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Let it Snow
Situated in one of Austria’s most beautiful skiing regions is Hotel Sandhof. We chatted to them about how their snow kissed surroundings provide travellers with an Alpine experience that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
Into the Wilderness
Dr. Laurie Marker from the Namibia-based Cheetah Conservation Fund explains to us why they’re the place to go for a luxurious and adventure-packed stay.
Happily Ever After
Winning ‘Luxury Hotel & Restaurant of the Year- Birmingham’ is Hogarths Hotel. We spoke to them about how their fairytale grounds provide a magical setting for their guests.
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Welcome to the 2015 Hotel & Spa Awards! Few industries can match the phenomenal standards of service set throughout the Hotel & Spa sector and throughout this thriving industry are tens of thousands of professionals, all 100% dedicated to providing discerning travelers with the perfect luxurious escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living. The prestigious Hotel & Spa Awards shine the spotlight on those professionals who endeavour to both fulfil and exceed their clients’ expectations. We understand that providing exceptional service is no easy task, and that delivering the best requires a meticulous level of dedication and attention to detail. As such, we have recognised only those teams and venues from across the global hospitality industry who have consistently demonstrated the dedication to and flair for innovation and all-round excellence required to cement their position as one of the true leading lights in their industry. The selection of our illustrious winners has been the result of months of painstaking research and analysis conducted by our expert awards team. We take tremendous pride in the rigorous selection process behind each of our winners, and every awards success was based purely on merit. It is truly an honour to recognise their achievements over the past 12 months, and we’re sure you’ll join us all here at LUX in wishing them every success in the final third of 2015 and beyond. So to take a closer look at these luminaries, and find out what separated them from the pack, please read on…
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Contents 4 Luxury Hotel & Restaurant of the Year - Birmingham / Hogarths
8 Best Hotel & Spa - Lech am Arlberg & LUX Award for Alpine Relaxation - Austria / Hotel Sandhof 12 Best Boutique Hotel - Johannesburg / 10 2nd Avenue Houghton Estate
14 Best Luxury Bungalows - Outjo & LUX Location Award: Best for Scenery / Cheetah Conservation Fund 16 Best Luxury Chalet – Tirol & The LUX Location Award for SkiWelt Access / Club Hotel Edelweiss 18 LUX Spa of the Year - Somerset & Best for Holistic Training / Feel Better Days 20 Lux Hotel Of The Year - Majorca / Hotel Can Estades
22 Best Exclusive Country Retreat - Italy & LUX Cuisine Award: Best for Culinary Excellence / Li Finistreddi – Exclusive Country Retreat 24 LUX 3* Ocean Hotel of the Year - Funchal / Hotel Orca Praia 26 Best Boutique Hotel – Lecce / Masseria Prosperi 28 Best for Kruger National Park tours& Best Luxury Bush Lodge, Kruger National Park / Mbizi Bush Lodge 30 LUX Hotel of the Year - Japan & Best for Unique Local cuisine - Japan / Shousuke no Yado Takinoyu 32 Best Luxury Bed & Breakfast - New York & LUX Spa Award: Best Exotic Spa / Siam Classic Inn & Spa 34 Best Luxury Apartments 2015 - Barcelona & LUX Country Escape of the Year – Barcelona / Torre Nova Resort - Barcelona 36 Best Country Retreat - South Africa & LUX Cuisine Award: Sushi Bar / Africanos Country Estate 37 LUX Tailor Made Wedding Specialist of the Year - UK & LUX Commitment to Bespoke Service Award - UK / AmaZing Venues 38 Best Country Lodge & LUX Award: Best Farm Hotel - South Africa / Bartholomeus Klip 39 Best Rural Retreat - Portugal / Troviscais Lda 40 Best Eco Hotel & Spa 2015 - Hawaii & Luxury Island Vacation of the Year - Hawaii / Hawaii Island Retreat 41 Best Rural Retreat - Brazil & LUX Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism / Ibitipoca 42 LUX Accommodation of the Year - Olot & LUX Style Award: Best for Zen Décor / Les Cols Pavelllons SL 43 LUX Choice Award : 5 Star Boutique Restaurant with Rooms - North Wales / Manorhaus 44 LUX Award: Wine Estate of the Year - South Africa & Best Wedding Destination Venue - Africa / MolenVliet 45 LUX Fully Serviced Four Star Accommodation of the Year – Braintree / Panfield House 46 Best Wilderness Retreat - Dominica / Papillote Wilderness Retreat 47 Best for Nails and Beauty - Vauxhall / Peint 48 Best Guesthouse - Dão Lafões / Quinta dos Caibrais 49 Best Serviced Apartments - Edinburgh / The Knight Residence 50 Best Boutique Hotel - Falmouth / The Oceanic Hotel 51 LUX 4*Regency Guesthouse of the Year / The Oriental 52 Best Luxury Lodge - Kruger National Park & LUX Location Award: Best for Spectacular Scenery / The Outpost Lodge 53 Luxury Hotel of the Year - Indonesia / Trans Luxury Hotel LUX - Hotel & Spa Awards 2015 3
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Luxury Hotel & Restaurant of the Year - Birmingham
We have so many award winning staff members at the hotel who are dedicated to providing the very best in service to our customers.
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Luxury Hotel & Restaurant of the Year - Birmingham
It would be hard to imagine a more wonderfully romantic setting than Hogarths. With their fairytale grounds and celebrated ‘Kissing Bridge’, their picturesque surroundings offer the ideal backdrop for a magical and luxurious getaway. Hogarths is Solihull’s premier hotel, and is privately owned by the Hogarths family and run by their Group General Manager, Steven Quick. We spoke to him to find out more.
Our luxurious interiors and exquisite food are matched by meticulous organisation provided by our friendly and experienced events planners, offering our customers a venue without parallel. Meetings and conferences, team building and events, business lunches and dinners, and everything in between is catered for at Hogarths. These are professionally managed by our dedicated and welcoming operations and events team. We aim to offer gracious hospitality to satisfy the most discerning guests. Nestling in 30 acres of landscaped grounds and unspoilt woodland, we are just outside Solihull in Birmingham, 5 minutes away from Junction 4 of the M42 motorway and Birmingham airport, and within easy reach of the NEC. We understand each event is personal and whether a customer is hosting an intimate confidential meeting on our private island or a large conference for up to 400 delegates, our meticulous planning and excellent service will ensure the event is a roaring success. In our bedrooms we have a range of styles and features which ensures that we have just the right room for just about anyone, whatever their style. All bedrooms are equipped with stylish en suite bathrooms, ,large comfortable beds, Egyptian cotton sheets, heated towel rail, underfloor bathroom heating*, luxury toiletries, hairdryer, HD flat screen televisions, spacious work stations, telephone, complimentary WI-FI, tea and coffee making facilities 24 hour room service and complimentary parking as standard.
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Luxury Hotel & Restaurant of the Year - Birmingham
Many of our rooms also have great views over our extensive gardens and grounds. Additional luxury features are available in some specific bedrooms. These include a 7ft four poster bed, circular feature bed, four poster beds, jacuzzi baths, infinity baths, wet room style bathrooms, outdoor hot tub on a private terrace, bath robes, slippers, starlit ceilings, patio tables and direct garden access. At Hogarths we are passionate about hospitality, and spend a lot of time dedicated to training and developing our teams. We train many of our team members from college age, and they work with us for many years developing skills in service and quality. We have so many award winning staff members at the hotel who are dedicated to providing the very best in service to our customers. Over the years, we have built a strong fan club of guests who use us frequently. This year Hogarths are working toward its AA Red Stars, this will put us in the top 150 hotels in the UK and Ireland. Winning this award has again allowed us to be centre stage, and will allow us to continually be able to demonstrate to the world the quality of Hogarth Hotels. We are a growing group of hotels, and in the future hope to be one of market leaders of luxury hotels in the UK. As an independent hotel, you really do have to shout loud, when you don’t have a large national head office behind you or massive marketing budget. We have really worked on creating a group culture and brand over the past year, and have spent time telling our customers about who we are and what we do really well. Delivering continually what we have promised has set us apart from our competitors. Each year we have invested in the hotel and it still looks as fresh now as the day it opened. We make sure that comfort of our customer is our main focus, and we ask for regular feedback to ensure that we deliver this each stay. We don’t really try to compete with others, instead we do what we do well and that is genuine hospitality. While others fight for a position in the marketplace and sometime each others customers, we find that delivering great service is what our customers really want. When you step into Hogarths, you are welcomed by a friend and someone who is genuinely really happy to see you, and will ensure that your stay is a great one. Word of mouth has been our most powerful marketing tool. For every happy guest, they normally tell 25 others about the great experience they have had. The hotel really does this very well, and we make sure that guests want to come back before they have left. We use local marketing for local customers, and give them a reason to come and be at the hotel. We have got the message out so far across the UK that clients now feel we have more hotels than we actually have. Maybe one day we will have hotels in every major city in the UK, watch this space.
Company: Hogarths Hotel Name: Steven Quick Email: steven.quick@hogarths.co.uk Web Address: www.hogarths.co.uk Address: Four Ashes Road, Dorridge, Solihull, B93 8QE Telephone: 01564 779988
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Best Hotel & Spa - Lech am Arlberg & LUX Award for Alpine Relaxation - Austria
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Best Hotel & Spa - Lech am Arlberg & LUX Award for Alpine Relaxation - Austria
The cosy four star Hotel Sandhof is situated in the heart of Lech am Arlberg, one of Austria’s most beautiful skiing regions. Hotel Sandhof caters on a half board basis while providing the use of a relaxing spa.
The family run, 4 star Hotel provides hearty hospitality. Here, a family that has been passionately fulfilling their guests’ holiday wishes ever since the 1930s welcomes you. We are a team, which has been the heart and soul of Sandhof for years and we work to create the perfect holiday getaway for our guests. The boss’ hobby wine cellar is hosted by Martin Prodinger. He has successfully completed his training to become a certified sommelier and spoils the Sandhof guests with select treasures from his well assorted wine cellar. A wine tasting session certainly will be one of the highlights of your holiday at Hotel Sandhof. We have asked you, our guests, what is particularly important to you for a holiday at Hotel Sandhof. Relaxation and rest, sports and fun and good food are up high on the wish list. Your wish is our command. Therefore our Sandhof services include the essentials to make for a perfect holiday in Lech, not forgetting the relaxing spa at Hotel Sandhof where you can take some time out to relax and be pampered. Along with skiing, sunbathing and breathing in fresh air, Hotel Sandhof allows you to treat yourself to a hot and cold alternating bath or a pleasant massage. The hotel’s spa includes a Finnish sauna, bio sauna, steam and brine bath, ice grotto, experience showers, massage room and a relaxation room with drinking fountain and open ethanol fire. Feeling comfortable and snug from the first moment, surrounded by friendly hosts and cheerful people is high on our agenda. A homely ambiance for all the senses, warm colours and a cosily glinting open fire creates a home away from home. All of that in the middle of one of the 10 best skiing regions of the Alps. We are honoured to be named for the ‘Best Hotel&Spa - Lech am Arlberg’. We mostly owe this success to our motivated employees who work within the fantastic surrounding of the mountains of the Arlberg. This Award confirms that we an excellent job and the compliments from our guests are perfect motivation for us to carry on giving a great service. We believe that the opinions of our guests are invaluable and are the best recognition for our daily work. We are filled with great joy as guests from all over the world rate the offerings and the services at Hotel Sandhof so positively. Head chef, Karl Schiller interprets regional specialties and Austrian cuisine classics in a modern, light and versatile way. The modern accent gives it a light and trendy feel, including a delicious selection of vegetarian dishes. Only fresh, predominantly regional and certified organic products find their way into the Sandhof cuisine. Our cuisine invigorates and
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Best Hotel & Spa - Lech am Arlberg & LUX Award for Alpine Relaxation - Austria
refreshes, meanwhile getting you ready for a diverse holiday full of luxury and excitement. We try to make our winter holidays full of memories to cherish while still offering a unique experience to each of our guests. Our region within the Arlberg is a winter wonderland which allows guaranteed snow, world-famous hospitality, tradition and sophisticated tranquillity. All of which have been attracting winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world for at least a century so that they can have their turn at the Eldorado of winter sport which lies between 1,450 and 2,450 metres above sea level and is one of the distinguished circle of 12 locations dubbed “Best of the Alps”. But it’s not only those with sporting ambitions who get their money’s worth in this heavenly winter landscape. There is also something on hand for walkers, gourmet and culture lovers in the winter season, which runs from December 4th 2015 to April 24th 2016. Ski and winter Holiday at Hotel Sandhof are situated right in the heart of Lech, only a snowball’s throw away from the lifts and cable cars. Your car can take a break while you discover 340 km of slopes, conquer the legendary white Ring or take off full of anticipation for heli-skiing. Gladly at your side, your private guide or ski instructor will help you to get to know all facets of the Arlberg. We welcome families with children at the Sandhof and therefore we make sure that children are part of the cheerful, vibrant atmosphere here. Being parents to two lively children themselves, the hosts Ingrid and Martin Prodinger always look forward to little skiers who feel right at home at the Sandhof. Although Hotel Sandhof isn’t a children’s hotel, you can still expect an open minded and child friendly team within a cosy atmosphere. Located close to all activities for families in Lech, this is the best “base camp” for your winter family holiday.
