Copthorne joins the four-star club

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park in Masterton has joined a growing stable of Wairarapa accommodation firms with a brilliant rating from Qualmark.
The tourism organisation Four Star Plus rating for Copthorne Solway Park is a distinction "establishing it firmly as one of New Zealand's top regional hotels", Copthorne Hotel sales manager Alex Beijen said.
Other accommodation firms in the region that have won the same rating include Martinborough businesses The Manse, The Claremont, and the Pinot Villas; and BK's Chardonnay Motor Lodge, and South Park Motel in Masterton.
Accommodation firms in Wairarapa with the Four Star rating include Carterton Holiday Park, Castlepoint Holiday Park & Motels, Margrain Vineyard Villas, Martinborough Village Camping, and the Masterton Motor Lodge.
Wairarapa businesses with a Five Star rating from Qualmark include Briarwood Boutique Accommodation in Greytown, Parehua Martinborough Country Estate and Tirohana Country Estate in Martinborough and Wharekauhau Country Estate in Featherston.
Qualmark defines Four Star Plus as "Excellent. Consistently achieves high quality levels with a wide range of facilities and services" with the Five Star rating signalling a business that is "Exceptional. Among the best available in New Zealand".
Mr Beijen said Copthorne Solway Park was also praised for its commitment to sustainability, and has been invited to apply for Enviro-Silver level for Responsible Tourism Operations in the newly established Qualmark Green ratings. "We are absolutely delighted to have achieved this level of official recognition," Copthorne Hotel general manager Jerry Crump said.
"This rating is the result of over two years' refurbishment and hard work by management and staff at Copthorne Solway Park, and is a significant reward for the recent reinvestment in the hotel by our owners Trust House Limited.
"Having been invited to apply for Qualmark's Enviro Silver Level we are now determined to push on with our sustainability initiatives to achieve a gold level in our next assessment."
Doug Flavell, Millennium Hotels and Resorts North Island operations manager, said the achievement of a Four Star Plus rating "is testament to the continued investment in the hotel, combined with a well-managed and service-orientated culture".