13 June 2006 - Millennium Hotels and Resorts, New Zealand�s largest owner and operator of hotels has signed with Qualmark, New Zealand tourism�s official quality accreditation scheme.

The hotel company, which operates 31 properties under the Millennium, Copthorne and Kingsgate brands, will begin its commitment to the Qualmark assessment programme starting this month with Kingsgate Hotel Rotorua.

Managing Director, Millennium and Copthorne Hotels New Zealand, Boo Keng (B.K.) Chiu said by partnering with Qualmark, the company is supporting New Zealand�s reputation for quality in the global tourism market.  

�New Zealand continues to be a destination that proudly declares its place in the global tourism market based on the quality of experience. By supporting Qualmark�s nationally-recognised quality assurance programme we are helping to ensure New Zealand�s reputation is enhanced,� Mr Chiu said. 

Matt Taplin, Vice-President Operations, Millennium Hotels and Resorts said Qualmark accreditation has now become recognised nationally and is also gaining significant recognition in New Zealand�s international markets. 

�We can see the value our international visitors place on independent verification and want to ensure we play our part in providing that assurance. 

�Qualmark is a great management tool to have at our disposal. Millennium Hotels and Resorts sees this as a two-fold partnership. Not only do our guests choose with confidence, but also we are provided with independent feedback to help benchmark quality standards within our own company and across the New Zealand hotel industry,� he said.  
 

About Qualmark   Qualmark New Zealand Limited is New Zealand tourism's official quality agency. It is a government - private sector partnership between Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Automobile Association. Qualmark licenses professional and trustworthy New Zealand tourism businesses to use the Qualmark® - tourism's official quality mark - to help international and domestic travellers select places to stay, things to do and ways to get around.    It's a role defined for Qualmark in the  New Zealand tourism strategy  to help achieve the industry's overall goal to enhance New Zealand's reputation as a world class visitor destination. Qualmark is run on a not-for-profit basis as a service to travellers and the tourism industry.    Qualmark's core activities are based around determining the eligibility of businesses to enter the licensing system by way of assessment; promoting and working with Qualmark® licensees; and working closely with other organisations and sectors within the tourism industry.  Assessments are conducted by Qualmark's own assessment team in the case of accommodation, or by professional assessment company Telarc in the case of other tourism businesses. Qualmark's promotional activities include brand awareness advertising and public relations work, operation of this web site, publication of the "Quality Assured" guide book, liaison with publishers like AA Guides and Jasons, and involvement in many Tourism New Zealand promotional activities. Groups with whom Qualmark works closely include Tourism New Zealand, New Zealand Automobile Association, Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand, Inbound Tour Operators Council, as well as many sector groups (eg Motel Association of New Zealand, Tourist Flight Operators etc) and leading chains and marketing groups (eg YHA Hostels, Top 10 Holiday Parks, Mainstay Hotels etc). The agency's small head office team is based in Auckland.

�We�re looking forward to the opportunity of striving to continually improve as a result of the focus these processes bring,� Mr Taplin said. 
Qualmark CEO Geoff Penrose said he is delighted to welcome Millennium Hotels and Resorts to the Qualmark Licence Holder body, in a move that will strengthen the brand�s Hotel category.

�I congratulate Millennium Hotels and Resorts on their decision to formally embrace the Qualmark offering, and am personally delighted that New Zealand�s largest owner operator of hotels has chosen to announce this decision at TRENZ,� Mr Penrose said.

�It comes as no great surprise that industry players of this calibre understand the value Qualmark adds to their operation. We are thrilled to have Millennium Hotels and Resorts on board,� he said.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts New Zealand is a member of the Millennium and Copthorne Group with over 90 hotels in 15 countries worldwide. www.millenniumhotels.com

Qualmark is a joint venture of Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Automobile Association and is backed by the New Zealand Tourism Industry Association and other leading industry organisations. www.qualmark.co.nz

Matt Taplin
Vice President Operations
Millennium Hotels and Resorts New Zealand
Tel: (09) 913 8050
Mob: 0275 496 776
Email: [email protected]

www.qualmark.co.nz