The Luxury Collection has announced the launch of Expeditions, a collection of journeys that extends the positioning of the Marriott International brand beyond the hotel stay itself. The initiative draws on a global portfolio of more than 130 hotels and resorts across over 40 countries and territories, each conceived as a gateway to the culture and heritage of its destination.
According to Bruce Rohr, Vice President and Global Brand Leader for The Luxury Collection, the brand has always believed that a destination reveals itself through its people, its rituals, its landscapes and the knowledge passed down over time. He notes that Expeditions is a natural extension of that conviction, inviting guests to step beyond the walls of the hotel and immerse themselves in the living fabric of a place, where local expertise and cultural context foster a more personal understanding of the destination.
Three formats, one shared ambition
Expeditions is structured around three distinct formats, united by a common foundation of cultural authenticity, expertise and elevated hospitality. Each journey pairs privileged access to historians, artisans, chefs, winemakers or conservationists with accommodation and service that meet the brand’s standards.
This three-pillar structure — regional itineraries, single-day experiences and expert-led residencies — allows The Luxury Collection to cover a range of stay formats, from a brief encounter to a multi-day immersion, while maintaining editorial consistency across destinations.
Regional itineraries spanning multiple properties
Private Tailored Journeys are private, bespoke itineraries built around each guest’s interests, linking several of the brand’s hotels within a single region. In Japan, The Imperial Journey unfolds over 10 days between Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara, offering access to a samurai residence, a sushi workshop with a fourth-generation master, and a private dinner with a geiko in Gion.
In Italy, The Grand Italia Rally puts guests behind the wheel of a classic Italian car on a six-night route between Milan, Venice and Florence, crossing Franciacorta, Lake Garda, the Apennines, Tuscany and the Ligurian coast. In Greece, The Aegean Odyssey links Mykonos, Paros and Santorini over nine days by private helicopter and yacht, including an exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of Delos alongside a local archaeologist.
Experiences rooted in a single place
Day Discoveries are single-day experiences offered at selected hotels within the brand, centred on a specific craft or cultural practice. At Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, the Farm to Fermentation itinerary introduces up to four guests to the rice-bran pickling technique known as nukazuke, taking them from a local farm through to a teppanyaki dinner.
The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale offers Desert Icons, an exploration of the Sonoran Desert taking in the Desert Botanical Garden and Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio at Taliesin West. At Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Diriyah, Doors of Diriyah takes guests through the UNESCO-listed historic district of At-Turaif, followed by a culinary workshop and a painting session inspired by traditional Najdi doors.
Immersion and expertise at the heart of the stay
Residencies & Collaborations bring guests into direct contact with winemakers, scientists or conservationists for the duration of a time-limited programme. At Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego, The Art of Winemaking immerses participants for five days in the making of a Rioja Alavesa vintage, including grape harvesting, laboratory blending and the shipment of 40 personalised bottles aged in French oak barrels.
At Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, South Caicos, three separate programmes pair guests with marine scientists and researchers from the School for Field Studies, focusing on coral reefs, shallow-water fly-fishing and night-sky observation in the Northern Cays.
A brand strategy that reaches beyond the hotel stay
The launch of Expeditions reflects a broader trend at Marriott International, which is seeking to extend its relationship with guests beyond the overnight stay, echoing the launch of Design Shop by Marriott Bonvoy in the retail space. The group has also confirmed a record global pipeline in the second quarter of 2026, with the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme now exceeding 295 million members.
The inaugural collection brings together ten Expeditions spanning North America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. The Luxury Collection has already confirmed that further Expeditions will be added this autumn, as part of the platform’s ongoing growth within the brand’s global portfolio. The full programme and participating properties can be found at theluxurycollection.com/expeditions.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
The Luxury Collection launches Expeditions, extending its role beyond the hotel stay.
Brand: The Luxury Collection (Marriott International), 130+ hotels and resorts in 40+ countries and territories
New platform: 10 inaugural Expeditions across North America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean
Three formats: Private Tailored Journeys, Day Discoveries, Residencies & Collaborations
Destinations: Japan, Italy, Greece, Kyoto, Scottsdale, Diriyah, Rioja Alavesa, South Caicos
Next step: additional Expeditions to be unveiled this fall
