Seeking inspirational tourism leaders

Seeking inspirational tourism leaders -

Entries open for 2012 Tourism Industry Awards

One rising star and one leader who has made his or her mark on New Zealand’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry are being sought for two prestigious individual Tourism Industry Awards.

Entries open today for both the 2012 PATA Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award which recognises an aspiring young individual who is paving the way in the tourism sector, and the Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to the tourism industry.

The two awards will be presented at a Tourism Summit in Wellington on 2 October. Organised by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA), the Summit will focus on the power of tourism and the value the sector delivers to New Zealand.

“Tourism earnings have increased 85% since 1999 to $23 billion in 2011, and over the past four years the sector has vied with dairy to be the country’s top export earner,” says TIA Chief Executive Martin Snedden.

“The industry has endured a very tough couple of years. The Summit is an opportunity to look forward with confidence and determine solutions to challenges and how we can best grasp the opportunities around The Hobbit movies and the emergence of exciting visitor markets such as Indonesia.”

The Tourism Summit will bring together around 200 industry leaders from the country’s tourism businesses and associations, representatives from central and local government, the business and research sectors and other key influencers.

Speakers will include Martin Snedden who took over the helm at TIA after his Rugby World Cup 2011 success and John Lee, the straight talking boss of Australia’s Tourism & Transport Forum. Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has been invited to attend.
The programme will also include break-out sessions focusing on topical and sometimes provocative subjects, and the presentation of the two Tourism Industry Awards.

“Given the tough trading environment and rapid pace of change the tourism sector is facing, inspirational leaders have never been more important and we hoping for some exceptional entries for these two individual awards,” says Mr Snedden.

Horwath HTL Director Stephen Hamilton says it is important to recognise leaders who have contributed significantly to the development and success of the New Zealand tourism industry.
“We encourage people in the tourism industry to think about the people who have made such a contribution and are worthy of being recognised in this way – and make a nomination for the Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award.”

PATA NZ Trust Chairman Neil Plimmer says past PATA Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award winners have been over the moon about the publicity and benefits for themselves and their company, and it will be the same this year.

“Winners have ranged from a chef to a holiday park operator to a policy adviser. What they have in common is passion, leadership and vision. Please get the entries flowing in and make the judges’ task really difficult.”

The Tourism Industry Awards are managed by TIA. Entries for the two 2012 Awards close on 17 August. For more information on the criteria and entry forms go to the Tourism Industry Awards website – www.tourismawards.co.nz

2012 Tourism Summit
More information about the 2012 Tourism Summit programme and registration details will be released later this month. See the TIA website for details www.tianz.org.nz

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