World Boutique Hotel Awards
Date: 9th November 2017
Held: London, UK
WORLD’S BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Akademie Street Boutique Hotel, South Africa
The Organisers say: Our Awards are the world’s first and only accolades dedicated exclusively to luxury boutique properties, providing a global arena in which hotels can showcase their unique excellence. Above all, the World Boutique Hotel Awards looks for hotels that are undeniably, irrefutably unique.
How we judge our winners – we start by conducting a thorough interview with a hotel’s manager or owner. The questions are tailored to each hotel, since most (or the good ones at least) are very different. We have a collection of well-travelled judges, often with expertise in a field closely linked to the award category they review, that visit each shortlisted hotel.
We believe it is of the utmost importance that each hotel shortlisted for one of our awards is reviewed in person, with the judge staying exactly as a guest would do.
The awards are in their 7th year, and there was certainly a fine array of boutique hoteliers there on the evening, including guest speaker Wladimir Klitschko, two-time world heavyweight champion boxer and hotelier – owner of Eleven Mirrors in Kiev, Ukraine!
There were 13 categories of “Best” hotels – City Boutique, Classic Boutique, Culinary Boutique etc (you get the picture?) initially chosen by region – Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australasia, Europe, The Americas and then “The World’s Best”
The hotels pay £790 to accept their nominations from the great and good – The Nominations Committee…
Hotels are then invited to take an entry in the annual book at prices ranging from £590 to £1990
and the Winners were:
World’s Best Beach or Coastal Hotel – Qualia, Whitsundays, Australia
World’s Best City Hotel – The Serras Hotel, Barcelona, Spa
World’s Best Classic Hotel – The Chester Grosvenor, England
World’s Best Culinary Hotel – Vila Joya, Algarve, Portugal
World’s Most Inspired Design Hotel – Ca Maria Adele, Venice, Italy
World’s Best Honeymoon Hideaway – Carpe Diem, Santorini, Greece
World’s Best New Hotel – Kensho, Mykonos, Greece
World’s Best Relaxation Retreat – Castello Di Guarene, Italy
World’s Most Romantic Hotel – Aenaon Villa, Greece
World’s Most Sustainable Hotel – Cottar’s Safari Lodge, Nairobi, Kenya
World’s Best Wellness Spa – Lefay Resort & Spa, Gargnano, I
World’s Best Private Villa – Over Yonder Cay, The Bahamas
?? – Coco Prive, Kuda Hithi Island, Maldives