BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—The 2008 International Restaurant and Hotel Awards (IRHA) will honor Grand Award Recipients and IRHA Award Honorees on November 16 at the home of the Golden Globes, The Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The star-studded gala ceremony will be hosted by Mark DeCarlo from Taste of America on the Travel Channel and will include a special spotlight on New Orleans along with the presentation of the 2008 IRHA Award Honorees, Recipients and Grand Award restaurants and hotels. A Green Award will be presented in the hotel category.
Honorees were nominated by the distinguished IRHA advisory board. Less than seven industry leaders were nominated for each IRHA Award Honoree title and IRHA Award Supporting category. The advisory board and jury completed the voting process on May 2, 2008. IRHA is accepting votes from foodies and travel enthusiasts all over the globe for the Traveler’s Vote Awards: Best of Travel & Dining in TV, Radio, Web and Film, Travel Editor of the Year and Food & Dining Editor of the Year. Vote online at www.IRHAwards.com.
In the tradition of the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, the International Restaurant and Hotel Awards is the world’s most prestigious awards ceremony recognizing the best value, moderate and luxury travel establishments that go above and beyond industry standards.
More Than 1,000 Entries
IRHA received more than 1,000 submissions from more than 50 countries around the world. The jury reviewed submissions from bed & breakfasts, top restaurants, chains, six-star luxury hotels, boutique hotels and independent restaurants and hotels in April 2008. Top chains and hotel groups that participated include Ritz-Carlton, Marriott International, Accor Hotels, The Peninsula Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Kor Hotel Group, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels and a host of others.
Subcategory recipients were announced on June 5, 2008. The Grand Award Nominees for the coveted titles of International Restaurant of the Year & International Hotel of the Year (value, moderate and luxury titles) were announced on July 17, 2008. The Grand Award recipients and the 2008 IRHA Award Honorees will receive the coveted IRHA statue presented at the 2008 gala ceremony. The Traveler’s Directory and the Best of City & Country recipients were announced online on June 18, 2008.
The International Restaurant and Hotel Awards is juried by a board of esteemed hospitality industry professionals with extensive experience in each category field. The jury includes hosts and personalities seen on the Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, UKTV, BBC Food, Travel Channel International and representatives from Cool Restaurants, Cool Hotels, Citysearch, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Hungry? City Guides and a host of others.
Hotel award categories (Value, Moderate & Luxury) included Best Design, Endless Amenities, Breathtaking Views, Green Award (Eco Building), Best Suite, Family Friendly, Best Bed & Breakfast, Best Water Feature (Pool, Beach or Jacuzzi), Best Spa, Best Lobby, Best New Hotel of the Year, and International Hotel of the Year.
Restaurant Award Categories
Restaurant award categories (Value, Moderate & Luxury) included Best Design, Best Brunch, Best Views, Citywide/Regional Cuisine, Best Specialty Item, Best Ethnic Cuisine, Most Organic/Sustainable, Best Wine List, Best Dessert, Best New Restaurant of the Year, and International Restaurant of the Year.
The IRHA advisory board collaborates with International Hospitality Awards, Inc. in the creation of category review guides for each subcategory. IRHA conducts research annually in each category field by searching the Web, magazines, travel guides and ratings directories, speaking with experts, attending industry expos and events and coordinating travel and dining excursions. All submissions are then prescreened using the guides without regard to any commercial affiliation between any members of the IRHA community including sponsors, media partners, founders or board members. Decisions are based on each subcategory review guide, value, quality of experience and interest to travel and dining enthusiasts.
Judges rate each submission from one to 20 (one being the lowest, 20 being the highest) using their professional background and the category review guides created by the IRHA advisory board. The scores are tallied and recipients are announced in each subcategory. The first, second and third place restaurants and hotels are the highest scoring submissions in each subcategory.
All participating hotels and restaurants are considered for citywide, countrywide and worldwide recognition. The top scoring citywide recipients move onto countrywide recognition. Countrywide recipients will be considered with all first place subcategory recipients for the coveted titles of International Value Hotel of the Year, International Moderate Hotel of the Year, International Luxury Hotel of the Year, International Value Restaurant of the Year, International Moderate Restaurant of the Year, and International Luxury Restaurant of the Year.
Go to www.IRHAwards.com.
