Humble hotelier and son of the Hunter Stephen Hunt has been awarded the title of NSW Business Leader of the Year 2021.
The state-wide title follows up recognition by Business NSW as the Business Leader of the Year for the Hunter Region, and second place in the Most Innovative Companies Award in the Entertainment, Tourism, Retail and Hospitality sector, by the Australian Financial Review.
Business NSW’s Leader of the Year recognizes an inspirational boss demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurial spirit and strategic business direction, while providing leadership to the next generation.
Business NSW is an independent, not-for-profit organisation focused on the wellbeing of the business community, orchestrating practical policy solutions to ensure businesses across the state prosper and grow.
“As every industry was forced to pivot and innovate to deal with the fallout from the pandemic, these awards showcase the businesses that excelled in very challenging times,” says Bob Hawes, CEO for Business Hunter.
Hunt Hospitality employs over 300 people across six venues, and MD Stephen Hunt says he aims to blend entrepreneurial spirit with local businesses, to create a community that places heart at the centre of good business. Through the pandemic Hunt Hospitality lost only one employee across the then five venues.
Business awarded Hunt the title for:
- Overcoming the challenges and business pressures of COVID-19
- Value perceptions to create an award-winning team culture and measurable results in upskilling and supporting staff
- Attitude towards sustainable growth through fostering shared knowledge and creating business opportunities to promote team’s professional development
- Active community leadership through providing counsel to local sporting clubs, charities, organizations and governments
- Innovation goals including the launch of ‘Shoeless Jack’: a small bar franchise and industry companion
Hunt was characteristically humble on the news, offering “huge compliment to the efforts of our team”.
“I am so proud to receive this award!” he says.
“The success of our business is based on making people’s days.
“It is our aim for our customers to come to our venues a have a great experience and feel better than when they arrived. The more we focus on this the more our business succeeds.
“We offer old fashioned values with a twist of today.”
