Blue Mountains News

Peita Davies, President of the Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber outlined that it “was such a pleasure last Friday to host over 90 Blue Mountains businesses celebrating small business success at the Fairmont Resort, Leura. Small Business Owners, their employees and customers were anxiously awaiting the results of the Blue Mountains Business Awards demonstrating a supportive engaged, vibrant and resilient small business community.”

With over 250 people in the room Falls Production kicked the night off with a digital expose of the Blue Mountains Business Awards Major Sponsors followed by the past 10 years of Harry Hammon Regional Business of the Year winners. Purple Sky Productions lit up the stage and Grand Ballroom and provided a fantastic sound track to the night’s celebrations.

MC, Tiriel Mora, a local resident and Australia actor of note, entertained the audience and kept the evening moving through the 25 awards presentations ably assisted by Helen Sweeney of Diva Transformations. Mataya Young, an up and coming young singer from Katoomba, wowed the audience with her jazz standard renditions while David Hutchinson accompanied on guitar.

Rubyfruit Vegan Cafe and Bakery from Leura took out the Excellence in Sustainability Award which then saw them being inducted into the Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber Hall of Fame for winning the same Award in three consecutive years – no mean feat!

Phil Hammon, Director and Anthea Hammon, Managing Director of Scenic World, sponsor of this award since its inception in 2007, announced to a surprised and delighted Rubyfruit that they had taken out the prestigious Harry Hammon Regional Business of the Year Award. Amanda Solomons and Simone Bateman were presented with a weekend at the Hydro Majestic Hotel donated by The Escarpment Group.

Ask Roz won Excellence in Innovation for the third consecutive year in a row and were also inducted into the Hall of Fame by Peita Davies, President of the Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber and Mayor, Mark Greenhill. Ask Roz have since posted on their fb page their trophies photographed at sunrise in what is becoming an annual tradition for this business.

The Blaxland & District Chamber of Commerce & Industry won Local Chamber of the Year presented by Stacey Randell, NSW Business Chamber.

The very popular BlueMountainsAustralia.com People’s Choice Award was won by Glen Isla Luxury Blue Mountains Accommodation and was presented by Sylvia Ong of Stralia Web.

There were two inaugural Awards: the Excellence in Social Enterprise Award which was won by Cancer Wellness Support under the tutelage of Robyn Yates and the Home Based Business Award won by Illuminart.

Woodford Homes took out three Awards and Mountains Whispers The MW Collection got two gongs. Both these businesses will go on to the NSW Business Awards.

Peita Davies, President of the Regional Business Chamber said “How proud I am that as a small business community we are sending 3 individual business people and 7 small businesses to represent us at the NSW Business Awards on 17^th November. This could not be achieved without our Major Sponsors: Scenic World, Blue Mountains City Council, Nova Employment, Blue Eco Homes, Belle Property Leura and Australia Post. Good luck to all those businesses and let’s hope we can bring home some State Awards.”

Following is a list of all the winners and highly commended businesses across the Region:

Winners Listing

State Awards

Young Business Executive Award sponsored by Blue Mountains Gazette
Winner: Bree Curnuck, Eagle View Estate

Young Entrepreneur Award sponsored by Blue Eco Homes
Winner: Dean Edmonds, E-Smart Solar

Business Leader Award sponsored by Australia Post
Winner: Lyn Smith, Woodford Homes

Excellence in Small Business Award - 20 employees or less sponsored by Trumans Chartered Accountants
Winner: Mountain Whispers - The MW Collection

Excellence in Business Award - 20 employees or more sponsored by Belle Property Leura
Winner: Woodford Homes

Excellence in Social Enterprise Award sponsored by Theo Poulos Real Estate
Winner: Cancer Wellness Support

Start Up Superstar Award sponsored by Western Sydney Business Centre
Winner: Just Pressed, Blue Mountains Love

Excellence in Innovation Award sponsored by Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise
Winner: Ask Roz

Excellence in Sustainability Award sponsored by Fantastic Aussie Tours
Winner: Rubyfruit

Employer of Choice Award sponsored by realestate.com.au Home Loans
Winner: Richards Financial Services

Regional Awards

Retail Business Award sponsored by Stainless Steel WORX
Winner: Beaut-T-Ful Bags

Customer Service Award sponsored by Digital Age Lawyers
Winner: Mountain Whispers - The MW Collection

Hospitality Business Award sponsored by Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains, MGallery Resort by Sofitel
Winner: Bygone Beautys

Creative Services Award sponsored by Blue Mountains City Council
Winner: Wild Valley Art Park

Business Services Award sponsored by J Bromilow Champ Enterprises Pty Ltd
Winner: Woodford Homes

Home Based Business Award sponsored by Susan Templeman MP, Member for Macquarie
Winner: Illuminart

Excellence in Accommodation Award >15 beds sponsored by Blue Mountains Accommodation & Tourism Association
Winner: Blue Mountains YHA

Boutique Accommodation Provider Award sponsored by Blue Mountains Accommodation & Tourism Association
Winner: Shelton-Lea B&B

Tour/Transport Operator Excellence Award sponsored by Blue Mountains Accommodation & Tourism Association
Winner: Bygone Beautys

Employee Inclusion Award sponsored by Nova Employment
Winner: Mount Victoria Manor

People’s Choice Award sponsored by bluemountainsaustralia.com
Winner: Glen Isla Luxury Blue Mountains Accommodation

Highly Commended

Start Up Superstar Award sponsored by Western Sydney Business Centre
Highly Commended: The Stray Whisker

Customer Service Award sponsored by Digital Age Lawyers
Highly Commended: Eagle View Escape

Home Based Business Award sponsored by Susan Templeman MP
Highly Commended: Conveyancing Smart

Hall of Fame

HALL OF FAME Excellence in Sustainability Award 2015 2016 2017 sponsored by Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber
Rubyfruit

HALL OF FAME Excellence in Innovation Award 2015 2016 2017 sponsored by Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber
Ask Roz

Regional Business of Year

Harry Hammon Award Regional Business of the Year sponsored by Scenic World
WINNER: Rubyfruit