Tonight I celebrate the outstanding contributions to our tourism industry showcased at the Western Sydney Tourism Awards 2024. The prestigious event, held for the first time on 24 October and hosted by the Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce, brought together the best of Western Sydney's tourism industry. It was a night to remember, with industry leaders, government officials and dedicated businesses gathering to honour the finest achievements in our State's visitor economy. The event opened with messages from Destination NSW and the soon-to-be-opened Western Sydney international airport—a powerful reminder of the ongoing efforts to strengthen our region's position as a world-class destination. The support of these prominent institutions highlights the strategic importance of tourism in Western Sydney, a region that holds rich historical, cultural and economic significance, both in the present and into the future.
The Western Sydney Tourism Awards is a celebration of success and a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of our local sector. This year we have seen an impressive 200 nominations across various categories. Each nomination is a reflection of innovation, dedication and commitment to quality that we have in Western Sydney. Of the many winners across the platinum, gold and silver categories, I highlight some of the platinum award winners that took homes trophies on the night. From the Hotels/Tourism Business major category, the "Ready For It" campaign by Holiday Inn Parramatta took out the platinum award. The council events award went to the City of Parramatta for its ongoing Parramatta Lanes festival. The Business Event Festival for the Year went to Sydney Zoo's "Glow", while the Tour Group Experience of the Year went to Golden Dragon Travel's "GDT Journey".
From the Best Visitor Economy Event category, the Day Visitation award went to the Thirlmere Festival of Steam, held by Transport Heritage NSW and Wollondilly Shire Council, while the Night Visitation award went to my local council of Liverpool City Council for its "Most Blessed Nights" event. Two people took home the prestigious award for Outstanding Business Leader of the Year: Jake Burgess from Sydney Zoo, and Kalinya Estate's Amanda Barnes. In the Outstanding Community Engagement category, I am extremely happy to report that Leppington local legend June Young took out an award for her work with Lifeline Macarthur. Michael Foulkes at Cabravale Diggers also received an award, while a special award for outstanding contribution went to the late great Harry Hunt.
In the Best Rated Cuisine – Hotels/Clubs/Restaurant category, West HQ's China Doll—which I have yet to visit but I am sure must be an exceptional place to grab a bite—took out the platinum award. In the Best Historical Venue – Visitation category, the NSW Rail Museum, a division of Transport Heritage NSW, took out the award. I congratulate the Sydney Coliseum Theatre on taking out the Best Music and Arts Venue category and Fairfield City Council on winning Best Multicultural Show/Event for its long-running and very well-attended Cabramatta Moon Festival. Tourism Business of the Year—one of the big ones—went to Accor Stadium at Olympic Park, while a special award for an outstanding contribution to tourism went to Featherdale Wildlife Park for 50 years in the fantastic region of Western Sydney. These businesses are ambassadors that share the beauty, heritage and diversity of our region.
Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce NSW has done an exceptional job in bringing attention to Western Sydney's potential as a tourism hub. I congratulate the board of the taskforce on its exceptional work in such a short time to take the group from what it was to what it is today and the impact it is having in our region. I extend my warmest congratulations to all the finalists and winners of the Western Sydney Tourism Awards 2024. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work and dedication and a source of pride for our entire State.
I also commend the Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce NSW, Destination NSW and the Western Sydney international airport for their roles in making the event a success and for their sponsorship. They have provided a platform for us to celebrate the excellence, innovation and enduring spirit of tourism in New South Wales and Western Sydney. As we look ahead to the arrival of the airport and some venues that will leverage off the arrival of international tourists in a couple of years, there is no doubt that these awards are set to be a big event into the future.
