Luxury nz lodge is world's best

Glenorchy's Blanket Bay lodge been named among the best luxury hotels on Earth...

Glenorchy's Blanket Bay lodge is one of only two resorts in New Zealand earning a place on the newly issued Forbes list of the top 400 accommodation properties worldwide.
 
The Forbes Traveler 400 Review 2008 was assembled by a panel of travel professionals who came to a consensus on what makes the world's best places to stay. The list doesn't rank the listed properties but seeks to provide readers with "a wide range of the absolute best places.
 
"This is more than just a list," says Forbes Traveler, "it's a travel resource. We recruited writers who had been to these properties but had not accepted a complimentary stay, so they could give an honest review."
 
The Blanket Bay review discusses the impressive Blanket Bay experience.
 
"...the surrounding scenery (the location for the Lord of the Rings saga) is so staggering in its jagged-mountain and glassy-lake drama that you're grateful for the tall windows to take it all in."
 
Low key but friendly, attentive staff rated a positive mention, as did room dimensions:
 
"...the term ‘wide open spaces' could also apply to the interiors..."
 
And Blanket Bay's cuisine was listed as a highlight:
 
"The food is prepared by an all-star line-up of award-winning local chefs, and fits in with the general mise-en-scène: sophisticated but casual, refined without calling too much attention to itself."
 
Blanket Bay Manager Philip Jenkins accepted the award in Cannes at The International Luxury Travel Show recently.
 
"To be again recognised as one of the best resorts in the world is a big honour for us.  It is quite extraordinary for any property that made it into the list," he said.  
 
"Our standards are very high and we have a fantastic team committed to delivering the very best experience possible for our guests.  We regard this as a high accolade that reflects on everyone who works at Blanket Bay."
 
The Forbes Traveler 400 Review 2008 includes legendary properties such as The Oriental in Bangkok, the Halekulani in Hawaii, the Four Seasons in New York, the Hotel Ritz in Paris and Taupo's Huka Lodge.
 
"We are absolutely delighted to know we are in such superb company and that we reach similar exacting standards. The Forbes Traveler 400 takes an independent, personally researched in-depth look at each of the properties and chooses only the very best."
 
Source: www.fourcorners.co.nz