“Each Year New Zealand Travel Inc tabulates the surveys that are completed by our customers and we present the top awards as voted on by our travellers. We thank each of you who do so much to create an amazing experience for our guests and heartily congratulate this years winners!
Well Done!

“This winter our Executive Chef Derek Allomes competed in the South Island Salon Culinaire competitions held in Christchurch. Derek’s event ‘Main Course & Dessert’ gave competitors 90 minutes to produce just that (a main and dessert). Derek remarkably produced a Horopito Rubbed Rack of Merino Lamb atop Parsnip Purée served with Fondant Potatoes, Roasted Portobello Mushrooms, Feta Infused Vine Tomatoes and a Port Wine Jus. For Dessert, Derek managed to put together a Banana & Valrhona Chocolate Terrine with White Chocolate Ice Cream served with Hokey Pokey and Tuile Wafer with a Vanilla Bean Anglaise. Derek achieved remarkably well gaining a silver medal in the event which is quite outstanding considering it was his first competition in five years.

“We also each year award the Manakitanga Award. The spirit of New Zealand Award is given to an individual who went above and beyond the normal service levels to help even the most hardened of travellers fall in love with New Zealand. This award is given to those who strive to preserve the land, the customs and who give deeply of themselves to our travellers.

This award is always given to someone who's love of the country shows in all they do! They take the spirit of Generosity, Pride of Homeland and it shows in every experience our clients have in their presence. The Manakitanga Award is given to someone who the travellers mention repeatedly for excellent service and love of land.

This year our clients repeatedly cited Tom Butler of Grasmere Lodge as someone who made them fall totally in love with New Zealand. His pride in his country, his generosity of sprit showed with every customer even the most hardened ones.

Congratulations Tom our travellers often said that you made them fall in love with New Zealand!!”

ANDREW HARPER — MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF TRUSTED TRAVEL ADVICE
Traveling incognito and always at his own expense, Andrew Harper circles the globe in search of those qualities that separate the truly enchanting from the merely excellent. The Hideaway Report, his discerning newsletter exclusive to Andrew Harper members, features insightful and timely reviews of distinctive new properties as well as candid reassessments of classic hotels and luxury resorts. Following the success of his publication, Mr. Harper developed a comprehensive private luxury travel club that offers an array of personalized travel-planning services, custom tours and exclusive benefits from approved properties.

Grasmere Lodge was also the Winner – Luxury Lodges, Boutique Hotels and Exclusive Retreats.

These awards were judged under the Baldrige international quality assessment programme. For any type of business, this system evaluates its overall business excellence in seven categories – leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and business results.