The best in NZ tourism
Tourism Holdings has won the supreme honour at the New Zealand Tourism Awards. The company, with global turnover of $426 million also won the business excellence award, for companies with more than $6m annual turnover.
The awards were presented in Christchurch last night and judges said thl was a global business that could hold its own on the world stage.
NZX-listed thl has more than 200,000 customers a year, operating a global recreational vehicle fleet of more than 6000.
Alongside its RV rental and sales operations, it also operates two tourism businesses in New Zealand — Discover Waitomo, including Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and Kiwi Experience, a bus network aimed at young backpackers.
In the US, it owns and operates the Road Bear RV Rentals and sales and El Monte RV rentals and sales. The company is a 50:50 partner with Thor Industries, the largest RV manufacturer in North America. In the year to June, thl posted a record profit of $37.5m.
TIA chief executive Chris Roberts said creating a “tremendous crew culture” has been integral to thl’s success. Investing in sustainability and innovation are also priorities. As part of their Air New Zealand Supreme Award prize, thl receives a prize valued at more than $20,000, including $10,000 air travel.
The NZME People’s Choice Award — voted on by the public — went to Forgotten World Adventures.
Launched in 2011, Forgotten World in Taumarunui offers guided tours including rail cart journeys exploring the Forgotten World Railway and jet boat and helicopter tours.
Tourism’s most prestigious individual honour, the Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award, went to Kathy Guy, a tourism industry trailblazer who rose through the ranks from waitress to become one of the first woman hotel general managers in New Zealand, successfully leading the Chateau Tongariro Hotel and the Wairakei Resort Taupo.