Hamilton CBD celebrates winners

A room with a view delivered a spectacular occasion on Wednesday night, when the Hamilton Central Business Association staged its Celebration Awards. 

It was an evening of stunning celebration and recognition for the central city’s businesses, and it was held in a space specially created by Hamilton event management and hire company Royal Laboratorie – the top floor of the former IRD building overlooking the Claudelands Bridge.

The annual Hamilton CBD Celebration Awards on September 11 wowed the guests with its décor and displays, and its visual insights into the transformation of the city’s CBD.

But Hamilton’s vibrant business community was the true star of this spectacular occasion – and fittingly MC Kelvyn Eglinton, CEO of Momentum Waikato, started the night off by paying tribute to the high calibre of business people in the room. It was acknowledged that Hamilton’s CBD continues to gain momentum and it is vitally important to recognise the contribution the business community brings to this.

The CBD Success Awards

The CBD Success Awards were highly contested and the winners were a great mixture of new and established businesses (see below).

“The level of competition in these awards was impressive and really does show the depth of business that operates here in the CBD,” says Vanessa Williams, General Manager of the Hamilton Central Business Association (HCBA). “Being a sector winner in any of the categories really is a special achievement and deserving of celebration.”

The CBD Best Awards

The CBD Best Awards recognises the contribution of people and businesses that are helping the revitalisation of the CBD.

“With so many significant contributors to Hamilton’s revitalisation, narrowing the awards into specific categories can be as difficult a task as selecting the winners,” says Connie Chittick, Chair of the HCBA. “We added two new categories this year to recognise businesses who are leaders in inclusive practice and environmental sustainability initiatives. Businesses are constantly evolving and reacting to external pressures in a really positive way and it is important that our awards move with the times and keep relevant to national and international trends.”

Keeping it local

The HCBA continued the theme of recognising local business in all the contributions to the evening’s success – including The Breeze radio station, the delicious catering provided by Palate, the drinks from Hamilton Beer & Wine Company, photography by Moving Media, lighting design by SBI Products and live music by Scotty Stone.

The major sponsor of the Awards, Spark Business, expressed how great it was to be a part of the celebration recognising local business. 

“These awards are incredibly special,” says Williams. “We all want a vibrant, dynamic CBD and these businesses and people are ensuring that we do.”

Attendees were delighted to receive a commemorative piece of artwork from the evening. Cartoonist Mark O’Brien, a former student of Wintec, created a birds-eye view of the CBD highlighting key features and buildings along the River.

“This piece of art is a wonderful keepsake and a great reminder of how fantastic our city is,” says Williams.

So now the burning question is: Where will the 2020 CBD Celebration Awards be held?

The search is already on for an equally spectacular venue.

CBD SUCCESS AWARD WINNERS:

Retail Award Winner: KILT Hamilton

Runner Up: Snapshot

Highly Commended: RUBY

Tourism/Hospitality Award Winner: Mr Pickles Bar & Eatery

Runner Up: Electrify NZ Hamilton

Highly Commended: Dumpling House

Professional Services Award Winner: The Instillery (pictured)

Runner Up: BCD Group

Highly Commended: Maisey Harris & Co

Trade Services Award Winner: Body Cafe

Runner Up: High Above

Highly Commended: Sens Clothing & Alterations

Social Enterprise Award Winner: Home Kitchen

Runner Up: Seed Waikato

Highly Commended: Clarence Street Theatre Trust

Innovation Award Winner: BCD Group

People’s Choice Award Winner: Body Café

Runner Up: Confinement Escape Rooms

Highly Commended: Gothenburg Restaurant

HCBA BEST AWARDS

Best Hero Award: Nancy Caiger

Best New Business Award: Red Kitchen Metro

Best Improved Site Under $500,000 Award: Creative Waikato

Best Improved Site – Over $500,000 Award: Parkhaven

Best Experience Award: Lugton’s Round the Bridges

Honourable Mention: Te Ruru Light Festival

Best Inclusive Business Practice Award: RUBY

Best Environmentally Sustainable Award: Novotel & Ibis Tainui Hamilton

Honourable Mention: NV Hair & Makeup