Industry News

Industry Awards Honour Michelle Woodley, President of Preferred Travel Group, with Career Achievement Award; Jennifer Munro, VP of Loyalty, Named a ‘Top 25’ Extraordinary Mind  

The Gambia Experience and Corsican Places, two specialist travel brands from Serenity Holidays, have each been awarded Feefo’s Platinum Trusted Service Award.  This prestigious accolade recognises companies that consistently achieve high ratings on the independent review platform, highlighting their commitment to exceptional service and the trust and appreciation of their customers. Photo credits: The Gambia Experience and Corsican Places This latest achievement reaffirms The Gambia Experience and Corsican Places’ dedication to creating seamless, well-crafted holiday experiences tailored to their customers’ needs. With expert local knowledge, handpicked accommodation and high-quality service, both brands continue to be firm favourites among discerning travellers.  Sarah Taylor, Customer Relations Manager at Serenity Holidays, said: “We are thrilled to once again receive Feefo’s Platinum Trusted Service Award. Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do, and this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams in delivering fantastic service and superior holiday experiences.” For more information on products visit: www.gambia.co.uk, www.corsica.co.uk 

Dusit Thani Kyoto, a luxury urban oasis operated by Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has built on its recent One Michelin Key recognition by earning a 2025 Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award—further cementing its reputation as one of Kyoto’s most exceptional hotels. Photo credits: Dusit Thani Kyoto Founded in the United States in 1958, Forbes Travel Guide (formerly known as Mobil Travel Guide) is a globally respected authority in luxury hospitality, renowned for pioneering the five-star rating system in 1960. Its anonymous inspectors evaluate hotels based on more than 900 objective standards, ensuring a trusted benchmark of excellence in the travel industry.  The Four-Star rating is awarded to properties that demonstrate exceptional service and outstanding facilities. Dusit Thani Kyoto earned this distinction through rigorous, undercover assessments by Forbes Travel Guide’s inspectors, who experienced the hotel just as a typical guest would—paying their own way to ensure impartiality. Opened in September 2023, Dusit Thani Kyoto is set in the peaceful Hongwanji Monzen-machi district, just 850 metres from the city’s bustling Kyoto Station. Operating under Dusit’s luxury Dusit Thani brand, the hotel seamlessly blends Thai-inspired gracious hospitality with Japan’s deep-rooted culture of omotenashi (wholeheartedly looking after guests) and features 147 meticulously designed guest rooms that balance timeless elegance with contemporary comfort.  The hotel also serves as a hub of gourmet dining experiences. Guests can embark on an interactive omakase journey at Kōyō, which showcases Kyoto’s 24 micro-seasons through the finest ingredients. Den Kyoto elevates mixology with handcrafted cocktails infused with Thai herbs, while Ayatana, the hotel’s signature Thai fine-dining restaurant, delivers an exquisite celebration of Thai flavours and culinary artistry. Committed to sustainability, Ayatana sources premium seasonal ingredients from the Kansai region, including fresh herbs and vegetables from Ohara Farm and organic tea leaves from its own tea farm in Wazuka. Alongside versatile event spaces that accommodate up to 240 guests, the hotel also boasts a signature Devarana Wellness centre, where expert therapists blend ancient Thai massage therapies with traditional Japanese healing rituals, ensuring a truly restorative experience. “Receiving Forbes Travel Guide’s distinguished Four-Star Award just over a year after our opening is a remarkable achievement and a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, heartfelt service, and creating truly memorable experiences for our guests,” said Makoto Yamashita, Cluster General Manager, Dusit Thani Kyoto and ASAI Kyoto Shijo. “Inspired by this accolade and our One Michelin Key status, we remain committed to raising the bar, delivering exceptional service, and ensuring our hotel continues to be a place of warmth, elegance, and meaningful connections for all who visit.” For more information about the hotel, please visit Dusit Thani Kyoto. 

