Western Sydney’s tourism industry took centre stage last night as the Western Sydney Tourism Awards 2026 brought together the region’s leading tourism operators, businesses and industry figures for an evening of celebration and recognition. Hosted by Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce NSW (WSTTF) at the Western Sydney Convention Centre in Penrith, the awards recognised the people and businesses driving excellence, innovation and growth across one of Australia’s fastest-growing visitor economies.
The evening brought together leaders from government, tourism and business, Guests heard from the Hon. Steve Kamper MP, Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Mayor of Penrith Cr Todd Carney; Panthers Group CEO Andrew Hill, and prestigious representatives from the Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce and Western Sydney International Airport.
A total of 13 awards were presented, recognising excellence across tourism, hospitality, accommodation, events, arts and visitor experiences. Winners were acknowledged by prominent government and industry leaders, including Kellie Sloane, NSW Opposition Leader and Karen Jones, CEO of Destination NSW, along with representatives from Qantas, Accor, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Vietnam Airlines, Western Sydney University, Business NSW and Cabravale Club Resort, and Liverpool Catholic Club. The evening culminated in the presentation of the coveted Tourism Business of the Year award, before a finale of some exciting lucky draw prizes coordinated by the WSTTF, including airfare tickets, accommodation packages and a range of experiences sponsored by the region’s hotels, wineries, Vietnam Airlines, Qantas and Jetstar.
Opening the evening, Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce Chair Fazila Farhad reflected on the remarkable progress of the region’s tourism industry.
“Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and winners, whose innovation, passion and commitment continue to showcase the very best of Western Sydney,” said Farhad. “Since launching in 2024, these awards have celebrated the people, businesses and experiences shaping the future of tourism in our region. As Western Sydney prepares to welcome the opening of Western Sydney International Airport and enters a new era of opportunity, success will be defined not by infrastructure alone, but by the people and experiences that bring our region to life and make it such a unique destination for visitors.”
At the event, the Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce treated guests to a sneak preview of its upcoming destination campaign, ‘A World at Your Doorstep’ – an exciting next step in raising Western Sydney’s profile and inspiring visitors to discover the wealth of experiences across the region. Further details will be announced in the coming days.
Winners of the Western Sydney Tourism Awards 2026
1. Outstanding Tourism Campaign of the Year
Winners
Platinum Winner: West HQ Filipino Festival
Gold Winners:
Club Marconi Festa Della Repubblica
Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park – Wake Up with the Wildlife
2. Event Campaign Award – Council
Winners
Platinum Winner: Fairfield City Council Moon Festival – National Lion Dance Competition
Gold Winners:
City of Parramatta – New Years Eve 2025
Penrith City Council – REAL Festival 2025
3. Meeting/Conference Venue of the Year
Winners
Platinum Winner: Liverpool Catholic Club Venues
Gold Winners:
Australian Turf Club – Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
Visy Dior Hotel International
4. Tour Group Experience of the Year
Winners
Platinum Winner: Anderson’s Tours
Gold Winner: Gledswood Homestead & Winery
Highly Commended: Vietravel Australia
5. Outstanding Achievement in Accessible Tourism
Winners
Platinum Winner: Quest Penrith
Gold Winner: Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park
6. Apartment Hotels and Unique Accommodation
6a: Apartment Hotels
Winners
Platinum Winner: Meriton Suites Liverpool
Gold Winner: Quest Campbelltown
6b: Unique Accommodation
Winners
Platinum Winner: Novotel Sydney Cabramatta
Gold Winner: Holiday Inn Sydney St Marys
7. Tourism Excellence – Team Member of the Year
Winners
Platinum Winner: Amanda Fuller the William Inglis Hotel – MGallery Collection
Gold Winner: Ruwani Weerasinghe La Vie Hotels & Resorts
8. Best Bar/Pub of the Year
Winners
Platinum Winner: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains -Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern
Gold Winner: Station Hotel Parramatta
9. Best Rated Cuisine – Hotels/Clubs/Restaurants
Winners
Platinum Winner: Magma by Dany Karam-Cabravale Club Resort
Gold Winner: Wenty Leagues
Highly commended: Fairways Restaurant & Bar – Comfort Inn Leura
10. Tourism Transformation Excellence Award (New or Refurbished Project)
Winners
Platinum Winner: Western Sydney International Airport
Gold Winner: Cabravale Club Resort
11. Best Music and Arts Venue
Winners
Platinum Winner: Coliseum Theatre – West HQ
Gold Winners:
EVAN Theatre – Penrith Panthers Leagues Club
Liverpool Powerhouse – Liverpool City Council
Highly Commended: Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre (WPAC)-Wollondilly City Council
12. Chief Executive/General Manager of the Year (Hotels, Clubs & Tourism Businesses)
Winners
Platinum Winner: Stephen Wills – General Manager, Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley
Gold Winners:
Noah Moseley – General Manager, Calmsley Hill City Farm
Vicki Le – Chief Commercial Officer, Cabravale Club Resort
12.A Special Award : Leadership Legacy Award
Winner: Belinda Thomson – General Manager, The William Inglis Hotel – MGallery Collection
13. Tourism Business of the Year – Major
Winners
Platinum Winner: Cabravale Club Resort
Gold Winner: The William Inglis Hotel – MGallery Collection
