The Big Sur Chamber of Commerce is proud to post this press release heralding one of our resorts as the "Best of the Best." The Chamber of Commerce sends congratulations to all the employees at the Post Ranch Inn, each of which have contributed to the earning of this award.
In the News
POST RANCH INN HERALDED AS #1 HOTEL IN NORTH AMERICA
AND TIES FOR #1 " BEST OF THE BEST" IN THE WORLD
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER’S 2003 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Big Sur, CA – October 15, 2003 – The highly acclaimed Post Ranch Inn proves once again that bigger doesn’t always mean better. Nestled between towering redwoods and the pristine beauty of the Big Sur coast, the intimate thirty-room hotel has received some of the most prestigious recognitions in the travel industry by the Condé Nast Traveler 2003 Readers’ Choice Awards Poll, announced during the Condé Nast Traveler Magazine all-star ceremony in New York. Post Ranch Inn has been announced as the #1 Hotel in North America and has tied for #1 for ‘The Best of The Best in the World’ with the highest score of 98.4.
In an elegant event at the New York Guggenheim Museum, hosted by Condé Nast Travelers’ Editor-In-Chief Tom Wallace, Post Ranch Inn won two of the most coveted awards of the evening, accepted by Dan Priano, general manager for Post Ranch Inn, as well as other outstanding recognition. In ‘The Best of the Best’ awards category, Post Ranch Inn was the only North America hotel to place in the top five worldwide. Post Ranch Inn was also one of only six other hotels to have achieved flawless scores for its accommodations. Each year, winners are decided by a random sampling of Condé Nast Traveler subscribers who complete the "Poll of Consumer Attitudes." The poll is divided into eight questionnaires in which participants give scores based on rooms, service, food/dining, location and overall design. Over 32,640 respondents participated in this year’s poll in which each candidate was rated on a five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor for each criteria. Other awards categories included Hotels/Resorts, Car Rental Agencies, Cruise Lines, Airlines, Islands and Cities worldwide.
Regarding the announcement, Mike Freed, the key visionary for Post Ranch Inn and managing partner stated, "It is so thrilling to think that we have been recognized as #1 in both categories and we are only 30 rooms! Plus, it is our guests who have voted for us and there is no better compliment a hotel can receive. At Post Ranch Inn we respect our guests and offer them ultimate privacy in a natural environment. Our staff is continually striving to improve our reputation. Our location, organic architecture, and dining is what make the Post Ranch Inn experience one to be remembered and one unique to hotels. I’d like to thank our guests who bestowed this upon us and Condé Nast Traveler for their dedication in presenting these annual awards."
Billy Post, great grandson of pioneer William Brainard Post who today leads the guided hikes commented, "This is such a special recognition and thank you to all who helped to make this possible including everyone on our staff."
Eleven years ago Post Ranch Inn was the first resort to be built in the Big Sur area in two decades and the only resort to meet the stringent environmental standards of the Big Sur Land Use Plan. Architect and local resident G.K. "Mickey" Muennig designed the resort using his acclaimed organic style, building the structure to blend into its natural surroundings. Building with the land instead of on it, Muennig maximized use of the magnificent ocean views along the precipitous and legendary coastline. Guests have a choice of rooms in four room styles including five Ocean Houses that are recessed into the side of the ridge; seven Tree Houses perched on stilts nine feet above the ground; ten Coast Houses, including two Mountain Houses, which are all cylindrical in shape; and six rooms located in the three-level Butterfly House. Sierra Mar, Post Ranch Inn’s award winning restaurant, offers awesome views of the coastline and ocean. Visitors can relax in the basking pool set against a spectacular view of the ocean or in the heated lap pool that gives a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. Complete spa services include massages, body treatments, facials, yoga and guided-hikes.
Additional information on Post Ranch Inn can be found at www.postranchinn.com or by calling (800) 527-2000. Sister resorts include the newly restored 66 room Hotel Hana-Maui, Hana, Hawaii and the 25 room award-winning Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort. In May, Hotel Hana-Maui was named in the Condé Nast Traveler Hot List, "Top New 80 Hotels in the World." All three resorts provide guests with a "Spirit of Place" and each is indigenous of their own culture. The marketing and sales office is located at 921 Front Street, San Francisco, California.
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Jennifer Price/Jill Tsugawa
The Lippin Group
(323) 965-1990
jprice@lippingroup.com
jtsugawa@lippingroup.com
