Peter Gould, CEO of the Great Hotels Organisation, commented, "Our expansion into the Asia Pacific region marks a considerable development for the Great Hotels Organisation and its member hotels.  Not only will this pave the way for increasing membership from within the region, but existing members can now also draw on our expert resources to directly target affluent consumers and the MICE market within the Asia Pacific region."

Vice President of the Great Hotels Organisation Asia Pacific, Gary Marshall will oversee the office in Melbourne, Australia.  His experienced team expects to increase the Asia Pacific presence of the Great Hotels Organisation by 40 hotels within the next 12 months. 

With over thirty years experience in the travel industry and related information technology management, Gary has brought to the Great Hotels Organisation a wealth of knowledge combined with a deep passion for service.  Enthusiastic and committed to whatever he tackles, Gary is now enjoying seeking out and introducing new hotel clients from within the Asia Pacific region to the Great Hotels' brand and company objectives. 

The Great Hotels Organisation comprises two brands: Great Hotels of the World, a forerunner among luxury hotel marketing alliances, and Special Hotels of the World, a niche alliance for first class, independent hotels.  The Great Hotels Organisation understands that each hotel has a different set of marketing requirements so its niche programmes and additional collection of sales and marketing services allow hotels to build their own 'à la carte' membership programme to suit their objectives and budget.  In this way, members are able to choose and purchase only the services they require, thus ensuring that membership fees are kept to a minimum and are focused on individual needs.  Sales and marketing initiatives that members are able to take advantage of include: trade shows, e-marketing, business travel consortia sales, public relations, a private label GDS chain code and sales blitzes.

Membership of the Great Hotels Organisation is by invitation only and hotels must meet strict criteria before being accepted. 

The Great Hotels Organisation's family of brands include Special Hotels of the World and Great Hotels of the World, a forerunner among luxury hotel marketing alliances representing over 240 of the world's finest hotels and resorts.  Both brands are driven by six core values, notably to keep members' costs down, to view each member as unique, to be innovative with technology, to value the power of the alliance, and to maintain the quality and integrity of the brand.