WA's tourism industry hails best

Tourism businesses the length of the State were celebrated at the 2016 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards, which were announced recently at a gala dinner at Crown Perth.

The winners stretch from the Kimberley, including Broome’s Willie Creek Pearls and Kununurra’s Ord Valley Muster, down to the south coast, where the Denmark Ocean Beach Holiday Park was among the numerous prize winners. 

Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded in 28 categories, culminating with the presentation of the Sir David Brand Award to tour operator ADAMS. Three individual medals were also awarded.

Among the gold winners were:

• Major Tourist Attractions: Whiteman Park
• Tourist Attractions: Willie Creek Pearls
• Major Festivals and Events: Mandurah Crab Fest
• Festivals and Events: Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster
• Ecotourism: Sail Ningaloo 
• Cultural Tourism: Fremantle Prison
• Qantas Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism: Ngurrangga Tours
• Specialised Tourism Services: Willie Creek Pearls
• Visitor Information Services: Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association
• Major Tour and Transport Operators: ADAMS
• Tour and Transport Operators: Top Drop Tours
• Adventure Tourism: Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures
• Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services: Sandalford Wines
• Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries: Sandalford Wines
• Caravan and Holiday Parks: Denmark Ocean Beach Holiday Park
• Hosted Accommodation: The Beach House at Bayside
• Unique Accommodation: Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures, The Horizontal Hotel
• Self-Contained Accommodation: Cape Howe Cottages
• Standard Accommodation: The Murray Hotel
• Deluxe Accommodation: Seashells Mandurah
• Luxury Accommodation: Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa
• New Tourism Business: COMO the Treasury at the State Buildings
• Excellence in Food Tourism: Vinofood, The Lake House Denmark
• FACET Golden Guide Award: Rusty Creighton, Two Feet and a Heartbeat and Segway Tours
• Sir David Brand Young Achiever Medal: Emma Went, The Bell Tower, Home of the Swan Bells
• Sir David Brand Medal: Clive Johnson

The gold medallists in most of the categories will represent WA at the national Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Darwin in February.