VIC celebrates Volunteer Week

On Tuesday the 25th of May 2010, Penrith Valley Visitor Information Centre celebrated Volunteers Week with a function held at the Visitor Information Centre.
The Mayor of Penrith, Councillor Kevin Crameri (OAM) was on hand to present all Penrith Valley volunteers with a certificate and pin for completing their Aussie Host training and to give them a big thanks for all the work they do at the Visitor Information Centre and at other Penrith City Council events.
“Obviously I don’t need to tell you there’s plenty on offer for anyone visiting, living, working in Penrith Valley,” said Cr Crameri.”Thanks to the efforts of our Ambassadors and City Marketing team, more and more people are finding out what a great place Penrith is”.
“I’ll be promoting our tourism asset during my upcoming visits to our international partners in Japan, Korea and China later this year”.
The Visitor Information Centre has 22 Ambassadors, some of which have been serving in this role for over a decade.
“We are certainly blessed to have such a wonderful dedicated group of volunteers,” said City Marketing Supervisor Paul Page. “I don’t know what we’d do without them.”

Photo: Penrith Valley Ambassador Karen Mullholland accepts her certificate from Penrith Mayor Cr Kevin Crameri (OAM)

Tourism Awards improve visitor experience

Visitors to Penrith Valley will benefit from the Greater Sydney Tourism Awards which will be held for the first time in 2010.
Paul Page, Penrith City Council’s City Marketing Supervisor, is also Chairman of Greater Sydney Tourism Inc., which has initiated the new awards program.
In launching the awards last week, Mr Page said: “The awards seek to recognise outstanding tourism businesses and organisations in all parts of the Sydney metropolitan area. They will provide tourism related businesses with a tool to evaluate their business, while celebrating their achievements and building staff morale.
The awards will also provide a platform for tourism businesses to meet and develop lasting relationships with other tourism businesses and organisations within the Greater Sydney region. The benefit is a more competitive and successful business.”
The Greater Sydney Tourism Awards are officially linked with the prestigious and well established NSW and National Tourism Awards. Entrants to the Greater Sydney Awards can have their submission carry forward to state and national awards.
Greater Sydney Tourism Inc. (GST) was formed in 1996 as a regional tourism organisation to promote Greater Sydney as a tourist destination.
It has a strategic partnership with Connex West Pty Ltd to produce the visitor guide “Discover Greater Sydney” and has an active program to promote conference venues through its Sydney Wide Conferences marketing program. The tourism awards are its latest venture.
The membership of GST comprises tourism staff from a number of councils in Greater Sydney who benefit from this opportunity to work together co-operatively. GST has engaged Lori Modde of Lorick Management to manage the awards on its behalf.
Closing date to register for the awards is 15 June. Submissions must be received by 28 June. Council’s City Marketing staff will be contacting local tourism operators to encourage them to participate in this program.
Site inspections and judging will take place during June and July and successful entrants will be announced at a gala dinner on Wednesday 4 August at Castle Hill RSL Club.
Penrith entrants will receive an award entry fee discount resulting from Council’s support for the program.
Further information is available from the awards web site www.awards.sydneywidetourism.com.au or from Paul Page on 4732 7866.