In the news

"GHOTW's recently launched websites (ghotw.com and shotw.com), which will be continually updated with the latest technology is the first step to realising this vision. With user-interactivity encouraged by uploading photos and leaving hotel comments, the organisation is embracing the web as a platform to display its strengths and reach a global audience. To create a traditional hotel alliance with a new twist, GHOTW will combine continual technology and software development, high investment in consumer and digital marketing, increased sales forces and international expansion to reach their goal of becoming Hotel Alliance 3.0." Travel Daily News International, September 2008

"With the economy in Europe slowing down, Great Hotels of the World predicts some interesting changes are set to take place in the luxury travel market. There is a growing demand for luxury hotels in exotic locations to meet the ever-changing desires of European travellers. So, is South America the next big thing? According to booking statistics from ghotw.com and shotw.com, South American and Central American countries featured heavily in the top 100 looked and booked destinations since the beginning of the year. Brazil, Puerto Rico and Mexico are amongst the most popular destinations and GHOTW predicts an even stronger growth in 2009." ehotelier October 2008

"The Great Hotels of the World website is looking very Web 2.0 after its relaunch last month. Together with sister site, Great Hotels of the World it's had a complete overhaul, adding user reviews and photos, online messaging facility to talk to a booking agent, plus soon there'll be a community area for fans of the sites to converse. The site has also launched a honeymoon wedding list service, allowing couples to register their desired destination, and create an account where friends can top up their holiday fund." Times Online, October 2008

"The Meetings and Incentives Forums - the buyer/supplier networking events run by the Great Hotels of the World - are to expand into Asia and South America next year. The forums combine speed dating-style meetings with networking opportunities. Meetings and Incentives Forum managing director Richard Barnes said total meetings at this year's events had increased to 9,300 from 9,000 last year and forecast the total to rise to 16,000 in 2009." Conference & Incentive Travel, October 2008

"Great Hotels of the World (GHOTW) is set to launch a digital marketing agency, The Big Agency. According to GHOTW, a London-based luxury sales and marketing alliance, the agency will help independent luxury hotels improve visibility and achieve growing online sales, by offering tailored web strategies comprising website development, Internet marketing and offline solutions." Eyefortravel, November 2008

"After 12 years of experience on their own website development and marketing solutions, GHOTW has expanded their services to offer their expertise in the form of the Big Agency to the independent hotelier.The Big Agency will help independent luxury hotels improve visibility and achieve growing online sales, by offering tailored web strategies comprising website development, internet marketing and offline solutions." Hotels Magazine, November 2008

"Great Hotels of the World has officially launched the 2009 Meetings & Incentive Travel Collection Directory at World Travel Market this week. The latest edition of the Meetings & Incentive Travel Collection directory includes over 120 word-class hotels which offer impeccable meeting and incentive services, a wide range of facilities, fine dining and professional staff. In addition to the MICE directory, GHOTW provides a free venue-finding service for group reservations and meetings and incentive bookings." E-travel Blackboard, November 2008

"London-based luxury sales and marketing alliance, Great Hotels of the World, has appointed Robert de Leon as director of sales for North America. He will be based at the company's US office in Atlanta, Georgia. In his new role he will take full control of the growth and development of GHOTW in North America, focusing particularly on it Meeting and Incentive Forums." TravelMole, November 2008

"Great Hotels of the World, the London-based sales and marketing alliance, has announced the appointment of Jeffrey Gan as senior vice president for Asia. In this newly created role, Gan is responsible for developing the GHOTW brand and demand in Asia. He will be based at the company's Asian office in Singapore." Travel Weekly, January 2009

"Great Hotels of the World, whose family of brands include Great Hotels of the World and Great Hotels of the World achieved a record number of applications for memberships to its niche sales and marketing alliances during 2008. Since January 2008, some 372 individual hotels worldwide applied for integration into the Great Hotels of the World and Great Hotels of the World alliances - an increase of 17% from 2007. Of those applications, 33 hotels were added to the worldwide portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts. A total of 17 hotels were added to Great Hotels of the World and 16 were accepted into Great Hotels of the World. The low acceptance rate of applications demonstrates GHOTW's emphasis on quality control and specific entry requirements." Ehotelier, January 2008

"Luxury hotel groups claim they will be seeing more independent luxury properties looking to join them in 2009 in order to ride out the economic downturn. Groups such as Preferred Hotel Group and Great Hotels of the World claim they are receiving growing numbers of applications to sit under their sales and marketing umbrellas. Great Hotels of the World said it had received integration requests from almost 400 hotels in 2008, and it expected the number this year to be higher" Travel Trade Gazette February 2009.