Cape Town, 1 August 2008: Entries have landed, and judges have disembarked with their chosen finalists in each of the 10 categories. Now it is the public’s turn to voice their opinion as to who the continent’s best retreat should be. The 2008 Amarula Best Retreats in Africa Awards celebrate and reward the rich diversity of retreats throughout Africa, and assist in promoting the continent as one of the prime destinations of first class world travel.
The consumers’ vote is important, as this is a unique awards system where their say carries just as much weight as the industry experts who are on the judging panel. Presented by South Africa’s oldest internet portal, ‘iafrica.com’, the retreat that collects the most votes through this interactive online voting mechanism will win the Consumer Choice Award. By voting, consumers will be in line to win a luxury package; including a 2 night stay at the deluxe Kapama River Lodge, as well as win an array of exclusive spot prizes for those who involve themselves in the search for the winning retreat.
Throwing in a wild card always keeps people on their toes! Is there a retreat that consumers feel should be recognized and nominated, that hasn’t already been entered into the Awards? Now consumers have a chance to put forward their favourite luxury destination for entry into the Awards for a chance to win the prestigious accolade.
A panel of well known and respected judges from tourism, food and design backgrounds endured an extensive judging session in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Each entry, some from as far as Mauritius, was examined in thorough detail and those that met the high standards and criteria defined by the Awards system earmarked as finalists.
A gala Awards ceremony will take place on 5 September 2008 at the Museum of Origin in Johannesburg to announce the winners in all categories.
To find out more and to cast your vote, visit http://travel.iafrica.com/bestretreats
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For more information contact:
Total Media |
Tim Hill
Senior Account Manager |
Nikki Versfeld
Account Manager |
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(021) 448 2020 |
(021) 448 2020 |
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082 888 5945 |
082 853 9740 |
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tim@totalmedia.co.za |
nikki@totalmedia.co.za |
Notes to Editors
ABOUT THE JUDGES
Yvonne Johnston – Top media director who has worked across blue chip brands such as Unilever, Old Mutual and Revlon.
Didi Moyle – Chief Operating Officer of SA Tourism for the past 7 years.
Stefan Antoni – Multi-Award winning Architect.
Etienne Bruwer – Tourism expert and Amarula Tourism Activation Manager.
Jennifer Seif – Executive Director of Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA).
Sindiswa Nhlumayo – Deputy Director General of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
Pam Nel – Registered Tourism Grading Assessor, freelance caterer and author.
Liz Morris – Editor of Conde Nast House & Garden.
Sharon van Wyk – freelance travel journalist and former winner of Siemens Profile Award for journalism excellence.
Mandy Mankazana – Founder of IMBIZO Tours and the first black tour operator in South Africa.
Isabel Carstens-Roos – MD of Isa Carstens Health and Skincare Academy, and examiner for the South African Association of Health and Skincare Professionals and CIDESCO.
Shannon Smith – Beauty Editor of Fair Lady magazine.
Richard Holmes – Travel Editor of internet portal iafrica.com.
Llewellyn van Wyk – Architect and founder member of Green Building Council of SA.
Garth Stroebel and Paul Hartman – Awards winning chefs from SA Chefs Academy.
Elisabeth Brandt – Founder of Serenite Wellness Centres and CEO of the Wisdom of Africa Soul of the Earth Spa concept and products.
Philip and Nicky Tyers – Sophisticated interior designers and of Colonial House Design.
Enrico Daffonchio – Founder of energy efficient building designers Daffonchio and Associates.
Johnny Koortzen – Founder of Careways and trained clinical psychologist.
Ottilia Gadzikwa – Presenter of Africa Awakes, a daily breakfast programme exhibiting the prosperities and opportunities in Africa.
THE AWARD CATEGORIES
Category 1: The Best Retreat in Africa – presented by Amarula
Category definition: The ultimate accolade. This retreat is the crème de la crème and is the flagship Award for the Best retreat in Africa that epitomises all that is African.
