Steve Armitage appointed new CEO of Hospitality New Zealand –
Steve Armitage, Independent Chair of Business Events Industry Aotearoa, has been appointed CEO of Hospitality New Zealand. Following his appointment Armitage will be stepping down from his role at BEIA in August. Hospitality NZ President Nick Keene has thanked Steve’s predecessor, Julie White, for her significant contributions to Hospitality New Zealand over the past five years. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Julie for her dedication and achievements during her tenure.” BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins says the board and members of BEIA wanted to thank Steve Armitage for his outstanding leadership and support during the past two years and…
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Called ‘Cheap’ For Skipping Hotel After Carlyle Allegedly Refused Discount
AFP KEY POINTS Prince Harry and Meghan Markle allegedly stayed at a friend’s home while in New York City A law enforcement source claimed the Sussexes asked the Carlyle hotel for a discount but got rejected A security expert said the couple would have benefited from staying at a hotel instead of a private residence Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were involved in a car chase with paparazzi because they didn’t stay at a hotel during their recent trip to New York City, reports have claimed. Unnamed law enforcement sources told the New York Post’s Page Six that the Duke…
Do you make the best pies in NZ? –
Entries are now open at pieawards.nz for the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards with plans underway for a huge celebration to mark their 25thth anniversary. NZ Bakels managing director, Brent Kersel says: “Yes, that’s right! We had to postpone the 25th anniversary a couple of times due to Covid, but now we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone.” “And for our 25th anniversary, we’ve asked Al Brown, one of New Zealand’s most recognized chefs, to help us judge the pies. We couldn’t have chosen a better person to be our celebrity chef judge. Al won’t hold back on any aspect…
B&B operators getting ‘back in the swing’ –
Reconnecting New Zealand’s valuable Bed and Breakfast sector with the international travel trade will be the key focus of its first annual conference in three years. Industry operators are keen to reunite for the first time since 2020 at the Bed & Breakfast Association New Zealand conference, taking place at the Copthorne Oriental Bay, Wellington, on 19-21 June 2023. “The 2023 conference is about getting all geared up for the return of our international visitors. We’ve continued with domestic travelers during the pandemic but our members are excited to get back into the swing of hosting our international visitors. So…
Active NZ market a beacon for hotel investors says JLL –
The momentum in the hotel sector has been carried through into 2023, with the value of deals that have gone unconditionally this year, already passing $100 million and are currently under negotiation. Having transacted the record $170 million sale of Auckland’s Stamford Plaza late last year, now refurbished and re-opened as the JW Marriot Auckland, JLL Director Hotels & Hospitality Nick Thompson says the active New Zealand market is once again a beacon for investors seeking stable, long-term performance. The most recent deals transacted by JLL include the purchase by Distinction Hotels Group of the 253-room Mount Cook Hotel Collection,…
From banking to hospo – meet Queenie Lai –
Claiming to have more eateries per capita than New York, Wellington has no shortage of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Fortunately, there are plenty of women-led restaurants in the capital which is fitting this week as we celebrate and support International Women’s Day, which was March 8 this year. If you’re finding it hard to choose what to eat – you might want to do a DoorDash and support women-led businesses in the city! If you’re after chicken waffles for breakfast, scrumptious burgers, mouth-watering milkshakes, and classic American-style cheesecakes, Wellington institution, Mama Brown, might be just the ticket. Mama…
Passionfruit – a survival story –
The 2023 passionfruit crop has survived the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle with the country’s small team of commercial growers based in sub-tropical areas such as Northland, the Bay of Plenty and Taranaki pleased to deliver the seasonal delights to consumers. Passionfruit is a labor-intensive crop that requires careful management throughout the growing season. Debbie Baxter, President of the New Zealand Passionfruit Growers Association, says this season has been a particularly challenging one for growers. “Like many other growers, we faced difficult weather conditions throughout the season. Many of our growers were affected by the severe frost in October and the…