Supreme Tourism Award winner an entrepreneurial success story

The brainchild of entrepreneur Ryan Sanders and a business that has achieved exceptional growth over the past 10 years, Haka Tourism Group has won the tourism industry’s highest accolade, the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award.

Presented in Christchurch last evening (Thursday 7th September) at an event attended by more than 350 industry leaders and supporters, the Awards judges congratulated Saunders and his team for creating a tourism business that is excelling on every level.

In just over 10 years, Haka Tourism Group has expanded to include small group, adventure, snow and mountain bike tours, upmarket hostels, a specialist educational brand and high end snow tours. This year it is opening its first two hotels to support the tourism industry’s strong visitor growth.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) Chief Executive Chris Roberts says Haka Tourism Group is an inspirational tourism success story that has strong links with the industry’s Tourism 2025 growth framework. Driven by cutting edge digital marketing and brand positioning, the business is growing at an average of 80% year on year, with revenues for the next 12 months on track to exceed $17 million.

As part of their Supreme Award prize, Haka Tourism Group receives international air travel to any Air New Zealand destination valued at $10,000 (+GST) to help them grow their tourism business.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Christopher Luxon says the airline is delighted to support the New Zealand Tourism Awards’ Supreme Tourism Award for a third year.

Luxon stated “as our tourism industry continues to grow, it’s great to celebrate those who are building excellent and innovative tourism businesses and delivering outstanding experiences for our visitors to New Zealand and who are committed to contributing to our country’s reputation overseas.”

Haka Tourism Group also won the JLT & AIG Business Excellence Award – more than $6 million annual turnover, and the epay NZ Tourism Marketing Award.

Founder and sole shareholder Ryan Sanders was recognised for his visionary and influential leadership, winning the Auckland Airport Tourism Industry Champion Award.

Tourism’s most prestigious individual award, the Crowe Horwath International Sir Jack Newman Award, went to the late Earl Hagaman for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

Hagaman co-founded Scenic Circle Hotels in the 1980s, which rebranded as the Scenic Hotel Group in 2009. At the time of his death in May this year, Hagaman had built a portfolio of 18 accommodation properties worth around $200 million.

Roberts says this year’s Awards were extremely competitive, a reflection of a thriving industry that is contributing almost $35 billion annually to the New Zealand economy and supporting communities throughout the country.

He thanked the Awards Partners, Air New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) for their generous support.

MBIE Chief Executive Carolyn Tremain says the Ministry’s tourism policy team works to support the industry to make the biggest contribution it can to New Zealand’s economic success.

She concluded “we are really proud to sponsor the awards and celebrate the achievements of the industry. I congratulate all the winners and finalists on their innovative ideas and hard work.”

The New Zealand Tourism Award 2017 winners:

Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award
JLT & AIG Business Excellence Award – more than $6 million annual turnover
epay NZ Tourism Marketing Award
• Haka Tourism Group
 
Auckland Airport Tourism Industry Champion Award
• Ryan Sanders - Haka Tourism Group
 
Crowe Horwath International Sir Jack Newman Award (outstanding industry leader)
• Earl Hagaman
 
PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Tourism Leader Award
• Shayne Forrest – Hobbiton Movie Set 
 
Sudima Hotels & Resorts Tourism 2025 Enabler Award 
• Queenstown Resort College
 
Westpac Business Excellence Award – less than $6 million annual turnover
• Auckland Seaplanes
 
Department of Conservation Environmental Tourism Award
• Sudima Hotels & Resorts
 
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment Industry Alignment Award
• Tourism West Coast
 
He kai kei aku ringa Māori Tourism Award 
• Kapiti Island Nature Tours
 
ServiceIQ Visitor Experience Award
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds
 
NZME People’s Choice Award
• Real Journeys

Owned and organised by Tourism Industry Aotearoa the Awards are the New Zealand tourism industry’s most prestigious annual awards.

The awards are closely aligned to the industry’s Tourism 2025 growth framework which aims to grow annual tourism revenue to $41 billion by 2025.

For more information go to www.tourismawards.org.nz

Image: Ryan Sanders and his team receive the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award.

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