Relais & Chateaux Celebrating Landmark Year of Asia Expansion

The last year has seen Relais & Chateaux expand in Asia as well as worldwide with the launch of their 2nd edition of the Asia-Pacific Guide, a new design for the International guide, the launch of a Grands Chefs website as well as the addition of several new members in Asia.

Still to come, Relais & Chateaux will also be introducing new call centers for the region in Singapore and Thailand. As well as expanding the Asia-Pacific delegation by adding separate delegations for Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Relais & Chateaux now features an exclusive collection of 480 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants worldwide, extending to 60 countries. As a result, the Relais & Chateaux website is also now available in six languages, with the latest being Chinese – allowing Relais & Châteaux to tap into the ever-growing China market.

The last year also saw the launch of the second edition of Relais & Chateaux's Asia Pacific guide – including thematic itineraries – making the "Route du Bonheur" come alive.

Among around 30 of the latest Asian members to join the prestigious Relais & Chateaux family are Saint Pierre in Singapore, Mahua Kothi and The Malabar House in India, The Beach House at Manafaru Maldives and two leading Japanese hotels, Beniya Mukayu in Ishikawa-Ken and Tobira Onsen Myojinkan in Matsumoto Nagano.

In Oceania, Jacques-Reymond in Melbourne also joins as a prestigious Grand Chef Relais & Chateaux, along with New Zealand entrants Mollies in Auckland, Corstorphine House in Dunedin and Otahuna Lodge in Tai Tapu.

As well as the international website, Relais & Chateaux also recently launched the ultimate online guide to the world's leading chefs and their restaurants.

The website www.grandschefs.com is a benchmark guide for gourmets, showcasing 160 of the world's culinary elite from five continents -- together accounting for over 350 Michelin stars!

The legendary chefs are in cities from New York, Geneva and Sydney to Tokyo, London and Paris -- including such eponymous names as Patrick Henriroux in Vienne, Michel Roux Jr. in London and Jean-Georges and Thomas Keller in New York.

Grands Chefs in Asia include Ivan Li in Shanghai, Kiyomi Mikuni in Tokyo and Emmanuel Stroobant in Singapore among others

Jaume Tapies, International President of Relais & Chateaux, said: "The accolades in the world's premier restaurant awards confirm our pre-eminence as the finest global collection of hotels and restaurants, while expansion in Asia re-affirms our commitment to create a truly global family.

"Both our brand website and grandschefs.com are tools to promote not only the excellence of Relais & Chateaux but also fine dining around the world."

More information: Relais & Chateaux