The Bite Magazine - Spring 2016 - Issue 15

bitetravel The Luxury Collection Collaborates with Sofia Sanchez De Betak to Create Limited-Edition Globe-Trotter Luggage Collection T he Luxury Collection has collaborated for the first time with British luxury luggage brand Globe-Trot- ter to produce an exclusive limited-edition suitcase collection. With influences from designer and creative director Sofia Sanchez de Betak, the collection is inspired by her summer vacation in Greece where she experi- enced four destinations through the lens of The Luxury Collection brand’s indig- enous hotels and resorts: Santa Marina in Mykonos; The Romanos in Costa Nava- rino; Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens; and Vedema and Mystique in Santorini. “As a creative force, fashion muse, and world traveller, Sofia embodies the values and spirit of a global explorer, and like our guests, she is a traveller who truly understands and personifies experiential luxury,” said Meredith Dichter, Global Brand Director of The Luxury Collec- tion 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 luggage collection which will be available from April 2016 consist of: ‘Santorini’ inspired by Sofia’s stay at The Luxury Collection’sVedema and Mustique; ‘Mykonos’ influenced by her experience at the brand’s exclusive beachfront oasis, Santa Marina; ‘Athena’ which cel- ebrates 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 situ- ated 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 travellers to follow. A combination of insider tips from The Luxury Collection concierges and personal recommenda- tions from locals and experts allowed me to curate the ‘must-sees’ on my maps for global explorers to find!” Influenced by Greece’s characteristic colours, the collection’s exterior fea- tures shades of blue and white, accented by touches of black as well as Globe-Trot- ter’s iconic handmade leather trim and gold hardware.The interior of each piece is lined with cotton linen and features a colourfully illustrated scavenger map of the destinations 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