NEW YORK, NY – The Seven Star Global Luxury Award’s ceremony took place June 28, 2013 at the Villa Padierna Palace Hotel in Marbella, Spain. The voting was done by the public and trade, and far exceeded this year’s expectations. An impressive number of this year’s winners were able to be present to be honored with the Signum Virtutis – the seal of excellence, which was bestowed upon them by the Seven Star Global Luxury Award’s panel. This year’s guests included Mag. Michael Spalek (Austria’s Authority of the Ministry of Economy & Tourism), HE Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor (Maldives’ Minister of Tourism), the Della Torre e Tasso family, Dona Alicia de Villapadiern,a and Mrs. Ijlal Kastal Erdogan (Director of the Turkish Tourism Office).
A notable collection of winners, press, media, government ministers, and key CEOs and managers from the travel, tourism, hospitality, and lifestyle industries throughout the world were present for this very festive occasion. The guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, complete with gold champagne, sponsored by Gold Emotion. Following the reception, a 3-course, award-winning meal was enjoyed by everyone under the stars.
In typical Spanish flair, flamenco dancing and Spanish guitar music carried the guests to the sensational amphitheater for the ceremony. The lovely voice of Arina Domski both opened and closed the event, setting the mood of this pristine location. The evening was hosted flawlessly by Ms. Ece Vahapoglu, and in addition to honoring this prestigious list of winners; ENIQUA wowed the audience with their stunning fashion show.
Another highlight was the Seven Star Abbas Behbehani Award for Excellence and Innovation in Luxury Technology given to the exquisite ANTOINE MARTIN “Slow Runner” watch. This Award was a proud moment for Mr. Bruno Jufer, CEO of Antoine Martin, as it is a direct selection by Mr. Behbehani, a member of the Seven Star Luxury Panel and Haute horologerie extraordinaire.
HE Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, The Minister of Tourism of Maldives was the recipient of the Seven Star Global Luxury Award special achievement award for “outstanding achievement in Tourism for having maintained the flow of Tourism to the Maldives through extraordinary times and having successfully carried the country through a major recession.”
The Seven Star Global Luxury Award is supported by an impressive collection of international media partners, including: eTurboNews, Signature Luxury Travel & Lifestyle, Luxury Travel Blog, Luxe In A City, Le City Deluxe, Room Critic, The Top Tier, Global Living Magazine, Luxe Getaways, Essential Marbella Magazine, Caprice, and Society Marbella. Strategic partners include Let’s Go Maldives, World Wine Services, Castello di Duino, Nozomi, and Gold Emotion.
Seven Star Global Luxury Award’s President & Founder, Khalil El-Mouelhy, says: “It was a true personal pleasure to welcome such distinguished guests from all over the world to our inaugural event. All the winners present at the ceremony, as well as those unable to attend this year, represent the pinnacle in luxury hospitality and lifestyle, and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to celebrate their incredible achievements with them at this star-studded ceremony.”
