Relais & Châteaux, an international association of hoteliers, restaurateurs and chefs, recently announced an increase in revenue approximating $122 million for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2011. The figure represents an increase of 22.8 percent in revenue compared to the previous year. The association represents 500 properties worldwide.

Relais & Châteaux also noted a significant increase in the U.S. market for the year. Reservations for the year increased 42 percent, up to 4,666 from the previous year U.S. total of 3,286. An increase of gift certificates, gift boxes, and special promotional packages also occurred among the U.S. hotels.

The call center of the association reported an overall increase in bookings of 13 percent over the previous year, having booked more than 226,000 room-nights for members. The average stay in a hotel for 2011 was 2.25 nights, and the average booking was more than $1,235. Forty members in six new countries and eight major cities were added as well.

An increase of 15 percent in membership of R&C's Club 5C also contributed to the increase in revenue. Club 5C is for patrons who have stayed more than 15 nights at the association's hotels in a year. Memberships for this exclusive club reached 11,500 for fiscal year 2011.

Maintaining excellence in gastronomy standards remains vital to R&C, as 26 new Grands Chefs Relais & Châteaux were added in 2011. The chefs chosen for this distinguished honor are viewed as premier celebrities of culinary in their respective countries. Additionally, in "winning over customers' hearts through their stomachs" efforts, more cultural events focused on fine dining were held for members of Club 5C over the past year.

The association's multilingual website is now available in seven languages. It also has bolstered its online presence through social media, with more than 20,000 Facebook fans and 2,000 plus followers on Twitter. For more information on Relais & Châteaux properties, visit RelaisChateaux.com.
Hotel Jagdhof Glashütte, Germany
Chalet du Mont d'Arbois, France
Limewood, England
Esperanza Resort, Mexico
The Jefferson Hotel, Washington, D.C.