Luxury travel is regaining its lost ground and the hotels are brushing up their acts with renovations and innovative packages and services. Hotel is a competitive business and it takes a lot to be declared the best amongst the best. Virtuoso, a luxury travel agent network has started the process of determining the nominees for its fifth annual Virtuoso “Best of the Best” Hotel Awards. They have several categories ranging from “Best Family Program†to “Best Bar Experience†and have shortlisted about fifty from about 900 properties competing.
VIRTUOSO LIFE magazine’s editorial director, Elaine Srnka and Virtuoso’s vice president of hotels, destinations & tours, Albert Herrera named the hotels that have been nominated in different categories as they stand out amongst the rest. The nominees being part of the network’s Hotels & Resorts Program have been thoroughly vetted by Virtuoso. Hundreds of properties were reviewed and researched to finalize the final list of nominees. Now it is up to the network’s elite travel advisors to decide which properties top each of the ten categories.
The winners of the Best of the Best awards will be declared on August 17, 2011, at the Hotels & Resorts dinner during Virtuoso’s 23rd annual Travel Mart Conference. The Travel Mart will be on from August 14 to 19 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Hotel of the Year is the top category that recognizes excellence in design, ambience, service, food and beverage, spa, family programs, innovation and social responsibility. One to Watch rewards exciting new properties. Best Culinary Experience and Best Bar obviously reward the food and beverages excellence. Then there is the Best Family Program and Best Achievement in Design category. The awards also recognize the Best Spa, Most Innovative Guest Experience and Most Socially Responsible hotel. And finally the awards honor an individual hotel manager as the Hotelier of the Year.
Via: luxurytravelmagazine
