Congratulations are in order to a range of to Byron tourist-based business that won awards at the 2013 NSW Tourism Awards dinner and ceremony at Royal Randwick in Sydney last week.
Winning gold for the major festivals and events category was Bluesfest while the silver winner of the tourism restaurant and catering services category was Byron Beach Cafe.
Also winning silver was Byron Bay Cottages for the unique accommodation category and The Legendary Pacific Coast for the destination marketing category.
Bronze went to Arakwal Dolphin Dreaming – Cape Byron State Conservation Area for the Indigenous tourism category while a highly commended award for tourist and caravan parks category went to Suffolk Beach Holiday Park.
Byron wasn’t the only town in the region to score; the Lismore & Nimbin Visitor Information Centre took out the bronze award in the visitor information and services category against 170 other contenders.
A spokesperson for the centres said mention was made of the Lismore centre’s refurbished interactive indoor rainforest and recently installed floor-to-ceiling interpretative panels depicting the history of the region, Aboriginal culture and natural environment.
Owner of the Byron Beach Cafe, Ben Kirkwood, said, ‘These awards provide a benchmark for the state’s finest tourism businesses, so to be publicly recognised as one of the best restaurants in NSW is an extraordinary honour for our hard-working team’.
Bluesfest manager Annika Oman said, ‘I am so proud to be working on an event that has the best team of people and makes thousands of people happy each year’.
‘It does not get much better than this.’
The awards encompass 31 categories across the industry spectrum: from attractions, festivals and events, ecotourism, tour and transport operators, marketing and accommodation and outstanding contribution from individuals.
