Phuket Luxury Lifestyle

Sofitel launches its iPad application “The Kiosk”

chichada — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:26:10 +0000

French hotel chain Sofitel launched an iPad newspaper service for guests July 26, in a move that could mean a fresh start for the dwindling tradition of the morning newspaper in hotels.
The luxury chain has launched “The Kiosk,” a customer-only iPad app which offers a selection of interactive daily magazines and newspapers and will be provided to guests on an iPad for the duration of their stay.

Guests can choose from publications such as Le Monde in France, the Independent and Vogue in the UK, Bild or Die Welt in Germany or La Repubblica in Italy.

In total, there are six publications for each country, with media from France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United States on offer.

Although the app is currently only available for guests staying in the top end suites in Paris, London, Munich and Brussels, the chain says that it intends to expand the service to its entire network worldwide.

The app was designed to deliver both convenience to guests and an environmental benefit, as guests will be able to browse the news using their iPad rather than on paper.

Last year, both Marriott and Hyatt announced that they would scale back their newspaper offerings to guests, citing declining interest from guests and waste reduction.

Although industry gossip site HotelChatter praised the decision, describing hotel newspapers as “nothing more than obstacles we need to step over on our way downstairs to get coffee,” the Marriott move alone cut US newspaper circulations by a reported 50,000 every day, or 18 million papers every year.

With e-readers becoming cheaper, and more accessible in hotels, it seems that Sofitel could have hit upon a way to help the newspapers, the guests and the environment.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

Shu Qi – the new face for Emporio Armani

chichada — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:25:40 +0000

Chinese actress Shu Qi has been appointed the face of Emporio Armani in Greater China, Singapore and Malaysia for Fall/Winter 2010.
The first advertising campaign – shot in New York City by Mario Sorrenti – will be rolled out starting September 2010 in fashion and lifestyle magazines.

Blue Star Jets Releases Mobile App

chichada — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:09:29 +0000

Getting a flight quote from Blue Star Jets is now easier and more accessible than ever after the company has launched a new mobile app for Palm, Blackberry, Android and iPhone smartphone users.

Blue Start Jets has created a network of charter companies that gives it access to over 4,000 aircraft worldwide, ranging from helicopters to Boeing business jets.

Blue Star does not manage or operate aircraft on behalf of their clients; however, the company assists clientele in finding the best operators for any aircraft.

The free mobile application allows users to look up a free flight quote anywhere at any time. To download the app, visit www.bluestarjets.com/mobile.

Hurry! The first hundred users to download the exclusive app will receive a 10% discount off the overall cost of the flight!

Penelope Cruz Is The New Face Of Lancôme Trésor

chichada — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:49:10 +0000

The beautiful Penelope Cruz is the new face of Lancome’s Fall/Winter 2010/2011 Campaign. The campaign was shot in Paris by Mario Testino.

The actress posed on a balcony at the famous Hotel Crillon, with a classic updo and elegant, one-shouldered black dress.

Trésor was launched in 1990 and has been fronted by some of Hollywood’s most fabulous faces, including Isabella Rossellini and Kate Winslet.

Lancôme’s current campaign for Trésor in Love stars brand spokesmodel Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann as a young Audrey Hepburn.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Debuts At Pebble Beach

chichada — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 02:44:14 +0000

The fastest production car recently made its North American debut at the 60th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Bugatti in a new blue midnight color.

Though the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is capable of reaching 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph), its speed has been electronically limited to 415 km/h (258 mph).

Bugatti says the consumer vehicle will have identical specs, but the limitation was necessary to protect the car’s tires.

Its engine is tuned to deliver 1,200 hp (882 kW), a 20 percent gain over the already massive Veyron 16.4, and up to 1,500 Nm (1106 lb-ft) of torque.

The unit sends its power to all four wheels using a seven speed twin clutch transmission.

The hypercar also comes with enhanced aerodynamics, a re-engineered chassis and a body structure that uses carbon fiber.

Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport takes some 2.5 seconds, or 7.3 seconds from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) and 15 seconds from 0 to 300 km/h (186 mph).

The production of this awesome racer will start in autumn and it will be limited to 40 units only.

The first five units will be finished in the same exposed carbon and orange livery, used for the successful record attempt.

