Twenty-four drawers, one illustrated hotel facade, and a chocolate bar behind every door. The Luxury Collection has released a limited-edition laila gohar advent calendar made with artist and designer Laila Gohar, a former Wallpaper* guest editor and the brand’s Epicurean Global Explorer.
The Luxury Collection spans more than 130 hotels and resorts in roughly 40 countries. The calendar samples 24 of them, and each bar honors one property, from Venice to Singapore. The calendar is sold in the US through The Luxury Collection. In the UK and select other countries, buyers can order it through Gohar World.
A route told in flavor
Each chocolate takes its character from the place it represents. A day that starts in Waikiki tastes of banana and sea salt. Los Cabos brings smoked mesquite and dates to the palate.
Arriving at Prince de Galles in Paris, the reader finds rich hazelnut praline. Other stops include saffron from Dubai, black sesame from Kyoto, and toasted coconut inspired by South Caicos.
Casa Bosques, a Mexican brand, made the chocolates for this chocolate advent calendar. Bean-to-bar means the maker controls every step, from cacao bean to finished bar. Casa Bosques is known for organic single-origin bars.
The company’s founder, Rafael Prieto, created each bar with culinarians from Luxury Collection hotels. The chocolates use rare heirloom cacao from farmers across Mexico. Spices and flavorings from around the world round out the recipes.
Inside the hotel facade
Illustrator Joana Avillez designed this advent calendar as a grand hotel. Its facade opens to show a gallery of scenes covering travel, gathering, and celebration. Behind the facade sit the 24 numbered drawers.
If the idea of a hotel shaped by its location appeals, a century-old Nara prison reborn as a luxury hotel shows how a building’s history can define its stay.
Bruce Rohr, vice president and global brand leader of The Luxury Collection, framed the project around place and tradition. He said: “This imaginative collaboration celebrates the destination-inspired flavors and culinary traditions found across our global portfolio, offering a transportive journey through the cultures and stories that make each place distinct.”
Pop-up chocolate shops
Gohar extended the project into pop-up shops in Paris, Nashville, Singapore, and Los Cabos. She drew on traditional Parisian chocolatiers and Milanese apothecaries for the design. The shops feature glass vitrines, chocolate-toned drapery, and banks of wooden drawers.
The Prince de Galles vitrines were designed by artist and set designer Alix Bortoli. Her work turns the raw materials of chocolate into a festive landscape. The brand describes each shop as a “chocolaterie in miniature.”
The pop-ups open on set schedules. Prince de Galles in Paris runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Joseph in Nashville is open 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Solaz in Los Cabos stays open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and The Laurus in Singapore runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Select hotels will also host festive programming tied to the collaboration.
For another take on destination-driven flavor, Yotam Ottolenghi’s Edinburgh restaurant with Scottish flavors blends local produce with Mediterranean cooking, a useful companion read for food lovers.
Gohar said the project is meant to build anticipation. “I love the anticipation of opening an advent calendar, especially during the holidays,” she said. “Each drawer is a small world of its own, inspired by the flavors, traditions, and details that make destinations so special at this time of year. I hope each discovery sparks curiosity and joy.”
Where to buy the laila gohar advent calendar
The calendar costs $218. Buyers can purchase it from The Luxury Collection Boutique in the United States, through Gohar World in select countries, and at select hotel pop-ups.
The calendar works as a gift and as a small trip. Each drawer offers one hotel, one place, and one flavor for each day of the season.
H/T wallpaper.com
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Laila Gohar advent calendar cost?
The Laila Gohar advent calendar costs $218. It is a limited-edition release from The Luxury Collection.
How many chocolate bars are in the Laila Gohar advent calendar?
The calendar has 24 numbered drawers, with a chocolate bar behind each one. Each bar represents one of 24 Luxury Collection properties, from Venice to Singapore.
Who made the chocolates in the Laila Gohar advent calendar?
Casa Bosques, a Mexican bean-to-bar brand, made the chocolates for the calendar. Its founder, Rafael Prieto, created each bar with culinarians from Luxury Collection hotels.
Where can you buy the Laila Gohar advent calendar?
In the United States, the calendar is sold through The Luxury Collection Boutique. In the UK and select other countries, buyers can order it through Gohar World, and it is also available at select hotel pop-ups.
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