Four Port Stephens businesses are among a group of 12 from the wider Hunter Region that have been named as finalists in the 2019 NSW Tourism Awards.
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Oakvale Wildlife Park has followed up its gold award win in the first Destination Sydney Surrounds North Regional Tourism Awards in July by being named as a finalist in the state tourism awards.
Moonshadow-TQC Cruises, Port Stephens 4WD Tours and Sand Dune Adventures, who all won gold in last year's NSW Tourism Awards, will also fly the flag for Port Stephens in the awards that acknowledge exceptional tourism operators across NSW.
Celebrating its 30th year in 2019, the NSW Tourism Awards attracted nearly 150 entrants representing a diverse range of businesses from across the state.
Finalists across 26 categories are recognised for excellence in a range of areas such as Tourist Attractions, Festivals and Events, Ecotourism, New Tourism Business, Destination Marketing, Accommodation and Excellence in Accessible Tourism.
"The NSW Tourism Awards are the most prestigious awards in the tourism industry, with a long history of celebrating and recognising business excellence, innovation and outstanding customer service by tourism operators," Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes said.
"We're thrilled to see so many businesses entering the Awards this year and so many from the Hunter featuring among the finalists. It is recognition of the quality of tourism operators in our region."
Moonshadow was named the major tour and/or transport operator in the 2018 awards while Port Stephens 4WD Tours took out the top gong for tour and/or transport operators.
For a second year, Oakvale won bronze for tourism attraction.
Sand Dune Adventures, operated by the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, won Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism.
They also claimed silver for adventure tourism and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for having won the Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism category for the past three years.
The Hunter businesses nominated n the 2019 awards are:
- Beyond Ballooning, Lovedale
- Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park, Blacksmiths
- Brokenwood Wines Cellar Door, Pokolbin
- Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Lovedale
- Hunter Valley Gardens: Christmas Lights Spectacular
- Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association: Hunter Valley 'Here's to the Good Life' Campaign
- Macquarie 4 Star, Lake Macquarie
- Margan Wines and Restaurant, Broke
- Moonshadow - TQC Cruises, Nelson Bay
- Oakvale Wildlife Park, Salt Ash
- Port Stephens 4WD Tours, Nelson Bay
- Sand Dune Adventures, Williamtown
The winners of the 2019 NSW Tourism Awards will be announced at a gala dinner on November 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney.
Gold award winners in most categories go on to represent NSW at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, which will be held in Canberra in March 2020.
2019 NSW Tourism Awards categories
- Major Tourist Attractions
- Tourist Attractions
- Major Festivals and Events
- Festivals and Events
- Ecotourism
- Cultural Tourism
- Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
- Specialised Tourism Services
- Visitor Information Services
- Business Event Venues
- Major Tour and/or Transport Operators
- Tour and/or Transport Operators
- Adventure Tourism
- Destination Marketing
- Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
- Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
- Caravan & Holiday Parks
- Hosted Accommodation
- Unique Accommodation
- Self-Contained Accommodation
- Standard Accommodation
- Deluxe Accommodation
- Luxury Accommodation
- New Tourism Business
- Excellence in Food Tourism
- Excellence in Accessible Tourism
