New Zealand’s best hospitality and accommodation establishments will be recognised Wednesday, 26 July at the Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence 2022, hosted by Hospitality New Zealand, in partnership with principal sponsor Lion New Zealand and industry partners.
Winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner at the Grand Millennium Hotel, Auckland, on 27 July – the final night of the two-day 2022 New Zealand Hospitality Conference.
There are four new awards this year, to celebrate the leaders who got the industry through the past two years: Leader of the Year in Hospitality, Leader of the Year in Accommodation, Future Leader of the Year, and Chef of the Year. There will also be an induction into the Hospitality Hall of Fame.
It will be the first time in three years the Awards for Excellence have been held in person, due to Covid restrictions. They were held online last year after being cancelled in 2020.
“A record number of entries have been received this year and once again the panel has been challenged in deciding the ‘best of the best’. There have been some outstanding submissions across all categories and many forms of innovative presentation,” expressed Chief judge for the awards, Michael Friend.
“The panel were most impressed with the degree of detail provided given the resources available to entrants during these COVID times. It has also been interesting to read the various initiatives entrants have employed whilst re-invigorating their businesses.”
Friend added that much of the commentary in applications seemed to indicate an air of cautious positivity about trading in the months ahead.
Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Julie White said she is delighted by the big number of entries.
“These awards are the pinnacle of our industry, and we were hoping there would be a lot of interest, so the fact we have record entries is really great.
“We want to recognise and reward hospitality and accommodation operators who have been through a stressful and uncertain year to create the highest possible standards and experiences for both their guests and their team.
“Being able to do this in person for the first time in three years is something the industry needs.
“I didn’t envy the judges’ job – they had to make some very difficult choices from a wonderful line- up of talent.
“It’s a pity we have to single out anyone because every hospitality and accommodation business owner, operator and worker out there deserves a medal for the resilience and perseverance they’ve shown through probably the toughest period the industry has ever been through.
“It’s inspiring to see hospitality businesses still looking to be the best and to meet customers’ needs after what they’ve been through.”
The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Noel Leeming Commercial, will also be announced at the event and voting is now open for the public to vote for their favourite hospitality or accommodation venue. Voting for the People’s Choice Awards can be done here: survey.alchemer.com/People-s-Choice-Award
Finalists:
Best Bar: sponsored by Asahi
Kaiser Brew Garden Christchurch
Little Blackwood Queenstown
Market ST Napier
Thistle Inn Wellington
Tipsy Oyster Tapas & Bar Paihia
Best Café: sponsored by Hospitality New Zealand
11th Avenue by Frank’s Queenstown
Bonobo Café Christchurch
Fusee Rouge Café Cromwell
Rusty Radiator Diner Café Halcombe
The Wholemeal Café Takaka
Best Restaurant: sponsored by Hospitality New Zealand
MASU by Nic Watt at SkyCity Auckland Auckland
Miro Christchurch
Tantalus Estate Waiheke Island
Kingi at The Hotel Britomart Auckland
White and Wong’s Queenstown Queenstown
Best Hotel: sponsored by Sleepyhead
Bolton Hotel Wellington
Escape to Picton Boutique Hotel Picton
Fable Dunedin Dunedin
Ramada Suites by Wyndham Auckland
The Hotel Britomart Auckland
Best Motel: sponsored by Seekom
Baycrest Thermal Lodge Taupo
One88 on Commerce Whakatane
Palazzo Motor Lodge Nelson
The St James Hanmer Springs
Whangaparaoa Lodge Auckland
Best Accommodation (Other): sponsored by Active Pure
Hanmer Springs TOP 10 Holiday Park Hanmer Springs
Lake Taupo Holiday Resort Taupo
Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park Ohope
Podium Lodge Cambridge
Sojourn Apartment Hotel Wellington
Best Luxury Hotel: sponsored by Westpac
Fable Dunedin Dunedin
QT Auckland Auckland
QT Queenstown Queenstown
The Hotel Britomart Auckland
The Grand by SkyCity Auckland
Best Luxury Accommodation: sponsored by Hospitality New Zealand
Adrift in Golden Bay Parapara
Craggy Range Vineyards Havelock North
Fable Auckland Auckland
Hotel Fitzroy curated by Fable Auckland
QT Wellington Wellington
Best Brand Experience: Sponsored by Review Magazine
Heyday Beer Co Wellington
Naumi Studio Wellington Wellington
The Hotel Britomart Auckland
The Monteith’s Brewery Experience Greymouth
Toastie New Zealand Picton
Best Local: sponsored by Sky
Smith & McKenzie Steak House Hamilton
The Elmwood Trading Company Christchurch
The Frankton Arm Tavern Queenstown
The Greytown Hotel - The Top Pub Greytown
The Keg Room Hamilton
Best Destination Venue: sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners New Zealand
Fable Terrace Downs Resort Windwhistle
Lake Taupo Holiday Resort Taupo
Milford Sound Lodge Milford Sound
Owen River Lodge Murchison
Theatre Royal Hotel Kumara
Best Environmental / Sustainable Business: sponsored by Hospitality New Zealand
Awaroa Lodge Abel Tasman National Park
Boulcott Suites Wellington
Edgewater Resort Hotel Wanaka
Owen River Lodge Murchison
The Hotel Britomart Auckland
Best New/ Redeveloped Business – Accommodation: sponsored by Dulux
Eliza’s Manor Christchurch
Fable Dunedin Dunedin
Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park Queenstown
Sojourn Apartment Hotel Wellington
The Central Private Hotel Queenstown
Best New/ Redeveloped Business – Food & Beverage: sponsored by DB Breweries
Cargo Gantley’s Pub & Café Queenstown
Margo’s Queenstown
Lola Rouge at Naumi Studio Wellington Wellington
Esther Restaurant at QT Auckland Auckland
Queenstown Ice Bar Queenstown
Excellence in Gaming: sponsored by TAB
Botany Commons Auckland
Five Stags Leamington Leamington
Four Kings Wellington
The Elmwood Trading Company Christchurch
Woodbourne Tavern & Motel Renwick
Excellence in Marketing: sponsored by GuestTraction
Bolton Hotel Wellington
Edgewater Wanaka
Fable Hotels and Resorts New Zealand
SkyCity Hotels Group Auckland
Toastie New Zealand Picton
Excellence in People & Culture: sponsored by Typsy
Future Hospitality Group Queenstown
Miro Christchurch
Republic Hospitality Group Queenstown
The Riverhead Riverhead
University of Canterbury Students Association Christchurch
Best Live Entertainment Venue: sponsored by One Music
Miss Gee’s Bar and Eatery Tauranga
SkyCity Hamilton Hamilton
Smash Palace Gisborne
The Playhouse Theatre Nelson
University of Canterbury Students Association Christchurch
