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Relais & Chateaux, a collection of almost 500 of the finest intimate hotels and gourmet restaurants worldwide, has announced a 29 percent increase in sales for its members over the last fiscal year ending June 30, despite the weak economy. The group's central reservations system saw a 38 percent increase in bookings, reserving more than 200,000 room nights. North America leads the global numbers, with 67 percent growth in revenue.

This success is due, in large measure, to the effectiveness of an expanded team of skilled multi-lingual reservation agents who assist guests. The reservation commission fees for Relais & Chateaux members (around 6.5%) remain among the most competitive in the market. The benefit of belonging to the Association has been particularly strong this year, with a return on investment of $25 for every one dollar invested with the Association.

Jacques-Olivier Chauvin, CEO of Relais & Chateaux, said, "Consumer confidence is returning and we are seeing encouraging numbers of advance bookings from our loyal guests who come to us for authentic and highly-personalized experiences. We were very pleased to learn that a recent study by Barcelona-based consulting firm THR confirmed that we have one of the highest customer loyalty rates in our sector."

Relais & Chateaux has grown awareness of the brand this year through technological innovation on its website, www.relaischateaux.com, which has more than 16 million unique visitors per year and is now available in Japanese and Mandarin, as well as its first iPhone app launched in March 2010. Nearly 45,000 travellers worldwide have downloaded the application that provides the geo-location of member properties, display of availabilities, itineraries proposed with Google Maps and a telephone tab to contact properties directly.

About Relais & Chateaux:

Relais & Chateaux (www.relaischateaux.com) is an exclusive collection of almost 500 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 58 countries. Established in France in 1954, its mission is to spread its unique "art de vivre" across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character.

SOURCE Relais & Chateaux