Nelson’s Bowater Toyota has taken out the coveted 2016 Toyota Dealer of the Year at the annual Toyota Dealer Awards ceremony in Auckland recently.
It’s a hat trick for Bowater Toyota, with 2016’s recognition being the dealerships third consecutive Dealer of the Year win for overall excellence in all aspects of dealership operations.
Toyota New Zealand has been hosting a Dealership Awards ceremony for more than 30 years to recognise the continuous commitment and high level of performance that Toyota dealerships deliver.
This year’s celebrations included guest attendance by Toyota Japan representative, Masakazu Yoshimura, alongside brand ambassadors; golden girl Dame Valerie Adams and Kiwi musical talent, Jason Kerrison.
Family owned Bowater Toyota – which operates in Nelson, Richmond and Motueka – claimed the top award over fellow finalists Rutherford & Bond Toyota (Wellington) and Miles Toyota (Christchurch).
Adding to their crown of success, Bowater Toyota also received the Used Vehicle Excellence Cup and the Parts and Accessories Excellence Cup.
The company’s CEO, Tony Bowater, believes the awards reflect the Bowater team’s collective understanding of how a strong and healthy community through respect for people, encouragement and continuous improvement directly supports a strong and healthy business.
Dealerships acquire points throughout the year across a multitude of aspects including their commitment to company growth, investment in people development and training, customer experience, sales target achievement, facilities and Mystery Shop results with the top three dealerships going on to become finalists.
Tasman Toyota, which claimed the 2015 Service Excellence Cup, has taken it up another notch having received both the 2016 President’s Trophy for outstanding customer satisfaction – an award that rewards consistence excellence in customer satisfaction – and the 2016 Service Excellence Cup.
Manawatu Toyota also performed exceptionally well over 2016 to claim the Excellence in Leadership Award for exemplary leadership in the advancement of the Manawatu dealership and its people.
Hawkes Bay Toyota won the Toyota Financial Services (TFS) Dealer of the Year Award.
Lexus of Wellington was named the prestigious Lexus Dealer of the Year, while Wellington-region based Rutherford & Bond Toyota took out the TFS President’s Trophy.
The Dealership Award ceremony was co-presented with respective representatives from Toyota New Zealand’s brand partners; Toyota Financial Services (TFS), The Parenting Place (CEO, Greg Fleming), The Castrol Toyota Racing Series (alumni, Nick Cassidy), Emirates Team New Zealand (sailors, Blair Tuke and Peter Burling), The Department of Conservation (Director General, Lou Sanson) and Lexus brand partner Malaghan Institute (Professor Graham Le Gros).
