Seeking to make your hospitality venture a reality? Each year the Hospitality Training Trust provides grants to associations, companies or individuals for projects that will further the aims and criteria of the Trust, around building excellence across the hospitality sector. If you have a project that will make a difference to the hospitality sector, the Trust would like to hear from you. Applications close on the 28th April 2024. Approved grants will be announced mid June. 2023 grant recipients included:- DINE Academy Trust, $15,000, Pre-employment Orientation Week & Teacher PD Day Dela ..read more

DoorDash has announced its delivery service will launch in Hamilton today, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion and growth plans across New Zealand. Competitor, Menulog meanwhile, has announced it plans to exit New Zealand next month, citing limited market size as the major reason. The Restaurant Association of New Zealand has released the following statement regarding its partnership with Menulog: “We are saddened to hear of the closure of Menulog, a valued partner to the Restaurant Association. Menulog has been a significant player in the meal delivery service market ..read more

Tipping in New Zealand: A Friendly Nod to Great Service In New Zealand, the act of tipping is not driven by obligation but by satisfaction and personal choice. Unlike many places where tipping feels almost mandatory, here it’s like giving a friendly nod for great service. It’s not expected every time we dine out, but when it happens, it’s a big thumbs up to the staff. Appreciation Over Expectation In our corner of the world, tipping is a sign of appreciation, not an expectation. This relaxed approach is thanks to our fair minimum wage laws and solid wage growth, ensuring that our hospitality ..read more

Restaurant and ready-to-eat meal prices increased by 6.4 percent for the period March 2023 to March 2024 according to figures released by Stats NZ, with alcohol and tobacco increasing by 7.5 percent for the same period. Food prices, however, increased just 0.7 percent in the 12 months to March 2024, the smallest increase since April 2021, Stats NZ reports. The 0.7 percent increase followed a 2.1 percent increase in the 12 months to February 2024, and is lower than the 12.1 percent increase recorded in the 12 months to March 2023. Stats NZ says the smaller annual increase was due to cheaper ..read more

Ponsonby’s renowned restaurant and bar festival, Eat Drink Love Ponsonby, is making a return for its fifth year, bringing an array of delectable flavours from around the globe, to the iconic Auckland Ponsonby Road strip. From the vibrant streets of Bangkok to the serene beaches of Bali, the rich heritage of Malaysia to the diverse landscapes of India and the rustic charm of Italy, the festival promises a culinary adventure that transcends borders. Running from May 1-28, this much-loved festival is set to entice diners with more than 65 offers tailored to every palate and budget, as well as so ..read more

New Zealand’s first Pacific Hospitality Forum has officially wrapped up in Auckland, with a commitment from attendees to take action on greater industry collaboration across the Pacific. The two-day, invite-only, event saw more than 50 hospitality industry professionals and associations from across the Pacific and Australia come together at the Cordis Hotel to discuss opportunities and challenges within the hospitality sector. Hospitality New Zealand Chief Executive, Steve Armitage, and Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Hon Matt Doocey, opened the forum following a stirring haka pōwhiri by ..read more

AUCKLAND, APRIL 10: Fantail & Turtle has been named the Supreme Champion of the inaugural Estrella Damm Top 50 New Zealand Gastropubs at an awards ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland tonight. The gastropub, which is located at Smales Farm on Auckland’s North Shore, features an elevated pub menu showcasing local and boutique producers, and the team prides itself on creating an atmosphere that is warm, welcoming, connected and fun. Fantail & Turtle was voted by the public as one of the top fifty across the country in the inaugural competition, which saw more tha ..read more

First Mates, Last Laugh, restaurant guru Judith Tabron’s latest restaurant offering, officially opens on April 17 at Auckland’s Westhaven Marina – the Southern Hemisphere’s largest recreational marina. Bookings are now open and a soft opening will be held this weekend where the newly appointed team for the predominantly seafood restaurant, will entertain supporters and industry stalwarts. Executive Chef Cezar Takahashi, recently of Ponsonby’s Azabu restaurant fame, has developed a fresh menu appealing to the fun locality of the venue which sports crisp clean seating, modern lighting and décor ..read more

Uber Eats says it is trialling a TikTok-like short-form video feed in Canada and America to boost discovery and help restaurants showcase their dishes. Senior Director of Product, Awaneesh Verma, says that the new feed is being tested in New York, San Francisco and Toronto. The company says it plans to launch the feed worldwide in the future. With this launch, Uber Eats now joins numerous other apps that have launched their own short-form video feeds following TikTok’s rise in popularity, including Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Netflix, to name a few. It is understood that LinkedIn has sta ..read more

The New Zealand tourism industry’s summer season has ended on a very healthy note, with many tourism operators across the country reporting strong business and even being “rushed off their feet”. “The end of March is the end of the peak season for our international visitors and domestic holidaymakers, and the warm sunny weather has made it one of the busiest for many of our members,” says Tourism Industry Aotearoa Chief Executive, Rebecca Ingram. “While there is some variability in places, as well as from some of our markets, the general sentiment is this summer has been buoyant and will co ..read more