Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) has announced Canaves Oia Suites in Santorini, Greece, as Hotel of the Year at the SLH Awards 2018. A blissful blend of island tradition and architectural inspiration, the hotel has been described as ‘very nearly perfect’ and is one of seventeen hotels in SLH’s 500+ strong portfolio of independently minded hotels that were honoured with top distinctions this year. The awards highlight excellence in everything from dreamy designs and breathtaking suites, embracing social media, the environment and the local community.
Three new accolades were introduced to the SLH Awards 2018 including Dreamiest Design Hotel which was won by Liostasi Hotel & Suites in Greece, Most Independently Minded Experience which was awarded to Orania.Berlin and Best Family-Friendly Hotel which was discerned to Gaya Island Resort in Malaysia.
Many of the categories were voted for exclusively by members of SLH’s loyalty programme, INVITED, and luxury travel agents. These included The Sukhothai Shanghai (City Hotel of the Year), Blanket Bay in New Zealand (Country House Hotel of the Year) and Canaves Oia Suites (Resort Hotel of the Year), which was then put forward for the ultimate recognition by SLH’s panel of experts – Hotel of the Year.
Meanwhile, Cap Rocat in Mallorca, The Tokyo Station Hotel in Japan and Porto Zante Villas & Spa in Greece were all deemed by SLH guests and agents to have the best spa, restaurant and suites respectively, and Casa Angelina Lifestyle on the Amalfi Coast was voted Most Romantic Retreat.
Member hotels were also invited to submit entries to applaud their own innovation and high levels of service, judged by SLH’s panel of experts:
SLH’s Mystery Inspectors also had their say based on their experiences whilst staying at each and every one of SLH hotels over the last twelve months, with Hotel Villa Carlotta in Sicily coming out top based on a combination of guest reviews, inspection scores and overall quality rating.
And finally, the annual award to recognise a significant newcomer to the SLH family this year was designated to Domaine Misincu in Corsica. Since opening in July 2017, the hotel has received an unprecedented level of interest, press coverage and reservations.
Jean-Francois Ferret, CEO of Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ said: “As curators of the most individual, intimate and intense hotel experiences around the world, we are delighted to celebrate these exceptional hotels that showcase our independently minded ethos in such a variety of creative, classy and culturally-relevant ways.”
The full list of winners and shortlisted finalists is as follows:
Shortlisted Finalists – Le Narcisse Blanc Hôtel & Spa (France); Nimb Hotel (Denmark)
Shortlisted Finalists – Stein Eriksen Residences (USA); ABBA Resorts Izu (Japan)
Shortlisted Finalists – Les Sources de Caudalie (France); The Fish (UK)
Shortlisted Finalists – Cape Fahn (Thailand); The Trident Hotel (Jamaica)
Shortlisted Finalists – Sublime Samana Hotel & Residences (Dominican Republic); Hotel Villa Ducale (Italy)
Shortlisted Finalists – Hotel Lilla Roberts (Finland); TwentySeven Hotel (Netherlands)
Shortlisted Finalists – Marc Dobbels, Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa (St Barthélemy)
Shortlisted Finalists – DasPosthotel (Austria); Akyra Sukhumvit Bangkok (Thailand)
Shortlisted Finalists – Pädaste Manor (Estonia); The Dylan Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Shortlisted Finalists – Keemala (Thailand); Carpe Diem Santorini (Greece)
Shortlisted Finalists – Canaves Oia Hotel (Greece); Keemala (Thailand)
Shortlisted Finalists – 137 Pillars Suites Bangkok (Thailand); Villa Spalletti Trivelli (Italy)
Shortlisted Finalists – Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda (Italy); Esperanza Resort & Spa (Lithuania)
Shortlisted Finalist – Minos Beach Art Hotel (Greece)
Shortlisted Finalists – Le Narcisse Blanc Hôtel & Spa (France); Baros Maldives (Maldives)
Shortlisted Finalist – Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay (Spain)
For more information or to make a booking visit www.slh.com or call 1-877-234-7033.