Entries open for 2014 New Zealand Tourism Industry Awards

To celebrate excellence in New Zealand’s $24 billion tourism industry and recognise individual contributions by young leaders and long-term industry contributors, entries are now open for the 2014 Tourism Industry Awards.

Organised by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIANZ), the awards include the PATA New Zealand Trust Young Tourism Leader Award, presented to a young person (35 years or under as at 31st March 2014) who is successfully contributing to their workplace and also engaging in improving the wider industry.

PATA New Zealand Trust chairwoman Glenys Coughlan says the Young Tourism Leader Award aims to recognise the efforts of young tourism leaders who have the vision and capability to take the industry forward.

Coughlan explains “if our tourism industry is to continue to remain competitive on the world stage and grow the contribution it makes to New Zealand then we need to be growing our pool of outstanding young leaders."

The Crowe Horwath International Sir Jack Newman Award is for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s tourism industry over many years.

Stephen Hamilton, a Director of Horwath HTL, a member of Crowe Horwath International, says the Sir Jack Newman Award amounts to the New Zealand tourism industry’s Hall of Fame.

Hamilton states “this is the industry’s most prestigious individual award.

“Past recipients are individuals whose actions and achievements have helped grow tourism into one of the country’s largest and most successful industries, generating jobs and wealth throughout New Zealand.”

The Awards judges will also select the winner of the inaugural ServiceIQ Visitor Experience Award. This award is being sponsored by ServiceIQ to mark the launch of its new Visitor Experience industry training programme.

ServiceIQ Chief Executive Dean Minchington “the winning business will deliver a world-class visitor experience and contribute to ServiceIQ’s vision of having a world-class service industry in New Zealand, through qualified people.

“ServiceIQ is right behind the tourism industry’s Tourism 2025 growth strategy. Recognition and celebration of excellence is important in achieving that, and we’re proud to be involved with these Awards.

“As the industry training organisation for tourism, we’re also helping the industry towards success with an exciting new on-job visitor experience upskilling programme. We’ll be working with tourism businesses to help them fill any skills gaps their people might have, and give them new skills and knowledge.”

The three Tourism Industry Awards will be presented at the Wellington Airport Summit Dinner which will follow the 2014 TIANZ Summit, taking place in Wellington on 4th November.

Organised by TIANZ and supported by Westpac, Maori Tourism, SmartPay and ServiceIQ, the 2014 TIANZ Summit will focus on what leaders across the private and public sectors of New Zealand’s tourism industry are doing to put the Tourism 2025 growth framework into action.

The industry is aspiring to almost double annual tourism revenue to $41 billion by 2025.

Award entries close on 10th October 2014.

For more information and nomination forms go to the Tourism Industry Awards website at www.tourismawards.co.nz 

Click here for more information on the 2014 TIANZ Summit.

3rd October 2013 - EVENT ENTREPRENEUR WINS TOP NEW ZEALAND TOURISM AWARD