Win-Win for Former Students

Win-Win for Former Students

Two Waiariki Institute of Technology alumni have been selected among the best of the best following the annual Rotorua Hospitality Awards.

Kane Peni was a cookery student in 2009 who now works at Skyline Rotorua. He beat out the other finalists to win the Unilever Food Solutions Emerging Chef category.

Skyline workmate Nitin Brijwal, also a former Waiariki student who earned the Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management in 2012, was selected as the winner of the Outstanding Waiter section which was sponsored by Waiariki.

Fittingly, the awards were presented at a sold-out function at Skyline Rotorua where Waiariki students routinely earn work experience, and many former students and graduates gain employment.

The event, which received some 320 attendees to celebrate the 13 category winners, was organised by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand Rotorua Committee, made up of four local industry professionals and foundation sponsor Gilmours Rotorua.

Rotorua chairperson Sharon Wallace said the awards were crucial to their industry.

“These awards are a chance to showcase the hospitality industry and reward those that excel in a city which is arguably New Zealand’s premier tourism destination,” she said.

“We are [already] looking forward to the 2014 awards and planning is already underway with local and national industry support.”

ENDS

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