And the Business Awards

I put my hand up to the fact that I do give Oceans Resort Hotel in Tutukaka a wrap on this blog.  Of course I do, I work, live and breathe this place and I still wake up each morning loving the fact that I do get to live and work here.

A few months ago Steve and I sat down with the team to ask their permission to enter this year’s Westpac and Northland Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.  With their permission (it is a team effort here) we put ourselves forward into two categories; Business Coaching NZ Best Emerging Business Award and the More FM Customer Choice Award.   For those who are considering entering these awards next year I can not tell you enough times to do it.  Completing the entry forms really does allow you to do a focused health check on your business.  I will be doing another blog on Business in Northland soon as the support you get as a business here is over-whelming, it just sits there waiting till you call for it.

So we put our entry form in.  At the beginning it was scary stuff, not knowing what the judges were looking for or what layout should really be done, but then it dawns on you.  This isn’t high-school, they want to read about your business and they want a clear understanding of your business, your values, your goals, how your business ticks and what the underlying spirit of your business is.  When you realise this it becomes so simple.  As you can imagine our entry form was bright and crisp, a bit of fun and a little bit different……just like Oceans.  And with the support of Tony from Smart Energy Solutions who won last year we put our entry form in with our shoulders back.  No matter the outcome we had presented our business on paper as it was in reality.  Not perfect, not shinny, not with all the answers, it was as we are honest, fun and with an air of excitement. 





What a great looking venue for the night



The judges read our entry and then came out to Oceans.  That part is fun!  We got to show off a place that in all honesty is just a great place to claim as “ours”.  There are not enough hours in the day to share the excitement of that!

Then it was the night, we knew we were finalists for both categories and that alone was a fantastic feeling.  I want to say that I didn’t mind if we won or lost, as at the end of day we were winners for entering….but that would be a lie.



The speech for Business Coaching NZ
Best Emerging Business Award



Business Coaching NZ, Best Emerging Business was the first of our two to be called.   Again I want to say that I didn’t have my fingers crossed and wasn’t silently saying “oceans, oceans, oceans” but again that would be a lie.  But to hear Oceans Resort Hotel called out as the winners was a heart filling sound!!!  To be able to walk up on stage and accept the award of behalf of our team was a treasured moment.



More FM Customer Choice Award

The next one for the More FM Customer Choice award was after Dessert, and the meals were fantastic.  I could have eaten more of that!

Then it was the second of our categories, I will admit now that both Steve and I, despite our desire, had not considered being able to walk away with two awards.  The other finalists were fantastic businesses and I know they are because I shop at many of them!  Though I silently hoped, I didn’t have my fingers crossed and I wasn’t silently saying “oceans, oceans, oceans”.  So when it was Oceans Resort Hotel that was called it was a feeling of gleeful confusion.  An award that was given to us from our customers, it was an award that directly reflected the fantastic nature of our team, it was an award that was of such high honour to receive that I will admit when I got on stage there was a moment when I thought there would be a tear.  And as I said when it was given to us, “This is an award that belongs to our team, it is a reason to thank everyone who has smiled at us, encouraged us, supported us and hugged us” This was really the award of the people.  All people who have ever been a part of Oceans; customers, staff and suppliers.

So thank you to everyone!!!!



Collective Concepts created a great night, The Chamber of Commerce created a great business support base and encouragement and Salt 'n' light have the most amazing photo's from the night, the ones of this blog are just a few of the many that were taken. The night was one that will not be forgotten.  So come into Oceans and look up on the bar and see our awards, Oceans Blue glass (it was meant to beJ)