THE Hastings region excelled in the NSW Tourism Awards, taking out several awards.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council won gold in the local government tourism category, silver in the heritage and cultural tourism category for the Glasshouse and a bronze in the festival and events category for Tastings on Hastings.
It is the second year running the council has collected the gold award in the local government tourism category.
The Corner restaurant in Port Macquarie also won gold in the hotly contested tourism restaurants and catering services category and Bago Vineyards won bronze in the tourism wineries, distilleries and breweries category.
The Telegraph Retreat Luxury Cottages and Diamond Waters Treehouse Retreat were finalists.
Mayor Peter Besseling said the greater Port Macquarie region had been one of the night’s stand-out performers.
“Our strong representation at a state level demonstrated that as a regional destination we have a huge amount to offer visitors,” he said.
“The awards showcased not only council’s success working with local business and industry to market our destination but that we are working with very high-quality and pro-active industry partners.”
The NSW Tourism Awards were presented at a dinner function in Randwick, with the council represented by economic development group manager Liesa Davies.
The winners automatically become finalists in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, which will be presented in Sydney in February.
