Brand Language Rules
Awasi Hotel Group
Luxury boutique properties across Patagonia, Atacama, Iguazú, and the Andean Crossing. Deep alignment around High-Tech for High-Touch philosophy and ecological responsibility. Outreach strategy: LinkedIn first, then email follow-up.
Awasi Hotel Group
Nicolás Peluffo
CEO
Publicly articulated the "High-Tech for High-Touch" principle — Planet 5's strongest philosophical hook with Awasi. Full Guardian's Atelier email sent as follow-up.
Letter sent
Awasi Hotel Group
Álvaro Valeriani
Chief Commercial Officer — leads marketing and sales, brand strengthening
CCO-level brand partnership contact. Two-track approach with Nicolás recommended. Strong connection to Virtuoso luxury travel network.
Letter sent
Banyan Group
Pioneer "purpose-led" luxury with a "Brand for Good" framework. African expansion (Ubuyu, Ruaha wilderness) creates time-sensitive partnership opportunity. First call completed — art/photography identified as immediate need. HQ: Bangkok, Thailand (ICT, UTC+7).
Banyan Group — Ubuyu Launch
Nina
Head of Global Marketing & Brand — involved in all areas, not just Africa. Ego-aware: always acknowledge global vision first.
First call completed. Awaiting imagery list for hotels. Thank-you letter sent acknowledging global partnership potential.
Active conversation
Banyan Group — Ubuyu Launch
Amanda
Creative Producer for the Hotels — key executor, will manage imagery selection and installation
Participated in first call. Primary point of contact for imagery curation once list is received.
Active conversation
Banyan Group — Ubuyu Launch
Kylie
Marketing team — oversees all content
Participated in first call. Content oversight role.
Active conversation
Banyan Group — Ubuyu
Louise Rohner
Director of Sales & Marketing, Ubuyu — A Banyan Tree Escape
Property-level contact for Ubuyu opening (May 2026). "Visual Stewardship & First Light Ritual" letter sent pre-opening.
Letter sent
Banyan Group — Sustainability
Dr. Mark Watson
Gatekeeper for "Stay for Good" program & Banyan Global Foundation. Final authority on third-party preservation metrics in annual Sustainability Report.
SDG mapping letter sent: Photography/SDG 15, Coffee/SDG 12, Guardian/SDG 13 & 17. Positioned as GRI-compatible metrics partner.
Letter sent
Banyan Group — Brand
Ho Ren Yung
Deputy CEO — Brand & Commercial, Brand Management, Design, Human Capital, Wellbeing and Sustainability
"Soil to Gallery" brand partnership letter sent. Subject line: "Soil to Gallery — A Brand Partnership Proposal for Banyan Group"
Letter sent
Banyan Group — Partnerships
Geri Flanagan
Head of Partnerships
Domain pattern confirmed: firstname.lastname@groupbanyan.com. Verify via Hunter.io or LinkedIn before outreach.
To contact
Six Senses Hotels
HQ: Bangkok, Thailand (ICT, UTC+7). Best send time: Tuesday–Wednesday 5–7pm LA time (hits Bangkok 8–10am Thu–Fri). Email format: firstname.lastname@sixsenses.com. Part of IHG portfolio.
Six Senses — Sustainability
Jeff Smith
Sustainability leadership — SDG reporting, GRI metrics, preservation programs
Letter leads with three-pillar preservation model, Guardian Membership as audit-ready GRI metrics. Photography first, coffee as Phase Two.
Letter sent
Six Senses — Brand
Anna Ramsay
Brand partnerships, marketing opportunities, fine art — all brand partnership decisions
Letter leads with Dirk's Emmy credentials, custom film/content, owned brand assets angle, and executive expedition retreats.
Letter sent
Six Senses — F&B
Jonathan Wright
F&B Director — Eat With Six Senses program, artisan sourcing
Letter leads with Everest Coffee launch (May/June 2026). Coffee Journey across all five Bhutan lodges. Sample offer at close. "A preservation vehicle in a cup."
Letter sent
Teton Gravity Research (TGR)
Signed, sealed, and delivered. Partnership is active and launching. Dirk Collins co-founded TGR and spent 13 years building it — this is a reunion with purpose, not a new relationship.
