Accommodation providers Millennium Hotels & Resorts were the big winners at the hospitality industry’s national training awards on June 14, picking up the HSI Supreme Award for Excellence in Training and Innovation.
The awards, organised by the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI), recognise hospitality training achievements across the country.
Millennium Hotels & Resorts were also recognised for their nationwide excellence in training in an organisation for the third year in a row, while Regional HR manager Joanne Simpson was awarded Workplace Trainer of the Year. The Millennium Hotel in Christchurch continued its winning streak, taking home the Excellence in Training Award for an accommodation workplace.
Carolyn Nugent of Restaurant Brands New Zealand Ltd was named HSI Hospitality Ambassador of the Year. The award is sponsored by Food & Beverage Today.
HSI’s chief executive, Steve Hanrahan says there was an increase in entries for this year’s awards with all sectors of the hospitality industry represented in the finalists.
“It’s encouraging to see such a commitment to training across the hospitality industry, ensuring we have skilled people in all areas, particularly in the build up to the Rugby World Cup next year.”
TV personality Neil Waka hosted the awards ceremony, held at Auckland’s Langham Hotel.
Other 2010 award winners included last year’s Supreme Award Winner Soul Bar & Bistro, who displayed training excellence in a workplace in a café, bar or restaurant category.
Category winners spanned across the country with Whangarei’s NorthTec victorious in the Training Provider (Qualification Pathways) category and Scott Richardson from Southland Boys’ High School named Hospitality Tutor of the Year.
Category winners for the awards were:
HSI Supreme Award for Excellence in Training and Innovation
Millennium Hotels & Resorts, New Zealand
HSI Hospitality Ambassador of the Year
Carolyn Nugent, Restaurant Brands New Zealand Ltd
Registered Workplace Assessor of the Year
Sue Bartlett, FIGJAM Creations Ltd
Excellence in Training: Organisation
Millennium Hotels & Resorts, New Zealand
Excellence in Training: School
Massey High School, Auckland
Hospitality Tutor of the Year
Scott Richardson, Southland Boys’ High School, Invercargill
Excellence in Training: Workplace (café, bar, restaurant)
Soul Bar & Bistro, Auckland
Excellence in Training: Workplace (accommodation)
Millennium Hotel, Christchurch
Excellence in Training: Workplace (food services/catering)
Corrections Inmate Employment, Waikeria Prison
Excellence in Training: Qualification Pathways
NorthTec, Whangarei
Workplace Trainer of the Year
Joanne Simpson, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, New Zealand
NZ-UK Link Cookery Modern Apprentice of the Year
Regnar Christensen, The General Practitioner, Wellington
Southern Hospitality Food and Beverage Modern Apprentice of the Year
Monique Rutene, Rosebank Lodge, Balclutha.