Virtuoso proudly presents the nominees and winners for the 2012 Best of the Best Awards, which recognize the properties and individuals that best exemplify Virtuoso’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences.
HOTEL OF THE YEAR – Recognizes a hotel that continually epitomizes excellence in the categories of design, ambience, service, food and beverage, spa, family programs, innovation and social responsibility.
Winner: The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Dorchester Collection, Beverly Hills, California
Nominees:
The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Dorchester Collection, Beverly Hills, California
Kauri Cliffs, Northland, New Zealand
One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Hotel Sacher Wien, Vienna, Austria.
ONE TO WATCH – Recognizes an exciting new property that elevates the hospitality experience, either in an emerging destination or an established tourism market.
Winner: Amanruya, Bodrum, Turkey
Nominees:
The Alpina Gstaad, Switzerland
Amanruya, Bodrum, Turkey
The Conservatorium Hotel Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Leela Palace New Delhi, India
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, Bal Harbour, Florida.
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DESIGN – Recognizes the significance of outstanding architecture and design of a hotel or component therein, whether in new construction, renovation or historic restoration.
Winner: Park Hyatt Sydney, Australia
Nominees:
Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, Morocco
Hotel Bel-Air, The Dorchester Collection, Los Angeles, California
InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas, Oporto, Portugal
Park Hyatt Sydney, Australia
The St. Regis, Bangkok, Thailand.
BEST CULINARY EXPERIENCE – Recognizes the hotel restaurant that offers exemplary food, service, ambience, wine list and even views.
Winner: Sur Mesur, Mandarin Oriental, Paris, France
Nominees:
The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia
Hinokizaka, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, Japan
Sur Mesur, Mandarin Oriental, Paris, France
Térèze, Hotel Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Labeille, Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, France.
BEST BAR – Recognizes the hotel bar that offers a lively, convivial and entertaining social meeting spot where innovative drinks and an enticing atmosphere create a “must see and be seen” buzz.
Winner: £10 at Montage Beverly Hills, California
Nominees:
Le Bar, Beau Rivage Palace, Lausanne, Switzerland
Hyde, The Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada
Lobby Bar, Grand Hotel Europe, an Orient-Express Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia
£10 at Montage Beverly Hills, California
Flair, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, China.
BEST FAMILY PROGRAM – Recognizing the family friendly environment, this award acknowledges special programs and activities for children of all ages, from creative activities to educational endeavors and active adventures.
Winner: Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico
Nominees:
Borgo Egnazia Hotel Ville Spa Golf, Savelletri di Fasano, Italy
Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico
Marbella Club Hotel – Golf Resort & Spa, Marbella, Spain
The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, Florida
Trump Chicago, Illinois.
BEST SPA
– Recognizes the hotel spa that offers the most alluring environment for rest and rejuvenation, creative and therapeutic treatments, and highly skilled and knowledgeable therapists.
Winner: Spa My Blend by Clarins, Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris, France
Nominees:
Akasha Wellbeing Center, Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel
Miraval Resort & Spa, Tucson, Arizona
Oberoi Spa, The Oberoi Gurgaon, New Delhi Capital Region, India
Atarmia Spa, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Spa My Blend by Clarins, Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris, France.
MOST INNOVATIVE GUEST EXPERIENCE – Recognizes a hotel that continually raises the bar by featuring clever and meaningful guest experiences that move the industry forward.
Winner: “Challenge the Chef” Competition, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.
Nominees:
Tartan Butler, Rocco Forte The Balmoral, Edinburgh, Scotland
Treehouse Suites, Chewton Glen, Hampshire, England
Vespa tours with picnics, La Residencia, An Orient-Express Hotel, Mallorca, Spain
Kickboxing school, The Siam, Bangkok, Thailand
“Challenge the Chef” Competition, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.
MOST SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE – Recognizes a hotel dedicated to making a difference through innovative local or global environmental programs that make the world a better place, whether a green initiative or a community education program.
Winner: Lefay Resort and SPA Lago di Garda, Gargnano, Italy
Nominees:
Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Lefay Resort and SPA Lago di Garda, Gargnano, Italy
Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Singita Game Reserves, Kruger National Park, South Africa
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India.
HOTELIER OF THE YEAR – Honors an experienced hotel manager with an unrelenting passion for the industry, an astute appreciation for detail and a keen sense of how to lead and manage a dynamic team of professionals.
Winner: Danilo Zucchetti, Villa d’Este, Cernobbio, Italy
Nominees:
Rebeca Selley, Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, Argentina
Thomas Voss, The Grand Del Mar, San Diego, California
Jean Claude Messant, Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo, Monaco
Malcolm Thompson, The Peninsula Tokyo, Japan
Danilo Zucchetti, Villa d’Este, Cernobbio, Italy
This year, Virtuoso's renowned Hotels & Resorts program is celebrating 20 years of innovation, growth and success. Established in 1992, Virtuoso was the first travel group to develop a standalone hotel program to serve member agencies and their clientele. Twenty years later, Virtuoso’s is the longest-running hotel program, with more five-star properties than any other program and the highest valued amenities at up to $450 per stay. Twenty-one of the founding hotels still remain in the program, which now includes 975 hotels, resorts, villas and private island retreats in 95 countries.