Alila Anji, China brings Aerial Tapestry excursion

Alila Anji China has launched a new ‘AERIAL TAPESTRY’ destination experience package that offers guests a private scenic sky tour of the spectacular beauty of the Anji landscape in your own aircraft. Organized in collaboration with Tianzi Lake Airport, Anji’s only airport, located on a spectacular site one hour north of the resort, the flying experience provides an unforgettable journey over the lush tapestry of mountains, towns, bamboo forests and lakes. Guests can take to the skies with a choice of two aircrafts: a Cirrus SR-20 airplane or a Robinson R44 helicopter. The Cirrus SR-20 is a piston-engine, four-or- five-seater, composite monoplane, popular with flying schools as well as private individuals and companies. The R44 is a single-engine helicopter that can accommodate the pilot and three passengers. The Cirrus SR-20 experience offers a choice of two 15-minute routes, flying over Tianzi Lake and Zhangwu Town, or over Tianzi Lake and Xianshan Lake. Those who dare can even have a go at co-piloting the aircraft – a must-try for flying enthusiasts. The Robinson R44 offers an 8-minute tour following the same routes but at a lower altitude of 300m, flying above the canopy of the bamboo forests. The Aerial Tapestry is a 2-night package valid from 1 November 2017 to 31 October 2018.

Dev Patel joins Mandarin Oriental’s global ‘Celebrity Fan’campaign

Dev Patel, the award-winning British actor of Slumdog Millionaire and Lion fame, is the newest celebrity fan to join Mandarin Oriental’s multi-million dollar global advertising campaign “He’s a Fan/She’s a Fan”. The campaign connects Mandarin Oriental’s well-recognized symbol – the fan – with international celebrities who regularly stay at the Group’s hotels. In appreciation of their support, the Group donates to each celebrity’s individual choice of charity. Dev Patel has chosen Pure Earth to benefit. Well-known portrait photographer Mary McCartney photographs each celebrity in a location of their choice which, for them, best represents a feeling of well-being. Patel was photographed in Los Angeles, where he currently lives.

$5000 gold plated Xbox Controller Christmas ornament

Gaming enthusiasts would love this: Microsoft is going to give away exclusive ornaments shaped like a miniature embellished Xbox controller, and also play Santa with gold plated limited edition ones for Christmas. The ornaments come with the purchase of the Xbox One S consoles or any of its associated bundles and they are designed to match the exact console and controller! The ornaments can be purchased till Nov 23 at the Microsoft store on New York’s fifth avenue. And yes, the four special gold-plated Xbox ornaments will be released as part of a competition on the Microsoft Store AU and Microsoft Store NYC Facebook pages from Nov 23 to December 14.

Zsa Zsa Gabor’s diamond necklace to be auctioned at Bonhams

Hungarian-American actress Zsa Zsa Gabor’s famous and dazzling diamond necklace is all set to go under the hammer at Bonhams, New York. The necklace consists of 45 brilliant-cut white diamonds totalling 66 carats, with an estimated value between $1.2m and $1.5m. Worn frequently by Gabor during the 1960s, the necklace was designed by legendary American jeweler Harry Winston in 1964 and its five central diamonds alone weigh 8.07, 6.34, 6.33, 5.35 and 4.88 carats, respectively. The actress who had once declared she never met a diamond she didn’t like, was photographed wearing this stunning necklace all through the sixties. The necklace will be previewed at Bonhams in New York, Geneva, Los Angeles and Bonhams Hong Kong during November and December. The auction will take place at Bonhams New York at 3pm on December 4, 2017, at 580 Madison Ave, New York.

Venetian Fantasy: The Floating Venice
FLOATING VENICE: The world's first floating resort destination, located over two miles off Dubai's coast

The world’s very first floating five-star destination recreates the charm and romance of Venice—and where else would it come up except Dubai, which does its best to offer the greatest imaginable luxuries ever!  Launched by the Kleindienst group, the Floating Venice resort is an utterly unique destination floating in place in The Heart of Europe islands in The World, 4 km off the shores of Dubai. Construction is set to begin in 2018 and be completed by the end of 2020.

pic 1

Inspired by the Mediterranean canal city, it will be the world’s first luxury underwater vessel resort, offering both five-star accommodation and dining experiences above and below the water. 180 of the 414 bespoke cabins as well as restaurants, bars and boutique shops will be underwater offering guests remarkable views of passing gondolas above and coral reefs teaming with life below. The resort has the ability to accommodate up to 3,000 guests daily across four floating decks.

pic 2

Traditional Venezian festivals such as Carnivale di Venezia, Binnale di Venezia and Festa del Rendentore will be celebrated throughout the year to further transport guests to the water city. Guests will have the option to relax in one of 24 pools located across the property, each of which will include an acrylic base to view the coral nurseries below. Developers of the hotel intend to plant 400,000 square feet of coral along the ocean floor to encourage a thriving variety of sea life to grow. In addition to the 24 pools on property, 12 floating beaches will also be available for guests to access.

