Global Gathering (Events)
The Condé Nast brand has long established itself as an authoritative voice on the subjects of its myriad titles.
Fashion means Vogue magazine. Male lifestyle is enshrined in GQ. And global travel is vividly chronicled by Condé Nast Traveller (CNT).
The
latter has assembled an impressive portfolio of awards properties
including the CNT Hot List, Gold List and the Condé Nast Readers'
Travel Awards. Sat Bal spoke to CNT editor Sarah Miller about the impact of the 2008 Readers’ Travel Awards on the hospitality industry and magazine revenue. (16 Oct'08)
Press
day for any magazine editor, let alone the editor of an 85k-plus
circulation monthly, can be a fraught time of the month. But Sarah
Miller juggles press duties while animatedly discussing the Readers’
Travel Awards which adorn the October cover of CNT (pictured above).
“The Travel Awards are a fantastic networking event and the timing, in
September, is a little like returning to school for a new term,” she
says. “The industry returns after the summer break and the event was
enthusiastically attended by guests from all over the world including
Bali, Australia, the US. Our retail editor, Christina Arfwedson, is very much the linchpin of the event co-ordination. ”
Under Christina Arfwedson the Readers’ Travel Awards was assembled by veteran Condé Nast event organiser Timebased Events, also responsible for the GQ Awards among others (click here).
“Timebased Events handled everything from the event production to guest arrivals and their delivery was fabulous,” says Sarah Miller. "Molton Brown sponsored the event and we returned to the Science Museum this year after a few years' absence. The Museum was right for us because it held the right number of people and its IMAX theatre allowed us to display prominent slideshows and visuals. We’ve already booked the Science Museum for next year's event.”
The
success of the ceremony makes its impact felt in every direction and on
Miller’s post-event workload. “I spend a good two weeks responding to
queries,” she says. “It’s pretty relentless in general with around a
thousand incoming e-mails or letters a week.”
She cites the example of the head of a bank who recently asked for advice on relocating abroad.
Sarah Miller (left) with CNT Publisher, Kate Slesinger
Ordinarily
such wisdom would amount to a lucrative consultancy, if chargeable.
Instead, it adds to the volume of the day job. “I’m an editor during
the day but my reader feedback and awards responsibilities spill over
into my nights,” says Miller. “The success of the Travel Awards speaks
for itself and last year’s 10th anniversary event sold more copies of
CNT magazine than any other issue. While this year’s magazine sales
didn’t surpass the last they were still very high as is national and
international press interest."
The travel and tourism industry’s enthusiasm for the CNT Awards lies in
its voting integrity. This probity is bolstered by CNT’s “Truth in
Travel” policy.
“Truth in Travel means no press junkets or freebies and we pay our own way,” insists Miller. “We received some 40,000 nominations in response to the reader questionnaire in our April issue and I take the process very seriously.
"Our Spa Awards
in March ’09 are voted for by readers too. A spa employee recently
wrote in to say she’d been encouraged to vote for her spa by
management. I wrote to the GM of the spa and told him that they had
been disqualified as a result. We design our awards so that they are
impossible to rig and I’m rigorous the process because our readers are
so discerning and they value, and deserve, honest
feedback."
What they said:
Mandarin Oriental - Best UK Hotel Spa - Runner up Score : 87.43
Rosanna Crawley (Director of Communications) and Liz Thurlwell of Mandarin Oriental London
"The
Spa at Mandarin Oriental strives for excellence in applying our
legendary quality experience to each and every guest that comes though
our doors. Our therapists are highly trained, passionate about what
they do and take the time to listen to the guest.
"We are
proud and delighted to be consistently voted Best UK Urban Day Spa
(runner up) and Best UK Hotel Spa (runner up) by Condé Nast Traveller
readers as these accolades reflect our chief mission to delight our
guests and ensure an optimal wellness experience. Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, this
spa provides the ultimate urban escape." Liz Thurlwell, Spa
Manager
Jumeirah Carlton Tower - Best Business Hotel, UK Score : 89.25
“This is an exceptional achievement and one that we have been striving towards for many years.
"I’m incredibly proud of my entire team who all deserve congratulations for the part they have played.
"The
fact that readers themselves voted for us makes it even more important
- as our excellence in customer service is something we really pride
ourselves on.”
Derek Picot, Regional General Manager
Derek Picot and Astrid Bray from Jumeirah
The Grove - Best Leisure Hotel, UK Score : 89.31 
“We are delighted with this fantastic result. All of us at The Grove
continuously strive to provide the best possible experience for our
guests coming here, either with their families or with friends, in a
glamorous, yet relaxed atmosphere.
"We particularly
appreciate being recognised by Condé Nast Traveller’s readers during
our fifth anniversary year, and I would like to thank them and the
editor for this great honour.”
Jane Goodyer, General Manager
Sandy Lane Hotel, Barbados - Best Overseas Leisure Hotel – Americas and the Caribbean Runner up Score : 90.86
"We are delighted to have been recognised as the top Caribbean hotel by the readers of Condé Nast Traveller UK.
"Sandy Lane Hotel will strive to offer guests the most best experience, particularly after an intensive five-week refurbishment."
Rae Feather,
Sandy Lane Barbados
2008 Award listings :
UK LEISURE HOTELS
1 The Grove, Hertfordshire 89.31
2 Babington House, Somerset 89.17
3 Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London 89.09
4 Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire 88.35
5 Claridge's, London 88.11
6 Barnsley House, Gloucestershire 86.29
7 The Soho Hotel, London 86.11
8 The Lanesborough, London 85.93
9 Hotel Tresanton, Cornwall 85.71
10 Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire 85.27
UK BUSINESS HOTELS
1 Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London 89.25
2 Four Seasons Hotel London 88.73
3 Claridge's, London 87.61
4 Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf, London 87.20
5 Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh 86.20
6 Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London 86.17
7 InterContinental London Park Lane 85.00
8 Malmaison Manchester 83.80
9 The Berkeley, London 83.67
10 Malmaison Edinburgh 82.89
OVERSEAS BUSINESS HOTELS
1 Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai 91.67
2 The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai 90.25
3 Mandarin Oriental, Miami 89.24
4 Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai 88.04
5 Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris 88.01
6 Park Hyatt Tokyo 87.45
OVERSEAS LEISURE HOTELS: Asia & the Indian Subcontinent
1 Six Senses Hideaway Samui, Thailand 96.45
2 The Chedi Phuket, Thailand 92.22
3 The Datai, Langkawi, Malaysia 91.78
4 Amanpuri, Phuket, Thailand 91.48
5 Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand 90.29
6 The Peninsula Hong Kong 89.46
OVERSEAS LEISURE HOTELS: Middle East, Africa & the Indian Ocean
1 The Chedi Muscat, Oman 95.19
2 One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives 93.78
3 Singita Private Game Reserve, South Africa 93.14
4 One&Only Kanuhura, Maldives 92.67
5 North Island, Seychelles 92.03
6 Soneva Gili, Maldives 91.43
OVERSEAS LEISURE HOTELS: Europe, Asia Minor & the Russian Federation
1 La Residencia, Mallorca 93.02
2 Hotel Splendido, Portofino, Italy 92.59
3 San Domenico Palace Hotel, Taormina, Sicily 92.25
4 Hotel Cipriani, Venice 91.70
5 Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest 91.11
OVERSEAS LEISURE HOTELS: The Americas & the Caribbean
1 Explora en Patagonia Hotel Salto Chico, Chile 92.58
2 Sandy Lane, Barbados 90.86
3 Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos 90.44
4 Bellagio, Las Vegas 89.33
5 Carlisle Bay, Antigua 88.90