Laurie takes out business gold

Canberra businesswoman Laurie McDonald’s accommodation business has won top gong for the ACT at the Telstra “Go For Business Gold” awards ceremony.  

Canberra Furnished Accommodation won the ACT category at the national ceremony, hosted by former Australian Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson at The Museum of Contemporary Arts in Sydney last Thursday.

Laurie, pictured, who is managing director of the company, started the accommodation business when she was on maternity leave with her first child in 2003.

Today it has almost 60 properties available in central Canberra.

Based in Braddon, the company manages furnished properties in the inner-south and inner-north for corporate, government and diplomatic guests as well as tradespeople on contracts and families relocating. Laurie says the properties provide a “home away from home” for people.

The “Go For Business Gold” competition, launched in the lead-up to the London Olympics, encouraged national small-to-medium businesses to showcase their ability as motivators.

Laurie and her team submitted a two-minute video demonstrating how Canberra Furnished Accommodation excelled at motivating staff.

The competition was judged by former Australian Olympic swimming coach Laurie Lawrence, who spoke live from the Olympic Village in London at the ceremony.

As part of their prize Canberra Furnished Accommodation was awarded two return airfares to Sydney to attend a business master class workshop at the Telstra Experience Centre with presentations from leaders in marketing, technology and business development.

Laurie said she initially didn’t expect to win.

“This was the first time we’d forayed into something like this with videos, so we didn’t have high expectations going in,” she said.

“To receive this award is  a big thrill and a big boost to keep going through the tough days. It’s always great to have external acknowledgement.”

In 2009 Laurie also won the ACT Chamber of Women in Business Businesswoman of the Year Award.

Canberra Furnished Accommodation is also one of three finalists in the Micro Business Awards, to be announced on Friday.

Source: City News, 24 July 2012