I was fortunate enough to attend the New Zealand Tourism Awards in Hamilton last week. It was planned that I would be in the middle of the North Island for other matters the day after the awards so when two of the Tourism Central Otago (TCO) team became individual finalists, plus TCO as a whole was made a finalist as part of a collaboration, I changed my plans to be there in support.

A lot of people aren’t too sure what TCO is and what it does so let’s start there.  

TCO basically coordinates tourism in Central Otago, ensuring a clear message of what we offer gets shown to the market both here and overseas while supporting operators in their role.  

That is truly a Readers Digest version of what this great team does, and the awards this week demonstrate just how well they do it.

Dylan Rushbrook was a finalist in the Tourism Industry Champion Award while Antz Longman was a finalist in the Emerging Tourism Leader Award. TCO as a whole was also recognised as a finalist in the Industry Collaboration Award as part of the Otago Cycle Trail Collaboration Initiative.

While the big prizes went to others, I cannot emphasise enough the level that these awards have put the two guys and TCO, and with it our tourism offering.  

On the big screen time and again through the night were images of our place as the finalists were announced and recognised. This is our people and our product showing itself for the brilliance they share on the biggest stage that the tourism industry in New Zealand has to offer.  

I was one very proud mayor to be there and as what is going to be a busy summer season comes, we can be sure that this crucial part of our economy couldn't be in better hands.