Small Luxury Hotels of the World has reported record growth for 2011 thanks to online sales and emerging markets.
The sales and marketing company, which looks after 520 hotels in more than 70 countries, recorded a 23% increase in revenue from reservations, bringing total revenue up to $96.3million.
Online bookings, which now comprise 20% of the company’s business, were up 71% from last year while there has been a 24% surge in visitors to the site.
The company also reported that the top five customer source markets of the year were the US, UK, Germany, Australia and Canada, but Brazil and Singapore showed the most promising signs of growth.
Chief executive officer Paul Kerr said: “The luxury hotel market has been fairly resilient in the uncertain times that we have all experienced over the years, and as with other high end brands we are being helped by strengthening emerging markets around the globe as well as established ones.
“We do however need to be prepared as markets shift further in order to respond to the ever changing patterns of customer behaviour.”