Still time to enter HICA awards

The four awards categories are:

• Best New Hotel Investment Award: This category reviews projects that have been in operation since 2008 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 while continuing to subscribe to responsible tourism principles.
  
• The Best New Non-Hotel Accommodation Investment Award is a new category for the HICA Awards introduced to recognise other forms of quality accommodation establishments such as lodges, guest houses etc.
  
• The Excellence in Travel and Tourism Reporting Award will be for an individual who demonstrates distinction through interesting, well researched and accurate reporting which goes beyond destination and event coverage to provide a critical analysis of the southern African tourism industry. The printed and/or web-based article(s) must have been published between 1st January 2008 and 31st July 2010.
  
• The Upcoming Industry Mover and Shaker Award recognises the achievements of young leaders who, through their skills, ingenuity and energy make a visible impact in the industry while acting as a role model to other young people who are thinking of entering the tourism and hospitality sector.

According to Pila Rulashe, a director at Grant Thornton Strategic Solutions, the awards, which were launched in 2007 together with the annual HICA event, were developed specifically to recognise those making a difference in the growth of and investment in the hospitality industry in southern Africa.

The HICA awards will take place from 31 October to 2 November 2010 at the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg.

Further information regarding the award categories as well as nomination forms can be downloaded from www.hica.co.za.