"It was a case of curiosity killed the cat."
Since then they've experienced their busiest summer. While now is the typical winter quiet period, Ms Uhl said there was no time to rest on their laurels.
The experience of the awards had been a hugely valuable one, and one which she would recommend to anyone, she said.
Fellow winner James Fitzgerald of Rotorua Canopy Tours agreed the process of entering the awards, as well as the feedback from judges, had been invaluable.
"Having someone look at your business in a semi-confidential manner is great.
"It makes you focus and sit down and take heed of where you're going."
They took out the award for best emerging business at the awards and said since then they'd used some of the feedback to fine-tune their operations.
"There were a couple of suggestions that we had picked up on and were running forward with."
Mr Fitzgerald said even those who didn't walk away with an award would learn something through the process.
He agreed one of the biggest benefits was that lift in profile within the Rotorua community.
The business is on the lookout for a new, bigger base because of growth and was planning on introducing some special night tours over summer, he said.
For Wingspan, which took out the community organisation business award, it was proof that not-for-profit organisations could also be business savvy, according to director Debbie Stewart.
It was one of a string of awards Wingspan picked up over the past year, and Ms Stewart said as it stood, Wingspan was the best performing conservation charity in the country.
"In our instance we were able to get a lot of advice and make subtle changes. It's been very useful for us."
This year's Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards will be presented at a gala dinner awards evening on October 3.
