Zhou is first female Chinese Global Explorer appointed by the brand, and joins what the hotel group calls “other well-known tastemakers from around the globe”, including designer, producer and actor Waris Ahluwalia, supermodel, photographer and creative director Helena Christensen, designer Margherita Maccapani Missoni, and graphic designer and creative director Sofia Sanchez de Betak.
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts – part of Marriott International – has appointed Golden Horse award-winning Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu as the newest Global Explorer in China.
Zhou is first female Chinese Global Explorer appointed by the brand, and joins what the hotel group calls “other well-known tastemakers from around the globe”, including designer, producer and actor Waris Ahluwalia, supermodel, photographer and creative director Helena Christensen, designer Margherita Maccapani Missoni, and graphic designer and creative director Sofia Sanchez de Betak.
As an ambassador for The Luxury Collection, Zhou travelled to Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, to shoot a video for the brand, sharing her thoughts on travel and how exploring different indigenous cultures impacts her personal life as an actress.
Through her role as a Global Explorer, Zhou will continue to share a unique Chinese perspective on the brand's destinations when she travels to locales in China and Europe later this year.
Her personal insights and travel tips will be compiled into a travel journal, exclusively available to The Luxury Collection hotel guests around the world.
Anthony Ingham, global brand leader, The Luxury Collection, said appointing the first Chinese female Global Explorer underscored the importance of the Chinese market, “and this partnership with Zhou Dongyu marks our effort to enhance the brand's image among the next generation of Chinese travellers”.
Bruce Ryde, Asia-Pacific vice-president for luxury brands and brand marketing at Marriott International, added, “Today’s global luxury traveller defies traditional stereotypes, moving far beyond the notion of 'time' being the ultimate luxury.
“The next generation of Chinese guests are seeking international experiences and advice from travellers who truly understand and personify experiential luxury.”
The Luxury Collection brand now has eight properties in cities across China, including Shanghai, Nanjing, Sanya and Changsha. The pipeline includes five additional Luxury Collection hotels in Nanning, Sanya, Haitang Bay, Suzhou and Xiamen.