Mr & Mrs Smith launches in Asia Pacific
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
28 Oct 09 (TravMedia.com): Ever had a bad experience with a ’boutique’ hotel? Well, now Asian and expat travellers on the lookout for unique boutique hotels all round the world can breathe easy! Mr & Mrs Smith, the world’s leading boutique accommodation experts, will be bringing their irresistible cocktail of style-spotting, sexy stays and services to discerning holidaymakers from and within Asia. A quick weekend break at Como Shambhala Estate in Bali? An intimate honeymoon at the Villa Donati in Melbourne? A luxurious summer sojourn in the hills of Tuscany? Whatever their needs, Smith customers in Asia will now enjoy a highly localised experience which customises information, service and offers for the region.
Part travel guide, holiday booking service and travel club for those in the know, Mr & Mrs Smith is all about making sure every travel experience is extraordinary. Having already made their mark in Europe, America and Australasia, Mr & Mrs Smith has moved their sights onto South East Asia and has partnered Simon Westcott, a former global publisher of Lonely Planet, and regular travel writer and blogger, to establish Mr & Mrs Smith Asia Pacific.
More than just hot tips for great trips away, Mr & Mrs Smith also has a premium travel booking service to arrange everything for the boutique traveller, both online and through an expert travel team who can be contacted 24 hours a day during the week and on Saturdays. All Asia Pacific Smith customers are guaranteed the best available rates, which are displayed in both the local destination currency and in US dollars.
With already strong collections in Indonesia and Thailand, and promising beginnings in China and India, Simon and his team are working hard to expand Mr & Mrs Smith’s South East Asia collection. It is to include an unrivalled selection of up to 200 boutique hotels in the region by the end of the year, including a comprehensive collection across Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
Simon shares, “We are very excited to be developing in South East Asia, which has really great boutique hotels in beautiful locations. We have recently found some wonderful new places in the region and will be adding these hotels to the Mr & Mrs Smith collection from November 2009.”
Guests can be assured that every boutique hotel in the Mr & Mrs Smith collection goes through a stringent two-tier review process. They are first hand-picked and researched in person by the Mr & Mrs Smith team, then anonymously reviewed by a handful of tastemakers from the worlds of music, fashion, theatre, publishing, architecture, food and wine, who tell a personal and entertaining story of their stay. Together, this content provides you with the low-down on each property’s perks and quirks, including how to get the best rooms in the house and top tables in the restaurant.
Existing reviewers of Mr & Mrs Smith include Australian chef and food writer Christine Manfield, designer Stella McCartney, chef Raymond Blanc, and burlesque artist Dita Von Teese. They will be joined by tastemakers across Asia, who will bring their own knowledge, taste and influence to the mix. This exclusive list will be revealed in October 2009.
Every Smith member gets to really feel special with exclusive privileges such as a free bottle of bubbly on arrival, automatic upgrades, a complimentary massage or a bespoke gift. Membership is available in three tiers – BlackSmith, SilverSmith and GoldSmith – entitling members to access exclusive content and promotions as well as airline lounge membership and travel concierge services. In addition, up to five per cent of the value of every stay is locked away in the Mr & Mrs Smith Vault for members to use as credit on later bookings or on a range of boutique and luxury products and services from Mr & Mrs Smith partners.
These partners boast a range of lifestyle benefits and include Aesop and Gorman in Australia, Mulberry and BMW in the UK, and Dean & Deluca and Vivre in the US, spoiling members of Mr & Mrs Smith even when they’re not travelling. More Asian partners are also in the works to help you live up the Smith life.
Created in 2003, Mr & Mrs Smith was the brainchild of founders James Lohan and Tamara Heber-Percy, when, after a stay at a bad hotel, they were determined that no one should have to share the same unlucky fate. After launching the successful Mr & Mrs Smith book collections, the Smiths went online in 2005 with www.mrandmrsmith.com, which is now one of the most heavily visited boutique hotel sites in Europe, with more than 300,000 visitors per month. More than 600 recommendations for smaller, sexier hotels and self-catering properties around the world are already on offer at www.mrandmrssmith.com.
Since their Australian launch in May 2009, Mr & Mrs Smith Asia Pacific has been steadily acquiring new members and new hotels, signing on lifestyle partners such as Mercedes, Aesop and Gorman as well as recruiting local tastemakers such as actress Sigrid Thornton, chef Neil Perry, and media luminary Deborah Hutton.
But travellers eagerly awaiting the brand new Mr & Mrs Smith book will just have to wait a little while longer. Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Collection: Australia/New Zealand will hit the shelves in November 2009, to coincide with the launch of Mr & Mrs Smith in Asia, and a South East Asia edition is planned to follow in the second half of 2010.
About Mr & Mrs Smith Asia Pacific
Mr & Mrs Smith is part travel guide, holiday booking service and travel club for discerning travellers in the know. Mr & Mrs Smith has partnered Simon Westcott, a former global publisher of Lonely Planet, to establish Mr & Mrs Smith Asia Pacific. To add on to Mr & Mrs Smith’s already strong collections in Indonesia and Thailand, and promising beginnings in China and India, Simon and his team will include an unrivalled selection of up to 200 boutique hotels across South East Asia and the Pacific by the end of the year.
With more than 600 recommendations on smaller hotels and properties across all budgets, Mr & Mrs Smith is undoubtedly the world’s leading boutique hotel expert. Visit www.mrandmrssmith.com for information on the company and to view their collection of boutique hotels across the world.
Comments are closed.