Plaza Premium Lounges at YYZ /YVR Expanded, Add New Dining Offering

Independent, non-affiliated Plaza Premium Lounge (PPL) has opened newly renovated lounges in Terminal 1 Domestic departures at YYZ and at YVR servicing US departures.

The newly renovated lounges have arrived just as PPL sees a 570 per cent increase in its airport lounge services across its Canadian network as compared to NOV 2021. In addition, Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has added Root98, the group’s premium airport dining destination to the YVR US transborder terminal in time for the holiday travel season.

“We are excited to unveil these newly renovated lounges at a time when travellers need it the most”, said Pascal Bélanger, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Operations for Plaza Premium Group. “The mission of Plaza Premium has always been to offer guests an elevated and comfortable airport experience no matter their ticket status and with the reopening of our T1 Domestic and US Transborder lounges, this will help us to further democratize the airport lounge experience for those traveling to and through Canada’s largest cities”.

Plaza Premium Lounge — YYZ Toronto Pearson Renovated T1 Domestic Lounge

Located just past security screening at YYZ, the new lounge now expands to over 4,900 square feet and can seat up to 120 guests. The lounge has sofas, leather covered swivel chairs, carpeting and soft lighting as part of its décor and environment. Guests will receive services and amenities such as WI-FI, charging stations, flight information displays, TV services, shower room, baby changing stations, printing and photocopying services and more.

Ian Clarke, Chief Financial Officer and Acting Head of Commercial and Business Partnerships at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority said, “Just in time for the traditionally busy holiday travel season, Plaza Premium’s new lounge is a welcomed addition to Toronto Pearson that will contribute strongly to our end goal of continually elevating the passenger experience.”

New to the Plaza Premium Lounge network in Canada, the T1 Domestic Lounge will offer guests the opportunity to upgrade their entry fee to gain access to a newly added VIP area. This new service located in the lounge will provide guests with a dedicated seating area that includes additional privacy with partitions and dividers, special snacks, premium beverages selection, shower access and dedicated bar. The new VIP service can be added on to a guest’s entry fee starting at CAD $19.99.

Guests have a choice of cuisines, from Asian to American. Plaza Premium Lounge caters to dietary choices upon request such as: vegetarian, gluten-free, a dedicated kids menu and more. All guests visiting the lounge can expect to receive complimentary coffee, tea and soft drinks and have the opportunity to browse through a selection of house beer and wine. While visiting the full-service bar, travellers will be provided with a Premium Pour menu that includes signature cocktails.

The newly renovated lounge in the YVR US Transborder Terminal has been expanded to accommodate 132 guests, double the amount based on its previous layout thanks to an added 2,000 square feet.

The new lounge features contemporary design with wood paneling, neutral tones, and forest green accents to reflect the natural environment of Vancouver. Screen partitions, a feature ceiling over the bar and specialty light fixtures complete the overall look. The floor plan design of the main lounge has a variety of zones, including a dining area, as well as a lounge area and bar. Clusters of lounge seating are provided, offering a sense of privacy. New amenities include a nursing room along with added shower rooms, a full service bar featuring premium drink offerings and an updated dining menu.

In keeping with Vancouver’s green initiatives, sustainability was part of the design approach. Locally sourced reclaimed and FSC certified wood products are used throughout the space, as well as upholstery and solid surface countertop materials containing recycled materials.

Root 98 is Plaza Premium Group’s premium airport dining space. The concept places emphasis on plated dishes through live preparation experiences and a combination of flavours. The focus on the importance of well-being, health and nutrition education is part of this emphasis to promote better eating habits and lifestyle changes.

The new Root98 location features two components. The Marketplace invites travellers to sit down, relax and take in a warm meal before embarking on their journey while the Grab & Go offers a variety of healthy, packaged meals to take on the go and have either in flight or upon arrival.