Port Stephens wins four golds in tourism awards

19-November-2011

Port Stephens MP Craig Baumann congratulated four local tourism operators who took home gold in the 2011 NSW Tourism Awards.

Nelson Bay's Moonshadow Cruises, Shoal Bay Resort and Spa, Newcastle Airport and the Shoal Bay Country Club all won their respective categories at the awards announced on Thursday night.

“This is a tremendous acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication tourism industry operators devote to making Port Stephens a memorable experience for visitors," he said.

“It is operators such as these that help promote this area and its economy and we should all be proud of the achievement of winning such an award."

Presented by the Tourism Industry Council NSW and sponsored by Destination NSW, the NSW Tourism Awards is the largest and most prestigious event on the State’s annual tourism calendar.

Mr Baumann said the awards, now in their twenty-second year, were an acknowledgement of the quality and diversity of tourism attractions and experiences in NSW.

Tourism Minister George Souris said the NSW Government, through Destination NSW, is very proud to be the major sponsor of this prestigious event.

“Destination NSW, armed with $400 million in funding over the next four, has been set the target of doubling overnight tourism expenditure by 2020," he said.

“It’s a huge job, but with the Government’s commitment and support, combined with a robust and professional industry, it is a goal within our reach.

“Again, I congratulate this year’s winners, who are the benchmark for best practices in the tourism sector,” Mr Souris said.

The full list of award winners at the 2011 NSW Tourism awards:

Category Winner
1. Adventure Tourism Tri State Safaris
2. Backpacker Accommodation Sydney Harbour YHA
3. Deluxe Accommodation Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartments Hotel
4. Ecotourism Lane Cove River Tourist Park
5. Festivals and Events NSW Caravan, Camping, RV & Holiday Supershow
6. Heritage and Cultural Tourism Written in Stone
7. Hosted Accommodation Mollymook Beach Waterfront
8. Indigenous Tourism Coffs Coast Aboriginal Discovery
9. Luxury Accommodation Sheraton on the Park
10. Major Festivals and Events Bluesfest Byron Bay
11. Major Tour and/or Transport Operators Moonshadow Cruises
12. Major Tourist Attraction Taronga Zoo
13. Meetings and Business Tourism Shoal Bay Resort & Spa
14. New Tourism Development Tandara
15. Outstanding Contribution to Regional Tourism Lori Modde
16. Outstanding Contribution to Tourism by an Individual Jon Hutchison
17. QANTAS Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Lane Cove River Tourist Park
18. Specialised Tourism Services Newcastle Airport
19. Standard Accommodation Scone Motor Inn
20. Tour and/or Transport Operator Tri State Safaris
21. Tourism Education and Training Travel 21fiftythree
22. Tourism Marketing The Legendary Pacific Coast
23. Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services Margan Restaurant
24. Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Boutique Breweries Wyndham Estate Winery
25. Tourist and Caravan Parks BIG4 North Star Holiday Resort & Caravan park
26. Tourist Attraction The Magic of Jenolan
27. Tourist Pub Shoal Bay Country Club Hotel
28. Unique Accommodation Somewhere Unique – An Escape for 2 in the Hunter
29. Visitor Information and Services Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre
30. Young Achiever in Tourism Award Ollie Philpot