AND THE WINNER IS….
Winners and Award Categories
October 29th at Museum Africa in Johannesburg saw the Gala Awards Evening for the prestigious “Amarula Best Retreats in Africa Awards 2009” where the winners of 10 inspired award categories were announced. High-profile travel mavens networked with the fantastic calibre of retreats entered while sipping on delicious Amarula cocktails. Damian Cook of E-Tourism Africa gave an enlightening speech on how the tourism industry can optimize their brand using online and social media.
The flagship award of the evening - the Best Retreat in Africa.
We asked: What is the magic combination of elements that makes your Retreat the ultimate escape?
The retreat that pushes the envelope in innovation, whether in its approach to guests, service offering or experiential sensation.
We asked: What is innovative about your property, organisation, service or approach?
How does innovation benefit guests and staff, or translate into the local environment?
African design has been re-interpreted to produce a new school of African chic.
We asked: What are the colours, textures, artefacts and moods that inspire you to create your Retreat tapestry?
For the retreat with a very special cuisine offering, including ambiance and service.
We asked: What are the dishes that ensure guests come back for more, and what are the culinary tricks and ingredients that transform a meal into a masterpiece?
The retreat that has done most to embrace and apply ecological and conservation principles; that enhance the running of the retreat and the guest experience.
We asked: How do you incorporate green principles into your retreat and manage the conflict between conservation and business?
The retreat that delivers impeccable service time after time.
We asked: Tell us how you maintain your standards of service?
What lengths do you go to, to train staff, and what are your standards measured against?
The retreat that is committed to providing the ultimate wellness experience.
We asked:How do you provides an oasis of calm and rejuvenation for mind, body and spirit?
What is your signature attraction and what sets you apart?
The retreat that collects the most votes from consumers and users of African retreats through web-based inter-active voting on the top portal iafrica.com. Retreats could not enter this award, this category is purely a “consumer choice” vote and delegates and judges did not officially vote for properties in this category
The retreat that collects the most votes from consumers and users of African retreats through web-based inter-active voting on the top portal iafrica.com. Retreats could not enter this award, this category is purely a "consumer choice" vote and delegates and judges did not officially vote for porperties in this category.
This is a special award for the retreat that has managed to maintain the highest-level of quality across all categories, and acted as a supreme ambassador for African travel and tourism.
Winners and Award Categories
October 29th at Museum Africa in Johannesburg saw the Gala Awards Evening for the prestigious “Amarula Best Retreats in Africa Awards 2009” where the winners of 10 inspired award categories were announced. High-profile travel mavens networked with the fantastic calibre of retreats entered while sipping on delicious Amarula cocktails. Damian Cook of E-Tourism Africa gave an enlightening speech on how the tourism industry can optimize their brand using online and social media.
Category 1: The Best Retreat in Africa – presented by Amarula
The flagship award of the evening - the Best Retreat in Africa.
We asked: What is the magic combination of elements that makes your Retreat the ultimate escape?
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Winner: Chongwe River Camp, Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia Silver: Wolwedans Dune Lodge, NamibRand Desert, Nambia Bronze: Woodall Country House & Spa, Addo, South Africa Click here to view the Winner's Profile |
Category 2: Most Innovative Retreat in Africa
The retreat that pushes the envelope in innovation, whether in its approach to guests, service offering or experiential sensation.
We asked: What is innovative about your property, organisation, service or approach?
How does innovation benefit guests and staff, or translate into the local environment?
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Winner:Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Gansbaai, South Africa Joint Silver:Camp Jabulani, Hoedspruit, South Africa Bronze:Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa, Mombasa, Kenya Click here to view the Winner's Profile |
Category 3: The Best Designer Retreat in Africa
African design has been re-interpreted to produce a new school of African chic.
We asked: What are the colours, textures, artefacts and moods that inspire you to create your Retreat tapestry?
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Winner: Chongwe River Camp, Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia Silver: Royal Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Zambia Bronze: Azura Retreat, Benguerra Island, Mozambique Click here to view the Winner's Profile |
Category 4: The Ultimate in African Cuisine
For the retreat with a very special cuisine offering, including ambiance and service.
We asked: What are the dishes that ensure guests come back for more, and what are the culinary tricks and ingredients that transform a meal into a masterpiece?
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Winner: Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, Garden Route, South Africa Joint Silver: Camp Jabulani, Hoedspruit, South Africa & Woodall Country House and Spa, Addo, South Africa Bronze: Cosmos Cuisine Addo Guesthouse, Addo, South Africa Click here to view the Winner's Profile |
Category 5: The Leading Eco Retreat in Africa
The retreat that has done most to embrace and apply ecological and conservation principles; that enhance the running of the retreat and the guest experience.
We asked: How do you incorporate green principles into your retreat and manage the conflict between conservation and business?
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Winner: Shamwari Game Reserve, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Silver: Wolwedans Dune Lodge, Namibrand Desert, Namibia Bronze: Azura Retreat, Benguerra Island, Mozambique Click here to view the Winner's Profile |
Category 6: Service Excellence Award
The retreat that delivers impeccable service time after time.
We asked: Tell us how you maintain your standards of service?
What lengths do you go to, to train staff, and what are your standards measured against?
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Winner: Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa, Mombasa, Kenya Silver: Royal Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Zambia Bronze: Camp Jabulani, Hoedspruit, South Africa Click here to view the Winner's Profile |
Category 7: The Leading Wellness Retreat in Africa
The retreat that is committed to providing the ultimate wellness experience.
We asked:How do you provides an oasis of calm and rejuvenation for mind, body and spirit?
What is your signature attraction and what sets you apart?
Category 8: The Heart of Africa Award – presented by Explore SA Magazine
The retreat that collects the most votes from consumers and users of African retreats through web-based inter-active voting on the top portal iafrica.com. Retreats could not enter this award, this category is purely a “consumer choice” vote and delegates and judges did not officially vote for properties in this category
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Winner: Umngazi River Bungalows & Spa, Wild Coast, South Africa Silver: Tau Game Lodge, North West Province, South Africa * Bronze: Azura Retreat, Benguerra Island, Mozambique Click here to view the Winner's Profile |
Category 9 – The Consumer Choice – presented by iafrica.com:
The retreat that collects the most votes from consumers and users of African retreats through web-based inter-active voting on the top portal iafrica.com. Retreats could not enter this award, this category is purely a "consumer choice" vote and delegates and judges did not officially vote for porperties in this category.
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Winner: Royal Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Zambia |
Category 10 – All-Round Excellence Award – presented by Best 100:
This is a special award for the retreat that has managed to maintain the highest-level of quality across all categories, and acted as a supreme ambassador for African travel and tourism.
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Winner: Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, Garden Route, South Africa Click here to view the Winner's Profile |
