Art Deco Masonic Hotel has triumphed over the best bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels in New Zealand at this year's Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence.

The iconic Marine Parade establishment was named overall supreme champion and won the award for best accommodation at the hospitality organisation's national conference held in Nelson on Thursday.

In another nod to Napier, Indigo restaurant on Hastings Street won best beverage list. The Indian restaurant is well known for its cuisine but also its Whisky/Bourbon menu, which lists more than 50 whiskies and bourbons from around the world.

The range of winners across the 15 categories at the awards encompassed everything from a small town country pub and provincial city restaurants, through to upmarket gastro bars and a five star hotel in the capital city. The winners at this year's Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence are:

Supreme Champion

- Art Deco Masonic Hotel, Napier

Best New/Redeveloped Bar/Restaurant

- The Hideaway Bar, Wellington

Best Country Hotel

- Theatre Royal Hotel, Kumara, West Coast

Excellence in Host Responsibility

- Christchurch Casino

Excellence in Training and Staff Development

- Delaware North Wellington Airport, Wellington

Best Restaurant

- Portlander Bar and Grill, Wellington

Excellence in Gaming

- Yardhouse, Hamilton

Best Accommodation

- Art Deco Masonic Hotel, Napier

Excellence in Customer Service

- Smith and Mackenzie Chophouse, Chartwell, Hamilton

Best Café

- Spruce Goose, Wellington

Best Bar

- The Occidental, Auckland

Best Music Entertainment Venue

- Dux Live, Christchurch

Best Beverage List

- Indigo Restaurant, Napier

Best Retail Off-Licence

- West Liquor Westgate Centre, Massey, Auckland

Best Dish $25 and Under

- Sugarhorse Bar and Eatery, Christchurch

Best Dish Over $25

- Bolton Hotel, Wellington

Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson said the wide-ranging spectrum of winners at this year’s awards reflected the broad reach of the hospitality industry - and the importance the commercial sector played within the wider New Zealand economy.

"All these winners reflect an incredible amount of passion and commitment from their business owners, and that passion and commitment is ultimately passed on to their customers. They rightly deserve to be recognised as the best in their class, anywhere in New Zealand," he said.

"Unlike in many previous years, no one winner dominated the individual categories this year. The winners come not only from different geographic locations across the country, but also reflect all aspects of the food, beverage and accommodation markets.

"The degree of professionalism contained in the entries submitted by this year’s award winners indicates an industry in good shape - driven by passionate and visionary business operators who are committed to delivery outstanding customer experiences," Mr Robertson said.

Entrants into the Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence are judged over a seven week period by a panel of independent industry professionals who assessed every competitor on a range of commercial and operational criteria - including staff training and human resources, customer service, marketing and promotional activities, and the demonstration of business growth.

Winners of the Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence were announced at the organisation’s national conference held in Nelson on October 8.

Related articles:

Nov/Dec 2015 - Bay Buzz Article "Hospitality Heros".  Read here.