Mr. & Ms. Connoisseur | #8

We celebrate the world's finest hosts. Experience a week that changes your life. Fall in love with the Mexican sun. And discover the perfect ingredients for a new cookbook. Voilà – summer is here!

Loved.

And the Winners Are: The Hospitality Awards 2026

The Connoisseur Circle Hospitality Awards are among the most prestigious accolades in luxury travel – and this year’s celebration is even more special. Together with the world’s finest hoteliers, Connoisseur Circle proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary.

What began two decades ago as an ambitious magazine serving a niche market has grown into one of the leading luxury travel publications in the German-speaking world. Over the same period, the global hospitality industry has flourished, with spectacular hotel openings, innovative travel experiences and ever-expanding luxury offerings.

Our annual Hospitality Awards are more than just an accolade – they serve as a trusted guide for discerning travellers and as a benchmark for excellence in the global hospitality industry.

The winners of the ten award categories will be revealed in the latest Print Edition of Connoisseur Circle.

For those who can't wait, all winners, exclusive video messages and inspiring hotel stories are already available on our Online and Social Media Channels , in our digital magazines CC VIP and CCD – A Digital Luxury Journey, as well as across all Connoisseur Circle social media platforms.

Discover the world's finest hosts and be inspired by exceptional hotels, remarkable stories and the unique luxury experiences that Connoisseur Circle has been showcasing for the past 20 years.

Worth it.

The Doctors Who Change Lives

Sometimes, the most valuable investment is in your own health. We recently experienced exactly that during a remarkable stay at the Original Mayr Medical Resort in southern Austria. Under the guidance of Medical Director Dr. Ursula Muntean-Rock and her outstanding team—including Dr. Kettenhuber, Dr. Miller and many others—we discovered what modern preventive medicine truly means.

The central philosophy is simple yet profound: the gut is the key to physical and mental well-being. Through personalised nutrition, targeted diagnostics, medical expertise and holistic treatments, the Mayr Method helps restore the body's natural balance. The contemporary interpretation of the famous Mayr cure is not only highly effective but also surprisingly enjoyable.

Equally impressive is the resort's state-of-the-art diagnostic programme, allowing guests to gain comprehensive insights into their health within a single stay.

Our conclusion: If lasting energy, greater mobility and long-term well-being matter to you, this is one pit stop well worth making.

Seen.

Magic Moments in Mexico

Our journey continues at the Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas , where the white sands of Baja California’s East Cape meet striking desert landscapes. Low-rise architecture blends seamlessly into the surroundings, with towering saguaro cacti framing elegant suites and residences, while an endless stretch of beach creates a rare sense of space and tranquillity.

The destination is about to become even more exclusive: from August 1 , the renowned Amanvari will welcome its first guests with just 16 ultra-luxury villas, located only a 15-minute walk along the beach.

A true highlight of the resort is its private marina —the only one within the entire Four Seasons portfolio. From here, guests set sail towards the UNESCO-protected waters of Cabo Pulmo, where pristine coastlines and unforgettable encounters with shimmering schools of jackfish reveal the untouched beauty of the Sea of Cortez.





Does a Wellness Retreat in Los Cabos really work? Absolutely. Yet well-being here extends far beyond sound healing, yoga sessions and the exceptional treatments at the Four Seasons Spa. It is the extraordinary quality of light, the velvety-soft air, the fertile land that produces organic fruit and vegetables, and the striking contrast between towering saguaro cacti and lush tropical vegetation that create a profound sense of balance. In Los Cabos, nature itself becomes an essential part of the wellness experience.





Located where the Pacific Ocean meets the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, Los Cabos is a destination blessed by nature. Over the past decades, it has evolved into one of the world's premier luxury travel destinations, offering extraordinary resorts, outstanding restaurants and an impressive range of exclusive experiences. And this is only the beginning—there is much more from Los Cabos still to come.

Read.

This is how the alps are tasting

Quietly and almost unnoticed, Stans, one of Switzerland's most picturesque villages near Lucerne, has become a remarkable culinary destination . A former Capuchin monastery is now home to both welcoming guest accommodation and KEDA , a foundation dedicated to preserving the Alpine culinary heritage.

KEDA supports projects that protect, develop and promote the rich diversity of regional organic products created by small-scale farmers in mountain and alpine communities. At the same time, the foundation is working to have the centuries-old knowledge preserved within the Culinarium Alpinum recognised by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage—a fitting tribute to one of the Alps' most authentic gastronomic treasures.




Where monks once cultivated extensive monastery gardens, guests today discover an "edible landscape" featuring around 250 varieties of fruit and berries. The former monastic cells have been thoughtfully transformed into 14 charming guest rooms, while the chapel and the historic refectory have found a new purpose as inspiring venues for seminars, culinary workshops and exceptional dining experiences.





At the Culinarium Alpinum, the focus is firmly on the world outside. Instead of televisions, guests will find binoculars in their rooms—an invitation to discover the surrounding landscape rather than a screen.

Inspired by the remarkable regional cuisine, we naturally asked whether there was a cookbook to take home. The answer came from Andres Lietha , CEO of the Culinarium Alpinum, who shared some exciting news: in October 2026, the foundation will publish an extensive cookbook entitled "Recipes with an Alpine Heart and a Regional Soul." Alongside authentic recipes, it will introduce twelve local producers and the signature ingredients that define the region.

We have no doubt: anyone who reads this book will soon find themselves planning a journey to Stans.