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Tui HQ named Best New Zealand Private Hire Venue

Wednesday 3 November 2010, 10:28AM

By Tui

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Tui HQ, venue for hire
Tui HQ, venue for hire Credit: Tui

MANAWATU-WHANGANUI

Tui HQ has been awarded 2010 The Corporate Event Guide People’s Choice Award for the Best Nationwide Private Hire Venue.

Tui HQ, which is home to all things Tui and located next door to Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka, beat numerous contestants nationally for the award – a sure sign it is now a stand alone travel and venue destination.

The Corporate Events Guide People's Choice Awards honours New Zealand companies that have excelled in their field of expertise over the last 12 months and are voted by the New Zealand public. They directly relate to the quality of service that companies are offering across New Zealand.

Nick Rogers, commercial manager for Tui HQ says to win such a prestigious national award is recognition of three years of development on site, as well as staff training, a continuous improvement program and a “heap of hard work” from the entire team.

He said the People’s Choice Award comes just weeks after Tui HQ was awarded the prestigious Qualmark Enviro-Silver award and recognised as one of the country’s leading tourism businesses by Qualmark - New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance system.

“To have the people that have visited our facilities vote for us means we are doing more than filling the basic requirements of offering great service and a fantastic experience.  Word of mouth referrals have certainly carried us through on this one,” says Mr Rogers.

“With the award coming on top of Qualmark and our Enviro Silver Award last month, it’s a real endorsement to our entire team’s efforts over the last 12 months.”

Tui HQ, which is approximately 45 minutes drive north of Masterton and 45 minutes from Palmerston North, incorporates the Histui Museum, Tui HQ café, a retail store, the Flagon Room function room and the soon to be opened Universitui conference centre. It is also at the heart of several community events including Mangatainoka Motors, Super 14 Rugby games, the Toki Golf Open and the Targa Rally.

Mr Rogers says functions hosted by Tui HQ are large and diverse due to the site’s three distinct facilities.

“We’ve attracted conference evenings for the Ag Pilots Association, corporate functions for companies such as Rabo Bank, ASB Bank and the Wellington Sports Association while this summer seven weddings are also booked in at Tui Brewery.”

The Flagon Room, which was build in 2008 as a private function facility, now hosts groups of up 175 people twice weekly. In fact, it is fully booked in the lead-in to Christmas with over 2000 people confirmed for evening functions in the next six weeks. While the new purpose built conference facility, aptly named UniversiTui – the seat of learning – opens next week and will cater for groups up to 80 people conference style.

“UniversiTui will open next week and with only word of mouth to thank, we’ve already booked four conference groups this month,” says Mr Rogers.

“I believe the demand for this type of conference facilities during the day will continue and have on going economic benefits for the wider area. We see more New Zealand companies staying closer to home for their conference because, they want a unique and memorable experience.”

Tui HQ’s strong partnerships with Tranzit Coaches, the Silver Fern Train, Copthorne Solway Park and Regional Tourism Organisations in Manawatu and Wairarapa have been key to its success.   

The team at Tui HQ will be celebrating with a Tui or two.