Hotel of the year: The Dolder Grand, Zurich
The Dolder Grand reopened after almost four years of conversion and restoration work in April 2008. Originally a Curhaus health spa, the hotel was transformed into a luxuryclass city resort with 173 luxurious rooms and suites, two restaurants, a bar, banqueting and conference facilities, a 4,000m² spa area, five tennis courts and a nine-hole golf course.
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Leading London architects Foster + Partners combined the historic Main Building, dating from 1899, with two new wings, the Spa and the Golf Wing, which curve around the fully restored Main Building in a fusion of past and future. What makes the hotel such an outstanding winner is the friendly and personable service, overseen by the young and energetic managing director Thomas Schmid.
Claus Sendlinger: "The Dolder Grand is a prime example of a reinvented historic luxury property that is topnotch in all aspects. It combines personalised services, contemporary architecture, and expansive facilities."
Nominees
See Also:
- Hotel Aurelio, Lech, Austria
- City Boutique Hotel, Prague
- Buddha-Bar, Prague
- 25hours, Frankfurt
- Freixo Palace
Highly commended
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By GlobalDataPousada do Porto, Freixo Palace Hotel, Oporto
Hotelier of the year: Aimone Dal Pozzo, Castello Dal Pozzo, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Aimone Dal Pozzo is one of Europe's youngest general managers at 28. Eschewing his passion for racing motorbikes, which led him to win an Italian Championship and finish third in the European Championship in 2002, Dal Pozzo identified the potential of his family's business, Castello Dal Pozzo in Lake Maggiore, Italy. Once the seat of the Viscounts of Aragona, Castello Dal Pozzo sits astride a small hill town dominating Arona, Lake Maggiore.
In 2004 Dal Pozzo project-managed the building of a five-star luxury hotel and conference centre on the site, spending every day for four years on the construction site. "Even though that felt already quite challenging I discovered shortly after, that that was just the easy part of the job," Dal Pozzo says. "Starting up the new business, finding the key people to trust and work with, has been the real effort in this ongoing quest. We are now operating on a global market but at the end of the day, nothing is more rewarding than a smile from every guest."
Nominees
- Micky Rosen and Alex Urseanu, Roomers Hotel, Frankfurt
- Patrizio Cipollini, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
- Miroslav Forejtek, Park Inn Prague Hotel, Prague
- Micheala Rieterrer, Boutique Hotel Stadthalle, Vienna
- Philippe de Meyer, Kempinski Dukes Palace, Bruges
- Manolis Rassoulis, Elounda Beach Hotel, Crete
- Henning Matthiesen, The Augustine, Prague
- Nicolas Vincent, La Réserve Ramatuelle, Provence
- Sir Rocco Forte, Verdura Golf Spa & Resort, Sicily, Italy
Highly commended
Luciano Lussardi, Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily
Green hotel of the year: The Scarlet, Cornwall, UK
The UK's first new-build hotel designed from the start to be environmentally friendly could scarcely have a more dramatic location, situated on the wild northern coast of Cornwall, or more unique beginnings. Three sisters, the Strattons, decided to create a smaller luxury spa hotel below their hilltop Bedruthan Steps hotel and closer to the wide sandy Mawgan Porth beach, part enclosed by a burnished black cliff that reaches out west into the Atlantic.
The Scarlet has a stylishly realised green ethos, yet there is not a tie-dye T-shirt to be seen. "The challenge was to be luxurious without costing the planet," says Elizabeth Stratton. The property is heated by a biomass boiler fuelled by wood chippings and grey water is recycled.
The construction incorporates grass roofs and solar panels. Any extra power not generated onsite is wind-generated from a local grid so 100% of the hotel's electricity is generated by renewable sources. The natural pool is even self-cleaned by reeds.
Nominees
- Hotel Rafayel on the Left Bank, London
- Chateau Mcely, Czech Republic
- The Regent, Berlin
- Park Inn, Nice
- Castello Dal Pozzo, Lake Maggiore, Italy
- Boutique Hotel Stadthalle, Vienna
- Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Cork
Highly commended
Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Cork
Hotel restaurant of the year: Restaurant 114 Faubourg Hôtel Le Bristol, Paris
Located on two open levels linked by a majestic, dizzying, spiral staircase made of wrought iron, the hotel's new restaurant, Restaurant 114 Faubourg, is a garden of delights. It is renowned for its traditional French cuisine set in a casual Brasserie-Rotisserie style. At the helm of the 93-seat restaurant is Eric Desbordes, the young chef who has been mentored by Eric Frechon, Hôtel Le Bristol's chef des cuisines.
