Media Release from the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce

Business excellence celebrated in Queenstown awards

Queenstown business success was celebrated (Friday November 27) at the third Chamber of Commerce Queenstown Business Excellence Awards in association with Westpac as principal sponsor.

Organised by the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce, the awards are held to recognise and celebrate business excellence, passion and success and are dedicated to showcase innovation and talent in the Queenstown business community.

Competing in small, medium and large business categories, three finalists in each category were chosen from a large number of entries.

Winner of the small business category (1 to 10 employees) was D’Or Hairstylists, medium category (10 to 50 employees) winner was Queenstown Resort College, and winner of the large business category (50+ employees) was NZSki.

NZSki, which operates Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt ski areas, also took out the 2009 Westpac Supreme Business of the Year award.

Earlier in the evening, entrepreneur Sir Tim Wallis received a huge round of applause when he received a Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, presented on behalf of the Chamber by Mayor Clive Geddes.

Chamber chairman Alastair Porter said he was delighted to announce this new award for lifetime entrepreneurship, especially with the inaugural award going to Sir Tim.

“Sir Tim is one of New Zealand’s most extraordinarily successful entrepreneurs. His career has included a wide range of initiatives including aviation, deer recovery and farming, and tourism” Mr Porter said.

The two shared the stage in the early part of the evening when Mr Porter interviewed Sir Tim about highlights of his career.

Sir Tim told the assembled business people in the room that it was important for entrepreneurs to build a team, keep focused and be determined.

The Chamber CEO, Ann Lockhart, said that all the entries received this year were of a very high standard and the judges were presented with a very difficult task in choosing not only the finalists but also the award winners.

“The Chamber congratulates all the category winners and greatly appreciates the support of its principal Sponsor, Westpac and associate sponsors Mactodd, McCulloch and Partners and Pacific Blue. Their recognition of the importance of the awards to the business community adds to their prestige.

“We were delighted also with our members’ support, with the event being a sellout, with an audience of 300 business people from Queenstown and further afield present. It is a fitting gala event to celebrate a very successful year for the Chamber.”

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