C13_2023_digital | Page 62

COURTESY OF AIR NEW ZEALAND
PHOTO COURTESY OF RENAISSANCE HOTELS
COURTESY OF BRITISH COLONIAL HOTEL
Top left : Air New Zealand ’ s new Skynest cabins ; bottom left : A King Room at Renaissance Honolulu Hotel and Spa at Sky Ala Moana ; above : A rendering of the British Colonial Hotel ’ s new lobby ; right : A rendering gives travel pros their first look at the highly anticipated Mattel Adventure Park .
Air New Zealand ’ s New Cabins Air New Zealand is set to roll out some major new offerings for its Dreamliners in the fall . Among the debuts is the super-buzzy Economy Skynest , which will offer the first bunk beds in the sky . The Skynest comprises two sets of three bunk beds stacked in an outwardfacing , V-shaped configuration , which passengers can book for a fourhour block to get some sleep . The airline ’ s Business Premier Luxe is the more tricked-out version of Business Premier , but with a fully closing door and space for two to dine , with each seat featuring an ottoman and a larger tray table .
The Skynest concept “ could be a game-changing moment for longhaul travel ,” said Radha Vyas , the CEO and co-founder of the group adventure travel company Flash Pack . “ It ’ s an attractive proposition for a destination that ’ s brimming with bucket-list delights . Being able to take the edge off jet lag en route to this adventure wonderland — via a flight that ’ s typically the longest of long-hauls for many people — is an invitation that ’ s hard to resist .”
Nassau ’ s British Colonial Revamp In early January , the iconic British Colonial Hotel , known as the Grand Dame of Nassau , is set to unveil a total overhaul , a new feature of downtown ’ s renaissance . The century-old boutique property will be restored to feature 288 guest rooms and suites with original artwork , crown moldings and towering crystal chandeliers , eight food and beverage outlets and two oceanfront pools that overlook a 300-foot private beach and tropical gardens . The opening is well-timed with the arrival of the new direct service to Nassau from LAX via JetBlue and from LAX and Seattle via Alaska Airlines , the first nonstop West Coast routes .
Renaissance ’ s New-Build Hotel in Hawaii The Renaissance Honolulu Hotel and Spa at Sky Ala Moana is set to debut in the first quarter . It ’ s a brand-new build — rare for Hawaii — and marks the Renaissance brand ’ s return to the state . Situated along reef-protected shoreline — which helps protect the island ’ s natural resources and guard against erosion — and more than a half-mile of
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