New Zealanders invited to vote for new tourism award

An exciting new ‘People’s Choice Award’ is giving New Zealanders the opportunity to vote for their favourite New Zealand tourism experience and go in the draw to win a fantastic holiday prize.

From glowworm caves to ski field operators, 14 finalists have in the ‘People’s Choice Award’, a brand new part of the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2016.

Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) which runs the Awards, explains “we are delighted to launch the ‘People’s Choice Award’ this year, asking New Zealanders to tell us which tourism business in their eyes is the country’s best.”

The initiative is part of a new partnership between TIA and media company NZME to promote the Awards finalists and winners.

Roberts states “New Zealand’s tourism industry is now generating more than $30 billion annually and supporting several hundred thousand jobs in communities up and down the country. Our partnership with NZME provides a high profile platform to celebrate our industry’s outstanding individual and business performers and to get the public involved.”

Roberts says the 14 ‘People’s Choice Award’ finalists come from Northland to Otago and reflect the wonderful diversity of New Zealand’s tourism industry - from seaplane flights to Hobbits to five star hotels.

He added “what they all have in common is that they deliver an outstanding experience - for Kiwis and international visitors alike. The ‘People’s Choice Award’ also highlights the importance of domestic tourism in New Zealand, which at $18 million is significantly more than international visitors generate.”

The public can vote in the ‘People’s Choice Award’ on the NZME website www.nzherald.co.nz/peoples-choice. Voting closes on 13th September.

The Award winner will be announced at the New Zealand Tourism Awards Dinner in Auckland on 29th September 2016.

The finalists in the People’s Choice Award are:

Auckland Seaplanes, Auckland
Black Cat Cruises, Canterbury
CQ Hotels Wellington, Wellington
Haka Tours Ltd, Auckland
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa, Canterbury
Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tours, Waikato
NZSki Ltd, Queenstown
Rainbow's End Theme Park, Auckland
Rotorua Canopy Tours, Rotorua
Takaro Trails Cycle Tours, Hawke’s Bay
The Langham Auckland, Auckland
thl – Tourism Holdings Ltd, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Waikato 
TIME Unlimited Tours, Auckland
Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Northland

For a full list of the 28 individual and business finalists in the 2016 New Zealand Tourism Awards visit the Awards website at www.tourismawards.org.nz

Image: Hobbiton.

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