1 September 2011
New Zealand hotel wins a top prize in Australasian awards
Choice Hotels’ Quality Hotel Wellington had a major win, while four additional New Zealand properties took out Gold
Awards at the Choice Hotels Australasia Annual Conference and Franchisee Awards dinner on Hamilton Island, Queensland
last night.
The Wellington property took out the ‘Quality Franchisee of the Year’ title after also picking up a Gold Award on the
opening day of the conference.
The Choice Hotels Gold Awards recognise excellence in such business areas as branding, marketing, customer relations,
franchisor relations, training and development, profitability and amenities.
The Quality Hotel Leisure Lodge (Nelson) also picked up a Gold Award alongside Quality Hotel Wellington in the Quality Gold Award category. The Comfort Inn Fairmont (Hastings) and Comfort Hotel Benvenue (Timaru) each scooped a Gold Award in the Comfort category, while Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort (Rotorua) was one of just three Australasian properties to win Gold in the Clarion Collection category. Overall, 35 Gold Awards were presented.
Each of the five ‘Franchisee of the Year’ winners is in the running for Choice Hotels International Hotel of the Year
Awards held in the US in May 2012.
Properties in the running for that title include the Econo Lodge City Star Brisbane, Comfort Inn Suites and City Views
(Ballarat), Quality Hotel Wellington, Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina (Mackay) and Rendezvous Hotel Brisbane – Clarion
Collection.
Quality Hotel Wellington is managed by Olivier Lacoua who took the helm at the Latin Quarter property just 12 months ago
and was absolutely thrilled with the win.
Aileen Cobern, General Manager Sales & Marketing for Choice Hotels, said; “New Zealand properties under the Choice umbrella can be proud of their achievements
at this year’s awards. They have each demonstrated a strong ethos of customer service and attention to detail that has
impressed domestic and international tourists alike.”
The winning hotels were nominated and judged by an executive panel comprising members from Choice Hotels’ Senior
Management and Franchise Services Team.
For further information on Choice Hotels visit www.choicehotels.co.nz.
ENDS