11 minute read
UniqueHomes.com
ravel, even with a first-class
ticket in hand, can try any passenger’s patience, jostling with long lines at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and customs checkpoints, consuming mass-produced meals and enduring overcrowded lounges before boarding. But a company called PS ensures pampered treatment for commercial airline customers before and after flights at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The company will soon be introducing the same services at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the world’s busiest.
Mounting frustrations over air travel have led to an explosion of private jet charters and fractional aircraft ownership programs, but PS eliminates most of the irritations over flying commercial airlines. Founded in 2017 as The Private Suite, PS is essentially an exclusive luxury terminal with a wide range of resources, including a stylish lounge called The Salon, private VIP suites in which to refresh before boarding, a no-hassle TSA checkpoint and chauffeured luxury sedan transportation directly to the aircraft.
Noting the concept already exists internationally, PS co-CEO Amina Porter explains, “Airports in the U.S. are becoming increasingly congested, and with so much innovation happening inside the plane cabin, we felt there was an opportunity to improve the airport experience.” To illustrate that vision, she posits, “Imagine boarding a commercial flight without having to see a counter, line, crowd or gate!” While airports in the U.S. have increasingly focused on security, Porter insists that PS offers luxury and privacy without compromising security.
Joining PS means never standing in line again for TSA checks — and upon return the routine is equally seamless, including clearing customs privately and painlessly. This is how celebrities travel, but Porter says of her clientele, “Our members range from public figures to businesspeople to couples splurging on their honeymoon.” She adds, “They choose PS, whether occasionally or regularly, because they know PS upgrades their travel experience in a stress-free, luxurious way.”
While membership has its advantages, anybody can reserve PS services for a special trip. Non-member rates are currently $995 for use of the club-like Salon and $4,650 for a private suite that accommodates four or more. All-access annual membership fees are currently $4,850, which includes discounted or complimentary services throughout the year.
PS never shuttered during the pandemic, and Porter reports travelers’ desire to avoid large crowds naturally sparked increased interest in her services. “PS has benefited from travelers prioritizing safety and social distancing. Not only did we invent socially distant luxury, but our members absolutely love eliminating traffic, lines, shared surfaces, crowded concourses, and gate areas as they’re getting back in the groove of regular travel, says the hospitality executive.
The company used the pandemic-induced slowdown in air travel to enhance and expand its physical environments. “We took the low travel volumes as an opportunity to not only upgrade our existing spaces — the private suites, outdoor garden, the kitchen — but also introduce a
brand-new concept: a social lounge at PS named The Salon,” reports Porter. “We worked with celebrity interior designer Cliff Fong to create the exact aesthetic we were looking for: a residential, collected and elevated ambiance that feels a world away from an airport lounge,” she explains.
The PS facility, located on the opposite side of the runways from the main terminal buildings at LAX, is about a two-mile drive on access roads unburdened by L.A.’s typically horrendous traffic. The most accessible space within the PS facility is the tastefully designed Salon — with its sleek bar and cushy lounge furniture, it has the air of a buzzworthy Beverly Hills restaurant — that is the equivalent to a private social club at the airport.
The company’s 20,000-square-foot building at LAX also contains 12 private suites, each attended to by a professional staff ranging from onsite concierge to private chauffeur. “It takes no less than eight PS team members to make the magic of a suite experience happen,” relates Porter. For the suites, designer Fong created a sophisticated residential aesthetic with soothing color palettes, high-end finishes, thoughtfully curated artwork, and coffee table volumes from Paris-founded publisher/ bookseller Assouline.
Each suite offers a pantry loaded with high-quality products, an equally well-stocked bar, cushy daybeds and marble-clad bathrooms complete with Japanese smart toilets. A generous supply of complimentary toiletries, beauty products and over-the-counter medications are provided to ensure a safe, comfortable journey. The PS suites, which have the relaxed feel of high-end condominiums, can be enjoyed up to three hours before or after a flight.
