Sotheby’s and Marriott Partner to Auction Off Exclusive Travel Experiences

“Iconic Pieces. Extraordinary Experiences” is a new collaboration between Marriott International’s Luxury Group and auction house Sotheby’s. It marks the first time Sotheby’s has auctioned travel experiences through its Sealed program.

The partnership launched its first two experiences in a live online auction, with bidding closing this Friday. 

The first lot is Whiskey Reverie: Presented by The Ritz-Carlton, a two-part experience that starts in New York City and continues in Nashville. Highlights include two nights in a suite at Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad and dinner at The Bazaar by José Andrés, with whiskey expert Fawn Weaver joining the guests for a whiskey pairing of each course. That’s followed by two nights in a suite at The Joseph, A Luxury Collection Hotel in Nashville and a tasting and tour of the Nearest Green Distillery hosted by Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler. Sotheby’s expects the winning bid to be between $15,000 and $30,000.

The second lot is the Alexander McQueen Discovery: Presented by EDITION, which takes place in London and features a private tour of the Victoria & Albert Museum and a personalized photography session by visual artist Ann Ray, McQueen’s longtime collaborator. There is also a two-night stay in a suite at The London EDITION and a five-course dinner for two with wine pairing at Michelin-starred Chef Jason Atherton’s Berners Tavern. The auction house expects the winning bid to be between $12,000 and $18,000.

Bidding takes place online in a sealed auction using Sotheby’s Sealed platform. Bidders cannot see the value of other bids. Once they place their own bid, they will see where it ranks, but only if their bid ranks among the top 10.

Partnership to Develop Further

The partnership also offers what it calls “masterclasses,” which gather VIP clients of both brands around auction pieces before they go under the hammer. These events offer guests the opportunity to get insights from Sotheby’s specialists while experiencing the Luxury Group’s hospitality. 

The two brands are also releasing curated travel guides with itineraries focusing on art, culture and luxury and partnering on short-form video content to feature on Sothebys.com.

The Luxury Group will expand its partnership with Sotheby’s later this year with additional offers, masterclasses and programming in New York City. Future travel experiences to be auctioned will continue to be inspired by the sectors represented at Sotheby’s Luxury Sales, including art, fashion, jewelry, watches, wines and spirits.