The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is an international marketing organization that was established in 1928. It represents more than 400 independent luxury hotels in over 80 countries, and its headquarters are in New York City.
Contents
History
The organization was founded in 1928 by a group of European hoteliers. With 38 initial members – including Hotel Negresco in Nice, the Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo, the Montreux Palace in Montreux and the King David Hotel in Jerusalem – the organization was initially known as "The Leading Hotels of Europe". The founders opened an office in New York City named Hotel Representative, Inc. (HRI).
By the end of the 1960s, the organization had grown to 70 member hotels. From 1971 onward, it admitted new member properties worldwide. As of 2018, the organization represented "more than 400 hotels in over 80 countries".
Operations
The member hotels include distinctive properties around the world, such as castles, mountain hideaways, safari camps and private islands. Hotels seeking to join must have a referral from an existing member hotel and apply for admission.
Leadership
LHW president and CEO Ted Teng stepped down in April 2019 after leading the organization for a decade. Shannon Knapp, then serving as senior vice president and chief marketing officer, was named interim CEO before being named the permanent president and CEO in October 2019.