Aman Resorts is an ultra-luxury hospitality brand founded in 1988 by Adrian Zecha, with its first property, Amanpuri, opening on the west coast of Phuket, Thailand. The company is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, and operates approximately 35 hotels and resorts across 20 countries. Aman properties are defined by their deliberately small scale, serene locations, and emphasis on privacy, with most hotels containing fewer than 50 rooms or pavilions. The brand's architectural philosophy prioritizes harmony with the natural landscape, drawing on local materials and indigenous design traditions to create spaces that feel rooted in their surroundings. Each property features dedicated wellness facilities, often incorporating traditional healing practices native to the region. Aman's service model maintains exceptionally high staff-to-guest ratios, enabling deeply personalized attention throughout each stay. The brand has expanded into branded residences, with Aman Residences available at select locations. Aman also operates a skincare line and Aman Fine Fragrance collection. Vladislav Doronin, through his company Doronin Group, acquired the brand in 2014 and has overseen its continued expansion into urban destinations including Tokyo, New York, and Miami. Aman New York, which opened in 2022, marked the brand's first purpose-built urban hotel. Room rates typically start above $1,000 per night, positioning Aman at the highest tier of the global luxury hospitality market.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is a luxury hospitality company that operates a portfolio of award-winning hotels, resorts, and residences across major global destinations. The group traces its origins to 1963 with the opening of The Mandarin in Hong Kong, and the brand as it exists today was formed through the 1974 merger with The Oriental in Bangkok. Mandarin Oriental is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jardine Matheson Holdings, a diversified conglomerate listed on the London Stock Exchange. The group is headquartered in Hong Kong and operates approximately 40 hotels in 25 countries across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Properties are characterized by a blend of Eastern heritage and contemporary luxury, with each hotel reflecting the culture and design traditions of its location. The group places particular emphasis on its food and beverage programs, operating numerous Michelin-starred restaurants across its portfolio. Mandarin Oriental's spa division, known for its holistic approach to wellness, has received extensive industry recognition. The brand's fan-shaped logo, derived from the fan palm, serves as one of the most recognizable symbols in luxury hospitality. Mandarin Oriental has expanded into branded residences and operates a loyalty program called Fans of M.O. Room rates at flagship properties typically begin above $500 per night, reflecting the brand's positioning in the upper echelon of luxury hospitality.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
place
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is an ultra-luxury hospitality brand that manages a collection of distinctive hotels and resorts worldwide. The company was founded in 1979 by Caroline Rose Hunt, daughter of Texas oil baron H.L. Hunt, with the opening of the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas. In 2011, Rosewood was acquired by Hong Kong-based New World Development Company, controlled by the Cheng family, and the brand's headquarters subsequently moved to Hong Kong. Rosewood operates under the guiding philosophy of A Sense of Place, which mandates that each property reflect the history, culture, and geography of its specific location rather than adhering to a standardized brand template. This approach results in significant architectural and experiential variation across the portfolio. The brand operates approximately 30 properties across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with an active pipeline of future openings. Flagship properties include Rosewood London, Rosewood Hong Kong, and The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York. Rosewood has expanded into branded residences and operates Asaya, its dedicated wellness concept featuring integrative programs at select properties. The brand also manages New World Hotels and KHOS, extending its parent company's hospitality reach across multiple market segments. Rosewood properties typically command premium rates, with nightly stays at flagship locations starting above $600.
Eleven Madison Park
brand
Eleven Madison Park is a fine dining restaurant located at 11 Madison Avenue in the Flatiron District of New York City. The restaurant occupies a ground-floor space within the Metropolitan Life North Building, an Art Deco landmark overlooking Madison Square Park. It opened in 1998 under restaurateur Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, with the original concept created by chef Kerry Heffernan.
In 2006, Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm and general manager Will Guidara assumed leadership of the restaurant, subsequently purchasing it from Meyer's group in 2011. Under their direction, Eleven Madison Park underwent a series of transformations, culminating in its being named the World's Best Restaurant by The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2017. The restaurant holds three Michelin stars.
In 2021, Eleven Madison Park reopened after pandemic-related closures with an entirely plant-based tasting menu, making it one of the most prominent fine dining establishments to eliminate animal products. The menu draws on seasonal produce and employs techniques traditionally associated with classical fine dining, including extensive use of fermentation, smoking, and elaborate multi-component presentations. The shift to plant-based cuisine generated significant attention within the culinary world.
The restaurant's dining room is characterized by its soaring ceilings, large windows facing Madison Square Park, and minimalist interior design. The tasting menu is priced at approximately $365 per person before beverages, tax, and service. Guidara departed the ownership in 2019, leaving Humm as the sole proprietor and executive chef.