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Category Archives: New Zealand

The largest habitable work of art

23 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arts, Austria, Automotive, Business, Cities, Culture, Environment, General Motors, Graz, Hotels, Life, Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, New Zealand, News, Opel, People, Rogner-Bad Blumau, Spa Hotels, Tourism, Transport, Travel, Travel Blog

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Airports, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austria, Autmotive, Bad-Blumau, Business, Cities, Culture, Environment, General Motors, Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, New Zealand, News, Opel, Rogner Bad-Blumau, Spa Hotels, Tourism, Travel, Travel Blog

Dome“The water feels like silk on your skin.”

That is how Rogner-Bad Blumau describes the thermal water at the Austrian hotel’s spa.

The supply is from the nearby Vulkania springs and is said to be the most mineral-rich curative water in the spa town of Bad Blumau.

And the healing water is just one of many features that make this hotel out of the ordinary.

Billed as the world’s largest habitable work of art, Rogner-Bad Blumau was designed by eccentric Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, whose last name literally means “100 waters.”

“Your name is Hundertwasser, I have water of hundred degrees,” businessman Robert Rogner told the artist as they began the work on the hotel in early 1990s.

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Rogner-Bad Blumau is unique in so many ways – the most compelling being the architecture itself.

There are six “houses” connected by a maze of hallways and green roofs with golden onion domes.

In addition to supplies from the Vulkania springs, the hotel’s numerous pools and bathing areas get water from the Melchior and Balthasar springs.

Original roof tiles from old farmhouses have been used for the facade of one of the rainbow-coloured buildings.

Artist

The late Friedensreich Hundertwasser

They all fit well with the philosophy of Hundertwasser: A life in harmony with nature.

“The great thing about Blumau is the uniqueness,” said Jasmin Rogner, co-owner of the 312-room, four-star hotel.

“It’s a great artwork, which rather increases in value with time,” she wrote in an email.

“The biggest challenge is to interpret this great place consistently.”

Hundertwasser died in February 2000 in his adopted home country of New Zealand.

The hotel sits on the beautiful rolling hills of Bad Blumau, less than an hour from the city of Graz – a UNESCO City of Design and the hometown of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I stayed at the hotel back in March 1998, barely a year after Rogner-Bad Blumau opened its doors to first guests.

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The 1998 launch of Opel Astra at Rogner-Bad Blumau. Photo by Abdul Latheef

I was among a group of journalists flown in from around the world for the launch of a new General Motors car, Opel Astra.

The hotel has since become a major site for product launches and corporate events.

The property is owned by Rogner International Hotels and Resorts.

Bad Blumau is easily accessible from Graz, Vienna and Salzburg. Austrian Airlines has direct flights from Toronto to Vienna while Lufthansa offers flights to Graz from several German cities.

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 Images are courtesy of Rogner-Bad Blumau

Air New Zealand revamps fleet

01 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by Abdul Latheef in A320neo, Air New Zealand, Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Business, New Zealand, News, Transport, Travel

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The Airbus A321neo in Air New Zealand livery. Airbus photo.

The Airbus A321neo in Air New Zealand livery. Airbus photo.

Air New Zealand has announced a major fleet revamp with an order for 14 Airbus jets at a list price worth more than US$1.2 billion.

As of now, the order is for 10 A320neo (new engine option) aircraft, three A321neos and one A320ceo (current engine option) jet.

But the airline stressed that the exact mix of the aircraft will be confirmed later.

The deal was announced at the International Air Transport Association’s Annual General Meeting in Doha, Qatar, today.

Delivery of the A320neos is expected to begin in late 2017, but the airline expects to receive the A320ceo early next year.

The fuel-efficient A320neos will be used on Air New Zealand’s Tasman and Pacific Island routes.

“These aircraft will help to ensure we continue to operate one of the world’s youngest jet fleets,” said CEO Christopher Luxon.

“This new fleet will further enhance the experience for our customers and will drive fuel efficiency enabling us to minimise our carbon footprint by saving around 3,600 tonnes of CO2 per aircraft per year.”

Airbus says it has some 2,700 orders for A320neo models from 50 customers.

 

Air New Zealand to release safety video

06 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Air New Zealand, Airlines, Culture, New Zealand, News, Safety Videos, Social, Sports Illustrated, Tourism, Travel

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Coming soon, to a screen near you: “Safety in Paradise.”

That’s a video produced by Air New Zealand in partnership with Sports Illustrated.

The video was shot in the Cook Islands and features several top models.

“Safety in Paradise” will be released on Feb. 12.

A trailer of what is billed as “the world’s most beautiful safety video” has been posted on YouTube.

Air NZ, Singapore Airlines sign deal

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Air New Zealand, Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Aviation, Boeing, Business, New Zealand, News, Singapore, Singapore Airlines, Tourism, Transport, Travel

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Air New ZealandAir New Zealand is returning to Singapore eight years after pulling out of the city.

The resumption of Auckland-Singapore service is part of a major deal announced today by Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines.

The agreement will also enable Singapore Airlines to operate the Airbus A380 superjumbo to Auckland for the first time. The deal also calls for codesharing on several sectors.

Both airlines praised the alliance.SIA

“An alliance with Singapore Airlines clearly fits our business objectives of working with the right partners in the right markets to deliver seamless customer journeys,” said Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon.

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong called the deal another example of the carrier’s commitment to the Southwest Pacific market.

“This is a genuine win-win partnership, enabling Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand to work together to provide more flight frequency and enhanced travel options to our customers.”

The Competition Commission of Singapore and the New Zealand Minister of Transport have yet to approve the deal.

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