A new chapter in luxury travel has arrived. Discover Collection is not a traditional hotel brand, but a private membership community designed for travellers who want their journeys to matter. Founded by Bernhard Bohnenberger, a lifelong innovator in global hospitality, the collection launches its first properties in Oman and Kenya in 2026, offering members immersive, meaningful experiences that go beyond conventional notions of sustainability.
Here, conservation, cultural preservation, and community engagement are at the heart of the experience. Every stay contributes to measurable environmental and social impact, supported by the Discover Collection Foundation, which channels membership fees, property revenue, and donations into projects ranging from coral restoration in Oman to wildlife protection in Kenya.
Bernhard Bohnenberger, a graduate of École Hôtelière de Lausanne and recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, calls this approach “net-positive impact.” For him, luxury hospitality can, and should, be a force for good, creating lasting benefits for both destinations and the people who call them home.
Where Discovery Begins
A 32-villa retreat on the Musandam Peninsula, Ras Amud sits between the Hajar Mountains and the Sea of Oman. Guests will have access to marine conservation programmes, including snorkelling and coral restoration, designed and managed by the foundation. Low-impact architecture and regionally sourced materials ensure the property harmonises with its surroundings, while curated experiences bring the region’s landscapes, culture, and history to life.
Set against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro and adjacent to Amboseli National Park, Lemomo in Kenya offers immersive wildlife and cultural experiences. Members can join guided safaris, learn about conservation efforts, and engage with Maasai communities in programmes designed in consultation with local leaders. Activities prioritise meaningful connection, benefit-sharing, and long-term impact.
Both properties are deliberately small, allowing for personalised service and minimal environmental footprint. Reservations open in February 2026, ahead of the first openings in September (Oman) and December (Kenya).
A New Approach to Luxury
Discover Collection operates as a membership-based community rather than a conventional hotel chain. Membership allows the organisation to cap guest numbers, reducing environmental pressure while generating predictable revenue for foundation projects. Members enjoy privileged access across the global portfolio, with stays designed to encourage exploration, immersion, and engagement.
Programming is tailored to each destination, from wildlife tracking and marine exploration to local cultural exchanges and agricultural experiences at historic estates. The foundation provides detailed reporting on how members’ contributions support conservation, education, and cultural initiatives, making every stay transparent, measurable, and meaningful.
“High-end hospitality can be a driver of environmental integrity, conservation and cultural preservation, tourism must transcend traditional sustainability and move toward regenerative models that create lasting benefits for both people and the planet. Sustaining destinations is no longer about minimising harm; it’s about creating net-positive impact.” Bernhard Bohnenberger, Founder and Global Hotelier, Discovery Collection
The Foundation
The Discover Collection Foundation is the philanthropic engine of the brand. Membership fees, property revenue, and donations feed both global and localised impact funds, supporting initiatives that are tailored to each location. Reef restoration in Oman, wildlife corridor protection in Kenya, cultural preservation projects, and educational programmes all form part of the foundation’s scope.
Transparency is central. Members receive regular updates, including photographic documentation and data from conservation monitoring programmes, so they can see exactly how their contributions are making a difference. Every property integrates sustainability into design and operations, from renewable energy infrastructure to circular waste management, water conservation, and locally sourced food, ensuring the principles of regeneration extend beyond the guest experience to every operational detail.
Global Destinations Await
Discover Collection has ambitious plans for growth. Château de Pommard in Burgundy, opening in the third quarter of 2027, will introduce members to Europe’s heritage estates while integrating the château’s viticulture into guest experiences. Later that year, Discover Collection Catoche on Holbox Island in Mexico will focus on marine conservation near protected coastal ecosystems and whale shark migration routes. A second property in Kenya, Il Ngwesi, will also open in late 2027.
Preliminary evaluations are underway for further destinations, including Bhutan, Greece, Albania, Zambia, and Botswana. Each property is carefully chosen for its experiential potential and its ability to deliver measurable impact, creating a network of locations where luxury travel and purpose intersect seamlessly.
Travel That Gives Back
Luxury hospitality has long been criticised for prioritising aesthetics and comfort over impact. Discover Collection flips that paradigm. By embedding conservation, culture, and community engagement into the very structure of the business, it proves that exceptional service and high-end experiences can coexist with genuine, positive contributions to the world.
“Sustaining destinations is no longer about minimising harm; it’s about creating a lasting, net-positive impact. Discover Collection demonstrates that the next generation of luxury travel can be purposeful, immersive, and truly extraordinary.”
Bernhard Bohnenberger, Founder and Global Hotelier, Discovery Collection
Membership encourages travellers to engage more deeply with each destination, forging connections that are both personal and transformative. Here, guests are active participants in preserving ecosystems, supporting local communities, and celebrating cultural heritage.