Preferred Hotels & Resorts

That’s a wrap on the 2026 Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference in Charleston.    Our time together concluded with an unforgettable gala, as our global community gathered for an evening of celebration at The Cooper. From live performances to remarks from CEO Lindsey Ueberroth and President Michelle Woodley, the night was a glittering tribute to the independent spirit that defines hospitality excellence.   Surrounded by member hotels and partners from around the world, it was a beautiful moment to honor independence, share stories, and celebrate the passion that unites our community.   Sincere thanks to our sponsors and alliance partners for their continued collaboration, and to our host hotels, The Charleston Place, The Cooper, and Hotel Bennett, for providing such a remarkable setting for our time together.   Thank you to everyone who journeyed to Charleston and helped make this final evening, and the week as a whole, so meaningful.   #ThePreferredLife #ProudlyPreferred

Celebrating excellence across our global portfolio.   It was a privilege to recognize this year’s honorees of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Awards of Excellence, celebrating member hotels and leaders whose dedication, distinction, and commitment to exceptional guest experiences continue to set the standard for independent hospitality.   These remarkable hotels reflect the diversity, individuality, and spirit that define #ThePreferredLife, inspiring travelers around the world through thoughtful service, strong engagement, and enduring quality. Please join us in congratulating the 2026 Awards of Excellence recipients: New Hotel of the Year City Center: Al Habtoor Palace Budapest, The Newman New Hotel of the Year Resort: DAS EDELWEISS Salzburg Mountain Resort Hotel of the Year United States and Canada: Brenton Hotel Hotel of the Year Asia and Pacific: Hotel New Otani Tokyo The Main, Hotel New Otani Tokyo Executive House Zen Hotel of the Year Europe: The Grand, York Hotel of the Year India Middle East and Africa: The Leela Palace Jaipur Hotel of the Year Mexico Central and South America: Entre Cielos | Wine & Wellness Hotel I Prefer Hotel of the Year: The Londoner Hotel Shiji ReviewPro Reputation Award for Online Reputation Excellence: XV Beacon Hotel Hotel of the Year Overall: Shutters on the Beach   We are proud to celebrate the leadership, passion, and purpose these honorees bring to our global community of independent hotels.   #ProudlyPreferred #ThePreferredLife

Introducing Preferred Wellbeing, a new global designation recognizing hotels that inspire renewal, balance, and reconnection through transformative wellness experiences.   Preferred Wellbeing celebrates a curated selection of more than 50 member hotels and resorts that go beyond traditional spa offerings to deliver immersive journeys of wellbeing shaping the future of wellness travel.    Informed by insights from The Luxury Travel Report by Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the launch reflects a clear shift in traveler priorities. Today’s luxury traveler increasingly seeks restorative experiences that support mental clarity, longevity, and meaningful reconnection. Wellness is no longer an amenity, but a defining dimension of the guest journey.   Guided by a structured evaluation framework, Preferred Wellbeing ensures credibility and consistency across its portfolio, with participating hotels assessed against five core pillars of wellbeing and twelve defined criteria.    With Preferred Wellbeing, we continue our commitment to innovation and individuality within independent hospitality, offering travelers a trusted guide to hotels where wellbeing is thoughtfully woven into every stay.   We look forward to sharing this new chapter in wellness travel with you.   Explore Preferred Wellbeing: https://lnkd.in/eTxjfqch.   #ThePreferredLife #ProudlyPreferred

It was a privilege to recognize and celebrate our member hotels honored with the GIFTTS Pineapple Awards during the 2026 Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference. Grounded in the belief that meaningful action creates lasting impact, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, together with the Ueberroth family, established GIFTTS: Great Initiatives for Today’s (Tomorrow's) Society. The program honors hotels and teams whose commitment to philanthropy, environmental stewardship, and community engagement reflects the values at the heart of independent hospitality. Please join us in congratulating this year’s honorees for their remarkable contributions: GIFTTS Pineapple Award for Philanthropy: The Alfond Inn at Rollins GIFTTS Pineapple Award for Sustainability: Post Ranch Inn, The President Hotel GIFTTS Pineapple Award for Overall Hotel: Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin GIFTTS Pineapple Award for Overall Corporate Entity: Grupo Xcaret (Hotel Xcaret Arte and Hotel Xcaret Mexico) GIFTTS Pineapple Award for Legacy Leadership: Wynn Resorts, Limited We are proud to celebrate the passion, purpose, and leadership these hotels bring to our global community. #ProudlyPreferred #GIFTTS #ThePreferredLife

