At the head of Relais & Châteaux since January 2023, Laurent Gardinier embodies a new era for the iconic association of hospitality excellence. A committed entrepreneur, co-owner of the Gardinier family group, and owner of Domaine Les Crayères in Reims and Le Taillevent restaurant in Paris, he carries a clear vision for the Association, supported by commitments formalized in partnership with UNESCO. Under his presidency, Relais & Châteaux is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development, quality, and network expansion, while promoting a form of gastronomy that is meaningful and respectful of life.
In this interview, Laurent Gardinier shares his five-year roadmap, his perspective on the challenges facing the hospitality and gastronomy sectors, and the concrete initiatives Relais & Châteaux is implementing to build a more human and sustainable hospitality industry.
As President of Relais & Châteaux, what are your priorities for the next five years?
My mandate revolves around three priorities: sustainability, quality, and network development. When we look at the state of our planet, it’s clear that sustainability must be a priority. That’s why we’ve established a dedicated department at our headquarters, as well as a committee of expert members to help us adapt our models to future environmental and social challenges.
As for quality, it has always been at the heart of Relais & Châteaux. Travelers recognize and appreciate the strength of the brand because it represents a seal of quality. Upon my arrival, I ensured that quality inspections now take place every two years instead of every three. Quality here represents a movement founded on a clear and shared vision of hospitality, consolidated in a charter including nearly 500 criteria. Admission and continued membership in our network are subject to strict standards, guaranteeing guests exceptional travel experiences. In this spirit, we are constantly seeking new properties that share our values and vision, to offer our clientele the finest experiences.
How do you explain the recruitment difficulties currently facing the hospitality and restaurant sectors? Are Relais & Châteaux members also affected?
Our members are not immune to the recruitment challenges affecting the entire sector. This difficulty reflects a deep transformation in the relationship to work. The younger generations are not rejecting our professions — they’re questioning them, and rightly so. They want to understand why they should commit to such demanding careers. They expect meaning, recognition, work-life balance, and career prospects. And it’s up to us, as employers, to respond.
Relais & Châteaux recently formalized a partnership with UNESCO centered on biodiversity. Why was this partnership an obvious choice for you and the Association?
This partnership originated with Mauro Colagreco, Vice President of the Chefs of Relais & Châteaux and chef-owner of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur in Menton. Appointed in November 2022 as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity for his dedication and commitment to passing on know-how, Mauro Colagreco has since worked to support UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and to raise global awareness of environmental issues.
Relais & Châteaux has always sought to rethink the models of its properties to link travel — a source of personal enrichment — with environmental, social, and cultural goals. UNESCO, through its work for biodiversity, culture, and education, fully shares this vision. Together, we aim to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, highlighting the hospitality and culinary traditions of the world.
You recently unveiled 12 commitments for sustainable development. Can you explain how these commitments are concretely applied within Relais & Châteaux member establishments?
Our 12 commitments, titled “In Harmony with Life,” are structured around three main missions: preserving hospitality traditions and world cuisines, contributing to the protection of biodiversity, and acting daily for a more humane world. In concrete terms, this translates into measurable actions across our properties: reducing single-use plastics, prioritizing local and seasonal sourcing, supporting regenerative agriculture, managing water and energy sustainably, and engaging teams through exemplary management practices. These commitments are integrated into our quality charter and are now assessed through a sustainability coefficient, evaluated every two years alongside our technical and emotional criteria.
How would you define cuisine according to Relais & Châteaux? What qualities do you look for in a young chef or hospitality professional?
Cuisine is at the heart of the Relais & Châteaux experience. It reflects a culture, the soul of a place, the passion of a chef, and respect for the product. Relais & Châteaux chefs champion a gastronomy that tells a story, celebrates local craftsmanship, and follows a sustainable and responsible approach.
Each dish must carry meaning, taste, and emotion. When it comes to young chefs or hospitality professionals, our members look for committed, curious, and genuine personalities. Culinary talent is essential, of course, but it must go hand in hand with a sensitivity to the land, deep respect for producers, and a desire to share knowledge. Humility, creativity, and the ability to unite a team are fundamental qualities.
At Relais & Châteaux, we believe that cuisine can change the world, and we need chefs who share that belief.
If you had one message for young hospitality and restaurant professionals who wish to combine passion and sustainability, what would it be?
Hospitality and gastronomy are professions of passion, but also of responsibility. They offer a unique opportunity to contribute to a more respectful, united, and sustainable world.
At Relais & Châteaux, we believe in the strength of community, the richness of local cultures, and each person’s ability to make a difference. Through food and hospitality, you can transmit values, raise awareness, and create unforgettable experiences.
So, commit yourselves with conviction, be curious, creative, and above all, stay true to what inspires you.
About Laurent Gardinier
Laurent Gardinier, alongside his brothers, is a highly influential professional in the world of premium hospitality. As co-shareholder of the Gardinier group as well as the owner of Domaine Les Crayères in Reims and Le Taillevent restaurant in Paris, both Relais & Châteaux properties, Mr. Gardinier is deeply committed to the fine dining and hotel industries.
With a degree in political science and economics and a passion for literature, history, and philosophy, he believes in reconciling ideals and initiatives and puts that principle into practice: In addition to his entrepreneurial responsibilities, he has served several terms as an elected politician. Having been an active member of the Relais & Châteaux Board of Directors since 2005 as the French National Delegate representing its 140 French properties, Mr. Gardinier was elected President of the Relais & Châteaux Association in January 2023.
His strategy for the Association is based on two main pillars: quality and network development, as well as sustainable development.
In this regard, he appointed a dedicated Sustainability Commission with which he published 12 Commitments, entitled “In Harmony with all Life on Earth,” supported by UNESCO, designed to pursue three major missions:
- to preserve the world’s hospitality and culinary traditions,
- to contribute to the protection and development of biodiversity
- to take daily action for a more humane world
The goal is to develop, together with all Relais & Châteaux members, a more responsible form of excellence in hospitality and gastronomy.
ABOUT RELAIS & CHATEAUX
Relais & Châteaux is an exceptional worldwide collection of 580 unique, independently operated hotels and restaurants, united by strong values and a devotion to excellence across every aspect of hospitality.
Originating in France in 1954, and now present in 65 countries, the Association works to celebrate the distinct art de vivre of every global destination. Led by passionate hoteliers, chefs and restaurateurs, each of its properties cultivates a meaningful sense of place by nurturing its individual cultural, gastronomic and environmental heritage and collaborating with local artisans.
With many of its properties run by families, who pass their savoir-faire down from one generation to the next, Relais & Châteaux represents an evolving legacy of memorable travel experiences, in harmony with all life on Earth.