Finalists named in Southern Lakes Hospitality Awards –

The finalists have been announced at the Southern Lakes Hospitality awards and locals are being invited to vote for their favorite place to dine out. The finalists represent excellent dining establishments in the region as voted by the hospitality industry, including Queenstown restaurant Jervois Steakhousenominated in four award categories, including outstanding restaurant. Also up for outstanding restaurant is Ben Bayly’s Arrowtown restaurant Aosta, a small 50 seat restaurant that brings a taste of Northern Italy to the gold-rush village of Arrowtown. The restaurant is nominated in the category of outstanding restaurants, and best regional establishments. Aosta and Jervois Steak House…
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Serving the Hotel Guest of the Future

Originally published in PhocusWire Global hotel demand is off to a strong start in 2023, with Q1 outperforming hotel occupancy figures for the same months in 2022, according to Amadeus’ Demand360® data as of March 12, 2023. As the industry continues to bounce back, we can only wonder – what will travel look like in 10 years? A global research study from Amadeus – Travelers Tribes 2033 – tackles this question through a psychographic survey of 10,000 travelers across 15 markets to understand exactly what they will want a decade from now. By examining the forces transforming travel along with…
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Food prices hit new records –

New Zealand food prices were 12 percent higher in February than they were a year earlier, according to Stats NZ . This is the biggest recorded annual increase since 1989, with grocery food taking the spot as the biggest contributor, up twelve percent. “Increasing prices for barn or cage-raised eggs, potato chips, and cheddar cheese were the largest drivers within grocery food,” consumer prices manager James Mitchell said. The second-largest contributor to the annual movement was fruit and vegetables. The increase were seen in tomatoes, up 117 percent and potatoes, up 48 percent. Fruit and vegetable prices as a whole…
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MBIE survey highlights hospo workplace challenges –

New Zealand now has better data on working conditions in tourism and hospitality, for those on the frontline as well as for managers, following a survey of more than 900 people working in the industry. The research was headed by Dr David Williamson from AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, with Professor Erling Rasmussen from AUT’s New Zealand Work Research Institute. the Hey Tangata survey, conducted by AUT, was commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and helps to inform the work of the Tourism Industry Transformation Plan Better Work Action Plan, launched by the Minister of Tourism…
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How to Keep Step with Changing Perceptions of Sustainability

Originally published by Travolution Scott Falconer, Executive Vice President, Media Solutions, Hospitality, Amadeus, explains how hotels and destinations can use data to respond to growing demand for more environmentally friendly trips This year has seen the travel industry rebound, with Amadeus’ business intelligence data revealing that worldwide hotel occupancy rates surged above pre-pandemic levels for the first time since 2019. Similarly, Amadeus’ Agency360 data demonstrates that hotel room nights booked on global distribution systems (GDSs) for corporate travel have also increased during 2022 and are rapidly closing in on pre-pandemic rates. This welcome resurgence of travel should not just be…
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Macdonald family open store to champion high country farming –

The Kaikōura based Macdonald family has announced the opening of Middlehurst Station Farm Store, a thoughtfully curated farm store and boutique butchery located in the heart of the Kāikoura township. This farm store will serve as a haven for residents and visitors seeking fresh meat, locally sourced produce, and a diverse selection of seasonal products. “Kaikōura is renowned for its remarkable food and artisan producers, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to contribute to this thriving community,” says Lucy Macdonald, one of the sisters behind the visionary Middlehurst Station Farm Store. “We’ve always dreamed of creating a space where we…
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MEETINGS 2023 landmark event in Wellington –

Over 1,000 business events industry professionals have arrived in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, New Zealand for Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s MEETINGS 2023 exhibition. New Zealand’s two-day annual tourism industry trade event is being held in Wellington for the first time in its 27-year history and signals a new era for the sector. BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins says this year’s MEETINGS will be a landmark event for the industry with a record number of buyers and exhibitors, and the first time in four years international buyers have also been represented. “MEETINGS is the single most important event in New Zealand’s industry…
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Scheduled bumper agenda for Fine Food New Zealand –

The country’s premiere event for the hospitality, food retail and food service industries is making a record return in June 2023. Fine Food New Zealand has attracted more than 250 exhibitors, converging at the Auckland Showgrounds to share the latest flavours, trends, equipment, ingredients and beverages, contributing to quintessentially Kiwi experiences across the country. A packed agenda includes training and education, demonstrations, the NZ Chefs Championships and Global Chefs Challenge, the introduction of the Restaurant Association’s ‘Hospo Hui’, and much more. The strictly trade-only event takes place from June 25-27. “We’re thrilled to have the biggest event ever planned for…
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