2025 North Coast Tourism Awards
Destination North Coast and the NSW Tourism Association have partnered to launch the North Coast Regional Tourism Awards. Open for nominations from 10 March, the awards program provides a smooth transition to the state’s NSW Tourism Awards, with New South Wales winners proceeding to the national stage for the Australian Tourism Awards.
The North Coast Regional Tourism Awards feature 18 categories that align with the NSW Tourism Awards and Australian Tourism Awards. The program celebrates excellence and also equips tourism businesses with the tools for lasting success. This initiative provides a clear pathway to the top, supported by an extensive program designed to drive business growth and industry best practice.
Entrants are required to meet recognised quality standards, either through Sustainable Tourism accreditation or by completing Quality Tourism Business Standards. This ensures that every finalist has undergone a rigorous assessment, evaluating all facets of their operation. By upholding these benchmarks, the awards celebrate businesses that exemplify excellence, credibility, and a commitment to industry best practice.
Key Dates
- Nominations open: 10 March
- Weekly Entrant Support webinars: Every Tuesday starting 18 March
- Submissions open: 26 March
- Nominations close: 11 April
- Business Standards Due: 14 April
- Draft submission deadline: 25 April
- Submissions close: 9 May
- Finalists announced: 10 June
- North Coast Tourism Awards Gala: 31 July
Entry Fee
$220 +GST NSW Tourism Association member rate
(use primary email address provided for NSW Tourism Association membership to access membership price)
$295 +GST Non-member rate
What this includes:
- One nomination provides automatic entry into both the North Coast Regional Tourism Awards and the NSW Tourism Awards.
- Comprehensive Entrant Support Program including weekly webinars, Q&A sessions with expert judges and detailed draft reviews – for both the North Coast Regional Tourism Awards and the NSW Tourism Awards
- The panel of expert judges provide detailed feedback with valuable insights, supporting growth and continuous improvement.
- Opportunity to enhance submission following judges feedback at regional level, allowing businesses to strengthen applications before competing at state level
How to nominate: Find out how to complete your nomination here.
Next steps…
- Nominate your business – checking category eligibility
- Read through questions
- Start collating evidence – set up a folder to save your files
- Brainstorm key points for each question
- Attend Entrant Support webinars
- 26 March – Submissions open in portal
- Start working on submission early to be eligible for a draft review
- Complete your final submission
- Save the date for the gala night!
Entrant Support Webinar schedule
| Tues 18 March | Introduction to NSW Tourism Association, the North Coast Regional Tourism Awards + Getting Application Ready |
| Tues 25 March | Showcasing Business Excellence – Qu 1 |
| Tues 1 April | Excellence in Business & Product Development – Qu 2 |
| Tues 8 April | Excellence in Marketing – Qu 3 |
| Tues 15 April | Excellence in Customer Service – Qu 4 |
| Tues 22 April | Excellence in Sustainable & Responsible Business Practices – Qu 5 |
| Tues 29 April | Entrant Q&A Webinar (1) |
| Tues 6 May | Entrant Q&A Webinar (2) |
Judging Panel
The awards are assessed by a panel of highly experienced judges. Each judge undergoes dedicated training and collaborates in teams to conduct a rigorous assessment of every category.
Their detailed feedback provides businesses with valuable insights, supporting growth and continuous improvement.
Benefits of entering
- One entry, two awards programs
- Access to comprehensive entrant support program
- An opportunity to review business goals and record successes
- Raise your profile by receiving public recognition of your achievements
- Ensure business growth and development
- Benchmark against industry competitors
- Examine the productivity of marketing activities
- The opportunity to represent New South Wales at the Australian Tourism Awards
Entry Requirements
Businesses that don’t currently hold Sustainable Tourism accreditation are required to complete Quality Tourism Business Standards – demonstrating that industry quality standards are met.
Accommodation entries are required to either have current QTF Star Rating accreditation or must meet accommodation standards specific to their category.