2013 Ceremony Attendees:
Hotel/Resort Sector:
• Pullman Timi Ama Sardinia
• Villa Padierna Palace Hotel
• Marques de Riscal
• Gardens of Babylon Wellness Resort
• Cornelia Diamond
• Geinberg 5 Private Spa Villas
• Kempinski Zografski
• Vila Joya
• Conrad Algarve
• Vidago Palace
• Conrad Seoul
• Villa Elena
• Maradiva
• St Regis Doha
• Palm Tree Court – JA International Hotels
• Qasr Al Sharq – A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
• The Regency Kuwait
• The Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort
• Layana Resort & Spa
• Essque Zalu Zanzibar
• Ayada Maldives
Tour Operator Sector:
• Regency Travel & Tours
Hotel Collection Sector:
• Great Hotels of the World
Restaurant Sector:
• La Veranda Gastronomic – Villa Padierna Palace Hotel
Rent A Car Sector:
• SIXT
Special Achievement Award:
• HE Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, Minister of Tourism Maldives
Seven Star ABBAS BEHBEHANI Award:
• Antoine Martin
Seven Star Destination Sector:
• Maldives
• Austria
• Turkey
Spa Sector:
• Carassula Spa – Cornelia Diamond
• ESPA Spa – D Hotel Maris
• Geinberg 5 Spa
• Medical Wellness Institute – Villa Padierna Palace Hotel
• Adler Thermae Toscana
• Ayspa-Ayada Maldives
• MUU SPA – Gardens of Babylon
• Maradiva Spa
• La Sante Spa -The Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort
• Maradiva Spa – Maradiva
• Sha Wellness Clinic
COMPLETE LIST OF 2013 WINNERS
•• HOTELS & RESORTS ••
| AFRICA |
Morocco
• The Selman
South Africa
• Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate
• One & Only Cape Town
• Conrad Pezula
| AMERICAS |
Argentina
• Faena Hotel
Brazil
• Pontas dos Ganchos
Canada
• Fairmont Pacific Rim
• Four Seasons Resort Whistler
• Shangri La Hotel Vancouver
Chile
• W Santiago
Costa Rica
• Hotel Parador
Ecuador
• Arasha Tropical Forest Resort & Spa
Hawaii
• St Regis Princeville
Mexico
• Hacienda Tres Rios
• Maroma Resort & Spa
• W Mexico City
Peru
• Tambo Del Inka Resort & Spa
USA
• Miraval Resort
• Montage Laguna Beach
• Waldorf Astoria New York
| ASIA |
Azerbaijan
• Four Seasons Hotel Baku
• Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel
• Kempinski Hotel Badamar Baku
China
• Banyan Tree Sanya
• Fuchun Resort
• Grand Fortune Bay Hotel
Hong Kong
• Island Shangri-La
India
• Oberoi Rajvilas
• The Oberoi Gurgaon
• Devi Garh by Lebua
Indonesia
• The Samaya Villas Bali
• Viceroy Bali
• The Mulia
Japan
• Conrad Tokyo
Kazakhstan
• Intercontinental Almaty
Macau
• Grand Hyatt Macau
Malaysia
• The Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort
Singapore
• Pan Pacific Singapore
• Swissotel the Stamford
• The St Regis Singapore
South Korea
• Conrad Seoul
Taiwan
• The Sherwood Taipei
Thailand
• Lebua at State Tower
• Layana Resort & Spa
• Conrad Koh Samui
Vietnam
• Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & SPA
| CARIBBEAN |
Bahamas
• One & Only Ocean Club
Barbados
• Sandy Lane
Bermuda
• Elbow Beach
Dominican Republic
• Tortuga Bay-Puntacana Resort & Club
Jamaica
• Round Hill Villas
Puerto Rico
• Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza
St Lucia
• Sandals Grande St Lucian
Turks & Caicos
• Regent Palms
| EUROPE |
Austria
• Geinberg 5 Private Spa Villas
• Grand Tirolia
• The Ritz Carlton Vienna
Bulgaria
• Kempinski Zografski
Croatia
• Rixos Libertas
Czech Republic
• Le Palais Hotel Prague
England
• Bovey Castle
• Café Royal
• Corinthia Hotel London
France
• Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat
• Hotel Du Palais Biarritz
• Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez
Germany
• Hotel Adlon Kempinski
• Grand Spa Resort A-Rosa Travemunde
• Falkenstein Grand Kempinski
Greece
• Aldemar Royal Mare
• Elounda Peninsula
• Mystique St Torini
Hungary
• Corinthia Budapest
Italy
• Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
• Pullman Timi Ama Sardinia
• Rome Cavalieri
