BANGOR VINEYARD
COAL RIVER FARM
PEPPERS SILO HOTEL
HADLEY’S ORIENT HOTEL
get up on stage and we get to frock up, but it’s for each and every staff member who has rocked up every single day and night. They’re the ones working hard when their colleagues have been off sick or when they’ve been off sick themselves. It [the win] was for them, it was recognition that they’ve had a really hard year and they’ve given their heart and soul every single shift.” The Port Arthur Historic Site was one of 11 THA members who tasted success as the Tourism Awards, which also included a clean sweep of the 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation category with Ship Inn Stanley snaring gold, Peppers Silo Hotel awarded silver and MACq 01 winning bronze. Coal River Farm was successful in two categories (Excellence in Food Tourism and Tourism Retail and Hire Services), while Peppers added a gold in the Business Event Venues category. Other THA member winners were: • Hadley’s Orient Hotel (Cultural Tourism) • Mures Tasmania (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services) • Bangor Vineyard Shed (Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries) • The Cove Tasmania (Unique Accommodation) • BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park (Caravan and Holiday Parks) • Villa Talia (Self Contained Accommodation) • Saffire Freycinet (5 Star Luxury Accommodation) Another highlight evening was Sullivans Cove manager Alison Stubbs receiving the Tasmanian Tourism Champion Award for 2022.
ABOVE: PORT ARTHUR HISTORIC SITE
For McVilly, the focus now at Port Arthur is keeping pace with the increased demand which has returned to the site, which will likely continue growing following the awards success and especially with cruise ships again visiting the state. The team are also implementing some new services over summer to combat the ever-changing environment that is Covid. “Internationals definitely look for that award when they’re doing a Google search for their holiday or looking for inspiration on where they should go,” McVilly says. “Having cruise ships also return and having 3000 visitors a day really tested the team [in November]. We were a bit rusty at the start, but we got there in the end. “We have some changes for this summer as well, we’re trying to use more technology in the visitor experience. Pre Covid, we had group tours, so you’d be with a guide and there would be 40 of you, for example, but not everyone wants to be in a crowded tour anymore. So we’re looking at having some self- guided digital experiences this year.”
Dec/Jan Edition 45
Tasmanian Hospitality Review
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker