Conde Nast Johansens - 2006 Americas Awards for Excellence
NEW YORK, NY, January 12, 2006. Cond'e Nast Johansens today announced the eagerly awaited winners of the 2006 America's Awards for Excellence. The recipients of the prestigious awards were revealed at the publication's annual awards gala. Winners included The Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California; The Point, Saranac Lake, New York; The Hay Adams,Washington DC , The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, South Carolina; and The Lodge at Pico Bonito, Atlantida, Honduras.
Nineteen awards were presented in a range of categories, including Most Excellent Hotel, Most Excellent Resort, and Most Excellent Spa Hotel. This year's awards also featured new categories created specifically to celebrate the ever-growing diversity of the Guide's offerings, such as Most Excellent Eco Resort, South & Central America; Most Excellent Ranch, USA; and Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway, Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific Islands.
"Cond'e Nast Johansens recommends only properties that meet our exemplary standards, so the nominees for the Excellence Awards represent the best of the best, the very finest hotels and resorts in the world," said Lesley O'Malley-Keyes, Cond'e Nast Johansens vice president and publishing director for the Americas. "The awards represent the wonderfully diverse vacation preferences of our readers, so whether one's preference is hiking in Brazil or lying by a pool in the Caribbean, travelers can be sure that the awarded properties are the best of the best." Formerly presented in London, this year's ceremony welcomed to Hotel Plaza Athenee, New York City, the finest hoteliers from the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific Islands.
"We are thrilled that representatives from so many properties attended to make Cond'e Nast Johansens' first Awards for Excellence in New York a wonderful success," said O'Malley-Keyes. "The awards ceremony is a unique event and a chance for owners and managers from outstanding properties not only to celebrate, but to share ideas with other travel industry leaders."
The winners of the 2006 Cond'e Nast Johansens Awards of Excellence, the Americas, are as follows:
~ United States ~
Most Excellent Hotel
Hotel Bel-Air -- Los Angeles, California
Most Excellent Inn
Post Ranch Inn -- Big Sur, California
Most Excellent Lodge
The Point -- Saranac Lake, New York
Most Excellent Spa Hotel
Hotel Hana-Maui -- Hana, Maui, Hawaii
Most Excellent Resort
Elk Mountain Resort -- Montrose, Colorado
Most Excellent Ranch
Triple Creek Ranch -- Darby, Montana
Most Excellent Boutique Hotel
Nine Zero Hotel -- Boston, Massachusetts
Most Excellent Golf Resort
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island -- Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Most Excellent Service
The Hay Adams - Washington DC
~ Mexico ~
Most Excellent Resort
One & Only Palmilla -- San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur
Most Excellent Boutique Hotel
Hacienda Xcanatun -- Casa de Piedra, M~A(c)rida, Yucat~A!n
Most Excellent Spa Hotel
Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort -- Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit
~ Central & South America ~
Most Excellent Resort
Toca do Marlin - Santa Cruz Cabr~A!lia, Bahia, Brazil
Most Excellent Boutique Hotel
Hotel Marina All Suites -- Praia do Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Most Excellent Eco Resort
The Lodge at Pico Bonito -- La Ceiba, Atl~A!ntida, Honduras
Most Excellent Spa Hotel
Praia do Forte Eco Resort & Thalasso Spa -- Praia do Forte, Bahia, Brazil
~ Atlantic, Caribbean & Pacific Islands ~
Most Excellent Resort
Ladera Resort -- Soufriere, St. Lucia
Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway
Yasawa Island Resort -- Yasawa Island, Fiji Islands
Most Excellent Spa Hotel
Cambridge Beaches -- Somerset, Bermuda
The nominations presented in each category were selected from the 285 properties featured in the 2006 Recommended Hotels, Inns, Resorts & Spa - The Americas, Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific by the Cond'e Nast Johansens team of inspectors, readers and hotel guests. Properties were nominated online at www.johansens.com or by completing one of the Award for Excellence cards available at all Cond'e Nast Johansens recommended accommodations.
Cond'e Nast Johansens is the most comprehensive illustrated luxury guide to hotels, inns, resorts, and spas throughout the Americas, Great Britain and Europe, and the only guide book to carry the prestigious and widely-recognized Cond'e Nast seal of approval.