As part of Hilton’s new innovative web platform that offers a range of new and exclusive experiences across its luxury brands, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotel & Resorts, two tailor-made contemporary art tours have launched exclusively for guests staying at Waldorf Astoria Berlin or Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus. From private art collections to colourful street art, guests will uncover the hidden and manifest treasures of these two iconic cities’ dynamic and differing art scenes.
At Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus, one of the city’s most influential art experts will accompany guests on a city tour revealing Istanbul’s evolving contemporary art scene. Istanbul is renowned for the 537 AD Hagia Sophia basilica and the colourful Topkapi palace, but today the works of energetic contemporary expressionists can be found across the city, from Istanbul Modern to private art collections and graffitied facades. The experienced art consultant will escort guests around the city unveiling these contemporary exhibitions and explaining the inspirations and interpretations behind each precious display.
After an enlightening day exploring the city, guests will have the chance to experience a traditional Turkish bath at Conrad’s serene Spa Soul.
Meanwhile, at Waldorf Astoria Berlin guests can book to visit three of the city’s top galleries accompanied by an experienced art expert who will choose the galleries according to guests’ interests.
Departing Waldorf Astoria Berlin in the company of their guide, guests will be taken on a private tour and receive an up-to-the-minute insight into the city’s dynamic contemporary art scene. A mecca for creatives, the city is home to over 20,000 international artists. With an art scene changing so rapidly that it is not known for sure if there are 400 or 600 galleries, it is best navigated at the hands of an expert.
The new experience comes part of Hilton’s innovative new web platform, where experiences are filtered by the senses, giving guests unprecedented access to local tastes, sights and sounds.
Other experiences guests can book include, but are not limited to:
- At Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam guests will be met at the steps of the hotel and driven in a horse-drawn carriage to Chandlers Warehouse, a private warehouse home to the world’s largest private collection of Louis Vuitton suitcases. Here they will have a chance to explore the warehouse’s hidden treasures and listen to stories from the 17th-century shop, before being served a fine-dining five-course dinner.
- At Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles guests can book to sit at the ‘Chef’s Table’ in Gordon Ramsay au Trianon restaurant. Here a bespoke, Michelin starred menu will be created exclusively for them, right before their eyes.
- Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem offers an evening city tour which will take guests to the Mahane Yehuda Market to learn the traders’ ancient secrets of breadmaking and to taste a multitude of dough-based specialties.
- Guests at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian will be able to determine their Scottish roots and discover their family tartan in the Scottish Heritage Experience. A questionnaire completed by guests prior to arrival will be reviewed by a team of genealogist experts who will reveal the guests’ family tree during their stay and regale them with stories of their ancestors. The experience will finish with a bespoke kilt and Scottish traditional dress fitting that guests can purchase in their family’s tartan to take home. [1]
Dominique Piquemal, Vice President Luxury Operations EMEA at Hilton says, “Now more than ever, luxury consumers are looking for unique experiences and unparalleled access. Our newly launched Luxury Experiences platform enables guests to browse the breadth of diverse experiences and undiscovered gems, available exclusively through our Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties, offering exceptional experiences, every hotel, every guest, every time.”
A recent global survey of luxury travellers by Hilton [2] found that 48 per cent of UK travellers have planned most of their itinerary before travelling and that 20 per cent use a loyalty app or digital concierge to do this. With the launch of the new Luxury Experiences platform (www.explore.hilton.com/luxury) guests will be able to book over 20 exclusive, authentic and local experiences in destinations all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
