The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is widely recognised as one of the finest hotel chains in the world. The brand itself — “Mandarin Oriental” — brings a calm serenity across the minds of our luxury travel buyers. They know they’re not taking any chances at all. They know their clients are going to get the very best experience, whether it’s in London, Miami or Hong Kong.

And speaking of Hong Kong, that’s where it all began — with The Mandarin Hotel opened there in 1968 as the tallest building on the island. Six years later in 1974, The Oriental hotel in Bangkok was acquired — and that’s when the new Mandarin Oriental brand we know today was formed.

Today the group operates and manages 27 hotels globally with another 18 properties under development. That represents a whopping 11,000 luxury rooms on four continents, across 25 countries.

The company’s mission (“to completely delight and satisfy our guests”) is demonstrable every time you step into one of their hotels. If you’ve had the opportunity to stay overnight, you’ll no doubt have experienced this attitude. I know many colleagues who’ve been the beneficiary of the group’s commitment to exceeding guest expectations through a cocktail of anticipation and surprise!

I am delighted to welcome them to Connections Luxury at the Conrad Algarve, next month from 22nd-25th of March. If you’d like to be there too, please drop me a note: I’m micaela@travelweekly.co.uk.