Hamilton Central Business Association (HCBA) hosted the revamped CBD Celebration Awards, sponsored by Spark Business and supported by Mediaworks, in an event focused on celebrating the businesses that make up the central city.
Held at two of Hamilton’s finest venues, the evening kicked off at the Ferrybank Park before heading across the road to The Meteor for the awards’ ceremony.
With a backdrop of the Waikato River, the park was brought to life with the musical notes of the Trenwith brothers providing live jazz from the band rotunda, complimented by Good George cocktails and canapes from the River Kitchen. The 220 guests were able to view the development of the park extension due for completion in December 2022.
The Meteor provided the glitz and glamour of the night, transformed by event staging company Royal Lab coupled with a delicious banquet of food provided by SkyCity Hamilton.
Momentum Waikato’s CEO Kelvyn Eglinton ensured the evening flowed smoothly as MC for the night and sax player Lewis McCallum provided mid-ceremony entertainment, which had the guests dancing in the aisles.
With subtle lighting from SBI Productions and the evening captured on camera by Moving Media Ltd, the awards provided a Hamilton offering at every turn.
Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams was especially delighted with the evening after a rough couple of years for the CBD weathering the Covid storm.
“It really was a night of celebration and appreciation of these businesses and what they’re offering in the CBD. A reoccurring theme of the award recipients was their determination to be in the central city,” she says.
“Our retail vacancy rate is looking positive, we’re still at the lowest we’ve been for a number of years now and which, all things considered over the past few years, is an amazing place to be.
“We have a number of significant developments underway in the central city and the excitement of welcoming returning and new major events into the city in 2023.”
The broad range of businesses celebrated at the awards, Vanessa says, showcases the diversity of offering in the central city.
“From a tyre shop to the more traditional food and retail offerings, professional services to experiences, health and beauty places and to those working in the public good space, it takes them all to really create a vibrant and unique CBD.
“They make Hamilton’s central city a destination and a place like no other.”
The CBD Awards have continued to evolve to suit the priorities occurring in the market at the time and this year was no different.
After the success of the inner-city campaign Love the Centre which encouraged the public to reconnect with the city centre and to show the business community some love using the tagline ‘There is always something to do, see, eat, drink and love when you visit Hamilton’s city centre.’
It made sense to carrying this brand across the CBD Awards and invite the general public to participate by nominating businesses they love.
This proved to be a hit with both the public and business community with over 100 entrants across the nine categories.
For a full list of winners visit lovethecentre.co.nz
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