The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts Appoints International Ballet Star Tan Yuanyuan as Global Explorer

San Francisco Ballet’s Principal Dancer Joins The Luxury Collection’s Global Explorer Program To Share Her International Insights And Distinctive Experiences

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc., recently announced the appointment of Chinese ballet star Tan Yuanyuan as the brand’s newest Global Explorer. The Luxury Collection’s Global Explorer program brings together influential voices from the world’s most discerning tastemakers, celebrating the vibrancy of destinations through the eyes of leading cultural voices. Hand-picked for her sense of adventure, Tan has spent years traveling the world as a multi-award-winning principal dancer with the prestigious San Francisco Ballet Company. Tan will be sharing her own insights and stories, inspiring Chinese travelers to discover and explore hidden gems with The Luxury Collection in the most extraordinary international destinations.

Tan, a native of Shanghai, started performing at a very young age and it was not long before the talented and eager Tan earned the coveted position as San Francisco Ballet’s principle dancer. As a world-renowned ballerina, her accolades include being named ‘Asia’s Hero’ by Time (Asian edition) in 2004. From her first stage appearance in a competition in Helsinki, Finland, to her trips to Nagoya, Paris, Stuttgart, and San Francisco where she now calls home, Tan has left her distinctive “ballet footprints” across key destinations around the globe. With an artistic career that has become inseparable from the world of travel, Tan’s excellence in her craft has given her the opportunity to combine her love of ballet with exploring new destinations and experiencing different cultures.

Tan Yuanyuan

“With her critically-acclaimed work spanning more than two decades, and widely regarded as the greatest Chinese ballerina of all time, Tan is a true icon of her times. She represents a new generation of sophisticated Chinese travelers who seek authentic experiences that provide meaningful insights when they visit a destination,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection. “We are proud to welcome new Global Explorer Tan Yuan Yuan as a brand ambassador for The Luxury Collection, and we are excited to be working with her to explore extraordinary new approaches in luxury travel and hospitality for our Chinese guests, both in China and across the world.”

“China will always be my home but I live and work in San Francisco, and I have performed in many cities across the world. Over many years of travel, I have learned to treasure certain things: a familiar and comfortable place to relax and unwind after a performance, a trusted insider’s knowledge of a destination, a rare and personal welcome that only those who know true hospitality can provide,” said Tan. “For me, The Luxury Collection is where I have always found those things. I feel honored to be a Global Explorer, and I look forward to sharing my stories and inspirations with other world travelers.”

As a Global Explorer, Tan traveled to Hangzhou to unlock her passions captured in a travelogue of her experiences for the brand, allowing guests to be inspired by her sublime grace and artistry with the timeless beauty and enchantment of the destination. The Luxury Collection in China will launch a destination discovery staycation inspired by Tan’s global adventure, offering travelers a curated program that features authentic destination and culinary experiences. Through her role as Global Explorer for The Luxury Collection, Tan will visit Meixi Lake Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Changsha in November to meet with influencers to exchange tales and tips from her years of travel.

For more information about Tan Yuanyuan as well as The Luxury Collection, please visit http://www.theluxurycollection-apac.com

About The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection®, part of Marriott International, Inc., is comprised of world-renowned 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. 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, recently surpassing 120 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information and new openings, visit theluxurycollection.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in Marriott International’s highly awarded travel program, Marriott Bonvoy. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including earning points toward free hotel stays and nights toward Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,400 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 135 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.