Relais & Chateaux Welcomes 4 New Members in North America and an Additional 32 Properties Around the World

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Relais & Chateaux, the collection of fine hotels and gourmet restaurants which includes some of most spectacular castles, city-based mansions, and exquisite inns around the world, has welcomed 36 new properties to the association including 4 in North America. The following hotels and restaurants in United States and Canada are now part of the Relais & Chateaux family:

• Ai Fiori, New York City – An elegant Fifth Avenue restaurant that celebrates cuisine from the Italian and French Rivieras, showcases modern interpretations of traditional regional dishes
• Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Tofino, British Columbia – A remote, refined, and remarkable eco-friendly and sustainable resort in the natural Canadian wilderness featuring five-star cuisine, a spa, and luxe, white tent accommodations
• Dunton Hot Springs, Dolores, Colorado – Nestled high up in the Colorado mountains, this former mining town features spectacular landscape, stunning scenery in all four seasons, gourmet food, and natural hot springs
• The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado – A stylishly decorated luxurious hotel with direct ski in/out access on Aspen Mountain with a restaurant, Element 47, that serves sophisticated cuisine comprised largely of local ingredients

Relais & Chateaux has also added 32 additional properties throughout the rest of the world, including 2 new destinations - Hong Kong and Maldives.  The following properties have been inducted into the association:

Australia: The Louise, Hentley Farm Restaurant
Chile: Awasi Patagonia
China: Yihe Mansions, Brilliant Resort & Spa Kunming, Brilliant Resort & Spa Tengchong
Croatia: Hotel Bevanda 
France: Lucas Carton, Pierre Gagnaire, Yoan Conte-Bord du Lac, Domaine des Avenieres, La Maison des Bois-Marc Veyrat, La Maison d'Uzes, les Bergeries de Palombaggia
Greece: Myconian Utopia Resort
Hong Kong: Bibo
Italy: Auener Hof, Villa Franceschi, Agli Amici
India: Mihir Garh
Japan: Otowa Restaurant, Hikariya-Nishi, Restaurant Moliere
Kenya : Mara Plains Camp
Maldives: Soneva Fushi
Peru: Sol & Luna Lodge Spa
Spain: Echaurren
South Africa: The Plettenberg
Switzerland: Mammertsberg, Chasa Montana Hotel & Spa
United Kingdom: Hartwell House, Northcote

NEW VISION OF RELAIS & CHATEAUX

The owners and chefs of the Relais & Chateaux hotel and restaurant member properties take great responsibility and pride in being gatekeepers of excellent cuisine, service and hospitality, while maintaining the individual soul of each property. In 2015 the association will expand upon this with a commitment to a vision statement to "make the world a better place through cuisine and hospitality." By joining forces to address major issues that face all of us, whether it is reducing our carbon footprint, increasing use of locally grown produce or developing business and job opportunities for local communities, Relais & Chateaux will work collectively to promote these conscientious practices. The collection will aim to lead by example towards making a meaningful impact on the world and becoming a better citizen of the global community.

Some examples of Relais & Chateaux members already enacting these principles include:

• Blackberry Farm in Tennessee with 1,700 hectare farm that supplies the property's kitchen with fresh, seasonal produce throughout the year. Cheese, vegetables, honey and cider are all produced at the farm, blending the indigenous resources of the local region together as well as generating jobs in the area.
• At Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons in the UK, the proprietor and chef Raymond Blanc, is committed to maintaining sustainable and ethical fishing methods that ensure the bio-diversity of the oceans.
• Txai Resort Itacare in Brazil is fully committed to sustainable tourism. Situated in a protected area, the support of the local community and environment is their priority, from the cultivation of the soil to the social development of the local community. 23 families of small producers are committed to grow organic fruit and vegetables that are consumed by the resort.

A NEW PUBLICATION: TASTE OF THE WORLD

"A world of tastes for you to enjoy" are the words of Relais & Chateaux International President Philippe Gombert that appear on the first page of the "Taste of the World" coffee table book, which will replace the association's existing annual guide in 2015. The publication invites readers to open the doors of the universe of Relais & Chateaux and explore unknown regions of the world and discover unexpected scenery, the 'soul' of a territory and its cuisine. It is a true invitation to travel and taste the world. From the extraterrestrial landscape of Cappadocia, Turkey, to the untouched wilds of New Zealand or British Columbia; from the shimmering colors of sun-drenched Morocco, to the lush, scented lavender fields of Provence and some of the finest restaurants in New York City, Relais & Chateaux guests have a world of experiences to enjoy through the "Taste of the World."

ABOUT RELAIS & CHATEAUX

Relais & Chateaux is an exclusive collection of more than 530 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants managed by a family of independent owners, innkeepers and chefs that has set the standard for excellence in hospitality since 1954. Together they open up new horizons for upscale hospitality by focusing on distinctive and personal experiences through which our guests are invited to experience the fine 'Art of Living' on all five continents. From the vineyards in Napa Valley to the beaches on the Fiji Islands, from the olive trees in Provence to the lodges in South Africa, Relais & Chateaux offers all the stops on the finest route for discovering each region, culture and country. Enchantment with the world and appreciating the beauty of our planet with a fresh view is the new vision of Relais & Chateaux. Through each individual property, Relais & Chateaux wishes to convey a message of preservation of local nature, cuisine and customs and to share the beauty and unique offerings of the local terroirs with the greater world. For more information, visit www.relaischateaux.com

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SOURCE Relais & Chateaux

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