The inaugural Destination Sydney Surrounds North Regional Tourism Awards will be held in Newcastle on Monday 29 July.
The regional awards acknowledge excellence by individuals and organisations in the tourism sector.
The Regional awards are being presented for the first time this year across all six NSW Destination Networks, with winners advancing to the NSW Tourism Awards and potentially the Australian Tourism Awards.
The Regional Tourism Awards program is supported by Destination NSW, the NSW Government and the NSW Business Chamber Tourism Industry Division.
Hunter Business Chamber and City of Newcastle are partnering to bring the Destination Sydney Surrounds North event to Newcastle.
Regional Tourism Awards Chair, Jane Barnes, said the awards attracted an impressive array of entries from a diverse range of businesses including destinations, events, restaurants, wineries and accommodation providers.
“The awards provide tourism organisations and individuals with the opportunity to gain insight into their business and industry, achieve recognition for their success and promote tourism within their region,” Jane Barnes said.
Hunter Business Chamber CEO, Bob Hawes, said the event would turn the tourism spotlight on Newcastle and the Hunter region.
“It is a good opportunity to bring local tourism operators and their staff together to connect and celebrate the achievements of their peers,” Bob said.
“Tourism is an important and growing sector in the Hunter and the Chamber is proud to be involved in facilitating interaction and collaboration between regional operators.”
Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes, said the arrival of the awards was timely as landmark infrastructure projects and a development boom drew record numbers of tourists.
“We’re delighted to partner with the local business chamber to bring these awards to Newcastle as projects like our Bathers Way coastal pathway draw increasing numbers of visitors,” Nuatali Nelmes said.”
“The City’s first five-star hotel will soon emerge from our current administration centre when we vacate it, and this will underpin further growth in the cultural, tourism and hospitality sectors in the Civic and City East precincts in the years ahead.”
Destination Sydney Surrounds North takes in the Lower and Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Penrith.
Among the Hunter finalists in this year’s awards are Beyond Ballooning, Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Oakvale Wildlife Park and the Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens.
The Destination Sydney Surrounds North Regional Tourism Awards will be held at NOAH’s on the Beach on Monday 29 July from midday.
IMAGE | Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Newcastle CBD cityscape in the background.