Boutique Hotel Alhambra on Lošinj Island, Croatia, is thrilled to announce its remarkable achievements in the prestigious Luxury Lifestyle Magazine (LLM) Readers' Travel Awards, where it earned recognition in several categories. Competing alongside some of the most renowned names in luxury travel, these awards reaffirm Boutique Hotel Alhambra's place as one of the finest boutique hotels in the world.   Photo credits: Boutique Hotel Alhambra The awards include: 3rd Place in the “Best Boutique Hotel” Category 3rd Place in the “Best Hotel for Wine” Category 9th Place in the “Best Hotel for Food” Category 11th Place in the “Best Hotel for Romance” Category  Luxury hotels, destinations, cruise lines, airlines, and travel companies from across the globe competed to be crowned the very best in the seventh annual Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers' Travel Awards. These awards celebrate excellence across all sectors of the luxury travel and tourism industry, highlighting the leaders who continue to set new benchmarks for quality and innovation. This year's awards were particularly special, with a record-breaking 32,405 votes cast by the magazine's discerning readers. Months of deliberation and passionate voting culminated in a definitive list of the finest names in luxury travel from the UK and across the world.  These accolades underscore Boutique Hotel Alhambra's commitment to delivering outstanding service and world-class culinary and wine experiences, all tucked into a deeply romantic setting in Čikat Bay.   For a full list of the winners and categories, visit Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Winners List. 

JA Manafaru Maldives is pleased to announce that it has once again received the respected Worldwide Kids (WK) Accreditation for the second consecutive year, highlighting its commitment to providing a family-friendly experience. This independent seal of excellence recognises resorts that uphold the highest international standards in childcare training, health and safety, and consistently enhance the experience for families and young guests. Photo credits: JA Manafaru Maldives Nestled in the heart of this idyllic all-natural island paradise, JA Manafaru offers a wealth of dedicated facilities for families. The resort's CoolZone play area, complete with a separate family pool, Recreation Pavilion, and the ChillZone indoor games room, provide young guests with the perfect space to play and explore, all while their parents enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. With this thoughtful offering, the resort ensures that both families and couples can enjoy the best of both worlds – a serene escape and a safe, fun-filled environment for children. JA Manafaru's childcare facilities have successfully passed the rigorous WK audit, underscoring the resort's commitment to a safe and nurturing environment for its younger guests. The resort's dedicated childcare team has undergone extensive accredited training by Worldwide Kids, equipping them with the specialised knowledge and skills to provide exceptional care. Parents can feel confident that their children are in good hands while they enjoy the resort's spa and dining experiences. Photo credits: JA Manafaru Maldives "I am incredibly proud of my team for receiving this recognition for two consecutive years. It underscores our commitment to guest safety, particularly for our young visitors. Our thorough health and safety audit, combined with rigorous training, ensures we adhere to the highest international standards. This accreditation not only highlights our dedication to safeguarding our guests but also reinforces our mission to create memorable experiences for families during their stay,” says Rita Gupta, Director of Spa & Recreation. Jason Kruse, General Manager of JA Manafaru Maldives, says, "We are thrilled to receive the Worldwide Kids accreditation for the second time, as it reflects our continued commitment to providing a memorable experience for our youngest guests. The range of activities we offer allows families to enjoy the beauty of the Maldives together, while parents can relax, knowing their children are being well cared for." The Worldwide Kids Accreditation reinforces JA Manafaru's dedication to offering not just a luxurious retreat for families, but a resort that prioritises the well-being and enjoyment of young guests. This prestigious recognition highlights the resort's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of childcare and ensuring that all guests – whether young or old – enjoy a memorable, worry-free stay. With this accolade, JA Manafaru Maldives continues to stand out as one of the Maldives' top resorts, offering families and holidaymakers exceptional service and unforgettable experiences. For more information, visit our website.

Stademos Hotels is proud to announce outstanding achievements at this year's Golden Chef Hats Awards, hosted by the Phileleftheros Media Group. Matsuhisa at AMARA earned the prestigious Golden Cap with an impressive 15/20 rating, while Ristorante Locatelli at AMARA and Ristorante Bacco at Elysium both secured the esteemed Top-Notch Award with scores of 14.75/20 and 14.5/20, respectively. “We are honoured to receive these prestigious awards from the Phileleftheros Media Group,” says Mr Luciano Sozzo, Chief Operating Officer of Stademos Hotels and General Manager of AMARA. “As the proud owners of AMARA, Elysium, and MedBeach in Limassol, Stademos Hotels manages a total of 800 rooms across Cyprus. We remain committed to enhancing our guests' experiences, as demonstrated by the €10 million investment in refurbishing Elysium's 48 suites with private pools. “Another key focus for us is delivering world-class dining experiences. The awards received by Matsuhisa and Ristorante Locatelli at AMARA, as well as Ristorante Bacco at Elysium, are a testament to this commitment. We are equally proud of the nomination for BeefBar at AMARA, which we launched less than a year ago. These accolades reaffirm that we are on the right path in offering top-quality cuisine within a luxurious setting, in a destination blessed with fantastic year-round weather.”

