World's Premier Luxury Hospitality Association creates national global standard for judging best hotels in the luxury category.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. yesterday announced the winners of the Second Annual Commitment to Quality Awards during its 2003 International Convention, held in London, November 7-9, 2003.

As the world's foremost authority for grading and inspecting hotels, Leading established the Commitment to Quality Awards last year as the benchmark for global luxury standards in the hospitality industry.

These prestigious awards recognize Leading Hotels and Leading Small Hotels in six regions: Africa/Middle East, Asia, Europe, Mexico/Caribbean, North America and South America. The winners are those properties which achieved the highest scores during their most recent Leading Hotels' impartial, anonymous inspections.

At the presentation in London, a special award was also given to the hotel that achieved the highest inspection score overall.

The awards, which objectively measure the hotels from the traveler's perspective, are based solely on the results of stringent inspections by Leading Quality Assurance, a joint venture company of The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., providing full-service inspection services and assessment programs. With more than 1,500 criteria, these inspection reports are the most comprehensive in the luxury industry.

Welf Ebeling, Executive Vice President and COO of The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. said, "While there is a plethora of awards in the luxury hospitality sector, this accolade is becoming the benchmark for global standards in judging the truly best hotels in the world."

"Our organization represents diverse properties, yet all are harmonious in their uncompromising standards and goals for guest satisfaction. Leading's criteria are the highest in the industry and this significant award acknowledges the hotels' achievements and their evolution to meet the high demands of the upscale business and leisure traveler," he continued.

Over the past three years, The Leading Hotels of the World. Ltd. has inspected and reinspected all of its member hotels, also visiting hundreds of non-member hotels applying for membership. This broad first-hand knowledge enables the Leading inspectors to set specific criteria, establishing rigorous standards.

The winners of the 2003 Commitment to Quality Awards are:

Africa/Middle East
Emirates Towers Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Banyan Tree Seychelles, Mahe, Republic of Seychelles

Asia
The Peninsula, Bangkok, Thailand
The Datai, Langkawi, Malaysia

Europe
Baur au Lac, Zurich, Switzerland
One Aldwych, London, England*

Mexico/Caribbean
One&Only Ocean Club Paradise Island, Bahamas
Paraiso de la Bonita & Thalasso, Cancun, Mexico*

North America
The Peninsula, New York, New York
Wheatleigh, Lenox, Massachusetts*

South America
Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru*

Highest Score Overall
The Datai, Langkawi, Malaysia*

(* denotes a Leading Small Hotel)