SCOTLAND. Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has opened its first Plaza Premium Lounge in Scotland at Edinburgh Airport. The centrepiece of the 760sq m lounge is the stylish Edinburgh Gin Bar, a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Ian Macleod Distillers-owned Edinburgh Gin.
Offering panoramic views, the 165-guest facility becomes the hospitality company’s seventh European location.
The lounge has floor to ceiling windows, overlooking the Firth of Forth bridges and the runway to the north, the Pentland Hills to the South and Edinburgh city to the east.
It features colourful natural botanicals along the top of the bar, intricate brass and glass displays, art deco style faceted bar front and stylish contemporary lighting. Here, mixologists serve a wide range of Edinburgh gin cocktails including three exclusive to Plaza Premium Lounge.
Ian Macleod Distillers Global Travel Retail Director William Ovens said: “This partnership is an important development for our business and takes Ian Macleod Distillers brands into an exciting new space in the airport environment.”
He added: “Edinburgh Gin enjoys a leading and pioneering role in the gin category and this collaboration allows us to showcase Edinburgh Gin’s flavour, craft and creativity with travellers in a stunning environment in its home city.”
The lounge’s interior is adorned with Scottish accents including local traditional tartan fabrics, woods and a selection of local artwork referencing key Scottish landmarks.
With sustainability in mind, furniture and materials for the lounge have been sourced from local suppliers to minimise environmental impact, PPG noted. The lighting scheme is comprised of 100% LED lighting, and the facility is equipped with energy-efficient appliances.
The lounge also caters for children with a special zone. The play area provides a shuffleboard, interactive wall games and a small climbing wall.
There is an extensive food menu available, with travellers able to savour traditional Scottish fare such as haggis and potato scones, as well as fish and chips and burgers.
PPG Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa Okan Kufeci said: “We were very thoughtful about our guests’ needs and their profile when designing this lounge. We wanted a space that considered the different types of travellers, be it business, leisure and even the little ones. Travelling can be quite stressful, even more so when you have children with you.
“We hope to be able to help travellers and their little ones cope with the stress of travelling by providing a space to unwind and also a space for children to play and to be entertained during their dwell time.”
He added: “Besides these features, we also looked into having more sustainable attributes in our lounges. We wanted to ensure that our lounge uses locally sourced materials and energy-efficient appliances. We will be incorporating more sustainability elements into our new lounges and operations as this represents our company sustainability strategy.”
Edinburgh Airport Director of Retail and Property Gail Taylor said: “Creating spaces that add a touch of luxury can really enhance the passenger experience and get that holiday or trip of a lifetime off to the best possible start, and the new Plaza Premium Lounge will offer just that.
“Working with partners who understand travel hospitality and showcasing some of the country’s very best products will ensure our global passengers leave with a world-class taste of Scotland.”
The lounge is open daily to all travellers regardless of airline or class of travel, and without pre-booking. There is an opening offer of up to -20% for walk-in and online bookings, while AMEX Platinum and Dragon Pass cardholders can enjoy complimentary access to the lounge.
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