployment.

“We’ve introduced these new voyages in response to the demand for exclusive destination experiences in the polar regions.”

“She’s able to go places that the absolute vast majority of cruise ships are unable to visit.” – James Griffiths

Built to the very highest standards, Scenic Eclipse II is the latest realization of Scenic’s vision of the ultimate ultra-luxury discovery and expedition ship. It is by design a Polar Class 6 vessel, meaning it can traverse the brisk waters of the poles with relative ease. This also makes an incredible 357 ports available to Scenic Eclipse II once it makes its inaugural journey from Lisbon to Barcelona in April 2023.

The ship’s list of features, which eclipses even its predecessor, makes it one of the most innovative ships to sail the world’s polar regions. The spirit of total inclusivity is alive and well from port to stern, meaning guests can achieve total relaxation knowing every element of their journey is in the most capable of hands.

“Scenic Eclipse II is really built from the bottom up to operate in the most extreme environments in the world and includes all the latest technologies available,” says James Griffiths, Scenic’s Vice President of Marine Operations and Captain of Scenic Eclipse II.

“She’s able to go places that the absolute vast majority of cruise ships are unable to visit. She really is the ultimate ultra-luxury yacht to cruise in regions around the world.”

A model of Scenic Eclipse II sits on a table in Griffiths’s office, perched on a transparent stand. The Captain gazes at the gleaming hull, the miniature decks, the compact stern. He considers the tiny approximation of the bridge he’ll soon make his workplace, and wonders what lies ahead.

Kevin Koenig from Robb Report – Reports

The hulking 380-ton Soviet aircraft, neglected for decades, signals the end of an era. But the next generation of ekranoplans could be used for luxury civilian transport.

Two years ago, Russian authorities pulled a “sea monster” from a remote military pier on the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water. But this was no legendary Nessie swimming the depths of Loch Ness, but a 302-foot Lun-class ekranoplan. This hybrid boat-aircraft, built during the Cold War, weighed 380 tons, with a 148-foot wingspan and 340-mph top speed.

The military aircraft, designed to attack NATO nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, entered service in 1987 and was decommissioned when the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s. Since then, the Lun-class craft has spent three decades hidden away at a naval base on the Caspian Sea before being transported to a beach for eventual placement in a local maritime museum.

https://youtu.be/3VOzKuEhrMY
This was not the first of the gigantic ekranoplans devised by the Soviets. KM was developed in the 1960s and went into service in 1966. The largest aircraft at the time, the 340-footer had a reported top speed of 311 mph; some said it was closer 460 mph. Because it flew so low, it could not be detected by radar. Despite its speed and stealth powers, it was never used as a weapon of war. KM crashed in 1980 because of an inexperienced pilot at the throttles. It remains at the bottom of the Caspian Sea.

While the two failed ekranoplans sealed the fate of the giant Caspian Sea Monsters, the Russians recently announced a smaller 12-person version—nicknamed the “Little Sea Monster”—for civilian use. Other militaries and private companies in the US, Russia, China and Singapore are also experimenting with the ground-effect design.

The only model of the Soviet-made Lun-class ekranoplan is pictured on the shore of the Caspian sea near Derbent, in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia. This is the only rocket ekranoplane in the world, and it is planned to be the main exhibit of the branch of the Patriot Park in the southern military district. The ekranoplan was designed to fight aircraft carriers-unnoticed by radar, it could approach the ship at a distance of precise launch of the anti-ship missile “Mosquito”.

Positioned somewhere between a boat and aircraft, the ekranoplan does not fly like a conventional aircraft. It is a ground-effect vehicle that travels between six and 20 feet off the water. Ground effect is a phenomenon in which an aircraft’s lift increases and its drag decreases as the wings come in close contact with the ground. The air and pressure distortions can be a bane to airplane pilots, who sometimes feel their planes gliding along farther than intended during landing.

But the Soviets figured out a way to harness this natural cushion of air to create something practical, or so they thought. As tactical equipment, at least on paper, the giant ekranoplans are brilliant. They can take off vertically like a helicopter, hold as many troops as a ship, and fly as fast as an aeroplane. But the Sea Monsters never really achieved the objective of being fast, undetectable craft that could sink NATO warships. Rough weather and big seas prevented safe flights.

The market for ekranoplans is being revived—sort of. Last year, Russia announced it was selling six smaller ekranoplans to Iran for unspecified purposes, while a second Russian manufacturer recently said it had designed a 12-person ground-effect craft for civilian use.

Could there be a jump into the luxury market? That’s certainly what Singapore’s Wigetworks is planning with its Airfish 8. The craft is designed to carry eight passengers while soaring above water at 120 mph.

Regent also sees potential in the ekranoplan market, but in a much smaller envelope than the hulking Soviet warship. The US firm recently launched an unmanned, quarter-scale version of its Seaglider, the world’s first electric ekranoplan, which it is touting as a new means of coastal transportation.

Eventually, Regent plans to launch the 12-person Viceroy, with a 180-nautical mile range and top speed of 170 mph. The company says it plans to begin testing the full-scale craft later this year.

Image: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Li Cohen from Yahoo News – Reports

Bill Gates, one of the world’s richest people, is a staunch advocate for the fight against climate change – but he also frequently uses a private jet, which has led to questions about authenticity when it comes to his activism. Now, Gates has come under fire for his response when asked last week if his jet use makes him a hypocrite.