Supplementing the pantry and bar resources is high-end cuisine created in the company’s onsite commercial kitchen, but special requests are always accommodated. For an additional fee, guests can order food from anywhere in town, whether it be Spago or In-N-Out Burger, the latter very much in demand by Angelenos returning home after a long trip away from their favorite fastfood fix. Other amenities facilitated by PS staff include in-suite massages, manicures or hair styling, and physician visits, which the pandemic made a popular request among members.
When it is time to board one’s flight, private TSA checks are conducted inside the PS facility (sans the excruciating lines, of course), after which guests are escorted to a BMW 7-Series sedan for the short drive to their flight. PS clients are delivered directly to the aircraft, where they board either first or last, thereby avoiding the congestion and lines experienced at the gate.
Illustrating the ease of PS’ door-to-door transition, Porter notes that the entire distance from automobile to airplane door at LAX is a mere 70 steps for her clients, compared to approximately 2,200 steps for the average passenger. With sedan service, private customs check and suite availability, the return leg is equally agreeable. And with the company’s optional PS Direct service, passengers can be whisked directly from their arriving aircraft to their final destination, such as a corporate office, hotel or home.
Following her firm’s debut in Atlanta this fall, Porter envisions an ambitious expansion for PS, providing far greater numbers of passengers an opportunity to experience air travel in a luxurious new way. “We want to be in every major U.S. airport,” says the pioneering travel and hospitality entrepreneur.
High-Altitude Alberta
America’s portfolio of spectacular national parks is unrivaled, but for one of the continent’s most stunning displays of purple mountain majesties, adventurers slip across the northern border.
he Rocky Mountains, dramatically ascending from the plains, are not only North America’s most dramatic topographical feature, but present an ideal opportunity to connect with nature. The states of Colorado, Utah and Montana certainly provide magnificent mountain vistas, but one of the most magical settings in the Rockies lies not far across the Canadian border: Banff National Park in the province of Alberta.
Banff, established in 1885, was Canada’s first national park and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, an awe-inspiring destination for hiking in summer or snowshoeing in winter. The town of Banff, located within the confines of the national park, is a charming community filled with B&Bs, brewpubs and boutiques. Less than an hour up the scenic Bow Valley is Lake Louise, whose tranquil waters are a gorgeous, otherworldly aquamarine color. A few hours further north is Jasper National Park, and the scenery along Icefields Parkway makes it well worth the drive.
Travel writer Andrew Hempstead, a 25-year resident of Banff who has authored and edited many internationally-published guidebooks on the Canadian Rockies, reports Banff National Park is unique relative to its American counterparts. “There are mountain destinations throughout the world, but Banff National Park has a town right in the midst of it,” says Hempstead, noting the community of Banff offers upscale restaurants and hotels for those seeking more than wilderness.
Included in Hempstead’s list of resources for travelers who insist on being pampered while visiting Banff National Park is Fairmont Banff Springs, a château-style resort overlooking the Bow River. The property was originally constructed in 1888 and thanks to its first-class accommodations, amenities and service, the now-luxury hotel’s nickname “Castle in the Rockies” is well-deserved.
“Along with stunning, blue-green lakes, snow-capped peaks and abundant wildlife, the destination also boasts a lively culinary scene and ample opportunity to unwind with luxurious spa treatments and unique wellness experiences,” reports Fairmont Banff Springs hotel manager David Garcelon. “Our guests visit from around the world, seeking adventure, luxury and relaxation at our iconic ‘Castle in the Rockies,’” he adds.
Fairmont Banff Springs, located within picturesque Banff National Park, has earned the nickname “Castle in the Rockies.”
“Adventure and luxury are not mutually exclusive, and guests of Fairmont Banff Springs seek resort experiences that combine the best of both,” states the manager.
