Queenstown Business Community Celebrates Excellence Awards

Queenstown Business Community Celebrates Excellence Awards

Competition was strong for the Supreme Award at the 2014 Westpac Queenstown Business Excellence Awards at Skyline Restaurant on Saturday (November 8) with popular burger venture, Fergburger, taking out the honours.

More than 300 people attended the glamour event and Queenstown Chamber of Commerce CEO Ann Lockhart referred to the high calibre of entries for the prestigious business awards.

“The awards, celebrating business success, were introduced in 2002 and this year we received the greatest number of entries. They were all of an incredibly high standard which made judging particularly difficult with only a few points between finalists in each category. All the finalists are true leaders in the Queenstown business community, businesses who lead with innovative thinking, push the boundaries and succeed in spite of the challenges.”

“Not only are these businesses passionate and committed organisations, they invigorate our local economy and inspire our whole business community,” she said. “I am honoured to be part of such a dynamic economy.”

Fergburger also won the Medium to Large Business award.

General Manager Stephen Bradley was excited about the company’s success at the awards which came as a result of “years of hard work and improvement”.

“We are delighted to get formal recognition by winning both the Medium to Large business and Supreme awards, particularly given the calibre of the other applicants and especially those in our category. It is the first time Fergburger has entered the Queenstown business awards and I want to pass on a massive thank you and endorsement to all the people who have worked for us over the years and helped contribute to our success.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to high profile businessman Jim Boult, best known for his role as managing director of Shotover Jet, and more recently CEO of Christchurch International Airport. He is currently executive director of Hawkins Construction.

Mr Boult has made a significant contribution to tourism and is a former director and deputy chairman of Tourism New Zealand. He is chairman of the Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership which was initiated last year and a national director of the Child Cancer Foundation.

He was “delighted and humbled” to receive the award and recognised the many people he had worked with over the past thirty plus years.

“A successful career in business is reliant on having good people around you. I have been very fortunate to have outstanding support from so many people over the years and it is thanks to their encouragement and hard work that I have been able to achieve my ambitions.”

A new category – the Young Business Person of the Year – was introduced this year and won by Tracy Cui of Ngai Tahu Tourism.

Trinity Development Alliance won the Small to Medium award and Magic Memories the Excellence in Tourism, Activities and Events award. The Excellence in Trade, Services and Construction award went to Landmark Homes. Pub on the Wharf took out the Small Enterprise Hospitality and Accommodation category with Crowne Plaza winning the Large Enterprise Hospitality & Accommodation award. Highland Real Estate won the Excellence in Professional Services award and Public Kitchen and Bar was successful in the New and Emerging Business sector.

The Chamber of Commerce thanks principal sponsor Westpac for its commitment to supporting business growth and category sponsors Air New Zealand, Destination Queenstown, McCulloch & Partners, Peregrine Wines, Queenstown Resort College, Real Journeys and Southern Institute of Technology.

ENDS

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