Preferred Travel Group
Family-owned hospitality company operating the world's largest independent hotel brand, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, with 700+ member properties across 80 countries. Serves independent luxury hotels, resorts, and residences through membership fees, loyalty programs, and consulting services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersNewport Beach, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Preferred Travel Group does
Preferred Travel Group is a family-owned hospitality company founded in 1968 (formerly Preferred Hotels Association) and controlled by the Ueberroth family since 2004. The company operates as the parent entity for the world's largest independent hotel brand, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, representing more than 700 hotels, resorts, residences, and hotel groups across 80 countries through four collections (Legend, L.V.X., Lifestyle, and Preferred Residences). Beyond the flagship hotel brand, the company operates a multi-brand portfolio including Historic Hotels of America (in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 2007), Historic Hotels Worldwide, Beyond Green (sustainability-focused hotels), PTG Consulting (destination representation), and Beyond Green Travel (sustainability consulting acquired in 2020).
The company's core business model generates revenue primarily through recurring membership fees from independent hotels, resorts, and residences joining the Preferred Hotels & Resorts network, with additional revenue streams from Alliance Partner program fees (hospitality suppliers) and the I Prefer Hotel Rewards loyalty program (6 million enrolled travelers). Distribution operates through GDS chain codes (PH/PV), the direct PreferredHotels.com booking platform, regional sales offices across eight global regions (Americas, Europe, Middle East/Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South America), and strategic partnerships with American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts. The company employs approximately 300 associates across 35 countries with global headquarters in Newport Beach, California.
Recent strategic initiatives include the September 2025 launch of Legendary Journeys (a private jet experiential product with Bucketlist Xperiences), appointment of a Marriott-veteran Chief Development Officer (May 2025), and continued portfolio expansion with 9+ planned property openings across 2026 in markets including London, Malta, Morocco, and Mexico City. The technology stack is not publicly detailed; the only disclosed AI usage is for basic website personalization and ad targeting. The company also operates the GIFTTS corporate social responsibility program (since 2006) and publishes an annual Luxury Travel Report, positioning itself as a thought leader in independent luxury hospitality.
Preferred Travel Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Preferred Travel Group
- Legal name
- Preferred Travel Group
- Website
- https://preferredtravelgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Family-owned hospitality company operating the world's largest independent hotel brand, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, with 700+ member properties across 80 countries. Serves independent luxury hotels, resorts, and residences through membership fees, loyalty programs, and consulting services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Preferred Travel Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hotel Brand Representation and Hospitality Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Other Traveler Accommodation (72119), Travel Agencies (561510)
- SIC
- Hotels & Motels (7011), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Resort-Area Full-Service Hotels (Non–All-Inclusive) (THAGAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Preferred Hotel Program Design & Portfolio Strategy (THACAGAD), Travel Subscription, Membership & Deal Clubs (THAKAAAL)
Keywords
Where Preferred Travel Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newport Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Preferred Travel Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hotel Membership Fees: Independent hotels, resorts, and residences pay membership fees to join the Preferred Hotels & Resorts brand network and access global distribution, marketing, and loyalty program benefits.
- I Prefer Loyalty Program: Points-based loyalty program with 6 million enrolled travelers. Members earn points on stays at 600+ participating properties redeemable for cash-value Reward Certificates, Titanium status, and other benefits.
- Alliance Partner Program Fees: Hospitality suppliers and vendors pay to become Alliance Partners, gaining access to 1,100+ luxury properties across 80 countries and marketing visibility within the Preferred network.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | I Prefer Hotel Rewards Loyalty Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Preferred Travel Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Preferred Travel Group is a family-owned hospitality brand and membership organization that represents the world's largest portfolio of independent luxury hotels, resorts, and residences (700+ properties across 80 countries) under the Preferred Hotels & Resorts master brand. It sells recurring membership access to this distribution, marketing, sales, revenue management, and loyalty network, complemented by sub-brands for historic hotels, sustainable hotels, tourism board consulting, and the I Prefer points-based loyalty program.
