When it comes to luxury tourism, the Relais & Châteaux hotels are a sure bet for a dream holiday in top-of-the-range accommodation. But do you really know what Relais & Châteaux ? Find out more about the history and values of this hotel association.
The history of Relais & Châteaux
L'history of Relais & Châteaux began in 1954. At that time, the music-hall artists Marcel and Nelly Tilloy, then owners of a hotel-restaurant in Provence, decided to create a group of 8 hostelleries to offer quality tourism between Nice and Paris.
Their slogan "Top-of-the-range services, exceptional gastronomy and art of living" perfectly sums up their desire to highlighting local traditions and heritagethrough high-quality accommodation.
The group then became a brand in 1974, the famous "Relais & Châteaux".
Today, 580 exceptional hotels and restaurants are part of the Relais et Châteaux family, each one independent and genuinely passionate about authentic customer relations. The owners are guided by their desire to bring to life the diversity of their cultural heritage, local traditions and culinary specialities. This ambition is also reflected in the Manifesto, presented to Unesco in 2014.
The values of Relais & Châteaux
The houses of Relais & Châteaux, as they are called, are located on 5 continents, in rare and exceptional sites. But far more than just a label of quality and exceptional location, Relais & Châteaux also promotes a love of the hotel and restaurant trade. Hospitality is placed under the sign of emotionThe aim of all our brands, and luxury hotels, is to put sensoriality at the heart of every stay.
While each house has its own authenticity and uniqueness, each one is driven by 5 Relais et Châteaux values The soul of the innkeeper, a taste of place, a celebration of the senses, a passport to friendship and an awakening to the art of living".
Today, the owners of independent luxury hotels are putting all their efforts into the customer experience, offering an unrivalled range of accommodation. A true guarantee of quality, Relais & Châteaux has a deep-seated desire to guide travellers to the best of the best. the best things in life culinary excellence, heritage discovery and total immersion in luxury.
Gastronomy is at the heart of Relais & Châteaux, and the Maîtres de Maison and Chefs give pride of place to local producers and traditional recipes. The Relais & Châteaux association includes some of the world's best-known chefs. hundreds of gourmet restaurantswith over 160 passionate chefs.
What are the criteria for Relais & Châteaux status?
Relais & Châteaux is a franchise network which is not so easy to get into. Future members have to show their ambitions, and above all they have to meet a number of criteria, based on the cuisine, comfort and level of service, as well as the charm and friendliness of the establishment. It is said that to be part of the Relais & Châteaux guideYou have to meet the 5 Cs: Character, Charm, Calm, Courtesy and Cuisine.
Thanks to this strict selection that the prestigious association now includes some of the finest hotels and restaurants in the world.
Do you dream of staying in a luxury Relais & Châteaux hotel? L'5-star hotel at Château de Berne welcomes you for a few unforgettable days in the heart of Provence.