Category 2: Most Innovative Retreat in Africa
Category definition: The retreat that is pushing the envelope in terms of an innovative point of difference, whether in its approach to guests, service offering or experiential sensation
Category 3: The Best Designer Retreat in Africa
Category definition: Traditional African design has been revised and re-interpreted to produce a new school of African chic. How does this translate itself to your property?
Category 4: The Heritage and Culture Award – presented by Explore SA
Category definition: For the retreat that embraces and enhances the local community and culture in terms of history, architecture, people and projects, and the preservation of the local heritage.
Category 5: The Ultimate in African Cuisine
Category definition: Delicious, mouth-watering, must rush back... This Award is for those retreats with a specific and very special cuisine offering, including ambience and service as well as the food itself. How are you redefining the African cuisine experience?
Category 6: The Leading Eco Retreat in Africa
Category definition: For the retreat that has done most to embrace and apply ecological and conservation principles, either to the practical running of the retreat or to enhance the experience of guests.
Category 7: Service Excellence Award
Category definition: For the retreat that delivers impeccable service time after time.
Category 8: The Leading Wellness Retreat in Africa – presented by Wisdom of Africa
Category definition: For the retreat that is committed to providing the ultimate wellness experience. Pioneering wellness travel through quality spa treatments and wellness offerings.
Category 9: The Consumer’s Choice - presented by iafrica.com
Category definition: The retreat that collects the most votes and positive feedback from consumers and users of African retreats through web-based inter-active voting. Retreats cannot enter this award, it is purely consumer driven.
Category 10: The Heart of Africa Award
Category definition: The retreat that ensures that the people whose land, natural resources, labour and culture are used for tourism, actually benefits from tourism. Including job creation and capacity building. (Note: the Fair Trade in Tourism SA Trademark was officially launched on 13 June 2002.)
About Best 100:
Best 100: is a bespoke publishing and marketing company specialising in lavish, up-market concepts, providing tailor-made solutions for luxury brands. The company has completed numerous publishing projects for clients such as V&A Waterfront, Arabella Sheraton, Nederburg Fashion Week and Mortgage SA among others in South Africa. www.best100.co.za. Paul Kerton was the launch-editor of Men’s Health Magazine and was editorial Director of Shape Magazine, overseeing its launch in South Africa. He has over thirty years of experience in publishing both locally and internationally and is the author of eight books.
About Amarula:
In a land commonly held to be the ‘cradle of humankind’ grows the venerable Marula tree. Steeped in legend and tradition, this wild tree is revered by African tribes as the marriage tree under whose fertile branches many an African princess has been joined in wedded bliss.
The Marula tree is one of the most highly valued indigenous trees on the African continent, with a variety of uses that differ from tribe to tribe. Harking to the African motherland, only the female Marula tree bears the succulent and exotic flavoured fruit which ripens to a light yellow, filling the air with an intense tropical fragrance that floats on the warm summer breeze and which attracts Africa’s giants of the bush, the elephant whose desire for the fruit is unlimited. Deriving from these magnificent beasts of the bush, the renowned Amarula logo is a symbol of heritage, magnitude and something not to be trifled with.
Amarula Cream, the leading brand within the Distell Group, is sold in over 90 countries worldwide. This authentic, luxuriously indulgent drink was first introduced to the South African market in September 1989 and today, is South Africa’s most widely distributed alcoholic beverage. The Marula tree is indigenous to sub-equatorial Africa and its fruit can only be harvested in the wild. This is what gives Amarula Cream its distinctive flavour and silky texture. Amarula is, the true Spirit of Africa. For more information about Amarula, please visit www.amarula.com
Tim Hill
Senior Account Manager
Total Media – the power pr consultancy
Tel: 021 448 2020
Fax: 021 448 2525
Cell: 082 888 5945
www.totalmedia.co.za | www.pressroom.co.za
