The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has unveiled its first-ever collaboration with British luxury luggage brand Globe-Trotter: an exclusive, limited-edition suitcase collection. Imagined by designer and creative director Sofia Sanchez de Betak, the collection is inspired by her recent summer vacation in Greece, where she experienced four destinations through the lens of The Luxury Collection brand’s indigenous hotels and resorts, including Santa Marina in Mykonos; The Romanos in Costa Navarino; Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens; and Vedema and Mystique in Santorini.
“As a creative force, fashion muse, and world traveler, Sofia embodies the values and spirit of a global explorer, and like our guests, she is a traveler who truly understands and personifies experiential luxury,” said Meredith Dichter, Global Brand Director, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. “Our hotels and resorts define their destinations, and we are thrilled that our portfolio in Greece inspired Sofia to create this one-of-a-kind luggage collection for Globe-Trotter.”
The four unique pieces of luggage include: ‘Santorini,’ inspired by Sofia’s stay at The Luxury Collection’s Vedema and Mystique, both truly unique hotels located on one of the world’s most celebrated islands; ‘Mykonos,’influenced by her experience at the brand’s exclusive beachfront oasis, Santa Marina; ‘Athena,’ which celebrates Sofia’s visit to the iconic Hotel Grande Bretagne, which overlooks the fabled Acropolis and Syntagma Square in Athens; and ‘Messinia,’ a tribute to the beautiful destination of Costa Navarino, where Sofia stayed at The Romanos, The Luxury Collection’s stunning resort situated among the olive groves and sparkling turquoise waters.
“For me, traveling is a treasure hunt—I love exploring new places and creating my own memorable experiences,” said Sofia Sanchez de Betak. “For the design of this luggage collection, I wanted to create a scavenger hunt map inspired by my trip to Greece for fellow travelers to follow. A combination of insider tips from The Luxury Collection concierges and personal recommendations from locals and experts allowed me to curate the ‘must sees’ on my maps for global explorers to find!”
Influenced by Greece’s characteristic colors, the collection’s exterior features shades of blue and white, accented by touches of black as well as Globe-Trotter’s iconic handmade leather trim and gold hardware. The interior of each piece is lined with cotton linen and features a colorfully illustrated scavenger map of the destination of which it was inspired, highlighting the hidden treasures and off-the-beaten-path experiences that Sofia discovered while exploring The Luxury Collection’s destinations in Greece.
“This project is very close to Globe-Trotter’s heart. The journey with Sofia – literally and figuratively – has been a special one for me; as a designer for a company so passionate about telling stories about travel, the opportunity to distill somebody’s real experiences into physical products has been a great journey,” said Charlotte Seddon, Designer, Globe-Trotter. “For me personally, the project also has real meaning – I honeymooned across the Greek islands, and some of my most special memories were captured in these places. The result, we hope, is that a genuine and personal sense of warmth lives within these cases.”
Exclusively offered at www.luxurycollectionstore.com, Globe-Trotter’s flagship boutique in London and www.globe-trotter.com, the individual luggage pieces retail for USD $2,005. The limited-edition luggage collection comes in one convenient size, 22 x 15 x 8”, and each piece was made with wheels and a retractable handle for practical travel.
