NEW YORK, NY — Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report has named Aman at Summer Palace in Beijing its Hideaway of the Year. According to a press release received by Elite Traveler, this is the first time any hotel has ever received a 99-point rating from the legendary anonymous reviewer. The Hideaway of the Year and sixteen Grand Award winners were revealed in the January 2010 issue of the Hideaway Report.

Of Aman at Summer Palace, Andrew Harper notes, “Adjacent to the East Gate of the historic Summer Palace, the property is housed within a series of pavilions – some of them century-old dwellings used by those awaiting an audience with the Empress Dowager Cixi – and presents a serenely romantic vision of a bygone China. After our experience, we can only say that the opportunity to stay in this unique location is both a treat and a privilege.”

In addition, sixteen hotels and resorts around the world have been designated 2010 Grand Award winners by the Hideaway Report:

Crosby Street Hotel , New York Madrona Manor, Napa Valley La Malcontenta, Catalonia Finca Cortesin Hotel, Andalusia Hotel Kendov Dvorec, Slovenia Villa Miločer, Montenegro Banyan Tree Ringha, China Six Senses Hideaway Samui, Thailand La Reserve, Ramatuelle, France L’Hotel de Toiras, Brittany Hotel Duchessa Isabella, Ferrara Locanda il Rigoletto, Emilia-Romagna, Italy Kulefu Camp, Zambia Sussi & Chuma, Zambia Park Hyatt Shanghai Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya

Grand Award winners represent the creme de la creme of the hotels and resorts that Andrew Harper has visited during the previous 12 months. To be considered, properties must be relatively small, possess distinctive characters and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to personal service and refined hospitality. Mr. Harper does not evaluate hotels by means of a checklist, but uses his three decades of experience to identify those qualities that separate the good from the truly enchanting.