Blanket Bay tops 2010 Gold List for Asia, Australia and Pacific regions

Hard on the heels of being named the world’s third greatest accommodation property by Readers’ Choice 2009 Top 100, New Zealand’s leading luxury resort has struck gold.

Conde Naste Traveler’s 2010 Gold List ranks Glenorchy’s Blanket Bay as the second-highest scoring property in the world and the top-scoring hotel in Asia, Australia and Pacific nations.

The January 2010 edition of the prestigious magazine features in depth ratings of the world’s best places to stay and Blanket Bay received perfect scores of 100 out of 100 in three categories; rooms, service and location.  Food and property design scored 95.8 and 95.7 respectively to achieve an overall score of 98.3 – the second highest score of any property in the world.  

The magazine describes Blanket Bay as an “upscale lodge in a perfect-scoring location between the Southern Alps and Lake Wakatipu ...with perfect-scoring rooms that have stone fireplaces, recycled timber, floor-to-ceiling arched windows, antler chandeliers, and very welcoming hot tubs. The menu at the restaurant... emphasizes local meats like Canterbury duck leg and Angus beef. Perfect-scoring staff never miss a thing."

Tourism New Zealand Regional Manager for North America Annie Dundas says the Blanket Bay achievement is phenomenal.

“To be listed yet again as Gold Standard in this magazine shows a huge commitment to the highest possible standards.  It’s tantamount to saying this property is consistently one of the world’s best.”

Blanket Bay was one of only two properties in New Zealand to have made the 2010 Gold List.  Huka Lodge also features with an overall score of 90.8.

Ms Dundas says ratings are vitally important for promoting New Zealand to high end travellers, particularly as New Zealand doesn’t have the big brand hotel properties often favoured by high end American travellers.

“Blanket Bay and Huka Lodge are demonstrating to the world that New Zealand does luxury very well, only the scale is smaller.  These ratings tell consumers that we have properties that are easily the equivalent of the big brand hotels such as Four Seasons.  To consistently see our properties listed alongside and above the best builds consumer confidence.  It certainly makes our job of promotion easier and more credible.”  

In the 10 years since opening in December 1999, Blanket Bay has enjoyed a dramatic climb into the ranks the world’s best properties with an awards list that ranges from building honours through to Hotel Management Awards, several awards won by individuals of its culinary team and annual places on various lists of the world’s best accommodation properties.