Two Southland hotels, a motel and a chef have been named in the 2023 finals of the New Zealand Hospitality awards.

The awards are the most prestigious of their type and recognise the achievements and resilience of people from across New Zealand's hospitality and accommodation sectors.

Southland finalists include Te Anau chef Cameron Davis (chef of the year), Te Anau motel Radfords on the Lake (best motel under 25 rooms), Invercargill's Langfords Hotel (best hotel), and the Otautau Hotel (best country hotel).

Best Hotel finalists include Bolton Hotel, Wellington, QT Queenstown, Queenstown, Ramada Remarkables, Queenstown, Rydges Wellington Airport, Wellington and The Langlands, Invercargill.

Finalists in the Country Hotel section include Otautau Hotel, Otautau, Theatre Royal Hotel, Kumara and Woodbourne Tavern and Motels, Renwick.

Finalists in the Best Motel (under 25 rooms) category are Hanmer Springs Scenic View Motel, Hanmer Springs, Palazzo Motor Lodge, Nelson, Radfords on the Lake, Te Anau, Two Tree Lodge, Blenheim and Whangaparaoa Lodge, Whangaparaoa.

The Chef of the year category recognises excellence in the Chef profession.

Finalists include Cameron Davies, The Fat Duck, Te Anau; Casey McDonald, Craggy Range; Dean Thompson, Schnappa Rock; Desmond Davies, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre; Gideon Landman, Tantalus Estate; James Laird, Esther at QT Auckland and Rae Xue, SkyCity Auckland.

Winners of the Hospitality Awards for Excellence 2023 will be announced on 28th June at a gala dinner at the Pullman Hotel, Auckland.

CLICK HERE for more information including a full list of finalists.