Our Story

Bearleaders launched in 2019 with some intimate events together with a group of tastemakers: The Bearleaders - Michelin Star Chefs, artists, designers, and more. We also created Destination Guides filled with authentic tips of these insiders on where to eat, drink and what to do.

When the pandemic hit, we were forced to shift focus. We couldn’t do events anymore, and The Bearleaders didn’t travel. We started assisting five-star hotels with storytelling to attract local guests for staycations. We created guides in and around the hotel, through the eyes of a tastemaker connected to the hotel, and marketed these with targeted social media advertising campaigns.

After the pandemic, we returned to our founding idea—making The Bearleader the host of unique experiences. Building on our network of European hotels, the ‘Hosted Experience’ was born: an exclusive hotel stay enriched with a unique experience, hosted by the people at the hotel: chefs, designers, hoteliers, and more.

Today, Bearleaders specialises in creating Hosted Experiences with hotels, suitable for the most discerning clients. We work with, and for, B2B travel partners in Europe and internationally who are interested to sell these exclusive and unique Bearleaders propositions. Our thousands of newsletter subscribers also receive a selection of our offers.

Meet The Bearleaders

The name ‘Bearleader’ comes from the nickname that was given to the first travel guides in the 17th to 19th centuries, who guided the young nobility safely across the European continent on a Grand Tour. A Bearleader today is a well-travelled tastemaker: a Michelin-starred chef, designer, hotelier, sommelier, or artist—who opens doors to experiences that can’t be booked anywhere else.

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Hosted Experiences

A Hosted Experience is an exclusive hotel stay enriched with a unique experience, hosted by the hotel’s tastemakers. It is offered exclusively by Bearleaders or by our trusted travel partners. In some cases we also offer stand-alone experiences.

Hosted Experiences

Book this ‘Solheim Cup’ Golf Winter Getaway | Cromvoirt | NL

Sharpen your Golf Game with a DP World Tour Coach | Cromvoirt (NL)

A Four-day Fine-dining Experience On Mallorca

Four Days of Dolce Vita and Private Shopping | From Sorrento to Capri

Travel to the Ardennes for a Sommelier-Led Michelin Experience

Book a Michelin-starred dining experience on the Amsterdam canals

Swim with Seahorses on Mauritius | Indian Ocean

Book a private Chef's Garden Dinner With a five-star stay | Marbella

The most romantic Stay in Florence | Italy

Stay 2 nights at Balneario Las Arenas Resort*****GL & Become a Lladró artist | Valencia

A five-star stay with breakfast in a hot air balloon | Ardennes | Belgium

A 4-day trip to discover untamed wildlife in the Apennines | Italy

A three-day ‘Grand Tour’ stay in and around Naples

Book a Cooking Workshop + lunch & go boating with Two Michelin Star Chef Martin | Giethoorn

A luxury boutique stay with a private wine tasting & dinner experience | Rotterdam

Master the Art of preparing Fish | Kromme Watergang | Zeeland

A one night gastronomic stay with a scenic carriage ride | Vreeland (NL)

Enjoy a 4-day guided wine & dine journey near Venice | Italy

A 3-day stay with a Mixology Class at Grand Hotel Parker’s***** in Naples | Italy

Destination Guides

Are you looking for the most authentic travel & lifestyle inspiration? Bearleaders Destination Guides are filled with recommendations of tastemakers like hoteliers, Michelin Star Chefs etc.: restaurants, bars, what to do, and where to stay.

The Guide of Florence | In and around Hotel Sina Villa Medici by General Manager Fernando Pane | Bearleader in Hospitality

Giving back

We find it important to give back. We contributed in 2019 and 2020 to Rewilding Europe. In 2022 and 2023 to IT4Kids. In 2024, we decided to return to our first love: Rewilding Europe.