Entries open for 2010 Tourism Industry Awards

04 June 2010

Tourism operators are invited to test their innovation and creativity by entering the 2010 Tourism Industry Awards.

Entries for the tourism industry’s premier awards programme open today at www.tourismawards.co.nz with innovation as the focus.

“Continual innovation is critical to enhancing New Zealand’s attractiveness as a tourism destination, to keep visitors coming back,” Tourism Industry Association (TIA) Chief Executive Tim Cossar says.

“Brilliant innovations like the bungy jump and the Hamilton jet boat helped cement our reputation as the world’s leading adventure tourism destination.  But we also find innovation in areas like business management, product delivery and marketing. If you think your tourism business has made a successful innovation, then I encourage you to enter the Awards.”

The revamped Tourism Industry Awards were launched last week after a comprehensive review of the Awards programme.

“We want a diverse range of tourism businesses to enter, because innovative thinking occurs at all levels of the industry and in all types of business.  Nominations are also called for awards for individual personalities who have made significant contributions to the tourism industry ” Mr Cossar says.

The judging will be in a two stage process. Entries will be initially scored by an Electoral College of assessors selected from a wide range of industry leaders and experts. The majority of finalists will be announced and the winners will be chosen by a final panel of judges, with a celebration event being held in October.

Categories that a business can enter:

1.      Accommodation – Hotel

2.      Accommodation – Motel

3.      Accommodation – Backpacker

4.      Accommodation - Holiday Park

5.      Visitor Attraction and Experience – Large

6.      Visitor Attraction and Experience - Small and Medium

7.      Heritage and Culture

8.      Luxury Experience

9.      Festival/Event

10.   Department of Conservation Conservation in Action

11.   Visitor Transport

12.   Tourism Distribution

13.   ATTTO Tourism Workplace Training

14.   ATTTO Tourism Education and Training

15.   Innovative Marketing Campaign

16.   Local Government Helping Visitor Industry

 A Supreme Award winner will be chosen from the winners of these categories.

 Individual awards that will be presented

 17.   Outstanding Contribution to Tourism

18.   PATA Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award

19.   Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award (for services to tourism)

 The 2010 Tourism Industry Awards are managed by TIA.

For more details, visit www.tourismawards.co.nz

For further information, please contact:

Ann-Marie Johnson
Communications Manager
Tourism Industry Association (TIA)
DDI: 04 496 5001                                                                                        
Mobile: 027 600 4565                                                                                                                   
Email: ann-marie.johnson@tianz.org.nz

www.tianz.org.nz