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Why Big Isn't Necessarily Better

by Filip Boyen, CEO of Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Video and photos by Chino Sardea & Alaric Poh
27 Jun 2017

Filip Boyen makes a case for small luxury accommodations — whether it's a boutique hotel in Tokyo or a quaint chateau in France

We have over 500 hotels in 80 countries — with an average of just 48 rooms — under Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), and qualifying to join is not quite simple. We have about 900 applications a year, but only accept around 5%. These small hotels could be in city centers or the countryside, but what we require is that they’re independent, different, and with lots of character. Guests love it when they are recognized and greeted by the hotel owner or a general manager that is funny or extravagant, making the experience exciting and authentic.

When partnering with a hotel, we need to know that the owner’s vision is in line with ours as we are not interested in a short-term relationship. If we sign on a hotel, we want it to be for the long run, so it’s important that the hotel owner is interested in joining SLH for the right reasons and to have the quality stamp of SLH on their door.

In turn, we support hotels under SLH in areas like distribution, sales, public relations, digital marketing, and more. To be honest, a small chateau in France won’t have the financial means to have sales representation in New York, China, or Singapore, and that’s what we provide them with. And when a travel agency looks at the hotels that are available at a destination, they prefer to book an SLH hotel, due to the prestige associated with it.

"When partnering with a hotel, we need to know that the owner’s vision is in line with ours as we are not interested in a short-term relationship. If we sign on a hotel, we want it to be for the long run." - Filip Boyen

Today, we are expanding our presence in Asia, with properties in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and China. This growth allows customers from around the region to indulge in the unique brand of luxury only small properties can provide, especially since a lot of promising travel destinations are here, with the addition of up-and-coming places like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and various islands for a real holiday experience.


For more information on Small Luxury Hotels of the World, click here

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