Blair Chalmers, Pipiana Whiston, Justine Whiston, Mahora Whiston at the 2016 Rotorua Hospitality Awards. Photo/File
Blair Chalmers, Pipiana Whiston, Justine Whiston, Mahora Whiston at the 2016 Rotorua Hospitality Awards. Photo/File
The annual Rotorua Hospitality Awards nomination process has begun, where outstanding hospitality staff will be nominated by their peers for their outstanding commitment to Rotorua's hospitality industry.
From the kitchen crew to front of house, staff and businesses will vie to be the best of the industry with the winners being announced and celebrated at the awards night on Sunday, July 2 at the Energy Events Centre.
The awards are presented by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.
In an Oscars-style gala event, hospitality industry members, who are normally providing a service within the cafes, restaurants and bars, are treated to a night where they can let their hair down and be acknowledged for the work they do.
Finalists and winners within specialised categories will be celebrated.
Restaurant Association of New Zealand Rotorua branch president Sharon Wallace said the committee was constantly looking at new ways to celebrate hospitality within the region.
"This year sees the introduction of a new category - Excellence in Event Hospitality," she said.
"This category acknowledges those in the industry that host events such as markets, festivals, concerts, shows, banquets, awards and community fundraiser events held within Rotorua within the last 12 months. These events will have well-thought-out food options and beverage offerings and personality that demonstrates their commitment to the event experience."
As an industry, hospitality always strives to be at the top of their game.
This year, the Rotorua Hospitality Awards will host award-winning Michael Meredith as a guest speaker at the awards evening.
Judge Michael Meredith with the Good Neighbour Award for 2015. Photo/Supplied
An inspiration to all, Mr Meredith epitomises hospitality, not only as owner of his successful restaurant, Meredith's in Auckland, but also as the champion of Eat My Lunch.
This is an initiative where for every lunch you buy for yourself, another lunch is given to a Kiwi kid in need, with more than 400,000 lunches given out to date.
Further adding to his manaakitanga, the award winner has created his S.T.E.M nights, a Dine by Donation initiative that helps those who cannot always help themselves and has raised more than $160,000 in the past two years.
This year the event welcomes new partners Independent Liquor and Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, which will be offering a Hospitality Scholarship valued at $2500.
2017 Rotorua Hospitality Awards Categories:
Monin Outstanding Bar Outstanding Barista Outstanding Bartender Indian Star Emerging Business Bidfood Outstanding Café Service IQ Emerging Chef Inghams Outstanding Chef Restaurant Association of New Zealand Outstanding Ethnic Restaurant Menumate Point of Sale Outstanding Front of House Team OneMusic Outstanding Restaurant Skyline Rotorua Outstanding Sales Representative Gilmours Tauranga Outstanding Takeout Events & Venues Excellence in Event Hospitality Rotorua Lakes Council People's Choice Award Tohu Wines Icon of Rotorua Hospitality
Details on the event, voting and tickets to the event can be found at www.rotoruaawards.co.nz
