Leading Hotels of the World Announces New Members in August 2009

Situated in Madrid's sophisticated neighborhood of Salamanca, between Paseo De La Castellana and Serrano Street, Hotel Villa Magna is within walking distance of the Prado. Completely renovated in 2008, the 150-room hotel offers guests refined accommodations and the latest technological amenities. Basque cuisine is served in Villa Magna by Eneko Atxa restaurant, while Tse Yang specializes in Cantonese fare. For cocktails and socializing, The Lounge and Magnum Bar are welcoming venues. Guests are invited to relax in the El Club fitness area. A variety of meeting facilities can accommodate groups of up to 450 people.

Launched in July, The Elysian is located in Chicago's prestigious Gold Coast neighborhood, close to the legendary shopping meccas of Michigan Avenue and Oak Street. Designed by Lucien Legrange, the hotel has 39 rooms and 149 suites, richly appointed with fireplaces, furnished outdoor terraces and urban kitchens. The elite culinary team of Mindy Segal and Jason McLeod create exceptional American cuisine, in both the signature and all-day casual restaurants, while Bernard’s Bar offers premium cocktails and light fare. In addition to a 14,000-square-foot spa and health club, the hotel has 4,500 square feet of function space. Guests enjoy the added convenience of flexible 24-hour check-in/check-out upon request.

A New York City icon since the late 1920s, The Mark – located on Manhattan's tony Upper East Side – will soon open its doors to welcome guests of the 21st century. The hotel has undergone a complete renovation and redesign, overseen by legendary designer Jacques Grange, and now features 100 rooms and 50 suites, fitted with state-of-the-art technology and top-of-the-line amenities. Equally outstanding dining facilities will include Mark’s Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark’s Bar. Guests will also have the added convenience of an on-site fitness center and the services of the Frederic Fekkai Salon at The Mark.

The Tivoli Sao Paulo – Mofarrej is located at the heart of the Jardins district, one of the most important business areas of the city. A sleek, contemporary property, it has 185 rooms and 35 suites, each handsomely appointed and providing today’s requisite levels of sophisticated in-room technology. International fare is served in Vintetres Restaurant and Lounge, with more relaxed meals available in Bistro Tivoli. The trendy and stylish Nara Bar offers lively music to accompany its creative cocktails. Relaxation options include a fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool and an Elements Spa by Banyan Tree. Meetings and conferences of up to 600 people are easily accommodated.

Opening in late 2009, Royal Spa Kitzbühel is located in an elegant ski resort in one of Austria’s most beautiful regions, famous for its breathtaking natural beauty. The hotel’s 123 rooms and 32 suites are designed in light Tyrolean style and feature private terraces, walk-in closets, and marble bathrooms with heated floors. The main à la carte restaurant is divided into five different areas, each with its own character. The cigar lounge and the chimney bar serve as ideal meeting venues. For relaxation there are indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a 2,000-square-meter spa and a golf academy. Meeting facilities can accommodate up to 400 participants.

Rocco Forte The Augustine is located in the picturesque Mala Strana district of Prague, close to the Charles Bridge, the Wallenstein Garden and Prague Castle. Incorporating seven historic buildings, the oldest of which dates back to the 13th century, the stunning hotel features 101 rooms and suites. Affording views overlooking the city, the monastery courtyard or Prague Castle, each room features a writing desk, in-room bar, snack basket, flat-screen television, high-speed Internet access, and marble bathroom with heated floors. In the Monastery restaurant, guests can enjoy a varied European brasserie menu. The Brewery Bar serves Czech-style tapas and specialty microbrews, while Tom's Bar offers tea service, cocktails, and live music. The hotel also has a health fitness center, meeting rooms for up to 130 people, and a wedding chapel.

The recently opened One&Only Cape Town, comprises 91 rooms and suites in a crescent-shaped tower and an additional 40 on two private islands at the center of the waterfront. Guest accommodations feature multimedia entertainment systems, Nespresso machines, MP3 docking stations and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Dining options include Gordon Ramsay’s maze and internationally acclaimed Nobu, while the lobby lounge and bar provide amazing views of Table Mountain. In addition to a free-form, infinity-edge pool, there is a fully equipped fitness center and a spa with treatment rooms for single and couple therapies, sauna, steam room, and two vitality pools. The KidsOnly program welcomes children aged four to 11 years.

