A visually stunning series of books transports readers around the world and engages all the senses in a partnership between Assouline and The Luxury Collection.
To that end, The Luxury Collection offers an array of books inviting guests to explore the realms of food, drink, art, craft, rooms with a view, and hotels with stories to tell, all viewed through the lens of Assouline, a book publisher the Los Angeles Times calls “an oasis of art and culture.” The Assouline Collection is a series of visually striking books, each giving readers exclusive glimpses into immersive sensory experiences all over the world. The ever-expanding series currently spans six elegant works of assemblage, plus two books produced in partnership with a chef propriétaire and a cocktail connoisseur.
Published in 2018, Global Artisans invites readers to discover the story and skill behind each destination presented. The sixth volume in The Luxury Collection series focuses on the concept of inspiration through craftsmanship, showcasing the artisanal and specially made products that make each location truly distinct from the next.
From a two-and-a-half ton, 24K gold Maria Theresa chandelier in The Sheraton Kuwait’s ballroom to the handcrafted hammocks at Hacienda Puerta Campeche in Mexico, the stories of the skill and artistry behind the beautiful objects in each Luxury Collection property are as memorable as the visuals themselves.
The fifth volume of the series, Global Epicurean, welcomes readers to experience the local flavors served across the notable hotel collection’s properties. Detailing exceptional gastronomic activities offered at each, the book visits a private Venetian cuisine class with executive chef Daniele Turco at The Gritti Palace’s epicurean school, a Cretan feast at the Blue Palace, private dune dining at Al Maha in Dubai, and other once-in-a-lifetime culinary experiences found only through The Luxury Collection’s properties and partnerships. From cocktails and starters to main courses and desserts, the book shares recipes featuring ingredients native to each region, and cultural tastemakers provide insights into the epicurean scenes of their respective lands.
2016’s Room with a View features an engaging introduction by actor, director, and award-winning travel writer Andrew McCarthy and goes on to showcase 95 spectacular photographs of The Luxury Collection’s hotel rooms and their remarkable views. Ranging from the ruins of the Acropolis to Arizona’s Camelback Mountain, readers are transported to dozens of coveted destinations around the world through stunning imagery and the personal narratives of global explorers who have taken in those views with their own eyes.
The series’ third installment, Certified Indigenous, shows us the world through the eyes of the renowned concierges of The Luxury Collection, each presenting a unique 24-hour tour of their city with recommendations for morning, afternoon and evening activities. It invites readers to discover the culture, environment, and cuisine of each locale, from iconic attractions to best-kept secrets, leaving few corners of the world unexplored. This tome begins with an introduction by Holly Stiel, the first female hotel concierge in the United States.
Epicurean Journeys, the series’ sophomore offering, is a culinary enthusiast’s fever dream, including gastronomic contributions from The Luxury Collection’s acclaimed roster of chefs including Chef José Andres, Geoffrey Zakarian, Stephanie Le Quellec, and more. Tips and captivating stories are also shared by chefs, musicians, and tastemakers like Helena Christensen, Jamie Cullum, Elettra Wiedemann, Ruth Reichl and Sophie Dahl.
And the book that started it all — Hotel Stories — reveals the untold accounts of the world’s most alluring hotels. Peer back through elegant imagery into the party Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco hosted at the Castillo Hotel Son Vida in Spain, encounter the motley crew of artists who stayed at the Hotel Danieli in Venice, and take a trip around the world, stopping to hear the stories of notable people doing fascinating things in elegant places throughout history. Perfect for travel enthusiasts and history buffs, this book is teeming with intrigue and allure.
The entire series of Assouline publications — Global Artisans, Global Epicurean, Room with a View, Certified Indigenous, Epicurean Journeys, and Hotel Stories — are all available online through The Luxury Collection store.