The Amarula Best Retreats in Africa Awards aim to become a benchmark for consumers looking for the ultimate African Experience.
Werner Swanepoel, Amarula Group marketing manager added: “Whether you represent a chic urban retreat, swish safari lodge or superior spa; these awards can afford you the opportunity to showcase your luxury property to an international market. We hope to pass on our knowledge and assist in creating leading African icons that attract worldwide attention.”
There are ten inspired categories for retreats to enter, ranging from Leading Wellness Retreat, Most Innovative Retreat to The Heart of Africa Award. Leading lifestyle portal, iAfrica.com, will give consumers the opportunity to vote for their favourite retreat or nominate a wild-card entry (a retreat which hasn't entered but who they think is worthy of recognition). The portal will upload all entries to the iafrica.com portal after the closing date for entries of 7 June 2009, following which consumers will be able to vote.
A panel of prestigious judges from 2008, along with some new additions, will select various retreats in the ten categories and, together with the overall accolade of Amarula Best Retreat in Africa, these will be announced at a lavish gala evening in October 2009. African sophistication, innovation and service delivery are key characteristics that the expert judges are looking for. The entries will all go through a two phase judging process - all entries will be reviewed by the judges in July, the judging of which will be paper-based. Finalists from the paper-based judging will go through to the second round where judges will be sent to the key establishments to personally experience the retreat first hand. Judges will all complete a comprehensive report which will be scrutinised and the winners will be announced in October at a gala event in Johannesburg.
The Amarula Best Retreats in Africa Awards is managed on behalf of Amarula by leading travel publishing company, Best 100:
“The Awards will continue to assist in promoting African Excellence throughout the world and in growing tourism by attracting new people to visit these amazing establishments throughout Africa”: added Paul Kerton, of Best 100.
Prospective entrants can go to www.bestretreatsinafrica.com or www.amarula.com for further information and entry forms.
