In this post:
New IHG Kimpton Algarve
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced its first Kimpton Hotel in Portugal, with the signing of Kimpton Algarve São Rafael Atlántico. The hotel is expected to open in 2025 offering 149 guest rooms and multiple restaurants and bars. The hotel will also offer a rounded wellness experience, with indoor and outdoor pools, a gym and a full-service spa. The interior design concept takes its inspiration from the area’s natural and cultural surroundings, including orange groves, azueljos (tin-glazed tileworks) and ceramics.
The beachfront hotel is located steps from Sao Rafael beach, one of the top ten beaches in the Algarve framed by limestone cliffs, and a short distance from Albufeira – a lively and historic resort town on the coastline with whitewashed houses, 18th century churches, shops and bars.
Mrs Willemijn Geels, VP Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “What a milestone to be able to sign our first Kimpton property in Portugal. We have focussed on building our presence in the country, especially in the Luxury & Lifestyle segment with our recently opened first Vignette Collection hotels in Lisbon and Porto which complement our three existing InterContinental properties and a Six Senses in Douro Valley. This signing shows the confidence that owners have in our Luxury & Lifestyle expertise, market knowledge and enterprise, as well as the appetite that guests have for the Kimpton brand. It promises to be a stunning hotel and we look forward to welcoming our first guests in 2025.”
IHG operates 19 open hotels across six brands in Portugal, including Six Senses, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.
New British Airways Concorde Room quiet area
I recently wrote about how the two “Forty Winks” areas had had the beds removed and, in the Galleries First lounge at Heathrow, been given a rather odd mix of tables and chairs with dim lighting. As I said before, why anyone wants to eat or work in dim lighting, I have no idea. I had thought maybe this was temporary while they changed the furniture for more comfortable seating to relax or made the lighting less dim.
However, having now been sent some pictures by my friend Marek, who often does some great photos for TLFL, I think that this weird combination is deliberate.
The chairs are mini booths similar to those already installed in the work area near the terrace in the Concorde room. However, these don’t have power points built in, but there is a power point by at least two of the chairs, which is much needed in the Concorde Room.
I welcome places to work in a quiet area without people looking at your screen, but it does look like a rather odd arrangement of furniture, and it is still quite dark. The tables appear pretty small if you want to use a mouse with your laptop or have some papers next to it.
Emirates’s crew use Apple devices to enhance customer experience
Emirates has launched a new strategy called ‘One Device’ with all 20,000 Emirates Cabin Crew receiving an iPhone 13 or iPad Air configured with custom Emirates apps to improve and streamline passenger service onboard. BA cabin crew already have iPhones for this purpose.
Emirates has already invested more than AED 32 million into the initiative and began giving out Apple devices one year ago. Today, more than 7,000 Emirates crew members use iPhone across 450 daily flights in the global network. In the coming months, an additional 5,000 cabin crew will receive iPhone and iPad featuring new apps and features.
Custom-built applications include an app to improve the inflight meal order-taking process in Business Class, and allowing cabin crew to see each passenger’s profile and Skywards status. Another app ensures cabin crew can access up-to-the-minute roster and flight information, view seat changes and upgrades, and an overview of which cabin crew are onboard. By providing a 360-degree view of passengers, Emirates cabin crew can access critical real-time information and are equipped with the tools to personalise the customer’s experience, even providing information such as dining and drinks preferences and onboard loungewear sizes – if used on prior flights.
