Hospitality Business Magazine

Chef Michael Meredith.

The annual Rotorua Hospitality Awards nomination process has begun, where outstanding hospitality staff will be nominated by their peers for their outstanding commitment to Rotorua’s vibrant hospitality industry. The awards are presented by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.

From the kitchen crew to front of house, staff and businesses will vie to be the best of the industry with the winners being announced and celebrated at the awards evening on Sunday, 2 July at the Energy Events Centre. In an Oscars style gala event, the hospitality industry, who are normally providing a service within the cafés, restaurants and bars, are treated to a night where they can let their hair down and acknowledge the work they do.

Sharon Wallace, Rotorua Branch President of the Restaurant Association of NZ has said, “The committee is constantly looking at new ways to celebrate hospitality within our region, and this year a new category – ‘Excellence in Event Hospitality’ has been introduced. This category acknowledges those in the industry that host events such as Markets, Festivals, Concerts, Shows, Banquets, Awards and Community Fundraiser Events held within Rotorua within the last 12 months. These events will have well thought out food options and beverage offerings and personality that demonstrates their commitment to the event experience”.

This year, the Rotorua Hospitality Awards will host, award winning chef Michael Meredith as a guest speaker at the awards evening. An inspiration to all, Michael epitomises hospitality, not only as owner of his successful restaurant, Meredith’s in Auckland, but also as the champion of Eat My Lunch. This is an initiative where for every lunch you buy for yourself, another lunch is given to a kiwi kid in need, with over 400,000 lunches given out to date. Further adding to his manaakitanga, Michael has created his S.T.E.M nights, a Dine by Donation initiative that helps those who cannot always help themselves and has raised over $160,000 in the past two years. Further recognition for Michael includes winning the Restaurant Association / American Express 2015 Good Neighbour Award and 2015 Lewisham Awards Outstanding Chef award, both accolades bestowed upon him by the New Zealand hospitality industry.

New 2017 event partners, Independent Liquor and Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, who will be offering a Hospitality Scholarship valued at $2,500.00 have joined the sponsors list. The 15 categories are listed below:

2017 Rotorua Hospitality Awards Categories: