South West businesses clean up at 2022 WA Tourism Awards across accommodation, event and restaurant divisions

The South West has continued to cement itself as a haven for visitors, scooping a handful of wins at this year’s annual Perth Airport Western Australian Tourism Awards. With a total 10 podium places across the 25 categories, the popular holiday region took out four gold prizes, four silver and two bronze from a variety of events, restaurants and accommodation divisions. Claiming multiple wins was fan-favourite luxury accommodation Pullman Bunker Bay Resort which was awarded gold in the business event venue category and silver in the 5-star accommodation division. Also a notable win was Busselton’s Tree Chalets which was awarded gold for self-contained accommodation for the second year in a row, with hopes to go back-to-back with the national title later this year. Established in 2019, owner of the 100 per cent off-grid accommodation Fran Robinson said the business was “grateful to be representing the South West” at such a high level. “We were really surprised and so excited and we feel so pumped about it and we are so looking forward to going to Sydney in March to compete for the national awards,” she said. The South West swept the division with Bina Maya Yallingup Escape and Eight Willows Retreat in Margaret River taking home silver and bronze respectively. Other gold winners included Margaret River Open Studios for festivals and events and Broadwater Resort for 3-3.5 star accomodation, with Surfpoint Resort in Margaret awarded the silver in the same category. Rounding out the region’s winners were Hidden Cabins earning silver in the new tourism business division, while Forrest Highway’s iconic Crooked Carrot Cafe won bronze for tourism restaurants and catering services. Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association chief executive Sharna Kearney said she was “incredibly proud” of the region’s results at this year’s ceremony. “The number of awards taken out by the region is testament to the breadth and depth of quality tourism experiences we have on offer, and the commitment of businesses and organisations to continually innovate and improve,” she said.