1. Paper Judging The first round of judging was a paper-judging session whereby judges met at Johannesburg
   and Cape Town and, based on the entries of the retreats, voted a short-list of finalists.
2. Site visits The next round of judging involved judges visiting the finalist retreats for first hand experience.

The prestigious team of judges are all recognised experts in their chosen fields.

Christa Nel, Senior Project Manager, Explore SA Magazine
It was working on Southern Sun’s Equinox Magazine that fuelled her interest in tourism. In 2004 she became marketing consultant on Explore SA. The team has since won a Pica Award for the Best Business to Business Magazine in Travel.

Etienne Bruwer, Amarula Tourism Activation Manager
Etienne is a tourism expert with an in-depth understanding of in-bound and out-bound travel. Etienne is driving Amarula’s sponsorship of the Best Retreats in Africa Awards, to celebrate and champion the Best of Africa..

Isabel Carstens, Managing Director, Isa Carstens Health and Skin Care Academy
Isabel is a board member of the South Africa Association of Health and Skin Care Professionals and acts as international examiner for CIDESCO. She was awarded the CIDESCO Medal Merite for professionalism.

Jennifer Seif, Executive Director of Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA)
Jennifer has held this position for eight years. Currently completing her Ph.D. at the University of Pretoria, focusing on Tourism Certification and Destination Competitiveness..

Joanne Adolphe, General Manager Product Development, Thompsons Holidays
Joanne has been with the company for 12 years. Joanne is responsible for the Product Department and oversees the procurement and packaging of their wonderful holiday destinations.

Katherine Joyce Director, The Business For Wellness TM
Katherine joined the Board of Directors in 2007. She is committed to exceptional service delivery and has a wealth of experience in process management, finance and the wellness industry.

Llewellyn van Wyk, Founder Member of the Green Building Council of SA and the 2004 Cape Town Olympic Bid
Llewellyn’s architectural practice has completed over 300 buildings in Southern Africa. In 1984 he became a Cape Town City Councilor.

Mega Abodedele, Producer, Africa Awakes
Mega left London’s South Bank University (B Sc Hons in Social Science), and worked in social care for 10 years. He then produced BEN TV on Sky and now produces Africa Awakes, highlighting Africa’s opportunities.

Richard Holmes, Travel Editor of iafrica.com
Richard is as happy in a cottage in the Cedarburg as he is lapping up Hong Kong, but when it comes to escaping his inbox he reckons you can’t beat a hide- away in the Cape mountains.

Sharon van Wyk, Award-winning journalist
This freelance journalist specialises in travel, tourism, and conservation. Sharon has worked closely with Fair Trade in Tourism SA and edits the Mail & Guardian’s supplement dedicated to the NGO’s work.

Stephan Antoni, Architect
Multi-Award winning architect Stefan Antoni established his cutting-edge architectural practice in 1987. The practice has carved a niche for itself locally and internationally for stylish, sensual and powerful design.

Pam Nel, Hospitality Consultant
A registered Assessor with the South African Tourism Grading Council, Pam is a Hospitality Consultant, Freelance Caterer and Building Project manager. She also wrote her own cookbook, “Hot Food from a Cool Kitchen.”

Shannon Smith. Beauty & Wellness Editor, Fair Lady magazine
Shannon was a make-up artist in Cape Town and Europe before settling in South Africa. As Fair Lady’s Beauty Editor Shannon was nominated for two Mondi Awards for Excellence
in Journalism and the Media24 Excellence Award.

Sindiswa Nhlumayo, Deputy Director General for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Sindiswa helps to provide leadership in the development and implementation of policies and strategies
designed to grow tourism in South Africa.

Talia Sanhwe, CNBC Africa television anchor
As an anchor for CNBC Africa, Talia is a skilled communicator with a warm, professional approach. She has worked for the BBC World Service and CNN in London. On TV she has worked on Top Billing and been a producer/presenter on SAfm.

Mandy Mankazana, Founder, IMBIZO Tours
Born in Soweto, Mandy founded IMBIZO Tours and is the first black woman Tour Operator in SA. She had wide experience in show business before seeing tourism as the platform to tell her story of the old and new South Africa..

Margot Janse, Executive Chef, Le Quartier Français Hotel
The incredibly creative Executive Chef at the award winning, Relais and Châteaux, Le Quartier Français Hotel in Franschhoek. She has received countless accolades from the world’s most respected publications..

Jenny Morris, Celebrity Chef, The Giggling Gourmet
Jenny is one of SA's most-loved food personalities. An author, writer, radio and TV presenter, celebrity chef, teacher, caterer and culinary tour guide, she has had an ongoing love affair with food since childhood.

Edith Alusa-Bosire, CEO of Ecotourism Kenya
Edith heads up the organization that promotes ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices in Kenya.
Tessa Buhrmann, Managing Editor of Responsible Traveller magazine, a print and web publication showcasing South Africa as a responsible tourism destination.

The Awards were conceptualised and driven by best 100: a luxury publishing company that specialises in producing lavish books that celebrate the rich wealth of retreat and spa culture in Africa.