TOP DROP tours have been announced as winners of the Australian Tourism Awards held in Melbourne.
This is the second year in a row the award winning family owned business have won the award beating Ocean Safari from Queensland and Uluru Camel Tours in the Northern territory to bring gold to the Margaret River Region twice as well as bronze and silver in past years.
Top Drop specialise in private and customised wine tours around Margaret River’s world class wineries.
Owners Kerry and Chris O’Hare were thrilled to be bringing the gold home again for the second year in a row.
“It’s a huge achievement and we’re really chuffed to be bringing it back again,” Mrs O’Hare said.
“We are pleased to be back home in WA after an extremely tough competition with some amazing and inspiring businesses from all over the country, particularly Tasmania and Victoria who dominated the awards.”
The Australian Tourism Awards are the Australian tourism industry’s most prestigious award recognising fantastic businesses across Australia.
Along with Top Drop Tour’s gold, four silver and five bronze medals were awarded to WA businesses on the evening.
The Chief executive officer at the Margaret-River Busselton Tourist association Pip Close said it was always fantastic when local business can bring attention to the area.
“We are absolutely delighted to see one of our member businesses take out the top prize in their category at Australia’s most prestigious tourism awards,” she said.
“It’s the first time in recent years that a Western Australian tourism operator has won two consecutive national awards, and as such it is something we can all be proud of.
“We commend Chris and Kerry O’Hare for their continued passion and we wish them the best of luck for the 2016 awards, when they will have the exciting opportunity to be inducted into the national Hall of Fame.”
WA’s other winners were the National Anzac Centre, which won silver in the New Tourism Business category and South West bed and breakfast HideAway haven won silver in their Hosted Accommodation category.
Sail Ningaloo also won silver in the ecotourism category.