Product overview
Preferred Travel Group is a family-owned hospitality company operating a multi-brand portfolio of hotel representation, loyalty, and consulting services. The core product is Preferred Hotels & Resorts (world's largest independent hotel brand with 700+ properties across 80 countries), supported by sub-brands Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, Beyond Green (sustainability), PTG Consulting (destination/tourism consulting), and Beyond Green Travel (sustainable tourism consulting). The portfolio is connected through the I Prefer Hotel Rewards loyalty program (6M+ members) and Preferred Residences (luxury extended-stay). The company also offers luxury experiences like Legendary Journeys private jet tours. Each brand operates within the Integrated Quality Assurance (IQA) program ensuring consistent quality standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Preferred Hotels & Resorts: The world's largest independent hotel brand, representing more than 700 distinctive hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 80 countries.
- Historic Hotels of America
- Historic Hotels Worldwide
- Beyond Green
- PTG Consulting
- Beyond Green Travel
- I Prefer Hotel Rewards
Products and services
- Preferred Hotels & Resorts The world's largest independent hotel brand representing more than 700 distinctive hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 80 countries. Operates through four global collections: Legend, L.V.X., Lifestyle, and Preferred Residences. Used by independent luxury property owners/operators seeking global distribution, marketing, and loyalty reach.
- Historic Hotels of America Official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States. Used by historic hotel owners and operators in the US seeking recognition, preservation support, and modern distribution reach.
- Historic Hotels Worldwide Prestigious collection of historic treasures including luxury hotels in former castles, chateaus, palaces, academies, haciendas, villas, monasteries, and other historic lodging spanning ten centuries. Used by owners and operators of historic properties outside the United States.
- Beyond Green Global portfolio of hotels, resorts, and lodges that exemplify sustainability leadership, guided by a passion to embrace travel as a force for good. Used by sustainability-focused property owners/operators seeking credible sustainability positioning and access to eco-conscious travelers.
- PTG Consulting Custom-tailored, integrated consulting solutions delivered through a global network of experts that inspire, engage, and convert for destinations, tourism boards, and non-hotel travel companies (and member hotels). Used by destination marketing organizations and tourism boards.
- Beyond Green Travel Sustainability services and consulting to destinations, hotels, and tour operators, having spearheaded the global sustainable tourism movement. Used by sustainable hospitality operators and tourism organizations.
- I Prefer Hotel Rewards Points-based loyalty program with 6 million enrolled travelers; members earn points on eligible stays at 600+ participating properties redeemable for cash-value Reward Certificates, Titanium status, and other benefits. Complimentary to join. Used by frequent luxury and business travelers.
- Preferred Residences Brand offering travelers access to exceptional luxury and serviced residences within the Preferred portfolio for extended-stay, serviced-residence, and shared-ownership accommodations.
- Legendary Journeys Private Jet Experience 17-night private jet experience visiting extraordinary global destinations with accommodations at Legend Collection properties and elevated I Prefer Hotel Rewards perks. Used by ultra-high-net-worth travelers seeking curated global luxury experiences.
Companies that use Preferred Travel Group
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Preferred Travel Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Preferred Travel Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Bucketlist XperiencesflagshipPartnership to launch Legendary Journeys - a once-in-a-lifetime private jet experience visiting the world's most extraordinary destinations. The 17-night itinerary (October 6-23, 2026) travels to Singapore, India, Rwanda, Kenya, Greece, Morocco, and London aboard a luxuriously appointed private jet with pricing starting at US $133,500 per person.
- Beyond Green Travel (Acquired)flagshipAcquisition of Beyond Green Travel, a world-renowned leader in providing sustainable tourism services and consulting, founded by ecotourism pioneer Costas Christ. This acquisition led to the launch of Beyond Green brand - a portfolio of planet Earth's most sustainable hotels.
- National Trust for Historic PreservationflagshipPartnership to manage Historic Hotels of America - the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States of America.
- Interval InternationalcorePartnership to launch Preferred Residences in 2007, entering the shared ownership market to provide travelers access to exceptional luxury and serviced residences.
- Alliance Partners (Various Hospitality Suppliers)coreThe Alliance Partner Program connects hospitality suppliers with decision-makers at 1,100+ luxury properties across 80 countries. Partners include proven luxury hospitality or travel segment companies with minimum 3 years track record, delivering measurable value to member resorts and hotels, and extending 'Best Rate Guarantee' pricing to Preferred member hotels.
