The Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association has won the inaugural and highly prestigious Australian Tourism Awards national title for Visitor Information Services.
AMRTA Chairman Clif Edwards and Chief Executive Officer Francine Burton attended the Awards Ceremony in Canberra on Friday night, along with over 1000 guests from the tourism industry across Australia. Federal Tourism Minister, Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP was present at the event, as were the tourism ministers for each of the states, including Hon Sheila McHale MLA from Western Australia.
The AMRTA was one of only two WA recipients of these National Awards...READ MORE
WA TOURISM AWARDS 2007: FINALISTS
Margaret River does it again – 2007 WA Tourism Awards
The Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association (AMRTA) is thrilled to announce that it was a category winner at the 2007 WA Tourism Awards held at the Burswood Casino on Saturday 3rd November..... READ MORE
WA TOURISM AWARDS DUAL WINNER & HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
In November 2006 the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association (AMRTA) won the Western Australian Tourism Awards for the categories: General Tourism Services - Visitor Centres and Destination Promotion.
Competing against eight other contenders for the General Tourism Services sector and ten contenders for the prestigious Destination Promotion award it was a surprise victory for the AMRTA once again.
All winners were announced at a Gala Dinner at the Burswood Entertainment Complex on Saturday 18 November. The award was accepted on behalf of the AMRTA by Visitor Centre Manager Judi Englert and AMRTA Chairman Clif Edwards.
These awards follow the AMRTA’s award in the 2005 Western Australian Tourism Awards for Destination Promotion, as well as awards in 2004 and 2003.
As a result of winning the Destination Promotion category award three times in a period of five years the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association will be inducted into the WA Tourism Awards Hall of Fame in 2007, for outstanding commitment and innovative leadership in the hotly-contested and fiercely competitive tourism industry.
Behind the development of what has been one of Australia’s great tourism success stories, the AMRTA has been instrumental in ensuring the promotion of the Augusta Margaret River region is paramount to its success.
Through the launch of the Association's new marketing campaign - "Margaret River - A Very Special Place" the Association once again forges ahead with its creative and innovative marketing in the highly competitive tourism market.
MARGARET RIVER: WINE TOURISM REGION OF THE YEAR AWARD 2006
In what has been an amazing year for the region, the Margaret River Wine Region has won the Wine Market Report’s esteemed 2006 Wine Tourism Region of the Year Award, competing against first-class wine regions all over the world. The award was presented by the Wine Market Report’s Publisher/Editor Rich Cartiere during the MasterCard World Wine & Travel Summit & Exhibition, held last week at Margaret River’s Leeuwin Estate.
Rich Cartiere stated that the Margaret River Wine Region was chosen to receive this year’s award for demonstrating outstanding commitment to the benefits of private/public partnership and purposeful co-operation as well as showing its support for a broad base of the local tourism economy. Furthermore, this was done in what many consider to be the most remote wine region on the planet.
The awards began as a way of supporting the fastest growing sub sectors of the wine trade that often go unrecognized, whereby wine is perfectly partnered with tourism; in order to promote the greatest long term potential for all continued growth in market share, profitability and better consumer and general public relations. The two awards given are for Wine Tourism Region and Wine Company Tourism (which was won by Conn Creek in Napa Valley, California).
The local wine industry has a fiercely independent streak that enables it to create its own unique wines that are far more accessible and friendly to the general public than their east coast competition.
The Margaret River wine region is made up of over 180 wineries, some 30-40 growers and just over 10,000 acres, with most wineries being small producers. This is not to underestimate the reach, recognition and high-standing reputation of such local wineries as Leeuwin Estate, Moss Wood, Cullens, Vasse Felix within the Australian wine market. This is demonstrated by the fact that Margaret River wineries can attract up to 5,000 visitors per week at the height of their season despite being a three-hour drive from Perth.
“Margaret River is the heart and soul of Western Australia’s Wine Country,” Rich Cartiere, 2006.
Although well known for its wines, the Margaret River Wine Region’s strong integration with the arts, surf, pristine beaches, rugged coastline, majestic forests and captivating caves ensures there is an attraction to suit every traveller.
Margaret River – experience it all!
WINE TOURISM SHOWROOM AWARDS
There is no better place to start a journey of discovery through the wine region than a visit to the WINE TOURISM SHOWROOM at the Margaret River Visitor Centre. The regional centre is recognised as being among the most advanced and high-tech of its kind in the country having won various awards over the years.
