2018 ANZ FETA List of Awardees To Be Finalised, says Mavoa

For information on the ticket sales, please visit the FETA website www.feta.com.fj

The list of finalists for the 2018 ANZ Fiji Excellence Tourism Awards is being finalised and will soon be announced.

The event is scheduled on February 16 at the Sofitel Resort and Spa on Denarau Island, Nadi. ANZ FETA Trustee and organising committee chairperson Olivia Mavoa said the judges are in the last stages of finalising the list. Ms Mavoa said they had received a good list of applicants and the announcement of the winners will be something to look forward to. With the theme, “Tourism benefitting all Fijians”, Ms Mavoa said the award night would promote excellence by bringing together industry members to recognise and celebrate achievements within the tourism sector.

“We would like to focus on is the theme of the award “Tourism Benefiting all Fijians”,” Ms Mavoa said.

“In terms of the applications, we have a very good selection of applicants that have come through this year.

“We have got our judges who are finalising the judging soon and then we will come to the finalists and we are getting a good response from the industry.”

With the change of venue to the Sofitel Resort and Spa on Denarau, Nadi, Ms Mavoa said they are hoping for something different this year.

“Every year we want to improve from the year before so in terms of the award night, it is important for people to get their tickets early,” she said.

“It will be very exciting this year and it will be something that is different.

“I cannot say too much about it but you will not be disappointed and every year we aim to raise the bar.”

About the Judging

Registration opened on August 31, 2018 and entries of the ANZ FETA awards opened on September 18, 2018 and the 2018 season closed on November 15, 2018.

On completion of site visits a final review is done by all judges and the winners presented to the Board of Trustees for endorse- ment.

Judging begins after the entry period closes, the Judging process is in three steps which take place over around 3-4 months; initial assessment & shortlisting – site visits – selection of winners.

All entries are assessed by a panel of judges led by a chair.

Judges are selected on the basis of their expertise in certain areas e.g. Food & Beverage in conjunction with needing a working knowledge of the industry in Fiji and relevant legislations.

Site visits are made anonymously wherever possible.

Photo: Waisea Nasokia From left: Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, with the 2017 lifetime award winners Patrick Wong, former Air Pacific (now Fiji Airways) chief pilot Captain Matereti Tuisue, Jenny Seeto and Trustee Craig Powell during the ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards at the Denarau Convention Centre in Denarau, Nadi, on February 17, 2018.

Photo: Waisea Nasokia Brigid Whitton, Rosie Travel Group managing director Tony Whitton, general manager finance Tappoo Group Sumith Perera, and Rosie Group general manager Eroni Puamau as Rosie Holidays receive the 2017 Destination Marketing award at the 2017 ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards at the Denarau Convention Centre on February 17, 2018.