...in the Smith Hotel Awards 2014

When it comes to boutique hotels, Australia's offerings are officially among the best in the world, with their standing confirmed in the Smith Hotel Awards 2014, held in London.

Intended to celebrate the most remarkable hotels in the world, the Smith Hotel Awards 2014 pitted more than 950 hotels in the Mr & Mrs Smith collection head to head in 12 specially selected categories, including Sexiest Bedroom, Best Dressed and Best Hotel Pool.

Australian properties came up trumps in four categories – Best Budget Boutique, Best for Families, The Eco Award and Above and Beyond - with a further three local hotels awarded Runners-up.

The Australian Smith Hotel Awards 2014 winners are:

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island: Above and Beyond

Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef: The Eco Award

Emirates Wolgan Valley, Blue Mountains: Best for Families  

1888 Hotel, Sydney: Best Budget Boutique Hotel

And the Australian Smith Hotel Awards 2014 runners-up are:

Lake House, Daylesford: Best Hotel Restaurant

Saffire, Tasmania: Best-Dressed Hotel

Qualia, Great Barrier Reef : Best Smith Hotel 2014

Some 22,000 members of the hotel-loving public voted for their favourite stays during the month-long poll, after which shortlists were put to a panel of three specialist judges in each category, including writer and presenter Mariella Frostrup, chef Marcus Wareing, television presenter and editor Neale Whitaker and singer-songwriter Jessie Ware.

'When we started Smith in 2003, we set out to find the very best boutique hotels in the UK. Over the last 11 years, we've taken that mission all over the world, so this list of 2014 award-winners really does represent the best of the best on the global hotel scene. Choosing from such incredible hotels is a tough job, of course, which is why we asked the public to help, and thanks to them and our panel of specialist judges, we think we've arrived at the ultimate hot list.' James Lohan, co-founder, Mr & Mrs Smith.

SMITH HOTEL AWARDS 2014 WINNERS

Best-Dressed Hotel (in partnership with Mr Porter)

WINNER RiadEl Fenn, Morocco

'As discreet as it is decadent' – Jodie Harrison, Mr Porter style maven

Runners-up Portrait Firenze, Florence | Saffire, Australia

Sexiest Bedroom in the World (in partnership with Kiki de Montparnasse)

WINNER Water Villa 5 at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam

'Private pool, sunset cruise, rustic chic, no doors, ladder into the sea, paradise found!'
– Immodesty Blaize, burlesque performer
Runners-upSuite 58 at Viceroy New York | The Roccia Suite at Bellevue Syrene, Italy

Hottest Hotel Bar (in partnership with SipSmith)

WINNER The NoMad Hotel, US

'Serious atmosphere and custom-designed cocktail carts let guests mix their own drinks tableside – what's not to love?' – James Lohan, Mr & Mrs Smith

Runners-up Ohla Hotel, Spain | Shoreditch Rooms, UK

Best Hotel Restaurant (in partnership with Fentimans)

WINNER Hartnett, Holder & Co at Lime Wood, UK

'Lime Wood showcases England at its best, delivering refined quality on every level.'

– Marcus Wareing

Runners-up Lake House, Australia | La Bastide de Moustiers, France

Best Spa Hotel (in partnership with Malin + Goetz)

WINNER House Spa at Dormy House, Cotswolds

'A relaxing, rejuvenating all round luxurious spa experience set against a beautiful Cotswolds backdrop' – Lisa Stokes, The Spa Spy
Runners-up Como Shambhala Estate, Bali | Fusion Maia Resort, Vietnam

The Eco Award (in partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation)

WINNER Sal Salis, Australia

'100% solar power is pretty special.It does mean no internet, but that makes this the perfect retreat for anyone after a digital detox' – Juliet Kinsman, Mr & Mrs Smith

Runners-up Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, Italy | Cuixmala, Mexico

Best for Families (in partnership with Trunki)

WINNER Emirates Wolgan Valley, Australia

'I love the bushcraft and survival skills – it's ultimate luxury but very back-to-nature,' – James Lohan, Mr & Mrs Smith

Runners-up Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji | Castiglion del Bosco, Italy

Best Budget Hotel (in partnership with Graham & Greene)

WINNER 1888 Hotel, Australia

'A new-meets-old aesthetic and properly good value' – Wayne Hemingway, designer

Runners-up Brody House, Hungary | Ekies All Senses Resort, Greece

Best Hotel Pool (in partnership with Heidi Klein)

WINNER Monastero Santa Rosa, Italy

'Monastero's infinity pool has it all – peace, beauty, excitement and intrigue.' – Adam Brown, Orlebar Brown

Runners-up Eagles Nest, New Zealand | Cap Estel, France

Above and Beyond (in partnership with Avis)

WINNER Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia

'They've mastered the art of relaxed yet nothing is too much trouble.' – Juliet Kinsman, Mr & Mrs Smith

Runners-up No 131, UK | One&Only The Palm, UAE

Best Newcomer (in partnership with Music Concierge)

WINNER Ham Yard Hotel, London

'For its rooftop garden, basement bowling and fun attitude that attracts everyone, not just guests.' – Henrietta Thompson, Wallpaper*

Runners-up The Pig – on the Beach, UK | Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, US

Best Smith Hotel 2014

WINNER Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa, Bahia, Brazil

'What could be more blissful than a beautiful beach hotel with stand-out personality, fantastic food, a come-to-me spa and a proper sense of place?' – Sophie Lam, The Independent

Runners-up Qualia, Australia | Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Images of the winning hotels can be downloaded from this link here.

Mr & Mrs Smith is an award-winning hotel website, booking service and free-to-join travel club, specialising in finding the world's most inspiring boutique hotels. Founded in 2003, Smith has published nine coffee-table guidebooks and maintains a hand-picked and anonymously reviewed collection of around 950 of the world's most stylish stays at mrandmrssmith.com.

The judging process

Voting was open to the public from 1 to 30 September 2014. The 10 most-voted for hotels were then put forward to an expert judging panel to determine the top three in each award category.

More information

More details on the winners, judges and shortlisted hotels in each category can be found at Smithhotelawards.com. To book any of the hotels in the collection, visit mrandmrssmith.com or call the 24/7 Travel Team on 1300 89 66 27.

For interviews with the judges, quotes and more information please contact: