A mammoth effort was involved in selecting those worthy of public accolade and for that we must thank our judges: Kendaree Burgess-Fairn, President, Mangrove Consultants Limited; Michael DeCouto, Senior Vice President, Capital G Limited; Carolyn Moss, Corporate Communications Manager, XL Capital Ltd,; Graham Redford, Managing Director, Total Marketing & Communications Ltd.; and Raymond Seymour, Account Executive, V2(Bermuda).


Office Supplies
It’s no wonder A.F. Smith (7 Tumkins Lane, Hamilton – 292-1882) refer to themselves as “the office people”. An overwhelming majority of the responses received by our judges were from people eager to praise the company for knowing its business inside out and taking the time to make sure their clients were satisfied. Especially appreciated was the helpful and friendly staff – whether on telephone or in person – willing to search high and low for hard-to-find items and special-order them in for individual customers with a quick lead time. That they’ll deliver as well makes them a favourite among those in the know.


Office Furniture
Commercial Office Environments (COE) (8 Bakery Lane, Pembroke – 296-1027) is a relative newcomer to the scene yet seems to have set the pace when it comes to the important elements of design, style, diversity and service. It should come as no real surprise then, that the company can claim a link to another 2007 award winner – COE president Tomas Smith started the firm after a stint in A.F. Smith’s interior construction division. High-end furniture brands it offers such as Kimball Office received accolades from our judges, who described COE as “funkier and more interesting” than what’s offered elsewhere on the island.


Off-site Meeting Facility
The Fairmont Hamilton Princess (76 Pitt’s Bay Road, Pembroke – 295-3000) was one of nine properties selected by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts to celebrate its centennial this year. One can only imagine the prestigious brand recognised it as something special and it’s apparent our judges did too. Its location, only a few steps away from a host of businesses is, shall we say convenient? The largest property in town, it’s well-suited to major conventions and intimate gatherings. On offer are traditional meeting rooms outfitted with the latest technology although an outdoor setting is also an option.
Great service completes the package. Said one judge: “Business meetings are their core concentration and they do it well.”  It was agreed the sole disadvantage is the parking lot which is frequently filled with objects better placed on a construction site.


Place for Computer Sales
This is the fourth year in a row Computer City (Magnolia Place, Lower First Floor, 45 Victoria Street, Hamilton – 292-1774) has won this award. It obviously takes its mantra, ‘Customers our priority, service our pride’, seriously. Goods advertised as ‘in-stock’ are really there and ready for immediate pickup or fast delivery across the island. Clients can also place special orders from a selection of more than 300,000 products. No brand or item, it seems, is too obscure. Microsoft, Dell and Toshiba flank their web site as do Kingston, Seagate and Maxtor. The ability to order online from a “good” web site, the helpful staff, excellent service and the variety of products at reasonable prices all got top marks from our judges who agreed: “They go out of their way to help.”


IT Support
Easy Access Consulting (Suite 374, 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton – 296-3787) was borne out of a market demand for customised computer services. According to our judges, director Sean Soares and his growing team do a great job of delivering on that promise. Five years in, the company isn’t as well known as some of the bigger boys on the block, but its reputation seems to be growing. With only little marketing, it seems to be thriving on word of mouth recommendations – quite an impressive feat as any businessman will tell you.


Internet Service Provider
North Rock Communications Ltd. (7 Washington Lane, Hamilton – 540-2700) gets the vote on this one for the second year running – but just barely. By our judges’ account, it would seem that very few people are truly satisfied with every aspect of service provided by any company; however, North Rock remains a definite industry leader, providing internet, wireless, long distance and local voice products and services.
(Note: Raymond Seymour, Account Executive, V2(Bermuda) abstained from voting on this category.)


Cellular Phone Provider
Our judges were split here. It seems no single company meets the needs of the entire community. Casual customers gave the nod to Cellular One (Suite 3, 22 Reid Street, Hamilton – 700-7000) for its marketing savvy, its dedicated service and its sophisticated system; however, corporate executives are in agreement that Digicel (22 Church Street, Hamilton – 500-5000) is the only way to go if you’re depending on a BlackBerry to meet business needs. Both companies received huge thumbs up for introducing walkie-talkie style cell phones to the island – a means of staying connected at a relatively low cost.


Best Employment Services Firm
If in need of an employee or for that matter a job, the last thing you need is a company that pretends it can deliver something it cannot. This was an easy category – a hands-down win for Expertise Limited (Thistle House, 4 Burnaby Street, Hamilton – 296-0336) because of its success at placing appropriate employees with appropriate companies and because its friendly staff make every aspect of the recruitment process a positive experience.


Travel Agency
Even with teleconferencing capability, there are those times when a trip off the island becomes imperative for good business. It’s unfortunate that we can’t always anticipate travel but the folks at C-Travel Co. Ltd. (27 Queen Street, Hamilton – 292-3033) have made it easier to book sudden jaunts with Quickertix, an online booking service which allows flight, car and hotel reservations to be made from the comfort of home, the office, whenever, whenever, the urgency strikes.


Legal Services
Appleby (Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton – 295-2244) can trace its legal roots on the island as far back as 1897. With such a history, it’s no wonder they’re at the top of their game, claiming their title as “one of the largest and most respected offshore legal, fiduciary and administration service providers in the world”.


Accounting Services
Ernst & Young (Reid Hall, 3 Reid Street, Hamilton – 295-7000) reigns king for the portfolio of services it offers to larger companies but also because of the good it does within the community. Said our judges: “They don’t just count beans. They offer pro bono work to charities; Youth Net has its offices there – you don’t see that kind of buy-in with any other large accounting firm here.” When it comes to the needs of smaller businesses, judges opted for Fairway Management (Bermuda) Ltd. (Gibbons Company Building, 10 Queen Street – 292-8822).
(Note: Graham Redford, Account Executive, Managing Director, Total Marketing & Communications Ltd., abstained from voting on this category.)


Courier
Two companies meet the need of those in need of what’s missing asap. UPS (Dallas Building, 10 Park, Hamilton – 295-2467) is where to go if your boss needs a document in Paris. But if she’s left her briefcase at home and needs it brought to the office, it’s better to call Pepto On the Run (Hamilton – 799-9030).


Architect
Conyers & Associates Ltd. (Andrews Place, 51 Church Street – 292-8503) did a wonderful job with the Waterfront properties along Pitt’s Bay Road showing an impressive mélange of creativity and talent when one considers the bleak landscape that was there before. On completion, it will – remarkably – be a city within the City of Hamilton, boasting luxury residences, upscale shops and restaurants and the commercial properties and marina which drove the project from the outset.


Interior Designer
Lingberg & Simmons Ltd. (Grosvenor Lodge, 53 King Street, Hamilton – 295-9160) is well-respected for its many contributions to business décor. In the corporate world, image is everything. Its legacy is a series of amazing first impressions that have had a subtle effect on potential clients. Ask satisfied customers Bermuda Commercial Bank, Independent Risk Management and Chubb Atlantic Indemnity Ltd.


Commercial Real Estate
It’s a fact – real estate in Hamilton isn’t easy to find but Graham Smith of Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty (Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton – 292-1793) is willing to go the extra mile to ensure clients get the best possible location with the amenities they need in the island’s commercial hub. Whether it’s a single floor or an entire building of office space you’re looking for, he’s the go-to-guy in commercial real estate.


Residential Real Estate
KM Realty Ltd. (100 Washington Mall, 7 Reid Street, Hamilton – 296-2400)
Kathryn Madeiros is said to do an amazing job whether she’s working for the seller, the buyer, developer or renter. Clients say she offers “personalised service” not seen elsewhere on island – an appreciated knack honed through her many years of experience.

Hotel for the Business Traveller
If you want a full-service hotel, the Fairmont Hamilton Princess (76 Pitt’s Bay Road, Pembroke – 295-3000) is the best option in town. You can’t beat the range of business amenities on offer or the fact that it’s most likely only a short walk away from whichever company a busy executive has travelled to the island to meet with. The newly renovated guest rooms are an impressive bonus.


Guest House/Small Business Hotel for the Business Traveller
For the businessman interested in more homey surroundings, Royal Palms Hotel (24 Rosemont Avenue, Pembroke – 292-1854) has that certain cachet. It offers a unique, personalised, Bermudian experience. Its garden setting has tons of ambiance, so much so it’s possible to forget you’re only a stone’s throw away from the bustling city of Hamilton and the work you travelled so far to complete.


Advertising/Marketing Agency
Members of the committee declined to vote because of industry ties. It was further recommended that an entirely separate awards scheme be created to better capture the scope of the industry.


Web Design
Creativity, ingenuity – when you place a dog named ‘Magic’ on your web site, citing it as a contributing member of the work team, it shows both. Jonathan Young of Bermedia (Suite 799, 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton – 505-1115) understands that web sites have to attract attention, as well as pass on information. “Edgy” and “very cool” were some of the words our judges used to describe his work.


Graphic Designer
For the second year in a row, Sean Collier of Cosmic Design Studio (13 Tumkins Lane, Pembroke – 292-8275) takes this category. Flexible, innovative and refreshingly uncommon, his designs regularly grasp attention because, well, that’s what graphic art is supposed to do. From brochures to annual reports to basic newspaper advertisements, he’s a one-stop shop that does it all.
(Note: Graham Redford, Account Executive, Managing Director, Total Marketing & Communications Ltd., abstained from voting on this category.)