Teton Gravity Research
TGR Marketing Team
Partnership description approved and delivered for launch materials
Partnership brand copy finalized. Key phrases: "High octane meets slow luxury," "reunion with purpose," "different volumes, same frequency."
Signed & Active
Venture Capital & Investor Outreach
Warm re-connections preferred over cold outreach. Planet 5's AI/Anthropic backbone is a strong differentiator in VC conversations — not just a preservation story but a technology infrastructure story.
Endeavor
Rachel
Venture Capital — known from Johnny Was company sale
Re-connection letter sent. Framed as a genuinely surprising startup at the intersection of luxury, technology, and purpose. Investor portal, brand summary, and Anthropic deck shared.
Letter sent
Fine Art, Gifting & Beyond
Expansion opportunities for the fine art photography business beyond hospitality. Focus on realistic, culturally relevant partners that actively seek interesting smaller brands.
Cultural & Editorial — PR First
Fotografiska
Partnerships / Programming Team
Photography museum with spaces in NYC, Stockholm, Berlin. Actively collaborates with independent photographers and preservation-minded brands.
Most natural fit of all options. Dirk Collins solo show or curated Planet 5 exhibition is genuinely realistic. Deep preservation ethos alignment.
To contact
Monocle
Editorial / Shop Buying Team
Global culture and design publication. Shop carries independent brands with strong stories.
Paid media model to start but editorial alignment is strong. Monocle Shop and radio are natural homes for Planet 5.
To contact
Wallpaper*
Editorial Team
Luxury design and architecture publication. Champions emerging luxury brands and photographers.
Credibility builder. A Wallpaper* feature makes every other conversation easier.
To contact
Cool Hunting
Editorial Team
Design-forward luxury discovery platform. Actively features small brands with strong narratives.
Carries real cultural credibility with exactly the right demographic. No payment required for editorial features.
To contact
Luxury Real Estate — Closing Gifts
Top producing agents in mountain markets (Aspen, Jackson Hole, Park City, Telluride) spend $500–$2,000 on closing gifts for high-value transactions. A Planet 5 fine art print + Everest Coffee + Guardian Membership is a perfect curated closing gift. Approach top individual agents directly rather than corporate.
Compass Luxury
Top Luxury Agents — Mountain Markets
Compass Luxury division actively partners with luxury brands for activations and personalized gifting. Target top agents in Aspen, Jackson Hole, Park City, Telluride directly via LinkedIn.
Most immediately actionable of all options. Compass already has a gifting integration program. High volume potential.
To contact
Sotheby's International Realty
Top Luxury Agents — Mountain Markets
Ultra-luxury property specialists. Christie's International Real Estate recently acquired by Compass, creating additional overlap opportunity.
Sotheby's brand alignment with fine art is a natural conversation starter.
To contact
Douglas Elliman
Top Luxury Agents — Mountain & Beach Markets
Major luxury residential brokerage with strong mountain and coastal market presence.
Strong presence in Aspen and Park City alongside NYC and LA luxury markets.
To contact
Interior Design & Art Sourcing
Top interior design firms regularly source art for luxury residential and hospitality projects. Getting on an approved vendor list could drive consistent print sales. Approach art consulting contacts specifically, not general design staff.
Champalimaud Design
Kajsa Krause
Principal & Director of Strategy. Services explicitly include art consulting for luxury hospitality and residential projects.
55-person NYC studio. Deep sustainability commitment. Art consulting is a named service. Highly aligned aesthetically.
To contact
Rockwell Group
Art Consulting / Creative Team
250+ person NYC firm. Specializes in luxury hospitality, cultural, and residential projects globally. Offices in NYC, Madrid, Shanghai.
Large scale — consistent volume potential if on approved vendor list. Projects include major luxury hotel and resort commissions globally.
To contact
Rottet Studio
Lauren Rottet / Art Team
Led by Lauren Rottet. Celebrated for innovative luxury designs in hospitality and residential. Sleek, modern aesthetic with strong art integration.
Strong hospitality focus aligns with Planet 5's existing hotel partnership strategy.
To contact
Luxury Corporate & Executive Gifting Platforms
Planet 5's curated gift (fine art print + Everest Coffee tin + Guardian Membership card) is an extraordinary corporate gift for Fortune 500 companies, private banks, and executive gifting programs. Approach as a product partner rather than a client.
