The best bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels in New Zealand have been announced as winners at this year’s Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence. The range of winners across 15 categories encompassed everything from a small town country pub and provincial city restaurants, through to up market gastro bars and a five star hotel in the capital city.
The Supreme Champion went to Art Deco Masonic Hotel in Napier, Best Country Hotel was awarded to Theatre Royal Hotel in Kumara, West Coast, the winner for Excellence in Training and Staff Development was Delaware North Wellington Airport in Wellington, and Best Accommodation was won by Art Deco Masonic Hotel in Napier.
Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson said the wide-ranging spectrum of winners at this year’s awards reflected the broad reach of the hospitality industry, and the importance the commercial sector played within the wider New Zealand economy.
“All these winners reflect an incredible amount of passion and commitment from their business owners, and that passion and commitment is ultimately passed on to their customers. They rightly deserve to be recognised as the best in their class, anywhere in New Zealand. The degree of professionalism contained in the entries submitted by this year’s award winners indicates an industry in good shape – driven by passionate and visionary business operators who are committed to delivery outstanding customer experiences,” Mr Robertson said.
Entrants into the awards were judged over a seven week period by a panel of independent industry professionals who assessed every competitor on a range of commercial and operational criteria, including staff training and human resources, customer service, marketing and promotional activities, and the demonstration of business growth. The winners were announced at the organisation’s national conference held on October 8 in Nelson.
