Luxury Lodges of Australia

ANDREW HARPER REVEALS 2012 GRAND AWARD WINNERS

SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE – HIDEAWAY OF THE YEAR

THE LOUISE AND Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa NAMED TO PRESTIGIOUS LIST of Grand Award winners

NEW YORK, NY – (December 30, 2011) Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report, the most respected publication in luxury travel, today revealed its 2012 Grand Award winners.

The ultimate acknowledgement by Andrew Harper, “Hideaway of the Year” has been given to Southern Ocean Lodge, located on Australia’s Kangaroo Island.

We are pleased to also announce that The Louise Barossa Valley, and Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa were named to the prestigious list, which is comprised of Mr. Harper's favorite 19 properties he visited within the past calendar year.

In addition, Joost Heymeijer, General Manager at Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa was given Special Recognition as “Manager of the Year.”

The Hideaway of the Year and the 18 Grand Award winners around the world are identified in the January 2012 issue of Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report and online at AndrewHarper.com/grand-awards-2012.

Each of Mr. Harper's Grand Award winners possesses exceptional character, a commitment to classic hospitality and a profound sense of place. Mr. Harper does not evaluate hotels by means of a checklist, but uses his three decades of experience to distinguish the truly enchanting from the merely excellent.

Southern Ocean Lodge, The Louise and Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa are all founding members of Luxury Lodges of Australia, representing the best of the new era of Australian experiential luxury. www.luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au

Mr Harper’s acknowledgement of these three properties is a globally recognized tribute to the standards Australia’s luxury lodges are achieving.

Hideaway of the year: Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia

Grand Award winners: Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia and The Louise, Australia