Plett boasts some of the top hotels

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plett has been dubbed the best in various areas – from beaches and natural beauty to trails and visitor satisfaction – and now the small coastal holiday destination has added another feather to its cap: being home to some of the best hotels in eastern and southern Africa.

This honour was bestowed on two local hotels – The Plettenberg Hotel and the Old Rectory – as part of the annual Condé Nast Traveller Reader's Choice Awards, which is one of the longest running global travel accolades.

It sees visitors rating their travel experiences around the world and this year more than half a million people had their say.

The Plettenberg Hotel was voted runner-up in the eastern and southern Africa category with a score of 98,54. It was a very close race between the top two spots with Babylonstoren in the Cape Winelands just edging The Plettenberg Hotel out with a score of 98,55.

The Plettenberg Hotel is however not a newcomer to this accolade.

Chief executive of the Liz McGrath collection, that The Plettenberg is part of, Jacqui Elliot, said they were thrilled with the establishment's performance over the last year. "Under the leadership of general manager Melissa Theron it has moved up the rankings from 11th place in 2022, beating stiff competition from other prominent hotels in the region to take second place in 2023," Elliot said.

Rare Earth's The Old Rectory Hotel and Spa was also among the top ten hotels in the region, placing 8th with a score of 97,37. "This accolade has been a decade in the making, from the acquisition of a derelict heritage site in 2013, through its transformation from a neglected historical building into the boutique hotel you see today," the Old Rectory team said.

Not only is the building that houses the hotel a national monument, but it is also Plett's oldest building, dating back to 1777.

While having morphed several times in its more than two-century history, the building took its current form in 2017 when it opened to the public as a luxury boutique hotel.

The Plettenberg Hotel also comes from humble beginnings, but in more recent history.

It first opened to the public in 1988 when the late Liz McGrath took over the almost derelict hotel along Plett's beachfront and transformed it into what it is today.

Plett Tourism chief executive Patty Butterworth said, "Nothing makes us more excited and proud to acknowledge The Plettenberg Hotel and The Old Rectory for showcasing our town as a world-class destination with their recent Condé Nast Traveller Awards.

"For two hotels to be recognised in a town the size of Plett is an amazing achievement. They are part of an exclusive and curated world-recognised collection. With their own distinct features, ethos and style, they are setting new standards for our hospitality industry."

Other hotels that made it into the top 10 are Le Quartier Français, Last Word, Leeu Estates and La Residence in Franschhoek, Gibb's Farm in Tanzania, Last Word in Constantia, and Mount Nelson in Cape Town.

The Old Rectory Hotel