The New Zealand Tourism Awards 2023 finalists have been announced!
The awards, presented by Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), showcase and celebrate the very best of New Zealand tourism’s individual and business successes.
Congratulations to all the finalists as listed below. Winners will be announced in person at an Awards gala dinner on 7 November in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, following Tourism Summit Aotearoa.
This year’s judges said that overall, the entries painted a very compelling picture about the resilience of the tourism industry.
Some categories were closely fought and there were mentions made of “impressive reinventions” as well as careful thought given to the evidence supplied.
Judges were particularly taken with tourism operators establishing their social licence.
“What I particularly liked was how they translated the shift they’ve made in their markets to sharing the benefits with the local community,” a judge said of one entrant.
TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram says the industry was moving from strength to strength.
“The finalists are a showcase of grit, ambition, and positive contribution. Their achievements are testament to the quality of tourism leaders across the industry and their ability to innovate.”
Three of the awards will acknowledge outstanding performers in the industry, and ten awards recognise business excellence, industry alignment and values that are in line with the Tourism Sustainability Commitment.
The finalists are…
Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust Community Engagement Award 2023
EcoZip Adventures
MDA Experiences
Visit Ruapehu & Waihuia Ventures Ltd
Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award 2023
Christchurch Airport
EcoZip Adventures
GO Rentals
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa
KiwiRail Tourism Environment Award 2023
Christchurch Airport
EcoZip Adventures
Pic’s Peanut Butter
Tourism New Zealand Industry Collaboration and Alignment Award 2023
Hawke’s Bay Tourism
Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours Ltd
Otago Trails Marketing Group
Toroa ā-uta, Toroa ā-tai Māori Tourism Award 2023
Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours Ltd
Tauhara North Tourism – Te Pā Tū
Whanganui Tours
Sponsored by New Zealand Māori Tourism
Westpac Resilience and Innovation Award 2023
Haka Tourism Group
Kapiti Island Nature Tours
Tauhara North Tourism – Te Pā Tū
NZME Visitor Experience Award 2023
Altitude Tours
Kiwi Journeys New Zealand
Wild Kiwi Tours
Airbnb Tourism Excellence Award (Small-Medium Business) 2023
Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours Ltd
Tauhara North Tourism – Te Pā Tū
Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne
BDO Tourism Excellence Award (Large Business) 2023
Air New Zealand
Fullers360
INFLITE Group
Skyline Queenstown
The Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award will be selected from these nine business award winners and will be presented at the Gala Dinner.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Emerging Tourism Leader Award 2023
Awatere Douglas, Sudima Hotels
Heidi Farren, Altitude Tours
Heidi Gillingham, Go With Tourism
Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award 2023
Dave Kilmister, Huka Falls River Cruise
Margaret Davidson, Scenic Hotel Group
Steve & Kate Norris, Fiordland Trips & Tramps Ltd.
The Sir Jack Newman Award for Outstanding Industry Leader will also be presented at the Gala Dinner.
Thank you to all of the tourism businesses who entered – we were thrilled to receive 123 entries and the range of entries showed a high level of adaptability and creativity.
A huge thank you also to our 24 judges, to our Awards Partner Air New Zealand and our awards sponsors: Airbnb, BDO, KiwiRail Tourism, Marsh, New Zealand Māori Tourism, Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust, Tourism New Zealand, Tourism Talent, NZME and Westpac.
For more information on the New Zealand Tourism Awards, visit www.nztourismawards.org.nz