Company: Hotel Sandhof Email: info@sandhof.at Web Address: www.sandhof.at Address: Family Prodinger, Dorf 124, 6764 Lech am Arlberg, Austria Telephone: +43 5583 2298
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Best Boutique Hotel - Johannesburg
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Best Boutique Hotel - Johannesburg
Situated in the exclusive suburb of Houghton Estate, 10 2ND AVENUE HOUGHTON ESTATE is an established five-star boutique hotel of superb luxury and effortless style, nestled in beautiful landscaped gardens. The stately elegance of our 5000m2 property and the centrality of its location make it the ideal place for leisure and business travellers alike.
For those seeking relaxation, the hotel’s outdoor area allows guests to soak up the warmth of the African sun beside the sparkling pool or at the adjacent cocktail bar. A quiet afternoon can be spent indulging in a delicious light lunch sipping on a refreshing sundowner, while guests can wile away the evenings enjoying the unique ambience of our extensive wine cellar or indulging in a pre-dinner drink beside a cosy fire. Our chefs are always on hand to create culinary delights, from Champagne breakfasts to lunches and unforgettable dinners, be it for a special occasion or personal dietary request. Whether guests are looking to relax in comfort or conduct business in tranquillity, the management and staff will ensure their expectations are always exceeded by offering gracious living in luxury. The hotel is well suited to those who are looking to conduct business within a tranquil yet service-driven environment, offering impeccable style and exquisite cuisine. The estate boardroom can accommodate corporate gatherings for up to 24 guests, the Clivia Room up to five guests, and the Agapanthus and Wisteria Room up to 10 guests. A small business centre is available for guests travelling without personal laptops and our conference rooms are perfect for exclusive, upmarket, private meetings. Built in 1932 on 10 000 m2 of land, the original house was used as a convalescent home for injured soldiers during the second world war. The current owners bought the property from an art dealer in 1995 and had it converted into a guest house with seven rooms. The doors were opened in June to welcome guests for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and the guest house was fully booked for the duration of the tournament. In 2003, the house was closed for six months, completely renovated and refurbished to create a property that could offer everything the discerning 21st century traveller could desire. It was at this point the villa was converted into a secure 5 star boutique hotel. It is a great privilege to win this award. Our well-trained and dedicated staff have made a huge contribution to the success of 10 2ND AVENUE HOUGHTON ESTATE. Their consistently excellent service is regularly applauded by our guests via TripAdvisor. An award like this is great recognition of our staff and their unwavering commitment to excellent service and it is a great motivator for them and evidence that their efforts are not in vain. It is also a confidence boost when they see returning guests endorsing what they already know about us.
leading service and a high quality product is extremely important to us. One challenge we must face is how to hold on to our well-trained staff as we are sometimes used as a stepping stone to the next level. We have also improved online visibility, and have simplified the booking process for guests who want to make reservation online. This has greatly raised our competitiveness. When working in such competitive industry, it is key to stay ahead of our competitors. Our property has some unique physical features, which help us to stand out, for example our beautiful landscaped gardens. Our guests do not feel like they are in the city due to our tranquil atmosphere and the centrality of our location and the easy access to the surrounding area make us the ideal place to visit. As a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, we have access to an astonishingly large international database of iPrefer members. Preferred Hotels & Resorts is in constant contact with their members so this is an excellent platform for marketing ourselves. In addition, the hotel sends out monthly promotional mailers to our past guests and our marketing manager targets local corporate offices and invites key bookers for property site inspections. We have a strong online presence due to our impressive rankings on TripAdvisor, booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, etc, and, as mentioned, return guests are a valuable marketing tool. Over the past 12 months, short lead times for conference and accommodation reservations have been one of the most prevalent trends within our industry. Online bookings have also increased, as have last minute bookings via smart phones. We are finding more guests and companies are slowly moving from big corporate hotels to smaller intimate boutique venues to conduct business and enjoy themselves and we are ready and able to help them do just this.
Company: 10 2ND AVENUE HOUGHTON ESTATE Name: Mrs Anita Wasserman (Owner/Director) Email: tensecond@houghtonestate.com Web Address: www.houghtonestate.com Address: 10 2nd Avenue Houghton Estate, Johannesburg Telephone: +27 (0) 11 853 2400 / +27 (0) 11 483 3037
Throughout its lifetime, our hotel has focused on and invested in regular and ongoing on-the-jobtraining as the provision of consistently industry-
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Photos courtesy of CCF
Best Luxury Bungalows - Outjo & LUX Location Award: Best for Scenery
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Best Luxury Bungalows - Outjo & LUX Location Award: Best for Scenery
Babson House is located at the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s (CCF) Field Research Centre outside Otjiwarongo. Previously, visitors to the research centre could only attend on a day-long basis, but there is now the opportunity for travellers to stay overnight in their comfortable luxury converted farmhouse.
We have welcomed guests from almost every country in the world who are seeking an African wildlife experience that goes beyond the typical safari. Primarily an international field research and education centre devoted to ensuring the long-term survival of the cheetah, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) now opens its facilities to receive visitors, many of whom choose to extend their cheetah experience by staying overnight in one of our variety of guest accommodations. CCF develops integrated conservation programs that enable the cheetah to live in harmony with people, as 90% of all cheetahs in Namibia live on farmlands alongside rural communities. CCF’s programs aim to reduce human wildlife conflict, restore habitable land for cheetahs and enhance the livelihoods of people with the ultimate goal of creating a permanent place for cheetahs on Earth. Visitors who opt to stay in Babson Guest House get to witness conservation in action from a first-class vantage point. A three-bedroom luxury accommodation that’s tastefully decorated in African style, the views of the Waterberg Plateau from the Babson House veranda are breathtaking. Often guests can observe some of the 30 to 50 cheetahs that reside on CCF property relax in the warm afternoon sun. It’s also the perfect spot to unwind with cocktails after a day filled with cheetah adventures and game drives through CCF’s private wildlife reserve. All CCF guests are provided with excellent opportunities to photograph cheetahs in action during ‘Cheetah Runs’, a daily exercise session that takes place every morning at 8am and during ‘Cheetah Drives’ through one of CCF’s vast enclosures. These activities offer up close and personal experiences with resident cheetahs, all the while having informative interactions with CCF staff and scientists working on projects designed to protect this magnificent species for future generations to come. Guests may also choose to spend a half-day working side-by-side with one of CCF’s cheetah keepers, helping prepare meals, feeding and checking on the health of CCF resident cheetahs while learning about husbandry practices developed by CCF. For the ultimate cheetah conservation experience, guests may book a combination of activities known as the ‘Cheetah Exclusive’, which consists of all the aforementioned activities. It is an honour to be recognised for having the Best Luxury Bungalow, as we strive to create the best possible experience for our guests. We realise people have many choices when it comes to accommodation and we are so pleased to be named a top choice among sophisticated, discerning travellers. As for having the Best Scenery, we are truly fortunate to be located where we are at the base of the Waterberg Plateau National Park. We have amazing African vistas from all parts of our property, and a great abundance of natural vegetation and a wide variety of wildlife species living on our 100,000-acre reserve.
Awards such as the LUX Awards telegraph much information to prospective clients in an instant. They are shorthand indicators of excellence. Awards are symbolic for all that we are striving to achieve in our industry with respect to the guest experience. As we are a non-profit organisation with a mission to sustain the wild cheetah and not a for-profit hospitality company, we have had to overcome a great many obstacles to get to where we are today. We have had to build up our facilities slowly, as resources allow, which has actually enabled us to design and build newer structures like Babson Guest House with feedback provided by our early guests. We’ve also had to become self-supporting with our infrastructure, as we are many miles from the closest town. We function as an independent community with our own power generators and solar power, with gardens we tend that provide fresh produce, and a dining commissary operated by a professional executive chef. We strive for excellence in everything we do, from our research in ecology and genetics, to caring for our guests, to caring for our resident cheetahs that depend on us for their wellbeing. When we do our jobs properly, the rest falls in place and we naturally stand out from others in the field. Our staff go above and beyond the call of duty, as we are entrusted with safeguarding one of our country’s most precious resources, our cheetahs. Without them, Namibia would not be known as ‘The Cheetah Capital of the World’, the title that draws most tourists to begin with. We are very fortunate with our situation as we are able to generate much awareness for what we do through word of mouth. The experiences people have at CCF are the kind they naturally want to share with friends and family, through stories and photos, both person-to-person and using social media. Our website gets phenomenal traffic. We also have many repeat visitors who come back year after year, each time staying a bit longer. We even have some people who stay up to several months at a time through our volunteer program – they find the experience that rewarding.
understanding them clearly, we will not be able to provide the best possible service. We operate CCF as a family unit. While many organisations say this, we truly believe it and act upon it. We consider our guests as close friends, and repeat visitors become extended family members. We try to stay in contact with our guests as you would with family. In doing so, our guests often become brand ambassadors for our organisation, spreading the word among their own family and local communities where they live. This has helped us reach into almost every corner of the world with our critical message about cheetah conservation. People have become much more educated about conservation and the need for them to take personal action over the past 12 months. They understand that they can positively impact the environment by choosing where to spend their vacation dollars. This has led to an uptick in ecotourism, which is a boon for us. Social media and the proliferation of the Internet has truly made the world a smaller place. People are much more aware of Cheetah Conservation Fund and what we do before they get here than ever before. We are dealing with a more educated clientele that has expectations upon arrival. Our challenges will be meeting and exceeding these expectations, as only then will we succeed with our organisation’s goal of growing an army of motivated, educated conservationists who will help us with our mission to save the cheetah from extinction.
Company: Cheetah Conservation Fund Name: Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder & Executive Director Email: visit@ccfnamibia.org Web Address: www.cheetah.org Address: Otjiwarongo, Namibia Telephone: +264 (0)67 306 225
To supplement word of mouth, as a non-profit organisation we are often promoted by Namibian newspapers and magazines and by travel media throughout southern Africa. Through one of our corporate partners, Cheetah Mobile, we have been fortunate enough to recently have opportunities for promotion that would otherwise be beyond our reach, including being featured on an outdoor video screen in New York City’s Times Square. We believe that having strong lines of communication with our guests is paramount to success. Each guest may require different objectives be met to qualify their visit as an outstanding experience. We must be tuned in to their needs and be able to make adjustments as necessary. Without hearing them or
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Best Luxury Chalet – Tirol & The LUX Location Award for SkiWelt Access
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Best Luxury Chalet – Tirol & The LUX Location Award for SkiWelt Access
Club Hotel Edelweiss is situated in the SkiWelt, Austria’s largest interconnected ski area which boasts one of the best ski infrastructures anywhere in the world. We spoke to owners, Peter and Alison Neurauter about their hotel and the unique experience they provide for their guests.
