Southern Ocean Lodge named Andrew Harper's Hideaway of the Year 2012


In anticipation of a new year of exceptional luxury travel experiences, Andrew Harper has just released its January 2012 Hideaway Report, and in it reveals its Grand Award winners. Baillie Lodges' much-lauded Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island has been awarded the most prestigious of titles; Andrew Harper's Hideaway of the Year 2012.

Based in New York, NY, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report is a quarterly luxury travel review available to all members of the exclusive Andrew Harper Club. It is considered the most respected publication in luxury travel. Southern Ocean Lodge has been named Hideaway of the Year, at the top of a very prestigious list comprised of Mr Harper's favourite 19 properties he visited within the past calendar year.

World-roaming luxury travel reviewer Andrew Harper notes of his anonymous stay at Southern Ocean Lodge that it was, 'Unquestionably the highlight of our three-week trip to Australia.'

James and Hayley Baillie, the very hands-on owners and designers of the property, are delighted with this result.

'To receive this endorsement from an esteemed luxury travel reviewer such as Andrew Harper is every hotelier's ideal. That Mr Harper travels incognito to the far corners of the planet and experiences the most luxurious in travel reinforces that what we have to offer at Southern Ocean Lodge is truly special.

'We'd further like to congratulate the terrific team at Southern Ocean Lodge, which brings a delicate balance of professionalism and personality to make each guest's stay an unforgettable experience.'

The Lodge shares its achievement with fine Australian company and fellow Luxury Lodges of Australia members South Australia's The Louise, and Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, including a special mention to Joost Heymeijer, GM.

Each of Mr. Harper's Grand Award winners possesses exceptional character, a commitment to classic hospitality and a profound sense of place. Since 1979, Andrew Harper has provided members of the exclusive Andrew Harper club with honest insights and recommendations about the finest luxury travel experiences worldwide. Mr. Harper does not evaluate hotels by means of a checklist, but uses his three decades of experience to distinguish the truly enchanting from the merely excellent.

Read the Southern Ocean Lodge review in full online in Andrew Harper's just released January 2012 Hideaway Report; and at the Southern Ocean Lodge blog.

The full list of 2012 Hideaway Report Grand Award winners:
  • Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
  • Ocean House, Rhode Island
  • Glenmere Mansion, New York
  • Panamonte Inn & Spa, Panama
  • Hotel Plaza Grande, Ecuador
  • Jumby Bay, Antigua
  • Hôtel Le Toiny, St. Barths
  • Sasaab, Kenya
  • Elsa's Kopje, Kenya
  • Casa Manni, Italy
  • La Coquillade, France
  • The Yeatman, Portugal
  • Domaine de Murtoli, France
  • Amanfayun, China
  • Four Seasons Hangzhou, China
  • Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia
  • The Louise, Australia
  • Trump International Hotel, Chicago
  • The Resort at Pelican Hill, California
About Andrew Harper
Free of advertising since its inception in June 1979, Hideaway Report is a private monthly publication for sophisticated travelers. The selection of hotels, resorts and restaurants for inclusion in this publication is made on a completely independent basis, with Andrew Harper LLC paying full rate for all meals, lodging and related travel expenses. Andrew Harper and his editors travel incognito to write candid and unbiased travel reviews for a private membership service, which provides personalized travel-planning assistance, bespoke tours and valuable travel privileges to its members. For more information about Andrew Harper, visit http://www.andrewharper.com/.

Baillie Lodges

Reservations: T (61) 2 9918 4355 | E reserve@baillielodges.com.au | W southernoceanlodge.com.au

Emirates A380 on Malaysian Route


Emirates celebrated the New Year in a ‘big’ way by becoming the first airline to operate a scheduled Airbus A380 service to Malaysia.

The airline’s flagship, operating as EK346, piloted by Malaysian national Captain Kwong Yung Ling arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) earlier to a traditional welcome of a water canon salute.

Joining Captain Kwong on the flight deck for the first flight was First Officer Abdulaziz Alusaimi from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We have been eagerly awaiting the start of our Airbus A380 service to Malaysia, a country that we have been operating flights to since 1996,” said Richard Jewsbury, Emirates’ senior vice president, commercial operations, Far East & Australasia.

“I am sure that this historic milestone in both Malaysian aviation history and in the Emirates story will further strengthen ties between Malaysia and the UAE, in addition to promoting trade and tourism opportunities between the two nations.

The 489 seat A380 operates as EK346 departing Dubai at 04:05 and arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 14:55 on the same day.

The return leg, EK347, will depart Kuala Lumpur at 19:30 arriving in Dubai at 22:30 also on the same day.

“The start of 2012 will be a busy time for Emirates, in addition to launching our A380 aircraft on one of our three daily non-stop flights between Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, we are also expanding our network to include Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro in South America from January 3rd and Dublin in Ireland from January 9th, opening up more opportunities for Malaysian travellers and businesses,” added Mr Jewsbury.

Emirates’ A380 service arrives in Dubai at a convenient time giving passengers the options of onward connections to any of Emirates’ expanding list of over 116 European, Middle Eastern, African and American destinations.

Destinasian: The Luxe List 2011

It’s been another big year for hotel openings in the Asia-Pacific region, but what makes one property more luxe than another? Based on reports from our network of contributors, we’ve assembled a list of 36 places that excel when it comes to style and ambience, be it a rambling Indian palace or a private villa in the hills of Chiang Mai. Though wildly different in terms of size, price, and look, they all have one thing in common: a singular sense of place and style that lets them stand out from the rest. Enjoy this year’s list.

China
Four Seasons Hotel, Hangzhou at West Lake, Hangzhou
Hotel Icon, Hong Kong
Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund, Shanghai
Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa, Lijiang
Renaissance Sanya Resort & Spa, Hainan
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, Hong Kong
St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Tibet
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, Shanghai
French Polynesia
Maitai Lapita Village, Huahine
India
Devi Ratn, Jaipur
Leela Palace Kempinski, New Delhi
Rasa Jaipur, Jaipur
Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhavgarh
Saratha Villas, Chettinad
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi
Indonesia
W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak, Bali
Japan
Capitol Hotel Tokyu, Tokyo
Hotel Kanra, Kyoto
St. Regis Osaka, Osaka
Laos
Kiridara, Luang Prabang
Malaysia
Muntri Mews, Penang
Maldives
Anantara Kihavah Villas, Ba’a Atoll
Six Senses Laamu, Laamu Atoll
Singapore
Hotel Fort Canning
Taiwan
W Taipei, Taipei
Thailand
Hansar Bangkok, Bangkok
Howie’s Homestay, Chiang Mai
St. Regis Bangkok, Bangkok
Thanyamundra Organic Resort, Khao Sok
W Retreat Koh Samui, Koh Samui
United Arab Emirates
One&Only The Palm, Dubai
Vietnam
An Lam Ninh Van Bay Villas, Nha Trang
Fusion Maia, Danang
Hotel de l’Opera, Hanoi
Six Senses Con Dao, Con Dao
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