Printing Company
According to our judges, there’s only one on the island worth mentioning – Island Press Ltd. (19 Elliott Street, Hamilton – 295-1944). It’s the third year in the row this award has been handed to the company and our judges were in unanimous agreement that if you need to print a report and you want a top quality result, it is the only option. Any press can print, but to do it well, they agreed, is another case altogether.


Sign/banner Maker
No debate was necessary before Bermuda Blueprinting Ltd. (20 Bakery Lane, Pembroke – 292-2078) was handed this category for the second year running. Its staff members are knowledgeable, helpful and reliable, and whether large scale, small scale, vinyl or fabric – no sign request is too great for them to consider. The company’s ‘can-do attitude’ is as impressive as its work, which hangs at sports and promotional events across the island.


Client Lunch
For a beautiful meal highlighted with great service and a wonderful atmosphere, Ascot’s Restaurant (24 Rosement Avenue, Pembroke – 295-9644) is the place to go. Recent renovations have made it swankier, more chic and the food is phenomenal. Business can be discussed without fear that a competitor might overhear and from its location just outside the hustle and bustle of Hamilton it’s easy to imagine the meal is part of a think-tank retreat.


Take-Out Lunch
The Lemon Tree Café (7 Queen Street, Hamilton – 292-0235) might just be the perfect place to snag a meal on those days when five minutes is all the time you have to spare from the computer. Although it’s often busy, service is fast and the staff super-friendly. The portions are generous and the menu boasts healthy options as well as a selection in accordance with the strict requirements of the South Beach Diet. To make life even easier, they will e-mail daily lunch specials so you can order in advance. And, as if to prove that no stone has been left unturned, a joke comes at the end of each message.


Corporate Golf Outing
Superior service and accessibility makes playing the professionally-designed18 holes at Belmont Hills Golf Club (25 Belmont Hills Drive, Warwick – 236-6400) a real joy.  Challenging enough for regular players but not too intimidating for hackers, the expansive grounds allow a dedicated hospitality tent for drinks, snacks and prizes after a day’s play. But it’s impossible to overlook the fact that there’s a phenomenal event – the 25^th PGA Grand Slam of Golf – happening at the Mid Ocean Club (Tucker’s Town, Hamilton Parish – 293-0330) later this month (October) and our judges agreed it deserves kudos for the prestigious accomplishment.


Corporate Gifts
For a high-end gift, nothing says Bermuda like an image of the island as captured by local photographer Roland Skinner (Picturesque Galleries, The Design Centre, 129 Front Street East, Hamilton – 292-1452). Equally evocative, and far less expensive, is the traditional Bermuda rum cake – it’s impossible to go wrong no matter which brand you select from among those sold in grocery and specialty stores all over. Which one you opt for is ultimately determined by three factors – budget, client and occasion.


Floral Designer
They seem to consistently do everything right. For the fifth year in a row, El Shaddai Florist (115 Middle Road, Warwick – 236-2469) has taken this category and it’s no wonder when it distinguishes itself in all the important areas – flowers are fresh, arrangements are unique, service is friendly, deliveries are on time, and there’s plenty of in-store items and advice for those willing to try their own hand at design.


Event Planning
You’re about to clinch a deal, but first you need to impress a potential business partner with a jaw-dropping fete. Whether it’s a party of 50 or 500, Select Sites Group (Suite 764, 48 Par-la-Ville, HM 11 Hamilton, Bermuda - 292-9741) can organise an event that’s sure to exceed expectations. It’s a repeat winner in this category. Drawing on decades of experience, Select Sites consistently delivers “on time and on budget”; its motto seems to be “creativity plus”!


Party Venue
When you have an island as beautiful as Bermuda as your stomping ground, why not use it to your benefit? And what better way to show it off than from the deck of a 105-foot luxury motor yacht? Have breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails on board the Venetian (MEF Enterprises Ltd., Medical Hall Building, 13 Reid Street, Hamilton – 295-8279). There’s definitely a wow factor in this venue. Offering amazing food, wine, service and scenery, it has “the cachet of the Amalfi Coast”.


Catering
When it comes to catering, all that really matters are the essentials – you receive what you’ve asked for, it’s appropriately hot or cold, delivered on time, well presented and tastes great. Not really a difficult task if that’s your business so why is it that so many companies get it wrong? Chef Otto Kummer (537-5373) and his efficient staff provide meals that are “fresh” and “creative”. And as for the service? Nothing short of “superior”.


Place for Corporate Happy Hour
Executive types have a special appreciation of happy hour. After a hard week of work, it’s more about ambiance than raucity – a casual place with a great selection of wine, beer, cocktails and nibbles. Ten (10 Dundonald Street, Hamilton – 295-0857) fills that void for many. Slightly out of the way, small enough that the exceptionally friendly staff knows its regulars but serves everyone equally well, its modern design would fit in just as well in a big city as it does Bermuda.