Millennium Signs with Qualmark
AUKLAND, New Zealand, June 13, 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. "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
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