WRAP-UP OF THE NEW ZEALAND TOURISM AWARDS

Tourism Industry Aotearoa hosted its 2018 New Zealand Tourism Awards with some familiar names coming out with big awards.

New Zealand Stock Exchange listed Tourism Holdings Ltd (thl) took out the Supreme Tourism Award. The multinational travel vehicle company which serves more than 200,000 customers a year with global revenue of $426 million also won the Supreme Award at the 2018 AMCHAM awards.

Britz rental campervan drives down a rural road.

Notable thl brands in New Zealand and Australia include Britz, Maui and Mighty rentals.

Sudima Hotels and Resorts Group Director Les Morgan picked up the Tourism Industry Champion Award at the event.

“Les has successfully forged a strong brand association between Sudima Hotels and sustainability. He has also increased staff engagement, shaping a culture that has resulted in arguably the lowest staff turnover rates of any hotel group in New Zealand,” said the awards’ website.

It’s been a notable year of success for Morgan, who won the Hotel Industry Senior Hotel Executive of the Year award at the New Zealand Hotel Industry Awards earlier in the year.

To learn more about Les Morgan, read our 20 Minutes With profile piece with him.

Another big winner on the night was Kathy Guy, group general manager of the Chateau Tongariro Hotel and the Wairakei Resort Taupo, winning the Sir Jack Newman Outstanding Industry Leader Award. She was also an award winner at the 2018 NZHIC Awards.

In the Business Excellence Award ‘Less than $6 million annual turnover category’, a boutique property in the small Tasman town of Murchison, Owen River Lodge won the accolade.

The full list of winners at the event:

Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award & Auckland Airport Business Excellence Award – more than $6 million annual turnover