Marigold & Grey
Partnerships / Brand Team
Boutique luxury gifting — hand-curated premium products, white-glove service, real estate and corporate specialization. Known for realtor closing gifts.
Actively partners with realtors and brokerages. Planet 5 closing gift kit is a natural fit for their real estate gifting program.
To contact
Teak & Twine
Partnerships / Sourcing Team
Boutique corporate gifting — highly customized gift boxes, strong sustainability ethos, white-glove service. Works with Fortune 500 clients.
Sustainability-focused packaging. Would likely love Planet 5's preservation mission story as a featured product.
To contact
JP Morgan Private Bank
Regional Market Directors
Private wealth management — significant annual client gifting budgets at high price points.
Corporate gifting is largely handled regionally. Warm introduction is significantly more effective than cold outreach here.
Needs warm intro
Executive Retreats & Members Clubs
Soho House
House Art Program / House Store
Laura is a member — significant advantage for access. They commission and purchase art for properties globally. House Store carries independent makers.
Member status makes this very approachable — not a long shot. Go in through the art and interiors door, not a generic partnership pitch.
To contact — member advantage
Indagare
Partnerships Team
Luxury travel membership platform. High-net-worth members. Actively partners with brands for curated experiences and editorial content.
Members are exactly Planet 5's demographic. Expedition and membership angle is the strongest hook here.
To contact
YPO (Young Presidents Organization)
Chapter Leadership — LA / NYC / Mountain West
Global CEO network. Actively seeks unique retreat experiences. Planet 5 expedition as a YPO chapter event is a strong fit.
Dirk's network likely has existing YPO connections worth exploring.
Needs warm intro
Tablet Hotels
Editorial / Partnerships Team
Independent luxury hotel discovery platform. Strong editorial voice. Actively features preservation-minded brands and experiences.
Strong alignment with independent, design-forward hospitality. Complements existing hotel partnership strategy.
To contact
Luxury Hotel Groups — Fine Art & Photography
Beyond individual properties, these groups represent global-scale opportunities where a single partnership conversation opens dozens of properties simultaneously. Each has preservation or sense-of-place built into their brand DNA — not bolted on.
Aman Resorts
Jonathan Wilson
Chief Brand & Marketing Officer — leads global brand strategy and marketing initiatives
15 of 36 properties are within or adjacent to UNESCO-protected sites — almost a direct brief for Planet 5's archive. Himalayan, Dolomite, Patagonian, and Bhutanese properties map directly to Planet 5's photography territories. Ultra-exclusive avg. 20-30 rooms per property. Deeply aligned aesthetically — quiet luxury, sense of place, privacy. Aman Interiors division is a new and relevant entry point for art sourcing conversations.
To contact
&Beyond
Joss Kent
Executive Chairman & CEO. Harvard MBA, former Abercrombie & Kent CEO. Deep personal conservation commitment — grew up in Kenya.
Directly conserves 1 million acres across Africa, Asia, and South America. 2030 vision targets 40 million acres. Operates 29 lodges across 3 continents plus a luxury expedition yacht. Now focused on long-term growth partnerships and impact strategy — Planet 5 is exactly the kind of partner he is building toward. Asia expansion targets India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan — Planet 5's Himalayan heartland. Photography of their landscapes is a natural, immediate fit.
To contact
Relais & Châteaux
Partnerships / Brand Team
580+ independent luxury hotels and restaurants across 67 countries. Association model — each property independently owned but sharing brand standards around sustainability, local culture, and authentic hospitality.
Positions explicitly around sustainable travel close to local cultures and communities. Art and culinary storytelling central to brand identity. One partnership conversation = access to 580+ properties globally.
To contact
Auberge Resorts Collection
Brand / Partnerships Team
Boutique luxury collection with strong art and design DNA. Mountain properties in Aspen and Colorado. Growing global footprint.
Smaller, approachable collection. Art integration is strong in their property design ethos. Colorado mountain properties are a natural Planet 5 fit.
To contact
Belmond
Brand / Creative Partnerships Team
Orient Express parent. Luxury train journeys and remote properties across the Andes, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
Photography of the landscapes their iconic trains and lodges move through — Andean routes especially — is a compelling and very specific pitch. LVMH-owned so well-resourced.
