In our weekly series, we bring you the latest in luxury news around the world. This week’s highlights: Go diving at Tanjong Jara Resort, Crockfords gets 5 stars, The Maserati Levante is here, and more.
Dive Season Starts At Tanjong Jara Resort
On peninsular Malaysia’s east coast, one finds Tanjong Jara Resort which recalls the elegance of 17th-century Malay palaces. Beginning this month till end September, the waters turn crystalline with the changing of monsoon seasons, allowing guests to unlock the wonders of the underwater world. A 50-minute private speedboat ride takes you from the PADI dive resort to Pulau Tenggol, located in the Terengganu Marine Park. The rich coral carpet seafloor offers a diverse cornucopia of marine life, ranging from giant doubleheaded parrotfish, yellowtail fusiliers, sea turtles, eagle rays, barracudas and even the elusive whale shark in the latter months of the dive season. A 4D/3N Tenggol Divers’ Retreat package (from MYR1,350++ per room, nightly – minimum three-night stay) offers comprehensive inclusions of accommodation, daily breakfasts and dinners, two daily leisure dive excursions over the course of two days, lunch on Tenggol Island during each dive excursion and complimentary use of diving gear.
Crockfords At Resorts World Genting Receives Its Five For Five
For the fifth year running, Crockfords at Resorts World Genting has been conferred the Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star Award, also being the only Malaysian hotel to receive this acclaim among 360 hotels worldwide. This award, the only independent global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, relies on an evaluation against 900 exacting standards by Forbes Travel Guide’s inspectors. For guests checking in to Crockfords, expect the epitome of luxury and grandeur inspired by posh London mansions, across 177 rooms comprising three villas, 19 signature suites, 13 junior suites, 111 superior rooms and 31 premier rooms with accents such as in-room private steam baths, and even karaoke at its Entertainment Suite.
Capella Sydney Opens Its Doors
What was formerly Sydney’s Department of Education Building has now found a new lease of life as Capella Sydney, which welcomes guests starting this week. This city icon which was designed over a century ago has undergone extensive restoration (across seven years) and now includes over 1,500 pieces of art works by various Australian artists the likes of Judy Watson, Otis Hope Carey, Elise Cakebread and Georgia Bisley. Meanwhile, the hotel’s central space is adorned with a large robotic lighting installation by Dutch art duo DRIFT. The Capella Sydney is an entire city block of 192 keys and is moments from Circular Quay, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. To celebrate its opening, the Capella History Journey offers overnight accommodations and various experiences for AUD1,500.
Rolls-Royce Unveils Its Most Technically Complex Bespoke Phantom
A collaboration with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Syntopia is a bespoke masterpiece that takes inspiration from haute couture. Four years in development, it has a ‘Weaving Water’ theme that expresses van Herpen’s inimitable style of fusing technology and craftsmanship. An interior highlight is Rolls-Royce Motor Car’s iconic Starlight Headliner like it has never been seen before, an immaculate piece of leather cut to reveal a pattern in woven fabric, as well as 995 pinpoint lights that are sequentially lit to add a sense of movement. The exterior features a one-off finish that took months to finalise, a colour-shifting pigment laid over deepest black for an iridescent result that is at once purple, blue, magenta, and gold. This unique, one-and-done edition is destined for a private collection and will never be replicated.
The Maserati Levante Comes To Malaysia As A Hybrid
The Maserati Levante has arrived in Malaysia once again, this time as the GT Hybrid. Joining the existing V6 and V8 options of the Levante SUV, the GT Hybrid (from RM738,000) mates a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline-four engine with a mild hybrid system, it promises performance similar to the V6 model but with up to 20 per cent less fuel consumption, as well as improved weight distribution. Capable of up to 330bhp and a 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds, the Levante remains a practical and versatile lifestyle vehicle with an additional flair of Italian design.
