Entries open for best in business awards

The best in business in the Southern Lakes are set to be celebrated later this year, with entries open for two months from today.

Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce has announced it's looking for nominations for local businesses doing great work for its biennial awards night.

This year introduces three new categories to reflect the rebuild environment many businesses are operating in post pandemic, as well as some old favourites.

Queenstown Business Chamber chief executive Sharon Fifield says submitting an entry is 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. Consider it business planning. The last awards were held in the middle of a pandemic, so the challenges that business have overcome since then is worth celebrating. Entering and attending the awards is also a great way to build pride in your team.” 

Entries open today and close September 25, with finalists being announced on October 19.  

The awards are open to all businesses in the Queenstown Lakes district, and businesses don’t need to be a member of the Queenstown Business 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," Ms 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 onboard the iconic TSS Earnslaw and at Walter Peak High Country Farm on November 4 for which Fifield promises the chamber team has a few “tricks up their sleeve, to make it a memorable celebration”.

For businesses that are entering for the first time, the popular and free ‘How to Enter’ workshops hosted by Southern PR will be running throughout August and available to book via the Queenstown Business website.

There are nine categories open for entry in addition to the popular People’s Choice award, sponsored by the Mountain Scene newspaper, as well as the Supreme Award, recognising the overall winner across all categories.

New categories include: 

• Excellence in Community Contribution, sponsored by Queenstown Airport, recognising a business, charity or non-profit that has implemented initiatives that have had a positive impact on the community
• Best Emerging business, sponsored by Findex that recognises an organisation that has achieved outstanding business performance and has been in operation for three years or less
• Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion, sponsored by the QLDC, highlighting businesses that have successfully developed and implemented diversity and inclusion initiatives fostering wellbeing and belonging for employees.

Popular categories returning include:

• 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 and Capability, sponsored by Southern Institute of Technology/Te Pukenga
• Excellence in Strategy and Business Solutions, sponsored by 2degrees
• Excellence in Customer Experience, sponsored by QT Queenstown

All entry information can be found on the awards website at businessawards.queenstownchamber.org.nz