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.