Eden businesses have bagged a record haul at the South Coast Tourism Awards in Batemans Bay on Wednesday night, with Cat Balou Cruises and Sprout Eden among the prize-winners.
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Cat Balou backed up their induction into the awards’ Hall of Fame last year with another two gold awards – for best ecotourism operator and best tourism small business operator – along with a silver in the tour/transport operator category.
First-time finalist Sprout wasted little time in climbing to the top of the pile, taking home gold in the tourism cafés division.
The Eden Whale Festival was also an inaugural finalist, competing in the event or festival category, won by the Kiama Show Society.
It marks the first time that multiple Eden businesses have received places in the awards.
“It’s not only great for us, but for Eden,” Cat Balou Cruises owner/operator Ros Butt said.
“The awards cover a very large area, from Wollongong down to the border, so to be named among the best is very pleasing.
“We were in three different categories, so it came as a nice surprise to be awarded in all three.
“It’s especially pleasing after Eden was recently named the best whale watching spot in Australia; people will be drawn to come here and our business goes hand-in-hand with that.
“Eden was well-represented with three different businesses involved this year, and hopefully next year it will increase again.”
Sprout Eden manager Karen Lott said she is “absolutely delighted” that the innovative café and produce store picked up the top gong at their first attempt.
Sprout finished ahead of Wollongong’s Northbeach Pavilion and Maloney’s Beach Café to take home gold.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend because of a bad cold, but we’re absolutely delighted,” Ms Lott said.
“It’s hopefully going to put some focus on Eden, and it covers such a big area that we will hopefully be noticed by people from up the coast.
“It should be a big help with business.”
Diane Johnston, acting chair of the South Coast Regional Tourism Organisation, said the bar was set extremely high this year.
“I am thrilled at the standard of entries received for the awards,” she said.
“All the companies that entered and made it to being a finalist are the best tourism businesses on the South Coast of NSW.
“The winners and all the place-getters are the best of the best.”
Tom Phillips, South Coast Regional Tourism Organisation executive officer, agreed and said the winners have kept ahead of an increasingly competitive field in a growing industry.
“Tourism contributes $2.1billion a year to the South Coast economy and directly employs over 19,700 people,” he said.
“These tourism awards allow the best of our tourism industry to show off what they can do and to demonstrate to the world at large that the tourism product here on the South Coast of NSW is second to none.”
Cat Balou Cruises
- Gold: Ecotourism
- Gold: Tourism Small Business Operator
- Silver: Tour/Transport Operator
Sprout Eden
- Gold: Tourism Café
The winners in each category were:
1. Adventure Tourism – Walking in Water, Ulladulla
2. Heritage and Cultural Tourism – Nan Tien Temple, Wollongong
3. Ecotourism – Cat Balou Cruises, Eden
4. Indigenous Tourism – Galamban Extraordinary Aboriginal Experience, Wreck Bay, Jervis Bay Territory
5. Tourist Attractions – Bodalla Cheese Factory, Bodalla
6. Tourism Restaurants – Lagoon Restaurant, North Wollongong
7. Tourism Cafes – Sprout Eden, Eden
8. Regional Winery, Brewery or Pub – Silos Estate and Wileys Creek, Berry
9. Marketing and Promotion – Discover, Jervis Bay, Jervis Bay
10. Visitor Information Centres – Shellharbour Visitors Centre, Shellharbour Village
11. Tour and/or Transport Operators – Dolphin Watch Cruises, Huskisson
12. Registered Clubs – Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club, Warilla
13. Meetings, Functions and Business Tourism – The Sebel Harbourside, Kiama
14. Event or Festival – Kiama Show, Kiama
15. General Tourism Service or Product – Daisycare Nanny Agency, Bomaderry
16. Tourism Retailing – Kangaroo Valley Fudge House and Ice Creamery, Kangaroo Valley
17. New Tourism Development – Trees Adventure, North Nowra
18. Accommodation – Budget Accommodation – Sapphire Waters Motor Inn, Merimbula
19. Accommodation – Executive Accommodation – Fairway Motor Inn, Merimbula
20. Accommodation – Self Catering and Serviced Apartments – Carries Cottage, Nelligen
21. Accommodation – Holiday Letting - Escape@Culburra, Culburra Beach
22. Accommodation – Holiday Letting Services – Jervis Bay Rentals, Huskisson
23. Hosted Accommodation – Mollymook Beach Waterfront, Mollymook
24. Tourist and Caravan Parks up to 3 ½ AAA rating – Tathra Beach Family Park, Tathra
25. Tourist and Caravan Parks 4 AAA Rating and above. – Big 4 Broulee Beach Holiday Park, Broulee
26. Unique Accommodation- Barrengarry Boutique Farm Cottages, Kangaroo Valley
27. Family Friendly Award – Burrill Lake Tourist Park, Burrill Lake
28. Tourism Small Business Operator – Cat Balou Cruises, Eden