WOW. What a weekend. I’ve only written this now as it was a big weekend and it started in style, thanks to Patrón and ended with taking some time to recover…

Día de los Muertos also known as Day of the Dead is originally a holiday celebrated in Mexico where families celebrate and remember those who have passed on. Aside from the celebrations, families dress up in their best and join the festivities and amongst the foods served for kids and adults, Tequila is served to the adults members of the families.

Friday August 13th may not traditionally be known as Día de los Muertos in South Africa but in Cape Town, folks have their own traditions and Cape Town is known for not only doing things differently but better. The scene was set and the Friday the 13th came and what a night it was.

Keeping with tradition, what better Tequila to be served with this celebration than Patrón. On the subject of dressing up, Friday the 13th was a big mix of glamour, voodoo and all the witch doctor darkness you’d expect and local celebrities looking nothing short of sizzling and sexy while those who were made the extra effort for the theme, definitely looked the part as if they had come straight from the grave.

Dark damp lighting and an artistic atmosphere together with the perfect blend of Patrón Tequila and VIP guests, ensured what would set the scene for a perfect evening. A mixture of burlesque and dark performances and music to match accompanied the atmosphere perfectly. VIP’s were treated to the smooth Patrón Silver. Believe us when we tell you, it went down. Well.

This is one of the best Tequila’s you’ll find and in terms of the range of Patrón, it comes a close second next to Gran Patrón Platinum. Well some prefer Gran Patrón Burdeos but Silver is definitely second not only in my books but many of the VIP’s on the night.

As the evening unfolded and the Tequila flowed, attendees celebrated the night as well as the whole range of Patrón Tequilas. Once the acts had completed the floor opened up to quality DJ’s and music at which time I’ll simply say, if you were not there you definitely missed out because in some cases what happens at the party, stays at the party.

Speaking of parties though, honestly I’ve had a number of brands and if you want quality, try Patrón. If the Silver or Gran Burdeos is not for you, there’s also the Añejo, Reposado and XO Cafe flavours which will definitely get you in the mood.

If you’ve missed out, take a look at some of the pictures, which offers just a small glimpse into this sexy evening. Can’t wait for the next one… [Some videos will be uploaded in a few days]

Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong have launched their flagship sports car SLS AMG in the city, making Hong Kong one of the first Asian markets to get the Gullwing super sports car within the first few weeks of its production. The car is the first Mercedes automobile designed in-house by AMG and is described by Mercedes as a spiritual successor to the 300SL Gullwing.

In celebration of the launch of their new car, Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong held a ceremony on July 16th at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. At the press launch, famous artist, Chi Lam Cheung and celebrity model, Jennifer Tse, led the unveiling ceremony to witness the noteworthy moment alongside with media representatives.

Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong attracted over 1000 affluent, prestigious guests in town to experience the extravagant and superior SLS AMG at the launch event in the evening.

The launch party highlights were the up-beat unveiling performances, including pyro dance and bungee dance performed by Circus O, a well known Canada-based pyrotechnic and stunt show performing group.

Two Gullwing SLS AMG super sports cars then descended from the air and one driving out from the main stage, creating a fascinating picture. The model enjoyed a great deal of success since it was first introduced thanks to its gullwing doors.

The SLS AMG is equipped with a 6.2l V8 engine from AMG, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, that delivers 420kW and 650nm of Torque. This allows the new Gullwing to sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds, despite of its 1620 kg overall weight.

The top speed is electronically limited at 317 km/h and the fuel consumption level shows a combined 13.2l/100 km figure. Additional exterior styling cues include LED technology and motor racing/aviation inspired elements.

The SLS AMG is now available in Hong Kong HK$3198000 / US$412000 and Macau HK$2537000 / $327000.

June 3rd in Cape Town not only marked the birthday of a good friend but also the launch of a new vehicle. The Aston Martin Rapide. While I love all things powerful, beautiful and coupe [in terms of vehicles of course…] this all changed with the launch of the Aston Martin Rapide.

