Ensemble Travel^® Group has just released its 2017 Ensemble^® Hotel & Resort Collection gallery, which encompasses some 700 four- and five-star properties around the world. And while plenty of client favourites make an appearance, be sure to keep an eye out for Ensemble’s newly-designated “purposeful partnerships,” a focus on hotel brands that create “lifestyle experiences” for guests.

“We have purposely forged deeper relationships with several partners that focus on a total immersion into their surroundings,” said Ensemble’s Suzanne Hall, senior director, supplier partnerships, land/Ensemble Hotel & Resort Collection. “Whether from a single brand like Two Roads Hospitality or a niche within a larger presence such as Omni’s Grove Park Inn and its Bedford Springs Resort & Spa, guests seamlessly connect with the local culture and people for that highly coveted experience.”

A few of the brands behind highlighted for delivering an exemplary sample of this new product are Two Roads Hospitality (formerly Destination Hotels) and its Cliff House in Cape Neddick, ME and La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Tex.; Hyatt Corporation’s Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort and Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica; Melia Hotels’ Grand Melia Colon in Seville, Spain and Gran Melia Rome; Anantara Chiang Mai Resort in Thailand; and Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge in Tanzania (part of Minor Hotels).

Also, a highlight for the 2017 collection is a notable increase in member hotels and resorts located in the South Pacific. Coinciding with Ensemble’s membership growth in the region, some of the newer Downunder properties include The Byron at Byron (Byron Bay, Australia), Shangri-La Hotel (Sydney, Australia), and Azur Lodge (Queenstown, New Zealand).

Also found in the 2017 directory are “Off the Beaten Path” hotels, selected for their ability to provide unusual accommodations for travellers looking for something new. For 2017, some of the new members include the Kayotei Ryokan (Japan); &Beyond Vamizi Island (Mozambique); and The Springs Resort and Spa at Arenal (Costa Rica).

The guide, called The Art of Luxury, is available in print and digital versions. Properties included in Ensemble’s hotel program offer Ensemble clients bonus benefits, including upgraded accommodations, early check-in and late checkout. Select properties also offer unique-to-Ensemble amenities, such as complimentary spa sessions, full daily breakfasts, and welcome gift baskets.

For more information, visit www.joinensemble.com. 

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