Photo: Supplied
Holiday Parks are investing in their future after a difficult few years.
'Thriving and admirable' is how judges described the winners at this year's Holiday Parks New Zealand Awards for 2023.
Holiday Parks New Zealand chief executive Fergus Brown said this year's awards were a bit of a celebration for the parks after a tough few years.
Acknowledgements included sustainable innovation, most improved park and the spirit of hospitality award.
Sashah Macleod, the manager of Tasman Holiday Parks in Papamoa Beach, was the recipient of the Holiday Parks Emerging Star Award.
It recognises a holiday park professional under the age of 35. Macleod was recognised for her work on being an 'Employer of Choice'.
The TIA Sustainable Innovation Award was won by Cosy Corner Holiday Park in Mount Maunganui which was diverting recycling from landfill while educating their guests and supporting their communities.
Meanwhile, owner of Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park and chairperson of the TOP 10 Holiday Parks Group, Ian Smith, was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Holiday Park Sector Award.
Photo: Supplied
Brown said they were seeing a lot of investment going into Holiday Parks from adding new toilets to investing in hot pools.
He said parks were also looking to combat seasonality and identify what would make customers visit during the off-peak season.
But Covid-19 and major weather events had also left their mark.
Now that the borders had been open a year, Brown said they had seen a record number of visitors return to their parks.
But for some parks in areas such as the cyclone-hit Coromandel, East Coast and Hawke's Bay, there has been no roading access which was affecting their businesses, he said.
Full awards list
Holiday Parks Emerging Star Award sponsored by Tasman Holiday Parks
Sashah Macleod, Tasman Holiday Parks Papamoa Beach
PGG Wrightsons Park Grounds Award
Winner: Ross Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
Runner-up: Whakatane Holiday Park
Resco Best New Build over $100,000
Winner: Tasman Holiday Park - Beachaven
Runners-up: North South Holiday Park, Tasman Holiday Parks - Papamoa, Tasman Holiday Parks - Waihi Beach
Resco Best Upgrade under $100,000
Winner: Queenstown TOP 10 Holiday Park
Runners-up: Hahei Holiday Resort, Ohope Beach TOP 10 and Whakatane Holiday Park
TIA Sustainable Innovation Award
Winner: Cosy Corner Holiday Park, Mount Maunganui
Runner-up: Ngapae Holiday Park, Northland
ReviewPro Business Recovery Award
Omarama TOP 10 Holiday Park
ReviewPro Most Improved Park Award
Winner: Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve
ReviewPro Spirit of Hospitality Award
Winner: Camp Waipu Cove
Outstanding Contribution to the Holiday Park Industry sponsored by TOP 10 Holiday Parks Group
Ian Smith - Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park