The inaugural New Zealand Hospitality Summit – Te Tihi o Manaakitanga – has been postponed till next year due to the pandemic.
Joint hosts Hospitality New Zealand and New Zealand Chefs Association say a combination of uncertainties surrounding the community outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant had forced them to move the event to a date to be decided.
Entitled ‘The Future of Hospitality – Building Forward’, the summit was due to be held on 7-9 September at Trusts Arena, Henderson, as a showcase for the hospitality and accommodation industry and a chance to re-set how it will evolve to thrive into the future.
Hospitality New Zealand Chief Executive Julie White says they are very disappointed at having to postpone, but had no option.
“Getting on top of this community outbreak quickly to avoid being in lockdown for a long period of time is the priority,” she says.
“We only need to look across at our friends in Australia who are doing it tough to be reminded how important it is to get on top of things, and do this quickly. NSW reported over 800 community cases this weekend.
“It was always on the cards the Delta variant would arrive in New Zealand. This is just another punch the industry will roll with.
White says while it is disappointing, it’s nothing compared with what some businesses have been through over the past 18 months.
“We intend to reschedule when people are back to freely moving around and no restrictions on gatherings, because after the many challenges our industry has faced and continues to face, it’s as important as ever for us to come together to find solutions as we look to the future.”
Hospitality New Zealand’s Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence, which were to be presented at the summit, will still happen this year, with the date and venue details to be decided this week.
Hospitality New Zealand’s 119th AGM will still be held on 9 September, though via a virtual meeting at 2pm.
For further information, email Hospitality New Zealand at marketing@hospitality.org.nz.
Did you know?
There are 6 ways you can catch up with The Shout NZ?
Our print magazine – July issue out now! Subscribe here.
Online, updated daily with its own completely unique content and breaking news.
Our weekly newsletter – free to your inbox! Subscribe here.
Our digital magazines – the latest issues are online now.
We are also on Facebook and Instagram!