- American Express Fine Hotels & ResortsflagshipStrategic partnership providing Preferred Hotels & Resorts visibility and booking access through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program, giving access to premium card members globally.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Preferred Travel Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Relais & Châteaux: Association of ~580 independently owned luxury hotels and restaurants globally; comparable association-based model focused on distinctive, independent luxury properties with strong brand standards.
- Mr & Mrs Smith: Curated collection of luxury and boutique hotels with a hotel-membership/booking-club model; comparable to Preferred in serving independent luxury properties with direct consumer distribution.
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH): A global collection of ~500 independently owned luxury hotels; the closest direct peer to Preferred Hotels & Resorts in terms of business model (independent hotel brand/membership) and luxury positioning, though smaller in scale.
- Leading Hotels of the World (LHW): Largest traditional competitor representing ~400 luxury independent hotels worldwide; competes head-to-head with Preferred for the same independent-hotel membership business and travel-advisor bookings.
Broad incumbents
- Marriott International (Luxury Collection, Autograph): Operates the Luxury Collection and Autograph Collection soft-brand portfolios that directly compete for the same independent luxury hotels; vastly larger scale (~9,000 properties) and Bonvoy loyalty program (~200M members).
- Hilton Worldwide (LXR, Curio): Operates LXR Hotels & Resorts and Curio Collection soft-brand portfolios targeting independent luxury properties; Hilton Honors (~200M members) creates competitive pressure on Preferred's I Prefer program.
- Hyatt Hotels (Unbound Collection, Destination by Hyatt): Operates Unbound Collection by Hyatt and Destination by Hyatt soft-brand portfolios competing for independent luxury members; World of Hyatt loyalty program provides comparable repeat-stay economics.
- IHG Hotels & Resorts (Vignette, Luxury & Lifestyle): Operates the Vignette Collection and Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio targeting independent luxury hotels; IHG's global distribution and IHG One Rewards program represent competitive pressure on Preferred's value proposition.
Emerging players
- Aman Resorts: Ultra-luxury hotel brand with ~35 properties; competes for the same high-net-worth leisure traveler and overlaps with Preferred's Legend Collection positioning at the top of the luxury pyramid.
- Rosewood Hotel Group: Operates a small portfolio of ultra-luxury hotels; less direct overlap on the membership model, but competes in the same luxury traveler consideration set and for member hotel acquisition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Preferred Travel Group social profiles
Digital presencePreferred Travel Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Preferred Travel Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Preferred Travel Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Preferred Travel Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Preferred Travel Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Preferred Travel Group
What does Preferred Travel Group do?
Preferred Travel Group is a family-owned hospitality brand and membership organization that represents the world's largest portfolio of independent luxury hotels, resorts, and residences (700+ properties across 80 countries) under the Preferred Hotels & Resorts master brand. It sells recurring membership access to this distribution, marketing, sales, revenue management, and loyalty network, complemented by sub-brands for historic hotels, sustainable hotels, tourism board consulting, and the I Prefer points-based loyalty program.
Is Preferred Travel Group a public or private company?
Preferred Travel Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Preferred Travel Group founded?
Preferred Travel Group was founded in 1968. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Preferred Travel Group based?
Preferred Travel Group is headquartered in Newport Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Preferred Travel Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hotel Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are I Prefer Loyalty Program and alliance Partner Program Fees.
Who are Preferred Travel Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Relais & Châteaux, Mr & Mrs Smith, Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) and Leading Hotels of the World (LHW). Broad incumbents are Marriott International (Luxury Collection, Autograph), Hilton Worldwide (LXR, Curio), Hyatt Hotels (Unbound Collection, Destination by Hyatt) and IHG Hotels & Resorts (Vignette, Luxury & Lifestyle). Emerging players are Aman Resorts and Rosewood Hotel Group.
Does Preferred Travel Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Preferred Travel Group.
What industry is Preferred Travel Group in?
Preferred Travel Group's product category is Hotel Brand Representation and Hospitality Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGAAAD, Resort-Area Full-Service Hotels (Non–All-Inclusive), with a secondary code of THACAGAD, Preferred Hotel Program Design & Portfolio Strategy. Its NAICS code is 72119 and its SIC code is 7011.