WA wins gold at national tourism awards

Five Western Australian tourism businesses have received gold medals at the recent 2019 Australian Tourism Awards ceremony, with recognition for best accommodation and food tourism excellence among the winning categories.

Another five WA businesses were awarded silver and bronze medals at the ceremony, sponsored by Qantas and held in Canberra on Friday.

Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages won a gold medal for self-contained accommodation, after receiving a bronze medal at the Australian Tourism Awards in 2018.

The Balingup cottages are listed on the WA Tourism Awards’ Hall of Fame, having previously won gold for self-contained accommodation three years in a row.

Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures’ Horizontal Hotel was awarded gold at last week’s awards for unique accommodation.

It had won gold medals for adventure tourism in 2016 and 2017, and an award for best unique accommodation in 2017.

Horizontal Falls’ hotel was also previously awarded five gold medals at the WA Tourism Awards and was the winner of the Sir David Brand Award for Tourism in 2017.

It is listed on WA Tourism Awards Hall of Fame for adventure tourism and unique accommodation.

Meanwhile, Kimberley Quest took out gold in the tour and transport operators category at the Australian Tourism awards, while Swan Valley Visitor Centre won best visitor information services and Two Feet & a Heartbeat won excellence in food tourism.

Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said the state continued to produce world-class tourism experiences.

“The list of WA medallists from the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards demonstrates that our state is home to exceptional, nation-leading product,” he said.

Mr Hall encouraged Western Australians to add the award winners to their holiday plans.

“When you holiday in WA, you are supporting the local communities and jobs which depend on tourism,” he continued.

“You can make even more of a difference by choosing to book directly with tourism operators, rather than through online booking engines, to ensure your money stays in the local community.”

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the WA winners had proved that the state has quality and diversity in its tourism offerings.

Horizontal Falls also received a silver medal under the tourist attractions category, and Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours & Experiences took out silver for Torres Strait Islander Tourism.

Pullman Bunker Bay Resort in Margaret River received silver for luxury accommodation and bronze for business event venues, and Holberry House in Nannup received bronze for hosted accommodation.