The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. has just released the 2007 edition of its Annual Directory, with updated information on 432 members in 79 countries, introducing several new and emerging destinations. “As the demand for luxury travel to Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean continues to increase, The Leading Hotels of the World is expanding its membership in these key regions,” said Paul M. McManus, company president and chief executive officer.

“For nearly 80 years our organization has anticipated the needs of the affluent traveler, and we are committed to ensuring the Leading Hotels brand remains the definitive resource for these influential individuals wherever their travels may take them.”

  Appearing in this edition are the following 18 new Leading Hotels:

  * Hotel Fouquet’s Barriere, Paris, France
  * Hotel de Rome, Berlin, Germany
  * Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort, Saturnia, Tuscany, Italy
  * Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista, Verona, Corrubbio di Negarine, Italy
  * Castillo Hotel Son Vida, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
  * Le Richemond, Geneva, Switzerland
  * Donbass Palace Hotel, Donetsk, Ukraine
  * Grand Regency Hotel, Doha, Qatar
  * The Chedi Muscat, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
  * Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate, George, South Africa
  * Parkview Hotel, Dongguan City, People’s Republic of China
  * Mayfair Hotel & Spa, Miami, Coconut Grove, Florida, USA
  * The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
  * Le Pavillon Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
  * The Alex Hotel, New York, New York, USA
  * The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, North Carolina, USA
  * Faena Hotel + Universe, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  * Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

  The 24 new members of The Leading Small Hotels of the World are:

  * Schlossle Hotel, Tallinn, Estonia
  * Der Alphenhof, Bayrischzell, Germany
  * Schlosshotel Hugenpoet, Dusseldorf, Essen, Germany
  * Castello del Nero Hotel & Spa, Florence, Tavarnelle, Italy
  * Town House Galleria, Milan, Italy
  * Hotel Caruso, Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy
  * Kempinski Hotel Giardino di Costanza, Sicily, Mazara del Vallo, Italy
  * Grand Palace Hotel, Riga, Latvia
  * Hotel Casa Fuster, Barcelona, Spain
  * Gran Hotel Panticosa Resort, Panticosa, Huesca, Spain
  * Waldhaus Grand Hotel, Flims, Switzerland
  * Grand Hotel Park, Gstaad, Switzerland
  * Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Mauritius, Flic-en-Flac, Mauritius
  * Saxon Hotel & Spa, Johannesburg, Sandhurst, South Africa
  * BLUE Sydney - A Taj Hotel, Sydney, Australia
  * The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam
  * The Hazelton Hotel, Toronto, Canada
  * The Heritage House, Little River, California, USA
  * The Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, New York, USA
  * Fasano, Hotel e Restaurante, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  * Convento do Carmo Hotel, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  * Royal Palm Hotel - Galapagos, Galapagos, Ecuador
  * Lodge Kura Hulanda and Beach Club, Willemstad, Curacao
  * Tortuga Bay, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
 
The cover of the 2007 Directory, the fourth in the acclaimed “Destinations” series, reflects an artist’s unique interpretation of a specially chosen location, capturing the diversity and beauty of the world in which we live. This year’s design features Japan’s renowned Yakushiji Temple by the artist DAJ. Built in the early part of the Nara Period (645 - 794), the temple serves as a monument to spiritual influence and prosperity.

The collection of Leading Spas continues to expand, with the inclusion of 94 members in 36 countries. In the Annual Directory, the accredited Leading Spas are denoted by the Leading Spas icon. An independent 2007 Leading Spas Directory, with expanded details on each spa and its services, will also soon be released.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing more than 430 of the world’s finest hotels, resorts and spas, and is the operator of www.lhw.com—the online source for your luxury lifestyle. As the largest international luxury hotel brand, the firm maintains offices in 24 major markets across the globe.

Since 1928, the company’s reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering 1,500 separate criteria.
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