To contact
COMO Hotels & Resorts
Brand / Partnerships Team
Smaller curated collection with strong wellness and nature focus. Properties in Bhutan, Maldives, Tuscany, Patagonia, and beyond.
Bhutan and Patagonia properties are direct Planet 5 photography territory. Wellness and nature DNA is a natural alignment.
To contact
Hospitality Art Consultancy Platforms
The highest-leverage opportunity in the fine art business. These firms act as art resources for luxury eco-resorts and hotels globally — sourcing, curating, installing, and managing photography and fine art on behalf of properties. A single relationship here can place Dirk's work across dozens of properties without individual hotel-by-hotel outreach. Register Planet 5 as an approved artist/photographer with each.
Awethentic Gallery
Art Consultancy Team
Hospitality art consultancy specializing explicitly in artworks with strong social and environmental impact for hotels and resorts globally. Can sell prints directly to guests and ship to their homes.
The mission alignment here is extraordinary — they specifically seek art with environmental impact stories. Planet 5's preservation narrative makes every print more valuable to their clients. Guest-direct sales capability is an additional revenue channel.
To contact
TKOart
Troy (Founder) / Aidan (Marketing & Curation)
Full-service hospitality art consulting for 30+ years. Sources from a network of international artists and galleries for hotels, resorts, restaurants, and spas. Based in LA — local connection advantage.
LA-based — a local meeting is very doable. 30+ years placing art in luxury hospitality nationally. Strong corporate and hospitality client roster. Founder Troy has deep relationships with architects and interior designers.
To contact
Artelier
Directors / Curators Team
End-to-end art consultancy for hotel projects globally. Manages sourcing, commissioning, framing, shipping, import/export documentation, delivery, and installation. London-based with international reach.
Full turnkey service means minimal friction for hotel clients — they handle everything. International shipping expertise makes them well-suited for placing large-format prints in remote luxury properties.
To contact
Trowbridge Gallery
Sourcing / Partnerships Team
Premium artwork sourcing for luxury hospitality. Supports interior designers, specifiers, and procurement teams. Has a dedicated photography-led collection category. Chicago-based, 39 employees.
Specifically calls out photography as a distinct collection category for hospitality projects. Works directly with interior designers and procurement teams — a different entry point from the hotel brand itself.
To contact
Coffee Equipment & Accessory Partnerships
Everest Coffee Company brews best in a moka pot or high-end drip — not espresso. Every equipment partner should reflect that. The goal is a co-branded object that is both beautiful and mission-aligned: something a guest keeps, uses, and connects back to the mountain it came from.
#1 — Bialetti
Bialetti
Partnerships / Brand Team
The world's most iconic moka pot maker. Proven, prolific collaboration history — The North Face, Dolce & Gabbana Moka Oro (24-carat gold), Netflix's Squid Game, Bridgerton, Stranger Things. Actively chasing luxury repositioning.
The North Face proves they go mountain/outdoor. Dolce & Gabbana proves they want luxury credibility. Planet 5 offers both simultaneously — and adds a preservation story no other partner has brought them. A limited Everest x Bialetti moka pot is the most natural object in the world. New ownership is actively seeking exactly this kind of premium repositioning. Move on this one first.
Priority — contact first
#2 — Alessi
Alessi
B2B Partnerships Team
Italian luxury design house. Makes premium moka pots in collaboration with world-renowned architects and designers — Zaha Hadid, Philippe Starck, Michele De Lucchi, Enzo Mari. Dedicated B2B partnerships team. Has partnered with Nespresso, Fendi, Baccarat, LVMH, and C.P. Company.
The Alessi Pulcina moka pot was co-designed with Illy — proving they do coffee brand collaborations at the highest level. Their entire identity is art-meets-function, which is exactly Planet 5's DNA. A Planet 5 x Alessi limited edition moka pot would be an extraordinary object — gallery-worthy, preservation-funded, and beautifully Italian. The B2B team is specifically set up for this conversation.
High priority
#3 & #4 — High-End Drip
Moccamaster (Technivorm)
Brand / Partnerships Team
Dutch handmade high-end drip coffee maker. SCA and European Coffee Brewing Center gold certified. Modular, repairable, sustainable design. Beloved by the specialty coffee community globally.
