Red Cliffs Lodge

NZ's top lodges and hotels named (+photos)

After surviving the ravages of two major earthquakes and countless aftershocks, a boutique Christchurch hotel has trumped some of the Pacific's biggest accommodation providers.

The George hotel, which lies in the heart of the quake-ravaged city, has been named one of the top 10 best city hotels across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific by Travel + Leisure magazine.

It was also given the nod for best service in the region in this year's World's Best awards , coming a close second behind The Langham in Melbourne.

The awards, now in their 16th year, are voted on by readers of the magazine across categories including hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines and airlines.

The George, which was ranked 9th on the list, beat out the likes of Melbourne's 262-room, five-star The Westin and was one of only two New Zealand accommodation providers to make the grade.

The other was the Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa, which was ranked fifth and also took out the top spot on a list ranking the best hotel spas in the world.

"After what has been, to say the least, a challenging year, we are over the moon to have received these accolades," The George's general manager, Bruce Garrett told AAP.

"To maintain a world class facility and meet ever-increasing guest expectations is a big ask in normal circumstances but to have done this through a series of major earthquakes and countless aftershocks is something quite special."

The five-star hotel sits on the edge of Christchurch's "red zone" - the area worst affected by the devastating earthquake on February 22, which killed more than 180 people.

Many of The George's staff were personally affected by the quakes, with some losing homes and others not having basic services such as electricity or sewerage, Garrett said.

"While they could be forgiven for taking their eyes off the ball ... our team have day after day turned up and turned it on for our guests.

"Sometimes this involved walking through cordons where no vehicles could travel and other times staying on to ensure the comfort of all guests after an earthquake before returning home to check on family."

Garrett says although the hotel was unable to trade for a month, business has been better than normal for this time of year.

"What Christchurch people need now after so much suffering is some good news, and all Cantabrians should be proud that they have world-class facilities here in their own city," Garrett said.

Singles Travelers Get a Taste of Adventure in 2004 | Menorca ...

Lockport, IL (PRWEB) January 11, 2004

Sure, you could call blind dating adventurous. But for a real adventure, filled with outdoor activity against a backdrop of breathtaking scenery, try a Singles Travel International vacation to Curacao, Micronesia, the Galapagos, Utah or Peru. Singles Travel International, partnering with one of the top adventure travel companies in the U.S., has created customized travel packages that include opportunities for their travelers to learn and participate in a variety of multi-sport activities, guided by professional guides who are specialists in scuba diving, hiking, biking, rafting, canyoneering, and more.

Scuba Dive Curacoa: From Feb. 14-21, water-loving singles will head to Sunset Waters Beach Hotel on the beautiful Caribbean island of Curacao. They’ll enjoy six days of boat dives and unlimited shore dives, and then take a break from the water with mini golf, tennis, and an island pub crawl through a quaint beachfront village.

Dive Shipwrecks in Micronesia: Chuuk, Micronesia, with its vast, shallow, beautiful lagoon is a mecca for wreck divers. Join STI from April 25 through May 3 for a trip to the Blue Lagoon Resort for 6 days of 2 tank diving with an experienced Singles Travel International dive guide.

Hike/Bike/Raft Machu Picchu in Peru: Come spring, singles hungry to see the world will explore the magnificent Andes mountains of Peru. This inn-to-inn trip will feature biking, hiking and/or rafting from destination to stunning destination, including the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the magical spot of Machu Picchu, and the Amazon River basin. Some experience is necessary; expect four to six hours of activity each day. The trip runs from May 29-June 5, 2004.

Scuba on a Live-Aboard in Galapagos: Join STI dive enthusiasts aboard the Aggressor during the height of Whale Shark season for 5 ½ days of diving from August 25 through September 3.

Explore Utah’s Canyonlands: From Sept. 18-24, mountain types will head to Utah’s Canyonlands, a vast, unspoiled landscape of majestic rocks and colorful canyons. From a base at the spectacular Red Cliffs Lodge, they’ll try their hands (and feet) at canyoneering, whitewater rafting, hiking and mountain biking; no experience necessary.

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Singles Travel International: With over 20 years of experience in travel consulting, Singles Travel International provides worry-free travel that meets the unique needs of solo travelers. Every group is accompanied by at least one Singles Travel International escort who’s available 24 hours a day to provide assistance or answer questions. Although a Singles Travel International trip is a terrific way to meet people, travelers can be as involved as they’d like in the tour activities, spending their time with the group or relaxing and exploring on their own.

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