Seven of South Australia’s magnificent tourism experiences have been inducted into the State’s Tourism Hall of Fame at the 2014 South Australian Tourism Awards, winning their category three years in a row:
• Adventure Bay Charters – best Major Tourist Attraction
• Hahndorf Farm Barn – best Tourist Attraction
• Cellar Door Wine Festival – best Festival & Event
• West Terrace Cemetery – best Heritage & Cultural Tourism Attraction
• Barossa Visitor Centre – best Visitor Information & Services
• Pindarie Cellar Door – best Tourism Winery
• Rawnsley Park Station Eco-Villas – best Unique Accommodation
A black tie event attended by the who’s who of the State’s tourism industry saw 30 awards presented to businesses and individuals judged to be the most outstanding in their category (full list attached).
A further 71 entrants who achieved a high standard in their category were recognised with a gold, silver or bronze medal.
Calypso Star Charter’s Ron Forster was also honoured for his involvement in tourism, receiving the award for an Outstanding Contribution by an Individual. Ron is a successful entrepreneur who has spent the last three decades creating tourism ventures that have been instrumental in promoting the Eyre Peninsula, and in particular Port Lincoln.
University of SA student, Joanna Chudy was chosen as SA Tourism Student of the Year, and will travel to Christchurch as part of the SKAL International Adelaide Student Exchange Program.
Announced for the first time at the South Australian Tourism Awards, Pawan Kumar was named the South Australian Taxi Driver of the Year – an Award that encourages the highest levels of service and customer satisfaction.
South Australian Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive Ward Tilbrook congratulated all winners and the seven inductees to the Hall of Fame.
“South Australia is home to some of the world’s best tourism experiences and it is important to celebrate excellence in an industry that is so significant to the South Australian economy,” Mr Tilbrook says.
“As the State’s peak tourism body, the South Australian Tourism Industry Council continually strives to raise the standards of the industry, present its members as high quality to build consumer confidence and increase participation in the world-class experiences on offer.
“The South Australian Tourism Awards are the pinnacle of excellence within the tourism industry, rewarding innovation and fostering better business practices by setting benchmarks for all tourism operators to aspire to.
“The Awards’ standards are exceptionally high and visitors can book one of these award-winning experiences with confidence when planning their next holiday.”
The awards are judged in accordance with a strict set of rules and criteria, and winners will represent the State at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards when Adelaide hosts the prestigious national event in April 2015.
2014 South Australian Tourism Awards WINNERS
Major Tourist Attractions supported by Adelaide Casino
Hall of Fame and Winner – Adventure Bay Charters
Tourist Attractions supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Hall of Fame and Winner – Hahndorf Farm Barn
Major Festivals & Events supported by Big Screen Video
Winner – 2014 Clipsal 500 Adelaide
Festivals & Events supported by Renniks Hire
Hall of Fame and Winner – Cellar Door Wine Festival – Adelaide
Ecotourism supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
Winner – Rawnsley Park Station Eco-Villas
Heritage & Cultural Tourism supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
Hall of Fame and Winner – West Terrace Cemetery
Indigenous Tourism supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
Winner – Aboriginal Cultural Tours – South Australia
Specialised Tourism Services supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – Harbour Town Adelaide
Visitor and Information Services supported by the SA Tourism Industry Council
Hall of Fame and Winner – Barossa Visitor Centre
Business Tourism supported by HWR Media
Winner – Beyond the Boardroom – Team Building Australia
Major Tour &/or Transport Operator supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – SeaLink Ferries, Tours & Holiday Packages
Tour &/or Transport Operator supported by the SA Tourism Industry Council
Winner – Tour Barossa
Adventure Tourism supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action
Destination Marketing supported by PPR Adelaide
Winner – Find Your Everything – Unley Precincts
Tourism Education & Training supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – TAFE SA Tourism, Events and Travel
Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services supported by Restaurant and Catering South Australia
Winner – Windy Point Restaurant & Café
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries supported by Jacob’s Creek
Hall of Fame and Winner – Pindarie Cellar Door
Tourist & Caravan Parks supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park
Backpacker Accommodation supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – Port Lincoln YHA
Unique Accommodation supported by PPR Adelaide
Hall of Fame and Winner – Rawnsley Park Station Eco-Villas
Standard Accommodation supported by the SA Tourism Industry Council
Winner – cu@wallaroo
Deluxe Accommodation supported by Barossa Valley Brewing
Winner – Yondah Beach House
Luxury Accommodation supported by Adelaide Casino
Winner – The Playford
New Tourism Development supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – The Frames
Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism supported by Qantas Airways
Winner – Adelaide Shores
Local Government Award for Tourism supported by Big Screen Video
Winner – The Barossa Council
Excellence in South Australian Food Tourism supported by Food SA
Winner – Udder Delights Cheese Cellar
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual supported by Qantas Airways
Winner – Ron Forster (Calypso Star Charters)
South Australian Tourism Student of the Year supported by SKAL International Adelaide
Winner – Joanna Chudy (University of South Australia)
South Australian Taxi Driver of the Year supported by the Taxi Council of South Australia
Winner – Pawan Kumar
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