Luxury Hotelier - February 2008 - (Page 8)

8| Inform Relais & Chateaux: Route du bonheur “ his congress marks a turning point in our history that will shape it over the next 10 years,” said Relais & Chateaux International President Jaume Tàpies in his address to the organization’s membership. The group convened this winter in Washington, D.C., for its 33rd international congress—and only the second hosted in the United States. This year, the luxury hotel and restaurant membership association looks to expand its global visibility beyond Europe, and particularly France, where the 53-year-old organization was founded and enjoys high visibility. Mr. Tàpies said executive leaders will continue the organizations’s global advertising campaign, expand to more countries and open additional offices. “2007 was a pivotal year for our organization,” said Jacques-Olivier Chauvin, chief executive officer. Relais & Chateaux recently opened an Italian branch in Milan, a Swiss branch in Geneva, and an office in Bangkok to serve the territory from Tahiti to China. The group has eight offices worldwide now, with plans to open a Brussels location to accommodate business in the growing Benelux region this year. Indeed, marketing is pivotal to the executives’ long-term plan. In 2007, Relais & Chateaux engaged Young & Rubicon to develop its first global communications campaign. This year, the organization plans to establish press relations agencies in 12 countries. T “We will consistently reinvent our success,” Mr. Tàpies said. Relais & Chateaux named 34 new members to its roster in November, bringing total membership to more than 500 hotels and restaurants in 55 countries. For its restaurant members, Relais & Chateaux this year changed its “Relais Gourmands” title to “Grands Chefs Relais & Chateaux” to further support the entire organization’s branding goals. » BY STEPHANIE RICCA Affliated partners gather for congress More than 500 people associated with Relais & Chateaux kicked off the organization’s 33rd international congress with a Country State Fair celebration at the National Building Museum in Washington in November. Grands chefs, including Daniel Boulud of New York’s Daniel (www.danielnyc.com) and Thomas Keller of New York’s Per Se (www.perseny.com) and French Laundry (www.french laundry.com) in the Napa Valley region of California, offered food tastings. California and Virginia wineries including St. Supery Vineyards and Winery (www.stsupery.com) and Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard (www.klugeestateonline.com) paired American wines with the gourmet treats. 1 2 Bruno Lopez of Restaurant at the Hotel Bel-Air in Beverly Hills, California T. Mitchell Willey (Clifton Inn, Charlottesville, Virginia), Mary Celeste Beall (Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee) Marianne and Bent Hoyer, Sheen Falls Lodge, Ireland Jamie Russo (American Express), Bill Baker, Paul Belserene and Susan Davis from Envision & Storytelling 3 4 Luxury Hotelier | February 2008 | www.LuxuryHotelier.com http://www.danielnyc.com http://www.perseny.com http://www.frenchlaundry.com http://www.frenchlaundry.com http://www.stsupery.com http://www.klugeestateonline.com http://www.LuxuryHotelier.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Hotelier - February 2008

Luxury Hotelier - February 2008 Editor's Letter Publisher's Letter Inform Network Forever Young Evolution for Jumeirah Insight Diamond in the Rough Amenities Televisions Art in Residence Yield Management Development Wine Lists Marketing to Locals Update Advertisers Index Editorial Index Source Listing Dossier

Luxury Hotelier - February 2008

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