Yes, this is a four door Aston and Aston Martin have not only managed to keep the looks but managed to create a car that seats four and this time went out their way to go over the top in terms of attention to detail, secret gadgets and just pure refinement. Every design line is smooth and flowing inside and out and there’s that sense that you’ve arrived once setting sight upon this vehicle. Let’s not forget the power brought to you by the 6 litre V12 engine from the DB9 pushing out 350kW. The boot isn’t very big but it does have a dual compartment which can be revealed by lifting a panel and it has funky magnetic catches. Now there’s definitely no excuse now not to buy a sports car if you have a family.

Stepping inside the vehicle, you’re not only basked in luxury and comfort but also the soft and comfortable bucket-style seats really make you feel in control, whether you’re the driver or passenger. This is because all four seats are designed in this way and separate, not to mention hand-stitching adding to the sense of luxury and detail. Everything in the interior fits, from the long centre console which stretches all the way to the rear, to the screens in the seats. For those times that the family may not want to hear that sonorous and torquey V12, not to worry, there’s a 1000w Bang & Olufsen that will definitely keep you entertained especially for those audiophiles. There’s some secret gadgets to this vehicle but you’ll have to check that out for yourself.

The designer of Aston Martin as well as the beautiful One 77 featured in the Johannesburg launch but while that wasn’t at the Cape Town launch, the Rapide, beautiful people and great company more than made up for it. It is really Power, Beauty, Soul. The Aston Martin Rapide in South Africa will cost you R2.8 Million (± €300000) but that’s perfect because you’re not only getting a sports car but a family car as well.

http://www.astonmartin.co.za/
http://www.astonmartin.com/

The Trump SoHo New York is set to open April 9, signaling the Trump group’s determination to continue building a name for itself with ultra-luxury travelers.

The collection, run by Donald Trump and three of his children, currently boasts just four properties in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Waikiki.

The Trump SoHo, a 46-storey, 391-room glass tower in the center of downtown Manhattan, may be the most impressive property in the portfolio so far.

And the group isn’t finished yet ! Later this year, it will open a new property in Panama, before expanding into Canada in 2011.

“2010 is a key year for Trump Hotel Collection as we open our first location outside of the U.S. and bring a new level of luxury hospitality to Downtown New York,” said Trump’s Jim Petrus earlier this year.

“In addition, we’ve just begun an extensive renovation of our flagship on Central Park West. Trump Hotel Collection is committed to delivering the best hotel experience anywhere in the world, from cutting‐edge architecture and interior design to The Spa at Trump and the signature services of the Trump Attaché.”

With other projects “in development” in Dubai, Cap Cana, Scotland and New Orleans, Trump clearly believes that there is a strong market in the ultra-luxury services it offers.

The largest penthouse suite of the Trump SoHo, on the top floor of the hotel, is reportedly the largest penthouse suite on the East Coast.

Trump describes the two-storey lobby of the hotel as “reminiscent of hotels of the early 20th century,” lauding the hotel’s library and exclusive Fendi Case furnishings.

The 1020 square meter spa features an outdoor pool deck and bar, while the penthouse rooms come with a chef upon request — just in case the hotel’s 24-hour room service doesn’t cut it.

For guests looking to escape their rooms, the hotel offers the three-storey Italian restaurant Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, which has proved popular in other Trump properties.

As the economy recovers, Donald and Co. are betting that they can woo luxury travelers with their strong brand name, although initial reports suggest that sales of the condominiums in the complex have been slower than expected.

In summer, luxury hotel chain InterContinental will open a 36-storey Manhattan tower of its own in Times Square, adding 607 guestrooms to the already burgeoning New York hotel market.

For luxury travelers on a budget though, this competition could mean a bargain — Donald Trump Junior recently stated that the hotel will open with rates of around $389, which he hopes will rise to around $500 by fall.

“The global economy is recovering. The financial markets came back, especially emerging markets,” said magazine editor-in-chief Steve Forbes. “There’s a 50 percent increase in general global wealth compared to last year,” Forbes said. Certainly the economy recovered for the super rich, who took a beating during last year’s stock and commodity market collapses, but saw across-the-board gains this year. Forbes counted 1,011 billionaires from 55 countries, up from 793 last year, though still shy of the pre-crisis 1,125 listed in 2008.

