This year’s official launch of the 2012 NSW Tourism Awards also welcomes and acknowledges the outstanding achievements of our state’s winners at the 2011 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

The Jubilee Room of New South Wales Parliament House is this year’s venue where the Awards will be officially launched and opened by the Hon. George Souris MP, the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing and Minister for the Arts.

The 2012 NSW Tourism Awards are moving into an exciting new era, with increased awareness and interest on the back of the success of New South Wales winners at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards and an expanded workshop program that will be delivered across regional New South Wales.  The Awards acknowledge and celebrate the best of our state’s tourism products and highlights those who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and success throughout the year.

With 31 categories across the wider industry, entry provides tourism businesses across all sectors the opportunity to review and benchmark business operations and to reassess strategic goals, based upon the feedback provided by the judging process.

Date: Tuesday 22 May
Time: 6pm for 6.30pm start
Venue: Jubilee Room, Parliament House
           

Scone Motor Inn has won an array of awards in the past which is indicative of their high quality facilities and excellent service. The awards include:

• Australian Accommodation Association (AAA) Property of the Year 2011
• AAA Gold Award Winners Superior Accommodation 2011
• Hunter and Central Coast Tourism Awards Hall of Fame 2011
• Australian Tourism Gold Award Winners Standard Accommodation 2010 & 2011
• NSW Tourism Gold Award Winners 2010 & 2011
• Hunter Tourism Gold Award Winners 2009, 2010 & 2011
• Bronze Award Hunter & Central Coast Tourism Awards 2011 (Meetings and Business Tourism)

For further information please visit www.sconemotorinn.com.au

The resort offers magnificent facilities that have set an industry benchmark. These amenities include a huge interactive aquatic adventure playground, large indoor children’s play centre, a licensed restaurant, and theatre and conference facilities. There is also a leisure centre that contains 2 masseurs, hair stylist, beauty therapist in addition to a 25 metre heated lap pool, 3 spas, gymnasium and sauna.  To complete the world class resort there is a state-of-the-art marine inspired learning centre providing accredited marine biology education to secondary school students, TAFE, University and special interest groups.

For further details please visit www.northstar.com.au

An economic impact study conducted in 2008 by URS Australia Pty Ltd confirmed that Newcastle Airport is a key driver of economic and employment growth to local tourism. Newcastle Airport is a current member of various industry associations and is involved with cooperative initiatives to encourage and foster tourism growth.

For further information please visit www.newcastleairport.com.au

CCAD has been operating since 2006 and is delivered to up to 5,000 people a year. Guided bushwalks, spotlighting tours, canoe trips, slideshows, tag-along 4WD tours are delivered in national parks, schools and other locations. These are run by Aboriginal Discovery Rangers in conjunction with local Aboriginal corporations and land councils. All materials are developed in consultation with the local Aboriginal community, including Elders, to ensure it is culturally appropriate and accurate. A major initiative in 2010-11 was the construction of a fabulous outdoor art, education and cultural heritage venue at the base of Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve.

For more information please click here

Over 80, 000 guests attended the event to see a wide range of exhibits including tourism destination information, caravan, RV and camping products. The Supershow has been running for 43 years with over 300 exhibitors, running over 9 days through April-May. The trade show also offers family entertainment, reptile shows, musical performances and free daily seminars for attendees. The varied program offering aims to excite visitors about travelling around Australia and increasing awareness of the unique experiences camping, RV and caravan holidays can offer.

The event provides a contribution to the local tourism economy of western Sydney and surrounding areas. Exhibitors account for over 5,000 paid bed nights during the course of the show, while restaurants and other businesses benefit from the influx of visitors.

For more information visit www.supershow.com.au

With applications now open for the 2012 South Coast Tourism Awards and winners being announced in August later this year, the awards present tourism operators the rare opportunity to achieve recognition for their achievements while also offering tourism businesses the chance to obtain a better insight of their business while also promoting themselves.

A unique aspect to this year’s awards that will benefit the applicant is the alternate categories that enable businesses to enter in exclusive categories at the South Coast level. The introduction of these categories reduces the uncertainty for applicants.

Key Dates for South Coast Tourism Awards include:

Applications Open: 5pm Thursday 29 March 2012
Entry Forms Due: 5pm Friday 8 June 2012
Site Inspections: 19 – 21 June 2012
Closing Date for Applications: 5pm Friday 22 June 2012
Gala Awards Dinner: Wednesday 15 August 2012

The South Coast Regional Tourism Organisation encourages all businesses involved in the tourism, events and hospitality industry within on the South Coast to submit an entry form and participate in the 2012 South Coast Regional Awards

For further information please visit http://www.awards.southcoast.net.au/ 

The college offers students multi-million dollar facilities and a broad range of services that cater to the needs of over 4,500 students. For the past 20 years, Hills College industry specialists have been passionate and enthusiastic in delivering their tourism training programs in a flexible and nurturing environment. The Hills College and Travel 21fiftythree specialise in tour guiding, holiday parks and resorts, retail travel (domestic and international), wholesaling, indigenous tourism, tourism and event management. While their courses range from skill-sets and traineeships to Advanced Diploma level courses. Travel 21fiftythree provides the ideal solution for up-skilling existing employees as well as educating new entrants to the industry.

The college has strong industry links both domestically and internationally which provides students with the opportunity for work experience and fostering a greater understanding of the industry. Involvement and dedication within the community is evident in their environmentally friendly practices and involvement in the federal governments Disengaged Youth Program.

For further information please click here

Situated only 10kms from the City of Sydney, nestled among 600 hectares of National Park, the LCRTP is known as Sydney’s environmentally friendly ecotourist park.

As part of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the park which is comprised of over 300 camping and caravan sites and 28 cabins which hosts over 150,000 guests a year. The park offers an abundance of native flora and fauna and is dedicated to highlighting Indigenous Culture through its onsite cultural program.

The park consistently meets world best practice standards in sustainability management and is consistently increasing sustainable deliverables such as on site renewable energy and water saving technology.

For more information please visit www.lcrtp.com.au