Marriott International’s Luxury Group, encompassing eight renowned hotel brands including The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and W Hotels, has partnered with Blade Urban Air Mobility to offer an exclusive array of immersive experiences. This collaboration elevates the summer travel experience for guests, offering them the opportunity to fly directly between the airport and their hotel destinations in New York City using Blade’s helicopter service.
From July 1st to September 2nd, 2024, guests staying at select Luxury Group properties in New York City can enjoy a complimentary roundtrip Blade airport helicopter transfer as part of an exclusive package. This service provides seamless connections to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, ensuring a swift and stress-free travel experience.
Guests staying two nights or more in select suites at The St. Regis New York, JW Marriott Essex House New York, W New York – Union Square, The New York EDITION, The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, and The Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown are eligible for this exclusive service. This allows them to maximize their travel enjoyment and minimize time spent on the road, ensuring that every aspect of their journey is as luxurious and seamless as the destination itself.
“Spanning the Luxury Group’s portfolio of brands, this collaboration with Blade advances our mission to provide guests with exceptional service and amenities through innovation and imagination,” says George Hammer, Global Head of Luxury Marketing, Marriott International. “As summer travel season can be especially hectic, we’re excited to introduce this bespoke partnership that will streamline and enhance our guests’ journeys before even setting foot in our suites.”
Guests flying with Blade helicopters will be treated to breathtaking views of New York City’s iconic skyline through panoramic windows. This allows them to travel from the airport to central Manhattan in as little as five minutes, dramatically cutting down commute time. Upon arrival at the helipad at Blade Lounge East on East 34th Street or the newly renovated Blade Lounge West on West 30th Street, a luxury car service will be waiting to chauffeur guests directly to their suites.
As an added benefit, all guests staying at participating hotels will have access to exclusive rates for Blade Airport and Blade Ground Connect car transfers, available for all room categories. This provides savvy visitors to New York City with the opportunity to bypass traffic and stress, optimizing their summer travel experience.
To celebrate this collaboration, the Luxury Group will introduce seasonal pop-up activations at Blade Lounge West and Blade Lounge East, enhancing every aspect of the guest journey. Both lounges will be transformed with experiential, multi-sensory features inspired by the distinct brands within the Luxury Group.
Guests will be immersed in signature scents from EDITION, curated playlists from W Hotels, and a live JW Garden cultivating fresh garnishes for pre-flight refreshments at Blade Lounge West. They will also have the opportunity to explore their next travel destination by browsing the Luxury Group portfolio, which includes over 500 properties worldwide, through in-lounge travel guides.
From Tuesday, July 2nd to Friday, July 5th, and every Thursday and Friday for the remainder of the summer between 3 and 8 p.m., the Luxury Group will host a summer-long residency at Blade Lounge West. This residency will feature seasonal and destination-based menus inspired by several of the portfolio’s iconic hotels, including EDITION, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton, and W Hotels, as well as refreshments made with ingredients from JW Marriott’s JW Garden.
In the spirit of classic luxury, guests can explore a luxury steamer trunk filled with gifts that reflect the distinctive lifestyles offered by five of its luxury hotel brands. These gifts include exotic floral bouquets from The Ritz-Carlton, signature Le Labo scents from EDITION, herb sachets from JW Marriott, destination-inspired sweets from The Luxury Collection, and St. Regis apparel.
Selected Blade fliers will also receive curated keepsakes, each representing the unique identities of the hotel brands, to cherish as travel memories.
“Blade’s collaboration with Luxury Group provides our passengers with top tier hospitality at every touchpoint of their New York City stay including our integrated booking process,” said Roisin Branch, Blade’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Our Blade Airport transfers not only offer the most breathtaking views of the city, they also significantly reduce travel time and stress levels. This service sets the Luxury Group apart by ensuring every aspect of their guests’ travel experience is smooth, swift, and enjoyable.”
