BUSINESS NSW VISITOR ECONOMY awards

Entry is open to any tourism business/ organisation based in NSW that holds a valid ABN, subject to the entry criteria for each individual award.

If you are not a member of Business NSW or any of our subsidiaries, you will become a free member during the registration process. 

The Outstanding Visitor Experience award recognises a business that understands the importance of visitor engagement for a region’s economy and reputation. The business needs to articulate how they promote the region as well as offering an exceptional visitor experience. 

Entry criteria
Entrants are  required  to demonstrate how their business showcases the region/community and how their offering is unique within their industry.

2024 Winner:

Potager, Carool

The Outstanding Visitor Economy* Collaboration Award recognises innovative projects undertaken in the past 12 months by a Local Government, Business Chamber, Visitor Information Centre, Tourism Industry Association, or groups of operators (two or more) that aims to maximise their economic impact on the local and/or regional visitor economy.

Entry criteria
Entrants are required to demonstrate how their project showcases the region/ community including details of how collaboration and alignment of tourism operators, business and the community contributed to the project’s success.  

Projects may include but are not limited to:

·       New product or innovative product development
·       Upgrades or enhancements to tourism infrastructure or services
·       Generating knowledge and/or insight to improve decision making
·       Creating partnerships to advance industry performance
·       A marketing or awareness campaign
·       An initiative to address a sector specific challenge

*  The visitor economy encompasses the direct and indirect contributions to the economy resulting from a person (a visitor) travelling outside their normal place of residence. (NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030)

2024 Winner:

The Big Chill Festival, Armidale Regional Council

The Outstanding 24-hour Economy* Collaboration Award recognises innovative projects undertaken in the past 12 months by a Local Government, Business Chamber, Visitor Information Centre, Tourism Industry Association, or groups of operators (two or more) that aims to maximise their economic impact on the local and/ or regional 24-hour economy.

Entry criteria
Entrants are required to demonstrate how their 24-hour economy projects showcases the region/ community including details of how collaboration and alignment of tourism operators, business and the community contributed to the project’s success. 

Projects may include but are not limited to:

·       Cultural festivals & night markets
·       Technology integrations
·       Late night retail activations
·       Collaborative promotions, marketing campaigns or loyalty programmes
·       Night entertainment zones
·       Evening culinary experiences
·       Safety & accessibility improvements
·       Night-time art exhibitions
·       Food & wine precinct creation

<sub>*  What is the 24-hour Economy?
When we talk about a 24-hour economy, the focus is on how we make our economy just as vibrant, productive and diverse in the night as it is throughout the day. The night-time economy consists of all the activities that take place as the traditional ‘business day’ ends. There are three distinct nighttime periods (see below), each with their own set of dynamics and community needs. The night-time economy is made up of a broad range of industries. These include ‘core businesses’ such as restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, theatres, festivals, markets and live music and ‘non-core’ or supporting businesses, including transport, retail, service industries, educational establishments and gyms.

Daytime 0600 – 1800, Evening 1800 – 2100, Night-time 2100 – 0200, Late Night 0200 - 0600</sub>

2024 Winner:

Origami Folding Light & Sound Festival, FunHaus Factory Inc, Gosford

The Excellence in Sustainable Tourism* Award recognises a tourism business that has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable business practices both internally and in customer interactions. The award recognises efforts to minimise environmental impacts from its operations.   

Entry criteria
Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months at time of entry across the key area of sustainable tourism*. Category criteria are based on initiatives and projects executed within the business not related to its core offering.

* Sustainable tourism is defined as "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environement and host communitites. (United Nations Environment Progrsm and World Toruism Organisation, Making tourism more sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers, 2005

2024 Winner:

Sydney By Kayak, Lavender Bay

Named in honour of Dean Gorddard, former Executive Manager of the NSW Tourism Industry Council, who is remembered for his dedication to the state's visitor economy. He was a passionate advocate for the tourism industry, particularly in rural and regional areas.

This award recognises the outstanding contribution by an individual to the NSW tourism industry, honouring those who go over and above their own commercial focus to contribute to the broader industry.

Entry criteria
Nominations are accepted from any party except the nominee.
The award will not be made to the same person twice. 

Note: The emphasis should be on personal and professional commitment and contribution beyond what would be deemed part of their job. Their tourism contribution outside of their normal work should be emphasised. 

2024 Winner: