4 - 10 January 2001

Maltese hotel joins luxury alliance list

The Leading Hotels of the World and Relais and Chateaux, organisations which encompass the majority of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels and restaurants, have announced the formation of the Luxury Alliance.
This is not a merger or an acquisition, but a pooling of the competitive resources and advantages of both organisations. The new association aims to strengthen awareness of the two brands on an international level Jean-Jacques Gauer and Paul McManus, chairman and CEO of the Leading Hotels of the World and Regis Bulot, international President of Relais and Chateaux, announced the decision in New York.
Mr Bulot will be in Malta later this month to formally award membership of Relais and Chateaux to the Xara Palace Hotel in Mdina, which becomes the only Maltese hotel on the Luxury Alliance list.
Relais and Chateaux has 427 members in 43 countries and the Leading Hotels of the World has 340 properties in 74 countries. The strength of Relais and Chateaux lies in small but exquisite hotels with an average of 30 rooms, while the Leading Hotels of the World lists some of the world’s best-known and palatial hotels among its members. Together, as the Luxury Alliance, the two organisations represent a combined total of almost 800 of the world’s finest hotels and restaurants. The separate identity of both the Leading Hotels of the World and of Relais and Chateaux will be preserved.