Secret Stays: Pioneering host of the New Chic

Description

“At one point in the hotel boom that began gathering real pace in the ‘90s, it looked like all travellers wanted to do was fly and flop. But it turned out they also wanted something else, and in the noughties, someone else made that possible. People were, strangely, if you think about it, renting out rooms to complete strangers, from a tiny flat in Copenhagen to a farmhouse in Bulgaria. Travellers loved being in people’s houses now, tucked up into their lives, loving the immediacy of the experience and the person in the personality of the place.

Perhaps more importantly, at the centre of this cultural shift has been the mighty realisation that we believe in true hospitality again. We have a desire to provide that goes beyond transactional: to take strangers in and exchange stories of different lands while offering rest. And it is what the game-changing owners featured in Secret Stays: Pioneering host of the New Chic do: open their doors to what are now the world’s most remarkable places to stay.”

Whether it is a hidden Croatian monastery, an Italian palazzo, a French mas, or a Japanese machiya town house, this volume transports readers to some of the most unique places to stay around the world, owned by extraordinary characters.

Burlington to the villagers of Tizkmoudine, from Chad Pike to the Earl of Durham. From secluded abbeys and ancient manors to modern houses and larger-than-life mansions, Secret Stays presents twenty-two places illustrated by extensive imagery to celebrate the past of each property and its new evolution, highlighting how these places are at the forefront of the changing face of travel around the world. Page after page, author Melinda Stevens in collaboration with Issy von Simson and Tabitha Joyce walk readers through the history of every hotel, meeting with the owners—who also include Jasper Conran, Karen Roos, Jonny Gent, Count Benedikt Bolza, Donna Ida, Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza and Count and Countess Bethlen—and revealing (some of) the best- kept secrets each property has to offer.

About Assouline:

Founded in Paris in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline, Assouline is the first luxury brand on culture. It began with the desire to create a new, contemporary style of book, using the couple’s experienced eye for visually rich stories and compelling narratives. Guided by their passion for knowledge, culture and travel, the Assoulines have since expanded their vision to 1,700 titles in three main collections, along with special editions and unique library accessories—a grand oeuvre of inspiring creations. Over the last quarter of a century, the brand has established a network of international boutiques in prominent locations worldwide. Assouline has also inaugurated a curated library service, working closely with clients to visualise, design, and develop bespoke, one-of-a-kind libraries.

With a distinguished team of creative talents, which includes the founders’ son Alexandre, the brand continues to reinvent the notion of true luxury. Assouline’s roster of collaborators consists of some of the world’s most respected brands, artists, photographers, writers, and designers. Assouline continues to exude an unparalleled signature style and elegant savoir-faire, which has globally redefined the modern publishing landscape. Learn more