Marleen van de Pol - Vice-President Customer Experience, KLM; Janik Reigate, Director Strategic Customer Relationships, GTAA
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines welcomed industry partners to the unveiling of a new KLM Crown Lounge at YYZ’s Terminal 3 on Tuesday, 12SEP. The lounge remains a large comfortable and inviting space (575 sq m seating 161 pax) with its huge windows and panoramic views of the runways, but it has been completely revamped with a more spacious, bright layout and some special Dutch touches.
There are significant upgrades including comfortable new furniture for relaxing pre-flight and spacious and bright new work areas. Beyond aesthetics, the furniture embodies sleek designs and ergonomic forms, incorporating sustainability with recycled fabrics, eco-leather and long-lasting materials.
The unveiling event was a wonderful opportunity for me to renew acquaintances with industry friends and former colleagues, and I’m compelled to share some of their good news and lovely comments. Having been “out of the business” for some time, it was so refreshing to hear Michael Dew of Clarke-Way Travel say that business is booming because people have finally realized what a waste of time the internet is and they’re fed up with “tumbling down that rabbit hole.” Cheers to that! And, did I mention that champagne and other celebratory beverages were flowing - as they do during regular lounge access?
It warmed my heart to chat with Yury Manukhov of Canadian Gateway, who explained his company’s loyalty to the DL/AF/KL group due to their staff’s understanding and knowledge of the industry and their ability to assist with some of the tangles pax always are capable of tripping into.
So, that helps explain why KLM, an airline from such a tiny country, is the 2nd largest international airline serving Canada. Thirteen weekly flights from YYZ alone during the current summer season. KLM also flies to Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal.
“We are delighted to provide Toronto passengers with one of the 2 KLM international lounges”, said Jean-Eudes de La Bretèche, General Manager of Air France KLM Canada, welcoming guests to the new Crown Lounge. “The structural adjustments and rejuvenated atmosphere of this space align perfectly with our Amsterdam lounges dedicated to delivering an enjoyable experience for our clients before their flight.’”
The KLM Crown Lounge welcomes qualifying passengers from KLM, Air France, and their SkyTeam partners, as well as holders of Priority Pass, Dragon Pass and DreamFolks cards. The lounge is also available to other international Terminal 3 travellers, upon availability, regardless of their airline or class of service, for a fee of CAD $50, which can be purchased directly at the lounge.
“Investment in signature lounges at international stations is the cornerstone of elevating the premium customer experience, aligning perfectly with our commitment to investing in our new World Business Class and our recently introduced Premium Comfort cabin. Branded lounges add to the connection with our customers in delivering our brand promise of creating memorable experiences.’ declared Marleen van de Pol, Vice-President Customer Experience at KLM.
Guests can enjoy the Crown Lounge’s self-service buffet, featuring a variety of hot and cold food options, as well as the bar offering a selection of wines, beers and spirits.
