Millennium reigns supreme at national hospitality training awards

Accommodation providers Millennium Hotels & Resorts were the big winners at the hospitality industry’s national training awards on Monday night, 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, while employee 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 for the third year running.

HSI’s Chief Executive, Steve Hanrahan, said 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,” Mr Hanrahan says.

TV personality Neil Waka hosted the awards ceremony, held at Auckland’s Langham Hotel on Monday 14th June.

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 announced on Monday 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 of Millennium Hotels & Resorts

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