Following what felt like a whirlwind trip to the Middle East, I quickly turned back around and headed to Los Angeles for a five-day trip. What started as a short two-day turnaround changed a few times before becoming a Sunday–Thursday trip to attend Global Traveler’s Globility Board event, celebrate exciting news from Singapore Airlines and enjoy a little indulgence at the Montage Beverly Hills.

Speaking of luxury hotels, the trip also afforded me the opportunity to sit down with Luc Delafosse, managing director, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. Occupying prime Beverly Hills real estate near the iconic Beverly Hilton, the hotel, opening in 2017, is the first new luxury hotel to open in the neighborhood since Montage Beverly Hills. Check out our January issue to hear more from Luc.

Our Globility Board is a vetted group of subscribers serving as a focus group for both the magazine and our clients. These people are on the go more than the staff here at GT, and we’re out and about quite a bit, so it’s always a welcome opportunity to get their valuable feedback and insight. During one busy but insightful day at Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, United Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Global Traveler presented to the board and took particular interest in the comments. Wondering what GT presented? Again, check out our January issue, where we will debut a fresh, new look from cover to cover.

After the meeting, I savored a few days of relaxation at Montage Beverly Hills, thoroughly enjoying my immense suite accommodations, an indulgent 90-minute Elements of Wellness signature massage and lunch at the recently opened Georgie, the hotel’s new all-day dining concept from Geoffrey Zakarian.

Luckily, my visit coincided with a Singapore Airlines event to celebrate the airline’s inaugural service from Los Angeles to Singapore, via Seoul, and to showcase the new Next Generation business-class seat, the widest in the sky. In addition, Singapore Airlines is also celebrating new service from Houston and a direct flight from San Francisco to Singapore. There’s a lot happening for the flagship, and we will continue to bring you all the news on the reader-favorite Singapore Airlines. Check out a picture of the business-class seat below.

Alas, it was time to return to the much brisker East Coast weather, but I’m already looking forward to my next visit to Los Angeles next month to enjoy a weekend at Terranea Resort,  sample the Lexus Drive Experience and celebrate the 13^th annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards event.

— Kimberly Krol, editor in chief