Slim, 70, took the top spot for the first time, pushing Microsoft founder Bill Gates out as he rose from third place on the success of America Movil, Latin America’s biggest mobile phone operator. This was the first time since 1994 that a non-US citizen took the spot.

Despite Gates, 54, slipping to second place, the United States remained by far the dominant home of the super-rich, with 403 billionaires, or 40 percent of the world’s ten-figure fortunes, down from 45 percent.

That includes number three Warren Buffett, who at 79 is considered one of the most reliable and successful Wall Street investors, and Oracle’s Lawrence Ellison, 65, who completed a 7.4-billion-dollar buyout of Sun Microsystems in January.

The list includes 97 fresh billionaires, 62 of them charging out of Asia, a region that saw booming stock markets and several large public offerings in the past year.

Mainland China was for the first time the country with the most billionaires after the United States with 64, including 27 newly minted ones. Including Hong Kong, the Chinese account for 89 billionaires.

Russia comes in third with 62 billionaires, many of them commodities kings who fell off the list last year, only to see their vast natural resource holdings regain value this year.

Europe is still the number two super-wealthy region, with 248 billionaires. The richest European is France’s Bernard Arnault, 61, whose LVMH sells Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, and other luxury goods, with his net worth at 27.5 billion dollars.

Just behind Arnault is Spain’s Amancio Ortega, owner of the Zara clothing chain, with 25 billion dollars. Asia trails Europe by only 14 billionaires and the region’s net worth of 729 billion dollars is double what it was a year ago. The region’s richest man, oil-and-gas tycoon Mukesh Ambani, 52, climbed to four from seven on the list with a net worth of 29 billion dollars, up 9.5 billion. Pakistan has & Family its first person on the list, Mian Muhammad Mansha, at number 937 with an even one billion dollars. Sorted by city, billionaires congregate first in New York, where there are 60, then Moscow at 50, and London at 32.

http://www.forbes.com/

01] Carlos Slim Helu – Mexico
02] William Gates III – United States
03] Warren Buffett – United States
04] Mukesh Ambani – India
05] Lakshmi Mittal – India
06] Lawrence Ellison – United States
07] Bernard Arnault – France
08] Eike Batista – Brazil
09] Amancio Ortega – Spain
10] Karl Albrecht – Germany
11] Ingvar Kamprad & Family – Sweden
12] Christy Walton & Family – United States
13] Stefan Persson – Sweden
14] Li Ka-shing – Hong Kong
15] Jim Walton – United States
16] Alice Walton – United States
17] Liliane Bettencourt – France
18] S. Robson Walton – United States
19] Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud – Saudi Arabia
20] David Thomson & Family – Canada

Armani Hotel Dubai, the first hotel to open under the collaboration between Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties PJSC, will be officially launched on March 18, 2010, it was announced today.

Exclusively housed in the distinctive Burj Dubai tower, the world’s tallest building, the Armani Hotel Dubai is the first of a series of hotels, resorts and residences designed by Giorgio Armani to be opened around the globe and marks fashion maestro Giorgio Armani’s debut in to the world of hospitality. Defined by its unique location, highest standards of aesthetics and service excellence, the Armani Hotel Dubai will be the most exclusive destination in the city.

The online bookings for the Armani Hotel Dubai will go live on late January 2010, and prospective visitors can register online at www.armanihotels.com to receive further details about the hotel. The opening of the Armani Hotel in Dubai will be followed by the launch of the Armani Hotel Milano. Other properties underway include the first Armani Resort, planned for Marrakech, and the first Armani Residences villas, for Marassi in Egypt. Further Armani hotels, resorts and residences will open subsequently in key international destinations such as New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and London.

Armani Hotels & Resorts was established in 2005 under an agreement between Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties, with the objective to develop, own and operate an exclusive collection of hotels, resorts and residences in the world’s most important cities and holiday destinations. Armani Hotels & Resorts plans to open at least ten hotels and resorts within the next ten years.

