Partners With Hyatt Corporation And Goodyear To Launch A ‘Flight Level’ Of Luxury

ANN April 1 Special Edition (Parody)

With the promise of suborbital space tourism still likely years away, Virgin Group has set its sights on something at a slightly lower altitude … the world’s first airborne floating hotel.

Virgin Group has partnered with the Hyatt hotel corporation, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Alphabet to launch the project, which will build on Goodyear’s long experience in lighter-than-air aircraft and Hyatt’s expertise in luxury hotels. “We’re going to give guests a new ‘Flight Level’ of luxury,” said Sir Richard Branson. “Imagine a vacation floating miles above the Earth, with the poshest appointments and views to die for. The super-wealthy … like me … will gladly pay for such an experience.

The hotel will use Alphabet’s station-keeping technology developed for Project Loon to keep the hotel in a certain area of the sky. Stationed between FL180 and FL121, the hotel will be clearly visible to the naked eye.

But it’s not just for the one-percenters, Branson said. “We’re planning to offer pressurized rooms at about $3,500 per night, with suites somewhat higher. But for the more budget-conscious, unpressurized rooms will be available for a more modest $500 per night. It would be like summiting Everest. And supplemental oxygen will be available in the rooms for an additional fee.”

Guests would be carried to the hotel by human-rated UAVs. Branson is reportedly in negotiations with several governments to find a launch location for the hotel. “But eventually, there could be a “Hyatt Flight Level” over every major city in the world,” he said.

Of course, Goodyear will place a super-sized light board on the airship … flashing “Goodyear”, “Hyatt Flight Level” and hotel rates visible from the ground.

FMI: www.virgin.com