QT Auckland wins Supreme Award at Hospitality Awards
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 on Tuesday night and livestreamed to a number of other venues around the country.
Hosted by Hospitality New Zealand, the Awards 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 in Christchurch.
This year was the 24th time the awards have been held and organisers say there were a record number of entries – it was the first time they have been open to the whole industry, not just members of Hospitality NZ.
Category winners received a trophy and a $1000 KOHA Card. The card was launched nationwide by Hospitality New Zealand earlier this month.
Category winners and finalists were:
Best Bar: 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 Café: Karaka Café, Wellington.
Finalists: Diner 66, Christchurch; Fusee Rouge Café, Cromwell.
Best Brew Pub/Distillery: Good George Dining Hall, Hamilton.
Finalists: Kaiser Brew Garden, Christchurch; Monteith’s Brewing Company, Greymouth.
Best Destination Venue: The Riverhead, Riverhead.
Finalists: Brewtown Upper Hutt; Holey Moley Golf Club, Auckland; Perky’s Floating Bar, Queenstown; Tantalus Estate, Waiheke Island.
Best Environmental/Sustainable Business: The Hotel Britomart, Auckland.
Finalists: Milford Sound Lodge, Milford Sound; University of Canterbury Students Association, Christchurch.
Best Hotel: Hotel Grand Windsor, Auckland.
Finalists: Fable Dunedin; Hotel Fitzroy Curated by fable, Auckland; Rydges Latimer, Christchurch; SkyCity Hotel, Auckland
Best Luxury Hotel Winner: Fable Dunedin.
Finalists: Hotel Grand Windsor, Auckland; QT Wellington, Wellington; Sofitel Queenstown - Hotel & Spa, Que. The Grand by SkyCity, Auckland.
Best Luxury Boutique Hotel: Wharekauhau Country Estate, Featherston.
Finalists: Escape to Picton Boutique Hotel, Picton; Hotel Fitzroy Curated by fable, Auckland; Ohtel Wellington, Wellington; The Landing, Kerikeri.
Best Motel: Century Park Motor Lodge, Nelson
Finalists: One88 on Commerce, Whakatane Radfords on the Lake, Te Anau The Metrotel Motel, New Plymouth The St James, Hanmer Springs
Best Local: The Elmwood Trading Co., Christchurch
Finalists: The Brown Pub, Methven The Riverhead, Riverhead Thistle Inn, Wellington Woodbourne Tavern, Renwick
Best New/Redeveloped Business – Accommodation: QT Auckland.
Finalists: Bealey Quarter, Christchurch; Fable Dunedin; Jet Park Hotel Auckland Airport; Sojourn Apartment Hotel, Wellington.
Best New/Redeveloped Business – Food & Beverage: 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.
Best Restaurant: White + Wong’s, Queenstown.
Finalists: Artisan at Bolton Hotel, Wellington; The Press Club, Dunedin; Fife Lane Kitchen and Bar, Tauranga; Francesca’s Italian Kitchen, Wanaka.
Excellence in Gaming: Five Stags Leamington, Cambridge.
Finalists: Botany Commons, Auckland; Fox & Hounds, Taupo; The Elmwood Trading Co, Christchurch; Woodbourne Tavern, Renwick.
Excellence in Marketing: Fable Hotels and Resorts.
Finalists: Erik’s Fish and Chips, Queenstown; QT Auckland.
Excellence in Training & Development: Emerson’s Brewery and Taproom, Dunedin.
Finalists: Good Spirits Hospitality Kaiser Brew Garden, Christchurch
