Amaze World has been crowned 2023 Sunshine Coast Business Awards Business of the Year, also taking out the Experiences Large category for the second year in a row.
The Sunshine Coast tourism attraction headlines 38 winners in this year’s Awards, announced at the Sunshine Coast business community’s annual night of night, the Sunshine Coast Business Awards Gala.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said the celebration this year was something special, with 900 members of the business community, including finalists and sponsors, gathering to celebrate another year, with comedian, actor and entertainer Shane Jacobson returning as emcee.
“The entertainment this year featured talented performers, including young Noosa singer-songwriter Zara, a 50-strong Sunshine Coast Oriana Choir and the Award’s favourite band Amplify led by Chad Trent, who together kicked off the night with a very special performance of the song “Climb” made famous by Miley Cyrus,” Mrs Swaine said.
“The Sunshine Coast Business Awards is all about celebrating the incredible business talent on the Coast, so we are incredibly proud to showcase exclusively local talent at this year’s Gala.
“Like our performers, our business winners represent the best of the best of our region and were selected from 137 finalists across 17 different categories.
“Every year the quality of the applications just gets better and better, and this year that was even more evident, which showcases the depth and breadth of the growing Sunshine Coast economy.”
Mrs Swaine said delivering the world-class calibre Awards program, now in its 28th year, was a huge job, made possible by the hundreds of hours put in by the volunteer awards committee, volunteer judges, and the strong support of the Awards sponsors and stakeholders, many of whom return year after year to support the program.
“We would like to congratulate this year’s winners and also thank all 137 finalists as well as the 205 businesses who entered this year.”
This year, there are five Hall of Fame inductees – businesses who have won their category in the past three years – and these businesses were showcased in a very special video presentation featuring all the Hall of Fame businesses, Damien Glanville from naming-rights sponsor LPE, who also emceed the showcase, accompanied by the band performing ‘Eye of the Tiger’.
The Hall of Fame inductees included Becker Constructions, Coast2Bay Housing Group, Travis Schultz & Partners, Waste Free Systems, and Wildings Forest School.
The 2023 Sunshine Coast Business Awards winners include:
Sunshine Coast 2023 Business of the Year – Amaze World, Tanawha
Hall of Fame inductees
Becker Constructions, Landsborough
Coast2Bay Housing Group, Maroochydore
Travis Schultz & Partners, Mooloolaba
Waste Free Systems, Kunda Park
Wildings Forest School, Burnside
Hall of Fame inductees have won their category for the previous three years.
Accommodation (Tourism)
Large – Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters, Birtinya
Small – Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Montville
Advanced Technology
Large – GreaseBoss, Birtinya
Small – Dr App, Sippy Downs
Building and Construction
Large – Advanced Aquarium Technologies, Kunda Park
Business Services
Large – Henzells Agency, Caloundra
Small – Kaizen Marketing, Maroochydore
Clean Technology
Large – Aussie Tiny Houses, Coolum
Small – Mineral Fox, Coolum Beach
Creative Industries
Large – Your Brand Crew, Buderim
Small – Ignite & Write by Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane, Beerwah
Education and Training
Large – The Eighth Mile Consulting, Caloundra
Small – Nikki Fogden Moore The Mojo Maker, Doonan
Experiences (Tourism)
Large – Amaze World, Tanawha
Small – Creative Tours, Minyama
Export
Advanced Aquarium Technologies, Kunda Park
Food and Agribusiness
Large – Maleny Dairies, Maleny
Small – Beachtree Distilling Co., Caloundra West
Health and Wellness
Large – Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group, Birtinya
Small – Body & Mind by Leon, Warana
Hospitality
Large – Alex Surf Club, Alexandra Headland
Small – Sunny Rays Catering, Mountain Creek
Manufacturing
Large – The Mattress Company, Yandina
Small – First Light Fabrications, Bells Creek
Professional Services
Large – Catton & Tondelstrand Lawyers, Maroochydore
Small – Habitance Architects, Mapleton
Retail
Large – White’s IGA, Bli Bli
Small – Hooper Ruff, Mountain Creek
Social Impact
Large – SunnyKids, Maroochydore
Small – Stymie, Buderim
Trades and Services
Large – Laguna Pest Control, Noosaville
Small – Chuck’s Electrical, Mountain Creek