Raffles Singapore is a new entry in this year’s World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brands list. — Pixabay
A travel organisation has recently released its annual list and report of the best luxury hotel brands in the world, and this time, it includes two legacy Asian hospitality brands.
The LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence’s “World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brands” list records 12 entries that were scored and assessed using an algorithm set by the organisation. This algorithm has 130 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector, with each point having its own weighted score value that accumulates up to a maximum score of 4,663.
These touch points relate to overall brand performance, and not the performance of individual properties. “The focus is on a brand’s ability to deliver: Its passion, commitment, ethos and values, as well as the quality of its management staff,” the organisation explains in a press release.
It also says that the algorithm looks at a brand’s continuing investment and how it is utilised, particularly when it comes to new properties, and the refurbishment of existing ones.
Researchers from the organisation engage with everyone, from the CEOs of the brands, to managers, staff and even guests. “This is all part of the process for creating destination-led reports for our members who are affluent, discerning travellers, but it also allows us to create this unique report,” the press release says.
Each year the rating process re-starts, so results from previous years will no longer have a bearing on the current assessment period.
In the report, the Mandarin Oriental brand emerges as the top scorer. LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence says that while the brand has always done well over the years, this year it has improved across all touch points. Mandarin Oriental also has a growing following, and that the opening of its Mayfair property in London is a much anticipated one.
The two new Asian entries are The Peninsula Hotel and Raffles Hotel, which are considered heritage hospitality brands in the region. The Hongkong And Shanghai Hotels (which is the parent company of The Peninsula Hotels group) is one of Asia’s oldest hotel brands that still operates today. The luxury hotel brand currently has 10 properties located in Asia, the United States and France, with a couple more in development.
Meanwhile, the British colonial-style Raffles Hotel was first established in Singapore in 1887 by Armenian hoteliers, the Sarkies Brothers. It is also one of the oldest hotels in Asia that is still operational today.
The brand has 20 hotels in its portfolio, with a few more still in development.
Below is the list of the World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brands, reflected as percentages:
1. Mandarin Oriental 81.4%
2. Oetker Collection 81.3%
3. Auberge 79.6%
4. Six Senses 79.0%
5. Aman 78.8%
6. Belmond 76.3%
7. Four Seasons 76.1%
8. One&Only 75.1%
9. Rocco Forte 73.8%
10. Rosewood 72.1%
11. Peninsula 69.8%
12. Raffles 68.5%
Michael Crompton, founder of LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence, says in the press release, “This year’s results, showing just 0.1% difference between the top two brands, demonstrates how close the race to perfection is within global luxury hospitality. These brands continue to invest significant money and resources into ensuring they deliver the ultimate experience for their guests.”
LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence is a global members-only organisation that provides reports and data on the travel and hospitality industry, with a focus on the luxury sector. The organisation is not affiliated with any company or brand.
