Among other awards, Kauri Cliffs received a perfect 100.00 point score, a first in the 17 year history of the awards of Travel + Leisure magazine.
In just over ten years since the Robertson family opened their first luxury lodge in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, The Lodge of Kauri Cliffs has had its best year yet for awards and accolades, taking three prestigious awards in the past several months alone.
The first of the good news arrived in May when Travel + Leisure Magazine readers chose The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs as No1 in the World in the World’s Best Awards 2012 – World’s Best Service. For the first time in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards’ history, Kauri Cliffs was one of only three resorts, all in far-flung destinations, to ever receive the unprecedented 100.00 point perfect service score. The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, was the only New Zealand property to be honored in the World’s Best Awards 2012 in any category.
Hot on the heels of this came the news of Travel + Leisure Magazine’s World’s Best Awards – Top 100 Hotels, where the revered magazine’s readers voted The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs #16 in the world. Based on rankings for rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food, and value, Travel + Leisure readers voted The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs higher than any other property in New Zealand.
And most recently, The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs was short-listed for Virtuoso, a by-invitation-only organization comprising over 330 travel agencies with over 7200 elite agents in 20 countries worldwide, in its Best of the Best – 2012 Hotel of the Year. Kauri Cliffs is one of just six prestige hotels worldwide to be nominated, the only hotel in the southern hemisphere with the winner being announced later this month at Virtuoso’s worldwide conference in Las Vegas.
Owned and developed by Julian Robertson and family and managed by Julian “Jay” Robertson III , The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs is sister property to The Farm at Cape Kidnappers (Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand) and Matakauri Lodge (Queenstown, New Zealand). All are members of the exclusive Relais & Chateaux collection.
Kauri Cliffs was the first of what now is a trio of lodges, and it has truly been a love affair for the Robertson family from its planning to inception and now into its second decade. The architecture and interior design of The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs is a tribute to the late Josie Robertson whose amazing taste and sense of style is evident in every detail of the spectacular plantation style lodge, which is timeless in its appeal.
The staff at Kauri Cliffs, many who have been with the lodge since it first opened, also must be credited for the latest string of awards. Several staff who began their careers at Kauri Cliffs have since moved to The Farm at Cape Kidnappers or Matakauri Lodge, taking their sense of service and professionalism with them to the southern “sister” lodges, while other staff have been there since the beginning, welcoming faces to the lodges’ many repeat guest. All provide a level of service that sets a standard in hospitality with a 1:1 ratio of staff to guests.
Managing Director Jay Robertson commented on the amazing year by saying, “It doesn’t seem right to talk about our most recent awards without paying tribute both to my parents, whose passion for New Zealand and whose vision in building a luxury lodge and golf course has made this all possible, but equally if not more importantly to our great staff. Our guests’ comments are regular testament that it is the incredibly talented, sincere and dedicated team, not only at Kauri Cliffs but now across our trio of New Zealand lodges that really deserve the credit for this praise. My family and I are very proud of them all and it’s a pleasure to work alongside them here in New Zealand.” Robertson said.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
