Categories under adjudication for The Kerryman Business Awards 2017

1. BEST Sponsored NEWby Peevers BUSINESSSlye Cotter AWARD Thisor after award Januaryis open 1st to 2016. businesses which commenced trading on

2. BEST RETAIL AWARD Sponsored by McCarthy Insurance This industry. awardTo beis designed considered,to businessescelebrate excellencemust highlightin the what retail separates service themThis awardfrom the will competitionbe mystery and shopped.gives the best customer experience.

3. BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Sponsored by AIB Thison customeraward is open services.to any Mystery business shoppersthat can will demonstratelook at all aspectstheir focusof the service provided in terms of staff interaction and the range of services on offer as appropriate to the needs of customers. The mystery shopper will pay particular attention to detail.

4. BEST ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE AWARD Sponsored by Irish Drain Services This award is open to businesses that have shown a commitment to the sustainability of the local environment and have demonstrated respect to their heritage.

5. BEST INNOVATION IN BUSINESS Sponsored by Enterprise Ireland The winner of this award will have shown a unique innovative approach to doing business which has seen a clear benefit to the company.

6. BEST TOURISM AWARD Sponsored by GOKERRY For 2017 The Best Tourism Award there are 3 principle categories. Entry is open to bona fide tourism businesses, entrepreneurs, visitor attractions, organisations and events. This award gives recognition to and promote people, companies and organisations that have made significant contributions to developing, marketing, selling and delivering improved visitor experiences in the region. (1) Best Outdoor/Indoor Adventure Experience This award is presented to the business or organisation that has demonstrated a commitment to the development, delivery and promotion of a creative, exciting outdoor tourism experience that is designed for activity enthusiasts, and which showcases and promotes Kerry’s and the regions spectacular scenery (2) Best Cultural Festivals Award This award is presented to the festival or event that exemplifies best practices in all aspects of its operations and which increases the number of visitors to Kerry and the region. It may be, but is not limited to being, of the following type: cultural, historical, musical, arts, sporting, culinary, literary, humorous, or of general interest. This award aims to acknowledge and reward the hard work and efforts by all behind Kerry’s rapidly growing festival circuit. (3) Hospitality Award This awards seek to recognise and reward excellence in service, quality, value, experience, creativity and innovation in the Hotel, Restaurant, Café,Pub, Live Music Venue in Kerry or experience for holidaymakers or those visiting friends and relatives or taking short breaks, and which are centred on the fundamental principles of hospitality and customer service. County Kerry.

7. BEST COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE Sponsored by NEWKD This award is confined to voluntary community enterprises that provide services, funds, resources, knowledge and skills to sustain and develop an important community service.

8. BEST FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Garvey Group This award will recognise a successful family business that has grown and adapted to present and future markets while maintaining the identity and original concept of the founder. This award is for family businesses operating in any sector of the economy, which has enjoyed outstanding success.

9. BEST RURAL BUSINESS AWARD Sponsored by Quinlan’s Fish Shops & Seafood Bars This award will focus specifically on businesses based in rural areas. Applicants will have shown innovation in the rural business sector, overcoming significant barriers and creating sustained local employment.

10. SOCIAL CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Sponsored by Ballygarry House Hotel & Spa This award will recognise businesses that showed excellent social and ethical company responsibilitythat has shown within the the greatest community. social The corporate award responsibility,will go to the broadeningwider area as theira whole.focus beyond making a profit and into benefiting the

11. KERRY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Sponsored by IT Tralee & Tom Crean Business Centre This Award will be presented to a pillar of the Kerry business community, a person who has led and inspired others, a person who has spent a lifetime in business – in good times and bad.

The Lifetime Achievement recipient will have had a key impact in his/ her sector, will have been the key driving force in that business and will have shown outstanding leadership qualities, developed and achieved clear business goals in the course of their business life.

Their work will have made a significant difference in their community and sector; their commitment will have been more than simply doing a job. They will have gone above and beyond what was expected of them.

OVERALL AWARD This will be presented to the business whom the judges feel are the most deserving of recognition for their efforts to run a successful and popular business in county Kerry. The overall winner will have met the various wide spanning criteria and will truly deserve the title of “Best Kerry Business 2017”.