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​Introducing Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Journeys: Expert-Led Itineraries Revealing Culture Through a New Lens

Andrew Cleary, Vice President of Customer Experience, Mandarin Oriental. “Discerning guests today are looking for more than ever before when it comes to connecting with the essence of a destination; they seek context, rarefied access, and expert-delivered knowledge. Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Journeys were created to meet that desire, offering truly personal encounters with the culture and craftsmanship that define each destination.”
Andrew Cleary, Vice President of Customer Experience, Mandarin Oriental. “Discerning guests today are looking for more than ever before when it comes to connecting with the essence of a destination; they seek context, rarefied access, and expert-delivered knowledge. Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Journeys were created to meet that desire, offering truly personal encounters with the culture and craftsmanship that define each destination.”

Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Journeys, a growing collection of expertly curated experiences created exclusively for guests of Mandarin Oriental hotels around the world. Designed to inspire curiosity and connection, each journey combines privileged access, cultural insight and the Group's renowned service to create moments that transform the ordinary into the exceptional.


Developed in collaboration with The Luminaire, curators of knowledge-led travel, the collection unfolds across Mandarin Oriental hotels in Madrid, Muscat, Paris, Milan, Geneva, Tokyo and London. Each journey offers guests exclusive access to cultural figures, institutions and experiences that reveal a deeper understanding of the places Mandarin Oriental calls home as well as taking guests to new places rarely accessed by travelers.  


From navigating the magic of Oman's desert landscapes with Bedouin guides to sampling the rarest private vintages in 300-year-old cellars in Champagne, all Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Journeys are for private groups and led by experts in their field. Each itinerary is customized to the individual guest and their private party, drawing on the local insights of the Mandarin Oriental hotel and cultural expertise and connections from our partners at The Luminaire.


Now, the Exclusive Journeys collection makes its Americas debut at Mandarin Oriental, New York, introducing a series of new cultural experiences that turn the city (and beyond) into a living gallery. Guests are invited to explore New York's creative pulse through private, expert-led journeys that reflect the hotel's enduring commitment to art, culture and authentic expression.

Highlights include:






  • New York Photography Legends in Focus - For photographers and collectors seeking rare insight into the creative process, discover two intimate experiences offering direct access to the artists shaping contemporary photography. Explore the legacy of Joel Meyerowitz, through a private session led by his longtime Archive Director, or journey north to the Hudson Valley to meet Liz Nielsen, whose vivid, camera-less works are crafted entirely in the darkroom. Each experience offers a deeper connection to the artistry, methods and vision that define modern photography.


Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Journeys builds upon Mandarin Oriental, New York's foundation of cultural partnerships offering exclusive access to Broadway and Jazz at Lincoln Center and leading events including Frieze New York and the New York Film Festival.


“These journeys reflect the spirit of Mandarin Oriental, our heritage of meaningful hospitality and our belief that luxury should deepen our guest's understanding of the places and cultures we call home,” said Andrew Cleary, Vice President of Customer Experience, Mandarin Oriental. “Discerning guests today are looking for more than ever before when it comes to connecting with the essence of a destination; they seek context, rarefied access, and expert-delivered knowledge. Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Journeys were created to meet that desire, offering truly personal encounters with the culture and craftsmanship that define each destination.”


Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Journeys will continue to expand across the Group's global portfolio, each experience crafted in collaboration with experts and partners who share Mandarin Oriental's passion for excellence, exploration and cultural connection.

For more information or to reserve a journey, visit mandarinoriental.com/the-luminaire or contact the concierge at Mandarin Oriental, New York.


About The Luminaire

The Luminaire designs travel experiences that are led by insiders, blending exceptional access with immersive storytelling, so that curious travellers return richer in understanding, connection, and the kind of stories that stay with them.


Through this understanding of the places and communities we visit, we cultivate a desire to protect them. The Luminaire Foundation provides cultural stewardship for future generations across natural conservation; cultural preservation; and education. In partnership with Virgin Unite – the independent non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group – 100% of profits from upcoming Foundation trips will go towards global initiatives including The Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela.. Read more here - Hotel Management Global Outlook Link



Small Tip To Landing Good Senior-Level Hotel Management Positions in 2025 - 2026


Many of our members have remained with us since the inception of our job lead service seven years ago. They continue to renew their memberships, staying on board even after securing new positions, and for good reason.


Daily, our editors dispatch bulletins detailing new job vacancies, projects, and industry shifts, including hotel launches, expansions, strategies, and market trends.


We recognize that numerous long-standing, senior-level members utilize these bulletins as conversation starters, reaching out to hotel chains and potential employers, sometimes with unsolicited applications and messages. LHN endorses such proactive engagement. It's an excellent, informal method to gain early interest from prominent hotel groups and upcoming projects, indicating your interest and broadening your opportunities for intriguing interviews or discussions about potential roles, particularly at the upper echelons of management.


Our editors also keep these proactive efforts in mind, shaping many bulletins to cover "new openings, new projects, and new market developments."


While membership spots for 2025 I 2026 are limited, it's not too late to renew.- Read more her


The Team

at LEADING HOTELIERS NETWORK / JOB LEAD SERVICE


To gain immediate access, you can either renew your membership or sign up by choosing membership here: 3 Months / 6 Months / 12 Months / Premium Membership



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