Travel has been making an astounding recovery as we see the pandemic in the rear view mirror. In Sydney Airport alone, a staggering 3.06 million passengers passed through in June 2023, marking an 89.9% rebound from pre-pandemic levels (June 2019). As more and more travellers pack up and board their flights, the airport hospitality industry must come together to ensure that travellers get the best and most convenient experiences as they rekindle their love of discovering new places.
Plaza Premium Group, the world’s leading airport hospitality service provider, stepped up to the challenge by opening its first in-airport hotel brand, Aerotel, and first arrivals lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge Arrivals, at the Sydney International Airport last August 2022.
Traveloscopy attended the anniversary celebrations at the Arrivals lounge and inspected the Aerotel facilities on offer as well as meeting PPG’s Founder and CEO, Mr Song Hoi See.
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| Plaza Premium Lounge International Arrivals (supplied) |
Most travellers utilising Sydney International Airport would be familiar with the Plaza Premium Lounge located airside whether they had visited the facility or not. But it is possible those same travellers may not be aware of the 15 rooms and lounge facilities landside in Arrivals Hall B.
The history of airport hotels can be traced back to The Oakland Airport Inn which first opened its doors to the traveling public on 15 July 1929 and where Amelia Earhart was a regular guest.
This places PPG's Aerotel in direct competition with these conventional hotels and all their familiar accomodation facilities.
"When talking to travellers sleeping on airport floors, I asked them why they weren't using the hotel just a few steps way," Mr Song told me, "They said me they didn't want to pay for 24hrs when all they needed was just a few hours rest. So I had the idea of offering a compact hotel room and lounge in 3- and 6-hours blocks."
Sydney's Aerotel is the only in-terminal hotel yet is distinct from PPG's many other airside (or transit) hotels where the traveller can grab a snooze and a shower in between flights without passing through the destination's Customs and Immigration. Sydney, however, is not a transit airport and is also a curfew airport, so there is no requirement for an airside sleepover.
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| Double Plus Room sleeps two and ranges from 9-11sqm (supplied) |
The rooms are comparable in size and amenity to typical airside hotels with space for a full size single or double bed, a TV and modern ensuite bathroom. Coffee and tea facilities are in a shared common area and access to the Arrivals Lounge (open 0600-1800 daily for hot food and alcohol) is at extra charge.
A standard room sleeps two and is 10sqm. Rates vary according to demand and will display upon booking here.
Tips for travellers: AEROTEL SYDNEY is located at Sydney Airport, International Terminal (T1), Level 1 Arrivals B (outside airport restricted area). The entrance is inside the Arrivals hall (after clearing arrivals customs and passport control) between 0230-2300 hrs. After hours entrance is from outside the terminal, opposite the taxi rank. Please ring the bell to let reception know you have arrived.
About Plaza Premium Group (source: https://www.plazapremiumgroup.com/media-release/)
About Plaza Premium Group (source: https://www.plazapremiumgroup.com/media-release/)
With a mission to Make Travel Better, Plaza Premium Group is the pioneer and industry leader in
innovating global airport hospitality services and facilities in over 250 locations of more than 70
international airports across the world. Established in 1998 and headquartered in Hong Kong, the
group comprises four core business segments – airport lounges Plaza Premium First and Plaza
Premium Lounge; airport terminal hotels Aerotel; Airport meet & greet services ALLWAYS and a range
of Airport Dining concepts. The Group has also developed Smart Traveller, a mobile-app based global
airport membership programme that is designed for air travellers, offering uniquely-curated perks,
benefits and rewards experience through points earning and redemption. In addition to its own brands,
Plaza Premium Group provides airport hospitality solutions to leading airlines, alliances, and
corporates around the world, including but not limited to Cathay Pacific Airways, Singapore Airlines,
China Southern Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Star Alliance, SkyTeam, American Express, Capital One and many more.
The Group has won more than 60 accolades in the last five years, including “World’s Best Independent
Airport Lounge” for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2022 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, the
global benchmark of aviation excellence, and “Best Airport Lounge Operator” for 2018 & 2019 by TTG
Asia magazine. In 2020, the Group has successfully been awarded ISO 9001:2015 for Hong Kong
Headquarters, proving the quality management in providing airport lounge services. In addition, the
group’s Founder and CEO Mr. Song Hoi-see was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and
Master Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 Malaysia. Plaza Premium Group currently employs over 5,000
staff and serves more than 20 million global passengers annually. By continuously innovating and striving to surpass travellers’ expectations of airport experiences, the group is growing exponentially
across major international airports globally.
To learn more: www.plazapremiumgroup.com
Connect with: LinkedIn @plazapremiumgroup, Twitter @PPG_worldleader and WeChat
@PlazaPremiumGroup
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