If you’re planning a holiday this winter but have no idea where to go, consider all of the buzz around New Zealand and, specifically, Blanket Bay Lodge. Travel writers, industry experts and discerning travellers have spoken – Blanket Bay Lodge in New Zealand, and New Zealand itself as a destination in general, really cleaned up and won a wide array of travel and tourism awards this year.
Lodge at Blanket Bay is a tiny boutique hotel right on Lake Wakatipu. Built out of native New Zealand timber and stone, guests feel close to nature in this rustic setting.
Guests here stay in gorgeous lakeside rooms or suites, decorated with high end furnishings and plush rugs. Of course, since the lodge is going for a nature-inspired atmosphere, most of the materials used in the rooms are completely natural.
Blanket Bay’s best attributes include its stunning views of the mountains and the lake and its culinary excellence. Guests who enjoy fine food and wine and fabulous views will really love this retreat.
Not surprisingly, Blanket Bay won some of the travel industries top awards this year. For example, the Lodge was named “New Zealand’s Best Regional Property” at the HM Awards 2009 (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island’s only regional benchmark for excellence in hospitality management).
In addition, it was named the best leisure hotel in Australasia and the South Pacific in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2009.
“Our location in one of the most spectacular places in New Zealand combined with the unforgettable experience we work to produce for each and every one of our guests has been recognized by Conde Nast readers. We have a superb kitchen run by a talented team of award winning chefs to produce the very best in gourmet dining. We are just delighted to have the work of each and every member of our staff recognized in this way,” said Blanket Bay Manager Philip Jenkins.
New Zealand as a destination also topped the travel industry’s awards this year. New Zealand was named one of the top five favourite countries by Conde Nast readers for the sixth year in a row this September.
Sarah Miller, Editor Conde Nast Traveller, said New Zealand was popular with readers because of its fantastic landscape and its relaxed quality of life.
“New Zealand is also known for its fantastic food, its Maori culture, and for being one of the safest places on the planet. Of course, it’s also thought of as being forward-thinking for its environmental friendliness. And all that stuff adds up,” she said.
New Zealand was also listed fourth overall in the ‘Best of the Best’ section of the awards which includes cities, airports, hotels, cruise lines and other sectors within the tourism industry.
You can find out more about some of New Zealand’s luxury hotels on the Kiwi Collection website, where we maintain a collection of all of the country’s best high-end accommodation.
Permanent link to this post: The Awards Speak for Themselves: Visit New Zealand and Blanket Bay Lodge
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