andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namibrand Nature Reserve, Namibia

Hotel of the Year

The most coveted award was given to andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, which ‘sits poetically’ within Namibrand Nature Reserve – a 12,715-hectare expanse deep in the Namib Desert. One judge described the property as ‘a truly sustainable reuse of an existing building’ and said it should ‘set a precedent of inspiration’ for similar development opportunities across the globe; the lodge doesn’t just fit in aesthetically, but also respects its surroundings by relying purely on solar power to operate.

Winners