Timezone scores Business of Year title

Written on the 21 November 2016 by Gold Coast PR Company Consulting Hall

Surfers Paradise-headquartered tourism mainstay Timezone has been named the Gold Coast's Business of the Year for 2016.

Timezone was named the winner at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards gala dinner held at Jupiters Hotel and Casino on Saturday night.

The company, which has now taken out the annual Tourism, Hospitality and Events award four times since 2011, has now broken through to win the major honour.

Director Juan Uribe said their 5000sqm Surfers Paradise centre now catered for more than 1.2 million visitors a year and the opening of Timezone's 3000sqm entertainment centre at Coolangatta in February had added significantly to that figure.

"The new location at Coolangattawas part of a $3.5 million investment with 30 staff employed at this new location,'' said Mr Uribe.

"Meanwhile our Surfers Paradise location has hosted more than 850 birthday parties during the past 12 months."

The Surfers Paradise site was first established on level one of the Paradise Centre as Grundy's, which was known Australia-wide. Timezone Australia purchased the business in 19993 and since then has increased the floor area by 2000sqm to make it Australia's largest indoor entertainment centre.

In 2014 Timezone Surfers Paradise was named by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions as the best family entertainment centre in the world

In the other categories:

• Emerging Business Award: Aston Milan Homes
• Family Business Award 5 Star Timbers
• Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award: ABC Brick Sales
• Manufacturing and Construction Award: Condev Construction
• Trades, Professions and Services Award: The Ray White Surfers Paradise Group
• Health and Wellbeing Award: Home Instead Senior Care Gold Coast
• Knowledge Management and IT Award: ONGC Systems
• Tourism, Hospitality and Events Award: Timezone Gold Coast
• Mayor's Innovation GC Award: BrauerIndsutries
• Environment and Sustainability Award: Rocky Point Mulching
• Encouragement Award: International Protein

Meanwhile, Kacy Fortune from Oskars restaurant at Burleigh Heads was named the winners of the Be My Guest Service Award.

The awards' major sponsors include City of Gold Coast; Suncorp Bank; Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; Regional Development Australia Gold Coast;Choice Homes; OntheNet; Griffith University; Gold Coast Airport; Gold Coast Tourism Corporation; Pindara Private Hospital and Flight Centre Business Travel;.

The awards' media sponsors include the Gold Coast Bulletin, NBN Television, 92.5 Gold FM and 90.9 Sea FM.

The GCBEA's major supporters are KPMG,McCann, Document Solutions Australia, Bloomtools, Consulting Hall, Jupiters Gold Coast, Regina King Photography, Bruce Lynton Automotive Group,Bond University, Gold Coast Suns and Dreamweavers.