Club Hotel Edelweiss offers exceptional service. Peter and Alison get to know all of their guests on a first name basis and help them to get the most out of their holiday by assisting with travel arrangements and organising ski hire and lift passes so they can get out on to the slopes as quickly as possible. The hotel can also suggest the most suitable places to ski for the guests’ ability, and Peter and Alison often meet up and ski with guests on the mountain. At the end of the day, guests can relax in the sauna or join a fun après ski quiz, and Peter and Alison regularly organise evening activities so guests can enjoy the full club experience. The company’s core focus is on both the standard of accommodation and the club experience for guests. The hotel’s owners, Peter and Alison Neurauter, have a very hands-on approach to running the hotel and interact with guests daily. Peter is also an internationally qualified ski instructor and a Snowsport England Level 4 Coach and Tutor. Peter noted, “We operate with a small but loyal staff team who share our philosophy of providing the best possible service to guests. The guests notice this and regularly compliment and appreciate the staff.” Alison added, “We want every guest to feel at home here, to feel comfortable and relaxed in the friendly atmosphere, whilst at the same time enjoying the luxury of good service, great food and excellent hospitality.” Club Hotel Edelweiss is different from other hotels in Austria, partly because it is run by British people and therefore the hotel operates mainly in English. But also because Peter and Alison are always on hand to help and their emphasis is on the club experience for guests. Around two-thirds of their guests each winter have either stayed at Club Hotel Edelweiss before or have been recommended by a friend, which they believe is a very strong endorsement of the success of the hotel. As for the industry trends that they have to face, they believe that it is important to continually build on their high standards to meet and exceed ever-increasing guest expectations whenever possible. Each year, they take the opportunity to develop the hotel, and this year Club Hotel Edelweiss is investing in a new wellness area with picture windows looking out to the ski slopes. “Receiving this award is a wonderful recognition of the passion, commitment and attention to detail of our staff team. Awards like this are important as they recognise the strengths of our hotel and help to spread the word to more people.” added Peter.
Company: Club Hotel Edelweiss Name: Peter and Alison Neurauter Email: info@clubhoteledelweiss.com Web Address: www.clubhoteledelweiss.com Address: Liftweg 1, 6305 Itter, Austria Telephone: 0043 5335 40232
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LUX Spa of the Year - Somerset & Best for Holistic Training
LUX Spa of the Year - Somerset & Best for Holistic Training
Feel Better Days is a small high street beauty salon and training provider boasting four nail stations, two pedicure stations, two private treatment rooms, a dedicated couples’ spa room and a training room. Our clients range from children to pensioners, stay at home mums to high flying business women. At Feel Better Days, we offer an extensive range of massage services, from sports and remedial massage treatments to the total relaxation of a hot stone aromatherapy massage. Our nail services are of the highest quality, with Scratch Magazine regularly featuring our work in their online gallery. We also offer additional beauty treatments, such as eyelash extensions, waxing and spray tanning, to name just a small selection from our treatment menu.
with us. We share their bad days and good days alike and support every one of our clients like we would our friends. Our therapists hold the Feel Better Days values in high regard, applying them to each and every customer interaction. As a manager, I am very lucky to have the team that work with me at Feel Better Days. They are professional and passionate about their work and I couldn’t have achieved what I have without them.
We also offer a range of training courses to support professionals who are in or looking to enter the beauty industry. These courses range from massage and nail art to waxing to eyelash extensions. We pride ourselves on our quality of training and always put the student first, helping to put them at ease and to create an ideal environment for them to get the most from their learning experience.
We have a culture of always striving for excellence within Feel Better Days and this influences everything we do for our clients. The team are crucial to this success and it is important that we only employ the right people so that we can maintain our high standards.
It feels amazing to be awarded ‘LUX Spa of the Year – Somerset’ and both I and the team are very proud to know that we all played a part in making this happen. We are particularly proud to be awarded ‘Best for Holistic Training’ as ensuring each student enjoys and achieves is something that we work extremely hard to accomplish. Working six days a week to ensure that all of our customers experience the best possible service can be very hard work, however, this is common across our industry and awards such as this go a long way to recognising and validating this tireless, often stressful work. Our main focus is always on client satisfaction and we pride ourselves on fostering a homely, relaxing yet always professional atmosphere within the salon and academy. Customer retention in today’s market can be a real challenge and over the last few years we have overcome it by consistently offering the same high quality of service to our customers. In fact, we are in the top 8% in the UK for client retention when benchmarked against similar sized organisations. When working in a continuously competitive industry, continued professional development for all staff is a huge part of both our salon and academy. This means that we can always look to offer something new to our customers.
We have big plans to build on our success over the coming months and years. Within the next 12 months, academy developments will include further expansion within our current accommodation, specifically the building of another dedicated training room to accommodate more students and more B2B partnerships offering courses to a wider audience. We also hope that salon developments will include the introduction of IPL treatments, along with micro-blading and semi-permanent make-up. We will be looking to develop industry recognition of the Feel Better Days brand and we are currently entertaining other exciting potential business expansion opportunities. The biggest challenge with all of this will be having the time to develop the business effectively and making sure that we do not dilute any of the quality that we currently deliver at Feel Better Days. If you truly love what you do, follow your heart and it will work.
Company: Feel Better Days Name: Hayley Partridge Email: Salon: info@feelbetterdays.co.uk Academy: courses@fbdacademy.com Web Address: Salon: www.feelbetterdays.co.uk Academy: www.fbdacademy.com Address: 33a High Street, Bridgwater, Somerset. TA6 3BG Telephone: 01278 427115
Potential clients hear about our services through word of mouth, recommendations, social media and our own website. These are currently the only places from which we currently gain new business. To increase awareness of the business we ensure we post regularly across our social media accounts and we have developed a regularly updated blog on our website. The entire Feel Better Days team is like a family and that’s how we like to treat our clients. Sometimes our regular customers will come in just to have a chat and a cup of tea because they like spending time
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LUX Hotel of the Year – Majorca
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LUX Hotel of the Year - Majorca
Finca Hotel Can Estades is a boutique country house property in southwest Majorca. The house is best known for its luxurious holiday resorts, but also provides access to some stunning countryside further inland. On a gated 16th century estate, the location is less than two kilometres from the village of Calvià, offering picturesque views of orchards, rolling hills and the Tramuntana mountains. The well-proportioned and sensitively restored property boasts 12 spacious guest rooms, including two studios (with fully equipped kitchenette), and two apartments, all of which have modern amenities, including air conditioning, satellite TV, a fridge and Wi-Fi. The décor features restored antique Majorcan furniture, all beds include comfort mattresses with a choice of pillow types and custom made bedding and many rooms come complete with balcony or private terrace. The large outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by terracing and an adjacent small stone building houses an infra-red sauna and range of fitness equipment. The terrace at the front of the house is shaded by trees, which offers the perfect setting for an alfresco breakfast in fine weather, or a space for complete year-round relaxation. Our clients are around 80% German with the rest mainly British and Scandinavian. We offer bed and breakfast and, in high season, we supply a weekly BBQ dinner. Alternatively, it is an easy drive to many good restaurants in the surrounding areas. We are very proud to have been named the ‘Lux Hotel of the Year – Majorca’. We feel that we owe our success to our clients, many of whom are repeat guests. We also believe that the hard work and dedication of our small team has been recognised through this award.
Awards such as this (and positive comments on review sites, e.g. TripAdvisor) are important in making our hotel stand out in a crowded marketplace. Within the industry as a whole, they help to raise standards and attract holiday makers. Here at Finca Hotel CAN ESTADES, we focus on a more mature market; people who appreciate nature and the landscape. We do not allow children under 12 as this approach allows us to maintain a sense of tranquillity. To stand out from our competitors we always offer an extremely high level of personal service, resulting in consistently high rankings on many review sites. We always ask for feedback from our guests, and constantly assess what we do and make any appropriate changes. Potential clients hear about us through social media, and on the Internet and we have also gained a lot of referrals from existing clients. To raise awareness of the hotel locally, we host an intimate summer ‘Culture at Night’ programme, which attracts people on the island as well as our existing guests. Our philosophy is “what attracts us attracts clients”, so we have set very high standards for ourselves. The guest is always our focus and we are available at all times if they need anything. However, importantly, we are also able to read those guests that prefer to be left alone and given their own space. Our industry has, of late, seen significant developments and changes in the areas of product and service quality, and environmental impact. For example, guests are increasingly looking for organic food and so we have grown our own vegetable garden. Another challenge that we face is that our island is seasonal and we need to find ways to grow business during the winter, when fewer flights are available. In summer, there are not enough hotel rooms but in January and February, when the almond trees are in blossom, some hotels close for lack of business. The whole industry and local government are working on extending the season and we hope to see this happen in the near future.
Finca Hotel Can Estades Hosts: Norbert Amthor and Christiane Zube Email: info@can-estades.com Web: www.can-estades.com Address: Camí de Son Pillo, 15 Calvià, Majorca, Spain Tel: +34 971 670 558
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Best Exclusive Country Retreat - Italy
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& LUX Cuisine Award: Best for Culinary Excellence
Best Exclusive Country Retreat - Italy & LUX Cuisine Award: Best for Culinary Excellence An intimate hotel situated in a breath-taking natural environment, Li Finistreddi Country Retreat is situated in a private park of four hectares. Clinging to the granite peaks that surround it, the hotel offers incomparable views of the island of La Maddalena, the emerald water of the Mediterranean Sea and the impressive mountains and forests.
We all need an escape plan and the chances are that, no matter what type of traveller you are, Hotel Li Finistreddi will provide the perfect getaway. Situated at only a stone’s throw from the attractive, bustling Costa Smeralda, Li Finistreddi is ideal for those seeking serenity and effortless relaxation in a tranquil hillside hideaway by the sea. This retreat provides a sense of privacy and serenity in perfect harmony with its natural surroundings. Infused with country charm, Li Finistreddi is tucked away in the foothills of Northern Sardinia’s attractive Gallura area. This secluded setting is located near both the city of Arzachena and the seaside town of Cannigione, surrounded by fruitful olive trees, stark granite peaks, lush vineyards and just a small drive away from beautiful beaches, a championship golf course and the laid back lifestyle of the Costa Smeralda. Winning these awards for Best Exclusive Country Retreat – Italy’ and ‘LUX Cuisine Award: Best for Culinary Excellence’ is a big success for us and we believe that the awards have been given thanks to our years of tireless work in ensuring excellent service from all of our staff, from servers to chefs, to guarantee the best and genuine guest experience. Awards, especially if given by an institution that is not within the hospitality industry, are crucial as they highlight to potential guests your successes and dedication that they may not otherwise see.
Our focus has always been the same. We make sure that we maintain guest satisfaction, creating meaningful experiences and moments of discovery and inspiration, infused with touches of unmistakeable authenticity. It is a big daily effort, but the results are there for all to see. With regards to standing out from our competitors, we regard our biggest asset to be our staff who at all levels of the organisation. Their endless attention to detail is key when we are battling competitors within the industry. Nowadays the web and social media is where you can showcase your services and spread your message more widely than ever before. Moreover, a small retreat like ours lives or dies by the word of mouth recommendations from previous guests, and I’m happy to say that the returning rate of our customers is very high. Hospitality culture is something that you must be able to quickly adapt depending on your customer. It can change a lot depending on guest nationality, age and habits and we must be ready to evolve on an almost daily basis.
Company: Li Finistreddi – Exclusive Country Retreat Name: Stefano Cuoco Email: info@finistreddi.it Web Address: www.finistreddi.it Address: Loc. Micalosu, Cannigione – 07021 Arzachena (OT) – Sardinia - Italy Telephone: +39 0789 869144
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LUX 3* Ocean Hotel of the Year - Funchal Hotel Orca Praia is a modern hotel built along a cliff, only six kilometres from the centre of Funchal and two kilometres from the fishing village of Camara de Lobos. The hotel is made up of 124 spacious and well equipped rooms and features a magnificent panoramic restaurant overlooking the pool, giving stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.
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LUX 3* Ocean Hotel of the Year - Funchal
Overlooking a picturesque black sand volcanic beach in Madeira, Hotel Orca Praia offers the enviable combination of unique location and industry-leading standards of service. Visitors to the hotel can indulge in a wide range of activities and relaxing pastimes, including spa treatments, sea sports, boat trips, meaning that, whatever kind of holiday you’re looking for, Hotel Orca Praia has it covered. We feel very honoured to have been named the ‘LUX Three-Star Ocean Hotel of the Year – Funchal’. We work in an extremely competitive destination and therefore we are very proud to have been handed this accolade. Our guests are the main reason for our success and to join them year after year during their holidays brings us great satisfaction and fuels our passion to deliver our services to the best of our ability. Awards like this one are very important to us as they speak volumes about the levels of quality and guest satisfaction that our dedicated and conscientious staff and management are able to consistently achieve. It goes without saying that our focus is always on providing the highest possible quality service for our guests and that our major concern is that we succeed in creating lifelong memories for every single one of our visitors. When working in an industry that is as competitive as ours, it is vital that we have the ability to stand out from your competitors by continuing to raise the standards of service and quality that we provide. Without being able to offer this, we would be just one more house in the crowd. Differentiation is one of the most vital areas to focus on when it comes to providing the best possible service to our clients and we believe that a hug part of this comes from the family culture we have been able to foster. This is a unique aspect to our hotel that all guests experience when they stay here. We want every one of our guests to feel valued and therefore we always try to achieve this by being present and talking to them in an effort to gauge their feelings and expectations. We have found that, throughout the years, exchanging conversation with our guests has always been the best way to not only find out more about them but to make their stays more enjoyable.
