Small Luxury Hotels records strong 2011 figures

Small Luxury Hotels of the World has seen strong positive growth throughout 2011, the company reported earlier. In the wake of positive success stories from other luxury brands this month including Rolls Royce and Bentley, SLH has announced that year end reservations revenue has increased by 23 per cent to US$96.3 million when compared with the same period in 2010. In its 21st year of business, the brand currently enjoys a presence in more than 70 countries and comprises over 520 of the finest, small independent hotels. Further indicators of growth in 2011 include a 71 per cent increase in bookings on slh.com, with online bookings now forming 20 per cent of SLH’s business. Membership of The Club, SLH’s guest loyalty programme, is up 144 per cent with 140,000 Club Members. “We are extremely proud to report such positive trading figures for 2011, a year in which headlines around the world seemed to be dominated by the global economic crisis,” says Paul Kerr, chief executive of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. “Over the last 20 years, SLH has been transformed from a Club of hotels to a Club of customers – customers who are loyal to the brand. “The luxury hotel market has been fairly resilient in the uncertain times that we have all experienced over the years, and as with other high end brands we are being helped by strengthening emerging markets around the globe as well as established ones. “We do however need to be prepared as markets shift further in order to respond to the ever changing patterns of customer behaviour. 2012 will see SLH champion both small, luxury, independent hoteliers and independently minded customers across the globe in order to maintain our presence as one of the foremost luxury travel companies in the world.”