JOINT MEDIA RELEASE WITH LION
Business is booming for Kaitaia-based Peekaboo Backyard Eatery, with the owner crediting much of its success to the LION Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence, which is now open for 2026 entries.
The LION Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence, New Zealand’s premier hospitality awards programme, celebrates excellence across the hospitality and accommodation sectors, recognising outstanding businesses and individuals.
Peekaboo Backyard Eatery picked up three awards, including Supreme Champion, at last year’s awards, and owner Daniel Fasnacht saw a lift in business right away:
“Our Facebook account nearly exploded the day after the awards with more than 15,000 clicks in a single day, which is huge for a small town venue. Engagement has stayed strong since then with more followers, more messages, more people planning a visit.
“On the floor, we feel it too. Weekends are busier with out-of-town visitors, and locals continue to pop in to celebrate with us, and we’ve hired additional staff to support the demand.
“For a regional business like ours this steady uplift makes a real difference,” says Daniel.
The LION Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence is a two-night awards programme held as part of the #HNZ26 Hospitality New Zealand Conference in Rotorua on 23 and 24 June 2026.
Entries close on 31 March, and businesses across the food, beverage, and accommodation sectors are encouraged to enter multiple categories to showcase their achievements. Finalists will be announced at the award ceremonies in June.
Hospitality New Zealand Chief Executive, Kristy Phillips, encourages businesses to enter the awards and celebrate the industry’s success:
“Each year, the Awards for Excellence provide an opportunity to showcase success stories, recognise exceptional people and venues, and celebrate the strength, creativity, and resilience of New Zealand’s hospitality and accommodation sector.
“Hospitality is central to the social fabric of our communities and the awards are a fantastic opportunity to shine the light on the people and businesses that make our industry so great.”
As a long-time sponsor of the Awards programme, LION Chief Operating Officer and New Zealand Country Director, Craig Baldie, says LION is proud to continue supporting world-class hospitality in Aotearoa.
“Great hospitality businesses are a key driver of our economy and at the heart of thriving communities and the LION Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence celebrate the passion, innovation and sheer hard work of our operators who continue to raise the bar and deliver world-class experiences every day, all around the country.”
A leading industry figure will also be chosen by the Hospitality New Zealand Board and inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Fame.
The programme’s highest honour, the Supreme Award, will be selected by independent judges from the category winners, recognising the pinnacle of excellence in New Zealand hospitality.