Marriott and Sotheby’s extend partnership for ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ luxury auction experiences

The world's largest hotel company continues to show luxury travel is just as much about experiences as it is about high thread count and service with a smile.

The Luxury Group by Marriott International and Sotheby's this week announced plans to extend their ongoing partnership for high-end auction experiences into next year. The offering is called "Iconic Pieces. Extraordinary Experiences." It was first launched earlier this year, and new experiences will debut in December.

"The expansion of our brand partnership with Sotheby's reflects our common belief that true luxury combines both the tangible and intangible," George Hammer, Marriott's global head of luxury marketing, said in a statement. "We're continuing to explore the interplay of art and travel with experiences that not only celebrate our audience's passions but also inspire a deeper connection and appreciation for the artistry behind them. As this collaboration evolves, we're excited to leverage our international presence and the diverse expertise across our portfolio to surprise our guests with even more dynamic, never-been-seen experiences."

The first two of the upcoming new experiences will take the respective winning bidders to Europe for incredibly rare offerings.

"Geneva Grandmasters: A Watchmaking Odyssey Curated by The Ritz-Carlton" will be auctioned off Dec. 6 within Sotheby's Important Watch sales. It's the first time a Marriott experience will be offered in a live auction. The offering includes a horology (the science of timekeeping) immersion at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva, with experts from the watch brand Girard-Perregaux. The experience includes a hands-on workshop with watch artisans, the opportunity to shop limited-edition timepieces and a private culinary experience at the Villa Girard-Perregaux in La Chaux-de-Fonds (the ancestral home of the Girard-Perregaux brand).

Online bidding is currently open through Dec. 10 for the next experience, "A Taste of France: An Epicurean Voyage Curated by The Luxury Collection." The winning bidder of the French taste experience will enjoy a stay at Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris; the winner will also receive several culinary journeys like a guided day trip to Champagne and an afternoon tea with the renowned artist and chef Laila Gohar.

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"This collaboration represents a unique fusion of Sotheby's expertise in curating exceptional luxury collectibles and the Luxury Group's unparalleled approach to hospitality," Eléonore Dethier, Sotheby's global head of partnerships, said in a statement. "We are delighted to present these experiences during The Luxury Sales in New York, celebrating the pinnacle of hospitality, craftsmanship, and savoir-faire, while creating unforgettable moments for our clients that transcend traditional luxury."

If you don't win either of these two experiences, don't fret: Additional opportunities between Marriott and Sotheby's are expected to be announced in 2025.

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