PORT MACQUARIE RESORT HOTEL TOPS THE STATE
Port Macquarie's The Observatory has been voted NSW and ACT Operator of the Year for 2008 by the national Hotels Motels and Accommodation Association (HMAA).
The Observatory was also announced Winner - Serviced Apartments in the HMAA's 2008 Accommodation Industry Awards for Excellence. The two awards, given in Sydney on Friday night, are the industry association's peak accolades for leading accommodation providers throughout the state and ACT.
The Observatory took out the overall top award, Operator of the Year, over leading Sydney and other regional properties. The association represents establishments including five-star resorts and hotels and a range of other categories across Australia.
The Observatory's directors Chris and Trish Denny and Margaret Chant opened the property mid 2004 and have garnered a range of excellence awards from industry groups every year since. Chris Denny is also president of Port Macquarie Tourism Association.
"We were absolutely thrilled to win the state's overall top award, as well as the top award in our category," Mr Denny said yesterday. "We got tremendous acclaim from our peers and industry colleagues when it was announced we'd won, and Port Macquarie got enormous recognition at the awards ceremony, which was terrific in acknowledging this region overall as a tourist destination of excellence."
The Executive Officer of Mid-North Coast Tourism, Belinda Novicky, congratulated The Observatory on its wins.
"A lot of effort goes in to promoting the Mid-North Coast as a tourism destination of choice," Ms Novicky said. "When operators such as The Observatory are awarded in this way, it plays an important part in our state and national profile and creates wider recognition of our region overall among tourists and travellers from right around the country."
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's Economic Development Officer Trevor Sargeant also commended the winning trio.
"Chris, Trish and Margaret are very proactive and committed to promoting not only The Observatory but also Greater Port Macquarie as a whole. They deserve great credit for their work and also for the training and employment opportunities The Observatory offers local residents in the hospitality industry.
"Coincidentally with the state awards they took out on Friday night, they were also recognised the same night as top service producers in the Hospitality - Accommodation category of Port Macquarie's second annual Customer Care awards. The Observatory was among the first group of accredited supporters of the scheme, which promotes excellence in quality of service among local businesses."
Among a string of other acknowledgements, The Observatory has also won the North Coast Tourism Award for Business Excellence in the deluxe accommodation category every year since it opened. It has also represented the region as a finalist for the three years running in the same category in Tourism NSW's Business Excellence Awards.
Issued: June 16 2008