Nominees
- Restaurant Calla, Steigenberger Hotel, Hamburg
- Bar Boulud, Mandarin Oriental, London
- The Grill at The Dorchester, The Dorchester, London
- Four Seasons Hotel, Florence
- Andaz Liverpool Street's 1901Restaurant and Wine Bar, London
- The Capital Hotel, London
- The Boundary Hotel
Highly commended
Boundary Restaurant, The Boundary, London
The Boundary restaurant menus are based on classic French and English recipes with a large selection of crustacea. Charcuterie, oysters, dailychanging meats from the rotisserie and cheese are served from trolleys in the dining room.
Hotel spa of the year: Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland
The five-star Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa enjoys a privileged and picturesque location, between two beautiful lakes and at the foot of the eternally snow-capped Jungfrau.
Opened in 1865 the hotel boasts one of Switzerland's most modern spas, set over 5,500m² comprising the exclusive ESPA facility, with 16 treatment rooms and a luxurious private spa for two. Treatments combine oriental therapies with selected western techniques. Each ESPA experience has been specifically designed to balance mind, body and spirit, promote holistic well-being and embrace health enhancement. The Sensai Select Spa is a haven of Japanese healing and beauty traditions, offering the luxurious infusion of Koishimaru Silk, a precious variety from Japan known as the 'silk of silks'.
Uniting the hidden power of Koishimaru Silk and the Japanese hot spring into spa treatments for the first time, Sensai Select Spa promises ultimate beauty and reinvigorated spirit. Other outstanding wellness attractions include whirlpools and a Turkish steam room.
Nominees
- The Dolder Grand, Zurich
- Hotel Aurelio, Lech, Austria
- The Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall, UK
- The Dorchester Spa, The Dorchester, London
- St Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel and Villas, Crete
- Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras, Slovakia
- Hotel Ritter, Durbach, Germany
- SHA Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain
- La Reserve Ramatuelle, Provence, France
Highly commended
La Réserve Ramatuelle, Provence, France
La Réserve was designed by internationally renowned architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Overlooking the Mediterranean, the hotel has seven rooms, 16 suites, and a 1,000m² spa with 13 treatments rooms, are dedicated to maximising quality of life for each individual, an indoor pool with a jet lane, an outdoor pool with a pool-house, hammam, bar and restaurant.
Hotel interior design of the year: The Augustine, Prague
Rocco Forte Hotel's Augustine reflects Prague's history, character and beauty, combined with a modern contemporary interior design by Olga Polizzi. The 101-room hotel has been created from a development of seven buildings, many of which have historical significance, the largest of which is the 13th century Augustinian St Thomas Monastery, after which the hotel is named.
Rooms feature decorative accessories inspired by early 20th century Czech cubism, including timber chairs and chaise lounges. The Brewery Bar, in the cellar of the original brewery building, features stalactites and stalagmites dating back to the 17th century and an underground water source which has been glazed over and incorporated into the design. The second bar, Tom's Bar, located in the monastery's former vaulted double-height refractory, features restored 18th century baroque frescoes.
The light-filled Monastery restaurant sits in a glazed courtyard and incorporates three protected trees, with outside seating during the summer. The restaurant has bespoke gold leaf panels and chairs based on a 1930s Bauhaus-inspired design.
Nominees
- Hotel Indigo, London
- The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin
- Park Inn, Prague
- 25hours Hotel, Frankfurt
- Hotel Rafayel on the Left Bank, London
- Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas, Crete
- Andels Łódz, Austria
- Hotel Aurelio, Lech, Austria
- Grand Majestic Plaza, Prague
Highly commended
Hotel Grand Majestic Plaza, Prague
The newly designed Grand Majestic Plaza, a member of the WORLDHOTELS chain, is located in the heart of the historical and business centre of Prague.
Hotel design innovation of the year: The Dolder Grand, Zurich
The Dolder Grand was originally a Curhaus health spa, dating from 1899. After closing in 2004 for major restoration, the luxury-class city resort has re-opened to rave reviews. Leading architects Foster + Partners combined the historic Main Building with innovations of modern architecture. Interior architects United Designers have shaped new living spaces. In the main building their refined, eclectic configurations instill a sense of history, while the two wings epitomise the spirit of the modern age. A curved walkway links the three elements of the hotel: the Golf Wing, Main Building and Spa Wing.
