Montage Hotels & Resorts

Montage International was founded in January 2002 by Alan Fuerstman, a hospitality industry veteran with nearly five decades of experience who started his career as a part-time doorman at a Marriott near his hometown in New Jersey in 1973. After decades of running luxury resorts including The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona (arguably the number one resort in North America at the time), and serving as opening vice president of hotel operations at Steve Wynn's posh Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Fuerstman decided it was time to create a new kind of luxury hospitality group. By the early 2000s, Fuerstman had noted that traditional luxury hotels in the marketplace were frequently becoming formal, even pretentious, in their approach to service. His vision was to create a luxury hotel brand with an incredible sense of place that would pay homage to the locale instead of a cookie-cutter approach to architecture and design - offering a less scripted and more relaxed, welcoming luxury experience informed by authenticity that would speak to a new generation of travelers. The first major acquisition occurred in June 2002 when Montage partnered with the Athens Group to purchase a development then known as the Laguna Beach Colony for $190 million, which was the highest per-room price for a hotel in the United States that year. The company acquired the property in June 2002 and in that short period of time was able to build the Montage brand and guest experience. Montage Laguna Beach opened in February 2003 as the first hotel to bear the Montage brand, built in the Craftsman style on 30 acres perched on a coastal bluff above the Pacific Ocean in the heart of Southern California's preeminent artist colony. The original idea had been to acquire an existing luxury asset and create a brand around it, but shortly after 9/11, Fuerstman quickly pivoted to new-build opportunities when he found that banks were not taking assets back despite the industry reeling. This proved fortuitous - starting a new brand with a new asset is far better than beginning a brand with what ultimately is a retread of something else. The Montage name itself pays homage to the artist colonies in and around the Laguna Beach area - "montage" means an artful compilation or collection, symbolizing both the collection of hotels and the collection of people coming together to do extraordinary things. When the resort opened, the response to what Montage was offering and how people embraced the culture they had created was astounding, with the resort quickly showing proof of concept and leading the market by a very wide margin shortly afterwards.

Montage Hotels & Resorts stands for a unique vision of luxury that breaks from traditional formal hospitality. Fuerstman's philosophy was grounded in the belief that "old-world luxury was too pretentious and stuffy" and that "the next generation of luxury travelers would be looking for a more humble and gracious approach to service" rather than the heavy, scripted formality that dominated legacy luxury flags like Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons in the early 2000s. Montage is devoted to delivering an elevated guest experience through comfortable elegance, impeccable hospitality, and a commitment to refined living, but without the pretense. The brand is guided by the vision of creating an artistic collection of distinctive luxury hotels, resorts and residences in stunning settings that offer a unique sense of place - authentic connection to destination rather than cookie-cutter standardization. Each Montage property's design is guided by the principle of architecture which remains authentic and true to its surroundings, while the décor is inspired by each unique setting. From Montage Laguna Beach's Craftsman-style design paying tribute to the artist colony heritage and incorporating museum-quality California art by William Wendt and Edgar Alwin Payne, to Montage Deer Valley's mountain lodge warmth reflecting Park City's alpine heritage, to Montage Los Cabos' authentic Baja-inspired feel capturing the spirit of the Sea of Cortez, this philosophy of place-based design is evident at each resort. Montage instills strong emotional attachment in guests by providing highly personalized service (not scripted interactions), extraordinary destinations with rich histories, exceptional accommodations, award-winning dining featuring the freshest regional and seasonal ingredients, world-class Spa Montage facilities at every property, and an elegant but welcoming ambiance. The goal is creating lasting and cherished memories - "a place where life's special moments simply happen" - engendering superior brand loyalty. This approachable luxury extends to families as well, with Montage's signature Paintbox children's program (available for children as young as two at properties like Laguna Beach) ensuring that luxury travel is inclusive rather than exclusive.

Following the success of Montage Laguna Beach in 2003, the brand expanded strategically to remarkable destinations across North America. In March 2005, Montage won a municipal election that allowed them to build a new luxury hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills, which eventually opened as Montage Beverly Hills in 2008 (later sold in 2020 to become the Maybourne Beverly Hills under new ownership). Montage Deer Valley opened in 2010 in Park City, Utah, containing 154 guest rooms, 66 suites, and 81 Montage branded residences, offering ski-in/ski-out access to one of America's premier ski resorts with indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, a ski shop, a spa, a bowling alley, and four restaurants. In August 2013, Montage expanded to Hawaii when they took over management of the Kapalua Bay property on Maui, investing an estimated $15 million in rebranding and remodeling the resort, adding a suite-only hotel with 50 units and 56 Montage branded residencies, which officially opened as Montage Kapalua Bay in June 2014 with beach access near Kapalua Bay and a Pegge Hopper art collection. In October 2014, Montage acquired management rights to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, bringing the brand to the Lowcountry. The brand continued expanding with Montage Healdsburg in California's wine country, Montage Los Cabos in Mexico on one of Cabo's most swimmable beaches, and Montage Big Sky in Montana (opened with 100 artfully designed guestrooms framed by the Spanish Peaks mountain range and located just 45 minutes from Yellowstone National Park). As of 2022, Montage operates seven hotels under the Montage brand in the United States and Mexico. The company has also expanded into a second brand: co-founded by Alan and Michael Fuerstman in 2015, Pendry Hotels & Resorts was born into the lineage of Montage, elevating design and service for a new luxury traveler - a worldly, modern-day explorer with properties in vibrant cities from coast to coast. Looking ahead, Montage has 11 signed hotels and resorts due to open over the next few years, including Montage Cay (the brand's first Caribbean resort situated on its own exclusive Bahamian island with seven private beaches), Montage La Quinta in the Coachella Valley, and other expansion projects. Importantly, all Montage properties include a residential component (single-family homes, condos, or villas) - as Fuerstman has stated, "branded residences are a critical component. There would have been no Montage Laguna Beach without it."

