We are delighted to announce that Small Luxury Hotels of the World has for the second consecutive year been named 'Number One Luxury Hotel Brand' in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index, beating more traditional brands such as Peninsula and Ritz-Carlton. For the first time, SLH was also named the luxury hotel brand that offers the 'Best Customer Experience', in the separately conducted Luxury Customer Experience Index™, which is based on the views of actual customer experiences in SLH hotels.A number of SLH properties were recognised at the World Travel Awards, which were held in Sydney and Shanghai earlier this month. At the Australasia awards ceremony in Sydney, Pacific Resort Aitutaki received double honours when it was voted the best hotel in the Australasia Boutique Resort category and also the Cook Islands Resort category; The Lyall Hotel & Spa was awarded best hotel in the Australasia Spa Resort category; The George was named best New Zealand Boutique Hotel, while Blanket Bay was voted top in New Zealand's Resort category. At the Asia & Indian Ocean awards held in Shanghai, lebua at State Tower, Bangkok was named Asia's best Design Hotel; Fuchun Resort was voted best hotel in China's Resort category; Kumarakom Lake Resort was named India's best Resort; The Sentosa Resort & Spa was voted Singapore's best Spa Resort; Anantara Resort Golden Triangle was awarded Thailand's best Spa Resort; and Six Senses Hideaway Ninh Van Bay was voted the best hotel in Vietnam's Boutique Hotel category. Labriz Silhouette Seychelles won Seychelles' best Resort category.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World is delighted to announce that Albergo Pietrasanta and Residenza del Moro have been recognised by Legambiente in Italy as the first two environmentally friendly luxury hotels in Tuscany. They were commended in particular for their energy saving policy, use of organic food and use of biodegradable cleaning products.
Anantara Resort Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai, Thailand has been selected as one of the most socially responsible hotels in the world. Only 10 hotels were handpicked for inclusion in the list which honours environmental endeavours and guest experiences that Forbes Traveller describes as 'milestones of hotel-sponsored humanitarian aid'.
La Casa Que Canta has been voted by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine as the Number One Hotel in Mexico, Central and South America in the World's Best Service category.
The Sentosa Resort & Spa in Singapore has recently unveiled its new restaurant which is nestled next to Spa Botanica. The Garden offers an idyllic respite where diners can indulge in contemporary cuisine, which uses ingredients especially sourced from organic or bio-dynamic farms.
Aquapura Douro Valley has recently unveiled 21 brand new villas. The contemporary designed 'Villas do Douro' are situated on the Douro river bank overlooking the river, whilst the 'Villas da Vinha' are surrounded by vineyards and offer a more traditional design. The residences have been designed by well known Portuguese architect and interior designer, Giano Gonçalves. For more information please visit www.slh.com/aquapura
