Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa is named Africa's Leading Spa Resort and Best Luxury Hotel in South Africa in the World Travel Awards.

Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa in Knysna, South Africa, was honoured with two awards presented at Indaba 2009, which was held at the International Convention Centre in Durban from 9-12 May.

The luxury resort was awarded Africa's Leading Spa Resort in the 16th World Travel Awards, and South Africa's Best Hotel by the Welcome Awards.

The World Travel Awards, which have been hailed as the Oscars of the travel industry by the Wall Street Journal, were launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry.

This year a total of 167,000 travel professionals in over 160 countries worldwide were asked to vote for their leading travel destinations, airlines, hotels and travel companies around the world.

According to Graham E Cooke, founder and president of the World Travel Awards, winners of the awards are "very special brands, dedicated to being the absolute best in all aspects of 'customer experience'."

This year's Welcome Awards recognised the best on show in the country. A South African Tourism initiative, these are Africa's biggest tourism awards and acknowledge service excellence and quality service delivery as well as the unique ability to make customers feel welcome.

Since opening in February 2005, Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa has captured the attention of the world's luxury travel media and has received a number of accolades including One of the Best Hotels in the World for Leisure Facilities, Condé Nast Traveller (UK) Gold List.

GM Russel Binks believes that the success of Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa lies in the passion and sincerity of the staff. "This is the soul of our business and adds another dimension to our service," says Binks.

The hotel, which is located on the Eastern Head of Knysna on the exquisite Garden Route coast (just 40-minutes' flight from Cape Town) recently launched its ultra-luxury accommodation offering at Pezula Private Castle on Noetzie Beach, offering accommodation in five sumptuous suites with the personal services of a chef, executive butler and housekeeper.
Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa is a member of Leading Small Hotels of the World and Leading Spas of the World.

More information: Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa