Plenty of local businesses were winners at the North Coast Tourism Awards which celebrated the top tourism operators who gathered to celebrate their achievements and honour the industry’s leading performers.
The winners were announced last night at an event hosted by NBN News’ Jane Goldsmith at the Sails by Rydges in Port Macquarie.
John O’Neill, Chair of Destination North Coast (DNC) said it was fitting to see the outstanding Potager – A Kitchen Garden take the award for Business of the Year replicating the amazing success that they have had at the state and national level. Likewise, it was great to see two leading lights on the North Coast in the Big Banana and Northern Rivers Rail Trail being awarded the Tourist Attraction of the Year and Outstanding Tourism Start-up, respectively’.
Tourism symposium
The Tourism Awards followed the North Coast Tourism Symposium that carried the theme Creating World-Class Experiences. The Symposium delivered a line up of industry speakers and influences including Darrell Wade, Co-founder and Chair of Intrepid Travel who outlined the core ingredients that go into his organisations global success, Nick Baker, CEO of Reflections Holidays who discussed their ‘Wild at Heart’ strategy and updates from Tourism Australia, Destination NSW, Destination North Coast and many more.
Gold for Explore Byron Bay
North Coast cultural tour operator Delta Kay was at the awards and was a winner on the night getting a Gold Award for Excellence in Cultural Tourism for Explore Byron Bay which hosts tours and programs at Walgun (Cape Byron), Bangalow and Broken Head.
Ms Kay said she was very pleased to accept the award. ‘I am So proud to represent Byron Bay alongside two other great winners, Gold for Festival/Event of the Year which was won by Byron Bay Bluesfest 2024 and Gold for Excellence in Wellness Tourism as well as Silver for Excellence in Specialised Tourism and Silver for Tour and Transport Operator of the Year,
which were won by Let’s Go Surfing.’
Ms Kay said she and the Explore Byron Bay mob were very proud to pick up the award at the event in Port Macquarie.
‘This award goes to my Elders and Bundjalung Country,’ she said last night. ‘Our hardworking team is honoured to showcase an authentic cultural experience in the beautiful Byron Shire.’
The entire list of winners:
Tourism Business of the Year was Potager
Business Event Venue of the Year
GOLD Lennox Head Cultural Centre
SILVER Osteria Weddings
BRONZE Pacific Bay Resort Coffs Harbour
Excellence in Camping, Glamping and/or Caravanning
GOLD Myall River Camp – Glamping
SILVER Tasman Holiday Parks – North Star
BRONZE Reflections Byron Bay
Excellence in Cultural Tourism
GOLD Explore Byron Bay
SILVER Giingan Gumbaynggirr Cultural Experience
BRONZE Port Macquarie Museum
Excellence in Food Tourism
GOLD Potager, Carool
SILVER Pipit Restaurant, Pottsville
BRONZE Shearwater Restaurant, Coffs Harbour
Excellence in Specialised Tourism
GOLD WildNets Adventures
SILVER Let’s Go Surfing
BRONZE Myall River Camp
Excellence in Tourism Services
GOLD Ballina Visitor Information Centre
SILVER Destination Barrington Coast
BRONZE Stylish Camping Co.
Excellence in Wellness Tourism
GOLD Let’s Go Surfing
SILVER Sugar Beach Ranch
BRONZE Positive Energy Adventures & Retreats
Excellence in Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
GOLD Bucket Brewery
SILVER Husk Farm Distillery
BRONZE The Lord Howe Island Brewery
Festival/Event of the Year
GOLD Byron Bay Bluesfest 2024
SILVER Grafton Jacaranda Festival
BRONZE Boo at the Zoo – Billabong Zoo
Outstanding Accommodation Experience
GOLD The Belfry Guesthouse
SILVER Island House
BRONZE Nambucca Valley Train Carriages
Tour and Transport Operator of the Year
GOLD Coffs Harbour Trikes and Private Tours
SILVER Lets Go Surfing
BRONZE Watersports Guru
Outstanding Tourism Start-up
GOLD North Coast Rail Trail – Tweed Section
SILVER Hirehood
BRONZE Port Macquarie Distillery
Excellence in Innovation
GOLD Ritchie Villages
SILVER Ballina Visitor Information Centre
BRONZE Tweed Regional Museum
Tourist Attraction of the Year
GOLD The Big Banana
SILVER Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary
BRONZE Billabong Zoo
Outstanding Tourism Employee
GOLD Maree Milne – Myall River Camp
Outstanding Tourism Business Leader
GOLD Yen Trihn – Pipit Restaurant
SILVER Amber Kolo – Holiday Park Marketing Solutions
BRONZE Johnathan Zirkler – Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club
Outstanding Young Tourism Business Leader
GOLD Tiga Cross – Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary
SILVER Alanah Ward – Ballina Visitor Information Centre
BRONZE Jake Stone – Billabong Zoo
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