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- Vivienne Westwood to design new Virgin Atlantic uniforms
- 7 of the world’s girliest hotel getaways
- How Australia's airports are failing flyers
| Vivienne Westwood to design new Virgin Atlantic uniforms Posted: 06 May 2013 07:00 AM PDT Virgin Atlantic is trying to go punk. The airline has announced that the latest designer to be turning her hand to their uniforms is Dame Vivienne Westwood. The fiery British designer will be bringing her punk rock aesthetic to the signature Virgin two-piece, in a collaboration that will span the next 10 years. The official announcement said that designer would be going for "a futuristic look, which references her enduring interest in 1940s French couture cutting techniques as well as the Savile Row tailoring heritage."
Continuing with the eco theme, she's also designing a collection of bags for the ground staff that will be made from unusual materials such as roadside banners and recycled brass. "We wanted to work with a group of people who share our spirit of adventure, who believe in challenging the status quo and creating something truly memorable," said Virgin CEO Sir Richard Branson. While the new dress code won't be implemented until 2014, the redesigned uniforms will be getting a soft launch on a July flight this year. Check out photos of Westwood and Branson looking awkward but surprisingly cute together here. More on CNN: Gallery: Sexy flight attendant uniforms of the past      |
| 7 of the world’s girliest hotel getaways Posted: 06 May 2013 12:00 AM PDT The quintessential girls' getaway ain't what it used to be -- and that's a good thing. Thanks to the recent rise of ladies-only gyms, taxis and subway cars, hoteliers across the globe have finally heeded the demand for exclusively female experiences (hence the trend of women-only hotel floors). Today's offerings ranging from cowgirl romps to teatime fashion shows, the hotel industry finally acknowledging that women desire holidays that provide not only safety, but also glamour and excitement. As a result, "girly" hotel stays are no longer limited to cutesy pastel-colored rooms and run-of-the-mill spa treatments. Also on CNN: London's first private women's club Surf, yoga, chill: Surf Goddess Retreats, Indonesia
With a focus on positivity and self-empowerment, the resort offers surf lessons for any experience level, provides daily outdoor yoga sessions in its frangipani garden, features a premier Balinese spa and serves up gourmet, healthy fare. Surf Goddess Retreats, Bali, Jalan Kayu Aya, 80361, Indonesia; +62 361 8893002; seven-day packages from $2,495 Chopard Ladies Floor: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, UAE
It features 10 Tower Rooms and one Apex Suite where every detail -- including unique flower arrangements -- is carefully attended to by an entirely female staff. Perks include in-room yoga facilities, a cosmetics fridge and toiletries by Chopard, naturally. Jumeirah Emirates Towers, UAE, 312th Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; +971 4 330 0000; Chopard Ladies King Room from AED 960 ($261) Female bonding programs: Lake Austin Spa Resort, United States
In addition to the usual pedicures and manicures, spa services include cupping, Japanese acupuncture, bamboo roll massage and energy point cleansing. And then there are the events -- cooking courses, gardening tutorials, fitness classes, book clubs and style seminars. There's even a "Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Friends" program aimed at strengthening female relationships. The Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas, 1705 S Quinlan Park Road, Austin, TX 78732, United States; +1 512 372 7300; three-night packages in a signature room from $1,720 per person Cowgirl boot camp: Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, United States
Guided by professional female wranglers, guests learn to saddle up, round cattle and explore more than 50 miles of trails. The stay includes line dancing, archery, hat shaping, a gourmet picnic lunch, nightly cocktail receptions and a private wine maker's presentation. Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, Santa Ynez Valley, California, 1054 Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463, United States; +1 805 688 6411; three-night Cowgirl Bootcamp package from $1,900 High tea and high fashion: Hotel le Bristol Paris, France
An on-site La Prairie spa and delicately appointed surroundings reserve this historic Parisian property for only the most decadent female travelers. Hotel le Bristol Paris, 112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France; +33 1 53 43 43 00; room rates from €775 ($1,016) Chocolate workshops: The Chocolate Boutique Hotel, England
There are daily chocolate deliveries and themed rooms like "The Cocoa Bean" and the "Chocolate Truffle Suite" as well as a variety of events including tastings, bean-to-bar workshops and even a chocolate shoe moulding class. The Chocolate Boutique Hotel, Bournemouth, England, 5 Durley Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5JQ, England; +44 (0)1202 556857; room rates from £80 ($125) Diane von Furstenberg-designed suite: Hayman, Australia
Designed and upholstered in the famous designer's signature fabrics, the swanky penthouse accommodates up to four guests and includes displays of von Furstenberg's private photography, beautiful panoramas of the Great Barrier Reef and private butler service. Hayman Island Resort, Queensland, Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Hayman Island QLD 4801, Australia; +61 7 4940 1838; Diane von Furstenberg Penthouse from A$5,000 ($5,162) Also on CNN: Horse reiki and bull sperm hair masks: 9 bizarre spa treatments    |
