Rotorua Holiday Park Wins Top Hospitality Award

Rotorua holiday park wins top hospitality award

It’s fourth time lucky for Rotorua’s All Seasons Holiday Park which has won the prestigious 2017 Spirit of Hospitality Award sponsored by AA Traveller.

This award is the holiday park sector’s premier award, made to the holiday park which excels in providing an outstanding visitor experience.

Having been a finalist in four of the last five years, All Seasons Holiday Park was awarded the accolade at the annual Holiday Parks Awards in Dunedin.

Holiday Parks New Zealand Chief Executive Fergus Brown says the park stands out for its consistently high levels of service, repeatedly going well beyond what would normally be expected.

“Managers Tracie and Kevin Thornborough take enormous pride in exceeding their guests’ expectations. On one occasion, they towed a guest and their broken down vehicle back to Auckland, a 7.5 hour round-trip,” Mr Brown says.

“They have quickly installed a hand rail beside a toilet to assist an individual guest and, when an air conditioning unit broke down during summer, they purchased a portable air conditioning unit to keep their guests comfortable.”

Visitors to Rotorua have numerous accommodation options to choose from, so Kevin and Tracie have put a real focus on their service and hospitality to stand out from the crowd. And the results are clear, with TripAdvisor reviews raving about their friendliness and helpfulness:

“Smallish park but with very good amenities and friendly staff.”

“Thoroughly enjoying our stay here!! Room is brand new, immaculate condition and well supplied. Staff are so responsive, helpful & friendly.”

“Absolutely brilliant, hosts are so friendly and kind, smoked trout for breakfast, free use of the truck to get about, and there's a covered heated swimming pool with Jacuzzi. Can't fault it.”

A full list of Holiday Park 2017 Award winners follows.

Spirit of Hospitality Award sponsored by AA Traveller
Winner: All Seasons Holiday Park, Rotorua,
managed by Kevin and Tracie Thornborough

Finalists: Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park
Himatangi Beach Holiday Park
Millers Flat Holiday Park
Russell TOP 10 Holiday Park

Outstanding Service to the Holiday Park Industry, sponsored by the TOP 10 Group
Winner: Julie and Steve Fraser, North South Holiday Park Christchurch

Steve is a past board member and president of HPNZ. Steve and Julie were instrumental in establishing the Family Parks group in New Zealand. They are both generous with their time and go the extra mile in helping other holiday parks. Under their management, the North South Holiday Park won the Spirit of Hospitality Award in 2010.

Emerging Star Award (for holiday park professionals under the age of 35), sponsored by epay NZ
Winner: Jasmine Adams, Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park

Jasmine has been recognised for her efforts in leading the wider industry and her community, as well as her own park.

ServiceIQ Visitor Experience Award

Winner: Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park, New Plymouth

Fitzroy put four staff through the New Zealand Certificate in Visitor Experience in the past year, including one who was assisted with learning difficulties and a 50-year-old who had not partaken in any training since leaving school. For her, this qualification was a major confidence boost. Park owner Jan Crawford was incredibly supportive, giving her team plenty of onsite coaching and training to complete their tasks and research topics such as emerging market trends.

Finalists: Wanaka Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels
Whangateau Holiday Park

Tourism Industry Aotearoa Innovation Award
Winner: Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park

By improving its use of its existing hot spring water source, Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park is making considerable savings on its metered water use as well as its water heating costs.

Seekom Innovation in Online Marketing Award

Winner: Amber Kiwi Holiday Park, Christchurch

Use of automated dynamic pricing has led to a measurable increase in income.

Resco – Best Upgrade Awards

Projects over $100,000 winner: Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort

The tired 1970s ablutions facilities have been upgraded to new gender neutral facilities catering for 80 campervan and tent sites and 7 cabins. The $300,000-plus project aimed for environmental excellence and sustainability, and features include geothermally heated floors, double glazed skylights and lighting connected to movement sensors.

Projects under $100,000 winner: Russell TOP 10 Holiday Park

Following negative feedback from guests and cleaning staff, the tired amenities block was upgraded at a cost of $93,000. The old facilities have been replaced with sustainable and easy to maintain materials, including a mix of solar and LED lighting, sensor timers and water efficient showerheads. For guest convenience, coin boxes were replaced with push button timers.

Highly commended: Wanaka Kiwi Holiday Park

Hawke’s Bay Holiday Park

Queenstown TOP 10 Holiday Park

PGG Wrightson Holiday Park Grounds Award
Winner: Athenree Hot Springs and Spa

Since taking over in 2009, owners Sheryl and Mike Horne have made huge improvements to the park’s facilities and grounds. They have also transformed a rubbish tip into a sanctuary for native birds, planted with native trees and flaxes.

Highly commended: Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park

HPNZ President’s Awards
Simon Casey, Seekom – for his support for the holiday park sector

Lake Wanaka Tourism – for its work to manage freedom camping, including production of a fun video

Vicparks, Australia - for its support for the New Zealand holiday park sector

Caravanning Queensland – for its support for destination New Zealand at its show in Brisbane

Board Service Awards
Dave Roche, Bowentown Beach Holiday Park

Lisa Cornelissen, Martinborough TOP 10 Holiday Park

ENDS

Key facts:

• The holiday park sector provides 36% of New Zealand’s commercial accommodation capacity and 19% of commercial guest nights.

• In the year ended April 2017 holiday parks provided 7.665 million guest nights.

• Guest nights to holiday parks are made up of 34% international visitors and 66% domestic visitors.

• While staying at holiday parks guests contribute over $1 billion in direct expenditure to local communities.

• Approximately $612 million (60%) of the expenditure is contributed by domestic travellers, with the balance of $405 million (40%) by international travellers.

• Expenditure by international visitors contributes directly to New Zealand’s export earnings.

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