Relais & Chateaux North America Introduces 2016 New Members: Old Edwards Inn in North Carolina, Manresa in California, and The Ivy in Maryland

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Relais & Chateaux, the collection of luxury hotels and fine dining restaurants which includes some of the most elegant North American boutique hotels and lodges, European villas, and beautiful resorts around the world, is welcoming 5 new properties in North America to the association in 2016: Old Edwards Inn in North Carolina, Manresa in California, and Maryland's first ever member, The Ivy in Baltimore. Earlier this year, The Lodge at Sea Island in Georgia and Casa Palapo in Guatemala were also inducted into the association.

"The entire family of Relais & Chateaux is delighted to announce the inclusion of these five unique new properties into our association. Each of them possesses the individuality, outstanding hospitality and charm that defines our members," said Patrick O'Connell, Chef/Proprietor of The Inn at Little Washington and President of Relais & Chateaux North America.

Located in Highlands, North Carolina, Old Edwards Inn and Spa sits atop the scenic southwest plateau of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, offering abundant possibilities for relaxation, recreation and adventure, including golf at the private Old Edwards Club. The European style resort features luxurious leisure and wellness amenities, farm-to-table dining, designer boutique shopping, and individually appointed guestrooms, suites and cottages. The new Falls Cottages surround newly built outdoor terrace featuring a second heated mineral pool, whirlpool and freestanding double-sided fireplace. Friendly, impeccable service with a backdrop of rustic mountain elegance creates the ideal North Carolina mountain escape for romance, girlfriend getaways, friends, family and leisure.

Just outside San Francisco, in Los Gatos, California sits Manresa, a two Michelin-star restaurant whose thought-provoking dishes and unconventional pairings draw on techniques both traditional and modern. Manresa is an ode to the mountains, fields, and sea; and through a pioneering collaboration with a local farm that shares Kinch's philosophies and passions, the heart of the experience is on fruits and vegetables from the garden. While the restaurant draws its inspiration globally, it maintains a profound connection to the people, producers, and bounty of the land that surrounds it.

The Ivy, Maryland's first ever Relais & Chateaux member, is a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Baltimore's historic Mount Vernon, with eighteen beautiful guest rooms and suites each with its own fireplace, charming public spaces, and a small luxury spa. The hotel also features Magdalena, one of Baltimore's finest and most outstanding restaurants whose cross-cultural menu is built upon the finest local ingredients, and changes with the seasons and the inspiration of Chef Mark Levy. Built in 1889 as a private home, this Gilded Age mansion has aged gracefully as it has been passed down with care from each owner to the next.

Located in the Republic of Guatemala, 90 miles from Guatemala City, Casa Palopo is nestled against 10,000 foot volcanic peaks and surrounded by the natural beauty of the spectacular Lake Atitlan. The newest member of the Relais & Chateaux collection offers first-rate amenities and services including fine dining at the gourmet restaurant, Palopo 6.8, with a comfortable, glamorous atmosphere, overlooking spectacular sunsets and awe inspiring volcanoes. Services offered to guests throughout their stay include professionally guided tours on Lake Atitlan and surrounding Indian villages where life and customs have changed little over centuries, market day tours, hiking, horseback riding as well as in-room spa services.

The Lodge at Sea Island, located on Saint Simons Island, Georgia is grand and secluded, perfect for couples, with expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean and emerald fairways of the Sea Island Golf Club. The Lodge features 40 luxurious and spacious rooms and suites and 24-hour butler service. The Lodge is known to be a golfer's paradise, nestled between Plantation and Seaside, two of Sea Island's three famed golf courses. The restaurants at The Lodge, Colt & Alison and The Oak Room, both feature world-class dining. Colt & Alison offers a charming and intimate setting for dinner with panoramic views of Plantation Course's 18th hole. The southern-inspired Oak Room features leather ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace, and an outdoor terrace overlooking the St. Simons Sound.

With the addition of Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Manresa, The Ivy, Casa Palapo and The Lodge at Sea Island, the total number of Relais & Chateaux properties in North and Central America now exceeds 85.

ABOUT RELAIS & CHATEAUX
Relais & Chateaux is an exclusive collection of more than 540 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants, managed by a family of independent owners, innkeepers and chefs setting the world standard for excellence in hospitality since 1954.  Every property, on all five continents, focuses on 'The Art of Fine Living' and the unique, personal experiences that make hospitality a true art form. From the vineyards of Napa Valley to the beaches of Fiji, from Provencal olive groves to South African lodges, Relais & Chateaux offers their guests extraordinary stops on breathtaking routes, each a window into the beauty, cuisine, and customs of a very special part of the world. Driven by a strong desire to protect, sustain and promote the richness and diversity of the world's cuisines and cultures, Relais & Chateaux members are committed to preserving the environment and local heritage. For more information, visit www.relaischateaux.com

SOURCE Relais & Chateaux

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