Handmade, artisan, sustainability credentials align naturally with Everest Coffee Company. A Moccamaster x Everest gift bundle — custom colorway or co-branded edition — is a compelling premium retail proposition. Strong for gifting programs and hotel F&B partnerships.
To contact
Aarke
Brand / Partnerships Team
Swedish minimalist design brand. High-end drip coffee maker and new French press just launched in stainless steel. Clean, architectural aesthetic. No confirmed roaster partnerships yet — Planet 5 could be among the first.
Being an early roaster partner while Aarke is still building its coffee category gives Planet 5 more leverage and exclusivity than a later approach would. Scandi minimalism alongside mountain preservation is a very strong aesthetic narrative. French press is also a natural Everest brew method.
To contact
Expedition Use Case — Field Fika & Origin Expeditions
AeroPress
Brand / Partnerships Team
Lightweight, travel-friendly pressure brewer. The go-anywhere brewing tool beloved by outdoor enthusiasts and specialty coffee community.
Frame exclusively around the Field Fika and Origin Expeditions use case. A co-branded AeroPress Go as the official brewing kit of Planet 5 expeditions is a specific, credible story. Not a primary partnership — an expedition-specific one.
Expedition-specific
Pure Over
Founder / Brand Team
All-glass travel pour-over brew kit. New French press launching. Sustainability-forward, beautiful minimal design. Small, growing brand with strong values alignment.
Small enough that Planet 5 is a meaningful partnership for them too. Glass aesthetic is beautiful alongside Dirk's photography. Watch list — revisit once Everest has launched.
Watch — post-launch
Coffee — Brand, Cultural & Prestige Partnerships
Beyond equipment — the partnerships that build prestige, credibility, and cultural relevance for Everest Coffee Company. These are relationships rather than transactions: co-branding, featured placements, editorial partnerships, and certification programs that amplify the preservation story in the right rooms.
Prestige Retail — Placement as Partnership
Harrods Food Hall
Buying / Brand Partnerships Team
The most prestigious food hall in the world. Specialty coffee and artisan food buyers actively seek rare, story-rich products. A Harrods placement signals luxury credibility that no other retailer can replicate.
A Harrods placement makes every subsequent conversation — hotel partnerships, gifting programs, press features — significantly easier. The credibility transfer is immediate and global. One of the most actionable moves Planet 5 can make for Everest Coffee launch credibility.
Priority — contact at launch
MR PORTER / Net-A-Porter
Lifestyle / Gifting Editorial Team
Luxury fashion e-commerce with active lifestyle and gifting editorial. Regularly feature artisan food and beverage brands with strong stories in holiday and lifestyle guides.
MR PORTER reaches exactly the right male luxury demographic for Everest Coffee. The preservation story is the hook — not the coffee specs. A holiday gifting feature here is very achievable with the right approach.
To contact
Certifications — Future Knowledge & Planning
Not immediate priorities but worth understanding now. Each removes friction in future partnership conversations and signals credibility to the exact partners Planet 5 is already pursuing. Worth building toward strategically.
1% for the Planet
Member enrollment
Global network of businesses committing 1% of revenue to environmental nonprofits. Widely recognized by eco-resort and luxury hotel partners as a sustainability credibility signal.
Low cost, high signal. Would make sustainability conversations with Banyan, Six Senses, &Beyond, and Aman immediately more credible. Worth pursuing once Everest Coffee has launched and revenue is flowing.
Future — Year 1 post-launch
Rainforest Alliance
Certification program
Coffee-specific sustainability certification widely recognized by hospitality procurement teams. Maps directly to SDG commitments that Banyan Group and Six Senses already report against.
A Rainforest Alliance certified Everest Coffee gives Jonathan Wright at Six Senses and Dr. Mark Watson at Banyan a direct procurement pathway — removes the vetting barrier entirely. High priority for hotel F&B partnerships.
Future — pursue for hotel partnerships
B Corp Certification
B Lab — certification body
Gold standard sustainability certification for businesses. Increasingly required or preferred by luxury hotel and hospitality partners for supplier vetting. Longer process — begin planning early.
Patagonia, Nespresso, and many Planet 5 target partners are B Corp certified. Signals deep alignment and removes friction at the corporate partnership level. Worth beginning the process in Year 2.
Future — Year 2
Planet 5 Media — Confidential Partnership Strategy Document — Compiled June 2026
laura@planet5media.com · planet5media.com