GULF Air yesterday opened its newly renovated Falcon Gold Lounge during a ceremony at Bahrain International Airport.

It was held under the patronage of Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and was attended by top airline and Civil Aviation Affairs officials.

Gulf Air chief executive officer Samer Majali said the upgraded-lounge was further evidence of the airline's commitment to investing in its hub.

"Bahrain is our most important market so developing and improving our home-product is the key," he said.

"The new lounge is the latest in a series of service enhancements across our entire passenger value chain, including the relaunch of our Sky Nanny Service, Sky Chef, online check-in and robust network connectivity in the Middle East."

The fully renovated lounge has seven private sleeping rooms, a cigar lounge, shower rooms with towels and luxury brand toiletries and amenities, free Wi-Fi throughout the lounge, discreet power sockets at every seat and a business centre that has computers, fax machines and printers. For families, the lounge offers a spacious family room with trained SkyNannies in attendance.

Gulf Air chief services officer Marcus Bernhardt said the revamp was part of an extensive lounge-renovation programme including last year's inauguration of its new lounge in Terminal 4 at Heathrow International Airport, London, UK.

"Next year, we will upgrade our premium lounge at the Dubai International Airport." he said.

The lounge can accommodate up to 200 people and is open to all Platinum, Gold and Silver card holding frequent flyer programme members of and premium class ticket holders of Gulf Air's code-share partner airlines.