Foreword
Our aim
For decades, luxury hospitality has been sorted by brand, rating and award. Travellers, however, do not pick a hotel merely for the brand behind it or the number of stars it holds. They pick it for a feeling they are after — an atmosphere, a particular way of experiencing a place.
One journey asks for timeless elegance, another for privacy. Some draw on wellness; others on architecture, culture, fashion or design.
The Collection System brings these different expressions of hospitality into one editorial framework.
Rather than rating hotels, we classify luxury experiences. We do not tell travellers which hotel is best; our aim is to help them see which hotel suits their journey.
We do not classify hotels.
Our task is to help people choose the luxury experience that is right for them.
Introduction
The Collection System
Never before has luxury hospitality offered so much choice.
Historic grand hotels now sit alongside contemporary architectural landmarks. Private island resorts vie with wellness retreats in the city. Independent, family-run institutions appear on the same stage as the best-known international brands.
For travellers, this abundance brings a new difficulty: how do you choose the right house?
Traditional classifications seldom provide the answer. Stars describe facilities; awards recognise excellence; brands promise consistency. Yet not one of them fully conveys the emotional experience a particular hotel or resort holds in store.
The Collection System was developed to close this gap. It orders luxury hospitality by experience — not by hierarchy.
This philosophy is the foundation of every collection in this volume.
- Part I — Principles of the Collections
- Part II — Hotel Collections
Palace Hotels of France · Luxury Hotels · Fashion Hotels · Boutique Hotels · Historical Hotels · Lifestyle Hotels
- Part III — Resort Collections
Private Island Resorts · Private Resorts · Wellness Resorts · Fashion Resorts · Luxury Resorts · Lifestyle Resorts