The Luxury Collection’s more than 130 hotels and resorts can be found in iconic destinations around the world. Many of the properties have long histories, and they all offer unique connections to their locations. The brand is now building on those connections with the launch of The Luxury Collection Expeditions, an assortment of experiences that help travelers delve deeper into the destinations they’re visiting. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about centuries-old culinary and winemaking traditions, explore historic sites with expert guides, and take part in conservation efforts.
“At The Luxury Collection, we have long believed that a destination reveals itself through its people, rituals, and landscapes, and through the knowledge passed down over time,” says Bruce Rohr, vice president and global brand leader of The Luxury Collection. “Expeditions are a natural expression of that belief, inviting our guests to venture beyond the walls of their hotel and into the living fabric of a place, where expert guidance and cultural context foster a deeper and more personal understanding of a destination.”
The brand is starting off with 10 Expeditions in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. Some are multiday experiences, like the Japan: The Imperial Journey Expedition. Across 10 days and stays at three Luxury Collection hotels, travelers explore Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara, learning sushi-making from a fourth-generation master, visiting a samurai residence, and getting access to rarely opened temple spaces alongside a resident monk.
On the nine-day Greece: The Aegean Odyssey Expedition, guests travel by helicopter and yacht to Mykonos, Paros, and Santorini. The experience includes a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delos with a local archaeologist, stops at Paros’ marble quarries and villages, and tastings of indigenous grape varieties in Santorini.
Select Luxury Collection hotels will offer Day Discoveries, single-day experiences highlighting local crafts, culinary traditions, cultural practices, and natural environments. At Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, the Farm to Fermentation experience takes guests to a local farm and fermentation house, where they learn the rice-bran preservation technique of nukazuke. A daytime picnic and chef-crafted teppanyaki dinner further help illustrate how climate and seasonality impact Japanese flavors.
At The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale, the Desert Icons: A Private Journey Through Living Legacy experience includes special access to the Desert Botanical Garden, a private tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, and a farm-to-table dinner at the hotel. The entire day is designed to spotlight the landscapes, ingredients, and traditions of the Sonoran Desert.
The inaugural collection of Expeditions will also include residencies and collaborations that connect guests with local experts. The Art of Winemaking: A Rioja Alavesa Masterclass at Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego is a five-day experience during which guests harvest grapes and take part in a private blending session to craft their own wines.
Three expert-led programs at Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, South Caicos, help travelers explore the island’s natural side and learn about efforts to conserve it. Marine scientists and researchers lead guests on a visit to a coral nursery laboratory and a guided snorkeling trip during the Reef Revival Expedition, and certified divers have the option to take part in a coral-planting dive.
On the Angler’s Paradise Expedition, guests explore the island’s secluded flats with a bonefishing expert, then return to the resort for a Caribbean-inspired meal centered on the day’s catch. The From Tides to Stars Expedition begins with a naturalist-guided kayak trip through the Northern Cays, then moves on to a private stargazing session.
The Luxury Collection plans to unveil additional Expeditions this fall to continue expanding the offering across its portfolio, which spans 42 countries and territories and is part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.
