QT Auckland hotel in the Viaduct Harbour has won the Supreme Award at the 2021 Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence.
The awards were presented at an event in Wellington last night and live-streamed to a number of other venues around the country.
They were hosted by Hospitality New Zealand and recognised businesses and individuals in 17 categories across the accommodation and food and beverage sectors for their work and commitment to excellence in their field.
QT Auckland won the Best New/Redeveloped Business – Accommodation category before being chosen for the top award from winners of the other categories. Its rooftop bar also won the Best Bar category.
The People’s Choice Award, voted on by the public, was won by Kaiser Brew Garden, Christchurch.
There were a record number of entries this year, the 24th time the awards have been held. This is the first them they have been open to the whole industry, not just members of Hospitality NZ.
Category winners, in addition to receiving industry recognition and a trophy, were each presented with a $1000 KOHA Card.
Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Julie White says QT Auckland was a very worthy winner from a top field of category winners.
“QT Auckland are deserved winners and Hospitality New Zealand congratulates Doron Whaite and his team. They have done a fantastic job under the most trying of circumstances, as have the other category winners and finalists.
“The competition was fierce, which is a testament to the whole industry considering it’s still in the middle of a devastating trading period due to the pandemic.
“It was almost as if everyone lifted their standards in defiance of COVID – to show they could still stand tall despite the setbacks.
“After two postponements we were determined to get everyone together, even if it was online, to celebrate and congratulate our winners in the best way possible for their work, and it was a great night.”
On-premise category winners and finalists were:
Best Bar
Winner: Rooftop at QT, Auckland.
Finalists: Fantail and Turtle, Auckland; Good George North Wharf, Auckland; The Freeport Tavern and Cleaver and Co, Mt Maunganui; Thistle Inn, Wellington.
Best Brew Pub/Distillery
Winner: Good George Dining Hall, Hamilton.
Finalists: Kaiser Brew Garden, Christchurch; Monteith’s Brewing Company, Greymouth.
Best Destination Venue
Winner: The Riverhead, Riverhead.
Finalists: Brewtown Upper Hutt; Holey Moley Golf Club, Auckland; Perky’s Floating Bar, Queenstown; Tantalus Estate, Waiheke Island
Best Local
Winner: The Elmwood Trading Co., Christchurch
Finalists: The Brown Pub, Methven The Riverhead, Riverhead Thistle Inn, Wellington Woodbourne Tavern, Renwick
Best New/Redeveloped Business – Accommodation
Winner: QT Auckland.
Finalists: Bealey Quarter, Christchurch; Fable Dunedin; Jet Park Hotel Auckland Airport; Sojourn Apartment Hotel, Wellington.
Best New/Redeveloped Business – Food & Beverage
Winner: Maria Lane Eatery and Bar, Whanganui.
Finalists: Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Ltd, Queenstown and Picton; Kaiser Brew Garden, Christchurch; Margo’s, Queenstown Market ST, Napier.
Excellence in Gaming
Winner: Five Stags Leamington, Cambridge.
Finalists: Botany Commons, Auckland; Fox & Hounds, Taupo; The Elmwood Trading Co, Christchurch; Woodbourne Tavern, Renwick.
Excellence in Training & Development
Winner: Emerson’s Brewery and Taproom, Dunedin.
Finalists: Good Spirits Hospitality Kaiser Brew Garden, Christchurch
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