~ Coco Chanel
Elite International Luxury Hotel Representation certainly differentiates itself from other hotel representation companies. Our company consists of numerous professionals with a unique history in the luxury travel industry. Legendary hotelier, George D. Schwab, founded Elite in 1992. A pioneer in the luxury hotel industry, George opened and managed eight FOUR SEASONS hotels, including the first Four Seasons Hotel in the United States, the Clift Hotel in San Francisco. After a 30-year tenure with the company, the last 12 years at the helm of the world-renowned Pierre Hotel in New York, George retired from the company and launched one of the first hotel representation companies in the United States. During the next ten years, George traveled across the country introducing a collection of luxury European hotels to the top travel agencies in the country, while at the same time, holding the position as Chief Site Inspector for The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.
Today, Elite International Luxury Hotel Representation is lead by George’s youngest son, Gregory. With the support of Greg’s wife, Sandy, and his sister, Jeannie, the company is truly a “family business.” Gregory began his hotel career working at The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., responsible for the top accounts on the east coast. Having lived in luxury hotels, Gregory has had a unique upbringing, combining his personal experiences with extensive hotel and business education to become an industry leader in the U.S. luxury travel industry.
Gregory’s wife, Sandy, joined the company in 2004 to help increase the sales and marketing presence within the United States, Canada and Mexico. Sandy’s business experiences include hotel positions as Entertainment Manager at the Windsor Court in New Orleans, Director of New Business Development at the Waldorf Astoria in New York and Director of Sales – North America for London-based Guoman Hotels and Leisure Sales Executive for Ocean Reef Club in Florida.
Recognizing that a constant presence was essential for a successful representation company, Gregory convinced his sister, Jeannie, a family law attorney for more than 20 years, to make a career change and open and manage a representation office in Los Angeles. Like her brother, Jeannie experienced a similar lifestyle, growing up in the luxury hotel business. Jeannie has also held numerous hotel positions. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for the business has made her career change an easy transition.
ELITE International Luxury Hotel Representation is a full-service sales and marketing company specializing in the luxury travel market. ELITE promotes luxury hotels, resorts, villas and restaurants throughout the world, utilizing its long-standing relationships with the key decision makers in the luxury travel markets across North America to promote and facilitate leisure, corporate and group/meeting business to these iconic hotels and luxury travel-related products.
ELITE offers a variety of services ranging from direct sales appointments to the top 1,000 travel agencies to a number of unique and highly regarded sales and marketing events targeting the key luxury travel producers and influencers; from establishing special contract agreements with the largest travel companies to developing sales and marketing strategies that will ensure maximum productivity from the most highly regarded travel companies; from publishing a monthly newsletter that reaches an audience of over 12,500 qualified travel-related personnel to creating customized electronic promotions that induce immediate hotel inquiries to our member hotels. As a result of these services and many more additional sales and marketing activities, ELITE member hotels are positioned expertly to compete and succeed within this ultra-competitive North American luxury travel market.