NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE:HOT), announces Helena Christensen as the brand’s new Global Explorer. A seasoned traveler who has enjoyed great success on both sides of the camera, Christensen joins designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia in the coveted Global Explorer role.
As an ambassador for The Luxury Collection, Helena Christensen has traveled through Peru to photograph the destination - from the seaside town of Paracas to the colonial city of Cusco and the lush Sacred Valley. She will premiere her photography in an exhibit titled VISUAL JOURNEY, PERU beginning today and on display to the public through February 17th at Bleecker Street Arts Club.
The evocative photographs will be auctioned through Gavel&Grand, a platform that presents philanthropic auctions online, offering access to extraordinary experiences and luxury items in support of causes worldwide. Sales from the exhibition will benefit Oxfam International, with whom she has worked with for several years. Bidding is available at www.gavelandgrand.com/auctions/luxurycollection.
“Much like travel, photography is most powerful when it is an immersive experience that elicits the emotions, memories and moods of a destination. Exploring Peru with The Luxury Collection was particularly special because they uncovered hidden treasures of the country that I have never experienced before,” said Helena Christensen. “The thought of being a global explorer is so thrilling, and is the perfect job for me!”
“Through her photography, and throughout her career as a model, Helena Christensen has always shared a singular perspective on the world around her,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader for The Luxury Collection, St. Regis and W Hotels Worldwide. “We are thrilled to work with her as our newest Global Explorer, and look forward to inspiring travelers together to experience and celebrate the world’s great destinations.”
The Global Explorer program celebrates the vibrancy of some of the most enchanting destinations through the eyes of the world’s foremost innovators. Helena Christensen will bring a new lens to The Luxury Collection brand as a celebrated photographer and true citizen of the world - born in Copenhagen to a Danish father and Peruvian mother. She lives in New York and travels frequently to London, Paris, Milan, and Panama, as well each of her parents' homelands.
As her role unfolds, Christensen will offer an artistic and authentic view of The Luxury Collection brand’s extraordinary destinations through different collaborations. Christensen previously partnered with The Luxury Collection as a contributor to the brand’s acclaimed Latin America Destination Guide offering insider insights and travel tips.
The Luxury Collection’s portfolio continues to grow globally in unique destinations ideal for global explorers seeking one-of-a-kind experiences with exceptional service and style. In Peru, specifically, the brand now has three hotels throughout the vast landscapes and vibrant cultures: Hotel Paracas in Paracas, Palacio del Inka in Cusco, and Tambo del Inka in Urubamba, Sacred Valley. For more about The Luxury Collection’s portfolio, please visit www.luxurycollection.com.
About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection® is a collection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination's indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of more than 85 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning properties that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class while celebrating each hotel's distinctive heritage and unique character. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world's finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with nearly 1,200 properties in 100 countries, and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. We are a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. One of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) allows members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
About Gavel&Grand
Gavel&Grand is transforming the benefit auction experience. The site partners with organizations across the globe to present their benefit auctions online, providing access to coveted and remarkable experiences while simultaneously expanding the audience of supporters for non-profit organizations. In addition, Gavel&Grand offers on-site bidding technology at live and silent auction events, creating a seamless bidding experience for guests and Gavel&Grand members around the world. Gavel&Grand is a sister site of Paddle8, the online auction house founded in 2011 by Alexander Gilkes and Aditya Julka, funded by the investors behind Uber, Vimeo, Paperless Post, and other companies that change the way we experience the world. www.gavelandgrand.com.