FIJI EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM AWARDS 2009 OFFICIAL NOMINATION FORM

1. FRONTLINER OF THE YEAR: This category is for a full-time professional who will be judges on commitment to the tourism industry and is open to individuals with face-to-face contact with visitors. Experience, current job description, length of time in current position and awards received are valuable in support of the nomination. Nominations are invited from private tourist establishments, hotels, resorts, airlines, tour operators. Immigration / Customs departments and members of the Fiji Police.

2. FIJI EXPERIENCE including ADVENTURE TOURISM: This category includes cruises with or without accommodation as well as tourist attractions, defined as an investment in a publicly and privately funded site, with events or outings offering a top quality experience. An organized adventure activity on land or water that offers thrills or excitement based on active participation and personal challenge. This category includes jet boating, river white rafting, kayaking, surfing, game fishing, rafting windsurfing, parasailing, kite surfing, abseiling, four-wheel driving, biking, tracking, horse riding and mountain/rock climbing. This category also includes diving companies and related diving support facilities with special emphasis on fostering environmental conservation, safety and educational issues. This award seeks to recognize an event attraction or project that has positive impact community and demonstrates excellence in service, customer service and originality.

3. TRANSPORT, TOURS, ENVIRONMENTAL, HERITAGE, ART AND CULTURE: this section also includes incentive events. This is for air, land sea transport operations, self-drive made of transport, coaches, airlines, ferries, rental cars, boats, motorcycles, planes, and helicopters. Judged also in this category will be tours, transport, specialist tourism operators, wholesalers, guided tour operations, ground handlers as well as incentive and conference organizers. Judging criteria will include effective distribution channels internationally to take Fiji Tourism Product to prospective visitors, packaging the Fiji product in a creative and compelling way and achieving high levels of customer’s satisfaction. This category aims to a company which actively fosters the appreciation and stewardship of the natural environment or ecological sustainable tourism. The judges will consider the commitment to protecting the environment / species ad conservation practices. The category also includes any operations that foster and highlights the relationship between tourism and the diverse arts, cultures, heritage and values of the people of Fiji. The experience should demonstrate lifestyle, history and heritage as well as contributing to the interpretation, understanding and appreciation of life and culture in Fiji.

4. GENERAL TOURISM SERVICES including SHOPPING and RESTAURANTS: This category is open to specialized tourism services or facilities that enhance the visitor experience and wedding chapels. Visitor information centers, airports, web masters, event staging companies and translation service. This category also includes shopping both retail and wholesale retailing, with the emphasis on Fiji-made products that enhance the tourism experience. Entry is open but not limited to; shopping centers, village co-operatives, retailers of souvenirs, artifacts and art as well as manufacturers of quality locally produced items. This category is open to all restaurants and catering services offering a tourism experience or servicing the tourism industry: it is not a food award but recognizes a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of food and beverage. Entry is open, but not limited to hotel or stand-alone restaurants, event caterers and cafes.

5. ACCOMMODATION BUDGET: This category is open to accommodation providers primarily catering to backpackers and alternative travelers to include hostels, lodges and dormitories. The focus of this award is on facilities, cleanliness, value for money food options and services that enhance the tourism experience.

6. ACCOMMODATION QUALTIY: Includes hotels and resorts with a 2 or 3 star rating, which typically provide in – room tea and coffee facilities; have at least one or restaurant and bar and offer some recreational options.

7. ACCOMMODATION DELUXE: This includes hotels and resorts with over 100 rooms with a 4 or 5 star rating, which provide exceptional standards of service, dinning and bar options and a range of recreational facilities.

8. ACCOMMODATION UNIQUE: This category includes exclusive and highly individual properties with fewer than 100 rooms, which offer the very finest of locations, options and quality recreational facilities that enhance the Fiji tourism experience.