pic 3

Guests would also get to choose from over 12 different bar and dining locations throughout the property, with couples having the delightful opportunity to stroll through the romantic canal streets sampling goods from artisan crafts shops and bespoke boutiques. With the dazzling Dubai skyline in the background and the entire magic of Venice all around, this is sure to be an unforgettable experience in itself.

pic 4

 

Limited Edition Confetto Collection from Nespresso

US based Nespresso that offers an ultimate experience to coffee lovers, has collaborated with Craig Redman and Karl Meyer for designing the exclusive, limited edition Confetto Collection for Christmas. The collection contains three variants of coffee– The Snowball with coconut and vanilla, the Orangette with flavors of orange and chocolate, and Liquorice that presents a fine combination of spices and licorice. Inspired by Nespresso’s Livanto – a blend procured from South and Central America—the collection also comes with cups, glasses, a transparent capsule dispenser and the Aeroccino3, a state-of-art machine that churns out hot or cold milk froth according to your preference. The exclusive froth maker can also be used to heat milk for Lattes. The cups and glasses all come covered with Redman and Meyer’s colourful and vibrant drawings, and the collection is available for sale at Nespresso channels globally.

Mandarin Oriental, Prague launches Christmas Markets Holiday Package

Mandarin Oriental, Prague has launched a luxury accommodation package for guests wanting to explore Prague’s characterful Christmas markets. Guests booking the Prague Christmas Markets offer will enjoy an Old Timer tour of Prague in a 1920s vintage car and receive top tips on Christmas markets shopping in the city from the hotel Concierge. While the driver takes them round the city’s historic streets, pointing out the sights, guests can indulge in a Bohemian toddy and Czech Pernik biscuits. Using their Christmas markets map and Concierge tips list, guests can discover the best places to stop-off, such as Nerudova Street 46 for hot chocolate or the popular bar below Charles Bridge for mulled wine. Located within the walls of a former fourteenth-century monastery, the hotel welcomes guests to their guestroom at the start of their Prague Christmas Markets adventure with mistletoe, traditional Czech Christmas homemade biscuits and a Christmas markets map and tips list from the Concierge. Guests can then plan the rest of their trip over a glass of savoury mulled wine at Spices bar. To ensure guests can buy the best Christmas presents and souvenirs of Prague, they will receive a VIP shopping card forspending at luxury boutiques liningthe city’s most fashionable thoroughfare, Pařížská street. Package rates start from EUR 370 (approx. $470) for a minimum of two nights’ stay, excluding 15% VAT. Package is valid from 2 December 2017 to 6 January 2018.

Luxury furniture brand Maison launches flagship store in India

Luxury furniture brand Maison by International Furniture Brands just opened its flagship store in the country. Located in Mumbai, the store is spread across 4000 sq ft and showcases dining, living and bedroom concepts. With a neutral colour palette ranging from pristine whites to soft tone greys with accents of mauve, indigo blue and olive green, the displays blends classic, timeless and clean curves with straight lines in a contemporary twist.

Mandarin Oriental, Milan launches Milan Furniture Design Collection for guests

Mandarin Oriental, Milan has launched a luxury accommodation package for guests wanting to acquire bespoke Italian furnishings. Guests booking the Milan Furniture Design Collection package will receive VIP access to the city’s top interior design showrooms and workshops where they can design and commission custom-made furnishings for their homes. Available until 31 December 2018, the package includes other benefits too, including expert advice on furnishings from the hotel’s Home Design Concierge Service. One of the world’s great fashion and design capitals, Milan is home to many fine interior decoration stores, homeware showrooms and workshops producing bespoke hand-made furnishings, while the wider Lombardy region is a centre of Italian furniture manufacturing. Known across the world for its elegant sophistication, artisan-made Italian designer furniture is found within the stylish interiors of Mandarin Oriental, Milan, where guests will have an opportunity to appreciate its balance of flair and classical beauty at first hand during their stay. Guests will be given a private tour of Milan’s world-leading design industry, visiting furnishing manufacturers of their choice, where they can design and commission custom-made pieces, with expert guidance available from storeowners. In addition, experienced interior designers from the hotel’s Home Design Concierge Service will share their wealth of ideas, and provide inspiration on how to capture the essence of Italian style. These design experts will provide support throughout the process of acquiring bespoke furnishings, from conception to delivery. The Milan Furniture Design Collection package is priced from EUR 995 (approximately $1160) per room per night.

Luxury loo: A $100,000 golden toilet covered in Louis Vuitton bags !

Yes, there is no end to the bizarreness of the world of luxury and art. Now here’s a luxury toilet created by cutting up 24 Louis Vuitton bags, each costing $2000! Artist Illma Gore created this toilet seat for Tradesy, an online fashion marketplace where people can buy and resell their premium belongings—and this toilet seat is selling for a mind boggling $100,000! But the most interesting part of this bit of bizarreness, is what the artist herself has to say about the creation: Gore compares the “urge to destroy” with the creative urge, which was why cutting up a $2000 bag was so pleasurable!