The Hyatt Hotels Corporation, parent company of the Hyatt range of hotels, is finally venturing into the boutique segment, trailing on the heels of Hilton, Marriott and Starwood. Travelers who shun the cookie-cutter hotel experience, where rooms are decorated to be as inoffensive as possible in varying shades of beige and black, may want to look up properties in Hyatt’s newly launched brand which curates historic landmarks, boutique hotels, resorts and contemporary properties around the world. Dubbed “The Unbound Collection by Hyatt,” the new portfolio is targeted towards modern travelers who seek unique experiences, says Hyatt. That means properties that may boast an historic past, an exclusive location, innovative design or an award-winning dining experience. So far, properties in the collection include the Hotel du Louvre in Paris; The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas; the Carmelo Resort & Spa in Uruguay; and the Coco Palm Resort in Kauai, Hawaii. Hyatt is playing catch-up in the hotel industry, which has seen its fair share of behemoth hotel groups try and edge their way into the boutique hotel market.
Truefitt & Hill—An exclusive men’s salon—has found a unique way to lead the celebrations this Women’s Day. The British barbershop is welcoming women for some exclusive services. Truefitt & Hill, which has been serving men for over two centuries will now give women a leisure session with a sneak-peek into their restricted zone across all its centres. The exclusive services to be offered include a rejuvenating head to toe massage to give the ladies a break from the hustle bustle of everyday life, apart from the brand’s signature Royal and Classic manicure and pedicure. We’re all for the pampering, ladies just go ahead.
Combining the love of fragrances and automobiles, luxury car manufacturer Bentley has launched the Infinite Rush fragrance, which captures the celebrated luxury and exceptional performance of Bentley’s new SUV. Embodying the spirit of the modern adventurer, Infinite Rush is a tribute to the man who enjoys challenges and thrills. According to the makers, a man who applies this fragrance is the one who explores the unknown and is fascinated by extreme instances such as driving the brand’s latest SUV through exhilarating routes. It is for a person who always wants to make the most of his life and time. The scent is spicy and warm yet fresh, with a woody base; it is more like a tribute to the active modern man.
Joining the likes of Louis Vuttion, Tiffany & Co. is hard to miss as you walk by ION Orchard. With a Tiffany Blue façade and prominent place along the main road of Singapore’s premier shopping district, the new store delivers trademark elements from its fifth avenue flagship.
Can’t wait to step into the store to discover that Tiffany magic? Head to L’Officiel Singapore to find out more.
Vantablack, the substance that is said to ‘look like staring into a black hole’, has had its exclusive rights bought by the sculptor Anish Kapoor. Originally used for military and aeronautical purposes, Vantablack absorbs 99.96% of light, and is made of a ‘forest’ of millions and millions incredibly small carbon nano tubes (A surface area of 1 square cm contains around 1,000 million nano tubes). Other artists, who originally planned to use the substance for their own works, are taking umbrage at Kapoor’s ‘monopoly’. Portraitists like Christian Furr have voiced their anger that they can’t use the material now. On the other hand, Vantablack seems like a particularly hard substance to make use of. It has to be grown in a specially designed Chemical Vapour Deposition chamber under an array of powerful lamps that raise the surface temperature to 430 Celsius or higher. The substance is easily damaged by any direct impact or abrasion and requires a specialist’s application. In an advertising campaign, Lynx coated one of their cans with Vantablack, but it took 400 hours to produce. Surrey Nanosystems choice to license the substance only to Kapoor’s studio may be logistical, trusting the substance to the artist that may have the resources and ambition to use it properly but the company doesn’t want to comment on the debate being stirred in the art world. “This debate is for the artistic community, we don’t want to get involved. We are scientists” the firm replied. Kapoor, in the meantime, seems to be enjoying his acquisition. He posted a black photo on Instagram with the remark “Kapoor Black”. It’s not clear whether this was done out of pure jest or artistic arrogance, but the artistic community probably isn’t going to take it kindly.
Check out the Alen Yacht 55, ($Inquire) a gorgeous vessel with fluid lines, packed with everything you need for a luxurious cruise with the family and friends. Boasting a timeless and sleek design, the 55-foot motorboat has built-in practicality, providing space for up to 16 people on board, safely surrounded by deep bulwarks that create a walk-around deck. An extending table can sit eight guests, near the open kitchen with sink and grill, while the rear with the sun beds sports a hydraulic gangway doubling as a convenient swimming ladder. The shaded helm features the latest navigation equipment and operates two 800 hp Volvo engines delivering a max speed of 35 knots, as well as a hidden, custom-made anchor mechanism. Owners can customize the interior as they wish, with options including a lounge with top-notch entertainment systems & extendable sofas, an extra bedroom, crew cabins with ample storage space, teak flooring, leather wall panels and lacquered surfaces that produce a warm ambience.
