HUNTER VALLEY CELEBRATES AWARD WINNING 2012
The Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest and most revered wine region is celebrating being recognised as a world class wine and tourism destination in a bumper year of accolades. The region scooped up over 14 awards at the NSW Tourism Awards, including winning the Gold Award for Brand Hunter Valley Strategy under the Marketing category. These wins come as part of the wide breadth of awards received by Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism partners over the last 12 months.
The Gold Award was presented to Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism (HVWCT) Marketing Manager, Nora McWilliam on Thursday 22nd November in recognition of the quality and professionalism demonstrated in developing and executing a contemporary brand proposition. The brand strategy set out to re-position the Hunter Valley as a refreshed and contemporary premier wine and tourism region by merging traditional and modern marketing methods. The strategy has been supported by the Australasian Creative Agency “Strategy Design & Advertising” and Hardie Grant Publishing.
“It is fantastic that this major marketing campaign has received an award of this calibre. We have worked extremely hard over the last two years to create and market our new brand, that enables the Hunter Valley to compete as a premier destination to visit, and increase consumer preference to purchase Hunter Valley wine,” says Mr. Gorddard, Executive Manager HVWCT.
The region was also recently recognised as the top wine region in the South Pacific as voted by consumers of the leading travel website TripAdvisor.
The Hunter Valley has been celebrating for much of 2012 as the region’s industry partners have also scored a series of individual accolades.
Earlier this month, McGuigan Wines was awarded the title of International Winemaker of the Year, for the third time in four years, at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition in London.
At the 2012 NSW Wine Awards, the Hunter Valley took away half of the ten trophies awarded, including the 2012 Wine of the Year. Another cause for celebration was the announcement that 22 of the region’s wines have been selected for the NSW Wine 2012 Top 40.
The NSW Tourism Awards recognised the best the Hunter Valley has to offer by presenting several industry members with awards. These included:
• Tours and/or Transport Operators: Boutique Tours Australia – Bronze
• Unique Accommodation: Somewhere Unique – Gold
• Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services: Margan Restaurant – Gold (Hall of Fame)
• Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries: Wyndham Estate Winery – Gold (Hall of Fame)
Bimbadgen Estate – Silver
• Deluxe Accommodation: The Vintry – Silver
• Specialised Tourism Services: Newcastle Airport – Bronze
• Young Achiever in Tourism Award: Belinda Stapleton
• Outstanding Contribution by an Individual: Philp Hele
“These are just some of the amazing wins our members have enjoyed this year. The quality of wine and tourism facilities in the Hunter Valley have reached exceptional heights in 2012 and we are very much looking forward to what 2013 will bring,” concludes Mr. Gorddard.
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