THE FIRST SOFITEL IN INDIA, the hotel had its official launch in August last year. Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is Mumbai’s new business district, home to companies such as Citibank and ICICI, and the National Stock Exchange. In a city notorious for bad traffic, its location near the airport is a big advantage. Interior designer Isabelle Miaja has striven to merge Sofitel’s French roots with Indian elements – seating areas have the feel of Parisian parlours, with floral carpets and figurines, while Indian columns and stone artwork nod to the home country. Staff throughout the hotel are warm and welcoming.
THE ROOM: The 300 rooms and suites start from 38sq m and are rather feminine in design, combining woods and leathers, plush velvets and floral patterns. The marble and mosaic bathrooms have freestanding baths, walk-in rain-showers and L’Occitane toiletries (Hermès in Club rooms and suites). The rooms feature free wifi, 40in LCD TVs, iPod docks and media hubs. Standard facilities include Illy coffee machines and free bottled water and newspapers. RESTAURANTS & BARS: One of the hotel’s biggest strengths. Off the lobby is the 24-hour Pondichery café and adjoining glitzy Le Bar Diamantaire. Breakfast is served in the Pondichery, along with lunch and dinner buffets and à la carte options. There are two Indian restaurants – vegetarian Tuskers and signature tandoor restaurant
Jyran. Both are excellent – try Jyran’s mouth-watering nahari al subho (lamb shank curry) and black dahl. BUSINESS FACILITIES: These are on the first floor and comprise nine rooms, with the Grand Salon ballroom holding 252 delegates theatre-style. There is also a business centre. LEISURE FACILITIES: On the third floor, the So spa has six treatment rooms – I had a relaxing Japanese Ko Bi Do facial. There is also a well-equipped gym and an outdoor pool. Guests in Club rooms and suites can use the sleek 14th-floor Club Millésime lounge, serving complimentary drinks, breakfast and evening canapés. VERDICT: A luxurious business property with great staff, excellent dining options and a good location for travellers doing business in BKC or who want fast airport access.
LUFTHANSA WAS THE FIRST airline to fly the B747-8, dubbed the ‘Queen of the Skies’. It entered operation in June last year on the daily Frankfurt-Washington Dulles service. The aircraft plies the route on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with the other two days served by a B747-400. The aircraft has the carrier’s new fully-flat business seat, also found on select A330s.
CHECK-IN & LOUNGE: I through- checked in at Heathrow for flight LH418 from Frankfurt. I went through the new A-Plus pier – open since October for Lufthansa and Star Alliance carriers – to reach the non-Schengen Lufthansa business lounge Z. It was big and bright with runway views, plenty of seating, a self- service bar and buffet – and a work zone with PCs. THE SEAT: Lufthansa’s B747-8 has 362 seats – eight first class, 92 business (60 on the main deck, 32 on the upper deck) and 262 economy. The upper deck business cabin has eight rows in a 2-2 configuration (A-C, H-K). The seats are in a V-configuration, angled towards each other in pairs, with footstools next to each other (separated by a partition) and shoulders further apart – there is no privacy screen. Seats are comfortable and recline fully-flat to make a 77.9in bed. Upper deck seats feel more exclusive, and here window-seat passengers benefit from big stowage cabinets. FOOD & DRINK: Service was excellent throughout. After 45 minutes, drinks were served, followed half an hour later by
the meal service. The menu explained that Lufthansa changes its premium menus every two months, with the dishes created by international ‘star chefs’. Options included marinated Chilean shrimps with yuzu jelly and chicken leg satay-style with bell pepper and jasmine rice. Wines included champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaique champagne and Château La Raze Beauvallet Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2008. WORK & PLAY: The seats feature a 15in IFE screen and universal in-seat power. The central armrest stores the IFE control and headphones as well as the fold-out tray table, which is stable for eating and using a laptop. On my flight, entertainment included 50 movies (not a huge selection of new ones), and a wide choice of TV, audio and music. VERDICT: A very enjoyable service. While Lufthansa’s new seat doesn’t offer the same privacy as some of its competitors, and the V-configuration and lack of aisle access for all may not please everyone, it is a big step up from its previous angled lie-flat product.