Company: Hotel Orca Praia Name: Aurélio Rodrigues Email: info@orcapraia.com Web Address: www.orcapraia.com Address: Estrada Monumental 335, 9000-236 Funchal – Madeira Island - Portugal Telephone: +351 291707070
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Best Boutique Hotel – Lecce
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Best Boutique Hotel – Lecce
Masseria Prosperi’s idea of hospitality embraces the luxury of small pleasures. Here there is a quality of life that words simply cannot describe. Our philosophy is simple: to create a unique experience, made up of peace and tranquillity. All of our facilities are dedicated to the pleasant surroundings in our in our Masseria, which translates as large farm. Whether they’re having lunch, dinner, or simply relaxing in the sunshine, they can do so in our range of facilities including a meadow, swimming pool and porch. Furthermore, we also have reserved space for holding banquets. This includes a dining room, kitchen and indoor saline pool with a whirlpool all contained in a single large hall. Within our indoor pool, we also have a jacuzzi, steam room and massage room. When it comes to our rooms, the atmosphere comes first and foremost. We like the concept of gracefulness, and we have decorated each room as if we were to live there ourselves. We provide a range of rooms for our guests to stay, which include: classic, superior and suite class. Although each room is different in terms of size, views and location, they are all provided with excellent facilities including mini bar, satellite TV, free wifi, i-Pod and USB compatible sound system. Regardless of the temperature, we provide both air conditioning and underfloor heating to suit any weather conditions we come across. Our rural surroundings provides a unique experience where we keep many animals on our farm. This means that our guests can enjoy the company of some of our friendly pets during their evenings outdoors. Our cats and dogs love the attention they get, and the farm provides the truly authentic experience of rural life. Guests are encouraged to bring their own horse too, as we provide stalls, paddocks and fresh forage for them to be catered for. We are situated amongst stunning scenery, which includes the coasts of the beautiful Salentine Peninsula. During clear mornings, you can see the Albanian mountains when walking on our nearby beaches. All year round, they are the perfect spot for scenic walks, horse riding, bike racing and kite surfing.
Company: Masseria Prosperi - Made up of Peace, Tranquillity and Nature Email: info@masseriaprosperi.it Web: masseriaprosperi.it Address: S.P. 366, Km. 23 - Località Frassanito 73028 Otranto - Lecce Telephone: +39 333 1360671
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Best for Kruger National Park tours & Best Luxury Bush Lodge, Kruger National Park
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Best for Kruger National Park tours & Best Luxury Bush Lodge, Kruger National Park
Nestled deep in the heart of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the spectacular Mbizi Bush Lodge offers adventure-seeking visitors of all ages an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. We spoke to Mette and Michael Kristensen, owners of the lodge, to find out more about welcoming guests to this glorious location and to find out exactly why theirs is the ideal getaway location for intrepid travellers looking for a luxurious walk on the wild side.
Thanks to our spectacular setting and ability to cater for all ages and smaller party sizes, our guests come to us from all four corners of the globe and from almost every imaginable background, safe in the knowledge that they will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience in one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring locations to be found in the African bush. When it comes to giving our guests a fabulous getaway experience they’ll find nowhere else, we have developed our own distinct style that we call ‘Bush Boutique’. This blends traditional safari style with a thoroughly modern twist, with no detail overlooked; we even take a refreshing approach to the safari style of our accommodation, providing light furniture and colours that add to the relaxed and carefree atmosphere we promote. One of the main reasons for choosing to visit Mbizi Bush Lodge is our commitment to finding just the right balance between privacy and industry-leading service. While we are always at hand to cater to their every need, at the same time we place equal importance on allowing them time on their own to enjoy the tranquillity and serenity that comes with this remarkable location. Before visiting us, many of our guests will have an idea or dream about what they expect from this corner of the world. Through our professionalism and attention to detail, we are able to make these dreams come true. In order to exceed our guests’ expectations, we focus firmly on quality over quantity. With just four rooms in the lodge, this cosy and intimate setting provides the perfect home away from home. Of course, perhaps the biggest draw for people visiting us is our location. We are immersed one the largest game reserves in South Africa: Kruger National Park. We are situated 25 km from the park’s Phalaborwa gate, a sublime setting, world-renowned for its awe-inspiring Mopane woodlands and wondrous wildlife. We also allow guests the chance to experience gaming in all its glory on exclusive bush tours. With the opportunity to get up close to some of the area’s diverse wildlife, from elephants and hippos to exotic birds, the tours really do provide an exhilarating adventure. Our unique surroundings also inspire and inform the food we serve to our guests. Although we are always updating and developing our menus, we ensure that we stay true to many of the fundamental principles of modern African cuisine. That’s not to say we don’t innovate too, and we will often infuse the dishes
with elements of Mediterranean and Scandinavian cooking. Our magnificent set three-course dinner is prepared using fresh local ingredients and our guests enjoy their meals overlooking an illuminated waterhole, where the local wildlife can be viewed from the comfort of guests’ own dinner tables. As you can imagine, the internet and technology is having a major impact, not only on our business, but the tourism trade as a whole. On the one hand, this has made it easier for people to find out about us, however, it has also increased competition with regards to publicising our business and this has become one of our major challenges. We hope that through a combination of providing excellent service and the unique surroundings we enjoy, we will be welcoming more and more guests to our lodge. Looking further into the future, another big challenge we foresee is to keep on top of the constant changes in our sector. One increasingly prevalent trend is the rise of the individual traveller, those who both plan and book their travels by computer. The market is always changing and we understand that preplanned stays with fixed tour programs belong to another era, and we will look toward adapting even further to any emerging trends and developments. As for the award, we believe this a great accreditation and we hope that these awards will spread the word about the unique experiences we can offer at our lodge. To be acknowledged for our work is a sure sign that we are on the right path to maintaining and developing the wonderful services we take pride in providing.
Company: Mbizi Bush Lodge Name: Mette & Michael Kristensen Email: mail@mbizibushlodge.com Web Address: www.mbizibushlodge.com Address: Plot 109 Grietjie Private Nature Reserve, 1390 Phalaborwa, South Africa Telephone: +27 (0)71 960 7885 / +27 (0)73 468 3522
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LUX Hotel of the Year – Japan & Best for Unique Local cuisine – Japan Located next to the Fushimigataki waterfall, one of the major scenic spots in Aizu, Hotel Shousuke no Yado Takinoyu is a hot spring resort with a strong connection to Shousuke Ohara, a character in a traditional Japanese folk song.
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LUX Hotel of the Year - Japan & Best for Unique Local cuisine - Japan
At Shousuke no Yado Takinoyu you can enjoy a splendid view of the waterfall from the opulent open air baths. Other baths are also available for private use, and every night, visitors are treated to a wide variety of enchanting entertainment, such as storytelling, waterfall lighting, etc., all performed on the hotel’s outdoor stage. We are so pleased to have won these awards and believe that much of this success can be attributed to the care we take in our efforts to recognise and respect our local history, cuisine, and agricultural producers. Unlike many other hotels, our staff keep in mind at all times traditional cooking styles when preparing dishes. We believe that success should always be beneficial for employees and local people, which is why our hotel gives back to the local society in as many ways possible. Within our business we also always try to focus on bringing the customer’s wishes to fruition. To help us to do this, we constantly ensure that we take certain measures to try to stand out from our competitors. For us, our website is one of the most important tools we possess, acting as a brochure, reservation tool and even a historical record. We want visitors to the site to be able to gain a clear picture of exactly what their stay with us will be like. We take the promotion of Shousuke no Yado Takinoyu very seriously and are always looking to expand our methods of marketing, through the use of newspapers, travel agencies, the internet, TV programmes and so on. We call that “Advertisement of Multi Media Mix.” The culture of Shousuke no Yado Takinoyu dates back to 1880 and we are very keen to retain as many of the hotel’s traditional core values as possible. However, we also recognise that our customers’ tastes and requirements are changing all the time so need to keep abreasty of new trends and developments in our industry. Today, Japan is seeing a gap in wages, and as a result, the current travel trend in the country is for short, cheap, near field trips. In most cases, guests use Internet travel agencies to easily compare hotel prices. Because of this, we are very focused on adding value wherever possible while maintaining the traditions and culture that have seen our hotel become so successful.
Company: Shousuke no Yado Takinoyu Name: Junichi Saito Email: info@shousuke.com Web Address: http://shousuke.com Address: 108 Takinoyu, Yumoto, Higashiyamamachi, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan 965-0814 Telephone: +81(242)29-1000
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Best Luxury Bed & Breakfast – New York & LUX Spa Award: Best Exotic Spa
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Best Luxury Bed & Breakfast - New York & LUX Spa Award: Best Exotic Spa
The Siam Classic Inn & Spa, is a bed and breakfast located at 62 Elm Street in Potsdam, New York, and is the only Thai style B & B in all North America. Our guests travel through and enjoy the Thai heritage and traditions without leaving the country. Each of the three luxurious guest rooms at this historic Victorian home in the village of Potsdam has been renovated to reflect a particular historic era of the ancient Kingdom of Siam with many photographs, artwork, and furnishing imported from Thailand. Guests snuggle in a cotton robe by a Tiffany lamp in a room filled with Thai – inspired scents. A delicious full Thai breakfast is served on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and our guests enjoy a sumptuous American breakfast with a Thai twist Monday through Fridays. The Inn is located in the heart of Potsdam, a very short walk to the State University of New York at Potsdam and Clarkson University. Nearby are Lake Placid, site of the 1932 & 1980 Winter Olympic Games, the natural beauty of the Adirondack Mountains, as well as the beautiful Thousand Islands area and the locks and canals of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Canadian cities of Montreal and Ottawa are only 2 ¼ and 1 1/2 hours drive from our Inn respectively. Being the first and only Thai style bed and breakfast in all of North America, we by definition are a stand out in our field. There are many Thai works of art and furniture that have been shipped from Thailand along with various other Thai objects such as Thai placemats, Tiffany lamps in every room, and original Thai paintings that are to be found in our bed and breakfast. We own a Thai musical instrument, the Kim, and even a wooden plaque in our entryway saying in gold, “Welcome to the Siam Classic Inn and Spa” in the Thai language. It is quite a place! Our number one priority has always been to provide a luxurious and truly unique Thai experience and education for our clients. This is accomplished through all of the senses. The aroma of Thai herbs greets the guests at the entrance along with the sounds of Thai music in the air. Thai artwork abounds all over the inn and spa. And the taste and various smells of authentic home cooked Thai food wafts through the air as the guests wake up on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The beds are also extremely comfortable, having been personally
selected by the co-owners as the finest available. For those who have pre-ordered a massage, the massage is given by one of the finest New York State Licensed massage therapists in the area. For those guests staying at the Siam Classic Inn and Spa, all of this makes for a truly wonderful and unique experience. In order to further enhance and develop our goals, we travel to Thailand every year for at least 4 weeks, immeasurably strengthening our mission to create an authentic Thai experience for our guests. In the near future, one of the co-owners plans to pursue a doctoral degree in hotel management. We were absolutely delighted to hear we were named for both of these awards. Thus far, our bed and breakfast has received much recognition and awards both locally and nationally. But prestigious international awards such as the Lux awards affirm the success of our dreams and goals has been recognized on a much larger scale. This will greatly enhance our prestige. We have seen this success because of the reverence and respect we have for Thai culture and for our guests. Our sincerity as proprietors of the Siam Classic Inn and Spa has translated into customer satisfaction (both verbally and in writing) for virtually every guest who has actually stayed with us. Looking towards the future, we are very optimistic. Even externally, the improving US economy has inspired people to travel more within North America this year. Staying at our Inn in upstate New York provides our clients with an opportunity to experience a taste of Thai culture, perhaps inspiring them to actually someday visit Thailand.
