Best of the Whitsundays: Business of the Year

The 2025 Whitsunday Business Award – Best of the Whitsundays: Business of the Year – will be awarded to an outstanding business that sets the gold standard for excellence, innovation, and leadership in our region.

This award category is proudly presented by the Australian Radio Network.

Who Can Enter

This category is open to any business operating within the Whitsunday Regional Council area that can demonstrate:

Consistent business growth and success
High standards of customer service and professionalism
Innovation in products, services, or business processes
Positive contribution to the local economy or community

Key Dates

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 7 September 2025
Nominations may be announced week commencing Monday 29 September 2025
Whitsunday Business Awards announcement and event will be from 5:30pm Friday 21 November 2025

Need help?

Guide to completing your Business of the Year award entry »

Please contact the Whitsunday Business Awards administration team with any questions via admin@whitsundaycoastchamber.com.au

Eligibility, Terms & Conditions

Eligibility

Entrants must work in or operate a registered business within the Whitsunday Regional Council area.
Businesses must have been operational for at least 12 months as of Monday 4 August 2025, unless entering a category that permits new or emerging businesses.
Employees, apprentices or trainees must have been working in the business for at least 12 months as of Monday 4 August 2025.
Entrants must demonstrate ethical business practices and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Sole traders, not-for-profits, and social enterprises are eligible to apply where relevant to category criteria.

Entry Requirements

All entries must be submitted via the official online nomination form by the published closing time and date of 11:59pm Sunday 7 September 2025. Entries submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
Entrants can apply to a maximum two award categories but must submit a separate application for each.
All responses must be truthful and accurate to the best of the entrant’s knowledge.

Judging

Entries will be assessed by an independent panel of judges appointed by the award program partners.
Entries that are incomplete, off-topic, or fail to sufficiently address the award criteria may be deemed ineligible and will not be forwarded to judges.
Judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding outcomes.
The Judging Panel reserves the right to withdraw any entry if the business or nominee is found to have brought the Awards or award program partners into disrepute.
The Judging Panel reserves the right to move entries between categories if deemed more appropriate.

Confidentiality

All information submitted will be treated as confidential and used solely for the purpose of judging.
Judges and award program administrators are bound by confidentiality agreements.

Promotion & Media

By entering, finalists and winners agree to have their business name, logo, and images used for promotional purposes related to the Awards.
Event photography and videography may be used for marketing and reporting purposes by the award program partners.

Costs

There is no cost to enter the Awards. Finalists are responsible for their own attendance and any associated costs to attend the Awards Event.

I have read, understood, and agree to the terms and conditions of the Whitsunday Business Awards and this award category. *YesNo

I am willing and able to provide evidence, if requested, demonstrating ethical business practices and compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. *YesNo

I grant permission for my contact details to be shared with regional media for potential interviews and publicity opportunities. *YesNo

Business Information

Your First and Last Name *

Name of Business or Individual you want to nominate *

Australian Business Number (ABN) *

Email Address *

Phone *

Street Address/Business Location *

Suburb

State

Post code

Business Website

PART 1 - What do you do?

This section is worth 10 points.

1.1 Describe your business (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

PART 2 - How do you do it?

This section is worth 40 points.

2.1 Describe your products or services and how you market them (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

2.2 How do you develop and enhance customer or stakeholder relationships? (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

2.3 How do you build and support your team and culture? (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

2.4 How do you innovate? (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

PART 3 - What are your results?

This section is worth 30 points.

3.1 What is the economic impact of your business? (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

3.2 What is the social impact of your business? (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

3.3 What is the environmental impact of your business? (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

PART 4 - Why are you exceptional?

This section is worth 20 points.

4.1 What sets you apart from others in your industry? (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

4.2 Why should your business be recognised in this category? (max. 300 words, 10 points) *0 / 300

Supporting Material

To support your application, you can upload up to three (3) supporting files (such as testimonials, reports, visuals, media coverage) and an optional video on why you should win.

Supporting document #1Maximum 20MB

No file chosen

Supporting document #2Maximum 20MB

No file chosen

Supporting document #3Maximum 20MB

No file chosen

90-second video explaining why you deserve to win (optional)Maximum 20MB

No file chosen

High-resolution image of your business logo. *Maximum 20MB

No file chosen