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New Zealand’s iconic Huka Lodge is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Louis de Bièvre as General Manager of this exclusive award-winning retreat.

Louis de Bièvre initially embarked on a career in law at the University of Utrecht, in The Netherlands. However, after two years of study his passion for fine food and wine won, and Louis switched his allegiance to the world of hospitality, graduating from the Centre International de Glion, Switzerland three years later. Graduates from this prestigious hotel management school are actively sought by the world’s finest hotels – which led to Louis spending two years at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia, USA, on completion of his studies.

In 1992, Louis de Bièvre arrived at Huka Lodge, New Zealand, having been appointed Assistant Manager and spent three very happy years with the property, before leaving to create and operate several successful businesses within the local area.

Since 2009, Huka Lodge has retained the services of Louis de Bièvre on a regular basis as a consultant, so when the position as General Manager became available he was an obvious candidate to fill this very important role. His level of experience and familiarity with the high standards required at Huka Lodge, combined with his professionalism, hold Louis in good stead for his new role and he is widely respected within both the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Huka Lodge is the vision of international entrepreneur Alex van Heeren and is a sister property to Dolphin Island, Fiji and Grande Provence Estate, South Africa. All three properties comprise The Huka Retreats – sharing a global commitment to creating an exceptional hospitality experience for all their guests. 

For all media enquiries please contact:
Jane Corbett-Jones
T: +61 2 99571718
M: +61 (0) 417 772783
E: jane@janecorbett-jones.com

Condé Nast Traveller, United Kingdom, has just announced the latest winners within The Gold List 2012.

Once more Huka Lodge makes an appearance within this celebrated list – on this occasion Huka Lodge is best for rooms, taking its place alongside many of the world's finest hotels.

Rooms at Huka Lodge are typically elegant, atmospheric, luxurious and rich in ambience. They showcase the unique style of owner Alex van Heeren and are the superb work of New Zealand interior designer Virginia Fisher.

The Huka Lodge is a sister property of Dolphin Island, Fiji, and Grande Provence Estate, South Africa. 

The Huka Retreats is pleased to announce the appointment of Roelof ‘Rudy’ Crane to the role of Assistant Manager at Huka Lodge, Taupo, New Zealand. This iconic property is regularly rated as one of the world’s finest private retreats and was the proud recipient of the Tatler Award for Enduring Excellence 2010, in recognition of 25 years of consistent excellence.

Rudy Crane holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the prestigious Hotelschool, The Hague, in The Netherlands. Graduates from this international university of hospitality management are highly regarded and often to be found within the management teams of the world’s finest hotels.

While studying for his degree, Rudy spent a 10-month internship period working as Head Waiter at Huka Lodge. During this time, Rudy developed a great love for this special property, however he was to graduate and go on to gain further experience overseas, before his returning to Huka Lodge as Duty Manager in 2010.

Small boutique hotels have always been a passion for Rudy, since completing his secondary schooling in the South of France, he has worked at luxury properties throughout the French Riviera. After graduation, this also included spending time at Auberge du Soleil, a Relais & Châteaux property in the Napa Valley, California, and a world-class luxury hotel. Here, Rudy held the position of Guest Relations Supervisor, with regular hosting at the hotel’s 1-Michelin starred restaurant. This experience, as well as being Head Concierge at Fraser Suites, a boutique hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, were to provide Rudy with the style of international hospitality background that Huka Lodge was looking for in an Assistant Manager. Rudy will work closely alongside Huka Lodge’s General Manager, Mark Wouters who is also coincidentally, a fellow graduate of Hotelschool, The Hague.

Huka Lodge, New Zealand, is a sister property to Grande Provence Estate, South Africa and the recently re-launched Dolphin Island, Fiji. These three superb properties comprise The Huka Retreats and are the vision of their founder, entrepreneur Alex van Heeren.

For all media enquiries please contact:
Jane Corbett-Jones
T: +61 2 99571718
M: +61 (0) 417 772783
E: jane@janecorbett-jones.com

Every year, Travel + Leisure magazine (USA) names the top properties in nine global regions that excel in service. These ratings come via their readers in the annual Travel + Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Awards for 2011.

Huka Lodge, Taupo, New Zealand has been named as the top resort/lodge for best service in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Huka Lodge is no stranger to recognition at this top international level and was also honoured with the Tatler Enduring Excellence Award, in recognition of its outstanding consistency in maintaining the highest standards of excellence for the past 25 years.

Huka Lodge is considered to be one of the world’s finest private retreats, with a location of great natural beauty enhanced by layers of luxury, ambience, fine cuisine and attentive service defining the celebrated hospitality experience.

Huka Lodge is a sister property to Grande Provence Estate, South Africa and Dolphin Island, Fiji. All three properties comprise The Huka Retreats, being the passion and vision of their founder, entrepreneur Alex van Heeren.

