Local businesses were celebrated at the annual Bass Coast Business Awards last week, with Phillip Island’s Wildlife Coast Cruises named Business of the Year.

Businesses from the island and San Remo dominated the Business Awards, winning five of the six categories.

As well as winning the Business of the Year, Wildlife Coast Cruises also won the Environmental Sustainability Award and the People’s Choice Accommodation and Tourism Award.

The business is proud of reducing its environmental impact as it showcases tourists our Australian Fur Seals, migrating whales, dolphins and coastal birdlife.

The judges said the tourism business was not only making amazing progress in terms of its own sustainability practices, but sharing and assisting the community, as well as other businesses.

“It is a true sustainability leader in the business sector,” they said.

Brinnie T Design won the Access, Equity and Inclusion award, while Balance Health picked up the Resilience Award.

San Remo’s Terralab won Business Innovation category and Cape Woolamai’s Connect 2 Electrical Services picked up the Marketing and Communications Award.

Lioness Fit of Cowes was the People’s Choice for Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle.

Grantville’s Sunscape Solar and Bass Coast Boats and Caravan Storage both picked up People’s Choice Awards.

This year the community’s participation in voting for their favourite local businesses was one of the highest it has been in the awards’ 15-year history. There were 61 entrants in the judged awards and over 100 local businesses received 1192 votes in the People’s Choice Awards.

The Awards were announced at a presentation dinner at Silverwater Resort in San Remo on Friday 21 October attended by 170 people.

Bass Coast Shire Mayor Cr Michael Whelan congratulated all the winners and finalists.

“The past couple of years have been very challenging for all businesses and we are privileged in our community to have such innovative, resilient and successful businesses,’’ Cr Whelan said.

“Through sheer hard work, commitment to customers and passion our local businesses are succeeding and doing us all proud.’’

2022 Business Award Winners

Business of the Year sponsored by Bass Coast Shire Council: Wildlife Coast Cruises

Access, Equity and Inclusion sponsored by Westernport Water
Winner: Brinnie T Design. Runner up: Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling and Entertainment Centre.

Environmental Sustainability sponsored by Harman Wines
Winner: Wildlife Coast Cruises. Runners up: Bass Strait Direct, The Only Straw and French Island Cottage.

Resilience sponsored by Bass Coast Shire Council
Winner: Balance Health Phillip Island. Runners up: My 24/7 Gym and VORTEX Surf Skate Snow.

Business Innovation sponsored by NBN Local – Gippsland
Winner: Terralab. Runner up: Wattle Bank Farm.

Leadership sponsored by Silverwater Resort
Winner: Maru Koala and Animal Park. Runner up: Sunscape Solar.

Marketing and Communications sponsored by Destination Phillip Island
Winner: Connect2 Electrical Solutions Runner up: Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage.

2022 People’s Choice Award Winners sponsored by Bass Coast Shire Council

Accommodation and Tourism Attraction
Winner: Wildlife Coast Cruises. Runner up: NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park.

Food and Beverage
Winner: Harman Wines. Runner up: Mon Dieu.

Hair and Beauty
Winner: Hair by Sarah Azzato. Runner up: Hair by Karra.

Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle
Winner: Lioness Fit. Runner up: Wonthaggi Allied Health.

Online, Mobile and Home-based Business
Winner: Gippy Organics. Runner up: Graham Lyle Insurance.

Retail and Services
Winner: Bass Coast Boat and Caravan Storage. Runner up: Bass Strait Direct.

Trades and Services
Winner: Sunscape Solar. Runner up: Connect 2 Electrical.

The Awards are sponsored by Destination Phillip Island, NBN Co., Silverwater Resort, Westernport Water and Harman Wines.

The Award judges were Kim Storey, Heidi Hamm, Rebecca Massaro, Andrea Evans-McCall, Marcus McKenzie, Peter Clayton and Paul Drew with the support of Jayne Simpson.

For more information on the 2022 Bass Coast Business Awards finalists visit www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/services/business/bass-coast-business-awards