Innovation and talent shine at holiday parks awards

This year’s Holiday Parks New Zealand Award winners show the sector is brimming with talent and innovation, says HPNZ Chief Executive Fergus Brown.

Last night’s awards dinner followed the annual Holiday Parks trade show and conference in Christchurch. 

The coveted Emerging Star Award went to industrious young mother Dana Albert-Penu, an employee of Miranda Holiday Park who worked her way up from folding linen to office management.

Mr Brown says, “It was extremely heartening to see a record-breaking number of quality entries for this category across a range of roles, showing that a plethora of talented people are keenly engaged in the sector”. 

Holiday parks are also proactively addressing seasonality by keeping a close eye on what customers want, he says. This has led to many parks bringing in new facilities, such as saunas and hot tubs, to increase winter visitation.

A tree-planting initiative that draws on visitor engagement, the Te Ao Māori approach and the connection to the local community won Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park the TIA Sustainable Innovation Award. Judges said the initiative was “a fantastic example of a business living the Tiaki Promise and meeting the commitments of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment”.

This year saw 10 finalists announced for the ReviewPro Spirit of Hospitality Award instead of the usual five, which Mr Brown says was a result of so many quality entries. The winner was Athenree Hot Springs and Holiday Park, which consistently received excellent customer feedback.

A full list of award winners is below.

Holiday Parks Emerging Star Award sponsored by Tasman Holiday Parks
Dana Albert-Penu, Miranda Holiday Park

PGG Wrightsons Park Grounds Award
Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park and Spencer Beach Holiday Park

Resco Best New Build over $100,000
Winner: Hahei Beach Resort

Resco Best Upgrade under $100,000

Tasman Holiday Parks – Waihi Beach

ServiceIQ Awards
Trainee winner: Monika Rudolf – Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park

 Holiday Park winner – Shelly Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park

Tourism Industry Aotearoa  Sustainable Innovation Award
Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park

ReviewPro Most Improved Park

Pines Holiday Park, Hanmer

ReviewPro Spirit of Hospitality Award
Athenree Hot Springs and Holiday Park

Outstanding Service to the Holiday Park Industry sponsored by TOP 10 Holiday Parks Group
Winner: Colleen Ives