Best hospitality businesses announced in awards

26 August 2010

Media Release
Available for immediate use

New Zealand’s best hospitality businesses announced in industry awards

The best of New Zealand’s internationally renowned upmarket restaurants, neighbourhood bars, five-star hotels and traditional Kiwi country pubs are among the finalists selected in this year’s prestigious Hospitality Association of New Zealand Awards for Excellence.

The finalists represent hundreds of hospitality operations from Northland to Southland, and stretch across the entire gamut of New Zealand’s diverse and vibrant hospitality industry.

Hospitality Association of New Zealand chief executive officer Bruce Robertson said the common theme all finalists shared was the outstanding levels of service and professionalism they each displayed - along with the passion and enthusiasm embodied by their respective owners and operators.

“These finalists epitomise the crème-de-la-crème of New Zealand’s hospitality industry across all its guises - and were selected after a comprehensive and thorough judging process in which every venue was visited personally by members of the judging panel,†Mr Robertson said.

“The standard and quality among these finalists sets them apart from their competitors in the marketplace, and any of the finalists would make worthy winners. They are a proud reflection of where the cutting edge of New Zealand’s hospitality industry is moving - delivering consumers service standards which are the equal of anywhere in the world.

“It is particularly encouraging to see a substantial number of finalists coming from smaller regional centres around New Zealand - showing that great hospitality is not just confined to the major cities, but is thriving in the provinces too.

The Hospitality Association Awards for Excellence are judged on a range of business-focussed criteria - such as marketing strategies, human resourcing practices, profitability, operational policies, and customer service.

“The business nature of these awards sets them apart from other more consumer-driven awards. In many categories, entrants must submit business plans and financial analysis of their operations, each of which is independently verified,†Mr Robertson said.

“Of course there is also the ‘human face’ of the industry - and all entrants are assessed on this during the judges’ visits to their premises.â€

Winners in each of the 15 categories will be announced at a gala awards dinner taking place in conjunction with the Hospitality Association’s annual conference being held in Auckland on September 30. The finalists for this year’s Hospitality Association Awards for Excellence are:

Best bar:
Chapel Bar and Bistro, Auckland
Fredericks, New Plymouth
Sale Street, Auckland

Best new/redeveloped accommodation hotel:
161 Hereford Suites, Christchurch
Ascot Park Hotel, Invercargill
St Clair Beach Resort, Dunedin

Best music entertainment venue:
Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland
Mangawhai Tavern, Mangawhai
The Garden Club, Wellington

Best sports bar:
Four Kings, Wellington
The Local TAB Sports Bar, Hawera

Best country hotel:
Cheltenham Hotel, Feilding
Manapouri Lakeview Motor Inn
Waiau Hotel, Southland

Best new/redeveloped bar/restaurant:
Café Izone Lunchbar and Restaurant, Christchurch
Monteith’s Brewery Bar Kapiti Junction, Paraparaumu
Shenanigans Bar, Hamilton

Best restaurant:
Escape to Picton, Picton
Smith and McKenzie Chophouse, Hamilton
Soul Bar and Bistro, Auckland

Excellence in marketing:
161 Hereford Suites, Christchurch
Jet Park Airport Hotel, Auckland
Soul Bar and Bistro, Auckland

Excellence in host responsibility:
Eden Park Catering, Auckland
Shed 2, Napier
SKYCity Hamilton

Excellence in customer service:
161 Hereford Suites, Christchurch
Soul Bar and Bistro, Auckland
The Westin Hotel, Auckland

Best accommodation hotel:
Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco, Nelson
Jet Park Airport Hotel, Auckland
The Westin Auckland Lighter Quay, Auckland

Excellence in gaming:
Brownzy Sports Bar, Auckland
Stock Xchange, Christchurch
TGB Lounge, Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru

Excellence in training and staff development:
Eden Park Catering, Auckland
Iguana Street Bar and Restaurant, Hamilton
Soul Bar and Bistro, Auckland

Best beef dish:
Cafe Polo, Wellington
Mint Dining Room, Nelson
Stations Inn, Hokitika
Thirsty Marriner, Christchurch

Best lamb dish:
Ibis Hotel, Wellington
Mint Dining Room, Nelson
Pier 24, St Clair Beach Resort, Dunedin
The Honest Lawyer, Nelson

ends

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