Waikato Business News October/November 2022

18 HBCA AWARDS
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022
CBD Awards
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,
complemented 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 carry
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