Amenities at Fairmont Banff Springs include a worldclass spa and championship golf course set against a backdrop of alpine glory, while sophisticated diners enjoy caviar, foie gras and venison loin in a grand dining room. With its panoramic views, the hotel’s two-story, 1,500-square-foot Royal Suite — its nightly rate starts at $5,000 in high season (May-October) — has indeed hosted members of the royal family, as well as Hollywood royalty. For an entirely different experience, one closer to wilderness without sacrificing comfort, travel writer Andrew Hempstead recommends one of Banff National Park’s upscale backcountry lodges. Among them is Assiniboine Lodge, a historic Rocky Mountain retreat that is accessible by helicopter, hiking or skiing.
Banff Springs is not the only investment Toronto-based Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has made in Banff National Park, as the imposing Fairmont Château Lake Louise overlooks the impossibly turquoise-hued body of water for which it is named. Like its sister property, the Château’s upscale amenities include luxury accommodations,
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
Fairmont Château Lake Louise overlooks the stunning aquamarinehued body of water for which it is named; the Rocky Mountaineer offers stunning views of rugged peaks and whitewater rapids from luxurious carriages; refined cuisine amidst the unspoiled Canadian Rockies at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY OF FAIRMONT CHÂTEAU LAKE LOUISE; PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKY MOUNTAINEER; PHOTO COURTESY OF FAIRMONT JASPER PARK LODGE
fine dining and a sumptuous lakeside afternoon tea. The 539room hotel, with extensive spa facilities and unlimited outdoor activities, is also known for its immersive wellness program. In winter, Château Lake Louise is transformed into a wonderland where guests explore an ice castle, ride sleighs and enjoy fondue at alpine-themed Walliser Stube restaurant.
The Rimrock Resort, located within Banff National Park, was originally founded in the 19th century on the site of healing hot springs. A modest inn evolved into a sprawling luxury hotel with an international clientele, and its 800-square-foot Suite Infinity features an 1,100-square-foot balcony from which to take in expansive views. At Eden, the Rimrock Resort’s acclaimed restaurant, an artfully-presented eight-course Grande Dégustation menu may include smoked elk tartare, caviar-topped halibut and Wagyu steak with morel mushrooms, paired with selections from a global, 60-page wine list.
For particularly stunning scenery — panoramic vistas of six mountain ranges and the entire Bow Valley — visitors can book a table at Sky Bistro on the summit of Sulphur Mountain, accessed by the Banff Gondola. The tram’s glass-ensconced, four-passenger cabins rise from the valley floor to an observation deck with 360degree views, making the excursion an essential component of any trip to Banff National Park.
At nearby Jasper National Park is Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, whose signature cabin collection presents an opportunity to “rough it” in luxury, with some log-built cabins offering 5,000-plus square feet of elegantly rustic living space and modern amenities. As a popular Hollywood filming location, Bing Crosby, Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum have taken up residence here, as have King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge cabins remain a memorable way to experience the Canadian Rockies in style.
Banff and Jasper are both stops on the Rocky Mountaineer, one of North America’s most glamorous trains, operating several routes in the Canadian Rockies and another through Colorado and Utah. In addition to the usual romance of the rails, the Mountaineer’s glass-roofed cars capture sweeping views of rugged mountains and whitewater rapids as the train rolls from Banff to Vancouver, an idyllic two-day journey.
Rocky Mountaineer president and CEO David McKenna states, “Whether traveling to or from the national parks, a Rocky Mountaineer train journey is a must-do experience that will complement any itinerary in this region.” He adds, “Our trains travel only by daylight, so guests don’t miss a moment of the everchanging landscapes while they’re dining on regionally inspired cuisine and being entertained by onboard hosts sharing stories of the history, peoples and communities along the routes.”
The bi-level cars accommodating the Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf Service passengers feature generously spaced seating beneath glass domes in the upper level, with an elegant dining room below. Emphasizing that exceptional cuisine is a priority on every Rocky Mountaineer journey, McKenna states, “We locally source our products wherever possible, so the culinary experience truly reflects and enhances the regions the train travels through.”
McKenna reports that the Rocky Mountaineer draws passengers from around the world, with strong bookings from Canada, the U.S., Great Britain and Australia. “Our guests are often celebrating life milestones, like anniversaries and birthdays, and we regularly welcome multi-generational families traveling together,” says the chief executive.
