Gallivanter's Guide "Hotel of the Year" roster
Feb 7, 2010, 11:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New York City
Posts: 408
Gallivanter's Guide "Hotel of the Year" roster
Does anyone recall what the GG Editor's Choice Hotel of the Year was in 2005? Here's my reconstruction of the past several years--but I can't recall what won in 2005:
2009: Umaid Bhawan Palace
2008: Amanbagh
2007: Four Seasons Langkawi
2006: Trisara
2005:
2004: Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah
2003: Oberoi Udaivilas
2002:
2001:
2000:
2009: Umaid Bhawan Palace
2008: Amanbagh
2007: Four Seasons Langkawi
2006: Trisara
2005:
2004: Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah
2003: Oberoi Udaivilas
2002:
2001:
2000:
Feb 7, 2010, 12:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,294
Does anyone recall what the GG Editor's Choice Hotel of the Year was in 2005? Here's my reconstruction of the past several years--but I can't recall what won in 2005:
2009: Umaid Bhawan Palace
2008: Amanbagh
2007: Four Seasons Langkawi
2006: Trisara
2005:
2004: Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah
2003: Oberoi Udaivilas
2002:
2001:
2000:
2009: Umaid Bhawan Palace
2008: Amanbagh
2007: Four Seasons Langkawi
2006: Trisara
2005:
2004: Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah
2003: Oberoi Udaivilas
2002:
2001:
2000:
Last edited by paul2; Feb 7, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Feb 7, 2010, 1:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: Hilton*D, Marriott*LG, Hyatt*G
Posts: 6,268
It appears that it was Dar al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah was the 2005 winner according to this press release:
http://www.jumeirah.com/en/Jumeirah-...2005-_--_-2005
http://www.jumeirah.com/en/Jumeirah-...2005-_--_-2005
Feb 7, 2010, 1:29 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
note the press release date luxury
seems like FS sharm for 2002?
seems surprisingly hard to find info online... doesnt seem like reethi rah in 2005?
"editor's choice" "hotel of the year"? no mention on OO site of any award. 
have they done awards since they started in 1991?
seems like FS sharm for 2002?
seems surprisingly hard to find info online... doesnt seem like reethi rah in 2005?
The One & Only Reethi Rah is generally perceived to be the best (and one of the newest - only opened last year I think). Gallivanters Guide (the privately published hotel review newsletter) made it their 'property of the year' last year and said it sets a new global benchmark for beach resorts.
have they done awards since they started in 1991?
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Feb 7, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Feb 7, 2010, 2:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,294
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-maldives.html
Feb 8, 2010, 3:44 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
For people who don't read GG, this is the award they give to the best place visited during the year by the editors. It is not meant to be a 'best hotel in the world' award, it is a 'best hotel we've been to this year' award.
Feb 8, 2010, 11:51 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
According to my back copies, The Editor's Choice Awards, which first appeared in the January 2001 issue (for the year 2000) were as follows:-
2009: Umaid Bhawan Palace, India
2008: Amanbagh, India
2007: Four Seasons Resort Langkawi
2006: Trisara, Phuket
2005: One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives
2004: Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
2003: The Oberoi Udaivilas, India
2002: Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
2001: The Oberoi Amarvilas, India
2000: Mahakua - Hacienda de San Antonio, Mexico
Prior to 2001, The Editor's Choice Awards just listed properties that had been appreciated in the previous year, but did not highlight any one as the best.
The Reader Poll began in January 1993, for the 1992 Awards.
2009: Umaid Bhawan Palace, India
2008: Amanbagh, India
2007: Four Seasons Resort Langkawi
2006: Trisara, Phuket
2005: One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives
2004: Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
2003: The Oberoi Udaivilas, India
2002: Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
2001: The Oberoi Amarvilas, India
2000: Mahakua - Hacienda de San Antonio, Mexico
Prior to 2001, The Editor's Choice Awards just listed properties that had been appreciated in the previous year, but did not highlight any one as the best.
The Reader Poll began in January 1993, for the 1992 Awards.
Feb 8, 2010, 7:51 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New York City
Posts: 408
Terrific info--thanks.
I wonder how O&O Reethi Rah is holding up? I'm planning my first trip to the Maldives and am torn between Reethi Rah and FS Landaa G. I've searched for recent reports in this forum comparing the two and didn't come up with anything directly comparing the two recently. Any rumors or experiences that could guide my decision?
I wonder how O&O Reethi Rah is holding up? I'm planning my first trip to the Maldives and am torn between Reethi Rah and FS Landaa G. I've searched for recent reports in this forum comparing the two and didn't come up with anything directly comparing the two recently. Any rumors or experiences that could guide my decision?
