Central North Island heat of New Zealand Hotel Receptionist of the Year 2012
Paula Roberts of Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua was named best Hotel Receptionist in the Central North Island as she competed
against 6 other Hotel Receptionists from the Rotorua and Taupo Region.
The Central North Island’s Regional heat of Receptionist of the year was held on Friday 10th August at Bayview Wairakei
Resort.
Seven candidates represented five leading Hotels from the Central North Island including; Hilton Lake Taupo, Bayview
Wairakei Resort, Millennium Manuels Taupo, Novotel Lakeside Rotorua and Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua.
The Central North Island heat was the third of five regional competitions this year, facilitated by the Association of
Rooms Division Executives of New Zealand (ARDENZ), searching for the best Hotel Receptionist in New Zealand.
Candidates from leading hotels throughout the country undergo a gruelling panel interview, testing their knowledge on
costs, profits, revenue, yield management, staffing level, structure and promotional ideas etc. This is followed by a
skill demonstration (role-play) where candidates have to think on their feet to identify guest’s needs and match them
with the highest standard of customer care and professionalism.
Victoria Dickey of Hilton Lake Taupo was named second runner up and Aparna Nair of Hilton Lake Taupo third runner up.
Other candidates competing for the award were Renee Parker - Millennium Manuels Taupo, Anna Nicolle - Bayview Wairakei
Resort, Joelyn Bonaparte and Kylie Burness - Novotel Lakeside Rotorua.
Judges of the central heat were Louis De Bievre - General Manager of Huka Lodge, Hope Kewene-Horsley - Hospitality Tutor
at Waiariki Institute, Paul Young - Training Manager of Bayview Wairakei Resort and Terry Johnston - President of
ARDENZ. Mr Johnston commented “the standard was very high, the central north island should be proud of the talent that
represented them.”
ARDENZ Central Vice President Blaine Inch, Front Office Manager of Hilton Lake Taupo commented, “It was great to see the
competition finally being held in our region. The Rotorua and Taupo region is synonymous with hospitality and with so
many fantastic Hotels; it made perfect sense that ARDENZ expanded into this part of New Zealand! The success of the
association and this competition is only possible with the help and support of all its members who form an important
network of Rooms Division Executives throughout the country and the world. Wairakei Resort have been fantastic in
hosting the competition and all the candidates involved did a fantastic job and should be proud of the way they
represented their Hotel’s. The judges who gave their time must also be praised as the day would not have been as
successful without their expert advice and opinions.”
Both Roberts and Dickey will now go on to represent the ARDENZ Central Branch and compete for the title of New Zealand
Receptionist of the Year being held in Christchurch on September 22nd. The national winner will then go on to represent
New Zealand at the AICR International Receptionist of the Year competition, which will be held in Rome, January 2013.
For more information visit www.ardenz.co.nz
www.facebook.com/ArdenzCentralBranch
ENDS