When it comes to long-haul wanderlust, Australians and New Zealanders have an enduring love affair with France, a relationship fuelled by good food, lingering afternoons, and the irresistible charm of a boutique hotel with just the right amount of personality. Now, an elegant new partnership is set to deepen that connection, with The Unique Tourism Collection appointed as Australia and New Zealand’s official sales and marketing representative for the French luxury hotel group, Maisons Pariente.
It’s a smart, quietly confident move from a family-run brand that has built its reputation on sophistication rather than showmanship, the kind of understated luxury that doesn’t need to shout to be heard above the din of global hospitality noise.
Sydney-based The Unique Tourism Collection, well-regarded for its long history of championing premium travel experiences across the region, will lead industry engagement, strategic partnerships and trade development to grow demand for the Maisons Pariente portfolio across Australia and New Zealand. It’s a role that requires finesse, storytelling, and the ability to sell the dream without overselling it, something the company has been doing for decades.
A French Family Story With Australian Appeal
Maisons Pariente is the creation of Patrick Pariente, with his daughters, Leslie Kouhana and Kimberley Cohen, providing close support. Together, they have assembled a portfolio of refined, contemporary hotels in some of France’s most coveted destinations, the sort of properties that celebrate local artistry, timeless design, and an effortless sense of place.
Their boutique collection includes:
Crillon le Brave
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Crillon le Brave, Provence
A sumptuous sanctuary in a postcard-perfect Provencal village, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and that golden southern light the Impressionists adored. Currently undergoing enhancements to unveil 43 rooms and suites, a new standalone house, a spa, and a second pool, the property will reopen on 3 April 2026. -
Le Coucou, Meribel
A chic alpine retreat with 55 rooms and suites, plus two private chalets accommodating up to 12 guests. Perched above the Belvedere slopes, it promises snow-dusted tranquillity and the sort of mountain views that make you instantly reconsider your current life choices.
Le Coucou
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Lou Pinet, Saint-Tropez
A garden-wrapped haven five minutes from Place des Lices, channelling classic southern French architecture with 34 rooms and suites. It’s the sort of place where time slows down — intentionally — and even the cicadas seem to hum at half speed. -
Le Grand Mazarin, Paris
A refined Parisian gem in the heart of the Marais, blending French elegance with a dash of whimsy across 61 rooms and suites. Its restaurant features Mediterranean flavours from the Levant, and yes, Australians’ ongoing romance with anything Mediterranean is well-catered for. -
Le Saint Roch, Courchevel 1850 (Opening December 2026)
Inspired by the spirit of Persia and the alpine dachas favoured by Yves Saint Laurent, this Friedmann and Versace-designed retreat promises “contemporary elegance and artistic audacity”, an irresistible combination for travellers who believe ski holidays should come with chandeliers.
Le Grand Mazarin
A Partnership Built on Warmth, Craft and Quiet Luxury
The appointment signals Maisons Pariente’s intention to meaningfully grow its footprint in the Australian and New Zealand markets, long admired for delivering high-value, culturally curious travellers who return to France not once, but several times across a lifetime.
In announcing the partnership, Svetlana Jovanovic, General Manager of The Unique Tourism Collection, said:
“We are delighted to be working with our Australia and New Zealand industry partners in showcasing Maisons Pariente and enticing travellers from both of these key markets to experience the simple and warm luxury hospitality of this beautiful family collection of contemporary hotels located in exceptional French settings.”
Her confidence is well placed. Australians and New Zealanders have always appreciated hotels that feel personal rather than performative, where design serves comfort rather than trend, and where hospitality is offered with sincerity rather than formality. Maisons Pariente has been mastering that balance since day one.
Why It Matters for the ANZ Market
This partnership arrives at a moment when luxury travellers are seeking meaningful, considered experiences over the conventional checklist holiday. The Maisons Pariente portfolio, with its artistic sensibility and curated sense of place, fits neatly into this evolving appetite.
For travel advisors, the collaboration offers new storytelling territory and a refreshed suite of premium French escapes to present to clients seeking something more intimate than the large-scale luxury chains.
Bookings and Further Information
For more information, rates and bookings, trade partners and travellers can contact Svetlana Jovanovic at The Unique Tourism Collection on 0414 410 968, via [email protected], or visit
https://www.maisonspariente.com.
By Karuna Johnson – (c) 2025
Read Time: 4 minutes
About the Writer
Karuna Johnson has one of those rare careers that could only belong to someone who genuinely loves travel. A Thai national with dual citizenship, she’s as comfortable swapping stories over street food in Bangkok as she is discussing strategy in a Sydney boardroom.
Educated in Thailand and Australia, Karuna speaks several languages fluently, a skill that’s served her well throughout a career spanning the inner workings of three Destination Management Companies and a string of hotels. She’s done everything from sales to admin, always with the kind of quiet competence that keeps things moving while everyone else still finds the coffee.
Her travels have taken her far and wide across Asia, Europe, and the United States, yet she still finds joy in the details: the people, the culture, and the stories behind every journey.
She’s worldly, poised, and precisely the kind of voice Global Travel Media was made for.
