October 11, 2011
A mix of upscale chains and independent boutique hotels comprised Luxury-Hotels.com's list of top 30 most expensive hotels that examined whether or not the high price points are worth the experience.
The independent Maia Luxury Resort and Spa came in No. 1 at $2,445 per night, with none of the hotels on the list going less than $1,000 a night. The survey was based on average rates for a double room from June 1-Aug. 31 this year.
“What we’ve learned when the recession hit is just because you are paying a lot of money, it doesn’t mean it is quality,” said Albert Herrera, vice president of hotels, destinations and tours at Virtuoso, New York.
“It is not about the price anymore,” he said. “It’s about the quality, the craftsmanship in a hotel and the service aspect of it.”
Mr. Herrera is not affiliated with Luxury-Hotels.com, but agreed to comment as a third-party luxury travel expert.
Luxury-hotels.com did not respond by press deadline.
Suite escapes
The leading Maia Luxury Resort and Spa, located in Anse Louis, Seychelles, is not one of the high-cost, low-gain hotels described by Mr. Herrera.
As part of a guest’s stay at the most expensive resort in the world, she receives a personally appointed butler for the duration of her stay.
Additionally, the Maia is consists entirely of private villas that all contain infinity pools and private outdoor gazebos.
Coming in second place was Starwood’s Luxury Collection Hotel Pitrizza in Porto Cervo, Italy where rooms cost an average of $2,335 a night.
The Hotel Pitrizza guest experience includes a private beach, a natural saltwater pool, a golf course and the hotel’s private boutique designed by Italian jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Luxury Collection also took fourth place with its Hotel Cala di Volpe property, also located in Porto Cervo, Italy, which goes for about $2,286 per night.
Hotelier Relais & Châteaux were responsible for two of the hotels on the list with its Grand Hotel de Cala Rossa property in Corsica, France and the Le Taha’a Resort and Spa in French Polynesia, which cost $1,450 and $1,152 per night, respectively.
A look at the Relais & Châteaux Grand Hotel de Cala Rossa
The Grand Hotel de la Cala Rossa is located along the Corsican beaches where guests can enjoy horseback riding, mud baths and water activities.
Additionally, the Le Taha’a Resort and Spa consists entirely of over-the-water suites and villas in the Taha'a lagoon.
Four Seasons had two of its properties on the top 30 list.
The Four Seasons Resort Province in Tourettes, France costs $1,168 a night and the Hotel George V in Paris goes for $1,150 a night.
The Province in Tourettes is located amidst medieval villages and vineyards and also features two year-round golf courses designed by former professional golfer Dave Thomas.
The Hotel George V contains an outdoor dining terrace with views of the Eiffel Tower as well as a whirlpool surrounded by Parisian-style gardens.
The Jumeirah Hotel Group also had numerous holdings in the list, including the Jumeirah Dhevanafushi in the Maldives, the Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Vittavelli in the Maldives which range in price from $1,345 to $2,106.
The Jumeirah Vittavelli features lagoon or beachfront suites and villas that contain features such as rooftop terraces, outdoor showers and private pools.
Meanwhile, the Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, also located in the Maldives, comprises all over-the-water villas.
Behind the price
Noticeably, the only U.S. hotel that made the list was the Skylofts at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The majority of the hotels were located in Italy, Australia, France, the Maldives and Seychelles.
Indeed, three of the top 10 most expensive hotels can be found in Porto Cervo, Italy.
However, price is not always equivalent with luxury, per Mr. Herrera.
A hotel can receive luxury status only when it provides its guests with high-class service and amenities.
“A luxury hotel, to me, is a place that caters to the needs of different travelers’ demands,” Mr. Herrera said.
To do this, a luxury hotel needs to acknowledge and adapt to the changing needs of its guests, no matter how old or enriched in heritage the hotel may be.
For example, it is necessary for a luxury hotel today to provide free, high-speed Internet for its affluent guests, per Mr Herrera.
Indeed, most luxury travelers today have as many as three devices with them – a laptop, a tablet and a smartphone.
Overall, a luxury hotel must create a comfortable experience and one that its guests cannot find anywhere else.
“They must not forget the basics – it’s all about service [and] about knowing the different needs of each individual traveler staying with you,” Mr. Herrera said.
“You need to be able to offer guests a variety of options and information that they would want know,” he said.
“All these little things add up to being able to cater to the changing needs of today’s traveler.”
Final Take
Kayla Hutzler, editorial assistant on Luxury Daily, New York
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