Attached Documents2009 Tasmanian Tourism Award Winners
The tourism industry’s highest achievers have been honoured tonight at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania Chief Executive Daniel Hanna said the Tasmanian Tourism Awards showcased the very best that the industry had to offer, rewarded those who have made an outstanding contribution and encouraged operators to strive to provide quality products and services.
“The Awards are not given lightly. To maintain high standards, the winners have to earn these awards,” Mr Hanna said.
“This year we had a strong level of entries across the award categories as well as some outstanding nominations for the People’s Choice Award,” Mr Hanna said.
The Award for an Outstanding Contribution by an Individual went to John Dabner. John is involved in Tourism Tasmania’s Zone Marketing Group, the Tarkine Discussion Group, the Stanley Precinct Study and the Australian Hotels Association.
The award judges noted that John “is a rare breed of individual, who provides both inspiration and support to the people who make up the tourism and hospitality industry in his region” and said that he was a consummate communicator whose passion for, and knowledge of, the industry made him a superb advocate and powerful lobbyist.
The People’s Choice Award went to Strahan Bungalows. This award is judged by visitors who complete survey forms to rate the quality of their experience. A number of completed survey forms from guests describe Strahan Bungalows ‘absolutely the best’ while others consistently referred to the owners’ friendly welcome, excellent customer service and the outstanding presentation of their property.
The Minister’s Young Achiever Award went to David Gunton, co-owner and operator of Bruny Island Explorers Cottages and the Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism went to Kim Seagram, of Stillwater and Black Cow. Kim is also the chairperson of the Launceston Tamar North Zone Marketing Group.
Additionally three award winners - Ten Days on the Island, The Wilderness Gallery and Clydesdale Manor - have been inducted into the Tourism Hall of Fame. The Tourism Awards Hall of Fame recognises those businesses that have achieved outstanding success at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards by winning the same category for three consecutive years.
Category award winners are automatically entered into the Australian Tourism Awards which will be announced in Hobart on the 26th of February.
Mr Hanna said Tasmania should be very proud of the tourism industry’s contribution to the State.
“In the past year Tasmania’s tourism industry has out-performed the rest of the nation. In the 12 months to the end of June this year Tasmania welcomed a record 907,200 people who spent more than $1.45 billion in all areas of the State while they were here.
“This is a phenonomal result against the background of the global financial crisis and the corresponding downturn in the Australian tourism industry.
“Tasmania is the most tourism intensive state in the nation, with a greater share of Gross State Product and employment in tourism than any other Australian state, including Queensland.
“At a time when investment and jobs were contracting in other industries, tourism yet again proved itself to be the mainstay of the Tasmanian economy.
“There are a number of reasons why Tasmania has fared better than other Australian destinations during the global financial crisis. One of the main reasons is that, despite recent budget cuts to tourism marketing funding, we are still benefiting from consistent and effective marketing over many years. We have also seen strong investment in marketing Tasmania by the TT-Line, airline and private tourism operators.
“This success underlines the importance of continuing to invest in destination marketing for the future, especially in Victoria and New South Wales which are far and away our biggest markets.
Mr Hanna said the industry strongly supported the State Government’s commitment of an additional $4 million this financial year for marketing and events which will go a long way to sustaining visitor numbers into the future.
“Nonetheless, all of this investment would be for nothing without the efforts of everyone engaged in our industry – from the operators and CEOs of our biggest hotels and attractions to the many people on the frontline serving customers,” Mr Hanna said.
To view the full list of winners please see attached list.
