The Leading Hotels of the World

has announced a new service exclusive to its 400 member hotels: the Leading Service Provider Network. The Network, comprising a global collection of endorsed companies with a proven track record in the luxury hotel marketing sector, provides custom-designed business solutions for member hotels.

Over 200 companies with expertise in providing business solutions to the luxury hotel industry were reviewed for the Network endorsement.

Thirty-one companies have been initially selected concurrent with the September 2003 launch, and will be recommended by Leading directly to member hotels as preferred vendors.

Leading intends to expand the companies in the Leading Service Provider Network to meet the evolving needs of its member hotels and resorts. The Network will, however, limit the number of providers chosen to ensure exclusivity.

“Recognizing we cannot be everything to everyone—we do, however, recognize that we can harness the power of our brand and translate this into a value proposition by serving as a referral source for custom-designed business solutions to our membership,” said Paul McManus, president and CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World, the premier luxury marketing organization.

The Network provides added value benefits to member hotels and gives them an organized, pre-qualified selection of vendors who have the capabilities to address hotels’ specific marketing and business needs on a global, regional or local level.

Each individual service provider has the expertise to customize strategies according to hotels’ individual priorities and budget and implement tailor-made programs to increase the hotels’ revenues.

Mary McCarthy, Director of New Business Development for Leading Hotels, will administrate the Network and manage recommendations of the specific endorsed companies to Leading hotels and resorts.

The Leading Service Provider Network companies offer services ranging from Public Relations and Advertising, Marketing, E-commerce, Strategic Planning and Market Research, Yield Management, Training and Consulting. The companies in the Network are located in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

“Our plan is to grow the categories of services in order to help our hotels remain competitive in today’s marketplace so that they may respond to our fast changing environment,” said Mr. McManus.

“The formation of this Network underscores Leading’s commitment to enhancing hotels’ market position,” he said.

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