Caption: Prime Minister Bainimarama during the awards last year. Photo: File.
The Trustees and Organizing Committee of the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards are pleased to today announce the short list of finalists for the “Frontliner of the Year” and “Back of House – Individual” categories for the 17th AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards Season.
It was decided on receipt of 2013 applications that the past requirement for a Frontliner nominee to be in “non-management” position (aimed at encouraging the nomination of local staff in direct service positions) be reviewed due to the many direct service positions now be allocated titles such as “Reception Manager”, “Wedding Executive” and the like, restricting a number of deserving potential nominees from entry. This also applied to “Back of House” positions with titles such as “Landscape Manager” and “Rooms Executive”.
The Trustees elected to re-open these categories for nomination and the judges have now completed their assessment; shortlisted nominees for the two categories are as follows:
1. Frontliner of the Year
1. Josaia Baleinatewa aka Little Jo of Intercontinental Golf Resort & Spa
2. Pauliasi Delana of Castaway Island Resort
3. Parmeshwari Praveena Dewan of Outrigger on the Lagoon
This extremely popular category can only be won once by an individual, and competition was so well-contended in 2013 the judges were well-challenged in arriving at the final three. Finalists for both categories will be subjected to personal interviews prior to the winner being selected.
2. Back of House – Individual
1. Shailesh Naidu of Outrigger on the Lagoon
2. Alywn Lobo of Radisson Blu Resort
This is the first time the Back of House Award will be presented and the Trustees and Organizing Committee of the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards commend all those that applied.
With only 400 tickets being released for the 17th annual Awards ceremony, the Trustees are pleased to confirm the gala dinner being held on the evening of Friday the 21st of February 2014 at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island in Nadi is again a sell-out event. The ceremony will also include the trophy presentation to Government’s Fijian Host of the year for 2013 to winner Mr. Deepak Kumar of FRCA in Nadi.
The Awards could not happen without the support of our generous sponsors, Particularly AON Risk, our Platinum sponsor. Our sincere thanks to our Gold Sponsors Fiji Airways and ANZ. Our Silver Sponsor AFL continues to be long term supporter of the Awards, as does Bronze Sponsor Crest Chicken. We again welcome our Awards night Event Sponsors; premier Event Sponsor Tappoos who will be expanding their sponsored selection of premium international beverages, Fiji Water, Pure Fiji, Five Star Foods and our Media Partner, the Fiji Sun.
The AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards Trustees wish the shortlisted finalists every success and looks forward to welcoming guests to the Gala presentation dinner on the 21st of February 2014.
PRESS RELEASE