Globe-roving boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith are celebrating 10 years in travel with the launch of their own hotel awards, and they’re inviting boutique hotel fans around the world to get involved and help select the best.
For the first time, Smith is putting the properties in their hand-picked collection head-to-head in 12 innovative award categories, to find the hotel with the Greatest Outdoors, the most Above and Beyond service, the Sexiest Bedroom in the World and more – including the big one: the Best Smith Hotel 2013.
Online voting to shortlist favourite hotels
The new hotel awards mark Smith’s 10-year anniversary and celebrate the development of the boutique hotel movement around the world. Until 9 October, Mr & Mrs Smith is asking members and hotel guests to help shortlist their favourite hotels by voting online.
Anyone who votes will automatically get the chance to win a five-night stay at the Best Smith Hotel 2013.
The categories
There is no cost for hotels to enter, and no nominations – these awards are based on a public vote. The 900+ Smith hotels in the collection are getting involved by encouraging their guests and fans to support them by voting in the award categories, via email and social media. The categories are:
- Best Newcomer
- The Eco Award
- Best Hotel Restaurant
- Best for Families
- Sexiest Bedroom in the World
- The Greatest Outdoors
- Best Spa Hotel
- Hottest Hotel Bar
- Best Budget Boutique Hotel
- Above and Beyond
- Best Smith Hotel 2013
The 10 hotels with the most votes in each category will be passed on to a team of specialist judges to select the overall winners. From the worlds of travel, fashion, food and beyond, the judges include tastemakers such as broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, interior designer Ilse Crawford, Sunday Times Style editor Tiffanie Darke, and restaurateur Marcus Wareing.
Winners will be announced on 7 November at a special awards event in London for hoteliers, press and the boutique travel industry that will take place during World Travel Market.
James Lohan, co-founder, Mr & Mrs Smith comments:
‘In the decade since we started out, hundreds of people have asked us what our favourite boutique hotel is. We thought it was about time we answered them. But we’re enlisting the help of our members, the public and a host of expert judges to pick the best of the best.
‘From the best-value budget boutique hotel to the most family-friendly retreat, the awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the variety of Smith’s 900+ properties to a worldwide audience of discerning travellers. We wanted hotel lovers around the world to contribute to the ultimate hot list of places to stay.’
Key dates for the Smith Hotel Awards 2013
9 September – voting opened
9 October – voting closes at 12 midnight.
10 October – judging begins.
7 November – winners announced at an awards ceremony in London.
8 November – winners published online at smithhotelawards.com.
Smith Hotel Awards Website: www.smithhotelawards.com
Twitter: #smithawards
Mr & Mrs Smith is an award-winning hotel website, booking service and travel club, specialising in finding the world’s most inspiring boutique and luxury hotels. Founded in 2003, Smith has published nine coffee-table guidebooks and, at mrandmrssmith.com, maintains a collection of more than 900 of the most stylish and intimate places to stay around the globe. Membership is free, entitling members to life-enhancing extras (from free champagne to complimentary spa treatments) and money back when they book, plus exclusive offers on hotels, luxury shopping brands and more.