In an interview published last week, Gates spoke with BBC journalist Amol Rajan, who asked the Microsoft co-founder, “What do you say to the charge that if you are a climate change campaigner, but you also travel around the world on a private jet, you’re a hypocrite?”

Gates was quick to defend his actions, saying he’s “not part of the problem.”
“I buy the gold standard of funding Climeworks to do direct air capture that far exceeds my family’s carbon footprint and I spend billions of dollars on climate innovation,” he said.

Gates has been fairly open about his private plane, saying on Reddit nearly a decade ago that “owning a plane is a guilty pleasure.” According to aircraft charter broker Private Jet Charter, Gates has four private jets, a seaplane and a helicopter, although CBS News has not confirmed this information.
“Warren Buffett called his the Indefensible. I do get to a lot of places for Foundation work I wouldn’t be able to go to without it,” he said, saying a year later that it’s his “big splurge.”

Climeworks says it uses technology to “capture carbon dioxide directly from the air” and place it in underground storage.

But this method of offsetting carbon emissions isn’t yet as refined as it needs to be, according to the International Energy Agency. As of last year, there are just 18 small-scale DAC plants across the U.S., Europe and Canada. And right now, according to the IEA, the process for direct air capture “is more energy intensive and therefore expensive than capturing it from a point source,” a process that entails capturing CO2 emissions from something like an industrial facility so that it doesn’t get emitted in the first place.
Commercial and large business jets contribute 10% of U.S. transportation emissions and make up 3% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, citing the EPA.

And according to the World Resource Institute, while direct air capture is a positive tool in helping reduce the amount of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, the reduction of fossil fuel use in the first place is just as, if not more important.

“Scientists indicate we will need both faster emissions reduction and carbon removal,” the institute says, “and the amount of carbon removal needed is inversely proportional to how deeply we are able to cut emissions.”
Still, Gates, said, “Should I stay at home and not come to Kenya and learn about farming and malaria?” referring to his trip to the African nation in January to learn about changing farming practices amid climate change.
“I’m comfortable with the idea that not only am I not part of the problem by paying for the offsets,” he said, “but also through the billions that my Breakthrough Energy group is spending that I’m part of the solution.”
Gates’ Breakthrough Energy is an initiative started to help accelerate technology and innovation to help tackle the climate crisis through five “grand challenges” – manufacturing, electricity, agriculture, transportation and buildings. According to a December report by Reuters, Gates has invested more than $2 billion toward climate technologies.

Gates, who was listed as the world’s fourth-richest person in Forbes last year with a net worth of $129 billion, has been questioned about his private jet usage before. On “60 Minutes” in 2021, Anderson Cooper asked the billionaire if he’s “the right messenger” in climate activism.
“You fly private planes a lot. And you’re creating a lot of greenhouse gases yourself,” Cooper pointed out.

Gates responded, “Yeah. I probably have one of the highest greenhouse gas footprints on the planet. … My personal flying alone is gigantic.”
But, he added that he’s “spending quite a bit” to use plant-based aviation fuel. He also said that he uses an electric car and solar panels, as well as spends about $7 million a year to offset his carbon footprint.

AZ Big Media – Reports

Owning a jet is a luxury, of course. But while it may be a significant investment upfront, private jet ownership can significantly boost your business operations—particularly if you’re a C-suite executive in any sized company. In the short run, you and your immediate sphere of influence get a massive quality-of-life increase when you own a jet. In the long run: your bottom line’s potential is the moon.

The experts at Paradise Jets say private jet ownership can be the difference between a struggling executive and a well-oiled business machine. We sat down with them to talk about the three main benefits behind owning your own jet and how it can improve your (and your company’s) life.

Reason #1: Time
It’s an age-old question: how long should you arrive at the airport before a commercial flight? The jury will forever be out on this one, but the industry consensus recommends travelers arrive about two hours before their departure. For a daily round- trip, that’s four hours of dead time, and that doesn’t include travel to and from airports to business locations.

Imagine what you could do with that time.

As a private jet owner, your flight is beholden to a single passenger: you. While you can’t eliminate all downtime for things like travel time, crew preparations and pre-flight checks, the amount of time saved is astronomical.

Reason #2: Operational Productivity
With thousands of airports available for private planes in the United States, jet ownership means the world for efficiency and productivity. With your own jet, you’ll be able to:

• Land closer to your business destination
• Eliminate crowds and lines
• Significantly reduce transportation wait times
• Remove anxiety about lost luggage, delays or security issues

Put simply, flying private gets rid of the frustrating minutia that comes with commercial flight. You’ll waste less energy on hoop-jumping and save it for things that really move the needle (and save your business money).

Reason #3: Privacy andPower
Few things put you out of your comfort zone faster than being crammed in a metal tube with 100 other travelers for hours at a time. Getting work done on a mobile device is made infinitely harder and mid-flight phone calls are entirely out of the question, especially if your business is confidential.

Owning a jet puts all that behind you. Not only do you gain the freedom and flexibility to work and relax freely about your cabin in-flight, but you also never need to suspend the comfort that supports your emotional confidence. That “home-field” feeling that empowers C-suite executives to command the room? You’ll always have it when you step off your private jet.