"It's a good thing for Masterton. We have been getting more and more people calling in who in past years used to bypass Wairarapa and they are telling us they really like coming here and that there is plenty to do."
Mr Algie said he put the win down to a combination of Kiwi and Serbian hospitality.
His wife was Serbian and "they may not have a lot of money but they would give you the shirt off their backs".
"Jelena treats the park like it's her own home and the guests as if their were house guests," he said. At the Holiday Parks Conference in Auckland AA Tourism Publishing general manager Moira Penman said Mr and Mrs Algie and staff considered good relationships with guests as a core priority, which led to those who stayed having a great experience.
"This not only embodies what the AA Traveller Spirit of Hospitality Award stands for, but it makes accommodation providers like Mawley Holiday Park truly memorable," she said.
Last Christmas the Mawley Park team noticed many guests were from Germany, so they prepared a traditional European breakfast for Christmas morning complete with freshly baked German breads, bagels, croissants, mortadella and a variety of other dishes in addition to their regular Kiwi fare, to make their guests feel more at home.
Holiday Parks Association New Zealand (HAPNZ) Chief Executive Fergus Brown said the award was a coveted one, highly recognised by HAPNZ members.
"Both domestic and international guests are demanding and deserve an outstanding visitor experience and this award truly recognises and rewards holiday park operators who have done a great job," he said.
The judging panel was made up of representatives from AA Traveller, Qualmark and Inside Tourism.
Mawley Park was virtually remodelled about five years ago having fallen into a sorry state and the Masterton District Council appointed the Algies to run it after the makeover.