Company: Siam Classic Inn & Spa Email: siamclassicinnandspa@gmail.com Website: www.siamclassicinnandspa.com Address: 62 Elm Street, Potsdam, New York USA 13676 Telephone: 1-315-265-1893
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Best Luxury Apartments 2015 – Barcelona & LUX Country Escape of the Year – Barcelona
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Best Luxury Apartments 2015 - Barcelona & LUX Country Escape of the Year – Barcelona
Your Dutch hosts, Jacqueline Brakel and Geert van Heijningen, offer you a relaxing vacation on their Catalan estate in the green countryside of Barcelona, Spain. The resort is a cosy but luxurious holiday resort, offering quality accommodation in its historic and comfortable apartments.
The Torre Nova Resort offers eight spacious luxury holiday apartments, all fully equipped and with complete privacy. The estate exudes serenity, space and comfort, amid authentic Spanish culture, all making for the perfect haven from which to enjoy a varied and authentic Catalonian holiday. The resort is situated only 45 minutes from Barcelona, 30 minutes from the beaches of Sitges and 15 minutes from the monastery of Montserrat. Thanks to the mild climate, travelers can enjoy their stay at Torre Nova all year round. It feels great to be recognised as the best luxury apartments and rural escape in Barcelona. All the hard work we have put in over the past eight years has paid off. During this time we have won a number of other awards, including Zoover Gold Awards in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and we have also picked up several consecutive Tripadvisor Certificates of Excellence. However, despite these awards, we take most pride in our guests’ positive comments at departure! Awards like these are very important because it goes a long way to convincing potential guests that we are doing something right. When working in an extremely competitive industry we have to ensure that we take measures to enable us to stand out from our competitors. Quality, quality, quality, is a key aspect to our business. We also make sure that we have a 100% focus on exceeding our guests’ expectations. We try to attract potential guests by various means, including, internet positioning, free publicity and, best of all, we encourage people to place reviews on relevant travel sites, such as Zoover and Tripadvisor. However, in the end word of mouth is the most valuable promotion.
Our overriding philosophy when it comes to our clients is to keep looking at the business through the eyes of our guests. We ourselves are our best customers as we keep coming back. We constantly must be sharp. We are always ourselves, we do not play a role and this ensures an authentic experience for our guests. They usually become more like friends than customers. Our ongoing challenge is to grow our business throughout the spring, autumn and winter. Spain is not always associated with these seasons and many people think the country is only attractive during the summer months. Another challenge is to broaden our access to the UK and German market. As we are Dutch nationals, the Dutch and Belgian markets are already providing us with lots of traffic. However, we welcome guests from all over the world, from the USA and Canada to China, Iceland and South Africa. We definitely can’t complain about not being successful. Finally, we’d like to thank LUX for finding us and presenting us with these awards! We are doing our utmost to not only promote Torre Nova, but also to inform people about Catalonia, its awesome nature, rich culture, gastronomy and, most of all, its friendly people!
Company: Torre Nova Resort - Barcelona Name: Jacqueline Brakel and Geert van Heijningen Email: info@torre-nova.com Web Address: www.torre-nova.com Address: Carrer Torre Nova 14, 08789 La Torre de Claramunt (BCN), Spain Telephone: +34 674 422 179 Virtual tour: www.skyfocus.nl/SkyFocus/Tours/ LaTorreDeClaramunt-TorreNova/
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Best Country Retreat - South Africa & LUX Cuisine Award: Sushi Bar
Best Country Retreat – South Africa & LUX Cuisine Award: Sushi Bar Africanos Country Estate is a recently established hotel made up of luxurious guest suites, each rich with character and yet ever so modest, making it the perfect home away from home.
Africanos Country Estate prides itself on its tranquil atmosphere and contemporary architecture. Clients’ comfort and relaxation are of the utmost top priority to the team. Each room is furnished with a king size bed and en-suite bathroom. These are just but a few of the standard perks that bring about a warm ambiance in this yet undiscovered haven. Africanos Country Estate is considered to be a place of relaxation, splendour and elegance, authentic cuisine and unique accommodation. From the time you arrive, to the time you leave, you’ll be immersed in the lap of luxury, at one of the Addo’s leading hotels. Africanos Country Estate provides luxury accommodation, boardroom facilities, a wedding venue, Chapel, fine wine and cocktail bar, country chic restaurant and a Sushi and Teppanyaki Bar. We also have a shuttle service available to and from the Port Elizabeth Airport. With all of these facilities at easy reach, Africanos Country Estate is your number one choice in luxury Addo facilities.
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Africanos Country Estate has 12 luxury rooms, all beautifully decorated in a natural earth décor style. The rooms are fully equipped with everything you would expect from a top rated establishment, including air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms with heated towel rails, plus an additional open air outdoor shower for nature lovers, a guest lounge area with satellite television, electronic laptop safes and free WIFI. Africanos Country Estate is the home of exquisite country cuisine as well as Addo’s only Sushi and Teppanyaki bar. Our menu offers patrons a myriad of dishes to suit every palate and reveals a constant striving for the ultimate synergy of texture, flavour and succulence. The dishes are ever changing eclectic combinations of flavours evocative of memory, experience and innovation. We have exceptionally high standards with regards to the quality and creativity of our cuisine. This award for Best Country Retreat - South Africa & LUX Cuisine Award: Sushi Bar reflects the uniqueness of our sushi bar and how we stand out from our competitors.
All of the ingredients used are locally sourced products, allowing the kitchen to be full of fresh, robust produce. Our accomplished Chef is adept at creating menus for a range of dining experiences, from romantic dinners, to light meals, or traditional South African cuisine.
Company: Africanos Country Estate Email: info@africanos.co.za Web Address: www.africanos.co.za Address: Venter Tourism Group P.O.Box 112, Kirkwood 6120, South Africa Telephone: 27(0)42 233 0030
lux LUX Tailor Made Wedding Specialist of the Year – UK & LUX Commitment to Bespoke Service Award – UK In a world crowded with standard venues, we break the mould, believing that only exceptional is good enough. We boast unique locations, stunning properties and first class staff dedicated to making every stay with us one that our guests will treasure for a lifetime. We offer our clients incredible, quirky venues and a wedding service that has been tailored specifically to them with exquisite cuisine, incredible views and a ‘home from home’ they can’t wait to return to.
LUX Tailor Made Wedding Specialist of the Year - UK & LUX Commitment to Bespoke Service Award - UK
We feel privileged to have received this honour and to be recognised for providing bespoke weddings that delight our brides and grooms, delivering the dream day they have always wanted. In addition to the beauty of our venues and their unrivalled versatility, we pride ourselves on hiring passionate staff that really understand our objectives and strive to go above and beyond even the highest expectations. These awards and those like them are priceless to those of us in the industry, both as recognition of the great job we do and as motivation to continuously evolve and improve offerings, packages and service. Our incredible Tailor Made package has proved to be extremely popular with our brides and grooms-to-be. This offer provides a unique opportunity for couples to design every aspect of their big day. We get to know our couples and we carefully build a bespoke package that perfectly suits their wishes. We hold a number of open days throughout the year and exhibit at a number of local wedding shows. We also advertise in local press and on the radio, as well as relying on the positive word of mouth created by clients. We are committed to the continued development and training of our teams. We want everyone to reach their full potential and enjoy what they do. This can be clearly seen in the service we provide and the feedback given from clients. When staff are motivated and positive, what they deliver is both of personal merit and a source of pride to each hotel and to AmaZing Venues as a whole. We were thrilled when the law was changed to legalise gay weddings and hope to hold many more in the future. A trend towards smaller, more intimate weddings has also become more popular, with couples choosing something really personal and only inviting a select few attendees. We can cater to weddings intimate or large and offer a selection of beautiful areas in which to hold each separate part of the special day all under one roof. Highly personalised weddings are also continuing to gain popularity as is the desire for unusual venues. This can be seen in the popularity of our Tailor Made package. Drone photography has also increased in popularity and can offer a unique view on the big day and is perfect for capturing the full splendour of our magnificent hotels. As an increasing number of people choose to have weddings abroad, we are keen to encourage an international audience to visit our stunning hotels. We will continue to make positive developments in and around our venues, including the introduction of new areas where wedding ceremonies can be held. We will be looking at landscaping to provide even more opportunities for awe-inspiring wedding day pictures, as well as looking to incorporate separate entrances to the ceremony area for the bride (this move follows the positive feedback we’ve had after creating the option at one of our hotels). In addition, we are keen to clearly promote our hotels and the message that holding your wedding at one can cost a lot less than you may think – the glorious wedding day you’ve always dreamed of is within your reach! Company: AmaZing Venues Email: Hello@AmaZingVenues.co.uk Web Address: AmaZingVenues.co.uk Telephone: 0330 333 7 200
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Best Country Lodge & LUX Award: Best Farm Hotel - South Africa
Best Country Lodge & LUX Award: Best Farm Hotel – South Africa Bartholomeus Klip is an exclusive destination in the Cape Winelands, located on a working farm and game reserve in the Riebeek Valley. Discerning travellers will appreciate the peace and quiet in the exclusive five-bedroomed farmhouse, while families with children can enjoy privacy in the Wild Olive House & Cottage. Situated just over an hours drive from Cape Town, our romantic and supremely comfortable farmhouse is set beneath a spectacular mountain range, and surrounded by well-kept farmland and a 10,000-acre nature reserve. We offer a range of activities on the farm as well as in the surrounding Cape Winelands and West Coast area. The guesthouse has built a solid reputation for its impeccable farm-style hospitality, idyllic location in a peaceful country atmosphere and deliciously fresh food. The house is situated in 10,000 acres of private nature reserve with over 500 head of game, a working farm, wheat lands, flocks of sheep and a buffalo and tortoise breeding project, and we invite no more than 10 guests at a time to enjoy walking, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and birdwatching, or just to switch off and relax. Bartholomeus Klip is located in the scenic Riebeek Valley near Cape Town, and is an excellent base for exploring the Cape Wine lands. The guesthouse itself is like a home away from home. There are four double rooms with bathrooms in the beautifully furnished farmhouse and one separate suite outside, with its own secluded veranda overlooking the veld and giving great views of the mountains. Finishes everywhere are luxurious and stylish, with crisp cotton bedding and elegant fabrics.
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Responsible tourism has been a central concept to everything we do at Bartholomeus Klip. Our values, ethos and mission statement represent economic growth, environmental integrity and social justice. In fact, Bartholomeus Klip was started as a way of providing meaningful employment to the wives and family members of our farm workers. The guesthouse provides an environment, along with training and mentorship, for the ladies (and the occasional gent) to explore their different talents, help contribute financially to the household and use as a platform to launch their careers. At the heart of our business is our commitment to the environment. The Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve was formally declared a provincial nature reserve in 2008 in recognition of its importance to conservation. Bartholomeus Klip has signed up with Cape Nature’s Stewardship programme to safeguard the reserve in perpetuity, and has played a central role in the Quagga revival project. Besides doing educational nature drives for our guests, our rangers are also involved in the reserve’s Geometric Tortoise head start project as a means of providing protection and ensuring the survival of this critically endangered tortoise after the devastating fires of 2012.
The Bartholomeus Klip restaurant deserves special mention. Resident Chef Louise Gillett’s imaginative fusion of traditional South African and classic recipes, made mostly from a variety of local ingredients, produce an ongoing feast of delicacies, all day long, from breakfast over brunch and lunch to high tea and dinner. Bartholomeus Klip would not work without the support of the surrounding community. Besides employing local staff and using local suppliers wherever possible, we are also actively involved in the local primary school, with our ‘Coins for Kids’ initiative bringing in welcome funds, and our assistance over the years with the Eco Schools programme having seen them achieve their Green Flag along with a greater understanding of the importance of the environment.
Company: Bartholomeus Klip Email: info@bartholomeusklip.com Web Address: www.bartholomeusklip.com Address: Western Cape South Africa Telephone: +27 (0)22 448 1087 +27 (0)82 829 4131
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Best Rural Retreat – Portugal Casas da Cerca are noticeable for its unique services – earth houses. These are located in one of the most protected areas of the Southwest Alentejo and the Vicentine Coast Natural Park, 1,5km from the River Mira in a stroll of overwhelming beauty. The silence and the privacy as well as the simple pleasures that the country life may offer are what best define Casas da Cerca. Located in a deep stream of S. Nuno Farm, almost like in a woman’s womb, perhaps the higher compliment given by those who visit us was “here we feel at home…but in a unique place!” or “at Casas da Cerca first you wonder and then you get under”.
