Making a splash at Geelong Business Excellence Awards

QUEENSCLIFF business Sea All Dolphin Swims has made a splash at this year’s Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEA), taking home multiple gongs including Business of the year.

Sea all Dolphin Swims also won the Hospitality and Tourism Award and employee James Murphy won the Young Entrepreneur Award.

The judges thought the company “ticked all the boxes required for a business displaying business excellence”.

Sea All Dolphin Swims has shown exponential growth in the past three years in both numbers of sales as well as growth in services and products available through swims, tours, school programs, surf lessons, bay waves and education.

Their use of technology such as virtual reality, apps, artificial intelligence, TV programs and aerial as well as submersible drones “takes this business into the next level for tourism operators”.

For the first time in the history of the awards, which were established in 1984, the GBEA was streamed live via Facebook, Channel 31 and Vimeo for everyone to watch from the comfort of
their homes.

More than 2,000 viewers tuned in on Thursday last week to celebrate the success of the Geelong region’s businesses and business leaders.

The live talk-show style event with musical theatre star Natalie O’Donnell as MC acknowledged the GBEA finalists and included live interviews with winners direct from their homes.

The GBEA is one of the few regional business awards in Victoria going ahead this year during the coronavirus pandemic.

Other award winners included:

• Corporate Social Responsibility – Arthur St Digital
• Innovation, Research & Development – Braille Sign Supplies
• Digital Engagement – Custom Neon
• Sustainable Business – Kardinia International College
• Home Based/Micro Business – Manse Group
• Health and Wellbeing Promoting Workplace – Crew Faced Makeup Artistry
• Safe and Healthy Business – Memphis Hire
• Small Business or Division/Department – CentreStage
• Medium Business or Division/Department- Boomaroo Nurseries
• Retail Business – You’re Gorgeous Hair & Beauty
• Best First Year – FLAIM Systems
• Inclusive & Accessible – Geelong Gallery.