Reserve Seaplane and NIHI Sumba Crowned Winners at Inaugural The Club Águilas Club & Resort of The Year Awards

“The world’s most photographed club” Reserve Seaplane and two-time World’s Best Hotel winner NIHI Sumba beat stiff competition from Nueva Alcántara Club, Matcha Club, Beaverbrook, Velaa Private Island, St. Regis Red Sea and others to the title

Hosted at Reserve Seaplane on Miami waterfront, 60 VIP guests from travel, finance, real estate, padel and media industries gathered for an exclusive awards ceremony of premium networking, padel and content creation, featuring “the “who’s who of modern-day Miami”, to celebrate the emerging global padel tourism scene

Club Águilas, which is billed as ‘Padel’s answer to the Michelin Guide’, presents a carefully curated selection of the most desirable padel clubs and resorts worldwide, and, to date, features 11 clubs and 6 resorts, spanning Asia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and South America

Upon selection, Club Águilas members gain their “Eagles Wings” – the symbol of international padel luxury, and padel’s version of the Michelin Star.

The world’s best guide to luxury padel travel Club Águilas has today announced the winners of the inaugural The Club Águilas Club & Resort of The Year Awards at an exclusive VIP celebration of international padel tourism in Miami.

Sponsored by India's leading Luxury sports travel and experiences company, Dream Set Go, and taking place during America’s Racquet Week at the “the world’s most photographed club”, it was Reserve Seaplane that took home the honours announced as The Club Águilas Club of The Year 2025. Often photographed with ‘the who’s who of Miami’ playing padel with uninterrupted views of downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay in the background, the six-court Reserve Seaplane is famous for welcoming players such as David Beckham, Jimmy Butler and Andrew Schulz to grace its courts. The 50,000 square foot proclaimed “British Country Club, Miami Style” venue has played host to the famous Reserve Cup Series, featuring an array of celebrities and the world’s top professionals. Reserve Seaplane fought off strong competition from clubs spanning five continents, which included: Bali Padel Academy, Club Bacocho, Brisas, Beaverbrook, Matcha Club, Padel Social Club Earls Court, Nueva Alcántara Club, Sóller Tennis Club, The Club by Bamford, and Tennis & Padel Club d'Eze. 

Standing alongside Reserve Seaplane as The Club Águilas Resort of The Year 2025 was two-time World's Best Hotel winner NIHI Sumba. Nestled within the Indonesian archipelago’s scattering of over 17,000 islands is Bali’s neighbouring Sumba island, NIHI Sumba is an unspoilt slice of undisturbed jungle paradise boasting surfing, hydrofoiling, deep-sea fishing, free-diving and, now, padel in what has to be one of the most isolated courts worldwide. In claiming the honour, NIHI Sumba staved off competition from Nay Palad Hideaway, Velaa Private Island, Padel Šolta, St. Regis Red Sea, and Andermatt.

Jack Lee, Manager of Reserve Seaplane, said: "We are thrilled to be the recipient of this award. Reserve Seaplane is where we launched the brand, hosted the historic Reserve Cup, and has created the foundation of our community. Thanks to Ben, Joe and their team for hosting a great event!”

James McBride, the CEO and co-founding partner of NIHI Sumba, said: "We are incredibly grateful to be recognized as ‘Resort of the Year’ by The Club Águilas in its inaugural awards. It is a testament to our dedicated team and guests who celebrate our vision in bringing together wellness, community, and adventure. From world-class surf breaks to our new state-of-the-art padel facilities, we continue to push the boundaries of experiential travel.”

Joe Middleton and Ben Nichols, Founder of Club Águilas, said: "These awards mark the start of something special for padel, luxury lifestyle and travel—celebrating the clubs and resorts that are redefining the sport at the highest level. Reserve Seaplane and NIHI Sumba have set the benchmark for what Club Águilas is all about: world-class venues, unforgettable experiences, and a growing insatiable appetite globally for luxury padel travel. In Reserve Seaplane and NIHI Sumba, here are two venues that have secured their “Eagles Wings” and are the epitome of the anti-same-same culture that Club Águilas stands for. As padel’s global footprint expands, Club Águilas will continue to celebrate the clubs and resorts that set the gold standard for the padel tourism”. 

Dream Set Go Chief of Staff, Rahul Parekh presented Reserve Seaplane’s General Manager Jack Lee and NIHI Sumba’s Global Director of Sales, Galit Schwarz, with the Club and Resort of the Year Awards - specially-designed hand-crafted Reserve Seaplane and NIHI Sumba Wallich rackets - respectively, in front of an elite crowd of 60 VIPs from the travel, finance, real estate, padel and media industries. Guests were treated to Club Águilas’ first ever signature cocktail, called Las Alas del Águila (‘The Eagles Wings’) and akin to an Agua Fresca De Jamaica.

The success of the inaugural Club Águilas Club & Resort of The Year Awards was made possible by the support of key sponsors who contributed to elevating the event experience. Pulco Studios, a premium padel apparel brand, showcased the intersection of style and sport, while Unseen Creatures provided a selection of craft beers that added a local flavour to the celebration. Rumor ensured guests were served with exceptional rosé, enhancing the evening’s ambience. Meanwhile, Wallich Padel, renowned for its expertise in padel equipment, introduced attendees to what is widely regarded as the best padel racket in the world and actively encouraged play on the courts at Reserve Seaplane. Each sponsor played a pivotal role in bringing the event to life and shaping an incredible afternoon of padel luxury.