Rydges Wellington named Supreme Champion at NZ Hospitality Awards

Wellington’s Rydges Hotel has clinched the Supreme Champion title at this year’s Hospitality Association of New Zealand (HANZ) Awards for Excellence.

The strategically located, purpose-built hotel won accolades for ‘Best Accommodation Hotel’ and ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ en route to taking out the supreme national award at an industry dinner held in the capital city on Wednesday night (26 September).

Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson said while many businesses in the hospitality sector were finding it hard to continue trading profitably, others like Rydges Wellington were prospering with smart strategies.

“Those points of differences showcased by award winners like Rydges Wellington include service offerings, delivering customers a totally unexpected yet far superior experience to what they were anticipating, providing an ambience or atmosphere far removed from the local competition, and embracing new technology.”

Rydges Wellington General Manager Simon White says their HANZ category wins highlight the areas the hotel has focused on, along with innovative marketing, since Rydges took over the hotel just eighteen months ago - spending over a million dollars on improvements and rebranding.

“The two awards work in tandem. We have concentrated our efforts on customer service through guest recognition programmes and making ourselves available to our guests.  That in turn gives us the opportunity to continually improve the hotel product through guest and staff feedback,” he says.

“To be the recipient of these awards after just eighteen months in the Wellington market is fantastic recognition and a credit to the dedication and hard work of the team here at the hotel.”
 

Rydges Wellington

The strategically located 280 room, Featherston Street hotel property is the first in the New Zealand capital for the Australasian hotel and Resort Group.

Rydges Wellington boasts panoramic harbour views, overlooking Lambton Quay, the Beehive, Victoria University, Wellington Railway Station and is a stroll away from Westpac Stadium.

All standard and deluxe rooms are appointed with kitchenettes extending to full kitchens in all 19 suites. Leisure centre facilities include a 17metre lap pool, spa pool, sauna and exercise room.

Rydges Wellington completes the groups New Zealand network, with Rydges hotels already firmly established in Queenstown, Christchurch, Rotorua and Auckland.

Background Rydges Hotels and Resorts

Rydges is one of Australasia’s largest tourism operators in the Pacific, comprising 35% of Amalgamated Holdings Limited that is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (“ASX”) with total assets of approximately AUD $1 Billion.

Established in 1988, the Australian and New Zealand owned company currently operates over 7,500 mid-scale and deluxe rooms in desirable CBD, regional and resort locations across Australasia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom.