5 September 2011
Blanket Bay wins the title of “New Zealand’s Best Lodge” at the coveted HM Awards 2011.
Blanket Bay’s reputation as Australasia’s ultimate alpine escape and New Zealand’s finest luxury lodge continues to be
upheld with its win last Friday night, 2 September 2011, at the hotel industry’s prestigious HM Awards.
Spanning Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands the HM Awards are this region’s only independent benchmark for
excellence in hospitality management, voted on by a panel of judges consisting of leading travel writers, hoteliers and
travel industry professionals.
Philip Jenkins, Blanket Bay’s General Manager, was delighted with this further accolade: “This HM Award again
illustrates our staff’s consistently high service standards and the resultant guest satisfaction that comes from Blanket
Bay’s unique blend of luxury and location”.
“New Zealand is widely acknowledged as having a collection of outstanding lodges, a concept which has also been adopted
in Australia and Southern Africa. It is gratifying to see the recognition that luxury lodge accommodation is now
achieving worldwide. The success of Blanket Bay is based upon this significant growth in demand for small luxury hotels
that offer truly intimate hospitality and local flavour in stunning destinations”, states Philip.
Blanket Bay regularly features amongst the world’s best. Along with last Friday night’s HM Award win, Conde Naste
Traveler’s 2010 Gold List ranked Blanket Bay as the second-highest scoring property in the world and the top-scoring
hotel in Asia, Australia and Pacific nations. Also last year the discerning readers of the prestigious Andrew Harpers
Hideaway Report voted Blanket Bay 6th in the Top 20 Hideaways in the world, and the best in New Zealand. In 2009 Blanket
Bay also won the HM Award for “New Zealand’s Best Regional Property”.
“Even in these turbulent economic times there is a strong short breaks market. Blanket Bay is just over three hours
flying time from the major centres of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland and attracts more and more discerning
Australian and New Zealand travellers seeking the ultimate alpine escape”, he said.
Those wanting to check in to New Zealand’s most exclusive address sample New Zealand’s best lodge can do so at low
winter season rates (from $1000 per couple including pre dinner drinks, dinner, bed, breakfast and use of all
facilities) right through until the end of the Rugby World Championship.
About Blanket Bay
Established in 1999, Blanket Bay is an expansive lakeside property on a 65,000 acre high country farm, combining the
sophistication of the world's finest alpine lodges and the unique characteristics of New Zealand. The intimate resort
consists of 12 guest rooms including spacious suites, intimate lodge rooms and elegant chalets. A member of Small Luxury
Hotels of the World, accommodations offer travellers vast sitting rooms, king-sized beds, stone fireplaces, secluded
balconies and spectacular views.
About HM Awards
Held in the form of a black tie dinner at the prestigious Sydney Town Hall this year, these 9th HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence received over 1600 entries from across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and selected South Pacific
nations. The event attracted the who’s who of Australia’s, and the regions, hotel industry.
ENDS