The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts Reveals Coveted Concierge Secrets for New Assouline Book, Certified Indigenous

The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today unveiled its latest collaboration with Assouline. Available today, Certified Indigenous is a hardcover book, the third in the series, that reveals how hotel concierges around the world explore their respective locales, offering travel tips as only a local could. The limited edition tome shares secret shops, culinary tips and captivating stories that bring to life The Luxury Collection mantra, “Life is a collection of experiences. Let us be your guide.”

Certified Indigenous by ASSOULINE for The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. (Photo: Business Wire)

Adam Aron, CEO on an interim basis of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. commented “We are now in a process of putting an even brighter spotlight on our world-class hotel brands, with a renewed focus on Sheraton, the creation of Tribute Portfolio and expanded corporate resource for all of our Global Brand Organization. Now our attention turns to The Luxury Collection. It is a fast-growing array of spectacular hotels of choice throughout the world, and Starwood intends to bring the full weight of its marketing prowess, operational skill and distribution strength to enhance the awareness and perception of The Luxury Collection brand.”

“Our guests have an insatiable appetite to travel, explore and discover,” said Hoyt H. Harper II, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. “Certified Indigenous summons the expertise of our concierges from all over the world for discerning travelers, who want to experience the indigenous treasures of a destination with the unparalleled service and style they have come to expect from The Luxury Collection.”

Certified Indigenous celebrates the art of The Luxury Collection concierge, allowing guests to discover a destination in a unique way. For instance, gourmands seeking the most authentic expressions of a city’s cuisine will be intrigued by the recommendations of the Hotel Goldener Hirsh concierge, who reveals where to finding the famously sweet chocolate Salzburger Mozartkugel that has been sold since 1890 in the Alter Markt at the heart of Old Town Salzburg. Or in the serene environs of Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, the concierge at Tambo del Inka tells of guests participating in an ancient ceremony to summon the gods with the smoke of a sacred fire, while the concierge of Jakarta’s Keraton at The Plaza spills one of the city’s best-kept secrets: a cultural village that preserves the indigenous Betawi culture through dance.

In addition to vibrant travel stories from The Luxury Collection brand’s acclaimed roster of Chief Concierges, Certified Indigenous is punctuated by passages from a group of high-profile global explorers. Revered interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon fetes his favorite haunts in Paris; Olivier Krug opines about the magic and mystery of Venice; art director Sophia Sanchez de Betak recollects her love affair with Buenos Aires; acclaimed interior designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg share why New York is the epicenter of all things creative; master spice blender and chef Lior Lev Sercarz reveals the best hole-in-the-wall to score suckling pig in Bali; fashion designer Billy Reid recalls his most memorable trip to San Francisco with his wife; and The Luxury Collection’s newest brand ambassador, Chinese actor and director Wu Xiubo explains how the past meets the present in ‘his’ London.

The launch of Certified Indigenous follows on the heels of Epicurean Journeys: a collection of original recipes by renowned chefs, and Hotel Stories: historical accounts and anecdotal tales woven together from the storied The Luxury Collection hotels and resorts around the world. Certified Indigenous will be displayed at The Luxury Collection Hotels around the world, and are exclusively for sale at Assouline boutiques and www.luxurycollection.com/assouline, Certified Indigenous retails for USD $45.

About The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts

The Luxury Collection® brand is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination's indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of nearly 100 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning properties that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class while celebrating each hotel's distinctive heritage and unique character. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world's finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com

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