"The staff deserved this. By staff, that includes our contractors and our suppliers. They all showed such loyalty to us in 2020," said Mirela.
Entering the awards was a huge amount of work, with four managers and Mirela giving up their evenings three weeks out from the entry deadline to put together a 43-page application.
The business is an accredited member of International Organisation for Standardisation and Mirela says this was a good starting point for the business awards application.
Health and safety, and environmental manager Tobi Taite said the staff became increasingly excited as they worked their way through the application.
"We were going through the questions and we could see how far we had come after going through lockdown. We would get to work in the morning and say to each other 'man we did a lot of work in 2020. We achieved a lot," said Tobi.
"A year ago, we didn't know if we would have a business [in October 2021].
"We sustained, survived, and now have stability," said Mirela.
Mirela returned to her home country of Romania in the middle of 2021. Before leaving she met with the management team and made plans on what to do in the event of a lockdown while she was out of the country.
The procedures were set up in 2020 and Mirela says one of the most important things to come out of 2020 was learning what staff needed during a lockdown.
"The number one concern for staff is that they have work to come back to.
"Investing in relationships is so important for our business."
Out of lockdown 2020 came systems to cover things staff care about.
"Like how much they'll get paid, and who's in charge."
With the new systems in place, Mirela was able to run the business from overseas when New Zealand went into lockdown in August.
Tobi said the judges for the Strettons excellence in large business award commented on how well the business communicated with staff, contractors and suppliers.
"We had contractors come in during lockdown in August, and we said we may not be able to pay you [at the normal time] because we didn't know how long lockdown would last. The said 'don't worry Mirela, we trust you' In the end we could pay them [as usual]."
They also won the Great Lake Taupō excellence in environmental sustainability award.
Tobi said the judges were impressed with the 13 sustainability programmes they run.
Year 13 students from around the North Island attend a predator tracking education programme (fun fact: possums like to eat fruit in the autumn when mating, and sausages in the spring after their babies are born), they grow food for the birds over the 7ha site, and track water and fuel use.
"For the future, we are looking to track our carbon footprint. We know that it is lower now than in the past."
While visiting Romania, Mirela formed some opinions about what life looks like, after most people are vaccinated.
"The equivalent tourist business in Europe is operating now at a restricted level, anything from 20 to 70 per cent less than usual, depending on the infection rate of that district.
"Business owners are still motivated to go on. Even though they don't have the support from the government like we do, and they can't rely on a bank loan as the banks are not as strong as here."
She said tourists and operators in Europe had adapted to live with Covid-19.
"Everyone has to test negative or be vaccinated. Then if you wash your hands and wear a mask you're ok."
She said the tourism industry in Europe took off after lockdowns were lifted.
"Especially where you spend more time outdoors, in the countryside."
Mirela and Tobi watched the Taupō Business Awards remotely, and say they were completely taken by surprise when mayor David Trewavas arrived to personally present the award for Unison Overall Business of the Year Award.
"We were sitting out the back watching the livestream. Then we could hear men's feet walking across the floor and wondered who it was.
"Then we were screaming!"
