ATLANTA, Ga – Few new properties make the cut. Relais & Chateaux is an elite association of 580 luxury hotels and restaurants around the world, from Argentina to the Adirondacks. Entry into the collection is the hospitality equivalent of being invited to join the Dracula Club in St. Moritz or the Capital Club in Dubai. Nothing in the hospitality space is more exclusive. That’s because members must prove that they offer a one-of-a-kind experience that has no “chain” equivalent. Whether it’s staying in a luxury tent in Sri Lanka or a solar-powered chalet at the base of the Andes, guests understand that the Relais & Chateaux moniker indicates that a property has met some of the most stringent admission standards in the world.
As such, many of the Relais & Chateaux member properties are historic landmarks repurposed for modern use. The Château de Mirambeau, a French castle built in 1570 that now houses 40 luxury rooms and suites, is one example. The Palazzo Ripetta is another, a 400-year-old structure that was once an orphanage and is now one of Rome’s premier hotels.
Anything cookie-cutter disqualifies you, which makes every property its own experience.