Best Rural Retreat - Portugal
Scenes from our imaginary world can be fulfilled or revived here, whether it’s the bicycle rides and the picnics by the river, the bathe in the old water tanks, the tree house and the gathering with the horses, or the coziness by the fire place in winter coldest nights or a nap on the hammocks near the houses. You can also explore your artistic skills on the spot dedicated to painting. Furthermore, canoes are also at hand for adventurous types and the river is close by. The story behind Casas da Cerca is intimately connected to the life course of the owner ,Graça Jalles, who learned from very young stage to follow her intuition. It all began in Macau in the South of China, where on a dreary day she pointed a map and –as destiny would have it- pointed on the West Coast of Alentejo and the Odemira region where she had never been before. Facing the unknown, she guided herself by following her taste for nature and for the country life. So powerful was her passion that all the adversities that she imagined would come up would be worth the challenge. This was so valid that everything happened naturally with thoughtless decisions made many times, and the heart simply took advantage. A lot of adversities she had to overcome on her own and even involved living 4 years without electricity and water using only a generator in a short period during the day. She was also able to overcome the scepticism in the eyes and the attitudes of people who did not share her vision that life is to be lived in all its splendor, and that prejudices are limitations to the imagination and that dreams do really come true. Her first encounter with earth construction was something sublime. She would end up building her own house in earth which gave her an architectural award and one could foresee already the values upon which the Rural Tourism Casas da Cerca would be anchored, such as simplicity, authenticity, time, silence, all values at hand in the place. She also felt for the first time what is to “Be” in all its depth. Someone wrote one day that our first architectonic act is our own selves and in Alentejo there is space ‘to Be’. The experience of living in an earth house with naked earth walls is a unique experience. Perhaps because we are born from the earth and in the earth we shall rest for evermore. With this, the circle is complete. Through the years I came to acknowledge this experience in the eyes and faces of the people that visit me. The naked raw earth wall as a protective element in a house is something that transcends us and as any other form of art transports us to harmonious and perfect worlds that only vaguely we imagine exist.
Company: Troviscais Lda Name: Graça Jalles Email: email-info@casasdacerca.com.pt Web: www.casasdacerca.com.pt Telephone: -00 351 283975263, 00 351 924467425/ 00 351 919990418
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Best Eco Hotel & Spa 2015 - Hawaii & Luxury Island Vacation of the Year - Hawaii
Best Eco Hotel & Spa 2015 – Hawaii & Luxury Island Vacation of the Year – Hawaii
Hawaii Island Retreat’s ecoboutique hotel and spa is a place of intentional peacefulness, set among towering evergreens and ocean breezes along Hawaii Island’s North Kohala coast. Here, you can relax and unwind on 50 acres of gardens, wild groves, and ancient valley trails. We offer elegant accommodations in complete harmony with nature. Our eco-boutique hotel offers 20 elegant suites and yurt bungalows. The suites are colour matched and named for the large, antique Saxon prints of tropical flowers. Each suite has a spacious bathroom with a large soaking tub and separate shower. These spacious suites are 375 - 450 square feet and decorated with turn of the century Hawaii furniture. All suites have private balconies and chairs, overlooking the fragrant garden as well as ocean. We provide a selection of spa, yoga, and romance packages, in addition to our women’s spa vacations. Each hotel package includes luxury accommodations in our green boutique hotel and 50 acres of tranquil retreat land, green living, and outstanding organic cuisine. Furthermore, our boutique hotel features an ocean view yoga studio with hardwood floors, full service catering and open air dining, plus outdoor areas perfect for gatherings or classes. In terms of our ethos, Hawaii Island Retreat is a harmonious model of sustainability and refinement setting a new standard in eco-travel. From building construction to garden design, our 50-acre retreat models demonstrates ways in which we can live both in luxury and in balance with the earth. The Horizon design swimming pool is solar heated and salt purified, ensuring no harsh chemicals are used. The recycling feature of the horizon design ensures that the water is captured and recycled, and the hot tub near the pool is heated with solar hot water panels and is salt purified. Additionally, the hot water for the locker room showers is also heated by the sun. From our 10 room eco-boutique hotel to an outdoor spa pavilion, Hawaii Island Retreat is staffed by the very best of Hawaii’s spa therapists, healers, cultural experts, and outdoor guides to make your Hawaii spa vacation authentic and transformative.
Company: Hawaii Island Retreat Web: hawaiiislandretreat.com Address: 250 Lokahi Road Kapaau, HI 96755 Telephone: (808) 889-6336
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Best Rural Retreat - Brazil & LUX Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
Best Rural Retreat – Brazil & LUX Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Offering stunning accommodation in the heart of one of Brazil’s most picturesque nature reserves, Ibitipoca is one of the country’s premier rural retreats. The Reserva do Ibitipoca opened in 1981 with the purchase of the Fazenda do Engenho (Engenho’s Farm). Previously some of the farmland had been abandoned and was starting to regenerate. Today the Reserve is composed of over 100 properties, and contains nearly 4,000 hectares of preserved land in the counties of Lima Duarte, Bias Fortes, and Santa Rita do Ibitipoca. The Reserve borders the state park, creating a buffer zone that helps to increase natural habitat and encourage the proliferation of local wildlife. In 2009, the Reserva do Ibitipoca was opened for tourists with the goal of boosting local employment opportunities and improving the quality of life for the local population. Sustainability The Reserva do Ibitipoca’s projects go beyond just environmental protection that is already expected from a conservation area; a truly sustainable project is equally concerned with social and economic issues as well as environmental. Many projects on the Reserve are geared towards the community,
protecting its local culture and history and stimulating a more diverse economy. The Reserve’s master plan follows sustainable guidelines to guarantee that the implementation of various projects can satisfy the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This is a complex and demanding process as international expectations are customized to this culturally rich community in rural Brazil. The environmental aspect requires maintenance, protection, recovery, prevention, and preservation. There are endangered and threatened species that need help. Habitats need to be expanded, analyzed, and protected from poachers, loggers, and fires.
To meet its research goals, the Reserve can serve as an outdoor lab and is seeking professionals and academics in the area that want to study the region’s aspects. Currently, there are a number of studies underway, such as monitoring the Muriquis at the Luna Forest.
Company: Ibitipoca Email: Contact: guest@ibiti.com Booking: reservas@ibiti.com Web Address: www.reservadoibitipoca.com.br Address: Fazenda do Engenho S/N Conceição do Ibitipoca – MG C EP: 36140-000 - Lima Duarte – MG Telephone: (+55 32) 3281-8144 (+55 32) 8449-2200
The focus on the community inspires projects that encourages locals to interact with ecotourism that will enrich the local culture and bring back traditions that were lost or weakened over time. One very important goal for the Reserve is to stimulate the local economy with steady income generation by providing rewarding employment and promoting and supporting events and various initiatives to stimulate this economy that once relied solely on dairy production.
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LUX Accommodation of the Year - Olot & LUX Style Award: Best for Zen Décor
LUX Accommodation of the Year – Olot & LUX Style Award: Best for Zen Décor
Les Cols Pavellons is situated in Olot, close the Garrotxa Volcanic Nature Reserve. The property offers guests an unusual type of accommodation, featuring zen décor rooms with glass floors and walls. The majority of clients that decide to stay with us are more mature couples who want to experience a more personal and professionally organised retreat. Thanks to our minimalist architecture, seamless service, and luxury essentials, Les Cols, offers an experience never to be forgotten. Our philosophy is simplicity whilst maintaining exceptional services. We offer a stay where the client can disconnect and unwind in idyllic settings. Added to this experience is that they can have breakfast or a picnic with local produce among the surroundings, giving value to the product and the landscape. We are very pleased to have won the ‘LUX Accommodation of the Year – Olot’ and the ‘LUX Style Award: Best for Zen Décor awards’. We are very proud of these achievements and they highlight the efforts that we have put in over the past few years. This also helps to recognise the kind of services that we offer and it will hopefully help us to be positioned more competitively in the market. We have been focusing on the architectural design of the establishment with minimalist style, exclusivity and the experience that we deliver. The design is at such a high quality that we have received awards for its architectural structure. Along with this, we believe that our competitive edge is owed to our location Les Cols Pavellons is situated in the middle of the city, but remains unique in the fact it is cut off from the day to day hustle and bustle and allows one to truly enter another world. To us, the most important publicity that we have is our clients. The experiences they have with us will last a lifetime and when they must, reluctantly, go back home their recommendations to their friends and family ensure we have more guests coming to see it for themselves. From our experience, our customers really appreciate improvements in sustainability and any changes implemented to enhance their experience. An undeniable trend that we have seen in the past 12 months has been the increase in luxury tourism to the country, which has helped us to stay in a fantastic position in the industry. We believe in an establishment where we can represent the importance of connecting with nature.
Company: LES COLS PAVELLLONS SL Name: LES COLS PAVELLONS Email: lescols@lescolspavellons.com Web Address: www.lescolspavellons.com Address: Av. Les Cols, 2 17800 Olot (Spain) Telephone: 699 813 817
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LUX Choice Award : 5 Star Boutique Restaurant with Rooms - North Wales
LUX Choice Award : 5 Star Boutique Restaurant with Rooms – North Wales Manorhaus RUTHIN is a 5 Star boutique Restaurant with rooms. Situated in the centre of Ruthin, an historic market town at the heart of the Vale of Clwyd, the property is a Grade II Listed Georgian townhouse, with all the charm of its original historic features contrasting against the stylish modern interior design, art and 21st Century facilities. Manorhaus Ruthin offers eight individually designed rooms with contemporary en-suite facilities and thoughtfully designed interiors. Each room has been designed in collaboration with professional artists who exhibit their work in each ‘gallery’ or ‘oriel’ room, and working within the character of the Georgian spaces. We have chosen furniture, fabrics and colours to create interiors that combine comfort and elegant design. As well as Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, Manorhaus provides a collection of additional guest facilities including a private cinema, library, sauna and steam room. We offer guests a county wide Parking Permit and Free Wi-Fi during their stay. We place considerable emphasis on guest service and take care in ensuring the guests feel welcome and comfortable with a professional yet friendly service. We are extremely honoured to be awarded a Lux Choice Award, and gratefully acknowledge the support of our customers and staff in gaining this recognition. Awards such as this one highlight the unique, bespoke boutique that we provide. They also help to recognise our commitment to customer service. Awards are an important element of recognising and communicating our commitment to high standards,
acknowledging and rewarding the dedication of our staff, and providing opportunities to identify areas of improvement or to garner knowledge and ideas from other areas of the hospitality industry. Across the whole of our business we have made improvements to highlight and reflect the smaller details. To stand out from our competitors, we make sure we get the basics right and then develop added extras that are uniquely rooted in our ‘story’ and our location. Affiliations with targeted and appropriate marketing consortium such as Welsh Rarebits and i- escape help to maintain customer awareness and contact via email and social media. Our mailing list of 7000 are defined as a VIP Guestlist, and are offered password protected rates and deals directly - to provide a reward and encourage direct bookings rather than via online travel agents. Our overriding philosophy understands the client’s needs and desires. We make sure that they are satisfied and then enhance their experience as much as possible. For example, we offer suggestions on local areas to visit, or recommendations for onward places to stay. Our small team is made of both experienced and early career colleagues. Whether fresh from college or longstanding members of the hospitality industry,
we take care to nurture and train towards career development and instil the ethos of our standards and service approach. We pay above the industry average, are generous and supportive of a sensible work life balance, and this has resulted in good staff retention and dedication. Over the past 12 months we have seen increased visits from Europeans and North Americans as their economy has improved. Trade has benefited directly from overseas tour operators following numerous familiarisation visits by the operators themselves. Visitors are value conscious but appreciative and are willing to pay for added value enhancements which make the experience that bit more unique. Our focus for the year ahead is based on increasing direct commission free bookings and passing on savings as added benefits to the guest.
