The Los Angeles Times Everyone likes validation. The world is full of marketers trying to catch the attention of big spenders. Here is a survey of four leading luxury groups. It began with 38 members, including the Savoy in London and the Mena House in Cairo. It is based in New York and claims 340 hotels in 68 countries.
Applicant hotels face inspection by two professional hoteliers.
Later, an executive committee votes. Hotels must pass two unannounced inspections every three years. The group is 32 years old and includes 115 hotels in 25 countries. Three member hotels were dropped for failing to meet standards. With headquarters in Paris, it traces its roots to 1954, when eight hoteliers along the Paris-Nice road got together to market themselves jointly.