Dolce & Gabbana, the Italian house of design, is known for its opulent aesthetic, but these new sunglasses are over-the-top extravagant. And that’s why they’re a perfect fit for the flamboyant fashionista in all of us. With these you don’t need a cool bag or glittering jewellery, or any other accessory at all for that matter. Throw on these shades and a little black dress and you’re good to go. Mama’s Embellished Brocade Sunglasses feature a black and white carved brocade pattern, red rose appliqués, golden accoutrements, and pearl detailing—they even come with their own rose-adorned storage box and travel case. Made in Italy, these lavish shades are limited to only 500 pieces and are sure to be a new favorite for street-style stars and fashion icons. Here’s your ticket to being the trendsetter this summer!
Rejoice all ye well-heeled cat lovers. A 14-room extension of the Wagington, Singapore’s premier five-star dog hotel at Loewen Road, has become available for cats as well. At the Purrfection Suites, felines can now receive upscale treatment the same way their doggie pals do. Whilst some might think that it may be particularly eye-rollingly excessive to treat felines to Roberto Cavalli wallpaper, designer beds, purified air pumped into every room, Swarovski crystal-studded dining ware, and classical music played on a Sensurround system, we forget that some people love their furry friends in an almost maternal fashion. And Singapore seems to have a lot of pet lovers. One businessman offers weekend boat cruises for pets and their owners. Pets also have their own obituary section in The Straits Times. This may be the result of living in a city that, while being one of Asia’s richest, embraces such a dense and fast-paced way of life, you need a companion you can pull (literally in some cases) with you through thick and thin. When the Wagington owner, Estelle Tayler, opened her dog hotel in 2014, she said that cat-owners have clamoured for a similar style of upmarket lodging for their pets. “We decided to make a wing dedicated just for our feline friends, with its own private entrance,” Tayler said. Apart from lodgings, the hotel offers grooming and spa services at an additional cost. It plans to introduce “in-room dining” featuring homecooked food as well. At S$39 a night, pet owners who have the resources can finally find a place to set down their felines in the lap of luxury.
MODERN MONARCHY | Stephen Hung the hotel czar is the mastermind behind this spectacular piece of hospitality that cost in excess of $1.4 billion
At the startling cost of $7 million per room, Macau’s The 13, with its 200 baroquely crafted suites, fancies itself as the hotel for the one percent of the one percent. This mindboggling extravagant creation, which reportedly cost in excess of $1.4 billion, was spearheaded by the infamously flamboyant Stephen Hung, the hotel czar with a taste for the highly decadent who earned his fortune from investment banking and real estate. Stephen Hung’s company, Louis XIII Holdings Ltd—that should be enough to explain the name—first announced the hotel in 2013, which is expected to open in late summer this year. The images here are of the “Villa du Comte, our entry-level accommodations.” Of the all-villa hotel’s 200 rooms (large suites, actually) most will be Villa du Comte with a gross floor area of approximately 2,000 square feet while 31 are even larger, topping out at a monumental 30,000 square feet for the Villa de Stephen.
To give you some perspective on the price, the 13 Hotel is not the most expensive hotel in Macau even. The hotly anticipated Wynn Palace Cotai cost a reported $4.1 billion but, at 1,700 rooms, the per room cost there is a mere $2.4 million. The secret sauce here is clearly exclusivity.
PRICELESS SLEEP | While sleep in itself can be a luxury at times, sleeping in the Villa Du Comte’s plush bedrooms is the most priceless experience ever
Virtually every design detail in the hotel is bespoke and created especially for THE 13. Everything—from the elaborately detailed Baroque scrollwork, to the sculptures, to the fabrics, to the wall coverings, to the furniture, to the tableware, to the exclusive Red Rolls-Royce Phantoms used as VIP shuttles—was created by Stephen Hung, Co-Chairman of Louis XIII Holdings Limited, as well as THE 13’s talented team of designers.
BATHE IN ART | The marble and stained glass baths have ceilings covered in artwork
Every inch of the hotel seems to be embellishment: baroque inspired frescoes on the ceiling; gold-fringed drapes hanging across the room; black and white marble checkered floors; stained glass windows; neo-classical columns; crystal chandeliers. Likewise, in the taste department, there are six Chinese, French and Japanese restaurants & bars. The hotel even has a private invitation-only shopping space called L’Atelier – featuring exclusive bespoke products by high-end luxury brands. “This was a labor of love,” said Stephen. “The team and I put every ounce of creativity and passion we had into this project to ensure every detail was perfect. Our guests, I believe, will find the result truly remarkable and beyond anything they have previously experienced.”