Photos: Drew Phillips / AOL

World’s most expensive Porsche sells for $4 million

chichada — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:06:19 +0000

A rare 1970s Porsche racecar just fetched $4 million at Bonhams’ sale in Monterey, setting a new world record for the most expensive Porsche ever sold at auction.
This stunning and historic open-top version of the legendary racer appeared and was immortalized in Steve McQueen’s movie, Le Mans.

The 1970 Porsche 917 Interserie Spyder goes from 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds and a top speed of over 240mph.

The stunning vehicle was part of a sale of rare cars which went under the hammer at ‘The Quail; a Motorsports Gathering’ in Monterey, California on Saturday.

The world’s best hotel rooftops

chichada — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:28:57 +0000

The view from the top of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel has been ranked the best hotel rooftop view in the world by users of price comparison website Trivago.
The luxury Dubai hotel, which offers views of the Persian Gulf from a manmade island accessible via a walkway or from the 24th floor “Uptown Bar” in the main building, topped the list of global hotels that offer impressive views.

In second place was the Lebua hotel at State Tower in Bangkok, which offers sprawling views of the Thai capital from its protruding bar on the 63rd floor.

skypark swimming pool at marina bay sands hotel singapore 468×308 The worlds best hotel rooftops

The world’s best rooftop pools have also been a matter of some contention recently, with Concierge.com and HotelChatter both publishing lists recently.

Concierge.com included the London West Hollywood in California and the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore among others in its “World’s Sexiest Rooftop Pools” selection.

HotelChatter also included the Marina Bay Sands, as well as the W Hong Kong’s infinity-edged hot tub and the overhanging pool of The Joule in Dallas among its “Death Defying Rooftop Pool” lists.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

w hong kong rooftop pool 468×263 The worlds best hotel rooftops

Trivago’s 15 Most Spectacular Hotel Rooftop Views
Selected by Trivago users

1. Jumeirah Beach Hotel (Dubai)
2. Hotel at Lebua State Tower (Bangkok)
3. Hotel de Rome (Berlin)
4. Bairro Alto Hotel (Lisbon)
5. The Ritz-Carlton (Moscow)
6. NH Parque Central (Havana)
7. Hotel Gansevoort (New York)
8. Grand Hotel Central (Barcelona)
9. Hotel U Prince (Prague)
10. Terrass Hotel (Paris)
11. Hotel St. George Roma (Rome)
12. The Trafalgar Hotel (London)
13. Fresh Hotel (Athens)
14. Palms Casino Resort (Las Vegas)
15. The Marmara Pera (Istanbul)

Maison Martin Margiela 8 Hybrid Aviator Sunglasses

chichada — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:23:25 +0000

The latest offering from the highly collectible Margiela sunglasses line – a pair of oversized hybrid aviators with tortoiseshell acetate arms and half-frame trim. Lenses have a half amber, half brown tint and all other trim is gold metal. Beautiful case too (pictured below)! Oki-ni has them.

Guerlain ‘Abeille Royale’ Youth Serum

chichada — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:46:42 +0000

French beauty brand Guerlain has unveiled a new anti-ageing treatment, called Abeille Royale Youth Serum.
The product is claimed to harness the reparative power of bee products to repair wrinkles and promote tissue firmness.

A key ingredient is the Pure Royal Concentrate, described as a blend of exclusive elements capable of activating key factors of the skin’s self-repair mechanisms.

The black bee is pollution and parasite free to ensure the highest quality possible and the serum is available exclusively from Guerlain.

Abeille Royale is presented in a dropper bottle sculpted in a honeycomb shape.

Source: Glossy Kiss – Price: $140.00

Swedish driver faces $1 million fine for speeding

chichada — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:19:21 +0000

Police in Switzerland said on monday they had seized a Swedish motorist’s $240,000 sports car after he was caught doing 290 kph on a Swiss motorway. The 37-year-old Swedish citizen was driving a black Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS, which carries a 570-horsepower engine. With a speed limit of 120 kph (70 mph), the driver swept by a permanent speed trap but was spotted by local police. He was immediately arrested and turned over to the police in the western canton of Fribourg. Authorities said the man could be facing up to $1 million Swiss francs ($962,000) for his speeding offense.

A local magistrate ordered police to keep the car as security pending a likely court ruling and an eventual sentence. Driving more than 25 kilometres an hour over the 120-kilometre speed limit on motorways in Switzerland is regarded as a criminal offence, and fines are based on a driver’s revenue. Swiss officials were unable to say if it was a record because they do not keep such nationwide data, but it “looks very close to one,”. Source: AFP – Photo: Current.com