Nominations open for HICA Awards

The Tourism and Hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the South African economy, contributing an estimated seven percent of employment in the country. And, with the county hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup in less than 12 months, the sector has seen major investment in the expansion of existing hotels and the development of new hotels.

The 2009 HICA awards will be presented to industry leaders at the third annual HICA, which will be held at the Sandton Sun Hotel, Johannesburg on 4 to 6 November, 2009. “The Awards are important because they foster a sense of unity towards realising a shared vision of growth and innovation within the southern African hospitality industry,” said Mmatšatši Marobe, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa which is hosting the event.

“We want to recognise and reward companies and individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to enhancing the profile of the hospitality industry in southern Africa through promoting growth, investment, innovation and excellence, across all tourism sectors.”

The awards, which will be presented over the two days during the conference, are in the categories:

• Best New Hotel Investment
  
• Tourism Business Leadership;
  
• Excellence in Travel and Tourism Reporting; and
  
• Upcoming Industry “Mover and Shaker”.

A panel of judges has been established and the selection process will take place in August and September. The closing date for nominations is 31 August 2009.

The awards will once again be conducted by the TBCSA in partnership with Grant Thornton Strategic Solutions. Accordingly, Grant Thornton Strategic Solutions will carry out the verification exercise on the shortlisted nominees from 4 September to 8 October, when the judges will choose the category winners.

The Best New Hotel Investment Award

For the Best New Hotel Investment Award, nominees should submit projects that have been in operation since 2007 and which have set new standards and benchmarks in the industry. Innovation can be demonstrated through financing, design and development as well as operational practices and processes. They must represent new or improved ways of doing things and subscribe to responsible tourism principles. The criteria to be used to assess nominations will include size of the project, functionality and fit with target markets as well as impact on the wider community.

The Tourism Business Leadership Award

The Tourism Business Leadership Award is for someone who has shown a pioneering spirit that has contributed towards the development of new or unique products, services or ideas that have added value to the industry and made it more internationally competitive. Their initiatives and actions must go over and beyond the scope of their “job spec” and the impact thereof be felt within and beyond a local geographic area.

The Excellence in Travel and Tourism Reporting Award

The Excellence in Travel and Tourism Reporting Award will be awarded for the first time this year. It will be made to individuals who through print or web-based media have made an outstanding contribution to developing awareness and understanding of the southern African tourism industry through interesting, well-researched and accurate reporting, which goes beyond destination and event reporting and provides a critical analysis of the subject matter displaying relevant research and necessary depth. The printed article(s) must have been published between 1 January 2007 and 31 March 2009.

The Upcoming Industry Mover and Shaker Award

Another new award for 2009 is the Upcoming Industry Mover and Shaker Award, which will recognise the achievements of the young and upcoming leaders who, through their skills, ingenuity and energy have already made an impact on the industry and are acting as a role model and source of inspiration to other young people who are thinking of entering the tourism and hospitality industry.

For more information, or to get a nomination form, go to www.hica.co.za.