OM4Tourism 2009 Hidden Jewel Awards

Welcome to the 2009 OM4Tourism Hidden Jewel Awards.

The Hidden Jewel winner for 2009 has been announced: 2009 Hidden Jewel Award Winner

Review all our 2008 Winners.

About the Awards

The OM4Tourism Hidden Jewel Awards are for small Australian tourism businesses that offer a fascinating or unusual visitor experience – but remain relatively undiscovered.

Our 2008 national winner Daniel Hackett is going from strength to strength with his Riverfly website, the prize for winning the 2008 awards.

The prizes

This year’s prize focus on the best ways for small tourism businesses to get attention.

We will have the one national prize, a complete website package including custom content, a custom design and 12 months of hosting.

For full details, go to our Prize page.

The judging panel

Our judging panel consists of tourism operators who have a proven track record of successfully building a business based on an effective web presence.

Daniel Hackett won the national 2008 Hidden Jewel Award for his Tasmanian fly-fishing tours, Riverfly. Since his new website went live, his business has seen extraordinary growth. Daniel has a comprehensive understanding of how to grow a tour guiding business through online marketing.

Drew Bernhardt is General Manager of Cape Lodge, a hotel in the Margaret River region that was awarded Luxury Travel Magazine’s Best Boutique Hotel in Australia for 2009. Drew brings to the panel a wealth of knowledge about distinctive tourism accommodation.

Pip Chalk is Chair of Wildlife Tourism Australia, based in New South Wales. She has a sound knowledge of the national wildlife tourism market, interpretive tours, and how to build knowledge and awareness online.

Phil Walcott is a phenomenal online networker who manages the multi-award-winning Rainbow Connection – a resort hotel in Alice Springs, which took out the Northern Territory Hidden Jewel Award 2008. Phil is also active in Central Australian Tourism, and Northern Territory Director of GALTA (Gay and Lesbian Tourism Australia).

Liz Hatherley is Marketing Manager of the Great Escape Charter Company, which runs small-boat luxury cruises around the stunning Kimberley Coast and to the Rowley Shoals. Liz comes with years of experience in boutique cruise marketing, including web management, and has achieved great success attracting news business online.

The judging panel is chaired by Jane Hammond, former travel magazine editor and manager of PublicityShip and OM4Tourism. Jane now manages web development, promotion and publicity for a major West Australian heritage site and concert venue, St George’s Cathedral.

The entry and judging process takes place entirely online, and focuses on key criteria, without the need for time-consuming presentations and portfolios. Judges make their decisions based on entrants’ answers to key questions, and links to significant sections of your website, pdf brochure and/or images.

Competition Terms and Conditions govern the judging process.