| How Australia's airports are failing flyers Posted: 05 May 2013 03:00 PM PDT Six of Australia's 22 airports might be ranked in the world's top 100, but according to the leading Australian consumer and competition watchdog, none can be rated as "good." The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has delivered a damning report card that will either ring true or shock the tens of million of people who transit through the country's airports every year. The report is based on assessments of airlines, passengers and border security agencies. According to the ACCC, Sydney Airport -- which is listed on the Australian stock exchange and valued at some A$6.4 billion (US$6.6 billion) -- struggles with getting aircraft to land on time. Increased passenger traffic is being blamed. More on CNN: And the world's best airport is ... "The main demand driver at Sydney Airport during 2011-12 were international passengers, which increased by 3.6 percent while domestic travelers fell 1.7 percent," said the report. Servicing Australia's largest mining state, Perth Airport doesn't rank any better than Sydney. There, the proportion of on-time flights is also trending down, no doubt frustrating the 13.3 million people who use the airport. There's been a 20% increase in the number of domestic travelers transiting through Perth's airport and a 7% increase in international travelers. Though aircraft congestion and the delays it causes is the biggest complaint of most flyers, it's not the only one. The high cost of parking at Australia's airports came in for special mention. Parking revenue at Melbourne Airport hit A$114 million last year and A$100 million at Sydney Airport. At Melbourne Airport for example, which has limited public transport access and poor waiting/pick-up facilities, short term parking starts at $4 for 20 minutes, $8 for 40 minutes, $12 for an hour. The ACCC report also slammed the nation's airports for poor service even as they continue to be profitable. Aeronautical revenue per passenger, an indicator of average prices, increased at three of the five monitored airports. Only Adelaide and Perth decreased. ACCC: More investment requiredDespite this, the overall quality of service fell, according to the report, with Sydney Airport faring worst and the watchdog calling for more investment to fix the problems. "It is apparent that continued growth in passenger numbers at most airports is placing pressure on existing aeronautical infrastructure, contributing to lower service standards," said the ACCC. "More investment is required to avoid excessive congestion, and ensure that the needs of Australia's travelers can be adequately accommodated." Passengers in large number seem to agree. More on CNN: 10 of the world's most hated airports
"I fly at least once a week and been to most airports in AUS and overseas. How much time have you got?" said Twitter user Dr Ricky Lee. "Parking fees that can be greater than cost of flying. Privatization led to monopoly, competition is how much can they charge," complained Roger F. "Many regional airports have security concerns & Tiger terminal in Melbourne is a shocker all round, food, space you name it!" said Antony Balmain. "Perth airport woeful. Separate tiny intl terminal from the 80s. Dom always crowded, walk to most flights on tarmac. Park km away," said Kim O'Grady. There were dozens more like those. There's even a Twitter hashtag devoted to the subject; #bnelateagain offers a stream of complaints from disgruntled passengers, bemoaning flights delayed or canceled without notification as well as delayed landings. In an earlier CNN Travel list calling out the world's most hated airports, several readers thought Sydney Airport should have been included. "Three hours to get from international arrivals to domestic departure ... what a joke. Missed my connection to Brisbane, of course. Now only fly direct to Brisbane. Sydney airport is pathetic," commented Jeff Erwin. 'Failing to invest in future'The Australian Airports Association has rejected the criticisms contained in the ACCC report. The lobby group, which represents some 250 airports and aerodromes throughout Australia, says there has been significant investment at most airports. "The Australian Airports Association does not accept the ACCC's suggestion that the quality of service outcomes reported for 2011-12 mean that airport operators are falling behind in the delivery of airport infrastructure," said the association's chief officer, Caroline Wilkie.
It said new terminals, runways and landside infrastructure were being built or are planned to be built at all the airports covered in the ACCC's annual review. But Michael Harris, a technology specialist, regular traveler through Australian airports and an active member of the Australian Frequent Flyer forum says that as the Australian government prepared to sell off the country's airports, it failed to place requirements on the new owners to "invest for the future." "As a consequence, Australian airports have and continue to play a massive game of catch up to bring their facilities in line with not only the needs of the carriers, but also the passengers passing through them," said Harris. The recently inaugurated alliance between Qantas and Emirates is also having an impact. "Perth airport, which is my hometown, is currently being given the hurry up by carriers such as Emirates," says Harris. "They already fly three services a day to here, using primarily Boeing 7X7 aircraft, which are not keeping pace with demands on their routes." More on CNN: 10 of the world's most loved airports Harris says Emirates wants to push larger aircraft, such as the A380, through Perth International Airport but adds, "Perth Airport is at least 12 months behind on the project to add A380-capable boarding gates to its international terminal, to the point where the carrier is understood by those in the know to have offered pretty much anything they can to have the construction and opening completed much faster." Perth Airport chief executive Brad Geatches told media the airport's A$750 million redevelopment program is underway and passengers would soon begin to experience the benefits. With passenger ratings for Australian airports down, making them a "destination experience" might help decrease dissatisfaction. But according to Harris, that's a long way off. "Changi is our nearest example, where people come to the airport for the experience, and the flight out is just a consequence that comes after fun," he said. "This is an airport which has invested heavily in low-cost passenger experience, from movie and gaming lounges for those waiting or transiting, to dining (at reasonable prices especially when compared to off-airport locations), and even bringing in the natural environment with lounges constructed inside rainforests." Unlike at Changi Airport and most major hub airports around the globe, the tens of millions of people who pass through Australian airports still pay a premium for Internet access that, says Harris, "is only contributing to the public's resentment of airports". Australia's airports -- what's your view? Share your thoughts below. More on CNN: U.S. airports don't stack up    |
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