Tourism Holdings named best tourist business in New Zealand

Tourism Holdings is a big international operator in the motorhome market. Photo / Supplied

Tourism Holdings has won the supreme honour at the New Zealand Tourism Awards.

The company, with global turnover of $426 million also won the business excellence award, for companies with more than $6m annual turnover.

The awards were presented in Christchurch last night and judges said thl was a global business that could hold its own on the world stage.

NZX-listed thl has more than 200,000 customers a year, operating a global recreational vehicle fleet of more than 6000.

Alongside its RV rental and sales operations, it also operates two tourism businesses in New Zealand — Discover Waitomo, including Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and Kiwi Experience, a bus network aimed at young backpackers.

In the US, it owns and operates the Road Bear RV Rentals and sales and El Monte RV rentals and sales. The company is a 50:50 partner with Thor Industries, the largest RV manufacturer in North America. In the year to June, thl posted a record profit of $37.5m.

TIA chief executive Chris Roberts said creating a "tremendous crew culture" has been integral to thl's success. Investing in sustainability and innovation are also priorities.

As part of their Air New Zealand Supreme Award prize, thl receives a prize valued at more than $20,000, including $10,000 air travel.

The NZME People's Choice Award — voted on by the public — went to Forgotten World Adventures.

Forgotten World Adventures won the NZME People's Choice award. Photo / Supplied

Launched in 2011, Forgotten World in Taumarunui offers guided tours including rail cart journeys exploring the Forgotten World Railway and jet boat and helicopter tours.

Tourism's most prestigious individual honour, the Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award, went to Kathy Guy, a tourism industry trail-blazer who rose through the ranks from waitress to become one of the first woman hotel general managers in New Zealand, successfully leading the Chateau Tongariro Hotel and the Wairakei Resort Taupo.

The Winners:

Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award
Auckland Airport Business Excellence Award
Tourism Holdings Ltd (thl)
Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Outstanding Industry Leader Award
Kathy Guy
NZME People's Choice Award
Forgotten World Adventures
PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Tourism Leader Award
Luke Taylor, Go Orange, Queenstown
JLT & AIG Tourism Industry Champion Award
Les Morgan, Sudima Hotels and Resorts
Westpac Business Excellence Award - Less than $6 million annual turnover
Owen River Lodge
Department of Conservation Environmental Tourism Award
Kapiti Island Nature Tours
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment Industry Alignment Award
Hawke's Bay Tourism
He Kai Kei Aku Ringa Māori Tourism Award
Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd
The Great Journeys of New Zealand Tourism 2025 Enabler Award
Christchurch Airport
epay NZ Tourism Marketing Award
Air New Zealand
ServiceIQ Visitor Experience Award
GO Rentals