Latvia
• Gallery Park Hotel
Malta
• Corinthia Hotel St Gearges Bay
Portugal
• Conrad Algarve Spa & Health Club
• Vidago Palace
• Vila Joya
Russia
• Swissotel Krasnye Holmy
• Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya
• Radisson Royal Moscow
Scotland
• Gleneagles
Spain
• Cap Rocat
• Villa Padierna Palace Hotel
• Marques de Riscal
• Westin Palace Madrid
Switzerland
• Dolder Grand Resort
Turkey
• W Istanbul
• Gardens of Babylon Wellbeing Resort
• Cornelia DIamond
Ukraine
• 11 Mirrors Hotel
• Villa Elena
• Fairmont Kiev
| INDIAN OCEAN |
Maldives
• Coco Prive Kuda Hiti
• Ayada Maldives
• One & Only Reethi Rah
• Sheraton Maldives Fullmoon Resort & Spa
• W Maldives
Mauritius
• Maradiva
Seychelles
• Four Seasons Seychelles
Zanzibar
• Essque Zalu
• Kilindi Zanzibar
• Diamonds Star of the East
| MIDDLE EAST |
Egypt
• Kempinski Nile
Kuwait
• Regency Hotel Kuwait
Oman
• Shangri La Bar Al Jissah Resort & Spa
Qatar
• St Regis Doha
Saudi Arabia
• Qasr Al Sharq – A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Abu Dhabi
• Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi
• Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
• Shangri La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri
Dubai
• Burj Al Arab
• One & Only Royal Mirage
• PalmTree Court & Spa
Ras Al Khaimah
• The Cove Rotana Resort
| OCEANIA |
Australia
• Hayman Island Resort
Bora Bora
• St Regis Bora Bora
Cook Islands
• Pacific Resort Aitutaki
Fiji
• Taveuni palms
New Zealand
• Lake Okareka Lodge by Lebua
• Eagles Nest
• The Langham Hotel Auckland
•• SPA’S ••
| AFRICA |
Morocco
• The Selman
South Africa
• Karkloof Spa Wellness and Wildlife Retreat
| AMERICAS |
Costa Rica
• Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Mexico
• Maroma Hotel & KInan Spa
USA
• Mii Amo
| ASIA |
China
• Mandara Spa Sheraton Sanya Resort
Hong Kong
• Peninsula Spa by ESPA
India
• Wildflower Hall Shimla in the Himalayas
Indonesia
• Ayana
Japan
• Ritz Carlton Tokyo
Macau
• Six Senses Spa at MGM Macau
Malaysia
• La Sante Spa at Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort
Thailand
• Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Retreat
| CARIBBEAN |
Barbados
• The Spa at Sandy Lane
Bermuda
• Willow Stream Park Fairmont Southampton
Dominican Republic
• Six Senses Spa at Puntacana Resort & Spa
Jamaica
• Roundhill Spa
St Lucia
• The Body Holiday le Sport
Turks & Caicos
• Parrot Cay
| EUROPE |
Austria
• Geinberg 5 Spa
England
• Penny Hill Park
France
• Le Spa Imperiale Hotel du Palais
Germany
• Intercontinental Berchtesgaden
Greece
• Six Senses Spa Porto Elounda
Italy
• Capri Palace
• Adler Thermae Toscana
• Castel Monastero Resort & Spa
Portugal
• Longevity Wellness Resort
Spain
• Medical Wellness Institute-Villa Padierna
• Sha Wellness Clinic
Switzerland
• The Dolder Grand
Turkey
• Carassula Spa -Cornelia Diamond
• MUU Spa & Wellness -Gardens of Babylon
• ESPA- D Hotel Maris
| INDIAN OCEAN |
Maldives
• Ayspa-Ayada Maldives
Mauritius
• Maradiva Spa
| MIDDLE EAST |
Egypt
• Six Senses Spa Intercontinental Palace Port Ghalib
Abu Dhabi
• Iridium Spa-The St Regis Saadiyat Island
Dubai
• Assawan Spa and Health Club
•• AIRLINES ••
• Qatar Airways
•• Private Jets ••
• Qatar Executive
•• Luxury Tour Operator ••
• Regency Travel & Tours
• DNATA
• Quintessentially Travel
•• Hotel Collection ••
• Great Hotels of the World
•• Restaurants ••
• La Veranda Gastronomic Restaurant-Villa Padierna
• NOMA
• El Celler de Can Roca
• Mezzaluna- Lebua at State Tower
•• Luxury Car Rental ••
• SIXT
•• Seven Star Destinations ••
• Maldives
• Austria
• Turkey
•• Luxury Motor Yacht ••
• Benetti yachts
•• Luxury Sailing Yacht ••
• Perini Navi
•• Special Achievement Award ••
• HE Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, Minister of Tourism Maldives
•• Seven Star Abbas Behbehani Award ••
• Antoine Martin “Slow Runner”
