Local award finalists cleaned up at the NSW Tourism Awards held in Sydney on the weekend, taking home a total 19 Gold, Silver and Bronze awards across 14 major categories, with a trifecta in the Deluxe Accommodation category and a Gold Award for the Legendary Pacific Coast only 12 months after its official launch.
Mid-North Coast Tourism’s Executive Officer, Ms Belinda Novicky, said we had a strong line-up of just over 30 finalists across most major categories, with more than half of our regional finalists taking home a major award.
Highlights among the winners were the Mid-North Coast taking home Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Deluxe Accommodation category, with The Legendary Pacific Coast winning the Gold for Tourism Marketing and Greater Port Macquarie taking the Gold.
Awardees in the region that came into the mix included:
Deluxe Accommodation: Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel, PM GOLD; The Observatory Port Macquarie SILVER
Major Festivals and Events: 2011 Urban Hotel Group Ironman Australia, Port Macquarie BRONZE
Specialised Tourism Services: Bentonu incorporating Bent on Food/Bent on Life SILVER
Visitor Information Services: Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre GOLD; Lismore and Nimbin Visitor Information Centres SILVER
Meetings and Business Tourism: Shoal Bay Resort GOLD; Ballina Beach Resort and Conference Centre
Major Tour / Transport Operators: Moonshadow Cruises GOLD
Tourism Marketing: The Legendary Pacific Coast GOLD; Greater Port Macquarie Tourism and Events; Manning Valley Tourism
Tourism Education and Training: TAFE NSW – North Coast Institute, Tourism Education and Training BRONZE
Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services: Byron Beach Café, Byron Bay SILVER; The Corner Restaurant, Port Macquarie BRONZE; Bent on Food, Wingham
Tourist and Caravan Parks: Big 4 North Star Holiday Park, Tweed Heads GOLD; BIG4 Soldiers Point Holiday Park; Halifax Holiday Park
Tourist Pubs: Shoal Bay Country Club GOLD
Heritage & Cultural Tourism: Glasshouse Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre
Festivals and Events: Old Bar Beach Festival
Tourist Attractions: Tabatinga Family Fun Centre — Coffs Harbour
Hosted Accommodation: Honeycomb Valley Farm, Nabiac
Unique Accommodation: Clarence River Wilderness Lodge
Standard Accommodation: Vacation Village, Port Macquarie
Tour and Transport Operators: Helicopter Scenic Flights/South Solitary Island Heli Tours
Adventure Tourism: Yuraygir Coastal Walk
New Tourism Development: Clarence River Way Project.
For further information, contact: Sonia Fingleton, phone: (02) 65859324 or 0414376868.
