Our Story

Bearleaders launched in 2019 offering some intimate events together with a group of well-travelled tastemakers: The Bearleaders - Michelin Star Chefs, Artists, Designers, and more.

When the pandemic hit, we were forced to shift focus. We started assisting five-star hotels with storytelling and social media campaigns to attract local guests for staycations.

After the pandemic, we returned to our founding idea — making ‘The Bearleader’ the host of unique experiences. The term ‘Hosted Experience’ was born.

Today, Bearleaders creates unique and exclusive propositions, hosted by tastemakers, often at luxury hotels, for both our own newsletter members, and select industry partners.

Why we do what we do? We love to create unique experiences hosted by inspiring people, so you can carry these memories with you for life.

Meet The Bearleaders

‘Bearleader’ was the nickname for the first travel guides who guided the young nobility safely across the European continent on a Grand Tour journey, in the 17th to 19th centuries. A Bearleader today is a well-travelled tastemaker: a Michelin-starred chef, designer, hotelier, sommelier, or artist—who opens their doors for you, shares their local knowledge, and offers you a unique experience.

BEARLEADERS

Giovanni Torre Avallone

Chief Experience Officer | Grand Hotel Parker’s*****

Bearleader in Hospitality

Erik van Loo

Two Michelin Star Chef | Restaurant Parkheuvel

Bearleader in Food

Luca Fiorentino

Director of Sales & Marketing | Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria*****L

Bearleader in Hospitality

Sabine Riezebos

General Manager | Bernardus Golf

Bearleader in Hospitality

Jorane Cuppen

Gastronomist | Guts to Glory

Bearleader in Gastronomy

Fernando Pane

General Manager | Sina Villa Medici***** Florence

Bearleader in Hospitality

Martin Kruithof

Two Michelin Star Chef | Hotel Restaurant De Lindenhof

Bearleader in Food

Servais Tielman

Michelin Star Chef | Beluga Group

Bearleader in Food

Tim Golsteijn

Michelin Star Chef | Restaurant Bougainville

Bearleader in Food

Jorge Manzur

Hotelier

Bearleader in Hospitality

Rick Ernest Bonnier

Resort Ocean Environment Manager | Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita

Bearleader in Nature

Vasileios Koumpis

General Manager | Katikies Hotels

Bearleader in Hospitality

Manuel Navarro Mena

Executive Chef | Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort Marbella*****

Bearleader in Food

Manuel Ehrensperger

Founder | The Hike Station

Bearleader in Wellbeing

Gianluca Borgna

Managing Director | Grand Hotel Alassio Resort & Spa*****

Bearleader in Hospitality

Tina Norden

Architect & Interior Designer | Partner and Principal at Conran & Partners

Bearleader in Design

Sonia Ubeda Ribes

General Manager | Hotel Balneario Las Arenas Resort *****GL

Bearleader in Hospitality

Stefan Scholten

Designer | Studio Works Amsterdam

Bearleader in Design

Tiffany Layne

Private Travel Planner | Founder LaVon Private Luxury

Bearleader in Travel

Anton Gschwendtner

Two Michelin Star Chef | Atelier at Bayerischer Hof*****

Bearleader in Food

Edwin Vinke

Two Michelin Star Chef | Suite Hotel Restaurant Kromme Watergang & Restaurant 1742 on Ibiza

Bearleader in Food

Tom Vinke

Michelin Star Chef | Suite Hotel Restaurant Kromme Watergang

Bearleader in Food

Ferry Loeve

Sr. Hair Colourist & World Traveller

Bearleader in Wellbeing

Alon Ben Joseph

Jeweller | Ace Jewellers

Bearleader in Jewellery

Robert Holan

Hotelier

Bearleader in Hospitality

Caroline Berends

Hotelier | De Nederlanden

Bearleader in Hospitality

Humberto Tan

Photographer | Bearleader in Photography

André Gerrits

Michelin Star Chef | Restaurant ‘t Amsterdammertje

Bearleader in Food

Marius Bosmans

Michelin Star Chef | Restaurant Arden Chateau de Vignee

Bearleader in Food

Alex Cancel

Head Concierge | Grand Hotel Alassio Hotel & Spa*****

Bearleader in Hospitality

Bearleaders’ Hosted Experiences

A Hosted Experience is an invitation into the world of The Bearleaders—Michelin-star chefs, Artists, Sommeliers, Hoteliers, and more. It’s travel at its most personal.
Explore the destination with them. Often the experience is paired with an exclusive hotel stay. Bookable on request via Bearleaders.

Hosted Experiences

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

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

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

Fly over the Ligurian Coast during a five-star hotel stay

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

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

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

Visit our Destination Guides

Are you looking for the most authentic travel & lifestyle inspiration? Check out these updated Guides with eat, drink and do recommendations of The Bearleaders. We only feature their recommendations.

DESTINATION GUIDES

Great Food on the Slopes | South Tyrol

GUIDE | By a Two Michelin Star Chef & a Jeweller

Discover the best restaurants and bars in South Tyrol - on and off piste. Two Michelin star chef Martin Kruithof visits Sella Ronda every year and shares his favourite spots around Selva / Wolkenstein with Jeweller Alon Ben Joseph, who found some hidden culinary gems hiding between the mountains.

Experience True Italian Island Life | Capri

GUIDE | By The Bearleaders

Be guided by Luca Fiorentino of Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento to go private shopping on Capri and by Marco Guiliano, Head Concierge of Grand Hotel Parker’s in Naples. As hospitality insiders, these connoisseurs shows you how to experience Capri in the best way possible.

Culinary Delights & Hip Bars | Antwerp

GUIDE | By the Bearleaders

On a hospitality and culinary level, Antwerp has so many things to offer, from high-end restaurants to cool bars and excellent lunch spots. Be inspired by tastemakers.

Where to Eat & Drink | London

GUIDE | By the Bearleaders

London never stops to amaze with its variety, and on any given day you could enjoy a meal from pretty much anywhere on the globe, have a delicious cocktail, see a show or concert and visit an exhibition. Fortunately, you can be guided by the Bearleaders’ tips for London.

Giving back

We find it important to give back. We contributed in 2019 and 2020 to Rewilding Europe. In 2022 and 2023 we supported IT4Kids. In 2024, we decided to return to our first love: Rewilding Europe. We offer a Hosted Experience to discover more about the work of Rewilding Europe in Italy, and to enjoy great food and nature at the same time!