2011 Golden i Award Nominations Released!

The Visitor Centre Association of Western Australia (VCAWA) is proud to announce the opening of nominations for its prestigious 2011 Golden i Award.

The Association is delighted to once again have as major sponsors of this award, The West Australian Newspaper Group. The West Australian Newspaper Golden i Award recognises the outstanding contribution that Visitor Centre Managers make to the many aspects of visitor servicing within Western Australia.

The annual award is now in its fifth year and nominations are open to any Visitor Centre Manager from across the state of Western Australia. Managers will be assessed on their career in tourism, contribution and commitment to visitor servicing and the degree of their involvement with local community stakeholders.
The Chair of the 2011 Judging Panel, Robyn Fenech, said she was ``delighted to once again be involved in judging the Golden i Award - Visitor Centre Manager of the Year.'' `` It is extremely important that we acknowledge the role of Visitor Centre Managers, not only in providing a high level of Visitor Servicing but in also inspiring their staff and volunteers to deliver best practice to enhance visitor experiences in WA. On behalf of the judging panel, we look forward to acknowledging a manager who constantly strives for excellence and adds value to this vital industry,'' Ms Fenech said. Previous winners of the Golden i Award are:

  - Glenys Russell from the Kodja Place in Kojonup 2007
  - Felicity Anderson of Bunbury Visitor Centre in 2008
  - Scott Fleming from the Swan Valley Visitor Centre in 2009
  - Narelle Brook from the Kununurra Visitor Centre in 2010

As part of the annual GWN7 Top Tourism Awards, celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year, the West Australian Regional Newspapers, a division of the West Australian Newspapers, have the naming rights to seven of the Category Awards. These Awards recognize the achievements of a town, city or region in the areas of:

  - Heritage
  - Culture
  - Environment
  - Community Relations
  - Website Development
  - Management/Staff Training
  - Special Events

Ian Jones, General Manager of the West Australian Regional Newspaper Group, said "The West Australian Regional Newspaper Group was honoured to be involved with the Top Tourism Awards again as sponsors of the Golden i Award and the Special Category Awards.'' ``We are pleased to be naming right sponsor of the Golden i Award, in recognising the outstanding achievements within the tourism industry throughout our state. I wish all nominees the best of luck and I look forward to the announcement of the winners at the awards night in Kununurra,'' Mr Jones said.

Nominations for the 2011 Golden i Award are open until 5pm on Friday the 8th July 2011.

A written submission is then required by Friday the 5th of August 2011.

The winning entrant of the 2011 West Australian Newspaper Golden i Award will be announced at the Gala Dinner, which is part of the Annual Visitor Servicing Conference being held in Kununurra on Thursday the 20th of October 2011.

The winner will be presented with the perpetual trophy, a gift certificate towards a registration at the 2012 Visitor Servicing Conference, framed certificate and a cash prize of $1,000, thanks to the generous support of the West Australian Newspapers.

The Visitor Centre Association of WA is a not-for-profit peak industry body, representing more than 101 Visitor Centres and sub-representation of approximately 4,500 tourism businesses throughout Western Australia.

To find out more about the 2011 West Australian Newspaper Golden i Award please contact Dee Smith, the Executive Officer for the Visitor Centre Association of Western Australia on (08) 9754 6032 or 1800 134 112.