TrophyCollector

Coming back from this thread ( http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...express-4.html) criticising "cultural domination of one nation" in the luxury hotel industry, I would like to analyse the real driving forces, hopefully without prejudice and polemics.

Where did the driving forces in the luxury hotel industry come from?

A quest for some answers:

The British Empire had an early necessity for hotels abroad and - maybe influenced by a strong class system - set very high standards. Still visible today in Orient-Express Hotels, for example. I am not sure if Rocco Forte has really made an impact on the industry (yet).

The United States, post WWII, pioneered global expansion and recognition, with a focus on brand building in the 5 star segment like Intercontinental, Hilton, Sheraton, Radisson who would be rated here as a little bit under the luxury mark because of high standardization. The Four Seasons brand may be the only truly global luxury chain, again with a somewhat standardized product, coming from North America. I personally don't think Ritz-Carlton is consistent enough to be credited with real impact, much less so the "spin-off" Capella, but rather their brand collaboration with Bulgari. And maybe to some extent today's Hyatt. Ian Schrager pioneered a whole new segment with the first design hotels.

New Zealand has probably started the idea of the highest level nature lodges. Later taken over by Explora in Chile, among others.

From South Africa came innovations in themed luxury hotels like Sol Kerzner's One&Only, Sun City, Atlantis. Plus the luxury game lodge concepts that were recently also exported to India.

From India we are offered a unique luxury concept with some of Oberoi's -vilas hotels, combining the highest levels of hotellerie with unique historic surroundings. The refurbishing of old maharaja's palaces has also had an impact on the hotel industry by shaping a "luxury hotel destination country" more than any other.

Dubai is also a typical destination attracting through unique hotels like Burj-al-Arab, plus some other manmade modern mega-structures. There is also a typical undefined, plush, please-all luxury hotel style that has been coined as "Dubai-Style", not necessarily associated with Jumeirah Hotels.

Did the Maldives provide us with the first overwater bungalows? Or was it Bora Bora? Anyhow, the Maldives are a unique luxury product, maybe best packaged by Soneva.

The Germans and the Swiss have influence in the management and gastronomy of luxury hotels, however none of their brands like Kempinski (the oldest luxury chain in the world?) or Swissotel have really ever defined new luxury developments. Design Hotels is German too and has made an impression just below the luxury mark.

Scandinavia is too egalitarian to have developed real luxury hotels, be it at home or for export.

Spanish hotel export strength is usually in the 4 star segment of Sol Melia, AC and NH.

From France we have Sofitel, however the only industry-defining product may (to a small extent) be the luxury food & heritage hotel combination of Relais & Chateau.

The most important luxury hotel innovations, completely redefining the industry in the last two decades, came IMHO from South-East-Asia, in particular from Aman and later GHM.

behuman

Thank you very much for this excellent contribution.

It is indeed the British who started the modern form of tourism. As an example in my country people feared the mountains, it was the British that climbed them first.

I disagree with you that Relais & Chateaux are not industry defining. The product was initially known as "Route du Bonheur" and started by a small guesthouse owner in Baix south of Lyon and I see here the beginning of the boutique hotel movement. Later they named themselves "Relais de Campagne" and merged with "Chateaux Hotels". Hence the origin of the brand name. Relais & Chateaux focuses increasingly on food quality and today you can find the world's leading "grand chefs" in their publication. Also they definitely keep a French / European touch which I much appreciate.

Regarding Aman, this is the higher gear indeed and points definitely towards the future. Mr Zecha is at 77 years still full of ideas, a real pleasure to talk with and I wish him much success. The uncluttered design and focus on the real needs of the guests is a strong point here.


And yes, you forgot Club Meditarrenee which really started a landslide movement of which I am not a fan.

France was, is and will always be the center of culture and good taste. Even some poster on this board choose famous French product names to show that they represent style . This honours France!

DenverBrian

One of the conundrums of the luxury hotel space is that most consumers of high luxury are also strongly averse to any connotation of a "chain" or brand. When you're spending $500 a night or more, guests want to believe that they are as unique and special as their accommodations, and that the hotel or resort is catering to them and them alone.

