Relais & Châteaux signs an agreement with Ponant

The prestigious label has just reached an agreement with Ponant, a renowned travel organizer known for its off-the-beaten-path destinations and oceanic adventures. The association, founded in 1954 and now comprising 580 establishments in 65 countries around the globe, continues to expand its offerings. Ten new partners have been added to the list of certified establishments, including the luxury three-masted sailboat, typically used for exclusive cruises in the Caribbean archipelagos, Cape Verde, or the Timor Sea north of Australia, far from major tourist routes.

Several criteria have allowed this sailboat to benefit from the visibility and prestige of the hotel label, including the ecological certifications obtained by the brand, notably the Green Marine and Cleanship certifications, which recognize ships equipped to limit pollution from gas and fossil fuels and prioritize low-carbon emission water activities. The sailboat has 16 cabins and can accommodate 34 passengers. The cuisine offered highlights the gastronomic traditions of the countries and regions visited.

In November 2022, Laurent Gardinier took over the leadership of the Relais & Châteaux association, succeeding Philippe Gombert, with a clear strategy based on innovation. With 180,000 annual reservations in its establishments, Relais & Châteaux can rely on a business volume of approximately 2.3 billion euros. As for tour operator, Ponant has been part of Artemis's portfolio, the holding company of the Pinault family (Kering), since 2015.

Impacted quite severely by the health crisis, like all travel-related organizations (the company's revenue dropped from 326 million euros in 2019 to 99.8 million euros in 2021), Ponant can now count on recovering luxury tourism. The company's cruises start at 3,500 euros (Caribbean) and can reach over 44,000 euros for an expedition to Antarctica.