The winners from Aotearoa and the South Pacific for the 2025 HM Awards have been announced at a gala black tie dinner in Auckland last Friday (Oct 31) attended by over 200 leading industry executives.
Over 45 winners from across New Zealand and South Pacific were awarded on the night and recognised a range of categories, covering people, departments and properties.
“Once again, the entries this year – from chefs to housekeepers, five-star resorts and apartment hotels – have been incredible and it has been terrific to see thousands of staff and properties highlight many achievements in another busy year,” said HM Awards Founder and Chief Judge, James Wilkinson.
“This year, 2025, marks our 23rd year of hosting the HM Awards and annually recognising Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific’s finest and I’m thrilled we are back in Auckland for a second time to honour Aotearoa and the Pacific’s top properties.”
The 2025 HM Awards Aotearoa Pacific gala presentation evening was headline sponsored by presentation partner Sealy New Zealand, alongside co-hosts Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, fbm and FutureLog, Emerald Sponsors PurchasePlus, Tappoo and Wayfarer, Gold Sponsor Encore, and Bronze Sponsors JLL, Tourism Talent and Travmedia.
The event was also supported by Hotel Council Aotearoa and the Aotearoa Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE).
Several major awards for New Zealand and the South Pacific – including Fijian General Manager, New Zealand General Manager, Fijian Resort and New Zealand Hotel – will be awarded at the 2025 HM Awards Australasia gala presentation dinner on November 21 at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney and a very limited number of tickets are still available.
AOTEAROA PACIFIC WINNERS FOR THE 2025 HM AWARDS
New Zealand Apartment Hotel
WINNER: Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments
Highly Commended (H/C): Swiss-Belsuites Victoria Park, Auckland
New Zealand Regional Property
WINNER: Ratanui Lodge, Pohara
H/C: Novotel New Plymouth Taranaki
New Zealand Meetings and Conferencing Property
WINNER: Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa
H/C: Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Queenstown
New Zealand Boutique Hotel
WINNER: QT Queenstown
H/C: The Mayfair, Christchurch
New Zealand Midscale Hotel
WINNER: Crowne Plaza Queenstown
H/C: Novotel Christchurch Airport
New Zealand Upscale Hotel
WINNER: DoubleTree by Hilton Auckland Karaka
H/C: The Mayfair, Christchurch
New Zealand Luxury Hotel
WINNER: JW Marriott Auckland
H/C: Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa
New Zealand Lodge
WINNER: Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
H/C: Delamore Lodge
New Zealand Hotel Bar
WINNER: Rooftop at QT Auckland
H/C: Our Land Bar, Cordis Auckland
New Zealand Hotel Restaurant
WINNER: Onemata Restaurant, Park Hyatt Auckland
H/C: Bistro Saine, Hotel Indigo Auckland
Fijian Boutique Resort
WINNER: Royal Davui Island Resort
H/C: Yasawa Island Resort & Spa
Fijian Upscale Resort
WINNER: Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa
H/C: Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
Fijian Luxury Resort
WINNER: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
H/C: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
South Pacific Property
WINNER: Pacific Resort Aitutaki
H/C: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso & Spa
Marketing Campaign
WINNER: Hotel Indigo Auckland
H/C: SkyCity Auckland
Innovative Collaboration
WINNER: DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington
H/C: QT Queenstown
Environmental Program
NZ WINNER: Cordis Auckland
STH PAC WINNER: Castaway Island Fiji Resort
H/Cs: InterContinental Auckland / Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
Human Resources Initiative
NZ WINNER: Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour
STH PAC WINNER: FNPF-owned IHG Hotels Fiji
H/Cs: Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa / JW Marriott Auckland
Concierge
NZ WINNER: Luciano Borneana, InterContinental Auckland
STH PAC WINNER: Sikeli Nailesu, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
H/C: Joeli Varo, Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
Hotel Chef
NZ WINNER: James Laird, QT Auckland
STH PAC WINNER: Sayed Alam, Marriott International Fiji
H/Cs: Chris Scott, Sherwood Queenstown / Ryan Nathanael, Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa
Food and Beverage Associate
NZ WINNER: Varun Sharma, Novotel Christchurch Airport
STH PAC WINNER: Sera Wati, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
H/Cs: Kesaia Dirateri, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji – Sonaisali Island / Lance Ourednik, Grand Millennium Auckland
Human Resource Associate
NZ WINNER: Kathy Le, Hilton Auckland
STH PAC WINNER: Sotia Tikoimatuku, FNPF-owned IHG Fiji Hotels
H/Cs: Karishma Priti Nandan, DoubleTree by Hilton Auckland Karaka / Eshni Chetty, Sofitel Fiji Beach Resort & Spa
Sales Associate
NZ WINNER: Daisuke Endo, JW Marriott Auckland
STH PAC WINNER: Javed Rahim, Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa
H/Cs: Stephanie Tan, The Mayfair Christchurch / Darshita Naidu, OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort
Marketing and Communications Associate
NZ WINNERS: Ginni Post and Danelle Ayers, GP Communications & Moda
STH PAC WINNER: Sarah Chung, Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa
H/Cs: Ali Smith, Scenic Hotel Group / Olivia Brown, JW Marriott Auckland
Front Office Associate
NZ WINNER: Prachie Jan Amelda Gloriani, Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport
STH PAC WINNER: Vikrant Avinit Gounder, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
H/Cs: Nainase Buna, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa / Jomon George, Hilton Lake Taupo
Finance Associate
NZ WINNER: Ollie Clark, SkyCity Auckland
STH PAC WINNER: Vuniivi Nadumu, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji – Sonaisali Island
H/Cs: Alvin Cai, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour / Manisha Lata, Grand Pacific Hotel Suva
Revenue Management Associate
NZ WINNER: Minghao (Dean) Duan, JW Marriott Auckland
STH PAC WINNER: Kirshan Singh, Sofitel Fiji Beach Resort & Spa
H/C: Laurel Liddle, SkyCity Auckland
Housekeeper
NZ WINNER: Jennifer Seyb, Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
STH PAC WINNER: Nevote Laudola, Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa
H/Cs: Arti Naidu, Cordis Auckland / Susana Raika, OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort
Hotel Engineer
NZ WINNER: Rebecca Dawson, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour
STH PAC WINNER: Paula Moceiwai, Castaway Island Fiji Resort
H/Cs: Vijay Prasad, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay / Paul Bristow, Rydges Latimer Christchurch
Rising Star
NZ WINNER: Bikesh Sherchan, JW Marriott Auckland
NZ WINNER: Karishma Singh, Movenpick Hotel Auckland
STH PAC WINNER: Saimoni Raiwako, Marriott International Fiji
H/Cs: Sereima Tinainaituku, Castaway Island Fiji Resort / Emilia Blaszkiewicz, QT Queenstown