Due to open in November 2009 is the Kameha Grand Bonn. Conceived as one of the largest geothermal facilities in Europe, its state-of-the-art technology makes the hotel largely emission-free. It is located on the banks of the Rhine near the city center with a picturesque view of the Siebengebirge mountain range. All 190 guest rooms and 59 suites feel open and generous, and are appointed with luxurious furnishings and modern fixtures with interiors designed by Marcel Wanders. Hotel dining options include the Brasserie Next Level and the Sushi Bar of the Elysion Lounge; in addition to four distinct bars serving fine wines by the glass. For relaxation, the Kameha Spa and Power House Fitness with heated roof-top infinity pool, sauna, steam bath, offers massages and beauty treatments.

Set across 230 hectares of olive groves and countryside, the new Rocco Forte Verdura Golf and Spa Resort is situated on the coast of Sicily, close to Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples. Spacious guestrooms enjoy sea views and private balconies or terraces, while suites boast outdoor courtyard spaces and large terraces overlooking the Mediterranean. A 4,000-square-meter Verdura Spa offers 11 treatment rooms, a terrace for outdoor treatments, relaxation area, spacious fully equipped gym, covered swimming pool, thalassotherapy pools, hammam, experience showers and sauna. There is also a dedicated kids club for 4-12 year olds.

The Leading Small Hotels of the World has added the following properties to its roster:

Opened in July, Hotel Le Gray is situated in the historic center of Beirut, within walking distance of major museums, cultural attractions, restaurants and nightlife. The ultra-modern edifice, with 12 rooms and 75 suites, affords its guests impressive views of the Mediterranean and the hills of Mount Lebanon. Guest accommodations, designed by owner Gordon Campbell Gray and Mary Fox Linton have a cool, contemporary aesthetic, and state-of-the-art technological amenities. The hotel offers diverse and sophisticated restaurant options, including Gordon’s Café for all-day dining, Indigo on the Roof, Bar 360 with live music and DJs, and Le Cigare, the cigar lounge serving cocktails and wines by the glass. For relaxation there is Le Gray Spa with six treatment rooms, a rooftop swimming pool, and a gymnasium. The hotel also has a small boardroom for up to 12.

Opened in mid-May, Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat is located between Nice and Monaco, at the tip of the Cap-Ferrat peninsula, facing the Mediterranean. Set in a private 17-acre estate with pine trees and flowers, the hotel has been entirely renovated and redecorated by Pierre-Yves Rochon and offers 49 rooms and 24 suites, eight of which have private plunge pools. Restaurants include the gastronomic Le Cap, with one Michelin Star; the Club-Dauphin; and the Veranda, for all-day dining. There is also an 8,500-square-foot spa with indoor swimming pool, fitness center, Jacuzzi, saunas, steam rooms and spa gardens, as well as a supervised kids' club.

With just 39 rooms and suites, La Residence de la Pinède is located on the seafront in St. Tropez. This stylish, intimate hotel, surrounded by magnificent maritime pine trees, offers a serene, discreet retreat on the bustling Côte d'Azur. Guests enjoy award-winning cuisine in the restaurant, which serves classic recipes with Mediterranean accents. Boasting its own private beach, the hotel also features an infinity-edge swimming pool and a private dock. For added convenience, there is a shuttle to and from the village of St. Tropez.

The recently opened,Hotel et Ryads Naoura Barrière is situated in the heart of the Medina in Marrakech, Morocco. Just steps from Jemaa Al Fna Square, the hotel is surrounded by a five-acre walled garden, offering seclusion and serenity. Each of the 85 suites has a private terrace overlooking the pool. Dining options include Fouquet's Marrakech, for French cuisine; and Wardya, for gourmet fare at poolside. Both are complemented by Nuphar, the hotel’s bar and lounge. For recreation, there is a fitness center, spa, outdoor pool and a kids’ club. Meeting facilities can accommodate up to 80 people.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing more than 450 of the world's finest hotels, resorts and spas, and is the operator of www.lhw.com and www.lhwspas.com – the online sources for your luxury lifestyle. As the largest international luxury hotel brand, the firm maintains offices in 24 major markets across the globe. Since 1928, the company’s reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering hundreds of meticulous criteria spanning from product to behavioral standards. This set of standards is the most stringent in the industry.