Queen sends her best for Hamilton’s CBD Celebration Awards

Attendees at Hamilton's CBD Celebration Awards had a night to remember as they celebrated Hamilton’s central business success in the old Hamilton Hotel on Wednesday.

The 96-year-old heritage building on Victoria Street’s south end showed some of its former sparkle and glamour for the event before it is set to be repurposed as part of the wider development site for the new Waikato Regional Theatre.

News of the awards also reached Buckingham Palace, with Her Majesty the Queen sending her best wishes on hearing the celebration was being held in the Hamilton Hotel where she and the Duke of Edinburgh stayed during their 1953 Commonwealth Tour.

Her letter was a welcome surprise for attendees, read on the evening by Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams, who said it added honour to an already exciting evening.

Ms Williams said the transformation of the venue for “one night only” would not have been possible without the support and efforts of local sponsors and supporters.

“While the old hotel was a showpiece in its day, it hadn’t been inhabited for a significant period of time. The team at Foster Maintain did a fantastic job transforming the venue to create a beautiful space for 200 guests to mingle and celebrate.

“Additional touches by event staging company Royal Laboratorie and lighting by SBI Productions added the magic touch to the night, alongside the menu designed especially for the event by Gothenburg and wine from Primo Vino,” she said.

Doormen greeting guests in top hats and tails also added a touch of old-world glamour to the event.

Moving Media captured footage of the evening and photos of guests and award winners in a themed photography room. 

Ms Williams said all of the award entries showcased the breadth of some of New Zealand’s best businesses. 

“I’m constantly wowed by the caliber of businesses based in Hamilton’s CBD. We compete on every stage – local, national, and international, and that is something to be incredibly proud of. 

“It’s an honour for us to be able to recognise and celebrate these businesses,” she said.

Connie Chittick, acting chair of the Hamilton Central Business Association, said the awards highlighted the outstanding contributions of businesses to the development of a vibrant city centre.

“This year’s CBD Celebration Awards were pitched to entrants as an opportunity to acknowledge business success and recognise and celebrate the contribution of each business in the central city.

“The atmosphere was buzzing with lots of proud award winners, and combined with one final night of glamour for the Hamilton Hotel, it was certainly a night to remember,” Connie said.

The CBD Celebration Awards are sponsored by The Breeze, Waikato Times and Foster Maintain with support from Gothenburg Restaurant and Primo Vino for catering, Moving Media for photos and video, sound and lighting by SBI Productions and venue design and decoration by Royal Laboratorie.

CBD Best Awards

• Best CBD Experience Award - The Meteor
  
• Best CBD International Award - Chinese Lantern Festival
  
• Best CBD Hero Award - Matt Stark
  
• Best CBD Youth Award - Seed Waikato
  
• Best Improved Site Award - The Riverbank Lane
  
• Best New Business in the CBD Award - Electrify NZ Hamilton
  

CBD Success Awards

Professional Services

• Winner - Beca
• Runner Up - Company-X
• Highly Commended - Maisey Harris & Co
  

Retail Business

• Winner – Mark One Comics
• Runner Up – Sisters on London
• Highly Commended – Snapshot
  

Social Enterprise

• Winner – Zeal Hamilton
• Runner Up – Seed Waikato
• Highly Commended – CBD Safety Comes First
  

Tourism/Hospitality

• Winner – Banh Mi Caphe 
• Runner Up – Waikato Museum
• Highly Commended – De Stylez Studio Mix
  

Trade Services

• Winner – Anytime Fitness Hamilton Central
• Runner Up – Rainbow Kids Childcare
• Highly Commended – Niche Skincare & Day Spa
  

Innovation

• Winner – TDM Homes
• Runner Up – MWDesign
• Highly Commended – Company-X
  

Public Vote

• Winner – Body Cafe
• Runner Up – Coffix Hamilton
• Highly Commended – Banh Mi Caphe
  

For more photos of the event visit: https://www.cbdcelebrationawards.co.nz/photo-gallery