NZ Hotel Industry Awards – women wow judges
Women have dominated this year’s New Zealand Hotel Industry Awards, winning seven of the 10 individual awards, including
the General Manager, Senior Hotel Executive and Outstanding Young Hotel Executive of the Year.
Awards recognising the key roles that go into running a successful hotel and an award for a hotel showing outstanding
environmental innovation were presented at a gala dinner in Auckland last evening (Thursday 20 July), attended by more
than 320 hotel sector and tourism industry leaders.
“It was exciting to see so many awards being collected by exceptional female employees, in a sector where senior
management has traditionally been male dominated,” says Sally Attfield, Hotel Sector Manager at Tourism Industry
Aotearoa which co-hosts the awards with Horwath HTL.
“Pipiana Whiston, the winner of the General Manager of the Year Award, has worked her way up the ranks of Millennium
Hotels & Resorts NZ for more than 25 years, culminating in her appointment as GM of the Millennium Hotel Rotorua in 2005.
“Our Senior Hotel Executive of the Year, Judy Chen, is another star performer and a great asset, not only to the Grand
Chancellor NZ Hotels, but to the wider hotel sector and tourism community. Like Pipiana, Judy is passionate about
helping to shape the future generation of tourism and hotel employees.”
Horwath HTL Director Stephen Hamilton says from the housekeeper of the year to the outstanding concierge, competition
was fierce across the award categories.
“These are the premier awards for New Zealand’s valuable hotel sector. More visitors stay in hotels than any other type
of accommodation. They are major economic contributors to communities and significant employers, offering many career
paths, as highlighted by our awards.
“We were delighted to see the winners come from regions across the country, including Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington,
Christchurch and Queenstown.”
Mr Hamilton says special mention must also be made of The Langham, Auckland, which won the Hotel Industry Environmental
Initiative of the Year Award for the third consecutive year.
“The Langham, Auckland recently became the first hotel in Australasia to receive the prestigious Earth Check Platinum
level of international certification, testament to their commitment to the environment.”
Winners (by region)
AUCKLAND
Hotel Industry Concierge of the Year
Gustavo Concha, Chief Concierge, Hilton Auckland
Hotel Industry Food and Beverage Employee of the Year, sponsored by ServiceIQ
Bhavna Abhilasha, Food and Beverage Supervisor, Sudima Auckland Airport
Hotel Industry Outstanding Young Hotel Executive, sponsored by Sparkle Master Drycleaners
Christine Bronkhorst, Director of Quality, The Langham, Auckland
Hotel Industry Revenue Manager of the Year, sponsored by ARMA
Chris James, Director of Revenue, Auckland Market, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour
Hotel Industry Sales & Marketing Employee of the Year
Gillian Knott, Assistant Director of Sales, Auckland, AccorHotels
Hotel Industry Environmental Initiative of the Year
The Langham, Auckland
ROTORUA
Hotel Industry Front Office Services Employee of the Year
Hemal Ghetla, Front Office Manager, Sudima Lake Rotorua
Hotel Industry General Manager of the Year, sponsored by AHS Hospitality
Pipiana Whiston, General Manager, Millennium Hotel Rotorua
WELLINGTON
Hotel Industry Senior Hotel Executive of the Year, sponsored by Dalman Architects
Judy Chen, Director of Sales and Marketing - Hotel Grand Chancellor NZ, James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, Wellington
CHRISTCHURCH
Hotel Industry Administration Employee of the Year
Noreen Bancale, Financial Controller, Novotel Christchurch
QUEENSTOWN
Hotel Industry Housekeeper Employee of the Year, sponsored by ServiceIQ
Heide Holtz, Executive Housekeeper, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
About the co-hosts
Tourism Industry Aotearoa Hotel Sector
TIA’s hotel sector represents the interests of more than 150 members throughout New Zealand, including international
chains, large independent and privately owned hotels. TIA hotel sector members employ 11,979 staff nationally, with
annual revenues of more than $1.3 billion. TIA’s hotel members contribute to a monthly performance survey conducted by
The Fresh Information Company. www.tia.org.nz
Horwath HTL Ltd
Horwath HTL Ltd is a consulting firm specialising in the hotel, tourism and leisure industries, providing specialist
consulting services to a wide range of private sector clients and public sector stakeholders including developers,
investors, funders, owners and operators. Horwath HTL is affiliated with Crowe Horwath International, a network of more
than 140 independent accounting and advisory services firms with 560 offices in more than 100 countries.
New Zealand Hotel Conference website www.nzhotelconference.com
ends