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Victoria has celebrated its best and brightest in tourism at the prestigious 2024 Victorian Tourism Awards, where two standout operators were inducted into the esteemed Hall of Fame.

Recognising sustained excellence, Healesville Sanctuary was honoured for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences, while Urban Camp Melbourne took its place in the Hall of Fame for 3-3.5 Star Accommodation. These recognitions highlight the commitment of Victorian operators to exceptional visitor experiences, innovation, and cultural connection.

Presented on Thursday evening, the Awards, hosted annually by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC), honours business excellence and performance within the industry.

At the ceremony, VTIC, in collaboration with presenting partner, City of Melbourne; Platinum Partner, Visit Victoria; and Gold Partners, Melbourne Airport and RACV Travel & Experiences, recognised the outstanding contribution made by tourism operators across the state.

In collaboration with Visit Victoria, VTIC announced the addition of an exciting new category to next year’s Victorian Tourism Awards.

The Hallmark Events Award category will recognise major events that have played a pivotal role in defining Victoria as Australia’s event capital. This new category will celebrate the vibrant and enviable event calendar that Victoria enjoys and allow these unique events to compete in a distinct category that recognises the level of global influence in which they operate each year.

While the new Hallmark Events category will be an annual field of competition from next year, a special recognition was bestowed this year on two Hallmark Events that have made a significant economic contribution to the performance of the state’s visitor economy over many years. Celebrating a lifetime of achievement and enduring impact on Victoria’s economy and global reputation, the Australian Open and the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix have been honoured with an inaugural Hallmark Events Icon Award.

These events heralded a renewed optimism following COVID lockdowns and reinforced Victoria’s position as a premier, internationally recognised events destination.

Melbourne Zoo, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors annually, was awarded Gold for a second consecutive year in the Major Tourist Attractions. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the country’s largest convention and exhibition venue, also claimed Gold in the Business Events Venues category, underscoring its position as a leading destination for high-profile events.

Among other notable winners, Lightscape Melbourne captured the Major Festivals & Events award for drawing 234,000 visitors with its mesmerising 2.1 kilometre illuminated winter trail through Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. The Sovereign Hill Museums Association received the Excellence in Accessible Tourism accolade, marking the second year that this important category has been included on the national stage.

Commenting on the value of the Awards, VTIC Chief Executive, Felicia Mariani stated “(on Thursday) night, close to 1,000 tourism and events operators gathered at the 2024 Victorian Tourism Awards to celebrate the industry’s greatest achievements.

“We extend our sincere congratulations to all our winners and finalists who set the benchmark for excellence right across our industry. The Awards program truly illustrates the essential role the visitor economy plays in creating vibrancy and energy across the state, as well as contributing significantly to the economic and social fabric of Victoria.

“With record-breaking achievements, superior tourism experiences, and the launch of an exciting new category that will next year celebrate the unique Hallmark Major Event calendar the state enjoys, the event this year has affirmed Victoria’s reputation as a premier global destination for tourism and events.”

There were 97 finalists this year across 27 business categories. All Gold Winners will now proceed to compete at the Australian Tourism Awards, to held in Adelaide on the 21st March 2025.

Click here to view details of the award winners.

Images: Healesville Sanctuary (top), Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (middle, credit: Ticketmaster) and VTIC Chief Executive Felicia Mariani (below).

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