Belgravia Leisure took home two major industry awards at NZRA Recreation Conference Awards Dinner on Thursday 25th October. Mark Blake, Belgravia Leisure’s General Manager for New Zealand, accepted the prestigious Paul Stuart Memorial Award for Excellence in Facility Management and Huntly Aquatic Centre was awarded Outstanding Pool Award.

This topped off the eventful week which Belgravia Leisure, headed by CEO Nick Cox, delivered the Recreation and Leisure Industry Leaders Summit, offering insights on how leisure managers can drive and grow their community and commercial assets, increase community engagement and introduce best practice across the board.

Belgravia Leisure has been operating in New Zealand for the last 3 years, led by industry veteran Mark Blake, the network has grown to twelve aquatic and leisure award-winning facilities.

Some of Mark’s innovations and community support work that he has developed and supported include; the introduction and leadership of Belgravia Leisure (NZ) access and inclusion program, the introduction of the Chinese Swimming program at Mt Albert Aquatic Centre, the introduction of school swimming lessons for the whole Masterton school community and the Swim Tangaroa Swimming and Water safety brand to name a few.

In presenting the award Rob McGee (Manager Auckland Leisure) said Mark had been a great mentor to him personally and a genuine industry contributor and leader. He went on to say the award was certainly well deserved.

Huntly Aquatic Centre winning the NZRA’s Outstanding Pool Award meant Belgravia retained the award they won in 2017 for Mount Albert Aquatic Centre. Mark Blake said he was extremely proud that in three short years Belgravia has proven ourselves as excellent pool operators winning the prestigious award for the country’s Outstanding Pool two years in succession.

“We are immensely proud of our Huntly Aquatic Centre team’s outstanding customer service and truly innovative programs that reflect the communities’ unique needs and the extremely attractive pricing structure reflecting the communities’ demographic and cultural differences,” said Nick Cox, CEO for Belgravia Leisure.

“Fairly quickly you will realise that all the customers are happy, the staff are smiling and enthusiastic. We rank this facility in our top five operated pools internationally.”