The Leading Hotels of the World unveiled its 2016 Membership Awards recipients during its gala event, culminating the Leading Hotels Annual Convention in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Saturday, November 12. The ceremony, taking place at El Zanjón, honored six member hotels and hoteliers for their continuous commitment to creating happy guests, exemplary leadership in and contribution to the art of hospitality and passion for delivering remarkably uncommon experiences.
“The Leading Hotels of the World Membership Awards is an opportunity to celebrate our member hoteliers’ success and ongoing commitment to individualize and transform the guest experience,” said Ted Teng, president and CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World. “The hotels awarded, though all distinct, are tied together by what sets them apart: offering authentic, unexpected travel experiences that are rooted in their destinations.”
The 2016 Leading Hotels Award honorees include:
Member of the Year: The Greenwich Hotel, New York, NY for demonstrating extraordinary support of, and engagement with the Leading Hotels organization and its programs.
New Member of the Year Award: Park Hotel Vitznau, Vitznau, Switzerland for being the most committed to the Leading Hotels membership through its engagement with the brand and its dedication to establishing and maintaining exceptional quality scores.
Remarkably Uncommon Award: Thanda Safari, Hluhluwe, South Africa for creating story-worthy guest experiences through innovative service and creative team engagement. Topping the ranks this year, Thanda Safari is known for offering an authentic South African wildlife experience, matched with sincere commitment to the Zulu culture and passionate conservation of the environment.
Leaders Club Leadership Award: Excelsior Hotel Ernst, Cologne, Germany for its outstanding commitment, creativity and engagement with the Leaders Club program, and pioneering best practices involving Leaders Club and bringing the experience to life for its guests.
Happy Guest Award: Hotel Splendide Royal, Lugano, Switzerland for providing the greatest commitment to the guest experience, based upon the hotel’s latest quality score and Leaders Club feedback from the previous year.
Leading Legends Award: Bea Tollman, president & founder of Red Carnation Hotels, five of which are members of The Leading Hotels of the World in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland and South Africa, was recognized for her ongoing contributions to the preservation and advancement of independent luxury hotels. Tollman was chosen by a panel of judges, who described her as “the embodiment of the passionately devoted professional, whose hotels are active, engaged and integral components of their communities.”
All six award recipients received an inscribed wristwatch by Blancpain. The world’s oldest watch brand, Blancpain has participated in the company’s annual general assembly since 2005, providing the timepieces presented to the winners of the member recognition awards. The honorees were also presented with an engraved Tiffany & Co. trophy.
The Annual Convention brings together the owners, managing directors and general managers of the more than 375 independently owned luxury hotels and resorts within the collection for business sessions and cultural events. The event, themed, “Creating Uncommon Loyalty,” took place throughout the Buenos Aires including the Leading Hotels Alvear Palace Hotel and Faena Hotel Buenos Aires.
About The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. (Leading Hotels)
Comprised of more than 375 hotels in over 75 countries, Leading Hotels is a collection of uncommon luxury hotels. Rooted in the locations in which they are found, members embody the very essence of their destination. Through varied styles of architecture and design and distinct cultural experiences enhanced by passionate people, the collection is for the curious traveler looking for their next discovery. Established in 1928 by several influential and forward-thinking European hoteliers, Leading Hotels has an eight-decade-long commitment to providing remarkable, authentic travel experiences. The company selects only hotels that meet its high standards for quality and distinctiveness, resulting in a curated portfolio of hotels united not by what makes them the same, but the details that make them different. Leaders Club is the company’s exclusive two-tiered guest loyalty program, consisting of like-minded travelers seeking uncommon travel experiences. The program provides its members with personalized service and exclusive travel benefits to enhance their stays at any Leading Hotel around the world. For more information visit:
www.lhw.com, Facebook at
www.Facebook.com/LeadingHotels and Instagram @leadinghotelsoftheworld