Top night for South West tourism operators

South West tourism operators have collected a swag of top awards at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, joining a total of 13 medals awarded to WA businesses at the ceremony.

Margaret River’s Harvest Tours led the charge, taking home Gold for Excellence in Food Tourism.

The Hayman family, who operate the busy tour service across the South West and offer a range of tours to showcase both the natural beauty of the region and its best food and beverage spots, said they were thrilled to receive the accolade.

“Receiving Gold last night for Food Tourism in Australia is an absolute honour and amazing achievement for our small family business.

“Thank you to everyone who has been on tour and indulged and discovered our beautiful South West.

“To our partners within the region, we could not be where we are now without all of you support and memorable experiences.”

Margaret River Region Open Studios won Silver in the Festivals & Events category, something MRROS Chair Jim Davies said was a huge win for both the arts community and the region itself.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the greatest win for a grassroots visual arts event in Australia,” he said.

“We’ve entered the Tourism Awards just twice, and each time have made it to the National finals. This is our greatest achievement to date. To be awarded Silver, and to be acknowledged on the national stage for tourism excellence, is truly incredible.

“It speaks volumes for the creativity flowing in the Margaret River Region and the desire of visitors and tourists to have an immersive arts experience when they travel.

“Enormous congratulations to our wonderful artists who make this event possible by opening up their studios and their hearts to allow visitors to see into their creative spaces.

“Thank you to the tireless efforts of our voluntary board and to our team and to our local, regional and state tourism bodies for their support.”

Busselton’s iconic Jetty received Bronze (Ecotourism), while Broadwater Resort (3-3.5 Star Accommodation) and Pullman Bunker Bay Resort (5 Star Luxury Accommodation) also brought home a Bronze medal in their respective categories.

“All WA medallists from the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards demonstrated a profound commitment to showcasing the world-class tourism experiences WA has to offer, both in Perth and across the regions,” Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.

“Now is a perfect time to book a trip in Western Australia and add these National Award winners to the list of must-do experiences.”