Rotorua Hospitality is booming and thriving with the best of the best celebrating in style last night at the 5th Annual Hospitality Awards held at the Energy Events Centre. 400 guests attended the black tie Masquerade with a Matariki Twist event that saw businesses and individuals celebrated with honours and tributes for their successes and superior service to the industry.
Businesses ranging from rustic to fine dining, seasoned individuals and more importantly the successful start of new up and coming people to the industry were included as finalists. The Rotorua Hospitality Awards committee are ecstatic to see so many old and new faces coming through the awards and providing a platform for these people to be celebrated with their industry peers, friends and family.
All finalists have put their best foot forward in a bid to stand out from their peers, competing to be the best within their categories for 2016. Sharon Wallace, Rotorua Branch President of the Restaurant Association of NZ says, “All finalists have undergone a judging process to determine the winners, the results that came in were extremely close, showing Rotorua has something special to offer within the New Zealand hospitality industry.”
Tributes, fond memories and raised glasses for industry icons were celebrated including a special tribute dedicated to John Knight, Triple One 5/CBK, as one of the original drivers and committee members of the event. Pipiana Whiston, General Manager of Millennium Hotel was recognised for her expansive career in hospitality as the recipient of the Icon of Hospitality Award.
The Rotorua Hospitality Awards are supported by a voluntary committee who are proud of all finalists and congratulate all the winners’ successes. The awards are also well supported by fantastic sponsors who provide the committee with the ability to deliver the event each year.
2016 Rotorua Hospitality Awards Winners:
Robert Harris Outstanding Barista
- Ashleigh Heard (Picnic Café)
Bidvest Outstanding Café
- Lime Caffeteria
The Hits 97.5 Outstanding Takeout
- Burger Fuel
Skyline Rotorua Outstanding Caterer
- The Catering Company
Rotorua Daily Post Outstanding Ethnic Restaurant
- Indian Star Tandoori Restaurant
Rotorua Lakes Council People’s Choice
- Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar
Spark Business Icon of Hospitality
- Pipiana Whiston (Millennium Hotel Rotorua)
Tohu Wines Front of House Star
- Aroha Butler McLeod (Leonardo’s Pure Italian)
Inghams Outstanding Hotel Restaurant
- Atlas Restaurant (Novotel Lakeside Rotorua)
Service IQ Emerging Chef
- Keegan Watson-Hopwood (Rydges Rotorua)
Independent Liquor Emerging Business
- Atticus Finch
Simply Pure Outstanding Bartender
- Alex Ciuccariello (Regent of Rotorua)
Jasco Distributing Outstanding Bar
- Ponsonby Road Lounge Bar
Menumate Point of Sale Outstanding Chef
- Dean Lindebaum (Leonardos Pure Italian)
OneMusic Outstanding Restaurant
- Urbano Bistro
Restaurant Association of NZ Outstanding Sales Rep
- William Nicholls (Bidvest)
