Congratulations to Skyline Rotorua for picking up the New Zealand tourism industry's highest accolade - the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Industry Award - on Friday.
The award is a testament to the old adage "you have to spend money to make money" with Skyline investing millions in the pastfew years to make its attraction on the slopes of Mt Ngongotaha one of the country's best.
Skyline Rotorua also won the Business Excellence Award for annual business turnover exceeding $6million.
The judges said Skyline Rotorua was an iconic tourism industry product that had undergone an incredible transformation over the past couple of years to successfully attract more visitors, broaden its appeal, drive up revenue and improve guest satisfaction.
The big business changes it had made had helped reinvigorate Rotorua, they said.
As a lad I loved heading up the gondolas for a blast on the luge, but in recent years there's been a lot of activity up the hill which has added a lot more value for visitors.
I'm thinking of the Zoom Zipline, Sky Swing, additional luge tracks and the world-class mountain bike trails.
That's not to mention the recently redeveloped restaurant and Volcanic Hills Winery, or Skyline being the site for the largest mountain biking festival in the world - Crankworx - which is heading back to Rotorua early next year.
I think a lot of our tourism providers can take a leaf out of Skyline's book.
Its management staff have not rested on their laurels and are continually investing and looking for new attractions. The place is lively, well maintained and is one of the jewels in Rotorua's tourism crown.
With more visitors heading to Rotorua and predictions of a bumper summer season to come, Skyline will be making hay while the sun shines.
Well done, Skyline general manager Bruce Thomasen and his team. Long may your success continue, as it can only be good for Rotorua.
