The iconic Tinamba Hotel received the top honour at the annual Federation Business School Gippsland Business Awards on Friday night, being named Gippsland Business of the Year.
Awards Chair, Sheridan Bond, congratulated the business owners, Brad Neilson and Damien Gannon, who are celebrating the tenth anniversary of their ownership of the hotel.
Almost 400 people filled the Premier Function Centre in Traralgon on Friday night for the Gala Dinner where businesses from throughout Gippsland were represented across 11 categories.
Ms Bond congratulated all entries who she said showcased the enormous potential and innovation across Gippsland.
“The depth and diversity of the entries each year demonstrates the quality and dedication of our business people who overcome challenges every day through determination and hard work,” she said. “I want to thank all our sponsors, especially Federation University’s Business School, who make it possible for us to acknowledge and pay tribute to the region’s business sector.”
The Tinamba Hotel success story started in May 2009 when Mr Neilsen and Mr Gannon purchased the hotel which was first established in 1874. They immediately closed for renovations, reopening three months later. It has now built a reputation for fine dining which is known far and wide.
Kennedy’s Trailers from Bairnsdale joined an impressive list of Gippsland businesses to be inducted into the GBA Hall of Fame.
Ms Bond said the business was started 30 years ago by “one man with a ute, a welder, a grinder and a gas set” and was now a company with 60 employees helping customers not only in Australia but in Europe to find solutions to their industry challenges.
Each GBA finalist is assessed and independently rated by five different judges across 10 judging criteria, and as appropriate, receiving site visits or judges undertaking mystery shopper visits. The category winners came from across the region and are listed below, together with a selection of accompanying judges’ comments:
Impeccable attention to detail and a focus on meeting customer needs has enabled this business to differentiate and generate success in a highly competitive operating environment.
Strong focus on providing ethical treatment to clients. Good vision and goals.
A growth story reflecting determination, diversification and willingness to take risks. Only business in
Gippsland that offers soft skills and communications training.
Clearly defined future goals and business objectives, consistent revaluation of business activities has provided opportunities to streamline operations, improve efficiencies and deliver ongoing benefits.
A well-developed business plan with clear vision and goals, underpins structured growth that has been built on the back of a comprehensive client support model, focused on personalised service delivery.
Business has stayed true to its ethos of service excellence and has done so for 10 years.
Clear demonstration of innovative and diverse solutions being used to meet a diverse range of customer needs.
An environmental leader that has adopted technology to improve business process and enable delivery across differing corporate requirements.
A business making its mark with future growth plans for export, based on environmental and scientific strategies.
A business that has reinvented itself through improved branding and positioning.
A small team making a big impact on the tourism scene in South Gippsland.
For further comment, please contact Sheridan Bond on 0427 359 863
Click here to download the media release and click here to view the 2019 finalists
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