Each year in May New Zealand Travel Inc. conducts the poll with their travellers to determine their Top 10 New Zealand properties and travel experiences.
Donna Thomas, President of New Zealand Travel Inc said when presenting the award, " Your kindness, service and enthusiasm for New Zealand have been contagious and our clients have fallen in love with the country. Thank you for that!"
Tom Butler's award is given to an individual who went above and beyond the normal service levels to help even the most cynical of travellers fall in love with New Zealand. This award is given to those who strive to preserve the land, the customs and who give deeply of themselves to New Zealand Travel Inc travellers.
Donna Thomas continues, " This award is always given to someone whose love of the country shows in all they do! They take the spirit of generosity and pride of Homeland and it shows in every experience our clients have in their presence. The Manakitanga Award is given to someone who the travellers mention repeatedly for excellent service and love of land. This year our clients repeatedly cited Tom Butler of Grasmere Lodge as someone who made them fall totally in love with New Zealand. His pride in his country, his generosity of sprit showed with every customer even the most hardened ones".
Nestled in the high Southern Alps, Grasmere Lodge is famed for its privacy and total relaxation or adventures that range from skiing and hiking to horse riding. This traditional New Zealand high country station (ranch), set amid 2500-metre peaks, is a haven for those in need of relaxation and a wonderland retreat for those seeking adventure. Set within a fully operational 5,261 hectare sheep, deer and cattle station (ranch), Grasmere Lodge offers a choice of 13 guest rooms and suites, housing just 24 guests amid comforts that include a Jacuzzi in each en-suite bathroom. The Lodge is bordered by Arthur's Pass National Park and Craigieburn Forest Park. Within or near the grounds of the lodge itself, there are five lakes and three rivers.
LOCATION: 1.5 hours from Christchurch International Airport
Select Hotels & Resorts International congratulates Tom Butler on this exceptional award.
Select Member properties for 2008 are:
AUSTRALIA: Q Station, Sydney, NSW: The Observatory Hotel, Sydney, NSW: Lilianfels Blue Mountains
Resort & Spa, Katoomba NSW; Tower Lodge, Hunter Valley, NSW; Kims Beach Hideaway, Toowoon Bay,
NSW; Arajilla Retreat, Lord Howe Island, NSW; Meadowlake Lodge, Milton, NSW; Hotel Lindrum,
Melbourne, VIC; Select Burnham Beeches, Dandenong Ranges, VIC; Hotel Pension Grimus, Mount Buller,
VIC; Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat, Kangaroo Island, SA; The Lodge at Tarraleah, Tarraleah, TAS; Couran Cove Island
Resort, South Stradbroke Island, QLD; Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, Mossman, Far North Qld;
NEW ZEALAND: Carrington Resort, Karikari Peninsula, Northland; Kourawhero Country Lodge, North Auckland; Mangapapa Petit Hotel, Hawke's Bay; Select Braemar Lodge and Spa, Hanmer Springs; Grasmere Lodge, Arthur's Pass; Huntley House, Christchurch; Millbrook Resort, Queenstown; The Spire Hotel, Queenstown; Edgewater Resort, Lake Wanaka: Fiordland Lodge, Te Anau;
PACIFIC ISLANDS: Fiji Orchid, Nadi, Fiji; Nukubati Island, Fiji; Toberua Island Resort, Fiji; Royale Takitumu Villas, Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort, Tikehau, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia; Manihi Pearl Beach Resort, Manihi, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia
ASIA: Saman Villas, Bentota, Sri Lanka; The Regency Wing of Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Mom Tri's Villa Royale, Phuket, Thailand; Veranda Resort and Spa, Hua Hin, Thailand; Wanakarn Beach Resort & Spa, Phuket, Thailand
MIDDLE EAST: Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, UAE
