It's Gold for the Penrith Visitor Information Centre

The staff at Penrith Valley Visitor Information Centre now know why they have so many happy customers. The centre has been assessed by a panel of key tourism industry figures to be the best of its kind in Sydney.
The confirmation came at the Gala Dinner for the inaugural Greater Sydney Tourism Awards on Wednesday 4 August at Castle Hill RSL, when the Penrith Valley Visitor Information Centre won the Gold Award in the Tourism Services category.
The awards are based on business performance in the areas of customer service, marketing, financial viability, business planning and risk management. Assessment is based on a 30-page written submission backed up with a site visit by an expert judging panel.
In accepting the Award, Penrith City Councillor Jim Aitken OAM, noted that those who don’t have the privilege of living in Penrith Valley are still very welcome to visit and any visit will be greatly enhanced by a visit to the Penrith Valley Visitor Information Centre.
Council’s City Marketing Supervisor, Paul Page, noted that this award recognises the great contribution of the City Marketing team, including the permanent and casual front line staff, the 22 regular volunteers who volunteer to assist in the centre and at major events, as well as the marketing officers whose work is closely integrated with that of the visitor centre.
The Greater Sydney Tourism Awards officially operate under the umbrella of the long established state and national awards. As a Gold Award winner, the visitor information centre automatically enters the state awards as a finalist. The state awards will be held in November.
Photo (L-R) Some of the happy staff from Penrith City Council pose with award; Vanessa Campbell, Mary Henry, Geoff Shuttleworth (City Marketing Manager), Stacey Martin, Cr Jim Aitken OAM, Lesley Worthington, Paul Page (City Marketing Supervisor), Susan Hamilton & Stacey Rossetto.

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.