Hidden Kiwi Gems' winners in HotelClub Hotel Awards

' Hidden Kiwi Gems' winners in HotelClub Hotel Awards

14 March 2011

The Rugby World Cup, Middle Earth, great wine, food and mud baths were all reasons why eleven Kiwi hotels were announced as winners in the HotelClub Hotel Awards 2011.

HotelClub Hotel Awards is a flagship programme that honours outstanding hotels from the most popular destinations around the world. The current Awards focus on New Zealand, recognising hotels as 'Hidden Kiwi Gems.'

HotelClub (www.hotelclub.com) is a world-leading global accommodation website offering a unique rewards programme where members earn Member Dollars on every booking. Since its inception, HotelClub Rewards members have saved over US$14 million.

The winners were selected based on genuine guest reviews posted on www.hotelclub.com and through reviews by HotelClub's on-the-ground hotel experts.

Leading the category 'Best to see the All Blacks win the world Cup' was Auckland City Hotel Hobson. According to a Platinum Member, Hotel Hobson is "Very clean and comfortable, handy to everything. Far enough away from street noise of city. Good value for money. "

The Chateau Marlborough Blenheim was winner in the category 'Best Brekkie to wake up for' and, not surprisingly, it was another Marlborough hotel - Hotel D'urville - which took out the title of 'Best Cellar Door'.

Further south, Millbrook Resort laid claim to the title of the 'Best place to get hitched,’ while in another favourite tourist spot, Hamurana Lodge Boutique Hotel in Rotorua was considered 'Best for Mud Baths', about which one guest said: "What a beautiful country estate in a pretty setting. Highly recommended and I shall definitely return."

Additional awards are presented for hotels with characteristics that make them extra special. For Kiwis they include titles such as 'Closest to Middle Earth', 'Kiwi Chic for Design and Furnishing', 'Most Devilish Degustation Menu' and 'Top Spots' to 'Take the Tiki Trail' or 'Push you to the Edge'.

Minaret Lodge in Wanaka headed off four other hotels in the town to be named winner of the 'Closest to Middle Earth' category. It was comments such as "My stay in their Lord of the Rings-themed Barliman's room was most memorable...thanks for a great stay!" which gave them the edge.

'Kiwi Chic for Design and Furnishings' winner was The Rees Hotel & Luxury Apartments in Queenstown, with one guest commenting: "Beautiful hotel in an awesome location. The room was very comfortable and spacious."

Wellington's iconic Museum Hotel took the title for the 'Most Devilish Degustation Menu,’ while the Beech Tree Motel in Taupo has the 'Fluffiest Pillows.’

And as to be expected, two major tourist destinations took the special feature categories for 'Top Spots.’ Top Spot to 'Take the Tiki Trail' went to the Lake Taupo Motor Inn, while Top Spot to 'Push you to the Edge' was won by the Dairy Private Luxury Hotel in Queenstown.

The extensive awards promotion ultimately benefits travellers in helping them make better informed choices on their hotel bookings. Travellers are further rewarded when booking with HotelClub through the pioneering HotelClub Rewards Program, where every booking made earns them HotelClub Member Dollars, which can be used on their next booking.

All the winning hotels can be booked on www.hotelclub.com. To view all the Kiwi winners along with past international winners, go to www.hotelclub.com/hotel-awards.

"Our heartiest congratulations to all the winners of the Hotel Awards 2011," said Timothy Hughes, HotelClub’s Vice President of Hotel Services for Asia Pacific. "The Best Destination winners have risen to the top based on objective assessments by HotelClub’s team of experts.

"The Hidden Kiwi Gems” winners have been selected based on genuine member reviews posted on www.hotelclub.com. We look forward to enduring partnerships with the winners over the next 12 months and beyond.”

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