Company: Manorhaus - Restaurant with Rooms Ruthin & Llangollen Name: Gavin Harris & Christopher Frost Email: post@manorhaus.com Web Address: www.manorhaus.com Address: 10 Well Street, RUTHIN, Denbighshire, LL15 1AH Telephone: 01824 704830
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LUX Award: Wine Estate of the Year - South Africa & Best Wedding Destination Venue - Africa
LUX Award: Wine Estate of the Year – South Africa & Best Wedding Destination Venue – Africa Nestled on the banks of the Dwars River in the Banhoek Valley, known as the heart of the Cape Wine country, you will find the elegant MolenVliet Oosthuizen Family Vineyards. Whether it is breathtaking beauty, a sense of calm or a unique romantic getaway you’re looking for, the estate has exactly what you need.
MolenVliet is a proud Wine Estate. We are proud of our heritage, proud of our wines and proud of our people. MolenVliet wines are world class and we have received fantastic ratings in the Platter’s Guide for almost all our wines since our 2005 maiden vintage. We do not compromise on quality and persistence has made MolenVliet wines very sought after for collectors, investors and wine lovers alike. Wine making by MolenVliet is conducted with the utmost respect and we do not treat this process as a job, instead it is an obsessive quest for quality rather than quantity. For this reason we surround ourselves with knowledgeable people who feel the same way to ensure the best quality possible. We will leave it to you to judge whether our pride is justified.
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MolenVliet is also an idyllic setting for spectacular wedding ceremonies that can be held in the beautiful landscaped gardens or between the magical boutique vineyards. We are known throughout the industry for our excellent service and attention to detail and will ensure that only the best service providers are selected to make your special day an unforgettable one. Our service includes helping you choose the best service professionals in South Africa, whether it is one of our accredited caterers or our handpicked panel of internationally renowned wedding coordinators, to ensure you have an exceptional experience. MolenVliet also prides itself in hosting only one wedding at a time and can ensure all of our clients
that privacy and exclusivity are our first priority. The venue itself overlooks the beautiful vineyards and the Stellenbosch Mountains and is conveniently situated next to the Dwarsrivier River, which flows throughout the estate.
Company: MolenVliet Email: info@molenvliet.co.za Web Address: www.molenvliet.co.za Telephone: +27 21 885 1597
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LUX Fully Serviced Four Star Accommodation of the Year – Braintree
Panfield House is the perfect getaway for business travellers or relaxation-seeking holidaymakers. The selfcatering cottage offers comfort and the warm, laid back feeling of a home from home.
LUX Fully Serviced Four Star Accommodation of the Year – Braintree
A good night’s sleep is essential after any long journey, which is why we ensure that all of the beds at Panfield House are of the highest quality and are dressed with sheets and pillows of the finest cotton. Another thing that guests will notice upon arrival is that there are no notices or signs or printed instructions on view; it is like stepping into a cosy, spacious cottage that really could be your own home. We’re great believers in the little touches, also, and there will be a pint of fresh milk, a loaf of fresh bread, butter, eggs, cereals, and a bowl of fresh fruit, along with teas and coffees, both Nespresso and percolated waiting for them when they arrive. There is no need to bring anything at all to be able to relax on your first day and night, but being in the town centre with four supermarkets nearby and numerous restaurants within five minutes’ walk means that guests are able to leave their cars in our secure yard and walk easily to all amenities. Of course, the cottage also offers complete privacy. It’s perfect. It is a privilege to be recognised in the annual Lux Awards. It is a powerful endorsement of everything our guests have been saying. Our success to date has been based largely on constantly ensuring that each visitor is treated with respect and made to feel genuinely welcome. We know we are good but it is awards such as this that prove it for us. At Panfield House we also focus on being completely up to date with style and décor trends and we regularly update the furniture and anything else that helps make the experience of being with us a pleasure. The biggest challenge we encounter is trying to fit everyone in as we have to turn away many people due to us being fully booked for most of the year. We are in a niche market, we like our guests, they like us. Although we work within a competitive industry, we try not to compare ourselves or compete with anyone. We believe that there is enough for everyone.
Company: Panfield House Email: sleep@panfieldhouse.com Web Address: www.panfieldhouse.com Address: Panfield House, Braintree,CM7 2TH, UK Telephone: +44(0)1376 326345
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Best Wilderness Retreat - Dominica
Best Wilderness Retreat – Dominica Founded in 1969, the Papillote Wilderness Retreat continues to enchant visitors from around the world who return again and again to relax in our luxuriant tropical gardens, steam away their stress in our hot mineral pools and enjoy authentic Creole dining at our Rainforest Restaurant. We are on hand to help our guests discover the hidden treasures of Dominica, ensuring that your time is spent maximising your enjoyment of every minute of your holiday.
Perched on the rainforest slope of Morne Macaque, Papillote is near all of the extraordinary attractions of the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The team are able to assist you with planning expeditions to the Freshwater and Boeri Lakes, Middleham Falls, Titou Gorge and the legendary Boiling Lake. The charming rooms and suites here are simply furnished with comfortable beds, locally crafted quilts and fresh cut flowers. They are built in the traditional West Indian style with tile floors and classic wooden shutter windows. Papillote’s natural spa includes four unique hot pools, each fed by a constant stream of hot volcanic mineral water which flows from natural springs at the back of the plateau above Damsel Falls. Adding to the atmospheric scenery are some grand stone statues covered in a patchwork quilt of moss and lichens, standing guard over two of our four pools.
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Built to accommodate up to 15 adults, our largest hot pool is located in a jungle fringed grotto, with a stunning view of our own L’Iviere Seyo waterfall, one of the two beautiful falls that you will encounter on our grounds. A cold, freshwater river that flows from the waterfall feeds an adjacent bathing pool, where you can cool down from a hot Caribbean afternoon. Our second pool is also the most intimate and iconic. Located just a few steps from the Rainforest Building, the Iguana pool is found at the base of a 10 foot stone sculpture. Just right for two, the Iguana pool is ideal for soothing aching muscles after a hike to the Boiling Lake or to decompress after a long day of scuba diving. Perfect for a pair but large enough for more, our third hot pool, the Grouper, is hidden like a cave on the veranda. And finally, the Restaurant Pool can accommodate six to eight people and is open to the public throughout the day.
Soon it will be time to dine on fresh-caught fish, prawns or chicken prepared Creole-style with all the fabled spices of our island’s rich cultural heritage. Exotic fruits and vegetables from the endless bounty of Dominica’s organic gardens are available to try, along with fresh fruit juices, island-brewed Kubuli beer, or our special “Papillote” rum punch.
Company: Papillote Wilderness Retreat Email: papillote@cwdom.dm Web Address: www.papillote.dm Address: P. O. Box 2287 Roseau Commonwealth of Dominica West Indies, Windward Islands Telephone: (767) 448-2287
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Best for Nails and Beauty – Vauxhall
Best for Nails and Beauty - Vauxhall
PEINT is a nail and beauty salon based in Vauxhall, central London. It’s a Moroccan themed salon due to my years spent in the Middle East and I wanted to bring something with a more global feel to the salon scene in London. Our services are themed and we use only the most reputable and established brands in the industry. Our clients are very diverse; we have so many nationalities and age groups visiting us which perfectly reflects our diverse team that we have in the salon. I love the cosmopolitan mix, and this is something that is very unique in London. We are always looking to add to our service offering to make sure that we are meeting our clients’ beauty and nail needs. The success of a salon is always down to the team and the services that they provide. I believe that we have a fantastic team both at the management and professional level. We believe in continuous professional education and hope that this professionalism and product education is reflected in the service that we provide our clients. We strive to provide 5* customer service at all times and take all comments and suggestions on our service and salon seriously. The team really get to know our regular clients and we hope that they feel at home in the salon where they are looked after as part of the PEINT family. PEINT focusses on offering a diverse range of services at a standard that is nothing less that excellent. We wanted to encourage clients to have regular manicures to maintain their nail care - in response we created a manicure club where clients can attend for a set monthly fee on an unlimited basis. Clients are loving this and we reward their loyalty with incredible value and customer care as well as making sure that our clients can have regular nail care services for an amount that appreciates their loyalty to our salon. Awards such as these are fantastic to receive. It feels like the hard work that you put into a business is being recognised and that your effort to make your service standards nothing less than excellent are appreciated. It boosts team morale as the whole team feel like they play a part in the salons success and it’s recognition on the outside world. In the wider industry, you find that you are setting the bar and pushing each other to provide excellent service in the beauty industry. It encourages innovation and excellence which can never be a bad thing. We really believe that we can offer a holistic nails and beauty package - the standard is high in all the service areas that we cover. Our membership clubs offering manicures on an unlimited basis really is unique to our salon and clients absolutely love the value and care that comes with regular manicures with a manicurist team that they know and trust.
Company: Peint Name: Kirsten Maine Email: info@peint.co.uk Web Address: www.peint.co.uk Address: Unit 8 St George Wharf, Vauxhall, London SW8 2LE Telephone: 0207 735 4422
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Best Guesthouse - Dão Lafões
Best Guesthouse – Dão Lafões Situated in the centre region of Dão Lafões is a rural tourism facility where comfort and quality of modern times marry perfectly. Outside the guesthouse, visitors can enjoy the spectacular natural surroundings, including a beautiful forested area and a creek, from where they can observe several waterfalls. We are a small and young company but we are located in one of the most stunning regions of Portugal, close to the area’s beautiful mountains and rivers. These rivers are reputedly the most unpolluted rivers in all of Europe and boast a number of spectacular waterfalls and tranquil natural pools. Within our guesthouse itself, guests can enjoy a high standard of accommodation with access to all commodities and amenities, enabling them to feel at ease in a home away from home. At the same
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time, they can get back to nature in a healthy and unpolluted environment in one of our relaxing natural spas.
We are very happy to have won this award and we believe this success is due in part to the great feedback we have received from our previous guests.
Although in a very rural location, we realise that our visitors may also need to visit one of the nearby towns such as: • Aveiro and its beautiful beaches (30min drive) • Oporto, Portugal’s second city (1hr drive) • Historic Viseu (30min drive) • University town, Coimbra (45min drive) • Oliveira de Frades (10min drive) • Vouzela (15min drive) • São Pedro do Sul and its famous thermal springs (20 min drive) • Sever do Vouga (25 min drive)
This win also reflects the fact that our main focus is always on the blend of quality and comfort with an authentic and exhilarating natural experience.
When it comes to dining, we can offer traditional Portuguese meals or our guests can enjoy the local cuisine in one of the many restaurants nearby. We can also organise several activities for our guests, such as nature photography safaris with a professional photographer, river sports and biking.
Until very recently, we focused our marketing effort on several internet channels and the old - but effective word of mouth - however, we have now starting marketing through more specialised media.
Company: Quinta dos Caibrais Email: geral@quintadoscaibrais.pt Web Address: www.quintadoscaibrais.pt Address: Póvoa de Ussa, 3680-021 Oliveira de Frades, Portugal Telephone: +351934777666
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Best Serviced Apartments - Edinburgh
Best Serviced Apartments – Edinburgh The Knight Residence offers five star serviced apartments in Edinburgh suitable for business, pleasure or families complete with the luxury of a hotel. Situated near Edinburgh’s iconic Castle, in the heart of the city’s old town, you will have a choice of one, two or three bedroom serviced apartments. We pride ourselves on our high standards and the quality of our services. For the past seven years running we have been in the top 1% of hotels in the whole world for customer service, according to leading travel company Expedia. Our service ensures that you make the most of your time here with us. “Guests are the best judges of whether or not a hotel has performed well. We are very pleased to have been rated so highly among some of the world’s finest properties.” General Manager Colin Stone commented. 2015 offers huge competition in the serviced apartment sector and this means that we must stay on our toes to get ahead of our competitors. We don’t claim to be the most luxurious apartment hotel, however what we do claim is to have the finest staff and customer excellence in the whole of Scotland and our consistent awards are testament to this. The Knight Residence was opened in 1999 and since then we have consistently delivered the highest levels of standards and customer care to our guests. With a combination of one, two and three bedroom apartments we are able to cater for all types of guests. We are fortunate enough to have our own car park as part of our development, with all profits for the use of our car park going to plant native trees in Scotland. The Knight Residence is much more than just achieving awards, we are a family. Our staff members are our most important asset. Training and staff
involvement in decision making processes and ideas are at the forefront of our mission statements and strategic planning. Each staff member is here to ensure that our guests are given the highest levels of customer service and satisfaction and most importantly offer an unforgettable stay with us. As accommodation providers we are the key to creating a lasting impression of the services that we offer so that guests return year on year. In March of this year (2015) The Knight Residence was acquired by Mansley Group Holdings, with highend serviced apartments in the heart of London and Inverness, this means that we are able to further our guests experience if they are travelling to elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Mansley Serviced Apartments have the same ethos as The Knight Residence and believe that to create a truly unique place for people to feel at home and enjoy, you need to create the right atmosphere. The Mansley Group also has high-end apartments in London in exclusive Mayfair and the fashionable district of Kensington and Chelsea.
