New Zealand Hospitality Summit postponed until 2022
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the summit has been postponed until next year.
The inaugural New Zealand Hospitality Summit – Te Tihi o Manaakitanga – has been postponed until 2022.
Due to the nation’s current COVID-19 outbreak and associated restrictions, the New Zealand Hospitality Summit is unable to proceed as planned on September 7 to 9.
“Getting on top of this community outbreak quickly to avoid being in lockdown for a long period of time is the priority,” said Julie White, chief executive of Hospitality New Zealand.
Hospitality New Zealand was set to host the summit alongside New Zealand Chefs Association. Now the two organisations plan to hold the event next year, with the official date yet to be decided.
“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,” said Ms White, expressing her disappointment at the postponement.
“It was always on the cards the Delta variant would arrive in New Zealand. This is just another punch the industry will roll with,” she said. “It’s very disappointing, but it’s nothing compared with what some businesses have been through over the past 18 months.”
With New Zealand hospitality and tourism businesses suffering significant losses as a result of lockdowns and travel restrictions, industry events and support for providers are more important than ever.
“We’re an important contributor to the New Zealand economy, with our 170,000 people contributing $11 billion a year before COVID, so the sooner we get back to full health, the better for everyone,” said Ms White.
Janine Quaid, executive officer at New Zealand Chefs Association, said that safety remained a priority.
“We regret we had to postpone the summit, but we’re confident a hard and fast approach will get this super spreader under control so we can enjoy the freedoms we’re used to so we can reschedule it as soon as possible.”
When the New Zealand Hospitality Summit goes ahead in 2022, it will provide opportunities for hospitality employers and employees to participate in education and training seminars and to learn about new tools and resources, as well as to network with other pandemic-affected industry members.
Despite the postponement of the summit, Hospitality New Zealand’s esteemed Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence will go ahead, with date and venue details pending.
“We look forward to the opportunity to come together to celebrate industry achievement and excellence, something more important than ever to do in these very challenging times,” said Craig Baldie, country director of Lion NZ, a principal sponsorship partner of the awards.
Likewise, Hos pitality New Zealand’s 199th AGM will still be held remotely on September 9, and competitions and sponsorship programs by New Zealand Chefs Association are set to proceed.
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