For each area of Auckland there are seven categories plus a supreme regional winner.
The categories are: Excellence in International Trade, Excellence in Marketing, Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Excellence in Strategy and Planning, Employer of the Year, Excellence in Innovation and Best Emerging Business.
The 'Best of the Best' is a significant Auckland event, a 'must attend' for any business dedicated to building its success by accessing peer support, learning from others and networking with businesses committed to excellence.
"Best of the Best groups all the regional winners of each category (including supreme award winners) to determine overall Auckland 'Best of Best' category winners and then awards a 'Best of Best' Supreme Winner," notes Michael Barnett, chief executive, Auckland Chamber of Commerce.
"The award scheme gives Auckland businesses an opportunity to measure and benchmark themselves and that's what we are trying to encourage Auckland's businesses to do."
"Across all the participants there are shared characteristics: When you choose to go into business, you begin with a dream and the dream soon becomes a passion. There is a total commitment to success and the rewards are not just in creating a successful business but in being able to share the success with others."
"Auckland businesses competing for the 'Best of the Best' awards have the potential to grow into big companies that lead Auckland forward, help us to tell Auckland's story, and who build around them a pipeline of suppliers and marketing expertise that secures Auckland's reputation going forward as a thriving and exciting city to live, visit, work and invest in."
The Westpac Auckland Business Awards 'Best of the Best' attracts significant interest from Auckland business and is an inspiration to others in business who look at the success factors in others as their guide to growth.
"These awards bring together the business heart of Auckland," says Michael Barnett. "We have a privileged opportunity to spend time with and learn from businesses that are living core values of commitment and integrity, as well as a willingness to challenge ideas as they push boundaries in innovation, customer care and best practice."
"We know that success in business doesn't just happen. You create success by having good people, good ideas, great vision, solid planning and by taking calculated risks. We applaud the success these Auckland companies achieve - we can all learn from them."