Lizard Island Resort Stockpiles Awards in First Half of 2012

BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Located off the northern coast of Australia, out on the edges of the Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island Resort is a spectacular island setting not known to many.  However, with all of the honors garnered so far in 2012, more and more travelers are learning about this ultimate getaway location owned and operated by Delaware North Companies.

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Below is the recognition garnered by Lizard Island – and its pristine beaches, luxury accommodations and variety of offerings – so far this year:

Travel + Leisure – Every year, the hospitality industry anxiously waits for Travel + Leisure to publish its 'World's Best Awards', which are chosen by T + L readers ranking their favorite hotels, destinations, and travel companies.  In 2012, Lizard Island Resort made the prestigious 'Best Hotels' list, coming in at No. 25.  The voters were clearly impressed with Delaware North's residences and friendly service out on the Great Barrier Reef.  "Open-plan suites are done up in the blues and whites of the sea, with hammocks and decks discreetly hidden from view," said the article.  "Count on sunset cruises, torchlit beach dinners, and a staff that will do anything to please."

Forbes – Hayley Bosch, an editor for Forbes Travel Guide, listed Lizard Island among her 'Top 10 Beach Resorts Around the World' in July.  The Australian destination stood out to Bosch for its "seemingly untouched" appearance, easy access to a multitude of beaches and world-famous diving sites such as Cod Hole.  Lizard Island was called out in this article with a number of other luxury resorts, including the St. Regis Bora Bora and Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.

Australian Gourmet Traveller – In the sixth year of the Australian Gourmet Traveller 'Travel Awards', Lizard Island was not only named reader's choice for 'Best Resort or Lodge' but also received the most votes of any finalist.  The property learned of this honor on May 29 during a dinner at the Park Hyatt Sydney.

Lizard Island Resort is also a finalist in the annual HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence competition.  The HM Awards are the leading awards for the accommodation industry in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region.  This year, Lizard Island had to beat out a record 2300 entries just to make it as a finalist in the 'Resort' category.  The Delaware North-owned and –operated property will find out if it is taking home the ultimate prize in its division on Sept. 7 at a gala dinner in Sydney, Australia.

About Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts

Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is an industry leader, providing Stewardship and Hospitality in Special Places SM with hotel, retail, food service, recreation and transportation operations at historic and scenic properties in North America and Australia. The company operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida; in Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite national parks, including The Ahwahnee and other Yosemite lodges; The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ohio; Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; and in Niagara Falls State Park. The company also owns and operates Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite; Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa in British Columbia; the Park Gate Lodges at Yellowstone, which are the West Yellowstone Holiday Inn, Gray Wolf Inn and Suites and Yellowstone Park Hotel, all located at the park's west gate in West Yellowstone, Mont.; and five luxury resorts in Australia: Lizard Island Resort, Heron Island Resort, Wilson Island Resort, Kings Canyon Resort and El Questro Homestead and Wilderness Park. To learn more about Delaware North Companies' hospitality management expertise, visit http://www.delawarenorth.com/parks-and-resorts-home.aspx.

About Delaware North Companies

Delaware North Companies is one of the largest and most admired privately held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned by the Jacobs family for nearly 100 years, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies has revenue exceeding $2.6 billion annually and 55,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.

SOURCE Delaware North Companies