The egalitarian shift in airline lounge thinking continues – with travellers keen on lounges open to those who pay at the door, rather than just to frequent flyers and passengers travelling at the pointy end of the plane.
Lounges where you can pay to enter are spreading. Plaza Premium Lounge has long operated on that basis. They first opened in Hong Kong in 1998 and are now found in over 160 locations at 44 international airports.
Another entrant, No1 Lounges, is an award-winning, UK-based airport lounge operator, founded in 2006 by former Tony and Olivier Award-winning theatre producer Phil Cameron.
The Virgin Australia lounges, and those of Etihad, are run by No1 Lounges, which claims to be the only operator of multiple lounge brands: My Lounge (aimed at the leisure markets), No1 Lounges (its core, business-class brand), the Clubrooms (its most premium UK brand) and The House – the latest addition to the collection, designed to serve major international hub airports.
In the latest move, the Plaza Premium Group, the airport hospitality services pioneer, will next year will open its first lounge in the US: Plaza Premium Lounge in Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) international Airport. At the same airport, Plaza Premium Group will soon offer its airport meet-and-greet service Allways, which provides a range of bespoke services including welcome greetings, escort through custom and security check, and baggage handling.
Plaza Premium Group is also expanding in China, India and Indonesia. Its total investment in the next two years is USD 100 million.
Entrance of Plaza Premium Lounge at London Heathrow T2
“We have a proven track record of developing and managing airport hospitality services in the world including Brazil and Canada in the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe,” said Plaza Premium Group founder and chief executive, Song Hoi-see.
“It’s time for us to introduce our engaging and welcoming hospitality to the US market.
“DFW Airport is among the busiest airports not only in the US but the world; it is also an internationally renowned transport hub with nonstop international and domestic services to almost 250 destinations. This represents a huge market potential for us to showcase our well-reputed airport hospitality services, thanks to DFW Airport.”
Three-time (2016-2018) winner of Skytrax “World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge,” Plaza Premium Lounge is the largest network of independent airport lounges.
Plaza Premium Group develops and operates lounges for leading airlines, alliances and corporates around the world, including Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Star Alliance, SkyTeam, American Express and many more.
Written by Peter Needham
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