Editorial: Optimism despite CBD gaps

Brew Craft Beer Pub co-owner Paul Croucher, right, and bar manager Jonathan 'Jock' Dalby. Photo / Stephen Parker

Once a year Rotorua's business community comes together to celebrate their fine work at the annual Rotorua Business Excellence Awards.

The glamorous occasion is also a chance for business owners and employees to mingle and pick up a few tips on how to do things the right way.

It's a night when any recession, downturn or business challenges are put to one side and the successes are celebrated.

The finalists were revealed on Friday and it's pleasing to see a few new names among the list of achievers, including those behind the latest "it" bar, BREW Craft Beer Pub and new tourism venture Rotorua Canopy Tours.

There's also a few of the consistently performing businesses back in the nominations including Indian Star, Rotorua Museum and Red Stag.

Just two central city businesses are among the finalists - Drapes By Design in the TrustPower Customer Service Award category and Fraser Newman from McLeods Booksellers in the Emerging Young Business Person of the Year category.

In the coming years it would be great to be celebrating flourishing new businesses in the heart of our city.

If you take a look around the streets at present, it's a pretty sad sight. Being able to park easily shouldn't be something you complain about but in this case the empty parking spots are a reflection of too many vacant shops - a problem getting worse in our city.

While I don't believe Rotorua's business growth is in dire trouble with plenty of exciting things happening, I would like to see next year's business awards finalists chocker with businesses based in our CBD.