Queenstown, New Zealand’s The Rees Hotel has not only won best “New Zealand Hotel” award for the fourth consecutive year, but has now also won the “Best Hotel Chef (Australasia & South Pacific)”, won by new executive chef Corey Hume for the first time, with GM Mark Rose again being Highly Commended in the “New Zealand General Manager” category at the prestigious 2020 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence held in Sydney (and virtually) last Friday evening.
Cementing the property’s reputation as a consistently world-class hotel, it competed with up to 50 elite finalists per award, DavComm’s Caroline Davidson attended the awards on behalf of the hotel and the executive team joined over a zoom presentation under the “new normal”, of nearly 1,000 industry professionals both at a physical event and online.
Davidson said that in late 2019 and throughout the unparalleled year that is 2020, The Rees Hotel Queenstown has continued to excel and develop both as a hotel business and with its commitment to excellence in delivering consistently top-level guest service and facilities, high level staff retention and satisfaction, sustainable practices, community support and engagement.
She added that despite the challenges of COVID, a country in lockdown and closed borders to Australia, the hotel managed new initiatives including strong community and eco support programs and gained acclaim with other international Awards and its exclusive culinary events.
Davidson said that Corey Hume only recently joined The Rees, and its inhouse restaurant True South Dining Room, as new executive chef in late 2019 (from Blanket Bay) and has since further developed the property’s exceptional, innovative and uniquely New Zealand focused food and beverage offering; winning several awards in the process and gaining guest acclaim and top reviews for his menus and exclusive culinary events, with Hume saying, “To be awarded joint best Hotel Chef against such a large and talented field of 46 nominees across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific is incredible; both humbling and extremely gratifying.”
Hume added, “I am absolutely delighted and wish to thank my hard-working team and the support of CEO Mark Rose and the executive team”, adding, “I would also like to sincerely congratulate joint winner, Jin Choi, of Mount Lofty House, SA”.
The HM Awards are in their 18th year and are the leading Awards for the accommodation industry in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region celebrating the best properties, departments, people, chains and brands, with most of the nearly fifty categories seeing over fifty nominees with finalists and winners decided by an audited judging panel of industry professionals and travel media.
The Rees was nominated as a finalist in four categories: “New Zealand Hotel” – won three times previously in 2019 -joint winner, 2018 and 2017; “New Zealand General Manager” – won previously by Mark Rose in 2015 who was highly commended in this category in 2019 and again in 2020; “Hotel Chef’ – won jointly this year by Corey Hume and previously by former chef Ben Batterbury in 2017; and “Communications Associate” – won jointly by Caroline Davidson in 2019.
GM Mark speaking of the Hotel’s win for “New Zealand Hotel” said, “We are honoured and delighted to receive this Award for an incredible fourth time.” “I take great pride in managing The Rees Hotel Queenstown, winning this award, with the award for best “Hotel Chef” and the High Commendation for “NZ General Manager” category makes it all the more rewarding”.
He added, “These awards recognise the hard work our team puts in daily to make sure our guests have an exceptional time when they stay with us and our commitment to the wider community and environment,” adding, “We are truly lucky to have such dedicated, professional and friendly staff who make each facet of the hotel experience one guests will remember and enjoy, with these awards a great acknowledgment that we are maintaining an outstanding level of excellence.”
A report by John Alwyn-Jones
.jpg){kind=tracking}