Guidelines and Rules
- If entering more than one category a separate nomination and submission is required
- Qualifying Period: 1 July 2024 – 31 March 2025 All activities, achievements and innovations referred to in submissions must have occurred within this period
- Category Questions – The questions are identical to the NSW Tourism Awards and Australian Tourism Awards. However, at regional level the difference is a reduced word count, shorter qualifying period, and fewer examples are required.
- Online Review – an online review will be undertaken by the judges to assess online presence across owned website, social media channels, search engine optimisation and external listings.
- Word count: Max 5,000 words
Pathway to Excellence
Entrants will be able to update their submission between the North Coast Regional Tourism Awards and the NSW Tourism Awards, adding in the additional activities achieved during the final quarter (1 April – 30 June) and incorporating the judge’s feedback. This allows businesses to strengthen their applications and further highlighting excellence before competing at the state level and beyond.
This year’s categories are:
This category recognises natural or built attractions that people visit for pleasure and interest.
This category recognises tourism leisure festivals, events and exhibitions that enhance the profile/awareness and appeal of the destination they are held in as well as creating economic impact, increased visitation and community involvement.
This category is open to (but not limited to) sporting, arts, historical, cultural, literary, humorous, culinary and general interest festivals, events and exhibitions.
This category recognises ecologically sustainable tourism businesses with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas. Entrants in this category foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
This category recognises tourism businesses that foster a greater understanding and appreciation of authentic culture, history, heritage and/or the arts.
This category recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism businesses that demonstrate authenticity and cultivate a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and traditions.
This category recognises businesses that sell/provide goods or hire services which contribute to the tourism industry. The contribution made to the tourism industry can be economical (e.g. retail, galleries), experience based (traditionally non-tourism specific experiences e.g. shopping precincts) or service based (e.g. digital solutions for travellers or tourism businesses).
This category recognises venues who provide high quality facilities specifically designed for business visitors e.g. meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
This category recognises a business who provides touring and transport services.
This category recognises outdoor adventure tourism experiences that involve visitor participation and a personal challenge.
This category recognises all restaurants and catering services offering a tourism experience and/or servicing the tourism industry. It is not a food award but does recognise a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of food and beverage. This category is open to hotel or stand-alone restaurants, event caterers, pubs and cafés.
This category recognises wineries, distilleries and boutique breweries that offer a cellar door experience and create a significant contribution to tourism.
This category recognises tourism excellence in a caravan or holiday park. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to caravan or holiday parks that offer cabin and tenting accommodation and must meet a 3 – 5 Caravan & Holiday Park Star Rating Standard.
This category recognises hosted accommodation that offers a bed & breakfast, farm stay, cottage or other intimate accommodation experience and must meet a 3-5 Hosted Accommodation Star Rating Standard.
This category recognises tourism excellence in accommodation providing guests with non-serviced accommodation and the freedom of self-sufficiency. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to accommodation that offers a self-catered accommodation experience and meets a 3-5 Self Catering Accommodation Star Rating Standard.
For companies that are managing multiple self-contained properties it is recommended they focus on one of their properties.
This category recognises serviced accommodation that meets the 4 or 4.5 Star Rating Standard (pre-assessment or final rating). The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to accommodation experiences that meets a 4 or 4.5 Star Rating Standard in any Star Rating category.
This category recognises serviced accommodation that meets the 5 Star Rating Standard (pre-assessment or final rating). The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to accommodation experiences that meets a 5 Star Rating Standard in any Star Rating category.
This category recognises new tourism businesses that have commenced trading, visitation or service delivery during the qualifying period. This award recognises excellence in the planning and development of new tourism infrastructure and/or services. Tourism businesses that have commenced a new product or opened new infrastructure need to enter another category most applicable to the business.
This award recognises businesses that provide a tourism product, experience or service that goes above and beyond to accommodate and cater for people with disabilities and/or specific needs e.g. hearing impairment, low vision, limited mobility, wheelchair/scooter needs and/or cognitive impairment.