"Luxury brand" is somewhat of an oxymoron.

TRAVELSIG

I am not sure about that- both Aman and Four Seasons have pretty loyal followings.

TrophyCollector

I think that introducing new price levels was another major innovation in the hotel industry. I don't know who pioneered the "ultra-expensive hotel" segment (> US$ 1.000 per night minimum, even if not in downtown London-Tokyo-NewYork), but it was certainly a visionary thing to do.

Quasi-mythical early names like Huka Lodge, Frégate, Singita, Eden Roc, Villa d'Este come to mind. Travelling to those places was like bringing a trophy home.

The only "chain" that has achieved comparable "bragging rights" is Aman.


http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...mum-price.html

TRAVELSIG

I am not sure about that- in 1928, when Leading Hotels of the World began their small association, they had more than a few hotels that charged $20 USD a night: given that in 1928, a troy ounce of gold was worth $20, the similar price today would be 816 GBP.

TrophyCollector

There is an important difference between the best metropolitan hotels (at any point in history) frequented by dignitaries and businesspeople - and hotels in the countryside, on islands, in the wild, that no one needed to travel to by necessity, but they became destinations in itself.

I agree that certainly LHW was the first collection of outstanding "trophies" - unfortunately they have lost the plot

TRAVELSIG

Agreed here- there are some incredible hotels in the collection, and also some real disappointments.

jbcarioca

I hesitate to try to clarify trophyCollector because he's always thorough, but there is a needed clarification in his excellent post. Four Seasons he has placed within The United States paragraph, although he did say it was "North American". It was started by Iss Sharp, a Canadian, in Toronto in 1960 and still is based there. Four Seasons thus is Canadian, not American.

There is also CN Hotels, not always in quite the same league but still worthy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Pacific_Hotels, even though they are now part of Fairmont, thus American again http://www.fairmont.com/EN_FA/AboutFairmont/OurHistory/

Further I think the last line should have credited Peninsula (HSH) with being the real beginning of serious SEA innovation. Mandarin Oriental with roots in the Oriental Hotel Bangkok also should be mentioned, especially for their early role in bringing high standards to a branded product.

Without a doubt Aman and GMH are the class-defining products today, but both owe their existence to the Peninsula, Mandarin and Orientals before them.

Do you agree with these comments, TrophyCollector?

TrophyCollector

Yes, you are abolutely right about FS and part of Fairmont being of Canadian Heritage.

I also agree that Mandarin Oriental should been included, primarily because of the original Oriental in Bangkok. I am not so sure about the modern development of the MO Group, though. Then we would probably have to consider Shangri-La as well.

On another note, I actually think that the Costes in France deserves to be on a list of luxury hotel milestones - giving some further credit to the French. After all, the Costes was the start of fame for Philippe Starck and later for Jacques Garcia, if I remember correctly. And it co-created the sophisticated music-lounge style.

From the Costes it is only a small step to the Fasano Hotels - needless to say that to a Carioca - or Paulista

TRAVELSIG

Just to clarify- CN Hotels were bought by CP (Canadian Pacific), and CP bought bought Delta Hotels and Fairmont Hotels- they changed the name to Fairmont as extensive market research showed the name had much stronger recognition for their target clients.

DenverBrian

Hence the modifier "somewhat."

Musken

I do not think that the Aman and FS customers feel less unique and special and catered for in a very personal way compared to other luxury hotel customers. However, they might be more risk averse and more comfort seeking in terms of defining "knowing what I get" as an important element of a stay in a luxury hotel.

TrophyCollector

Yes, I agree for FS, as they pro-actively point out in their key claim: "home away from home".

Musken

In a way I agree it is more true for FS, but Amans are in another way even more extreme in terms of providing a "safe luxury experience" since they offer also lots of "Aman style excursions"; you can venture out of the hotel and experience the local culture/nature etc., but still be very certain that you will be having a luxury experience.