The 21st ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards is tonight.

The awards celebrate the outstanding performance of those who have made exceptional contributions to our tourism industry.

As we all know tourism is such a massive and diverse industry and the ANZ FETA awards are a good opportunity for key tourism stakeholders to participate in categories viable for them.

The theme for this year’s event is “Sustaining our Resources” with the colours blue and green for the awards night.

Chair of the ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards, Bill Whiting, has already highlighted that 2017 Awards season has again received impressive applications for all categories.

One of the main highlights of the night is the announcement of the Emerging Tourism Leader winner.

This is because the winner, Alumita Cawanikuve of Warwick Fiji, Abhinesh Sharma of Sofitel Resort and Spa, and Finau Veredali of InterContinental Fiji Gold Resort and Spa will receive an overseas sponsored scholarship.

This year sees the introduction of a Hall of Fame award, which will be presented to Likuliku Lagoon Resort as the first inductee to this prestigious recognition of consistent excellence.

There are newly introduced individual categories that includes Fiji Tourism Pride, Emerging Tourism Leader and Tourism Leader have been submitted to a separate panel of industry leaders and experts headed by an independent chairperson with broader business focus for judging.

Entries are judged on merit of the submission and it should be a testimony itself to the strength of applications received and being able to respond accurately to the Category criteria and guidelines.

An independent panel of judges, who are made up of industry leaders and experts, assessed the award entries for all the categories.

We should also thank the ANZ FETA Trustee and Organising Committee, ANZ, sponsors and members of the tourism industry for their support and contribution towards the organising of the Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards.

We wish all finalists the best of luck at tonight’s gala dinner at the Sheraton Fiji Resort’s Denarau Convention Centre.

The chief guest is the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, while the special guest speaker is Sir Michael Jones – a former New Zealand All Black rugby player who became a major community leader and business executive.

Feedback:  maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj