The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. was named "the most prestigious luxury brand" among 52 elite brands rated by wealthy consumers in the United States. The study conducted by the Luxury Institute in New York City evaluated four major luxury categories: automobiles, hotels and resorts, fashion designers and retailers.

Half of the top ten brands across the four categories were automobile companies. These were led by Porsche and Mercedes. Fashion designers took three of the top ten brand spots, led by Armani.

"The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is delighted to be named the No. 1 luxury brand," said Simon Cooper, COO and president. «This is a great testament to the quality of our product and the overall experience delivered so warmly and thoughtfully by the ladies and gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton."

The proprietary Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) incorporates four major "pillars" of value: consistently superior quality, exclusivity, enhanced social status, and the brand's ability to make the customer feel special.

Using LBSI, the Luxury Institute surveyed more than 200 households with minimum $200,000 in gross annual income and $750,000 net worth (including home equity). The sample profile was split evenly male/female with a median age of 45.9.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 58 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

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