Mix of talent vie for top awards

The cream of the region's hospitality sector celebrate the finalists in the Rotorua Hospitality Awards. Photo / Stephen Parker

This year's finalists for the Rotorua Hospitality Awards show the mixture of established and emerging talent in the region's hospitality sector.

Thirty-nine finalists over 13 categories were announced last night at Skyline Rotorua for the hospitality awards - in its fourth year.

Event manager Vanessa Wallace said the awards were growing every year and were a way to celebrate excellence in the industry.

"There are a lot of up-and-comers, so it's something for them to strive towards. A couple of finalists in there were actively waiting for this to come around so they could showcase themselves."

The finalists were voted by their peers, she said.

"What we do is we go out to industry and we ask them to nominate, so for two weeks they nominate and basically it's the top three in each category that go through to the finals."

She said the final stage of voting to determine winners would begin today.

"People from the industry again will then vote out of the three finalists, but last year we also introduced a judging component and mystery shop component so all individual categories will also be judged and put to the test in their craft."

Ponsonby Rd was a Jasco Distributing Outstanding Bar finalist.

Co-owner Tamati Coffey said events like these were good for new businesses.

"We've only been open just over two months. It puts you on the map as well, we have some businesses around town that have 10 awards in their window so we are looking to participate."

The public can vote for their favourite hospitality individual or business via text.

Hospitality employees, establishment owners and suppliers to the industry are permitted to vote in all categories via the online nomination form.

-For more information on the categories, and to vote, visit www.rotoruaawards.co.nz.