This is why WhataHotel is the smartest way to book Montage: When you book through WhataHotel (a Virtuoso preferred partner and Lorraine Travel company established 1948), you receive exclusive complimentary benefits that are NOT available when booking directly with Montage or through standard booking channels - and you pay the exact same best flexible rate. Your exclusive benefits include: complimentary daily full breakfast for two guests per room served in the hotel restaurant or via room service (typically valued at $60-80 per day), a $100 USD resort or hotel credit per stay to be utilized during your stay for spa services, dining, resort activities, or other property amenities (not combinable with other offers, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full), priority room upgrade to the next available room category based on availability at time of check-in (you're prioritized above guests who booked direct or through other channels), early check-in and late checkout subject to availability (allowing you to maximize your stay), VIP recognition and welcome amenity acknowledging you as a valued preferred partner guest, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the resort, and enhanced personalized service with property management greeting. These benefits are provided automatically at the same rate you'd pay booking directly - there is no markup, no additional cost. WhataHotel does not charge booking fees for these reservations (unlike the standard $10.95 fee for other bookings). For example, a three-night stay at Montage Laguna Beach booked through WhataHotel versus booking direct: Direct booking = room rate only. WhataHotel booking = same room rate PLUS complimentary breakfast for two all three mornings (value ~$240), PLUS $100 resort credit (value $100), PLUS upgrade priority, PLUS VIP treatment - that's $340+ in added value at zero additional cost. The value proposition is clear: why pay the same price and receive nothing when you could pay the same price through WhataHotel and receive hundreds of dollars in complimentary amenities and VIP status?

Montage Laguna Beach, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023, is the flagship property of Montage Hotels & Resorts and the resort that launched the entire brand. Set on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the heart of the vibrant arts community of Laguna Beach (midway between Los Angeles and San Diego), the resort offers spectacular views and commanding presence on 30 lushly landscaped acres. The property was previously the site of a trailer park - in 1939, the first "trailerites" settled on site, and when Montage Laguna Beach was built, Treasure Island Park was created for public use as part of the project. The 260-room Craftsman-style resort features beachfront accommodations with all rooms offering ocean views (ranging from 500 to 3,000 square feet), including 60 suites, 37 beach bungalow-style rooms/suites, and several villas with full kitchens, outdoor grills, two-car garages, and ample entertaining space. Rooms and suites blend coastal influences with vibrant modern design, featuring private ocean-view balconies or patios, marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and walk-in showers, feathertop beds, flat-screen televisions, and curated details. The resort underwent a full guestroom and suite renovation in 2018, followed by a complete ballroom and meeting space renovation in 2022. Spa Montage at Laguna Beach was the first spa in the Montage collection to receive the Forbes Five Star Spa award, offering indoor/outdoor beachfront facilities and marine-based treatments embracing the healing power of the sea. The resort features three signature restaurants: Studio Mediterranean (modern coastal California cuisine by award-winning Executive Chef Ben Martinek), The Loft (all-day dining with expansive ocean views and an "interactive cheese bar" with cheese concierge), and Mosaic Bar and Grille (casual poolside dining). Two oceanfront pools are complemented by the iconic Mosaic Pool, which pays homage to the area's artist-colony past and offers unique underwater virtual reality adventures in late spring and summer where guests can experience virtual snorkeling or trips to outer space. Additional amenities include more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, Paintbox children's program, direct beach access, complimentary local chauffeured transportation in luxury Cadillac vehicles, a complimentary Ride and Drive experience in Cadillac's award-winning vehicles, partnership with Adventure IO for exclusive locally-inspired activities (yacht trips to Catalina Island, e-foil surf lessons with world champions, hydrofoiling, hiking with photographers), and VIP access to South Coast Plaza (Southern California's premier shopping destination with exclusive offers at select luxury retailers).

