Lack of Rotorua entries for NZ hospitality awards

Association lower northern North Island regional manager Alan Sciascia. Photo / John Borren

Rotorua's Hospitality Association members are being encouraged to enter next year's national awards after just one of the city's 37 members entered this year's competition.

This year's Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence will be held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre on September 17 and 18.

No Rotorua hospitality providers have made the finals but this is not due to low standards or a substandard product - only one member entered.

Two businesses from the region made this year's finals. They were Taupo's Replete Cafe and Store in the best cafe category, and the Waihi Beach Hotel, in best country hotel.

Association lower northern North Island regional manager Alan Sciascia said it was a member's personal choice to enter the awards, but it would have been nice to see more Rotorua entries.

"I try to encourage as many as I can to get involved.

"We had a lot of entries from the Waikato this year and there are finalists from places like Invercargill and Waihi Beach.

"Traditionally, Auckland and Wellington do very well, especially some of the more established businesses."

Mr Sciascia said businesses valued the awards.

"You only have to speak to some of the previous winners about how valuable it is for their business, and for the general public too."

Rotorua's Raising the Bar spokesman Heinz Fett said it was a pity just one business entered this year's awards.

"Hopefully people can enter next time because the calibre of the places we have is very good."

Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson said the common themes all finalists shared were outstanding levels of innovation, customer service and business professionalism - along with the passion and enthusiasm embodied by their respective owners and operators.

Entrants are judged during a seven week period by a panel of independent industry professionals who assess them 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.