Hawke’s Bay Tourism has announced the finalists for the 2018 Hawke’s Bay Tourism Industry Awards, an annual celebration recognising local tourism providers delivering exceptional visitor experiences. The winners will be celebrated at the Hawke’s Bay Tourism Industry Awards held at Black Barn Vineyards on Wednesday 5 September 2018.

This year’s finalists have been selected and include:

119 on Georges

Ashcott Homestead

Black Barn Retreats

Black Barn Vineyards

Church Road Winery

Craggy Range Winery

Fairley Motor Lodge

Gannet Beach Adventures

Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market

Hunter Gatherer Tours

Kalldeen Luxury Accommodation

Kiwiesque

Mohaka Rafting

Napier City Bike Hire and Tours

Napier Maori Tours

Nimon Luxury Passenger Transport

Odyssey NZ

Porters Boutique Hotel

Prinsys Tours

Quest Apartments

Entries were open to Hawke’s Bay Tourism Partner programme members across all tourism sectors, and involved a rigorous process with entrants completing a comprehensive questionnaire and presenting their business plan. Entries were then judged by an independent panel made up of Tom Belford from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Jenny Robertson - Former EIT Head of Tourism, Jody Hamilton from Lyft Enterprises, and Wayne Walford of Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Wayne Walford, CEO Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce, said “this region has an abundance of amazing Tourism product that is focused on ensuring the best possible customer experience of Hawke’s Bay, which makes the judging process very difficult. At the end of the day those businesses making it easy for visitors to be wowed before they arrive, wowed while they are here and wowed when they return home are the leading lights.”

The judged award categories were; the Visitor Experience Awards sponsored by Hastings District Council, Accommodation Award sponsored by Central Linen Services, Essence of Hawke’s Bay sponsored by Napier City Council, and the Culture and Heritage Award sponsored by Wairoa District Council.

The Supreme Award winner, sponsored by EIT, will then be selected by the four category winners.

Hawke’s Bay Tourism General Manager Annie Dundas says “the awards provide a special opportunity to celebrate the success and innovation of our talented local tourism operators, and the incredible product they deliver to our visitors.”

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