Epoque Hotel proudly announces its affiliation to Relais & Châteaux, the most prestigious hospitality association in the world. Established leader of the five star boutique segment, Epoque is the first hotel in Romania to become a member of Relais & Châteaux.
Established in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association of more than 550 landmark hotels and restaurants operated by independent innkeepers, chefs, and owners who share a passion for their businesses and a desire for authenticity in their relationships with their clientele. Member properties are defined by flawless service, exceptional gastronomy and a singular expression of the “art de vivre” concept. Relais & Châteaux’ vision is to protect and champion the richness and diversity of the hospitality tradition, promoting “l’Art de vivre” as the 10th art.
Epoque is a boutique hotel with a unique concept on the local market, which brings together all the attributes of a de luxe experience: suite-only lodging facilities with ample living and bedroom areas, a fine dining restaurant, a state-of-the-art SPA and a premium Conference & Events Center.
Signing “Retreat in the heart of the city”, Epoque promises an exclusive haven of serenity in the heart of the busy metropolis. The façade proposes classical French architecture, a tribute to Bucharest’s “petit Paris” age. The interior evokes a more personal experience, unveiling a contemporary interpretation of the Neo-Romanian style, the local architecture of the first half of the XIXth century, and integrating national motifs within signature decors.
“Relais & Châteaux is a collection of powerful individualities who share the same vision and enthusiasm, but also the rigor and tradition of hospitality. <Hoteliers must speak from the heart> was the recommendation of the founders of Relais & Châteaux over 60 years ago; it still rings true today. Similarly, at Epoque there’s a genuine desire for authenticity and sincerity, fostering warm, generous and welcoming service. Epoque aims to spoil and surprise each guest with tailor-made experiences during every stay. We are happy to welcome them in the Relais & Châteaux family”, said Johan Creytens, Area Delegate for Benelux, Eastern Europe & Scandinavia at Relais & Châteaux.
“We are absolutely delighted to become a member of Relais & Châteaux and to announce Epoque’s affiliation to the most prestigious hospitality association in the world. The invitation to join honoured and thrilled us, especially since we feel in perfect alignment with the mission and values of Relais & Châteaux. As a passionate hotelier, I have followed their activity closely and admired their unique mission to not only promote excellence in hospitality, but also to be defined by l’art de vivre. <L’art de vivre> is at the core of Epoque’s philosophy, while each step in our development is the expression of the same mission: to offer our guests exceptional experiences of cuisine and hospitality. Our affiliation to Relais & Châteaux represents a personal invitation to all travelers looking for the Relais & Châteaux high standards they are accustomed with worldwide, being, at the same time, a beautiful opportunity for Bucharest to be featured in the famous Routes du Bonheur, the travel itineraries recommended by Relais & Châteaux to its guests”, declared Diana Popescu, Owner & CEO Epoque Hotel.
The Relais & Châteaux affiliation procedure is thoroughly complex, including over 300 criteria of analysis, which are structured according to the association’s essential values: Local focus, showing that each establishment is the living embodiment of a place, and its history, environment and culture; Sharing, proving that the head of each establishment transmits his/her passion to patrons and staff; Commitment, actively contributing to build on the history of hospitality and cuisine; Humanity: each establishment endeavors to respect the people who participate in the life and culture of the place.
The stages of the affiliation process are as follows: identification of candidates and multiple evaluations of the commissions of inspectors, anonymous quality audits, the reviews of 5C guests club, assessment by the central quality department in Paris and the vote of the Board. Out of approximately 120 properties inspected annually, only a quarter becomes a member of Relais & Châteaux at the end of the selection process.
Member benefits include: access to the Relais & Châteaux specific client segment, central reservations system, a recruitment platform to help attracting the best candidates for members’ staffing needs, Relais & Châteaux Academy trainings in person or online, access to the communication infrastructure of the Relais & Châteaux brand.
The Relais & Chateaux community includes over 550 properties worldwide and over 2 million clients annually, with a loyalty rate of over 60%. Guests’ feeder markets are: 32% USA & Canada, 15% UK & Ireland, 13% France, 8% Germany & Austria, 4% Benelux, 3% Italy, 6% Japon & Asia. The average number of booked nights is 15-20 per year, and the average duration of stay is 3.8 days. The select club of 5C clients (Caractère, Courtoisie, Calme, Charme et Cuisine) has over 13000 active members.