The 123-year-old luxury icon is the only hotel in Vietnam to receive the recognition for 2025  

Alma Resort Cam Ranh has taken out first place in three global categories of this year’s UK-based Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers’ Travel Awards, named “Best Beach/Coastal Hotel”, “Best Hotel for Families” and “Best Hotel for Sustainability”. In the readers’ choice contest, Alma Resort was also voted runner-up in the worldwide “Best Hotel for Food” award. Photo credits: Alma Resort Cam Ranh “Luxury hotels, destinations, cruise lines, airlines and travel companies across the world have been competing to be crowned the very best in the seventh annual LLM Readers’ Travel Awards,” said Luxury Lifestyle Magazine. “Our awards recognise and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the luxury travel and tourism industry, and we were pleased to be able to shine a light on those making waves in the UK and all across the globe. After months of deliberation and votes from our discerning readers – with a record number of voters this year at 32,405 – the votes have been counted and the results are in.” The full list of 2024 LLM Readers’ Travel Awards winners can be accessed here: https://www.luxurylifestylemag.co.uk/travel/all-the-winners-of-the-llm-readers-travel-awards-2024-full-results-list/ Alma Resort’s managing director Herbert Laubichler-Pichler said he and his team were “over the moon” to be named the top hotel worldwide by the magazine’s voters for its beach location, family facilities and services, and sustainability measures, as well the No. 2 hotel worldwide for its dining landscape. Photo credits: Alma Resort Cam Ranh “We feel so honoured on the global stage, topping off what has been a fantastic year for our resort on the awards front, following Alma Resort being named as the top resort in Southeast Asia, the No. 2 resort in Asia and No. 9 resort worldwide in the 2024 Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards,” he said. Bold, spacious and emblematic of Vietnam’s maturation as a destination, the independently owned and operated luxury resort Alma is making waves in Cam Ranh, a peninsula on Vietnam’s south-central coast that first found fame as Southeast Asia’s greatest deepwater harbor and is now rising as an upscale alternative to nearby Nha Trang. Alma is home to an awe-inspiring host of world-class facilities, such as an eclectic range of restaurants helmed by leading chefs, a food court with an array of local and international cuisine, a classical bar, pool bar and beach bar, and mini supermarket. Other drawing cards include a science museum, waterpark with a lazy river, wave pool slides and kids pool, 13-treatment room spa, cinema, convention centre, amphitheatre, youth centre, kid’s club, gymnasium and yoga room, an 18-hole putting green, onsite gourmet organic farm and more.  Alma is embarking upon what is believed to be Vietnam’s most ambitious solar power project yet. For further information or to make a booking, visit www.alma-resort.com or contact Alma on +84 258 399 1666, or email info@alma-resort.com.

Banyan Tree’s signature restaurant in Koh Samui is recognised by the esteemed French culinary guide.

Desert & Delta Safaris Is Honoured with the Global Sustainability Award

Park Igls Medical Spa Resort has been voted Best Destination Spa in Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2025. This is yet another accolade to add to the resort’s glittering résumé, and testimony to its uncompromising high standard of comfort and care.  Photo credits: Park Igls Medical Spa Resort Managing Director Andrea Gnägi MAG accepted the award on behalf of her team at a black-tie dinner in London on 6 November.  She said: ‘It’s always pleasing to have our work endorsed, and especially by such a prestigious organisation, whose judgements have been a reference for discerning travellers for over 40 years.’ Park Igls was chosen for its pioneering Modern Mayr Medicine and world-class integrated healthcare. The holistic approach includes treatment programmes adapted exclusively to each individual. The latest diagnostics and therapies, administered with expertise, discretion and care, form the basis of the guest experience, enabling visitors to enjoy the health benefits for years to come. Perched above Innsbruck in Austria’s beautiful Tyrolean Alps, Park Igls Medical Spa Resort (www.park-igls.com) offers health-conscious individuals the chance to boost physical and mental wellbeing in inspiring Alpine surroundings. Five-star services and facilities, gourmet Modern Mayr Cuisine, and a wide range of on- and off-site activities complete the picture. There’s nowhere better for a life-enhancing stay.  

Best companies accreditation recognises hotel’s commitment to positive HR practice and a happy work culture