Central Otago country hotel wins at hospitality awards

Media release from Hospitality NZ

Central Otago country hotel wins accolade at national hospitality awards

A Central Otago country hotel has taken out one of the top accolades at this year’s Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence. Chatto Creek Tavern near Alexandra won the Best Country Hotel title.

The Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence were announced in Queenstown last night. The Supreme Champion award was presented to The Batch Café in Invercargill. Winners were announced in 16 categories and encompassed a vast geographic spread of hospitality businesses throughout the country.

Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson said that country pubs like the award-wining Chatto Creek Tavern were the stereotypical unofficial home to the local community, a venue for weddings and for wakes, for the monthly meeting of local associations and clubs, and the after match watering hole for sports teams of all denominations.

“Yet country pubs like Chatto Creek Tavern have, in the past few years, evolved into tourist attractions in their own right - becoming destination spots on the ‘must see and do’ list alongside mountains, lakes, beaches and historic locations,” Mr Robertson said.

“Exposing and extolling the traditional rural community elements of our country hotels, results in hospitality venues where tourists and visitors mix side by side with locals in a homely environment which pays credence to New Zealand’s rural heritage.

“While the classic Kiwi country pub has morphed into a tourist attraction, it must always remember that it’s the locals who come first. Because, while tourists come and go, locals always come back.”

Entrants into the Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence were judged over a six week period by a panel of independent industry professionals who assess every competitor on a range of commercial and operational criteria – including staff training and human resources, customer service, marketing and promotional activities, and the demonstration of business growth.

For more information go to www.hospitalitynz.org.nz/Events/Awards for Excellence

ENDS

© Scoop Media