The Wānaka business community will gather at Rippon Vineyard tomorrow (Saturday November 9) evening for a gala dinner to announce the 2024 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards.

The biannual event will attract more than 170 business owners and staff to acknowledge local businesses across various categories and industries.

"It’s set to be a fantastic evening, celebrating the incredible achievements of our local businesses and the people who drive them forward,” Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat said.

“We look forward to a night of recognition, inspiration, and connection within our community."

Waitaki MP Miles Anderson and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) mayor Glyn Lewers will attend the dinner, which will be MCed by local real estate business owner Duncan Good (Ray White Wānaka).

During the evening ten awards will be presented across a range of categories including customer experience, visitor experience and industry sectors.

The winners of the five main industry categories will be in the running for the supreme award which will be announced at the dinner.

The Upper Clutha community had the opportunity to participate in the awards through a public vote in the Wānaka App. More than 1,400 people voted in the People’s Choice Award with just 20 votes separating the top three businesses. This award will also be announced tomorrow night.

The Wānaka Business Excellence Awards is organised by the Wānaka Business Chamber in partnership with major sponsor Milford Asset Management.

Finalists for the 2024 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards are:

Main Industry Categories

Excellence in Customer Experience – Supported by Drive Accounting

• Mitre 10 MEGA Wānaka
• The Next Chapter
• Wastebusters

Excellence in Visitor Experience – Supported by Lake Wānaka Tourism

• Bike Glendhu
• nzbiketrails
• Wānaka Helicopters Group

Excellence in Trade & Industrial Sector - Supported by Findex

• Architectural + Design Library
• Wānaka Solar
• Wānaka Stone

Excellence in Primary & Consumer Goods – Supported by Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone

• Balance Me
• Rippon
• Sidekick Soda

Excellence in Professional Services – Supported by Aspiring Law

• Constructive Consultants
• Greenhawk Chartered Accountants
• Mike Pero Mortgages Wānaka & Queenstown
• Schistrockmedia - The Wānaka App

Specialist Categories

Strategy, Innovation & Business – Supported by Batchelar McDougall Consulting

• Architectural + Design Library
• Bike Glendhu
• Fluid Visual Communications

Best Emerging Business Award – Supported by Air New Zealand

• Green Fox
• nzbiketrails

Employer of the Year – Supported by EASI NZ

• Greenhawk Chartered Accountants
• Mitre 10 Mega Wānaka
• Wānaka Stone

Business Sustainability & Environmental Impact – Supported by QLDC

• Green Fox
• Greenhawk Chartered Accountants
• Wastebusters

Community Contribution – Supported by Queenstown Airport

• Food for Love
• Wānaka Golf Club
• Wastebusters

PHOTO: Supplied