Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council president, Tere Carr has announced and welcomed the sponsors for the 2025 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards.

The launch was held at the Air New Zealand’s Koru Lounge yesterday marking an exciting milestone in the lead-up to the awards that aims to recognise and celebrate excellence in the Cook Islands' tourism industry.

Naming Rights: Air New Zealand

Gold: CITC, Bank South Pacific, Te Mato Manava Turoto - Cook Islands Tourism, Bank of the Cook Islands, and Vodafone

Silver: Cook Islands Sun, Tauranga Vananga - Ministry of Cultural Development, Cook Islands News and Elijah Communications

The Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Industry Awards was last hosted in 2020, before the Cook Islands came to a halt when borders shut.  

Air New Zealand’s country manager for the Cook Islands, Addrienne Hosking-Tinirau said they are looking forward to supporting these awards once again and celebrating those businesses, which continually raise the bar and deliver strong customer experiences.  

“The Cook Islands has been an important part of our network for more than 40 years now and we're incredibly proud to be considered a local airline and contribute to this great industry."

The Awards have two objectives: to stimulate a process of continual business improvement, and to recognise excellence within the Cook Islands tourism industry. These objectives apply across all businesses, large and small.

This year Awards will be presented to winners in categories that represent the broad range of sectors that local tourism businesses face daily. These categories are: Business Category Awards: Culture, Environment, Business Excellence Award, Adventure/Eco-Tourism Award, Customer Care Award, Visitor Experience, Employer of the Year, Community Development and Marketing.

In addition, business winners will be selected in six Special Categories. All applicants will be eligible for these categories: Emerging Tourism Leader, Family Friendly, Social Media Guru, Business Sustainability, Outstanding Kia Orana Spirit and Business Person of the Year

Karla Eggelton, chief executive of Cook Islands Tourism (CIT) said that in 2024, the Cook Islands experienced an extraordinary year for tourism.

“The renewed interest in our islands as a destination of choice, and as one responding to changing visitor expectations, is a direct result of the successful partnership between CIT, airlines, accommodation providers, tour operators, the hospitality industry, and locals, all of whom have helped welcome our visitors and know the value and positive impact they make to our economy”.

In addition to the Business Category winners, recipients of six Special Awards and the coveted Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Air New Zealand Supreme Award (overall winner for the night) will also be announced at the Awards Gala event on Saturday 27 September 2025, at the National Auditorium Domes.

The two judges with extensive hospitality and tourism careers for the 2025 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards, are New Zealand based. The judges will receive all applications directly from the applicants with online applications open to the tourism industry on Monday, April 14, 2025.

Betsy Eisler, Executive Member of the CI Tourism Council said that the written applications will be 50 per cent of the scoring. The judges will then visit the Cook Islands in June for personal interviews, which will account for another 50 per cent of the scoring.

The CI Tourism Industry Council, who hosted the first Awards in 2009 will spearheads the 2025 Awards. The Awards are organised by a sub-committee of the Cook Islands Industry Council chaired by Donye Numa, with Committee Members Betsy Eisler, Chris Doran, Tim Meyer and Bonnie Emile.

For more information about the awards, application process, please visit https://citourismindustrycouncil.com/ or contact: Donye Numa- elitecookislandsinfo@gmail.com / 57649 or Betsy Eisler - betsy@palmgrove.net / 55246