1 July 2025 |
Marriott Bonvoy Moments whisked us away to the Ritz Carlton for a few days.
Where can you start your day viewing the white Volkswagen Beetle featured on the cover of The Beatles Abbey Road cover and end it with a three-star Michelin meal? That would be at the Ritz Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany. The city, built out in the early 1900s, serves as the home to the car maker and features Autostadt, a theme park of sorts for automobile enthusiasts. Sprawling and lush, at its center is the five star hotel that features Aqua, a three-star Michelin restaurant helmed by Sven Elverfeld. The location also serves as one of the first culinary destinations for Marriott Bonvoy Moments, a series of experiences that span art, food, music, and more offered by the hotel group. Members are able to bid on these excursions with their points.
Destination dining has become a recent focus, given that they boast over 40 Michelin-starred restaurants across their properties. “This new series is more than just a meal—it’s about storytelling, discovery, and the unforgettable connections that happen around the table,” says Peggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Marriott International.
For the lucky winners of the package their three-day affair, which allows for a guest, begins by checking into the hotel. With its spacious rooms and comfortable beds, it’s just the thing after a red eye flight. Those who need an immediate pick-me-up can order from the room service menu, which boasts a delicious club sandwich and an equally good chanterelle soup. Prefer to shake off the jet lag with some exercise or a massage? Head downstairs to the heated pool that looks out into the city’s iconic smokestacks or make your way to the spa for a relaxing treatment. For those who would rather kick things off with a cocktail, Newman’s Bar or afternoon tea with a side of champagne in the lobby will get your trip started on the right foot.
As for this Marriott Bonvoy moment, day two was when the discovery portion of the itinerary truly began. First up on the agenda was a mid-morning visit to an invite-only private vault featuring rare vintage cars spanning the course of over a century of automobile history. Besides the iconic Abbey Road Beetle, guests were able to view the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, a vehicle that hit upwards of 300 miles per hour, a record for the carmaker. Other highlights include an extremely rare 1930s era black-and-white Bugatti (Ralph Lauren is known to own one as well) as well as a slew of Lamborghinis, Audis, and even a prototype electric United States Postal Service truck. As you wandered around the archive, it’s easy to see why even someone without a learner’s permit (me), could find themselves fascinated with the level of design and attention to detail.
But the real highlight of the day? A dinner at Aqua. “It’s a special year for us because it’s my 25th anniversary at the Ritz Carlton Wolfsburg and [my restaurant has been] the same concept since day one. I’m honored to kick it off by hosting this Marriott Bonvoy Moment,” says Elverfeld. After a round of champagne, guests were offered a behind-the-scenes peek into the kitchen, The Bear in real life minus the drama. From there, a private dining room and a round of welcome bites including one of Elverfeld’s signatures: a caramelized Kalamata olive filled with a sardine cream, topped off with a dusting of yogurt powder. Over the course of the next five hours we were treated to everything from king crab served with plankton and sudachi (a Japanese citrus) to sea bass and calamari to a take on surf and turf that included a free-range chicken that reportedly costs 70 euros per kilo. It was indeed, a fancy chicken. To end, a flurry of desserts including another of Elverfeld’s mainstays over the years, a sorbet made with Ruinart. “I had a bottle in my hand and there was a hole, so we present the sorbet back in the bottle. It sits atop wood from the champagne rack as well as the cork,” he says.
Interested in a similar experience? Marriott Bonvoy Moments is slated to host one per month in locations as far flung as Hong Kong and Rome as well as closer to home at the likes of Atlanta and Tampa. Sadly those are already sold out but if Michelin dining in Toronto or a trip to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay are on your list, they’re still up for grabs here. Use your points strategically.
