Recognising new tourism leaders: entries open for 2012 New Zealand Tourism Industry Awards

A rising star and a leader who has made his or her mark on New Zealand's multi-billion dollar tourism industry are being sought for two prestigious individual Tourism Industry Awards.
Entries have opened for both the 2012 PATA Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award, which recognises an aspiring young individual who is paving the way in the tourism sector, and the Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to the tourism industry.
The two awards, to be presented at a Tourism Summit in Wellington on 2nd October, are organised by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIANZ). The Summit will focus on the power of tourism and the value the sector delivers to New Zealand.
TIANZ Chief Executive Martin Snedden explains "(New Zealand) tourism earnings have increased 85% since 1999 to $23 billion in 2011, and over the past four years the sector has vied with dairy to be the country's top export earner.
"The industry has endured a very tough couple of years. The Summit is an opportunity to look forward with confidence and determine solutions to challenges and how we can best grasp the opportunities around The Hobbit movies and the emergence of exciting visitor markets such as Indonesia."
The Tourism Summit will bring together around 200 industry leaders from the country's tourism businesses and associations, representatives from central and local government, the business and research sectors and other key influencers.
Speakers will include Martin Snedden who took over the helm at TIANZ after his Rugby World Cup 2011 success and John Lee, the straight talking boss of Australia's Tourism & Transport Forum.
New Zealand Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has been invited to attend.
The programme will also include break-out sessions focusing on topical and sometimes provocative subjects, and the presentation of the two Tourism Industry Awards.
Snedden adds "given the tough trading environment and rapid pace of change the tourism sector is facing, inspirational leaders have never been more important and we hoping for some exceptional entries for these two individual awards."
Horwath HTL Director Stephen Hamilton says it is important to recognise leaders who have contributed significantly to the development and success of the New Zealand tourism industry, adding "we encourage people in the tourism industry to think about the people who have made such a contribution and are worthy of being recognised in this way and make a nomination for the Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award."
PATA NZ Trust Chairman Neil Plimmer says past PATA Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award winners have been delighted about the publicity and benefits for themselves and their company, and it will be the same this year.
Plimmer explains "winners have ranged from a chef to a holiday park operator to a policy adviser. What they have in common is passion, leadership and vision. Please get the entries flowing in and make the judges' task really difficult."
Entries for the two 2012 Awards close on 17th August.
For more information on the criteria and entry forms go to the Tourism Industry Awards website.

http://www.tourismawards.co.nz