Business awards back

The best and brightest of Queenstown’s business and non-profit community will be celebrated again this November.

Entries open today for the Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce 2023 Queenstown Business Awards — held every second year — with three new categories to reflect the environment businesses are operating in during the post-pandemic rebuild.

New categories are:
● ‘Excellence in Community Contribution’, sponsored by Queenstown Airport, recognising a business, charity or non-profit organisation that has implemented initiatives which have had a positive impact on the community;
● ‘Best Emerging Business’, sponsored by Findex, recognising an organisation that has achieved outstanding business performance and has been in operation for three years or less; and
● ‘Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion’, sponsored by Queenstown’s council, highlighting businesses that have successfully developed and implemented diversity and inclusion initiatives fostering wellbeing and belonging for employees.

Other categories are ‘Excellence in Sustainable and Regenerative Business Practice’, sponsored by Destination Queenstown; ‘Excellence in Innovation’, sponsored by Beca; ‘Excellence in Marketing’, sponsored by Shotover Creative; ‘Excellence in People & Capability’, sponsored by Southern Institute of Technology/Te Pukenga; ‘Excellence in Strategy & Business Solutions’, sponsored by 2degrees; and ‘Excellence in
Customer Experience’, sponsored by QT Queenstown.

All finalists will be eligible for the Mountain Scene ‘People’s Choice’ award, and all winners will be in the running for the ‘Supreme Award’.

Chamber CEO Sharon Fifield says submitting an entry is like business planning, and a great opportunity for businesses to recognise their achievements, and give themselves and their teams a pat on the back.

“Take the time to focus in on your successes and celebrate all you’ve done.

‘‘The last awards were held in the middle of a pandemic, so the challenges that businesses have overcome since then is worth celebrating.’’

Entries close on September 25, with finalists announced on October 19.

The awards are open to all businesses in Queenstown-Lakes — businesses don’t need to be a member of the Chamber to enter.

‘‘We are absolutely encouraging entries from any business including new businesses, charities and non-profits who have been working so hard these past few years,’’ Fifield says.

‘‘We have made it as easy as possible to enter with only three to four questions per category.

‘‘Businesses can enter up to three categories, so if you’re scratching your head as to which category you should enter, you should already be proud of that.’’

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on the TSS Earnslaw and at Walter Peak High Country Farm on November 4, for which Fifield promises the Chamber team has a few “tricks up our sleeve, to make it a memorable celebration”.

For businesses entering for the first time, the popular and free ‘How to Enter’ workshops, hosted by Southern PR, will be running throughout August.

For more info, or to book for a workshop, visit the Chamber’s website.

[email protected]

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