Rotorua's Aura and Stratosfare finalists in NZ Hospitality Awards

Stratosfare. Photo/File

A Rotorua accommodation provider and restaurant have both been named as finalists in
the 2017 Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence.

Aura Accommodation is up for Best Newcomer, Accommodation as well as Best Redeveloped Accommodation.

The Stratosfare restaurant at Skyline Rotorua is one of five finalists for the Best Restaurant category.

Vicki Lee, chief executive of Hospitality New Zealand, said she was excited by the calibre of the entries.

"It reinforces the level of professionalism and passion that our operators have for the industry. On top of that they had to squeeze in writing their awards entries around the major event of the year, the Lions tour, which had many in the industry flat out for a number of weeks. No doubt, many of the Lions fans enjoyed eating, drinking or staying in these businesses and I'm confident they will have been well looked after.

"The finalists are spread from one end of the country to the other and this is reflective of the value the industry brings to every region in the form of jobs and money injected into the local economy. Tourism continues to grow and these businesses are an integral part of the visitor experience," she said.

Fifty-four finalists are spread across 16 separate categories.

Entrants in the Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence are judged over an eight-week period by a panel of independent industry professionals, who assess every entry on a range of commercial and operational criteria - including staff training and human resources, customer service, food and beverages, marketing and promotional activities, environmental initiatives and the demonstration of business growth. The finalists will now be mystery shopped to ensure what they say on paper is what they actually do in real life.

Winners of the Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence will be announced at the organisation's national conference being held in Wellington on October 19.

The finalists in this year's Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence are:

Best Bar
D4 on Featherston, Wellington
Emerson's Taproom and Restaurant, Dunedin
Gin and Raspberry, Wanaka

Best Cafe
Dog with Two Tails, Dunedin
Fidel's, Wellington
Longshot, Auckland

Best Country Hotel
Jolly Stockman, Gisborne
Theatre Royal Hotel, Kumara
Woodbourne Tavern, Renwick, Marlborough

Best Environmental/Sustainable Business
Hapuku Lodge & Treehouses, Kaikoura
Pullman Auckland
Wahi at Oceans, Tutukaka

Best Hotel
Edgewater, Wanaka
Escape to Picton Boutique Hotel
Jet Park Hotel & Conference Centre, Auckland
Pullman Auckland

Best Motel
Harbour City Motor Inn, Tauranga
La Rochelle Motel, Akaroa
Whangaparaoa Lodge, Auckland

Best Neighbourhood Bar & Eatery
Good Neighbour, Hamilton
Park Kitchen, Miramar, Wellington
The Dubliner, Methven

Best Newcomer - Accommodation
Aura Accommodation, Rotorua
Porters Boutique Hotel, Havelock North

Best Newcomer - F&B
Brew Union Brewing Co, Palmerston North
Emerson's Taproom and Restaurant, Dunedin
The Little High Eatery, Christchurch

Best Redeveloped Accommodation
Aura Accommodation, Rotorua
Jet Park Hotel and Conference Centre
Stay Kerikeri

Best Redeveloped Bar/Restaurant
Bowl and Social, SkyCity Hamilton
Danger Danger, Wellington
Jack Hackett's Irish Pub, Wellington
The Rising Tide, Mt Maunganui

Best Restaurant
Botswana Butchery, Queenstown
Kika, Wanaka
Smith & McKenzie Steak House, Hamilton
Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar, Skyline Rotorua
White + Wong's, Auckland

Excellence in Gaming
Ed St, Pukekohe
Square Leg, Hamilton
Tote and Craft, Upper Hutt
Yardhouse, Hamilton

Excellence in Host Responsibility
Christchurch Casino
Jack Hackett's Irish Pub, Wellington
Stampede Bar and Grill, Papakura