Luxury lodge wins Tourism award

By SIMON HENDERY

A boutique Queenstown luxury lodge has taken out the top prize in the annual Tourism Awards, aimed at recognising excellence in service and management of businesses in the tourism industry.

Evergreen Lodge, a four-suite retreat 3km from central Queenstown on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, last night won this year's Tourism Awards supreme award.

The lodge, opened in early 1999, also won the hosted accommodation category, the major category award for visitor accommodation and transportation, the small business operator's award and a distinction award.

Lodge managers Gary Withers and John Borwick said they aimed to provide guests with a memorable experience and the number of overseas visitors making repeat visits proved they were succeeding.

The Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve won the people's choice award, which was decided by votes received through a NZ House & Garden magazine competition.

The awards, organised by the Tourism Industry Association, were presented at a gala dinner in Wellington last night.

Association chief executive John Moriarty said award judges looked for businesses aspiring to be world-class.

Full list of award winners on the Tourism Industry Association website