The properties of Montage Hotels & Resorts have received numerous prestigious awards and accolades since the brand debuted in 2003. Montage Laguna Beach, the flagship property, has been honored by Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report and Travel + Leisure magazine. The property received Five-Star ratings from the Forbes Travel Guide for the hotel, spa (the first ever Forbes Five Star Spa award), and Studio restaurant (2012-2022). The resort earned AAA Five Diamond Awards consistently from 2013-2022. Condé Nast Traveler gave Montage Laguna Beach a "Gold" rank on its list of the World's Best Places to Stay, and the magazine's Readers' Choice Awards have named the Laguna Beach property the best place to stay in Southern California. Travel + Leisure included it in "The 500 list - Top 500 Hotels in the World" in 2021. Condé Nast Traveler also recognized it among the "Top 15 Resorts in Southern California" in 2020-2021, and it won the Orange County Register's "Best of Orange County" award. Montage Deer Valley was named the 17th best luxury hotel in the United States and received the AAA Five Diamond Award in 2015. The entire Montage collection is devoted to maintaining the highest standards of service and hospitality, with passionate staff who embrace all that is good in life and are dedicated to providing exceptional personalized experiences. The brand's commitment to refined living, attention to detail, and focus on creating memorable moments in stunning settings has consistently earned recognition from the travel industry's most respected publications and rating organizations. These accolades reflect Montage's success in delivering on its vision of approachable luxury - providing impeccable hospitality and world-class amenities in an elegant yet welcoming environment, where the next generation of luxury travelers can experience a less formal but still exceptional level of service and comfort.

Each Montage property offers distinctive experiences rooted in their unique locations. Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah provides an authentic yet elegant mountain getaway with ski-in/ski-out access to Deer Valley Resort, one of America's premier ski destinations, located just 36 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport overlooking the charming and historic town of Park City. The resort offers all-season alpine experiences with 154 guest rooms, 66 suites, meeting spaces, restaurants, a bowling alley, and Spa Montage. Montage Kapalua Bay on Maui's northwest coast offers 50 oceanfront suites (suite-only hotel) and 56 residences with beach access near the legendary Kapalua Bay, featuring a curated Pegge Hopper art collection celebrating Hawaiian culture and magnificent Pacific Ocean views. Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina provides an escape to the Lowcountry where the marshes are salty, the oaks are mossy, and the sunsets cause "the best kind of heartache" - hidden away among an intricate maze of rivers, islands, and maritime forests where simplicity, history, and nature rule the day. Montage Los Cabos in Mexico sits on one of the most swimmable beaches in Cabo, offering authentic Baja-inspired architecture and design capturing the spirit of the Sea of Cortez with Mexican artisanal touches throughout. Montage Healdsburg in Sonoma's wine country provides an intimate luxury retreat surrounded by renowned vineyards, offering wine country experiences and culinary excellence in the heart of California's premier wine-growing region. Montage Big Sky in Montana epitomizes the peaceful yet adventurous spirit of the Mountain West, framed by the Spanish Peaks mountain range and located just 45 minutes from Yellowstone National Park, inviting guests to experience the rugged beauty of Montana's Big Sky Country with 100 artfully designed guestrooms, access to private golf, and ski access. All Montage properties share common threads: striking architectural detail and carefully selected residential-style décor reflecting the heritage of the destination, refined innovative cuisine using the freshest regional seasonal ingredients offered in elegant settings with award-winning culinary teams, world-class Spa Montage facilities, passionate staff with superb attention to detail dedicated to the highest standards of service, and stunning natural settings from pristine beachfronts to mountain peaks.

Montage bookings through WhataHotel are made at the best available flexible rate (matching what you'd find booking directly on Montage's website) with exclusive complimentary benefits added at no additional cost. Unlike most WhataHotel bookings, Montage reservations do NOT incur the standard $10.95 booking fee - these are completely fee-free while still providing all the valuable preferred partner benefits. Rates are fully flexible with standard cancellation policies (typically allowing cancellation up to a certain number of days before arrival without penalty - specific policies vary by property and should be confirmed at time of booking). The $100 resort credit is provided once per room, per stay and can be utilized for spa services, dining, resort activities, or other property amenities as defined by each hotel (not combinable with other offers, not valid toward room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full). Daily breakfast for two is provided throughout your stay in the hotel restaurant or via room service. Room upgrades are to the next available room category and are based on availability at time of check-in - while not guaranteed, WhataHotel guests receive priority consideration for upgrades above other booking channels. Early check-in and late checkout are subject to availability and cannot be pre-confirmed. All Montage properties participate in the Preferred Hotels & Resorts I Prefer loyalty program - you can still earn I Prefer points and benefits when booking through WhataHotel as these are direct hotel reservations. Montage properties may offer special promotions such as Third Night Free, Fourth Night Free, or seasonal packages - WhataHotel can often combine these promotions with the preferred partner benefits to maximize value (availability varies by property and dates). Because these are direct bookings with the hotel, they will appear on your Montage account and you'll receive full recognition as a hotel guest. Payment is made directly to the hotel (you'll be billed by the property on your credit card statement), ensuring you earn maximum credit card points using the best card for hotel stays. The combination of Montage's approachable luxury philosophy, stunning destination properties with unique sense of place, and the exclusive complimentary benefits available only through preferred partners like WhataHotel makes this the optimal way to experience the Montage collection.