Lake Lanier Islands Resort® Honored with 2014 TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence

BUFORD, Ga. - June 24, 2014 - PRLog -- Southern lakeside destination, Lake Lanier Islands Resort is pleased to announce that it has received a 2014 TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com)® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence to qualifying businesses worldwide, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor – the world’s largest travel website.  Establishments awarded the Certificate of Excellence are located all across the globe and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website.

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm that takes into account review ratings – including volume and dates of reviews.  In order to even be considered for such an honor, businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five. Additional criteria include a business’ tenure and popularity ranking on the site.

“At Lanier Islands, we strive for service excellence every day – whether serving a local family who is visiting our beach and boardwalk for an afternoon, a group of executives who is here for team-building and corporate retreat during the week, or a bridal party who is celebrating a destination wedding over the course of a weekend,” explains Stephanie Orr, VP of Sales & Marketing for Lake Lanier Islands Resort. “Receiving the honor of a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence tells us that we’re doing something very right and serves as a true source of pride for our entire team. We’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor. There is no greater seal of approval than being recognized by one’s customers. Because the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is based on customer reviews, this accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to providing the very best in customer service to our guests. We’d also like to thank our wonderful associates for making our vision of Southern Hospitality at its finest an award-winning reality.”

Set on the shores of Lake Sidney Lanier in the midst of 1500 acres in North Georgia – just 40 miles (and a world away) from the busy streets of downtown Atlanta, Lake Lanier Islands Resort is comprised of a number of luxury accommodations and “home-away-from-home” lakehouses, as well as a sprawling beach and boardwalk entertainment district, marina, equestrian center, indoor and outdoor wedding venues, seasonal and year-round restaurants, ziplines, and so much more. Marking the start of its 10^th year under the management of the Williams Family and the Islands Management Company, 2014 has already been witness to the introduction of a heated saltwater leisure pool at the resort’s flagship Legacy Lodge and the well-received transformation to a pet-friendly resort. Even more changes are underway for the remainder of the year, including the debut of the Legacy Pool Pavilion and the launch of the LanierWorld Winter Experience in November 2014 – when the resort will bring a taste of the Great White North to the Deep South.

“TripAdvisor is pleased to honor exceptional hospitality businesses for consistent excellence,” said Marc Charron, President of TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award gives top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers. From Australia to Zimbabwe, we want to applaud exceptional hospitality businesses for offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience."

About Lake Lanier Islands Resort®: Nestled on the southern-most shoreline of Lake Sidney Lanier at the foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains lies the truly distinctive Lake Lanier Islands Resort®. Situated less than 45 miles from downtown Atlanta on 1,500 pristine acres of forests, meadows and beaches, this luxury resort is quickly growing in size, scope and reputation as one of the Southeast’s leading lakeside retreats. The Resort’s crown jewel – Lake Sidney Lanier is one of the United States’ most popular man-made lakes, encompassing 38,000 miles of surface area and 690 miles of shoreline in Northeast Georgia. Legacy Lodge and Legacy Villas enhance the Resort’s broad assortment of accommodation choices and meeting sites – making it the ideal choice for corporate meetings and company retreats. Popular excursions like fun in the sun at the boardwalk-themed LanierWorld, zip lining through the trees with Lake Lanier Canopy Tours, horseback riding on a lakeside trail from the Equestrian Center, and renting a boat and ski equipment from Harbor Landing make the Resort a terrific choice for families vacationing or “staycationing” in the South. Tranquility – the Spa and the picturesque 18-hole course at Legacy on Lanier Golf Club are major draws for visitors looking to relax or play, and with more than 20 wedding venues to choose from, the Resort is rapidly gaining favor with brides- and grooms-to-be as a highly sought-after Destination Wedding site. Operated by Islands Management Company, LLC since 2005, Lake Lanier Islands Resort® is steadily securing a solid standing for their unique vision of the future of this luxury retreat, their unswerving dedication to the comfort and enjoyment of their guests, and their signature brand of Southern Hospitality. For more information, schedule a tee time, learn package details or make reservations, call (770) 945-8787 or visit Lake Lanier Islands’ website at http://www.lakelanierislands.com.

About TripAdvisor®: TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching nearly 260 million unique monthly visitors**, and more than 150 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 39 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com/). TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc.  manages and operates websites under 22 other travel media brands.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, Q1 2014

**Source: Google Analytics, average monthly unique users, Q1 2014; does not include traffic to daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com/)