World Travel Awards (WTA) has unveiled the leading travel brands in Africa for 2012 - 24 September 2012
World Travel Awards (WTA) has unveiled the leading travel brands in Africa for 2012, and Phantom Forest Eco Reserve was voted Africa's Leading Green Hotel for the third year running. Click here for more info. Now celebrating its 19th anniversary, WTA is regarded as the very highest achievement that a travel product could hope to receive.
WTA's global media partner network includes International Herald Tribune, CNBC Arabiya, Newsweek, ASTA Network, National Geographic Traveller, Access New York, Travel & Leisure China, Khaleej Times, Trade Arabia, TTN, Trav Talk India, Publituris, ABTA Magazine, Outlook Traveller, Breaking Travel News, eTurboNews, Passport Magazine and Travel Daily News International. This global media partner network has a monthly readership of 1.7 million and a TV audience reach of 90 million.
The comprehensive WTA programme, hailed as the 'Oscars of the travel industry' by the global media, highlights and rewards those travel brands that have made the greatest contribution to the industry in quality, innovation and service, over the past year.
Graham E. Cooke, President & Founder, WTA, underlined the depth and quality of the travel and tourism sector across Africa. He says: "Our winners are drawn from the breadth of Africa, reflecting how the outstanding natural attractions of the continent are being complimented with a growing portfolio of luxury facilities."
Sustainable methods of construction were utilised in the construction at Phantom Forest, while alien vegetation - derived from the eco-restoration programme - was used in the building of floors, furniture, roofs and boardwalks. There is a natural harmony between the buildings and their surroundings that is non-intrusive to the natural flora and fauna.
The world winners will be announced at a ceremony in New Delhi, India on December 12.
Phantom Forest featured on Top Billing - 8 May 2012
(Top Billing is a local South African lifestyle magazine television show)
Phantom Forest Eco Reserve featured as Simba and newly-crowned Mr South Africa, Andrew Govender, took us on an adventure getaway deep into the Tsitsikamma forest...
We're pleased to announce that Phantom Forest has been voted Africa's Leading Green Hotel for the second year running by World Travel Awards. Described by the Wall Street Journal as the 'Oscars' of the travel and tourism industry. World Travel Awards serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.
While winning this prestigious award is certainly a feather in the cap for us, it will also go a long way to enhancing our credibility in the "green" market.
"2010 demonstrated how consumers are increasingly using the list of winners as a reliable guide and means of reassurance when choosing their holiday, which is why winning one of the World Travel Awards has become more hotly contended than ever," said Graham E. Cooke, Founder and President, World Travel Awards.
The winners were announced at a gala ceremony - which took place at the Egypt Hall at Soho Square in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt on the 16th of September. The affair was a suitably swanky one, replete with the requisite red carpet to welcome us.
Much emphasis has been placed on the use of sustainable methods of construction at Phantom Forest. Alien vegetation, gleaned directly from our eco-restoration programme, has been utilised in floors, furniture, roofs and boardwalks. Drawing inspiration directly from nature, a harmonious balance has been created, from ragged thatch rising into the forest canopy, to wood shingle and a 'freshwater' nature pool. In true eco-terms, man's intrusion in our wonderful natural environment has been graciously accepted by both flora and fauna.
Click here to read an article which appeared in Aboutime in-flight Magazine - April 2010
Phantom Forest nominated as Africa's Leading Green Hotel - November 2009
Phantom Forest Eco Reserve has again been
nominated for an eco award by the World Travel Awards. This year's
nomination in the category 'Africa's Leading Green Hotel' follows
two previous nominations and an award: in 2007 Phantom Forest won
'Africa's Leading Ecotourism Destination', and in 2008 the lodge was
nominated in the category 'World's Leading Green Resort'.
This privately-owned five star lodge nestling in
137 hectares of nature reserve on the Knysna River with stunning
views over the tranquil landscape offers a unique biodiversity of
Afromontane forest, Cape coastal fynbos and estuarine wetland. There
are over 165 bird species, bush pig, bushbuck, grysbok, the rare
blue duiker and a variety of smaller game.
Owner Kit Stewart says that the lodge first
captured the attention of the eco-conscious traveller in 2001 when
it was awarded Best Eco Experience of the Year by the Western Cape
Premiers Award for Tourism.
Says Stewart: "When we built the lodge, we wanted
to ensure that we 'touched the earth lightly', with as little
disturbance as possible to the forest and the natural environment,
through employing sustainable methods of construction. These
included utilising alien vegetation, removed in our eco-restoration
programme, in floors, furniture, roofs and boardwalks. With our own
waste and water re-cycling, and many other eco friendly
installations, I believe a harmonious balance between luxury and
nature has been achieved and it is extremely gratifying that our
efforts have been recognised internationally with the prestigious
World Travel Awards."
World Travel Awards ~ Winner ~ 2012 Africa's Leading Green Hotel
