13 May 2008
Thanda Private Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal has won two prestigious awards at this year's World Travel Awards: South Africa's leading safari lodge, and Africa's leading luxury lodge which it won for the second consecutive year. The award presentations were made at the glittering Africa Awards Ceremony during this year's tourism Indaba, held at the ICC in Durban last night. The ceremony was opened by His Majesty King Zwelithini Goodwill kaBhekuzulu. The World Travel Awards were established to recognize and reward outstanding achievements within the global travel industry and is endorsed by celebrities and press from around the world.
Thanda's two exceptional awards were received by Group Chairman and CEO Pierre Delvaux who commented on behalf of executive management, "I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the trade and public without whose support and input we wouldn't have been able to raise the benchmarks of excellence in the industry. I would also like to thank the World Travel Awards, with whom Thanda is immensely proud to be associated and wish them the best of luck for their Grand Tour. Winning the awards for the second time makes the occasion even more special as it further enables Thanda to sustain and maintain its exemplary standards. These standards are only made possible by an incredibly passionate and enthusiastic team who strive for performance and service excellence: teamwork makes the dreamwork!"
The news comes just six months after Thanda was voted 'luxury individual hotel, lodge or resort offering best overall product and service' in the Selling Long Haul awards for 2007 by readers of the trade publication. Thanda, which means 'love' in Zulu, won the Leading Safari in South Africa award in 2006 and Africa's Leading Luxury Lodge in 2007. The only private game reserve in the world to hold exclusive membership with the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World, Thanda's world-class facilities include the opulent main lodge, authentic safari-style tented camp and award-winning wellness centre.
Thanda's two exceptional awards were received by Group Chairman and CEO Pierre Delvaux who commented on behalf of executive management, "I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the trade and public without whose support and input we wouldn't have been able to raise the benchmarks of excellence in the industry. I would also like to thank the World Travel Awards, with whom Thanda is immensely proud to be associated and wish them the best of luck for their Grand Tour. Winning the awards for the second time makes the occasion even more special as it further enables Thanda to sustain and maintain its exemplary standards. These standards are only made possible by an incredibly passionate and enthusiastic team who strive for performance and service excellence: teamwork makes the dreamwork!"
The news comes just six months after Thanda was voted 'luxury individual hotel, lodge or resort offering best overall product and service' in the Selling Long Haul awards for 2007 by readers of the trade publication. Thanda, which means 'love' in Zulu, won the Leading Safari in South Africa award in 2006 and Africa's Leading Luxury Lodge in 2007. The only private game reserve in the world to hold exclusive membership with the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World, Thanda's world-class facilities include the opulent main lodge, authentic safari-style tented camp and award-winning wellness centre.