ROMAN ROMANCE | The Roman baths with vaulted baroque ceiling supported by neo-classical columns can be covered by retractable marble floor when not in use
The Villa du Comte is a split-level, one-bedroom villa. Feast your senses on all the reasons why it’s worth $7 million:
Butler Service: Every villa is supported by 24-hour butler service from THE 13’s team of majordome, trained by world famous MCM Palace Consultants and certified by the English Guild of Butlers. Spectacular Décor: The décor combines spectacular floor to ceiling baroque details and period artworks contrasted with surprising modern elements Roman Bath: 6-8 guests can relax in the Villa du Comte’s ornate marble Roman Bath beautifully presented under a vaulted baroque ceiling supported by neo-classical columns and lit by a spectacular crystal chandelier. When not in use, the Roman Bath is covered by a retractable marble floor. Stained-Glass and Marble Bathroom: Guests bathe under art covered ceilings lit by standing candelabra. A rain shower and electric bidet toilet are hidden behind a floor to ceiling stained-glass façade.
ELEVATED EXCLUSIVITY | Personal elevators ensure you’d never have to wait, along with other interesting uses for the romantically inclined
Private Elevator Lobby: To ensure the ultimate in privacy, all guests access their villas via elevators which open directly into the villa’s private elevator lobby, like a New York style penthouse. Royal Bedroom: The villa bedroom features a king-size, velvet-canopied bed with an elaborately carved and gilded Baroque headboard in the royal tradition. Diamond Series Furniture: To complement the Baroque setting, a glittering series of faceted chrome furniture adorns the living room, bedroom and bathroom. Rolls-Royce Transportation: On arrival and departure, all hotel guests receive complimentary transfer to and from Macau transportation hubs via THE 13’s fleet of bespoke, red, extended wheel base Rolls-Royce Phantoms.
Whew! That’s quite a drool-worthy list. Wonder what would top this fortress of Eden?
ROAD MISSILE | With jaw-dropping power and cushioning comfort, this blue baby comes straight from your wildest auto dreams
So here’s the speedster you’ve been awaiting with bated breath. We’ll give you the specifics straightaway, and then all the details to sink your teeth into:
1,579bhp spread evenly across its four wheels, 0-100km/h under 2.5 seconds, a top speed of 261mph—that’s 420kmh for us. The Bugatti Chiron was made to kick the Bugatti Veyron Supersport to the curb as the world’s fastest production car. This all-wheel drive blue speed-demon is the optimal marriage of fiery power and comfort. Right now, though, the company is already promising a sports model and convertible with even faster specs coming right up. For those looking for pure driving pleasure, perhaps a future version will ditch the all-wheel drive component.
LEAN MACHINE | The Chiron is sharper than the Veyron, with tigtly sculpted lines and an aerodynamic design
What’s in the make of a car so devilishly fast? By slashing the weight with an outer shell of carbon fiber, the Chiron tips the scales at 1,995kg to a power-to weight ratio of 741bhp per tonne. That power comes from the 8-liter quad turbo W16 powerplant engine hidden inside.
Visually, it looks much sharper than the Veyron, with its tighter, sculpted lines at the front cleverly concealing some of the aerodynamics, as well as a cleanly tapered rear dominated by a single strip left-to-right tail lamp. Other performance-boosting specs include a new titanium exhaust system (with six exit pipes), 10 radiators that make up the improved charge air cooling system, 20″ front & 21″ rear rims, specially-developed wider Michelin tires, large carbon silicon carbide brakes, plus a monocoque, rear-subframe and shell – all made of carbon-fiber.
SANCTUM SANCTORUM | The cockpit is divided by an illuminated C-bar that mirrors a curling wave and sweeps the eye up its dynamic arc
In the comfort sector, head and leg-room are enhanced by how much wider and slightly taller it is than its predecessor. Wood, leather, carbon fiber, and aluminum on display are in no way diminished. The leather interior is designed to minimize driver distractions, with a narrow center console and analogue speedo surrounded by hi-res digital displays that simplify the info as the speed increases. Oh, and you also get a cooled glove box for keeping the bubbly ice-cold, and one-carat diamond membrane speakers, because it’s a Bugatti!
SPARKLING SYMPHONY | Accuton sound system developed specifically for Bugatti has 4 diamond-membrane tweeters and the first mid-range speaker with 2 membrane zones
Bugatti’s head Wolfgang Dürheimer rounded up the car with these words “The Chiron is the quintessential ultimate super sports car: ultra-modern, incredibly fast, agile and powerful with a stylistically demanding design and the highest possible levels of comfort.”
With a starting price of $2.6 million, nothing less would do. You’d have to keep up with the Chiron’s speed, though, because this is a limited edition of 500 units, with 120 of them already accounted for. Slow and steady won’t win the race!
