Cardrona Alpine Resort/Treble Cone Ski Area’s Bridget Legnavsky is a finalist for the Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award at the upcoming New Zealand Tourism Awards.

Bridget is one of six “leading individuals” and 23 businesses which are in the running for 11 prestigious tourism awards.  

The three awards for individuals are open to outstanding performers in the industry, and eight awards will recognise business excellence, industry alignment and organisations that are ‘living the values’ of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment.

Formerly Cardrona and Treble Cone’s general manager, Bridget was promoted in June (by parent organisation Wayfare Group) to the new position of chief experience officer with responsibility for all Wayfare Group experiences.

“Bridget is a visionary leader, with an incredible talent for building team culture to deliver an outstanding guest experience and we want to continue to ensure this is developed further across the group,” Wayfare chief executive officer Stephen England-Hall said.

Her new role requires her to lead, coach and mentor a team of general managers responsible for Wayfare’s tourism and ski experiences across their brands Real Journeys, Go Orange, the International Antarctic Centre and Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Real Journeys (Otago/Southland) has also been named a finalist for the Conservation Award.

Read more: Cardrona-Treble Cone GM takes on new role

The tourism awards attracted a record number of almost 150 entries, after a 2020 hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We know tourism businesses and individuals are keen to showcase how they’ve adapted and innovated over the past year, with the awards bringing a sense of prestige and celebration back to the industry,” Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) chief executive Chris Roberts said.

He described the awards as “a valuable opportunity to benchmark your business against your peers and demonstrate that you are striving to be the best”.

The winners will be announced at the awards dinner on September 1 in Hamilton following Tourism Summit Aotearoa. Both events are organised by the TIA.

Find more information on the New Zealand Tourism Awards here.

PHOTO: Supplied