The majestic Steinhalle showcases the original historic décor and dramatically juxtaposes modern additions, including the onyx concierge desk, which is internally illuminated to highlight the purity of the stone. The lobby features a resplendent hand-painted ceiling, entirely recreated from photographs of the original. Each of the Dolder Grand's four Top Suites is an expression of individual extravagance; the Maestro Suite has conductor Herbert von Karajan as its muse, the exceptionally elegant Carezza Suite is inspired by Alberto Giacometti's work, the Masina Suite is reminiscent of actress Giulietta Masina, and Suite 100 is a tribute to the favourite haunt of the Rolling Stones, The 100 Club in London.
Nominees
- The Vine Hotel, Madeira
- Andels Łódz, Austria
- The Boundary Hotel, London
- Pousada do Porto, Freixo Palace Hotel, Oporto, Portugal
- Roomers Hotel, Frankfurt
Highly commended
The Boundary Hotel, London
In-room innovation of the year: The Vine Hotel, Madeira
The Vine Hotel comprises 79 rooms and suites and is situated in the heart of Funchal on the beautiful Island of Madeira, offering unrivalled views of the city skyline and bay. The interior design reflects the vision of award-winning Madeiran designer Nini Andrade Silva and architecture by the renowned Ricardo Bofill. The contemporary, elegant design is complemented by comfort and functionality. Each of the four accommodation floors represents a season of the year and the maturation of a grape throughout the year. Rooms are spacious with open bathrooms, waterfall feature showers, free-standing bathtubs and large centrally placed beds. For the ultimate experience, in many of the rooms the bathtub can be converted into a massage bed for in-room spa treatments. All rooms and suites are equipped with the latest technology, including push button blackouts and curtains, Wi-Fi, HDTV and automatic sensors to illuminate your way in the middle of the night.
Nominees
- City Boutique Hotel, Sarajevo
- Buddha Bar Hotel, Prague
- Sheraton Prague Charles Square Hotel
- Castello Dal Pozzo, Lake Maggiore, Italy
- Aurelio Lech, Arlberg, Austria
Highly commended
Castello Dal Pozzo, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Leisure and fitness innovation of the year: Hospes Maricel, Mallorca
Hospes Maricel Mallorca's "Learn to Sleep" programme is a novelty in wellness. Part of the Bodyna Natural Care Spa, the programme is a four-day medical treatment that develops activities aimed at achieving restorative sleep and offers guidelines on how to obtain and conserve adequate rest. The programme is composed of a medical history, a sleep study and a unique ten-step guide to sleep. The programme debuted at Hospes Maricel in August 2009 and will be extended to other Hospes properties by 2011. For the first time in the hospitality industry, medical treatment is offered in order to help guests reach perfect sleep in luxury five-star surroundings, combined with nutrition, wellness and holistic approaches.
Nominees
- Victoria Jungfrau, Interlaken, Switzerland
- Verdura Golf Resort, Sicily
- St Nicholas Bay Resort, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete
- 25hours, Frankfurt
Highly commended
St Nicholas Bay Resort, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete
Concierge of the year: Thomas Munko, The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin
The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin's Thomas Munko was hired in 2003 as a concierge and has been part of the team right from the beginning. He has since become an integral part of the hotel's success as chief concierge and there are many stories that exemplify his highly personable dedication and sense of enterprise. After a long journey a group of guests had arrived at the hotel and the father noticed that he had forgotten to bring his daughter's suitcase on their travels. The daughter was a very young girl and absolutely attached to her clothes, particularly her stuffed animals. Without notifying the guests, the concierge team under Thomas Munko decided to go to neighbouring
partner hotel the Marriott to get a stuffed teddy bear and added another, The Ritz-Carlton lion. They then went to the shopping mall to buy the girl fresh pyjamas, underclothing and a sweater to make sure she felt comfortable. To top everything the team decided to pack all the clothes in nice packages in her room, with a handwritten note, a glass of milk and some cookies.
Nominees
- Renata Havranklva, Sheraton, Prague Charles Square Hotel
- Clive Smith, The Capital Hotel, London
Highly commended
Clive Smith, The Capital Hotel, London
To see the full list of nominees, please click on this link.
