‘Elite Traveler’ is a magazine for precisely those described in the title. As the editor states in the magazine, the readers do not see money as an issue worth worrying about at all. Instead, their aims involve prestige and experiencing the best. In an age where budget airlines are the most popular and competition amongst travel organisations is huge in terms of offering the best price, it is worthy of interest to take a look at the elite layer of the worldwide tourism industry for a short while. Last year the magazine came up with the world’s most expensive hotels, in its study of the 101 most interesting resorts. Naturally, price served only as an incentive rather than a minus point.
Despite the current trend toward 'staycations' for much of the population, the Super-Rich continue to traverse the globe on private jets, experiencing the best the world has to offer in terms of hotel and resort accommodations, shopping, and living the private jet lifestyle. Elite Traveler readers average 41 trips per year, including 10 intercontinental trips.
The world’s most expensive hotel is the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva in Switzerland, where one of the luxury suites will set you back $52,000 per night. The Geneva luxury is closely followed by the Grand Resort Lagonissi in Attica, Greece which charges an average of $50,000 per night. The bronze medalist for having the highest price is some way behind, in France at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome charging a mere $21,000 per night.
In the USA, the most expensive hotel is the Ty Warner Penthouse Four Seasons Hotel in New York, which sets visitors back $30,000 per night. In Asia, the two most expensive hotels are to be found in Delhi, India. In a land tortured by disease and poverty, it is possible to find accommodation for $5,000 per day in the capital. The next most expensive accommodation available in Asia is to be found in Malaysia.
The magazine ‘Elite Traveler’ strives to visit and review these luxurious locations for the benefit of readers who see spending huge amounts of money on hotels to be a positive aspect of holiday time.
"We keep track of all luxury properties that are opening and renovating and visit them throughout the year," says Editorial Director Laura Hughes. "Our readers spend more than $400,000 per year at hotels and resorts, so price isn't an issue to them – we just want to alert them to the most unique design styles, best services, and new amenities in the most amazing locations, whatever the price."
"101 Top Suites" was compiled by the editors of Elite Traveler and a panel of celebrity readers including Barry Manilow, Lindsay Davenport, Sean Combs, and Kelly Ripa.