Sentido presents „9-Hands-Dinner Events “ 

Exclusive international culinary evenings for last-minute bookers, with a surprise element 

Sentido, the hotel brand for all the senses under the DERTOUR Group Hotel Division, is launching an international culinary event series entitled the Sentido 9-Hands Dinner Events. Each event brings together three head chefs from three different Sentido hotels, who jointly create an exclusive four‑course menu inspired by local ingredients, regional culinary traditions and international influences. Over the course of the series, nine Sentido hotels will take part making nine destinations part of this culinary journey.

The series is designed as a culinary onward journey with a surprise element. After each event, one of the participating guest chefs becomes the host of the next 9‑Hands Dinner, thereby announcing the following destination. Dates and venues are revealed at short notice, typically around one month in advance. One event is planned per month, appealing in particular to spontaneous travellers seeking an exceptional last‑minute culinary experience.

Ingo Burmester, CEO of the DERTOUR Group Hotel Division, explains: “With the 9-Hands-Dinner series, Sentido further strengthens its positioning as a high-quality brand that appeals to all the senses. The event series perfectly embodies what Sentido stands for: the highest quality, international diversity, and experiences that emotionally engage our guests and leave a lasting impression.”

“Every plate tells a story—of origin, craftsmanship, and true flavor,” explains Frank Funke, Corporate F&B Manager of the DERTOUR Group Hotel Division, who initiated the culinary journey. “With the 9-Hands Dinner series, we are creating something unique: a culinary bridge between nine destinations that shows how diverse, yet closely connected the world of Sentido is. Our guests should not simply dine; they should feel, see, smell, taste, and remember. That’s exactly what makes this series special.”  

The dinner series also marks the start of a broader culinary project. Based on the signature dishes created at all nine events, a destination-spanning 9-course “Wine & Dine” menu will be developed step by step. It brings together regional expertise and the individual styles of all participating chefs into one shared culinary concept. The final 9-course menu will be awarded and presented in early November. Further information will follow shortly. 

Each 9‑Hands Dinner is designed as an interactive culinary experience. Guests can choose between two different four‑course menus and take part in an accompanying cooking class. They also become part of the decision-making process: by sharing and rating their favourite dishes or menus, guests actively influence the outcome of the series. The public vote will account for 50 percent of the final overall evaluation in November. All events will be hosted and moderated on site by Frank Funke.

Opening event in the Maldives

The series opens at Sentido OBLU Nature Helengeli in the Maldives. Head Chef Ajaya Sahoo will host his colleagues Vitor Tomé from Sentido Galo Resort in Madeira, Portugal, and Mohamed Elazeb Hussein from Sentido Naga Bay in Hurghada, Egypt. Together, the three chefs will create a curated selection of signature dishes, drawing on local flavours and reinterpreting them through their individual culinary perspectives.

The first 9‑Hands Dinner in the Maldives will take place on 26 and 27 May. With limited availability each evening, the event is aimed particularly at travelers booking at short notice who are looking to secure an exclusive on‑site culinary experience.

The culinary journey will continue across further destinations, with each next stop announced at short notice:

• Sentido Galo Resort (Madeira/Portugal) 
• Sentido Naga Bay (Egypt) 
• Sentido Luna Vista (Türkiye) 
• Sentido Bellevue Park (Tunisia) 
• Sentido Tropea (Italy) 
• Sentido Corfu Apollo Palace (Greece) 
• Sentido Marea (Bulgaria)
• As well as on the Sentido Hotel in Mallorca

Media contact
Corporate Communications
t:+49 69 9588-8000
presse@dertour.com

Background:

The DERTOUR Group bundles its growing hotel business, which comprises 12 brands and over 120 hotels in 16 countries around the world, under the umbrella of DERTOUR Group Hotel & Resorts GmbH. To satisfy the wide range of holiday dreams and travel wishes of its customers, the hotel division offers both variety and highest quality: The company’s hotels cover a large number of different destinations, target groups and customer needs. Its brand portfolio comprises of leading brands in the international club and holiday hotel industry. These brands include Sentido, Aldiana, Playitas, ananea and Calimera in the medium and long-distance travel business. For land-based travel, DERTOUR Group is well positioned with the DSR Hotel Holding brands aja, A-ROSA, HENRI and MIRA Hotels as well as with its two individual hotels Hotel Louis C. Jacob and Hotel Neptun. You can find more information on the website.

DERTOUR Group has its head office in Cologne, Germany, and is REWE Group’s travel and tourism division. As one of Europe’s leading travel groups, DERTOUR Group encompasses approximately 200 companies and employs around 15,000 people worldwide. Every year, millions of guests travel with one of the Group’s tour operators or specialists. DERTOUR Group includes tour operators such as DERTOUR, ITS, Meiers Weltreisen, Kuoni, Helvetic Tours, ITS Coop Travel, Billa Reisen, Koning Aap, Apollo, Exim Tours and Fischer, as well as around 2,000 travel agencies (such as DERTOUR, DERPART, Kuoni, Exim, and Fischer, plus franchises and partners), the hotel brands Sentido,

Aldiana, and ananea and the online travel agency Prijsvrij Vakanties. The DERTOUR Group also offers on-site support: The company runs an agency network with 71 offices in 31 travel destinations. The staff in the destination agencies assist the guests of the DERTOUR Group from their arrival at their holiday destination until their departure. For more information, go to www.dertour-group.com.