How To Become A Leading Hotel

Excellence in the art of hotel keeping is the cornerstone of The Leading Hotels of the World brand. It is our most cherished and protected value.

Hotels seeking membership with The Leading Hotels of the World or The Leading Small Hotels of the World must apply for admission, as the organization does not solicit new members. All Leading Hotels must operate in a manner consistent with the standards that are generally understood and accepted within the industry as "five-star" or "superior deluxe".

From among the applications submitted by prospective hotels, a limited number are chosen to undergo the next phase of the acceptance process - a rigorous inspection of the property, its facilities and guest services performed on an incognito basis by Leading Quality Assurance. The property must meet all of The Leading Hotels of the World's exacting Global Luxury Standards with respect to accommodations, service, cuisine and features.

Following the inspection process, reports are filed with the Executive Committee whose members then vote for acceptance or rejection. To ensure ongoing compliance with The Leading Hotels of the World's Global Luxury Standards, each member is re-inspected at least twice during the term of its three-year contract. Hotels are presented with a comprehensive report of the inspector's findings, providing a benchmarking tool for training and future inspections.

Members, as well as other luxury brands, may retain Leading Quality Assurance on an à la carte basis to measure their own quality assurance issues and to ensure a timely review of the standards required to maintain membership in The Leading Hotels of the World and The Leading Small Hotels of the World.