The inaugural Remarkable Awards kick off in Queenstown today celebrating the Hospitality Industry in the Southern Lakes region.  
Organised by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand, The Remarkables Awards will follow a successful formula used in other regions around the country.
“The Remarkables are all about honouring the heroes in hospitality by promoting excellence in the industry. It is the chance for hospo colleagues to celebrate together and recognise their own”, says Steve Mackenzie, CEO of the Restaurant Association of NZ.  
“We are very excited to be bringing these awards to the Southern Lakes region.  It is a powerhouse for the wider NZ tourism sector with a discerning and demanding international clientele so we expect the competition to be fierce. The benefits of a peer recognition awards programme that celebrates dedication and excellence not only draws our industry closer but also raises aspirations and performance in the region.”
The event has attracted important support already, with 10 category sponsors signing up to be part of the inaugural event along with three foundation associate sponsors, Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere Vodka and Red Bull.  
“We are grateful to our sponsors for believing in the event and in the Southern Lakes hospitality industry as a whole. As a region that attracts enormous numbers of domestic and international visitors it is essential that the level of service and what we have on offer here is of a high standard.
“We believe that, over time The Remarkables Awards can only enhance our local and visitor experience” Mr Mackenzie concludes.
Categories for the inaugural event include:  

• Heineken Outstanding Bar    
• PPNZ Outstanding Restaurant
• Dog Point Outstanding Winelist    
• Ozone Coffee Outstanding Barista
• Red + White Cellar Outstanding Vineyard    
• Crombie Lockwood Outstanding Waiter    
• Regal King Salmon Outstanding Restaurant Food    
• Diners Club NZ Outstanding Chef    
• Restaurant Association Outstanding Supplier
• Outstanding Maitre'd

• Coca-Cola Outstanding Bartender
• Hospitality Personality of the Year.    

People and businesses in the hospitality industry will be asked to nominate individuals and establishments in the Southern Lakes region, from Invercargill to Te Anau, Queenstown, Wanaka and Clyde.  The top four in each category will make the final round of voting.  All members of the industry will then be asked to vote for one of the four finalists in each category and the person or establishment that receives the most votes in their category will be announced as the winner. The awards ceremony will be held at Memorial Hall followed by an industry after party at The Revolver Club on Sunday 12th September in Queenstown.
Nominations are now open with voting available online for hospitality industry workers, owners, suppliers, sales reps to the industry and vineyard workers. Nominations close on 5th August at 12pm. This event is not open to the general public.
For more information on the voting process, how you can be part of the event or to vote online, please go to www.theremarkableawards.co.nz.