Press release from Tourism Industry Aoteaora (TIA)
Twenty-four leading tourism operators and stakeholders have been announced today as finalists in the 2017 New Zealand Tourism Awards – the $35 billion tourism industry’s most prestigious awards.
The finalists span the country from Queenstown to Waitangi and include long-established operators as well as new businesses. Accommodation providers, activity and transport operators, educators and researchers are among the finalists.
They will compete for awards in two individual categories and eight business categories, says Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa which runs the annual awards programme.
“It’s really pleasing to see the competition for the New Zealand Tourism Awards is growing stronger every year. New Zealand’s tourism industry is enjoying unprecedented growth,” Mr Roberts says.
“These prestigious awards celebrate the industry’s success and recognise the individuals and businesses doing an outstanding job, generating economic wealth and supporting jobs in communities throughout the country.
“I’d like to congratulate everyone who took the time to enter the Awards, even if they didn’t make it to finalist status. The Awards are a valuable opportunity to benchmark your business against your peers and demonstrate you are striving to be the best.”
The Awards are closely aligned with the industry’s Tourism 2025 growth framework, which aims to grow total annual tourism revenue to $41 billion.
The winner of the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award will receive international air travel to any Air New Zealand destination valued at $10,000 (+GST) to help them grow their tourism business.
The winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner in Christchurch on Thursday 7 September.
ChristchurchNZ convention bureau and industry partnership manager Caroline Blanchfield says Christchurch is delighted to host the annual Awards for the first time. “This is a great opportunity to showcase all Christchurch has to offer to New Zealand’s top industry performers. I hope they will take the time while here to soak up our warm hospitality and experience a city that changes daily, with new places to eat, drink, shop and discover popping up all over town.
“Visitors now spend over $2 billion annually in the city, exceeding pre-earthquake levels. This is a city that has so much to offer, we’re excited to welcome the Awards to Christchurch and demonstrate to the New Zealand industry that it is a vibrant city of opportunity.”
2017 New Zealand Tourism Awards finalists
PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Tourism Leader Award
• Jasmine Adams - Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park
• Shayne Forrest – Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tours, Matamata
• Margaret Munro – Earth & Sky Stargazing & Observatory Tours, Tekapo
Auckland Airport Tourism Industry Champion Award
• Lisa Li – China Travel Service (NZ) Ltd, Auckland
• Les Morgan – Sudima Hotels & Resorts
• Ryan Sanders – Haka Tourism Group
• Angus Stubbs – Tourism Holdings Ltd – Discover Waitomo
Sudima Hotels & Resorts Tourism 2025 Enabler Award
• Angus & Associates Ltd, Wellington
• New Zealand Transport Agency
• Queenstown Resort College
Westpac Business Excellence Award – Less than $6 million annual turnover
• Auckland Seaplanes
• Dive! Tutukaka
• Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort
JLT & AIG Business Excellence Award – More than $6 million annual turnover
• Haka Tourism Group
• Real Journeys, Queenstown
• Skyline Queenstown
Department of Conservation Environmental Tourism Award
• Real Journeys – Walter Peak Land Restoration Project, Queenstown
• Sudima Hotels & Resorts
• Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort
• YHA New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment Industry Alignment Award
• TIME Unlimited Tours, Auckland
• Tourism West Coast
He kai kei aku ringa Māori Tourism Award
• TIME Unlimited Tours, Auckland
• Kapiti Island Nature Tours
epay NZ Tourism Marketing Award
• Haka Tourism Group
• SKYCITY Auckland Ltd
• YHA New Zealand
ServiceIQ Visitor Experience Award
• Skyline Rotorua
• Tourism Holdings Ltd – NZ Rentals
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds
