A Look Inside The Extraordinary World Of Relais & Châteaux
Where will your next vacation be? If it’s a Relais & Châteaux property, prepare to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether you’re a mountain person, beach person, or more of an adventurer when it comes to vacationing, Relais & Châteaux’s exclusive properties offer a variety of experiences that cover everyone’s preferences. Relais & Châteaux has over 580 unique hotels and restaurants throughout the world. Here, Dolce takes a look at four Relais & Châteaux properties, from North Carolina to Southern California, to learn more about their remarkable features and the incredible people behind them.
RICHARD DELANY, OLD EDWARDS INN & SPA, NORTH AMERICAN PRESIDENT
Q: How many R&C establishments were there by 1954?
A: In 1954, Relais & Châteaux was a group of just eight hotels, all in France, on the getaway route between Paris and the French Riviera. From there, the brand continued to join with like-minded properties — those that showed a clear philosophy of excellent guest service, through both their culinary and hospitality traditions.
“We look for true five-star hotels with beautiful rooms and outstanding culinary offerings.”
– Richard Dalany
Q: What criteria does a boutique hotel/gourmet restaurant have to have in order to become a Relais & Châteaux property?
A: For a boutique property Relais & Châteaux looks for exceptional service, with every operation centred around providing the best experience for their guests. Somewhere with a sense of place and authenticity. We look for true five-star hotels with beautiful rooms and outstanding culinary offerings. We are especially interested in properties that are committed to promoting local culture through programming and being active in their respective communities. And with that, of course, comes passionate owners. For gourmet restaurants, we look at the overall property, but the main draw is the chef — chefs who are dedicated to innovative ways of representing the history and culture of the food they serve, delivering gastronomic excellence, as well as a sense of place during the dining experience.
Q: What are some of R&C’s long-term plans when it comes to expansion? Currently, with 580 properties, how many more are you hoping to add?
A: We plan to expand as we have been, adding members to our collection that align with our core values and commitments. Our hope is that our brand continues to grow, making more and more positive impacts across the globe, inspiring culinary, hospitality and sustainability achievements in every corner. By 2024, we plan to expand on our 2014 Manifesto, adding new benchmarks to reach regarding our members’ environmental footprint, protection of biodiversity and commitment to social responsibility.
Q: What does la dolce vita, the sweet life, mean to you?
A: We want our guests to get swept away in simple moments that arise naturally on our properties because they are in a place that is comforting to their needs. So, they can just relax into it, be themselves and let their experience evolve. Whether it’s a moment out at the orchard listening to local musicians or a moment by the fi re in their guest cottage with a loved one, we want them to feel like they can just melt their cares away. As a service-oriented hotel, we monitor guests’ moods and work to customize their experiences around how they’re reacting to the property. That’s the sweet life, and that is what we strive every day to create at Old Edwards.
oldedwardshospitality.com
@oldedwardsinn
JOHN GRAHAM, MANAGING DIRECTOR, TWIN FARMS
Q: What year did you become a part of the R&C organization?
A: Twin Farms joined Relais & Châteaux in 2012, 10 years ago.
Q: Why are you proud to be a part of R&C?
A: At Twin Farms, we’re a passionate family. Our past, present and future guests, as well as our incredibly talented team, many of whom have been with us for extended periods, are all one family. Our family extends past our Vermont gates; in fact, it’s global. This comes from the global network of Relais & Châteaux aficionados, who are all connected through the Relais family. This is what makes me proud — that no matter which Relais & Châteaux member you visit, you will always feel like you are being welcomed back into your family’s home.
“Matter which relais & châteaux member you visit, you will always feel like you are being welcomed back into your family’s home.”
– John Graham
Q: What are the most unique features of your hotel?
A: It will be hard to keep this short, but let me try! First off, our culinary program is and always has been incredibly unique to us, and this is a core feature of Relais & Châteaux properties. Our beloved executive chef, Nathan Rich, is a master of gastronomic excellence. His menu-less approach means dining at the Farm is always full of surprise and delightful moments. We are lucky enough to have an incredibly vast estate where we can harvest our own produce. Secondly, the endless array of activities the Farm offers that change through the seasons. And we are continuously adding to our robust program menu. For example, we recently introduced mountain golf to the Farm. Our director of guest services, Alex Laflamme, who has been creating adventures at the Farm for over eight years now, has a strong passion for golf, so he conceptualized mountain golf and weaved it into our programming for guests. It’s not the first time he’s been creative, and it certainly won’t be the last! And on the culinary front, over the past few years we have more than doubled the number of private picnic sites. This has allowed us to activate the Farm in a more enhanced way, which remains a very unique element to Twin Farms.
Q: What do you love most about hospitality?
