Small Luxury Hotels Expands & Restructures Global Sales Team

Jon D. Makhmaltchi Named Director of Global Sales

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. October 14, 2008

OCTOBER 8, 2006. After 15 years in business and growing the portfolio to over 400 hotels in 65 countries, Small Luxury Hotels of the World has once again expanded the global sales team to include a UK-based specialist and reorganized the global structure appointing Jon D. Makhmaltchi, to oversee the team as Director of Global Sales, based in the USA.

"Despite the boom in Internet bookings, we recognize and heavily embrace luxury travel advisors as an extremely important part of our core business, as 70% of all bookings are made through the GDS. The expansion of the global sales team is strictly to further support the needs of luxury agents which remains a top priority of our sales and marketing strategy," commented Paul Kerr, Joint Managing Director of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

With that in mind, plus the ever-expanding portfolio of luxury properties within the luxury brand, SLH has not only hired Anna Nosworthy as the London-based Trade Marketing Manager for Europe but has also welcomed back Karime Buraye as the Director of National Sales for the Americas focusing on additional markets within the U.S. as well as supporting the Corporate accounts. Laura Tsoumas continues her role as Regional Director of Sales looking after the East coast leisure business and Seth Foreman manages the corporate accounts on behalf of the brand as Regional Sales Manager.

Leading the team is industry specialist Jon D. Makhmaltchi who was previously serving as Regional Director of Sales for the West Coast of America. After beginning his career at several properties in San Francisco including longtime SLH member The Huntington Hotel & Nob Hill Spa, Makhmaltchi has first class knowledge of the luxury travel industry.

Ms. Nosworthy comes to SLH from Travel 2, one of the largest wholesale tour-operators in the UK, where she has spent the last three years as a Sales Manager supporting the travel agents in the south of the UK,

Ms. Buraye, who has previously held the position of Regional Director of Sales for the East Coast of America for SLH, returns to SLH as the Director of National Sales in America. In her new role she will focus on the travel trade in South America, the Midwestern U.S., as well as lending support targeting the corporate travel managers. Ms. Buraye's career includes various sales management and director positions with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Summit Hotels and most recently on property at The Garden City Hotel on Long Island, New York.

The Small Luxury Hotels of the World brand is a collection of 400 independently-owned exclusive hotels in 65 countries. Carefully selected for their style and sophistication, Small Luxury Hotels of the World feature award-winning properties including spas, country houses, golf resorts, island retreats, city sanctuaries and game and wilderness lodges. Reservations can be made at any Small Luxury Hotels of the World property by calling toll-free on 800 525 4800 or via the Internet at www.slh.com. Travel agents can use the GDS code LX for LuXury.

Hotels interested in applying for membership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World may visit www.slhmembership.com for further information and details.