About 240 people attended the Gala Presentation evening of The South Coast Tourism Awards at HARS, Illawarra Regional Airport on Wednesday.

Touted as the premier tourism event on the South Coast, the gala award night sought to highlight the hard work done by the thousands of tourism operators and businesses from Shellharbour to Eden.

The municipality’s winners included a gold award for South Coast Holidays, Gerringong as well as an induction into the Hall of Fame for their category (Holiday Rental Services). 

*The Sebel Harbourside, Kiama were gold winners in the Meetings, Functions and Business Tourism category, with silver going to The Pavilion, Kiama.

*El Corazon El Cocina Mexico were awarded silver in the Tourism Restaurants category.

*The Mercure Gerringong received silver in Executive Accommodation. 

*Kiama Tourism were awarded bronze in Visitor Information Services. 

South Coast Holidays co-owner Perrie Croshaw said this was the third time they had taken out this category.

She said the business had expanded in recent times, also opening a new office in Cobargo last year. 

“We (her and co-owner Hamish Armytage) hope to continue to grow and develop by working with tourism regionally,” she said.

“We love what we do, and it’s really exciting.”

Ms Croshaw said among their goals was to help create jobs and bring tourism dollars into the region, therefore benefiting local businesses such as cafes and restaurants. 

“We hope to add to the local economy by working with all of the other tourism providers in the area.”

Sebel general manager Craig Hardy said the award was just reward for their team’s hard work. 

In particular he praised the efforts of executive chef Daniel Jones and operations manager Dalibor Jurisic. 

The venue has enjoyed past success at these awards, having won the same category once previously. 

Catherine Shields, chair of the South Coast Regional Tourism Organisation said the standard of entry was high and demonstrated the diversity, depth and breadth of the tourism industry.

“The judges reported how impressed they were with all business visited and operators interviewed,” she said.