Champions of Tourism 2026

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the Northern Tasmanian tourism industry and for an exclusive pre-launch peek of the new cellar door and restaurant at Small Wonder Wines.

Champions of Tourism 2026 was proudly presented by Visit Northern Tasmania with support from our valued event sponsors. Celebrating northern Tasmania's tourism industry and those who deliver an outstanding visitor experience, Champs was a great opportunity to reconnect with peers, meet new people and share in the excitement of the category nominees, finalists and winners.

The team at Small Wonder ensured that glasses stayed topped up and bellies were full. Warm hospitality was there from the first guests in through the door, all the way through until the final moments of the evening. Thank you again to every single member of the Small Wonder team, for sharing your special venue, wine, and story with us.

Keep an eye on Small Wonder's socials for details on the official opening of their Cellar Door & Restaurant.

As we celebrated those making a positive impact in tourism, we appreciated support in making a positive impact beyond our industry. Guests were invited to add a donation to our charitable partner, Transplant Australia, to help support transplant recipients, donors and their families.

Donations are still able to be made through Transplant Australia’s website—consider donating or volunteering your time in support of the upcoming Australian Transplant Games, held in Launceston for the first time in the Games’ history.

Event Organiser Extraordinaire | Sponsored by Events Tasmania

Winner

Hayley Young | Festivale

Hayley is the driving force behind Festivale, one of Tasmania's most beloved and enduring outdoor food, wine and entertainment festivals held annually in Launceston. As Event Manager, Hayley is the heart of an event that draws thousands of visitors to northern Tasmania annually, generating significant economic and cultural value for the region.
The clearest measure of Hayley's impact is the festival's remarkable growth in popularity. For the past two years, Festivale has sold out its 30,000 ticket allocation before the event even opens. In 2025, tickets sold out several weeks in advance, and in 2026 the event sold out before Christmas, an unprecedented milestone that speaks directly to the quality of the experience consistently delivered.
What sets Hayley apart is her extraordinary capacity to hold together the many moving parts of a major festival from vendor coordination and logistics to volunteer management, stakeholder relations, and on-the-ground problem solving while consistently delivering a warm experience that keeps patrons returning annually.
Hayley's commitment goes well beyond event management. She brings genuine passion, creativity and professionalism to every aspect of Festivale. Throughout the event she manages challenges with calm, good humour and an infectious enthusiasm that lifts everyone around her.
Hayley works collaboratively with local producers, sponsors, performers and council stakeholders to ensure Festivale remains relevant, vibrant and financially sustainable.
Hayley exemplifies everything the Event Organiser Extraordinaire award stands for. She works, drives, inspires and excites everyone around her to ensure that Festivale continues to be the success that it has become.

Finalists

Ryan Limb | Vibestown

Tony & Gina Scott | Tassie Scallop Fiesta

Local Leader | Sponsored by Launceston Airport

Winner

David Cox | Hawthorn Football Club

David has led the concept of sports tourism for Northern Tasmania and created something amazing along the way. As a tourism professional, ten years ago he might have seen his move to Hawthorn Football Club as the Tasmanian State Manager as a sideways step but David has demonstrated exemplorary leadership in showing the State the value of sports tourism to the visitor economy. He has embedded Hawthorn into the community through schools, sports clubs and programs but also as a premium visitor to our region. He has collaborated with tourism and hispitality professionals to ensure the Hawthorn Football Club have experienced the best of Northern Tasmania and are equipped to showcase our region to the rest of their members and followers. He took the initiative to nominate a football club for a State Tourism Award which had never been done before - and won! He has done so much for the visitor economy of Northern Tasmania which also explains why the Launceston community is so devastated to be losing Hawthorn home games after 26 years, But Dave's legacy will live on and his leadership will remain as testament to the power of sports tourism.

Finalists

Lauren & Matthias Utzinger | Utzinger Wines

Naomi Hume | Tasmanian Shacklife

Vicki Pryer | Great Western Tiers Visitor Centre / Meander Valley Council

Service Wizard | Sponsored by Hospitality Tasmania

Winner

Kym Clayton | Sinapius

Kym exemplifies everything that outstanding Tasmanian hospitality should be. Her genuine warmth, engaging storytelling and passion for both the Sinapius story and the Tamar Valley create memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression on every visitor.
Managing the Sinapius Wine Room entirely on her own, Kym has maintained an exceptional 4.9-star Google rating, which is a testament to the consistently high standard of service she delivers. She has a remarkable ability to make every guest feel welcome, valued and connected to both the wines and the region. Despite her extensive knowledge and experience, Kym shares it with genuine humility. There is no ego, only a sincere desire to educate, inspire and ensure every visitor enjoys an authentic and memorable experience.
Kym was one of the very first people I met before moving to the Tamar Valley, and her kindness, encouragement and genuine hospitality immediately made me feel part of the community. That same authentic welcome is extended to every visitor who walks through the door.
With years of experience in the region, Kym possesses an incredible depth of knowledge about the Tamar Valley's wine history and the iconic wineries that have helped shape its reputation. What sets her apart is her collaborative spirit, she is passionate about promoting the entire Tamar Valley, not just Sinapius, recognising that a thriving wine region benefits everyone.
Kym is an outstanding ambassador for Tasmanian wine tourism and a deserving recipient of the Service Wizard Award.

