It all started with baking powder back in 1891 when Dr. August Oetker, a German pharmacist, invented the leavening agent, which led to the creation of the Dr. Oetker brand. The company that August Oetker founded gradually expanded into other areas, including hotels.

The Oetker Collection, whose portfolio now inumbers seven hotels in France, Germany, Morocco and the Seychelles, aims to almost double its size by 2020, says Oetker Collection CEO Frank Marrenbach. We sat down with Marrenbach to discuss the company’s collection of hotels, who they appeal to and what sets the company apart in the luxury market.

How was business in 2013 and going forward?

Last year was an excellent year, marked by the opening of L’Apogée Courchevel, our first ski resort in the French Alps, as well as the addition of the exclusive Fregate Island in the Seychelles Islands.

With L’Apogée Courchevel, we have an option for our guests in wintertime in the largest ski area in the world — and it’s the best location in Courchevel.

What we were missing was an island, not just an island but a private island — and one with 2,000 turtles, seven beaches and 16 villas. Fregate Island accommodates a maximum of 50 guests with 130 employees.

You call the Oetker Collection the Masterpiece Hotels Collection. How does it distinguish itself from its luxury competition?

We compare the collection with the arts. If you want to see the Mona Lisa you have to go to the Louvre. And that analogy explains that every hotel exists only one time.

The Oetker Collection embodies the finest of traditional European hospitality. Each hotel is designed to be a masterpiece with a strong personality that we take pride in preserving. I like to say that these elite luxury hotels are strung together like pearls on a chain, unified by a desire to deliver the best of life.

Throughout, our aim for Oetker Collection guests is that they discover a passion for living, an appreciation for culture, gastronomy and the pleasures of nature. These are the reasons why generations of guests return year after year.

What does the Oetker Collection hotel portfolio comprise?

The Oetker Collection includes seven luxury hotels. They are: Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa is a unique urban oasis, set in a sprawling park in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc is a legendary hotel where old-world glamour meets modern luxury at the tip of the Cap d’Antibes in Cannes, France.

Le Bristol Paris is a historic Palace hotel with elegant 18th-century interiors set in the heart of the city’s arts and fashion district.

Château Saint-Martin & Spa is a romantic chateau set in Vence, in the center of the French Riviera.

Palais Namaskar is an iconic, modern-day palace in Marrakech, Morocco.

Fregate Island Private is a jewel of conservation, a true sanctuary in the Seychelles.

L’Apogée Courchevel is a luxurious, handcrafted mansion created for the best family ski holidays in the French Alps.

Are there any new hotels on the horizon for the Oetker Collection?

We are constantly on the lookout for unique masterpiece hotels to complement our portfolio. The next enhancement will be the Villa Stéphanie spa, which is a historic villa nestled amid the lush park of Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa. Villa Stéphanie is adjacent to the main building in a private house spanning five floors with 54,000 feet dedicated solely to spa activities.

By 2020, we foresee up to 15 individual places with soul, carefully nurtured by fine hoteliers who create a strong sense of belonging for our guests.

What is the profile of the Oetker Collection guest?

Our guests are connoisseurs who enjoy traditional European hospitality. They come from every corner of the world and return every year for the attention to detail and personalized service that our teams strive to deliver at all times.

How important are travel agents to the Oetker Collection and why?

Travel agents are of utmost importance to us. They are valuable partners and ambassadors for our collection of hotels. We are loyal to them and their clients.

What advice can you give travel agents on how to sell more of the Oetker Collection?

I would like to encourage them to come and visit our hotels and experience our hospitality. Seeing is believing. That’s what it takes to sell our collection.

For more information: www.oetkercollection.com