The Knight Residence by Mansley Serviced Apartments has also developed close partnerships with some of Edinburgh’s top attractions including, The Edinburgh Playhouse, The Royal Yacht Britannia and The Royal Botanical Gardens. These partnerships mean that we are able to offer tailored packages that combine a luxury apartment with a world class attraction. We are preferred partners with a number of the large on-line travel agents including Booking.com. Hotels. Com Orbitz and Expedia.Com. With an average online review score of 4.8 out of 5! For the past eight consecutive years we have been awarded ‘Expedia Insiders Select’, an award given to only the top 1% of the best hotels of the world and along with this, for the past 15 years, The Knight Residence has been in the top two on Trip advisor.
Company: The Knight Residence Email: info@theknightresidence.co.uk Web Address: www.theknightresidence.co.uk Address: 12 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh Scotland, EH3 9DJ, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 131 622 8120
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Best Boutique Hotel - Falmouth
Best Boutique Hotel – Falmouth
The Oceanic Hotel is a unique blend of a luxury hotel and a relaxing home from home experience. Originally bought at the end of 2012 when it was being run as a 24 bed hotel catering for coach parties, owners Tim and Heather Wood undertook a £1,000,000 refurbishment of the property over 18 months to create just 5 spacious contemporary hotel apartments. We wanted to create something really special based on taking the best bits from the various hotels we have stayed in around the world. Offering an exclusive VIP experience for adults only, The Oceanic is ideally suited for couples looking for a romantic escape or a base from which to explore Cornwall, parents of students at the university or for visiting professionals. Each apartment is individually laid out and provides spacious lounges with 3-D smart TVs and DAB radios/Bluetooth speakers, romantic bedrooms with sumptuous king sized beds and luxuriously appointed bathrooms boasting showers with body jets and waterfall feature. A fully equipped kitchen or smaller kitchenette is also included for those with special dietary requirements or for those occasions when you just want to stay in and chill. Virtual aquariums and mood lighting add a truly relaxing ambience to some of the apartments whilst our top floor 2 bed apartment also boasts a double spa bath and sauna cabin for total indulgence.
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The Oceanic is located high on the peninsular overlooking Falmouth harbour and is conveniently placed just 5 minutes’ walk away from the main town with its shops, restaurants and bars, a couple of minutes’ walk from the beach and around 5 minutes’ walk to the historic Pendennis Castle. We have worked hard to ensure that our attention to detail is second to none and that the quality of finish exceeds expectations. This was particularly challenging for a renovation of a building over 150 years old! We have only been open for a year and have been very lucky to have enjoyed a lot of support from local businesses. We are keen to attract clientele from around the world and are currently gaining a growing customer base from Germany, Australia and China. The use of online travel agents has been helpful with this.
As for the award, we are delighted to have the acknowledgement of “Best Boutique Hotel – Falmouth” as our aim when creating The Oceanic was to set a new standard of excellence for accommodation in the area. This has been endorsed both by the reviews we have enjoyed and the business we have received from the superyacht community who regularly visit Falmouth both for the regattas and to have work done to their yachts at Pendennis Shipyard.
Company: The Oceanic Hotel Name: Tim & Heather Wood Email: info@oceanichotelfalmouth.co.uk Web Address: www.oceanichotelfalmouth.co.uk Address: 1 Lansdowne Road, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4BE Telephone: 01326 389330
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LUX 4*Regency Guesthouse of the Year
LUX 4* Regency Guesthouse of the Year
The Oriental is a boutique guesthouse tucked away just off of Brighton seafront. We provide guests with beautiful individually styled rooms, each housing everything you might need for a relaxing stay. For the breakfast, we use a local butchers and organic farm to provide us with some of the best local ingredients. We feel we have something for everyone here, offering reasonably priced standard rooms to something more luxurious in one of our superior rooms. No matter the budget, our high level of customer service extends to all. It’s important for us to make sure that guests know that we are always on hand, and that no query/ favour is too much. We also believe that the little things mean a lot, even something as simple as the treat baskets, L’Occitane toiletries and vanity boxes in all guests rooms can make someone’s stay that little bit more special. Our staff are friendly and helpful, with an in-depth knowledge of Brighton, no matter what the guests’ preferences are; we believe that no request is too much trouble here at The Oriental. Our clientele are varied, we find couples often return after staying with us, but also find that guests visiting for business enjoy the room just as much. The hotel as a whole has a very “chilled” vibe, with guests often commenting on how relaxed they feel after staying, even if for just one night. We are also a very pet-friendly establishment, four of our nine rooms will accommodate pets which we warmly welcome. Cleanliness, quality and attentiveness are the main areas that we thrive to keep at the highest level. Challenges have come in different guises, notably dealing with issues that come with a grade II* listed building. We manage to get through this because the staff maintain a positive attitude and all chip in to help each other during the busy periods. When dealing with our guests, nothing is too much trouble and we are always happy to help with anything. We truly believe this so we dedicate as much time needed to make sure all aspects of our guests stay is perfect. One of the most important and
enjoyable parts of the job is being able to map out Brighton for guests, by having the knowledge of the area, it feels like you can help plan the perfect stay based around a guests’ interests. We also like to keep a very relaxed atmosphere throughout the hotel, and we think that the attitude of the staff and the decor/layout of the building reflects that well. We appreciate art and music, keeping a keen eye out for big events to recommend to guests as well as participating in the Brighton Artist Open House program. We always have artwork on display, most of which is for sale. We are also very aware that the hotel industry is always changing and we are constantly trying to adapt to the ever evolving needs of our guests. Most of these changes currently revolve around technology; there are so many new applications being introduced to the hotel sector, it really is an exciting time. We feel one of our strongest attributes is the personal interaction we have with our guests, so we are combining this with the introduction of new technology. We are currently trialling an online welcome pack with a lot of information regarding places to eat, things to see and culture to absorb, which we send out in a confirmation email so guests are well informed before they arrive. With so much happening in Brighton, the main events that we have to plan carefully and accordingly are generally the marathon, the great escape festival, fringe
festival and Brighton pride. On top of this, Brighton will be hosts for two of the Rugby world cup fixtures. These are very busy times with opportunities for us to market ourselves to the huge number of people looking for somewhere unique to stay. One of the biggest challenges will be how to effectively use any spare time after the Christmas period and to think about how to fill spare capacity in the quieter season. We hope to do this by building up a strong customer base in these busy times so during the low season we can welcome back returning guests. We are very grateful for this award, and proud of all of our staff members for making it possible. We definitely owe the hard work and persistent high quality to our staff and of course, the guests are a huge part of our success. The feedback we get back, whether it is positive/neutral/negative, helps us constantly strive for improvement. Awards such as these are very important for us, and it’s nice to be recognised for all of the hard work and energy that is needed to keep a high quality establishment running. This award will show potential clientele and previous guests what we’ve achieved here; it will give us the confidence boost to progress as a top quality Brighton guesthouse.
Name: The Oriental Email: info@orientalbrighton.co.uk Web Address: www.orientalbrighton.co.uk Address: 9 Oriental Place, Brighton, BN1 2LJ Telephone: 01273 205050
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Best Luxury Lodge - Kruger National Park & LUX Location Award: Best for Spectacular Scenery
Best Luxury Lodge – Kruger National Park & LUX Location Award: Best for Spectacular Scenery The Outpost Lodge is strategically situated in the northern-most, untouched region of the Kruger National Park. Our suites, or ‘Spaces’, are a true work of art. Cantilevered over the edge of a cliff, each Space has only one wall, while the other surrounding ‘walls’ are retractable, motorized blinds. This allows for you to feel as though you are sleeping outside, all the while encapsulating every luxury imaginable. These uninterrupted views of the landscape showcase 80% of the Kruger National Park’s biodiversity, right on your doorstep.
a little bit of The Outpost with them. This is evident in the large number of return guests that have made The Outpost their second home.
In terms of client service, we believe in the smaller touches, the inexplicable finer details and being one step ahead in terms of our guests’ needs. It is the small things that make the overall experience one to remember. Our guests always come first and when they leave we want them to feel as if they are taking
In terms of current trends, there is strong focus on digi-detox, where people refrain from using any electrical devices. We cater to the growing desire for people to get close to nature on a personal level and explore the history of where the different cultures originated.
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We believe in learning and growing. Training and development are strong pillars of our organisation. They encourage confidence in our team, which translates into guests feeling at ease and being taken care of. This constant desire to improve is paramount in our industry. To keep ahead you have to use your initiative, think outside the box, be innovative, draw on your surroundings and constantly adapt to a dynamic environment. This process ensures you are playing to your strengths and allowing your identity and product to stand out.
Looking towards the future, we will be adding an exclusive use, luxury tented lodge to The Outpost. This will cater for families and intimate groups wanting to travel together. As for the award, we were absolutely delighted and thrilled to have been selected as a nominee, and then to have won two categories is something we are extremely proud of. From the moment we set foot at The Outpost we knew it was something very special that we had to share with the world. The uniqueness of the landscape, the warmth and dedication of the people and the architecture of the lodge are just some of the leading factors that make The Outpost what it is.
Company: The Outpost Lodge Name: The Outpost Lodge Email: reservations@theoutpost.co.za Web Address: www.theoutpost.co.za Address: Makuleke Concession, Kruger National Park, Limpopo Telephone: +27 11 327 3910
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Luxury Hotel of the Year – Indonesia
Luxury Hotel of the Year - Indonesia
The Trans Resort Bali, the latest addition to Bali’s luxury hotel scene, is a veritable gem situated at the gateway to Seminyak. Building on the success of The Trans Luxury Hotel Bandung, it combines a sophisticated blend of rich Indonesian tradition with contemporary refinement and promises unrivalled levels of service. The resort boasts 184 spacious rooms and suites and 16 palatial villas with private pools. Add to this is the spa, fitness centre, boutique, Kids Club and an array of food and beverage options that will make you realise why guests never want to leave. We are a true five-star property with 10-star services. The level of luxury in the hotel can be seen in the great attention to detail we give to everything in the hotel. Furthermore, we have wonderful staff whose hard work and dedication help provide the magical experience we deliver for our guests. When it comes to our approach to client services, our focus is on consistently delivering extraordinary experiences. We are dynamic with a lively set of products and services that combine to provide an allround tremendous experience for our clients. In order stay ahead in what is a very competitive industry, we focus on providing personalised and flexible services that cater for a very diverse range of guests. Over the past few years, we have seen the continuing focus of rooms inventory, which was due to both development activity in traditional hotel formats and high activity in development of new formats (apart-hotels, mini-hotels and hostels, first capsule hotels, etc.). This has resulted in more competitive prices across the industry. In our region, the rapid increase of new hotels for 2015-2016 in Bali reflects active business development efforts of major hotel chains over the past years, coupled with the improvement of the macro-economic environment in the past few years. However as a national chain hotel, we are confident that we can compete with others in terms of delivering our luxurious products and services. With regards to this award, we are very happy and sincerely grateful to be recognised by the prestigious Hotel & Spa Awards and our goal is to continue to provide excellent service and great cuisine to rival the beauty of our location. We will work extra hard to exceed the expectations created by these fabulous awards. This outstanding recognition reflects our commitment to consistently providing excellent service, something that could not have been possible without the efforts of our knowledgeable and passionate team here at the Trans Resort Bali. In line with Trans Group’s service philosophy, we will continue to bring the group’s awarding-winning hotel concept and global standard services to our guests. Company: Trans Luxury Hotel Name: Alexander Jovanovic – General Manager Email: Alex.Jovanovic@thetranshotel.com Web Address: www.transresortbali.com Address: Kerobokan – Seminyak 80361, Bali, Indonesia Telephone: +62 361 898 1234 LUX - Hotel & Spa Awards 2015 53