A diverse panel of 50 reviewers scouts South Africa’s top hospitality destinations. Reviews from these trusted industry experts converge in a comprehensive database to highlight the nation’s premier establishments.
JUDGING PROCESS
AGGREGATION
STANDARDIZATION
Every review score is converted into a standardized grade, ranging from 0 to 100, using conversion tables specifically tailored to our guidebook’s specifications. This ensures consistency and fairness across all evaluations.
GUIDE GRADING
A panel of six independent judges, comprising chefs, authors, sommeliers, food critics, and more, assesses the shortlisted candidates. Each restaurant is visited by every judge. The chief judge validates ratings through on-site visits. Affirmed establishments are added to the nominee shortlist.
PROCESSING
For each shortlisted nominee, we meticulously calculate the average of all approved standardized review grades conducted throughout the review period, from 1 July 2023 to 28 February 2024. This ensures a comprehensive assessment reflecting various perspectives throughout the review period.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Online customer reviews are integrated, giving them a 10% weighting in the final “Luxe score”. This step incorporates the voice of the public while maintaining the expert-driven focus of the awards.
LUXE
All nominees in the award categories are ranked according to their “Luxe score,” which is determined by combining the judges’ scores and customer reviews. This final score determines their placement in the relevant categories.
Method - Luxe Awards