A: The way it connects people from all walks of life, from all corners of the world. Every region of the world has its own unique version of hospitality. The beauty of working in the industry is you get to experience those traditions everywhere you go. And, of course, the people you meet along the way.
Q: What does la dolce vita, the sweet life, mean to you?
A: la dolce vita means experiencing the magic of your surroundings. Whether it’s taking in a breathtaking view of the fall foliage or taking the time to savour every bite of a picnic, the sweet life is about slowing down — recognizing the beauty of every moment, no matter how simple.
LAURA MCIVER, GENERAL MANAGER, RANCHO VALENCIA
Q: What year did you become a part of the R&C umbrella?
A: 2012
Q: Why are you proud to be a part of R&C?
A: Being associated with Relais & Châteaux means being among the best small hotels and exceptional restaurants in the world. The Relais & Châteaux member properties all provide a unique experience singular only to that property, and each one delivers on a promise of exceptional hospitality.
“Hospitality means taking care of all the details so our guests don’t ever have to worry.”
-Laura McIver
Q: What are the most unique features of your ranch?
A: We have the benefit of 45 acres of lush landscaping and individual casita-style guest rooms, each with an average of 1,000 square feet. We also are home to a world-class spa.
Q: What do you love most about hospitality?
A: Hospitality means taking care of all the details so our guests don’t ever have to worry. It’s all about taking the time to personalize each and every experience and show genuine care throughout each interaction, no matter how small.
Q: Are there any exciting things worth mentioning for 2023?
A: We are in the process of renovating and reconcepting our signature restaurant and hope to open doors in late summer 2023. Our chef ’s garden is already planning for production and our chef is working closely with local family farms to provide anything we can’t produce on-site. It will be a very special new dining offering for our guests.
Q: What does La Dolce Vita, the sweet life, mean to you?
A: La Dolce Vita means embracing experiential living, saying yes more than saying no, and taking the time to enjoy wonderful adventures, food, wine and travel.
ranchovalencia.com
@ranchovalencia
JASON STAFFORD, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MANOIR HOVEY
Q: What year did you become a part of the R&C umbrella?
A: 2008.
Q: Why are you proud to be a part of R&C?
A: As a family-operated estate, it’s an honour to be an integral member of this prestigious hotel association that sets the world standard for excellence in hospitality with a philosophy to make the world a better place through cuisine and hospitality.
Q: What do you love most about hospitality?
A: Hospitality is very fulfilling for those who have a long-term vision and interest in the industry. I believe it is also more rewarding for those passionate about travel, food and culture. It is an industry that requires long hours and dedication and that rarely provides immediate results or financial reward in the short term. For those who elaborate a vision early on in their path, then work constantly towards realizing the dream, the sky is ultimately the limit. It is an incredible experience that connects one to so many interesting people and experiences and I personally wouldn’t trade it for any other career.
“As a third-generation hotelier, I enjoy seeing guests make new memories and love hearing their stories.”
– Jason Stafford
Q: What do you love about the area you are located in?
A: Manoir Hovey is the jewel of beautiful North Hatley, one of Quebec’s most picturesque villages. It sits on the northern shore of Lake Massawippi, a skinny stretch of water ringed by unspoiled forest and the rolling farmland that is characteristic of the Eastern Townships region. Filled with large, century-old mansions and B&Bs, the town is a haven for artisans, artists, writers, theatre lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Its antique shops, art galleries, golf courses, inns and summer theatre are widely supported by visitors and residents alike. Over the years, the Canadian establishment came to discover North Hatley, and many of the great houses built by southern families changed hands. To this day, however, an American summer colony continues to return. Several little cafés, boutiques, antique shops and art galleries cater to these and other visitors, who inevitably fall in love with the village’s charm.
Q: Are there any exciting things worth mentioning for 2023?
A: New Spa Hovey in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Manoir Hovey is setting out to become Canada’s next wellness destination with the addition of a new world-class spa. Opening summer 2023, the three-storey lakefront spa pavilion will feature six treatment rooms, a hammam, a Himalayan salt scrub shower, three relaxation rooms, an esthetician room for manicures and pedicures, and a “Tree House” concept featuring a dry sauna, Scandinavian hydrotherapy thermal experience with a jacuzzi and cold plunge basin, and sitting area with a fireplace overlooking Lake Massawippi. The spa’s nature-inspired open-air pool deck and bar will showcase a four-season outdoor infinity pool, whirlpool, firepits, a pool cabana bar and outdoor lounge. The third floor will be dedicated to three new luxury guest suites with terraces offering optimal relaxation and unobstructed lake views.
Q: What does la dolce vita, the sweet life, mean to you?
A: Life is about special moments that then turn into cherished memories. As a third-generation hotelier, I enjoy seeing guests make new memories and love hearing their stories.
