Founders Lodge by Mantis has received deserved international awards recognition, picking up wins in two categories at The Boutique Hotel Guest Experience (BoHo) Awards in London on 22 May. The prestigious property was named as the winner in both ‘Best Boutique Hotel (1-20 Rooms)’ and ‘Best International Hotel’ categories at the ceremony at The Kimpton Fitzroy, held in conjunction with the Boutique + Lifestyle Hotel Summit.
The Boutique Hotel Guest Experience Awards (BoHos) recognise UK and international boutique, lifestyle and hybrid hotels for providing excellence in guest experience. More than 15 000 guest feedback questionnaire responses and over 37 000 online reviews from guests were gathered and analysed during the Awards’ 3-month collection period, with 93% of the detailed feedback, positive. Guest feedback wasindependently aggregated, evaluated, and ranked by students and faculty from the Department of Tourism & Hospitality at Bournemouth University. The result is a comprehensive study of which properties offer the best experiences, according to those whose opinions mean the most — their guests.
“We’re delighted with the news that Founders Lodge has received these two international accolades,’ says Adrian Gardiner, Founder of the Mantis Collection. “The Mantis team has worked tirelessly to develop this emblematic property and recognition from the BoHo Awards – and, indeed, our loyal guests – is just reward for this exceptional and unparalleled luxury bush experience, in the heart of the Eastern Cape”.
Founders Lodge is a 5-star 1940’s manor house, situated on a 400 hectare reserve directly adjacent to the to the malaria-free Big 5 Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. Formerly the Gardiner family’s holiday home, the property has undergone extensive renovation to offer guests luxurious accommodation, coupled with attentive service. With the reserve on which the property sits populated only by ‘plains animals’, guests are free to safely explore the rugged, beautiful landscape on foot. Guests at Founders Lodge also have direct access to game drives at the neighbouring Shamwari Game Reserve, where they can enjoy thrilling encounters with Africa’s famous ‘Big 5’.
