Latest news with #WATourismAwards
West Australian
4 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Margaret River ‘explorers' score major gongs at WA Tourism Awards
Two of the region's leading tourism professionals nabbed major awards at last week's WA Tourism Awards. Cape to Cape Explorer Tours' operations manager Floss Hayes won the prestigious Sir David Brand Young Achiever Medal, while company director Gene Hardy was recognised as a Local Tourism Legend in a new award category. The co-workers represented a bunch of finalists from the Margaret River region who were up for gongs across a range of categories. Ms Hayes said she was over the moon at the prestigious medal win, with the Sir David Brand Young Achiever handed out every year to a career-focused tourism professional aged under 30 considered to be making a significant contribution to the sector. Ms Hayes runs the Cape to Cape Explorer Tours team and oversees the noted company's daily operations. 'Receiving this award isn't just a celebration of success, it's a recognition of everything it took to get here,' she said in her acceptance speech. 'Growing up I was never the model student. I was curious, energetic and yes — disruptive . . . and couldn't seem to squeeze myself into the mould the system had laid out for me. 'For years, I carried all the shame about not fitting in. But not anymore.' Ms Hayes said the major recognition was further evidence for her to trust in herself and her own power, her ability to write her own story, and to champion new ground for women in the industry. 'This moment is not just mine, it's for every girl who's ever been told to tone it down, for every student who's even been told to behave – instead be brave,' Ms Hayes said. 'Let's keep making space for all kinds of brilliance.' Ms Hayes also thanked her team for the awards recognition, while boss Mr Hardy echoed that remark in noting the outcome — which included short-listing for employees Bree Zikmundovsky and Nic Chirico in other categories — was the latest in a long line of awards for the company he founded. Explorer Tours has twice won gold in the Ecotourism category among various other accolades which Hardy said was always a team effort. '(I have) honestly never felt so grateful for the incredible team that have come together at Cape to Cape,' he said. 'Tonight is a win for each and every one of you who has worked so hard this season, and every season, to make the business the success that it is.' Tourism Council of WA chief executive Evan Hall singled out Hardy as the winner of the inaugural Local Legend award. Mr Hall said Mr Hardy was characterised by the judges as making 'a significant contribution and lasting impact to tourism in the Margaret River community through his volunteering activities, mentoring and the assistance he provides to the community'. 'The WA tourism industry is made possible thanks to the passionate people who tirelessly work towards showcasing WA to visitors,' the CEO said. 'The individual awards provided an opportunity for six of these people to be recognised for their commitment to creating innovative and friendly experiences for WA's visitors.'
West Australian
02-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Albany's Steve Millhouse wins inaugural WA Tourism award for dedicated professionalism to the industry
Albany's Steve Millhouse has been recognised as an outstanding tourism professional at this year's WA Tourism Awards, taking home the inaugural excellence by a tourism professional award. Six awards were handed out at the annual Perth Airport WA Tourism Conference dinner in Fremantle last Wednesday, including two inaugural awards: the local tourism legend award and the excellence by a tourism professional award. Mr Millhouse was instrumental in opening the Hilton Garden Inn Albany in 2021. He continues to manage the venue while also running the Hilton Garden Inn Busselton in his role as cluster hotel manager. He was recognised with the inaugural award for his commitment to managing two properties across different regions, while still contributing to his local community. Mr Millhouse is a member of the board of regional tourism organisation Australia's South West, and an executive committee member of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said receiving the award came as an unexpected honour, but said he thought of it as an opportunity to do more for the community. 'I think it's important for people in this industry to be recognised, but I think it's important, especially being in a regional location, to be able to give back and offer your experience and support the community and support regional tourism,' he said. 'I think not just in Albany but throughout WA, regional tourism is a huge opportunity and it's growing quite steadily. And I think that for team members and for regional communities a lot of growth will come in the future, and so being able to give back and being part of that growth is quite rewarding.' Gene Hardy, from Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, won the local tourism legend award for his ongoing contribution to tourism in the Margaret River region. The FACET golden guide award winner was announced as Monique Boucher from Hidden deTours, and the individual excellence in Aboriginal tourism award was given to Bec Sampi from Kingfisher Tours Garingbaar. WA Visitor Centre's Tammy Van der Heever won the individual excellence in customer service award, and the Sir David Brand young achiever medal was awarded to Floss Hayes from Cape to Cape Explorer Tours. 'The WA tourism industry is made possible thanks to the passionate people who tirelessly work towards showcasing WA to visitors,' Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said. 'The individual awards provided an opportunity for six of these people to be recognised for their commitment to creating innovative and friendly experiences for WA's visitors.'
