Return of tourism awards welcomed

Prime Minister John Key at Trenz

The news that the New Zealand Tourism Industry Awards will be relaunched this year has been met with praise from local industry experts.

Tourism Industry Association chief executive Chris Roberts made the announcement yesterday at Trenz 2015.

The country's biggest tourism trade show winds up today at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.

"It has been five years or so since we have had the tourism awards. The reinvigorated awards programme will recognise those individuals, businesses and organisations that are helping the tourism industry towards its goal of almost doubling its revenue by 2025," he said.

"We've scaled up the awards programme from two or three awards at the end of the Tourism Summit to this year having a stand-alone ceremony with nine business and three individual awards.

"It's all about setting a benchmark of excellence and to celebrate success," Mr Roberts said.

Destination Rotorua marketing general manager Oscar Nathan said Rotorua had been successful in the awards in the past.

"It's great to have the awards back, because they are something where the industry can really get together and celebrate success with everyone. Destination Rotorua and its forerunner Tourism Rotorua, we were a distinction award winner at the tourism awards, so we actually won it three times, so we had to stand down for two years anyway.

"I think having the awards back is sensational. It is a night the industry can celebrate success."

Polynesia Spa chief executive Gert Taaljard was looking forward to the awards.

"I think it's an incentive for businesses to be recognised in the area of excellence and in the area of providing a product that your particular segment of the industry or country can be proud of."

-Entries for the 2015 New Zealand Tourism Industry Awards open on June 1. The winners will be announced at a dinner in Auckland on October 2. For more information visit www.tourismawards.co.nz.