Please note: This is under an embargo until 11pm tonight.
Tonight’s Cradle Coast Tourism Awards are important in not only recognising excellence and innovation in the local hospitality and tourism industries, but also in encouraging operators and staff to raise the bar.
As a local Member of Parliament and a former chief executive of the Cradle Coast Authority, I am very pleased to personally support the awards this year by presenting the inaugural Roger Jaensch MP Tourism Scholarship.
This award is aimed at providing assistance with the cost of study or other professional development that enhances the winner’s career in, and contribution to, tourism in the Cradle Coast region.
The judges have exercised some creative thinking in awarding the scholarship for this year to the Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival.
The festival organising committee will match the $1000 scholarship to provide for two of its members to attend the famous Deni Ute Muster.
One of the committee members will be Leigh Styles, a West Coast councillor who serves as the festival’s secretary and part-time marketing and social media officer.
Their aim will be to “pick the eyes” out of the event and then bring the expertise back home to build upon the Queenstown Ute Muster, which was first held last year.
Quality events are important if we are to grow our visitation, so the awarding of this scholarship is very fitting.
I was also pleased tonight to announce that the scholarship with be made available again next year to assist in building further on our greatest strength – our people.