Mantra Group has acknowledged high performing General Managers and properties from their 110-strong network of hotels and resorts across Australia and New Zealand at a glittering Awards ceremony.

Held at the Group’s Peppers Salt Resort and Spa in Kingscliff NSW, the ceremony featured a special guest, Mantra Ambassador and tennis legend, Pat Rafter, who was on hand to present awards and celebrate with the team.

The evening’s major awards went to Mantra Legends Surfers Paradise General Manager Vince King for Mantra Group General Manager of the Year and Peppers Broadbeach for Property of the Year.

Awards for fellow Queensland properties went to Peppers Beach Club and Spa in Palm Cove for Excellence in Customer Service, and Peppers Blue on Blue Magnetic Island’s Boardwalk Restaurant and Bar for Best Food and Beverage Outlet.

The inaugural CEO Award for Excellence went to New Zealand Regional General Manager, Ken Harris, who was instrumental in the signing of three new Peppers properties this year with a further two set to join the Group in coming months.

A special mention also went to Mantra Tullamarine Melbourne who received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award for their work in supporting Mantra Group’s charity partner, Australian Red Cross.

The hotel raised over AUD$5000 through various fundraising activities; showed across the board support from management down for the annual ‘Give it Up’ campaign; donated enough blood to save 60 lives and started a now company-wide Christmas card competition raising funds for families doing it tough over the festive season.

“It’s been a big year for Mantra Group and we have really gone from strength to strength, both in terms of financial results as well as network expansion and community engagement,” said Mantra Group CEO Bob East.

“We were very excited to announce our first property in Asia – Mantra Nusa Dua in Bali – which will open next month, and closer to home we added five new Peppers properties in Australia and New Zealand.

“The awards ceremony recognises those teams and General Managers who are out there ensuring guests are happy and hotels are looking great and performing well on a daily basis and are just a small way of congratulating them on a job well done.”

Tennis great Pat Rafter returned for a second year to present the awards and enjoyed being back at Salt Beach.

“This is where we filmed the Mantra TV commercial and it’s always a pleasure to come back to this part of the world,” he said.

“The Mantra team are great to work with and it’s a privilege to help them celebrate their achievements.”

Full list of Winners of the 2012 Mantra Group Awards for Excellence:
CSR Hotel of the Year – Mantra Tullamarine Melbourne
Food & Beverage Outlet of the Year – Boardwalk Restaurant & Bar, Peppers Blue on Blue Magnetic Island
Excellence in Guest Service – Peppers Beach Club & Spa Palm Cove
Property of the Year – Peppers Broadbeach
Region of the Year – Brisbane
Profit Growth Award – Mantra on Murray Perth
Mantra Group General Manager of the Year – Vince King (Mantra Legends Surfers Paradise)
Corporate Office Shared Services Award – Franki Rayner (Asset Management Team)
CEO Award for Excellence – Ken Harris (Regional General Manager New Zealand)

James Wilkinson

Editor-In-Chief, Hotel Management