Excellence in South Australian Tourism

Four of South Australia’s finest tourism experiences have been inducted into the State’s Tourism Hall of Fame at the 2013 South Australian Tourism Awards, winning their category for a third year in a row:

• Hilton Adelaide – best business tourism
• Tour Barossa – best tour & transport operator
• Narnu Farm – best standard accommodation
• Emaroo Port Hughes – best deluxe accommodation

2013 marked the 30th anniversary of the South Australian Tourism Awards. From the Awards’ humble beginnings as the Harry Dowling Awards in 1983 with just three categories to today’s vibrant competition across 30 categories, some things haven’t changed - the Awards were and always will be the pinnacle of achievement within the tourism industry.

SeaLink Travel Group’s Managing Director Jeff Ellison was also honoured for his involvement in tourism, receiving the award for an Outstanding Contribution by an Individual. For 23 years, Jeff has been putting Kangaroo Island and South Australia on the global tourism map and is always willing to share ideas, build confidence and develop the industry through his work on various boards and committees.

This year a new category, South Australian Tourism Student of the Year, was introduced with the lucky winner, Genevieve Pontikinas from the University of SA, travelling to Christchurch with Air New Zealand as part of the SKAL International Adelaide Student Exchange Program

More than 670 people attended the black tie event at the Adelaide Convention Centre, where 29 awards were presented to businesses and individuals judged to be the most outstanding in their category (full list at end of release).

A further 81 entrants who achieved a high standard in their category were recognised with a gold, silver or bronze medal.

South Australian Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive Ward Tilbrook congratulated all winners and the four inductees to the Hall of Fame.

“With so many outstanding South Australian tourism experiences on offer, it’s tremendous to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the industry,” Mr Tilbrook says.

“The South Australian Tourism Industry Council is dedicated to continually raising the professional standards of the industry and fostering better business practices.

“Such an exciting awards competition demonstrates our industry’s commitment to excellence.

“Our standards are exceptionally high and South Australians can book one of these award-winning experiences with confidence when planning their next escape.”

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 are judged in accordance with a strict set of rules and criteria, and winners will represent the State at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Sydney in February 2014.

2013 South Australian Tourism Awards WINNERS

Major Tourist Attractions supported by Adelaide Casino     Winner – Adventure Bay Charters Ph: (08) 8682 2979
Tourist Attractions supported by Adelaide Casino     Winner – Hahndorf Farm Barn Ph: (08) 8388 7289
Major Festivals & Events supported by Adelaide Casino
     Winner – 2013 Clipsal 500 Adelaide Ph: (08) 8212 8500
Festivals & Events supported by Renniks Hire
     Winner – Cellar Door Wine Festival Adelaide Ph: (08) 8210 6720
Ecotourism supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
     Winner – Rawnsley Park Station Eco-Villas Ph: (08) 8648 0030
Heritage & Cultural Tourism supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
     Winner – West Terrace Cemetery Ph: (08) 8139 7407
Indigenous Tourism supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
     Winner – Aboriginal Cultural Tours – South Australia Ph: 0429 367 121
Specialised Tourism Services
     Winner – Barossa Tourism Services Ph: (08) 8563 1000
Visitor and Information Services     Winner – Barossa Visitor Centre Ph: (08) 8563 0600
Business Tourism supported by Adelaide Convention Centre
     Hall of Fame and Winner – Level 1 @ Hilton Adelaide Ph: (08) 8237 0729
Major Tour &/or Transport Operator      Winner – Great Southern Rail Ph: (08) 8213 4444
Tour &/or Transport Operator
     Hall of Fame and Winner – Tour Barossa Ph: (08) 8563 1000
Adventure Tourism
     Winner – Surf & Sun South Australia Ph: 1800 786 386
Destination Marketing supported by Adelaide Casino
     Winner – Find Your Everything – Unley Precincts Ph: (08) 8372 5431
Tourism Education & Training
     Winner – Australian Tourism College and Recruitment Centre Ph: (08) 8271 0060
Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services supported by the Restaurants and Catering South Australia
     Winner – Windy Point Restaurant & Café Ph: (08) 8278 8255
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries supported by Wolf Blass Wines
     Winner – Pindarie Cellar Door Ph: (08) 8524 9019
Tourist & Caravan Parks supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
Winner – BIG4 Adelaide Shores Caravan Park Ph: (08) 8355 7320
Hosted Accommodation
     Winner – The Australasian Circa 1858 Ph: (08) 8555 1088
Unique Accommodation     Winner – Rawnsley Park Station Eco-Villas Ph: (08) 8648 0030
Standard Accommodation     Hall of Fame and Winner – Narnu Farm Ph: 0438 060 585
Deluxe Accommodation supported by McLaren Vale Beer Company
     Hall of Fame and Winner – Emaroo Port Hughes Ph: 0418 848 109
Luxury Accommodation supported by Adelaide Casino
     Winner – The Sebel Playford Adelaide Ph: (08) 8213 8804
New Tourism Development supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
     Winner – Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions – Great White Adventure Ph: (08) 8363 1788
Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism supported by Qantas Airways
     Winner – Adelaide Shores Ph: (08) 8355 7300
Local Government Award for Tourism
     Winner – Alexandrina Council Ph: (08) 8555 7000
Excellence in South Australian Food Tourism supported by Food SA and Primary Industries and Regions South Australia
      Winner – Udder Delights Cheese Cellar Ph: (08) 8388 1588
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual supported by Qantas Airways
     Winner – Jeff Ellison(SeaLink Travel Group) Ph: (08) 8202 8699
South Australian Tourism Student of the Year supported by SKAL International Adelaide & Air New Zealand
     Winner – Genevieve Pontikinas(University of South Australia) Ph: (08) 8302 0476

For more information on each winner, please visit: http://www.satic.com.au/index.php/awards/winners/