Feb 9, 2010, 3:14 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,068
The focus on India is interesting. I suspect Four Seasons Florence lost out by a very short margin in 2008 (or was it 2007?).
Groombridge - I was in exactly the same situation and decided on the FS LG. Unfortunately I had to cancel the trip for various reasons, but several friends have been there recently and absolutely loved it.
Groombridge - I was in exactly the same situation and decided on the FS LG. Unfortunately I had to cancel the trip for various reasons, but several friends have been there recently and absolutely loved it.
Feb 9, 2010, 5:02 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Terrific info--thanks.
I wonder how O&O Reethi Rah is holding up? I'm planning my first trip to the Maldives and am torn between Reethi Rah and FS Landaa G. I've searched for recent reports in this forum comparing the two and didn't come up with anything directly comparing the two recently. Any rumors or experiences that could guide my decision?
I wonder how O&O Reethi Rah is holding up? I'm planning my first trip to the Maldives and am torn between Reethi Rah and FS Landaa G. I've searched for recent reports in this forum comparing the two and didn't come up with anything directly comparing the two recently. Any rumors or experiences that could guide my decision?
Feb 9, 2010, 7:33 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 751
The best news about O&O Reethi Rah is that the new GM is Stephan Killinger, who prior to this was GM at FS Alexandria. He is an excellent GM, ex-chef, and very strong on F&B and service. He has, I hear, already made a big difference. Going soon so will find out for sure.
Feb 21, 2010, 11:57 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LUX - AGP
Programs: LH, Qantas
Posts: 129
The best news about O&O Reethi Rah is that the new GM is Stephan Killinger, who prior to this was GM at FS Alexandria. He is an excellent GM, ex-chef, and very strong on F&B and service. He has, I hear, already made a big difference. Going soon so will find out for sure.
We met him at a reception for newly arrived guests. I cannnot tell you whether they take place weekly or not, though I imagine they do. He has been there for over a year. I don't know how were things before, but he is really doing a great job. Not to mention the bottle of champagne that was waiting for us the following night in our room after an excellent dinner on the beach
.
Feb 21, 2010, 12:16 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
thanks for the update. ^ any other thoughts on service?
luible left around oct 2008
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news08...ingapore.shtml
killinger appointed around oct 2009, so about 5 months
http://www.etbmice.com/article.asp?articleid=3407
mentions new sales & marketing dir as well
you were there in june 2008, so before luible left. so definitely still mixed.
dec 2008 http://www.maldivestourismupdate.com...eethi-rah.html
jan 2009 >
FS florence is more of a city hotel.
i get the impression the emphasis is on location, like relative/comparative quality, or "surprisingly" good for the location - standard setting.
trisara is the only one where there is something like amanpuri, and trisara went the complete opposite direction in design with "contemporary" style, as well as all rooms with private pools.
luible left around oct 2008
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news08...ingapore.shtml
killinger appointed around oct 2009, so about 5 months
http://www.etbmice.com/article.asp?articleid=3407
mentions new sales & marketing dir as well
dec 2008 http://www.maldivestourismupdate.com...eethi-rah.html
jan 2009 >
* Service is a bit rickety, especially in the restaurants. Every night we ended up filling our own glasses most of the time. Food is served speedily, though - once you've ordered you're never hanging about. General admin also seemed a bit weak - we were rung once at 10.30pm because they had mislaid the voucher from the travel agency and thought we still had it, and then our villa host had got it into his head that we were leaving a day before we were. However, its also true to say that every bill we signed off was 100% accurate.
i get the impression the emphasis is on location, like relative/comparative quality, or "surprisingly" good for the location - standard setting.
trisara is the only one where there is something like amanpuri, and trisara went the complete opposite direction in design with "contemporary" style, as well as all rooms with private pools.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Feb 21, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Feb 21, 2010, 3:08 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Programs: Too many...and an Amanjunkie
Posts: 1,667
There was a TV documentary about Reethi Rah on German TV last year (repeated several times on many pb channels) but scenes were shot around 2005 featuring hospitality jobs in paradise (German TV title "Traumjob im Paradies - Arbeiten auf den Malediven" translated "Dream Job in Paradise - Working in Maledives", http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/13/0,...261165,00.html) on the example of then GM Michael Luible and F&B Manager Sandra Watermann.
Later, Sandra moved on to Interconti Hong Kong and has been appointed Director F&B at Amanpuri since Dec 08 (met here there last October and recognized here from that documentary while she escorted me and my partner to our romantic beach barbeque at Amanpuri beach...).
Later, Sandra moved on to Interconti Hong Kong and has been appointed Director F&B at Amanpuri since Dec 08 (met here there last October and recognized here from that documentary while she escorted me and my partner to our romantic beach barbeque at Amanpuri beach...).