I recently read an article in which two travel writers debated whether great facilities or great service was more important in a hotel. Of course, I want both, but for me, it’s invariably the people who really make or break the experience once I’m there. These awards go to those who elevated our stays to another level.

Staff of the Year: Regent Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica, California

When reviewing a new property, I sometimes make allowances for moments of minor service clumsiness. But there was certainly no need to do so here, despite the fact that I stayed not long after the hotel opened. The property had formerly been a Loews, and Regent kept on many of the staff members. They already had an obvious sense of esprit de corps. Waiters remembered our names, the general manager checked in with us personally more than once (she always seemed to be around), and when two maintenance issues arose, the staff handled them quickly and graciously. To experience such fine service in such a new hotel is rare indeed.

Read more about our stay at Regent Santa Monica Beach »

Hotel Owners of the Year: Breidi and Brad Alexander
Cabot Lodge, New Zealand

Breidi and Brad Alexander, the charming owners of Cabot Lodge, were more hands-on than any hotel owners I’ve ever encountered — let alone owners juggling toddlers and more than 7,000 head of livestock on a 2,000-acre working farm. Consistently good-humored and helpful throughout our stay, they made it all look so effortless. Breidi took us on an hour-long farm tour that was informative and fun, while Brad managed the details of our visit and joined in each evening for canapés and cocktails, always ready with warm conversation. We learned how they traded in the fast(er) pace of Auckland for a more rural lifestyle, and the guests of Cabot Lodge are luckier for it.

Read more about our stay at Cabot Lodge »

Most Innovative Hotel Designer: Jasper Conran
Villa Mabrouka, Morocco

The best hotel renovations are not always overhauls. It takes a true artist to use restraint, recognizing the historic elements that imbue a property with character. British designer Jasper Conran is a master of this. At Villa Mabrouka in Tangier, Conran transformed this former home of Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé, into a timeless oasis, retaining many of the building’s original details. The interior décor, with white furniture and colorful touches like antique rugs and tile work, is flawlessly clean, comfortable and chic, but it also has touches of worldly whimsy. It’s exactly the way a vacation home in Tangier should look. In short, Conran has created an elegant sanctuary that mixes French sophistication and Moroccan extravagance.

Read more about our stay at Villa Mabrouka »

Chef of the Year: Taylor Cullen
Flockhill, New Zealand

We had arrived at Flockhill absolutely famished. Hoping for a snack to go with our welcome drinks, we instead received a veritable spread from the chef himself. This was our introduction to Taylor Cullen, who helms the open-flame restaurant, Sugarloaf. Over three days, he treated us to inventive meals that showcased foraged and garden-fresh ingredients, hyperlocal produce and meticulous culinary creativity. For our morning crumpets, we had pine syrup drawn from harvested pine cones. At later meals, we relished quail, aged eight days in hay, and well-marbled steaks, prepped for 120 days. Every element of every dish was impeccably sourced and prepared — and the final creations approached genius. 

Read more about Flockhill »

Guide of the Year: Ton Kunakorn
Bangkok, Thailand

Visiting Bangkok’s most popular temples often requires navigating a frightful number of tourists and blaring requests for donations. It’s not exactly a spiritual experience. But our Travel Office arranged for a more intimate tour with Ton Kunakorn, a historian and lecturer in urban studies, art and design. Over three hours, he took us to quieter places of contemplation in Thonburi, a former capital of Thailand, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. As we stopped at lesser-known temples and followed narrow streets and alleys, we learned about China’s influence on the country and how devotion rituals have changed over time, and Ton pointed out architectural details we would have otherwise missed. Meeting with locals over tea was a highlight. This insightful tour reminded me of how an excursion with a top guide can really help deepen your understanding of a place, no matter how many times you’ve been before.

Read more about our insider tour of Thonburi »