Western Australia's best shine at the 2008 WA Tourism Awards
Fremantle Prison, Willie Creek Pearl Farm, Karijini Eco Retreat, Kooljaman at Cape Leveque, Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association and Cable Beach Club Resort were some of the big winners at the 2008 Western Australian Tourism Awards, held at Burswood Entertainment Complex Grand Ballroom on Saturday 29 November.
The Gala Dinner, attended by over 850 guests, saw the coming together of the top tourism business throughout Western Australia to celebrate the State’s highest honours in tourism excellence.
WA's own Ernie Dingo and Monica Kos led the evening’s proceedings with awards were presented in 26 categories, including a new category Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism which was won by Kooljaman at Cape Leveque.
Following on from its win in the National Tourism Awards earlier this year the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association took out the prestigious Sir David Brand Award for Tourism.
The Sir David Brand Medal for the Outstanding Contribution by an individual was won by Ian Laurance AM who has had a long involvement in the tourism industry particularly in the Pilbara and Kimberley Regions. He is currently the Chairman of Australia’s North West.
Graham Moss, CEO of Tourism Council WA and who was also the Chair of Judges for the Awards said “This year’s Awards drew a record number of submissions from a wide range of tourism providers from all parts of Western Australia. As Chair of Judges I was able to view the submissions first hand and they were outstanding.”
He said “the Awards were testimony to the outstanding quality of tourism facilities, services and operators in Western Australia.”
The winners of each category go on to participate in the National Tourism Awards which will be announced in February 2009 and Mr. Moss said that “with the quality of the winning submissions, I am confident that Western Australian entries will fare well in the National Awards”.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Category 1 – Major Tourist Attractions
Winner – Fremantle Prison
Silver – The Bell Tower, Home of the Swan Bells of Perth
Bronze – Bunbury Dolphin Discovery
Category 2 – Tourist Attractions
Winner – Willie Creek Pearl Farm
Silver – Sandalford Wines
Bronze – Bibbulmun Track
Category 3 – Major Festivals and Events
Winner – 2008 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
Silver – Perth Red Bull Air Race World Series Perth 2007
Category 4 – Festivals and Events
Winner – Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster
Silver – Channel Seven Crab Fest Mandurah
Bronze – City Of Perth Winter Arts Festival
Category 5 – Ecotourism
Winner - Karijini Eco Retreat
Silver – Bunbury Dolphin Discovery
Bronze – Donnelly River Cruises
Category 6 – Heritage and Cultural Tourism
Winner – Fremantle Prison
Silver – The Bell Tower, Home of the Swan Bells of Perth
Bronze – Broome Sightseeing Tours
Category 7 – Indigenous Tourism
Winner – Kooljaman At Cape Leveque
Silver – Karijini Eco Retreat
Bronze - Wula Guda Nyinda Aboriginal Eco Adventures
Category 8 – Specialised Tourism Services
Winner – Willie Creek Pearls
Silver – Elmars In The Valley
Bronze – Fremantle Prison Gift Shop
Category 9 – Visitor Information and Services
Winner – Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association
Silver – Swan Valley Visitor Centre
Bronze – City Of Perth i-City Visitor Services
Category 10 – Meetings and Business Tourism
Winner – Perth Convention Exhibition Centre
Silver – Hyatt Regency Perth
Bronze – Joondalup Resort
Category 11 – Major Tour and/or Transport Operators
Winner - Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tours
Silver – Western Xposure
Bronze – Heli West
Category 12 – Tour and/or Transport Operators
Winner – Kimberley Wild Expeditions
Silver – Donnelly River Cruises
Bronze - Windward Balloon Adventures
Category 13 – Adventure Tourism
Winner – Windward Balloon Adventures
Silver – Western Xposure
Bronze – Fremantle Prison Tunnels Tours
Category 14 – Tourism Marketing
Winner – Cable Beach Club Resort Broome
Silver – Esperance Out of the way. Out of this world
Bronze – Amazing Albany Tourism Marketing Campaign
Category 15 – Tourism Education and Training
Winner – Marine Tourism Training Program
Silver – Quinlan’s Hospitality & Tourism Training Program
Bronze – Australian School of Tourism and Hotel Management
Category 16 – Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Winner – Café Pronto
Silver – Sandalford Wines
Bronze – Watershed Premium Wines
Category 17 - Tourism Wineries
Winner - Sandalford Wines
Silver – Xanadu Wines
Bronze – Watershed Premium Wines
Category 18 – Tourist and Caravan Parks
Winner – Aspen Parks – Exmouth Cape Holiday Park
Silver – Peppermint Park Eco Village
Bronze – Coral Coast Tourist Park
Category 19 – Backpacker Accommodation
Winner – Perth City YHA
Silver – Aspen Parks – Blue Reef Backpackers (Exmouth Holiday Park)
Bronze – Kimberley Croc Backpackers
Category 20 – Hosted Accommodation
Winner – Cape Howe Cottages
Silver – The Beach House At Bayside
Bronze – Kendenup Lodge & Cottages
Category 21 – Unique Accommodation
Winner – Faraway Bay, The Bushcamp
Silver – Kooljaman at Cape Leveque
Bronze – Karijini Eco Retreat
Category 22 – Standard Accommodation
Winner – Goodearth Hotel
Silver – Perth Ambassador Hotel
Bronze – South Thomson Bay Accommodation, Rottnest Island
Category 23 – Deluxe Accommodation
Winner – Seashells Resort Mandurah
Silver – Habitat Resort Broome
Bronze - Novotel Ningaloo Resort, Exmouth
Category 24 – Luxury Accommodation
Winner – Cable Beach Club Resort Broome
Category 25 – New Tourism Development
Winner - Natural Olive Oil Soap Factory
Silver – The Pearle of Cable Beach
Bronze – Two feet & a Heartbeat
Category 26 – Qantas Award For Excellence In Sustainable Tourism
Winner – Kooljaman at Cape Leveque
Sir David Brand Award for Tourism
Winner – Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association
Sir David Brand Medal
Winner – Ian Laurance
Sir David Brand Young Achiever Medal
Winner – Benjamin James Knapinski
FACET Golden Guide Award
Winner – Phil Coulthard