Chris Roberts, chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa which runs the annual New Zealand Tourism Awards. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Chris Roberts, chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa which runs the annual New Zealand Tourism Awards. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Two Rotorua operators are among 24 finalists for the 2017 New Zealand Tourism Awards.
Jasmine Adams, from Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park, is up for the PATA New Zealand trust emerging tourism leader award, and Skyline Rotorua is in the running for the ServiceIQ visitor experience award.
RISING STAR: Jasmine Adams. PHOTO/FILE
Sudima Hotels &Resorts, which has a hotel in Rotorua, is a finalist in the Department of Conservation environmental tourism award category.
The finalists span the country from Queenstown to Waitangi, and include long-established operators as well as new businesses.
Accommodation providers, activity and transport operators, educators and researchers are among the finalists.
Chris Roberts, chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa which runs the annual New Zealand Tourism Awards. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Chris Roberts, chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa which runs the annual awards programme, said the finalists will compete for awards in two individual categories and eight business categories.
"It's really pleasing to see the competition for the New Zealand Tourism Awards is growing stronger every year. New Zealand's tourism industry is enjoying unprecedented growth."
Mr Roberts said the awards celebrate the industry's success and recognise the individuals and businesses doing an outstanding job, "generating economic wealth and supporting jobs in communities throughout the country."
He said he would like to congratulate everyone who took the time to enter the awards, even if they didn't make it to finalist status.
"The awards are a valuable opportunity to benchmark your business against your peers and demonstrate you are striving to be the best."
The awards are closely aligned with the industry's Tourism 2025 growth framework, which aims to grow total annual tourism revenue to $41 billion.
The winner of the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award will receive international air travel to any Air New Zealand destination valued at $10,000 to help them grow their tourism business.
The winners will be announced at a dinner in Christchurch on Thursday, September 7.
2017 New Zealand Tourism Awards finalists
PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Tourism Leader Award Jasmine Adams - Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park Shayne Forrest - Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tours, Matamata Margaret Munro - Earth & Sky Stargazing & Observatory Tours, Tekapo
Auckland Airport Tourism Industry Champion Award Lisa Li - China Travel Service (NZ) Ltd, Auckland Les Morgan - Sudima Hotels & Resorts Ryan Sanders - Haka Tourism Group Angus Stubbs - Tourism Holdings Ltd - Discover Waitomo
Sudima Hotels & Resorts Tourism 2025 Enabler Award Angus & Associates Ltd, Wellington New Zealand Transport Agency Queenstown Resort College
Westpac Business Excellence Award - less than $6 million annual turnover Auckland Seaplanes Dive! Tutukaka Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort
JLT & AIG Business Excellence Award - more than $6 million annual turnover Haka Tourism Group Real Journeys, Queenstown Skyline Queenstown
Department of Conservation Environmental Tourism Award Real Journeys - Walter Peak Land Restoration Project, Queenstown Sudima Hotels & Resorts Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort YHA New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment Industry Alignment Award TIME Unlimited Tours, Auckland Tourism West Coast
He kai kei aku ringa Maori Tourism Award TIME Unlimited Tours, Auckland Kapiti Island Nature Tours
epay NZ Tourism Marketing Award Haka Tourism Group SKYCITY Auckland Ltd YHA New Zealand