Giorgio Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today with over 5,000 direct employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, AJ | Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Teen, Armani Baby and Armani Casa. The exclusive distribution network of the Group comprises 75 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 19 Armani Collezioni shops, 166 Emporio Armani shops, 165 A/X Armani Exchange shops, 17 AJ | Armani Jeans shops, 8 Armani Junior shops, 10 Giorgio Armani Accessori shops, 2 Emporio Armani Accessori shops, 27 Armani Casa shops and 14 Emporio Armani Caffés in 46 countries around the world.

Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer with a significant presence in key markets world-wide. Besides building residential and commercial properties, the company also has proven competencies in shopping malls and retail, as well as in the hospitality and leisure, education, healthcare and financial services sectors. Emaar is developing Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building and free-standing structure, and has opened The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination. In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing King Abdullah Economic City, the region’s largest private sector-led project, featuring a Sea Port, Central Business District, Industrial Zone, Educational Zone, Residential Communities and Resort District.

Emaar has joined with Giorgio Armani to strengthen its presence in hospitality. The company is also opening educational institutions and healthcare centres in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Subcontinent. Emaar holds 30 per cent equity in Dubai Bank, focused on retail and commercial banking. Emaar is also the largest shareholder in Amlak Finance, UAE’s leading Islamic home financing company.

For more information visit http://www.armanihotels.com/ & http://www.emaar.com/

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: Four seasons, four personalities

– Comfortable: AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop plus AIRSCARF®
– Quiet: acoustic soft top as standard
– Safe: robust roll-over protection and new headbags

The highly appealing and emotionally charged Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up. The open-top two-door model, which goes on sale in the first quarter 2010, features a classic fabric soft top, making for a stylistically pure cabriolet feeling. Viewed from the side, the new model is an intriguing proposition – with its clear proportions and a flawless cabriolet silhouette.

In keeping with the motto “four seasons, four personalities”, all-year-round suitability was right at the top of the developers’ list of priorities. With the new E‑Class Cabriolet, the cabriolet season lasts the whole year because, while many cabriolets tend to disappear from the roads of Western Europe in the autumn, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (length/breadth/height: 4698/1786/1402 mm) provides driving pleasure and comfort whether the roof is open or closed.

New features include:

– The AIRCAP® automatic draught-stop: always on board and easily controllable at the push of a button, it reduces turbulence substantially for all four seat occupants
– The modified AIRSCARF® neck-level heating system
– The acoustic soft top fitted as standard

The soft top can be opened and closed fully automatically within 20 seconds – even when driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The cabriolet roof is stowed in a special compartment behind the rear panel. A retractable cover separates the soft top compartment from the boot area; it must be closed in order to close the soft top. If the roof is to remain closed, the cover can be slid rearwards, in which case the boot capacity is increased by 90 litres to 390 litres. A through-loading feature is included as standard for the new Cabriolet, as is EASY-ENTRY – a manually operated entry and exit aid for the rear passengers.

The powerplants for the new E-Class Cabriolet are equally innovative: the new direct-injection diesel and petrol models combine efficiency with effortlessly superior power delivery. The exemplary, low fuel consumption has not only been achieved because of the new engines, but also with a number of practical measures. These include on-demand activation of the steering and fuel pumps, the use of tyres with low rolling resistance and an alternator control system which takes account of the current driving situation and the vehicle’s electrical power requirements, plus the crucial factor of outstanding aerodynamics. The Cabriolet’s cd figure of 0.28 is the best in its class, marking a continuation of the E-Class success story in the field of aerodynamics.

he renewal of the E-Class model family at the heart of the Mercedes brand has come at precisely the right time. The success of the new E-Class shows that even in what are now economically turbulent times, Mercedes brand values such as safety and efficiency, combined with exciting design, enjoy particular significance among discerning customers”, explains Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

As such the E-Class is the clear leader in its market segment: in Germany the E‑Class Saloon enjoys a market share of around 60 percent in its respective segment, while in Western Europe (excluding Germany) its share is more than 40 percent.

The four models in the current Mercedes luxury class series:

The E-Class Saloon: the benchmark in the luxury class. Market launch: March 2009
The E-Class Coupé: excitement can be this efficient.  Market launch: May 2009
The E-Class Estate: intelligent (E)state-of-the-art. Market launch: November 2009
The E-Class Cabriolet: the 4-seater for all 4 seasons. Market launch:  March 2010