Dolphin Island, Fiji is now welcoming guests once more, following the completion of a major refurbishment program led by interior designer Virginia Fisher – the result is absolutely stunning.

For all media enquiries please contact:
Jane Corbett-Jones
T: +61 2 99571718
M: +61 (0) 417 772783
E: jane@janecorbett-jones.com

Huka Lodge, Taupo, New Zealand was recently advised by the New Zealand Gardens Trust that they have been awarded the status of a ‘Garden of National Significance’.

The manicured gardens at Huka Lodge lie within 17-acres of park-like grounds on the banks of the Waikato River where they further enhance a location of great national beauty. They feature both native New Zealand trees and shrubs, as well as planting that would typically be found within large English country gardens. Huka Lodge has many fine specimen trees of considerable size and age – in particular the Californian Redwood trees that date back to the founding of the property in the 1920s.

The gardens have always been a source of pride for Huka Lodge, however since the current owner Alex van Heeren, purchased the property in 1984, they have undergone a massive development programme. This has been led by interior designer Virgina Fisher who worked with garden designer Martin Keay initially,  followed by landscape designer Suzanne Turley, to create the magnificent gardens at Huka Lodge that are enjoyed by so many today.

On hearing of the ranking, Alex van Heeren warmly congratulated Head Gardener, Elaine Tocker and her dedicated team and commended them “for all the hard work that goes into making the gardens at Huka Lodge so beautiful”.

For all media enquiries please contact:
Jane Corbett-Jones
T: +61 2 99571718
M: +61 (0) 417 772783
E: jane@janecorbett-jones.com

This latest announcement by the United Kingdom’s Tatler magazine has come on the heels of a slew of recent awards and accolades for New Zealand’s classic luxury retreat Huka Lodge. It has been a special time for the property over recent months as Huka Lodge’s unique style of hospitality and attention to detail has drawn consistent recognition at the highest international levels.

Tatler also singled Huka Lodge out for recognition by bestowing their Enduring Excellence Award on the property, for 25 years of outstanding consistency in maintaining the highest standards of excellence.

Further accolades came from the USA’s Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report when it’s readers voted Huka Lodge as one of the Top 20 International Hideaways in the World.

This was further endorsed by the UK’s Condé Nast Traveller magazine when it ranked Huka Lodge amongst the ‘Best for Rooms’, in their prestigious Gold List 2011.

The USA’s Condé Nast Traveler magazine also included Huka Lodge within it’s hotly contested Gold List, giving the property scores of 100% for Rooms, Service, Food and Design.

Huka Lodge is a sister property to Grande Provence Estate in South Africa and Dolphin Island, Fiji. All three properties comprise The Huka Retreats, and embody the vision of their owner, Alex van Heeren.

Dolphin Island is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and will be re-opening and welcoming its first guests soon. The 13-acre private Fijian Island will boast luxurious ‘castaway’ accommodation by renowned interior designer Virginia Fisher.

Alex van Heeren, Owner of Huka Lodge, recently gave Taupo’s world-renowned retreat, all its staff, and facilities to CatWalk Spinal Injury Trust to use for a fabulous fund raising event held on the weekend of 04-05 September 2010.

Guests enjoyed activities hosted by celebrity presenters – a beauty & style workshop with top stylists Stephen Marr & Lucy Vincent Marr, Artist Dick Frizzell spoke of his work and Winemaker Rod McDonald led a tutored tasting of Frizzell Wines. Restaurateurs and television presenters Al Brown and Steve Logan hosted trout fishing on Lake Taupo with Chris Jolly Outdoors and horse trekking/clay bird shooting at Karen & Wally Niederer’s Harakeke Farm. Huka Lodge masseuses also donated their time to provide a variety of relaxing in-room massage treatments for guests.

During the evening guests gathered for a gala dinner prepared by Executive Chef Michel Louws and his team, featuring five superb courses complemented by fine wines donated by top wineries for the event. Entertainment and much hilarity was guaranteed by the presence of mystery guest comedian Rhys Darby and pianist Tony Phelps provided music into the small hours.

On Sunday morning, while guests were breakfasting, a helicopter landed on the Lodge lawn and James Blake, (son of the late Sir Peter Blake), emerged carrying a video message of thanks from CatWalk patrons Zara Philips and Mark Todd.

This generous initiative from Alex van Heeren received an overwhelming level of response from CatWalk supporters with many local businesses donating goods and services to ensure CatWalk received every dollar of the ticket price for the event.

Founder of CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust Catriona Williams had this to say “Gifts like this are quite unprecedented for a charity like ours and we can only thank Alex van Heeren from the bottom of our hearts for making this all possible. The sum raised will do so much to further our efforts to support research into a cure for spinal cord injury”.