AusLeisure

Perth has been announced as the host of the 2017 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, the tourism industry’s premier awards event recognising outstanding industry achievements, to be held in early 2018.

The announcement was made at Friday’s 2016 Awards ceremony in Darwin in front of more than 750 industry representatives.

The night saw Western Australian tourism businesses pick up a total of 10 awards, receiving two gold medals, four silver and four bronze medals.

All the Western Australian finalists in the national awards had been gold medallists in their categories as announced at the Perth Airport Western Australian Tourism Awards in November 2016.

Albany’s The Beach House at Bayside, which underwent a major expansion and added three rooms to the property this year, was awarded a Gold Medal in the Hosted Accommodation category at ceremony – the first National medal for the business.

North West business Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures picked up its first National Gold medal in the Adventure Tourism category, which follows a Bronze medal in the Unique Accommodation category in last year’s award program.

Silver and Bronze medals were awarded to the following Western Australian businesses:

• COMO The Treasury at the State Buildings - New Tourism Business (Silver)
• Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association - Visitor Information Services (Silver)
• Top Drop Tours - Tour & Transport Operators (Silver)
• Sail Ningaloo - Ecotourism (Silver)
• ADAMS - Major Tour & Transport Operators (Bronze)
• Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures Horizontal Hotel - Unique Accommodation (Bronze)
• Mandurah Crab Fest - Major Festivals & Events (Bronze)
• Sandalford Wines - Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services (Bronze)

Australian Tourism Awards Chair Daniel Gschwind said the Awards had a long history of recognising excellence across the tourism industry.

Gscwind stated “the Awards give the tourism industry the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of businesses in the past 12 months, and we are pleased to be returning to Perth for this celebration for the first time since 2011.”

Australian Tourism Industry Council Chair and Tourism Council WA Chief Executive Evan Hall said hosting the 2017 ceremony would give Perth the opportunity to showcase the significant transformation which had recently taken place.

Speaking on Friday, Hall explained “in 2018, Perth will be a much different place compared with when it last hosted the industry’s best and brightest in 2011 – public and private investment has resulted in a major upgrade in capacity and the development of world-class venues, precincts and facilities.

“We look forward to hosting the 2017 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards and showcasing Perth and Western Australia’s fantastic destinations and tourism product to the industry.

“As the WA medallists in tonight’s awards demonstrate, the State has a great range of amazing tourism experiences on offer for visitors and we look forward to showcasing our destination, experiences and products to the nation when the tourism industry travels to Perth en masse next year.”

Images: Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures (top) and Evan Hall (below).

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