Sudima Kaikōura Hotel Achieves 5-Star Qualmark Gold Status
Sudima Kaikōura Hotel Achieves 5-Star Qualmark Gold Status
Media Release – Sudima Kaikōura Hotel Achieves 5-Star Qualmark Gold Status
Sudima Kaikōura has been awarded a 5-star hotel rating and a Gold Award under Qualmark sustainable tourism business criteria. Qualmark is New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance organisation. Sudima Kaikōura opened as a 4.5-star hotel in late 2022; its upgrade by Qualmark to the 5-star rating has come over a short period.
The Qualmark star grade for accommodation providers is based on the quality of facilities and services, while businesses are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold against the Sustainable Tourism Business criteria. A Gold Award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand, with the delivery of exceptional customer experiences an integral part of everything the hotel does.
The evaluation of Sudima Kaikōura, undertaken in November 2024, recognised the hotel’s strengths across the board, including business systems, health & safety, environmental impact, staff support, and customer & community engagement. Best practice ratings in the evaluation ranged from worker wellness & wellbeing through to digital electronics.
Positive initiatives that were acknowledged in the award evaluation, included:
- The hotel consistently received high online review ratings for its excellent location, cleanliness, and friendly staff
Ongoing focus on reducing emissions, green initiatives and sustainable practices - Use of Te reo is evident throughout the hotel
- Introduced a “Local As” discount for the Kaikoura community, offering special food &beverage rates and promotions to residents
- Introduced the MySudima loyalty programme, offering a range of exclusive benefits to enhance our guests’ experiences. Members enjoy perks such as discounted rates on bookings, priority check-in, late check-out options, and special offers on dining and spa services.
Charmaine Carroll, the Hotel Manager Kaiwhakahaere Matua at Sudima Kaikōura, says:
“Over the last few years, it’s been a privilege for Sudima Hotels to offer a full-service hotel experience to both our local and international markets in this beautiful part of New Zealand. It makes a big difference to the region to have a full-service hotel on the coast between Christchurch and Blenheim. We have been able to attract additional tourist groups to stay overnight, often multiple nights, in Kaikōura through the likes of Grand Pacific Tours and Contiki and there has been a growth of group and FIT travellers which is requiring more tailored approaches for guest services. It gives some segments of the international and domestic markets what they need in order to stay a night or two on their way through or a get-away for those in the 2–3-hour drive range. Overall, we are going from strength to strength – and this recognised 5-star mark of quality is an endorsement that speaks to the daily commitment that everyone here at Sudima Kaikōura delivers to our guests, communities and the environment. It’s a fantastic lift as we take on 2025.”
Tourism and hospitality are critical to New Zealand’s economic growth. Sudima Hotels is recognised as an award-winning national leader in sustainable hospitality. It was the first hotel business in Aotearoa to achieve Toitū net carbonzero certification and now focuses on the Toitū carbon reduce programme, and it implements and actively participates in many environmental and social sustainability projects to care for and protect Aotearoa’s unique environment for generations to come.
“Sudima Kaikōura has been an extremely successful addition to the national hotel group,” says Les Morgan, the Chief Operating Officer of Hind Management, the parent company of Sudima Hotels. “There is so much to draw visitors to Kaikōura year-round – congratulations to our Sudima Kaikōura team on this 5-star and gold sustainable tourism business rating. This reflects the business’s great product offer, superb customer service and its contribution to sustainable hospitality, Kaikōura regional tourism and New Zealand’s overall critical tourism sector.”
Steven Dixon, Qualmark General Manager, says: “The Sudima Kaikōura hotel is a quality hotel offering a range of rooms and services for guests in a stunning location on Kaikoura’s waterfront. The hotel and staff are committed to operating sustainably, evolving and making an ongoing contribution to the local community and tourism sector.”
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