The Luxury Collection launches new Expeditions programme

International

Ten experiences across four regions take luxury hotel guests into local culture, cuisine and nature with experts ranging from archaeologists and winemakers to marine scientists

The Luxury Collection is extending its hospitality concept beyond the hotel with the launch of The Luxury Collection Expeditions. The new programme combines stays at properties in the Marriott International brand's portfolio with privately guided cultural, culinary and nature experiences at destinations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.

The inaugural collection comprises ten Expeditions and ranges from ten-day journeys through Japan to winemaking in Spain and marine conservation in South Caicos. The programme draws on a Luxury Collection network of more than 130 hotels and resorts in over 40 countries and territories, with further Expeditions due to be announced this autumn.

Three formats for exploring a destination

The programme is divided into three categories. Private Tailored Journeys combine several destinations and hotels in individually organised multi-day itineraries, including private transportation and access to local experts.

Day Discoveries concentrate on a particular aspect of a destination during a single day, while Residencies & Collaborations bring guests together with specialists such as winemakers, scientists, conservationists and cultural experts for limited periods.

“At The Luxury Collection, we have long believed that a destination reveals itself through its people, rituals, and landscapes, and through the knowledge passed down over time,” says Bruce Rohr, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection.

“Expeditions are a natural expression of that belief, inviting our guests to venture beyond the walls of their hotel and into the living fabric of a place, where expert guidance and cultural context foster a deeper and more personal understanding of a destination.”

Ten days through Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara

One of the most extensive itineraries is “Japan: The Imperial Journey”. Over ten days, guests travel between Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara while staying at three Luxury Collection hotels.

The programme includes a privately hosted visit to a samurai residence and sushi-making with a fourth-generation master. In Kyoto, guests gain access to temple areas that are rarely open to visitors, accompanied by a resident monk, while an intimate geiko dinner in Gion provides another perspective on the city's cultural traditions.

Transfers are made by chauffeur-driven vehicles and Green Car rail services, connecting the three cities into a single itinerary.

Classic cars in Italy and helicopters over Greece

In Italy, “The Grand Italia Rally” draws inspiration from the country's historic endurance road races. Guests drive classic Italian cars during a six-night circuit from Milan through Venice and Florence and back to Milan.

The route crosses Franciacorta, Lake Garda, the Apennines, Tuscany and the Ligurian coast. Luxury Collection hotels serve as overnight stops, while private boat arrivals, rooftop dinners and a final celebration complement the driving programme.

“The Aegean Odyssey” takes a different approach to transportation. The nine-day journey connects Mykonos, Paros and Santorini by private helicopter and yacht. Guests visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delos with an archaeologist, explore Antiparos and Despotiko and learn about the marble tradition of Paros. On Santorini, indigenous grape varieties and the island's wine culture form part of the programme.

Kyoto experience follows food from farm to table

Shorter Day Discoveries include “Farm to Fermentation” at Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto. Designed for groups of up to four guests, the experience explores traditional Japanese food preservation.

It begins at a local farm before continuing to a fermentation house, where participants learn about nukazuke, the Japanese technique of preserving vegetables in fermented rice bran. A picnic and a teppanyaki dinner prepared by a chef complete the journey from agricultural production to the finished dish.

In Scottsdale, Arizona, another Day Discovery combines the Sonoran Desert with architecture and food. Guests receive private access to the Desert Botanical Garden, including its seed bank, herbarium and greenhouse, before visiting Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West and returning to The Phoenician for a farm-to-table dinner.

Saudi heritage through architecture and cuisine

At Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Diriyah, “Doors of Diriyah: A Najdi Palette & Palate” focuses on the architecture and culinary heritage of Saudi Arabia's Najd region.

Guests explore the UNESCO-listed A-Turaif district and visit a private Najdi palace. They then prepare Henini, a traditional dish made with dates, ghee and cardamom, together with hotel chefs. An artisan-led workshop concludes the day, with participants painting a miniature Najdi door inspired by local colours and decorative motifs.

Five days inside Rioja's wine culture

The programme becomes more intensive at Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, Spain. “The Art of Winemaking: A Rioja Alavesa Masterclass” follows the development of wine over five days.

Guests harvest grapes with the viticulture team, visit the gravity-fed cellar and participate in a private blending session to create their own wine. The programme also includes vineyard lunches, rare vintages, a 16-course dinner and a candlelit meal in the historic cellars.

The experience continues after the guests have returned home. Their individual wines mature in French oak barrels before 40 personalised bottles are shipped to them.

Marine scientists guide guests in South Caicos

At Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in South Caicos, three programmes focus on the marine and coastal environment.

The “Reef Revival Expedition” takes guests to a coral nursery laboratory with marine scientists and researchers from the School for Field Studies before a guided snorkelling excursion. Certified divers can additionally participate in coral planting.

“Angler's Paradise Expedition” explores remote flats with a bonefishing expert, while “From Tides to Stars Expedition” combines naturalist-guided kayaking through the Northern Cays with private stargazing after dark.

With the first ten Expeditions, The Luxury Collection is positioning its hotels as starting points rather than the final destination of a luxury stay. Additional programmes are scheduled to join the portfolio in autumn 2026.