We’re delighted to welcome our global community to Charleston as the 2026 Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference begins. Opening with a thoughtful general session led by our CEO, Lindsey Ueberroth, the week set an intentional tone before unfolding into an evening gathering at the American Gardens in a celebratory setting.   In a destination where the pineapple has long symbolized welcome and gracious hospitality, it feels especially fitting to come together here. Rooted in Charleston’s heritage and an enduring emblem of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the pineapple reflects generosity, care, and the intention at the heart of independent hospitality.   Set beneath the glow of the evening, the celebration offered a meaningful moment to reconnect, reflect on the days ahead, and share in the collective energy of peers and partners from around the world.   Thank you to everyone who has journeyed to join us in Charleston. We look forward to the stories, conversations, and moments that will unfold in the days ahead.   #ThePreferredLife #ProudlyPreferred

We are grateful to our Alliance Partners and Sponsors for joining us at the 2026 Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference and for the spirit of collaboration they bring to our global community.   Rooted in a shared commitment to independent hospitality, these relationships help elevate the conversations, perspectives, and experiences that shape the week, and ultimately support how our hotels serve guests around the world.   Thank you for your partnership, your vision, and your continued collaboration in advancing independent hospitality and enriching the guest experience globally.   #ThePreferredLife #ProudlyPreferred

Ahead of the 2026 Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference, we shared a meaningful moment in Charleston alongside Clubhouse Crew.   We’re grateful to our partners at KLH Group, a Charleston‑based team whose thoughtful approach to event production and social impact helped bring this moment to life. Their commitment to creating meaningful experiences that give back to the community made this day especially impactful.   Together, we helped build a lasting space designed for imagination, play, and time shared as a family. Alongside the build itself, the focus was on fostering connection and honoring legacy through something created to be enjoyed together for years to come. In a city where welcome and generosity are deeply rooted, this experience reflected the heart of Southern hospitality in its purest form.   We’re grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to make this moment possible.   #ThePreferredLife #ProudlyPreferred

In just a few days, we’ll welcome our global community of independent hoteliers, alliance partners and sponsors, VIP clients, and industry leaders to South Carolina for the 2026 Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference. Rooted in rich history, cultural charm, and renowned Southern hospitality, Charleston offers the perfect backdrop for meaningful connection, shared learning, and the conversations that unite us in purpose and passion for independent hospitality. Follow along as we gather, connect, and celebrate the power of independent hospitality together. #ThePreferredLife #ProudlyPreferred

We are proud to recognize Greg Smith, Senior Vice President, People & Community, on being honored as the 2026 HR Thought Leader at the Cornell 20th Anniversary HR & Hospitality Conference. This recognition speaks to Greg’s enduring commitment to people and community, both within Preferred Hotels & Resorts and across the broader travel industry. His leadership continues to shape how organizations lead with care, cultivate meaningful culture, and keep the human side of hospitality at the center of progress. We are grateful for the perspective, purpose, and impact Greg brings to our community every day. Please join us in congratulating him on this well‑deserved and meaningful achievement. #ProudlyPreferred #ThePreferredLife #BelieveInTravel

We were honored to be invited to a special town hall marking forty years of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, a milestone that reflects an extraordinary legacy in global hospitality. President Michelle Woodley, Saurabh Rai, EVP, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, and Seema (Kapur) Roy, Area Managing Director, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, joined the celebration at The Leela Mumbai, reflecting on four decades of craftsmanship, cultural reverence, and uncompromising service, while looking ahead to what comes next. The Leela stands as a defining expression of true Indian luxury, shaping how Indian hospitality is experienced and admired around the world. As this remarkable brand enters its next chapter, we celebrate a journey defined by authenticity, heritage, and an enduring sense of place. Our sincere thanks to The Leela team for welcoming us into this meaningful celebration and for the continued partnership built on shared values and mutual respect. #ProudlyPreferred #TheLeela #TrueIndianLuxury