Saurabh Rai, Executive Vice President for South Asia, Middle East & Africa at Preferred Hotels & Resorts, states, “As we continue to grow in India and globally, our commitment to delivering exceptional luxury experiences remains at the core of everything we do. Our recent expansion in the Indian market, with the appointment of key leadership and a strong regional portfolio, is a testament to our dedication to offering unparalleled service and innovative solutions for both our guests and industry partners.”
Seema Roy, Area Managing Director for South Asia, Middle East & Africa at Preferred Hotels & Resorts, adds, “We are witnessing exciting growth for the brand, particularly with our new hotel openings and the expansion of our elite Legend Collection. Our focus is on curating unique, memorable experiences that reflect the highest standards of luxury and personalization.”
NEWS FROM PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS INCLUDES:
PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS STRENGTHENS LEADERSHIP AND EXPANDS HOTEL PORTFOLIO IN INDIA: Preferred Hotels & Resorts has announced a major expansion of its leadership team and hotel portfolio in India, highlighting the appointment of Bharat Ratanpal as Director of Business Development, along with Mayank Tuteja and Shakun Khandelwal in new sales roles. These strategic hires, under the leadership of Saurabh Rai, Executive Vice President for South Asia, aim to strengthen the brand’s regional presence. The company has also expanded its presence in India with an impressive portfolio of 26 member hotels including 11 luxurious properties from The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts. This marks a milestone of 16 successful years of partnership with the prestigious brand. In 2024, the portfolio welcomed five exciting new additions including The Leela Gandhinagar (L.V.X. Collection), two standout properties from Aurika Hotels & Resorts: Aurika, Udaipur – Luxury by Lemon Tree Hotels and Aurika, Mumbai Skycity (Lifestyle Collection), The Resort Mumbai (Lifestyle Collection), from the Chalet Hotels’ portfolio, and Kinwani House by Aalia Collection (Lifestyle Collection) in Rishikesh, further supporting the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional, innovative experiences for its partners and guests across the region.
- HOT NEW OPENINGS 2025: Preferred Hotels & Resorts continues to celebrate the most exciting new independent hotels, resorts, and residences opening up around the world, with highlights for the end of 2024 and into 2025 including Peter Island Resort (Legend Collection), a treasured Caribbean private island hideaway which opened in December 2024 in the British Virgin Islands; The Newman (Legend Collection) launching in London, United Kingdom in September 2025 with extensive wellness facilities. Additional highlights for summer 2025 include Royal Hideaway Corales Villas (L.V.X. and Residence Collections) in Tenerife, Spain; ÓROS Luxury Beach Resort (L.V.X. Collection) in Crete, Greece; and Romègas Hotel (L.V.X. Collection) in Valletta, Malta.
- NEW HOTEL ADDITIONS: Between January 1 and December 31, 2024, Preferred Hotels & Resorts welcomed over 80 new member properties to its global portfolio of luxury independent hotels. Highlights, as part of the largest year of growth since 2019, include Al Habtoor Palace Dubai (Legend Collection), a decadent escape in Dubai; Only YOU Hotel Sevilla (L.V.X. Collection) a boutique-style stay in southern Spain and Hotel Mousai Cancun – A Tafer Resort (L.V.X. Collection), an adults-only resort in Mexico, both of which opened in 2024. Additional highlights include AJWA Cappadocia (Legend Collection) in Ürgüp, Turkey; CordeValle (L.V.X. Collection) in San Martin, California; Farol Hotel (L.V.X. Collection) in Cascais, Portugal; SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge (L.V.X. Collection) in Bahia Drake, Costa Rica; Das Achental (L.V.X. Collection) in Grassau, Germany; Grand Hotel Courmayeur Mont Blanc (L.V.X Collection) in Courmayeur, Italy.
- LEGEND COLLECTION EXPANSION: Preferred Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to announce that its prestigious Legend Collection now exceeds 100 member properties, reinforcing its reputation as the luxury brand of choice for independent hotels worldwide. Iconic properties in the collection include The Mark (New York, U.S.), Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur, U.S.), The Beaumont Mayfair (London, U.K.), The Leela Palace Udaipur (Udaipur, India), and Passalacqua (Lake Como, Italy). New additions to the Collection in 2025 include Al Habtoor Palace Budapest (Budapest, Hungary), Armani Hotel Milano (Milan, Italy), Andronis Luxury Suites (Santorini, Greece), and Das Edelweiss Salzburg Mountain Resort (Grossarl, Austria). Additionally, Preferred Hotels & Resorts formed a strategic partnership with Virgin Limited Edition. This collaboration brings several exclusive retreats to the Legend Collection, including Mont Rochelle (Franschhoek, South Africa), Necker Island (Necker Island, British Virgin Islands), The Lodge (Verbier, Switzerland), and Son Bunyola Hotel & Villas (Mallorca, Spain), to name a few.
- LIVE LIKE A LEGEND CAMPAIGN: Preferred Hotels & Resorts introduced its Live Like a Legend campaign at the end of 2024, an exclusive offering of unparalleled, one-of-a-kind experiences from the most coveted luxury hotels around the globe. These bespoke journeys provide discerning travelers with unforgettable adventures and personalized services in extraordinary accommodations and iconic destinations. Each experience, offered by prestigious Legend Collection hotels and resorts, reflects the ultimate in luxury and refinement, with flawless service, world-renowned dining, and world-class wellness amenities. These ultimate experiences include Live Like the Ultimate Londoner at The Londoner; Singapore Splendor at Artyzen Singapore; Timeless Coastal Perfection at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, California; The Art Immersion Experience at Hotel Casa del Mar, Santa Monica, California; The Music City Getaway at The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee; and The Lone Mountain Luxury Escape at Montage Big Sky, Montana.
- PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS INTRODUCES TRAVEL ADVISOR PORTAL: Preferred Hotels & Resorts has launched its new Travel Advisor Portal, a user-friendly platform designed to support travel professionals with a suite of tools for managing bookings, commissions, and more. Offering priority access to over 600 luxury properties worldwide, the portal allows advisors to make reservations, view exclusive offers, track performance metrics, and access detailed rate quotes and guest amenities. It also features a comprehensive knowledge base, including information on the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program and sustainability initiatives. Additionally, Preferred Platinum agents benefit from enhanced booking options and exclusive features like Small Social Group Requests for up to 15 rooms. For more information and to register for the portal, visit TA.PreferredHotels.com. Additionally, travel advisors and agents can still book client stays via GDS using the “PH” and “PV” chain codes.
Many of these member hotels participate in I Prefer Hotel Rewards, the brand’s points-based loyalty program with 5 million travelers enrolled globally. Complimentary to join, members of I Prefer earn points redeemable for cash-value Reward Certificates, Titanium status, and other value-rich benefits from eligible stays at over 600 participating hotels and resorts worldwide. Travelers seeking memorable independent hotel experiences are invited to sign up at IPrefer.com/enroll.
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