The AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards

The AON FIJI Excellence in Tourism Awards
Feb 10, 2009, 15.02

The 2008 AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards was held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Friday 6th February 2009.

This is a much anticipated annual event in the Fiji Tourism Industry calendar, where tourism operators compete for their product to recognized and endorsed with this prestigious Award. The Excellence in Tourism Awards have been in place now for 14 years.

There are 12 categories which are open to all tourism operators to submit a nomination and to be considered by a team of judges. The nominations are open for submission from August to October each year and judging begins from mid-November.

The ten product categories are open for self nomination or nomination by visitors, members of the industry and the general public. For the 2008 Awards nearly 2000 nominations were received for the different categories.

Categories encompass the different products in the Tourism Industry. The categories and winners are as follows:

1. Fiji Experience - includes cruises and tourist attractions: SIGATOKA RIVER SAFARI & KULA ECO PARK

2. Transport, Tours, Conference & Incentive Operators: ATS PACIFIC (FIJI) LTD

3. Restaurants - includes restaurants in the hotels/resorts: WICKED WALU RESTAURANT at the WARWICK FIJI RESORT & SPA

4. Environmental, Heritage, Arts & Culture - fostering appreciation and stewardship of the environment and our heritage: MAMANUCA ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY

5. Adventure Tourism - organized activity on land, air or water: ADRENALIN WATERSPORTS (FIJI) LTD

6. General Tourism Services including Shopping: Includes spas, wedding chapels, airports, web masters, event staging, translation etc: TAPPOOS

7. Accommodation Budget: UPRISING RESORT

8. Accommodation Quality: MERCURE HOTEL, NADI

9. Accommodation Deluxe: WESTIN DENARAU ISLAND RESORT & SPA

10. Accommodation Deluxe/Unique: LIKULIKU LAGOON RESORT

11. Young Achiever: For employees under 30 years old: JENNIFER YIP of WARWICK FIJI RESORT

12. Front Liner of the Year: Open to all workers in the industry: UNA MURRAY, PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER, OUTRIGGER ON THE LAGOON

The Young Achiever and Front Liner of the Year is not self nominating and they have to be nominated by their employer, members of the industry or general public.

In addition to the above there is a Grassroots Enterprise Development Grant which is the awarding of a total grant of up to $10,000 that will be given in kind to individuals or a community involved in business initiatives in the production of goods and services for tourism and have already proven successful in their endeavours and require assistance to take their business venture forward.

There were eight applications for grants for 2008 and six grants have been awarded to those that have fulfilled the criteria stated. They are:

1. Resorts (x2): Takalana Retreat, Tailevu and Seaworld at Botaira Resort: To assist in the purchase of equipment for the Resorts.

2. Farmers (x3): Emosi Viavia of Naweni Village, Savusavu; Mosese Bobi of Wailevu East, Savusavu and Rupeni Tuimavana of Greenroots Farm near Volivoli Village, Sigatoka.

3. Art & Craft (x1): Creativiti. For purchase of additional art and craft material.

The Board of Trustees select the premier awards that are given to individuals as follows:

1. Special Citation: For individuals who in their view have made a special contribution in the different areas of the industry. There two Special Citation Awards for 2008 and they were given to:

a. Ratu Kini Bokonaqiwa of Ratu Kini’s Backpackers, Mana Island

b. Cherrill Watson, recently retired Director Marketing Fiji Visitors Bureau/Tourism Fiji.

2. Lifetime Achiever: For individuals who have made lifetime achievements in tourism.

a. Kantilal Tappoo: Tappoos Group of Companies

3. Visionary: For individuals who have vision and have made outstanding contribution to Tourism.

a. Gaetane Austin: Pure Fiji

Members of the Board of Trustees are Dick Smith (Chairman), Gerald Barrack, Bill Cruickshank, Bob Dods and Ro Teimumu Kepa.

The Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards is self funded through sponsors. The major sponsors for the 2008 Awards are AON Fiji Ltd., Pacific Blue; Westpac Banking Corporation; Stella Travel Services; Rooster Poultry; Asco Motors; Fintel; Telecom Fiji Ltd, TPAF (sponsor of the pre dinner cocktails).

Sponsors in kind were received from Pure Fiji; Fiji Water; Tappoos; Tourism Fiji.

Hotels and Resorts also supported the event by donating prizes that were used for a Silent Auction during the evening and the proceeds were donated to the Prime Minister’s Flood Appeal. The major lucky draw prizes for the evening was donated by Air Pacific for trip for 2 to the Gold Coast and from Pacific Blue for a trip for 2 either to New Zealand or to Australia.

Chief Guest at the Awards was the Interim Prime Minister Commodore V Bainimarama and also present was the Interim Attorney General & Acting Minister for Tourism Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. The event was attended by 400 guests.

Olivia Mavoa
AWARDS COORDINATOR