Thanda Private Game Reserve has once again been voted ‘The World’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ by the World Travel Awards™. The 21st Annual World Travel Awards Grand Final Ceremony was held on the 7th December 2014 at CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla. Voted for by travel and tourism professionals worldwide and described as the Oscars of the travel industry, this impressive accolade recognises the commitment to excellence, which Thanda has demonstrated in the past twelve months.
Accepting the award on behalf of Thanda, before an invited audience of the industry’s leading luminaries and international media, was Hakan Ozakbas of The Leading Hotels of the World, New York Office.This past year has been particularly momentous for Thanda as the game reserve also celebrated its 10th Anniversary, ‘A Decade of Love’ (Thanda means love in isiZulu), that has resulted in many commendable achievements.
Over this period not only has Thanda evolved into a recognised world-class game reserve but it has also accomplished 10 years of exceptional guest service excellence in hospitality, delivering authentic safari experiences whilst connecting guests to the local communities through Zulu cultural and educational programmes. Thanda’s bush celebrities, most notably the lions and cheetahs, have thrilled guests with exceptional game sightings over the years, encouraging guests to return time and time again.
Thanda’s wildlife conservation programmes have also led to the successful rehabilitation of one of South Africa’s first and finest historical game reserves and protected areas.
Pierre Delvaux, Thanda’s Managing Director: “Credit for this award must go to the dynamic team that helped to reinvent Thanda at the beginning of the year; from the marketing team that re-engineered our website and key theme of ‘Proudly Conservationist. Uniquely Zulu. Incomparably Thanda.’, to our hospitality team headed up by new management who, along with their team, always go the extra mile for guests to build memories through personalised experiences.
And of course our wildlife team too who are committed to offering something different, something not every guest can enjoy elsewhere by taking them off the beaten track to enjoy special wildlife moments. Thanda’s commitment to its local community, to its predominantly Zulu staff and its support and advancement of Zulu culture as an expression of a nation, coupled to its many conservation and wildlife preservation programmes and partnerships, serves to reaffirm our deep love and commitment to Zululand, its people and its wilderness. Winning this award for the 6th consecutive time makes us all appreciate what we do and we trust that guests will continue to return to Thanda, to enjoy our hospitality, to test our standards and help us to constantly improve.”
This article was written by REBECCA BAM
