Host of tourism wins

By Dion Teasdale
YARRA Valley tourism operators have scooped a number of top honours at the 2005 Melbourne Airport Victorian Tourism Awards.
Yering Station Winery in Yarra Glen won its third consecutive Crown Award for Tourism Wineries and was also inducted into the award’s Hall of Fame.
Woodlands Rainforest Bungalows in Narbethong was named the best tourism operator in its field, winning the Hosted Accommodation category at the awards.
Marylands Country House in Marysville took out the award for Best Meeting and Business Tourism at the awards ceremony held at Melbourne’s Crown Casino on Monday, 21 November.
The win for Marylands follows the accommodation provider being named Best Luxury Guest House as part of the Murrindindi Regional Tourism Awards in October.
Yering Station commercial director Gordon Gebbie said being entered in the Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame was testament to the vision and passion of the winery owners, the Rathbone Family, and their dedicated staff.
“We are very proud of our team and grateful for the support and combined efforts of a great network of Yarra Valley people.
“Together we have created a dynamic and rich tourism destination,” Mr Gebbie said.
Woodlands owners Vicky and Gary King said they were honoured to named best hosted accommodation for their retreat, which is located in 40 acres of secluded temperate rainforest at the top of the Black Spur.
“It is especially gratifying to have succeeded in our first attempt at the awards and in the most fiercely contested category of Hosted Accommodation,” Mr King said.
As Victorian Tourism Awards winners, Yering Station, Woodlands Rainforest Bungalows and Marylands Country House have been automatically entered into the Australian Tourism Awards to be held on the Gold Coast in February.