For an impressive third year running The Rees Hotel Queenstown has won ‘Best New Zealand Hotel’ at the prestigious 2019 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence held before 1000 attendees at the International Convention Centre in Sydney on Friday night.
Each year more than 1500 different properties are nominated for consideration and then judged by a distinguished panel of 20 industry professionals and travel media to determine the best properties, departments, people, chains and brands.
It’s the first time ever one hotel has won three times in a row.
This international win cements The Rees’ reputation as a consistently world-class hotel. It was recognised in two other major categories with the hotel's Australian PR representative, Caroline Davidson, winning ‘Communications Associate’ and GM/CEO Mark Rose being Highly Commended in 'New Zealand general manager'.
The Rees Hotel was also the only New Zealand hotel finalist in the prestigious 'Australasian Hotel of the Year' category. This comes after a whirlwind year of new hotel initiatives including strong community and eco support programs, other international Awards and exclusive culinary events.
There were many compelling reasons for the win – the Rees team put it down to its commitment to responsible tourism through consistent delivery of its TIAKI values and promise to care for New Zealand, for now and for future generations.
Mark spoke of the Hotel's 'threepeat' win for 'New Zealand Hotel' that it shares with Sofitel Auckland Viaduct.
"We are honoured and delighted to receive this Award for the third time," says Mark.
"We wish to also acknowledge and congratulate the Sofitel as we appreciate what it takes to earn such an award. It takes a dedicated team and lots of hard work day in and day out.
"Our guests and being good stewards in our community are at the heart of our business – we want all those that choose to stay with us to have an exceptional time while we do our absolute best by our environment," he says.
He praises his dedicated, professional and friendly staff for making each facet of the hotel experience memorable. "The Awards are a great reminder from our international industry peers that we are maintaining the standard – and that’s an outstanding level of excellence."
The HM Awards are in their 17th year and are the leading Awards for the accommodation industry in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region.
Fifty categories were decided by a judging panel of industry professionals and travel media. The Rees was nominated as a finalist in five categories: ‘New Zealand Hotel’ (won twice previously in 2018 and 2017); ‘New Zealand General Manager’ (won previously by Mark Rose in 2015); ‘Hotel Chef’ (won previously by Ben Batterbury in 2017; 'Communications Associate' (Caroline Davidson) and 'Australasian Hotel of the Year'.
Together general manager/CEO Mark Rose and director of operations Roman Lee-Lo have been responsible for The Rees Hotel’s continued success and impressive growth since its opening in 2009.
Roman received the award in Australia on behalf of the property.
The marketing of the hotel’s five new luxury Lakeside Rees Residences has been a major focus along with initiatives including a silent auction to support survivors of the Christchurch mosque shootings, the ‘Rees Bees’ apiary eco initiative and the Kea conservation endangered species program.
Mark also pioneered the increase of the hotel’s minimum starting wage to well above the national minimum again showing leadership in the industry. The Rees’ support for the environment and community and its sustainable business practices are a cornerstone of the Hotel's ethos.
This mindset, along with the delivery of a consistent and exceptional level of service and hospitality at The Rees consistently make it one of the top luxury accommodation providers in Aotearoa.
Caroline, who won the ‘Best Communications Associate’ Award excels in providing public relations and destination management services for international clients and has represented The Rees Hotel Queenstown for more than seven years through her company Davidson Communications.
Caroline’s experience and passion for the hotel have helped it gain a consistently high presence in Australia and overseas in collaboration with Sarah Sparks, director of Markom PR who handles The Rees’ New Zealand public relations.
"I am thrilled to accept such a distinguished Award in such elite company and to be recognised by an industry I have worked in and loved for so many years. Working with a client of the consistent quality as The Rees Hotel is a privilege. To see the hotel win again makes us very proud and to be recognised individually is the cherry on top," Caroline says.
