Name: Paul Kerr
Title: CEO
Company, city: Small Luxury Hotels of the World; London, England
Number of employees: 70
Recent project: In March 2013 we launched a dedicated Chinese website to improve communication and better serve a rapidly growing outbound market.
First job: I began my career as an accountant with Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). A passion for the luxury travel sector led me to my first hospitality role with Forte Hotels, and I later combined finance and travel as financial director of Cunard Hotels & Resorts.
Little-known fact about you: I am an avid sailor and feel most relaxed on the water. My sailboat is named Rum Truffle.
Your Business
Essential business philosophy: Make things simple for the customer, especially online. Build a strong, motivated team and set clear goals — with a shared objective, people will achieve remarkable results.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Continually reinvent the brand. Stagnation is the enemy of progress.
Yardstick of success: Results speak for themselves. 2012 was SLH’s best year for room nights and revenue, validating a business plan I developed more than 20 years ago that still delivers.
Paul Kerr as a Traveler
What is the most important item you take when traveling? My iPad and gym bag. I also travel with a sleep machine because I have sleep apnea and need a good night’s rest.
How do you spend your time on board? I prioritise sleep so I arrive rested and alert.
What is your favorite restaurant in the world? One favourite is the Don Juan, a luxury boat that cruises the Seine at sunset and serves a refined four-course meal.
What is your favorite destination in the world? I travel around 150 days a year, so I enjoy many places. As a sailor, I especially love Greece and Thailand for their scenery and coastal experiences.
About Small Luxury Hotels of the World
What can travelers expect from Small Luxury Hotels? We represent small hotels that deliver big experiences. SLH gives independent hoteliers the benefits of a trusted global brand while preserving each property’s unique character. Our hotels average about 50 rooms, a size that has stayed consistent for more than two decades. That scale enables highly personalized service and memorable stays, avoiding cookie-cutter vacations and maintaining exceptional standards.
What makes Small Luxury Hotels unique? Freedom of choice. With more than 520 hotels across over 70 countries, we offer a wide range of options: contemporary design properties, palatial 17th-century mansions, wilderness lodges, remote private islands and more, with multiple booking methods. As independent businesses, each hotel reflects its owner’s passion, creating distinctive atmospheres and genuinely personal service.
You added 63 hotels to the brand in 2012. What do you look for when adding a hotel? Our selection is rigorous — we accept only about 5 percent of applicants. A candidate must be the finest independent hotel in its area, demonstrate excellence across operations, reflect local culture and surroundings, and deliver authentic, heartfelt experiences and service.