Finalists

Pebrinawaty | Kawan Dining

Penny Rundle | Waverley Mills

Peter Barron | Flinders Island Aviation

Standout Food Ambassador | Sponsored by Gastronomy Northern Tasmania / NTDC

Winner

Thomas Pirker | Grain of the Silos

Thomas Pirker is an exceptional ambassador for Northern Tasmanias food, producers and sense of place. Through his leadership at Grain of the Silos, Thomas consistently champions local ingredients and ensures that provenance is at the heart of every dining experience.
His commitment goes far beyond simply sourcing locally. Thomas builds genuine, long-term relationships with farmers, growers and makers, treating producers as valued members of the Grain of the Silos family. He takes the time to understand their products, their challenges and the stories behind their food, then shares those stories with diners in a way that creates a meaningful connection between the plate, the producer and the region.
Thomas is also an outstanding mentor. He encourages his team to understand where ingredients come from, why seasonality matters and how respectful relationships with producers strengthen Tasmanias food culture. Staff are supported to grow professionally while developing a deep appreciation for local food and hospitality.
Through his passion, integrity and leadership, Thomas showcases the very best of Northern Tasmania. He gives producers a platform, strengthens the local food economy and helps visitors experience the region through authentic food with genuine provenance.
Thomas Pirker is thoroughly deserving of recognition as the 2026 Visit Northern Tasmania Standout Food Ambassador.

Finalists

Efendi | Kawan Dining

Rob Perry | Casalinga Gourmet Meats

Agritourism Guru | Sponsored by Agritourism Tasmania

Winner

Paul & Bec Rumble | Lone Goose Farm

Lone Goose Farm offers visitors a rare opportunity to see ethical meat production firsthand while experiencing the warmth and authenticity of a working Tasmanian farm. Located in Northern Tasmania, the farm is committed to raising premium pasture-raised Muscovy ducks with a strong focus on animal welfare, allowing visitors to gain a genuine understanding of where their food comes from.
Through small-group farm tours, guests can walk the paddocks with Bec and Paul who both speak to what they do and why. Guests meet the animals, cuddle ducklings, learn about the farming practices used on the property and hear directly from the people behind the business. These experiences create meaningful connections between producers and consumers while showcasing the care, transparency and hard work involved in sustainable food production.
By opening their farm gates to visitors, Lone Goose Farm helps tell Tasmania's agricultural story in an authentic and engaging way. Their commitment to ethical farming, education and visitor experiences makes them a standout example of agritourism and a deserving recipient of recognition within the industry. True ambassadors of Gastronomy and Agritourism in Northern Tasmania.

Finalists

Ian St Jack | Pipers Brook Truffles

Shelley & Matt Grant | Eversley Vines

Sustainable Legend | Sponsored by TICT

Winner

Alec McLelland | Vibestown

Alec Ag McLelland has been a driving force behind Party In The Paddock (PITP)'s sustainability journey, helping shift the festival from good intentions to practical, embedded environmental systems that now influence the wider Tasmanian, even Australian, events sector.
Under Ags leadership, PITP has invested in long-term infrastructure and operational change, including its reusable cup system, purpose-built on-site cup wash station, expanded waste sorting processes, and the Keep the Paddock Pristine ethos. Rather than treating sustainability as a marketing add-on, Ag has helped build it into the bones of the event: from bar operations and vendor requirements, to campground waste, patron behaviour, and post-event reporting.
His work has supported major outcomes including strong landfill diversion, reduced campground waste, food donation partnerships, composting pathways, relationship with Green Music Australia, BYO bottle campaign, and practical environmental education for patrons and crew. The innovation never stops with plans to expand to reusable service ware and looking at utilising more sustainable generators for the event. He has also openly shared PITPs learnings with other festivals and event organisers, contributing to working groups and sector conversations so that sustainability improvements can travel beyond one event.
Ag deserves recognition because he leads with action, humility and generosity. He understands that regional tourism events have a responsibility to care for the places they activate, and he has consistently pushed PITP to become a more resilient, lower-impact and values-led festival. His work has helped prove that large-scale music tourism can be both culturally powerful and environmentally accountable.

Finalists

Amanda Woolams | Harvest Market

Shashank | BIG4 Kelso Sands Holiday and Native Wildlife Park

Accessibility Advocate | Sponsored by Moxxi Property

Winner

Rexie Grey | Seahorse World

Rexie won last year's Accessibility Advocate award, and she continues to challenge the status quo in making the tourism industry a more accessible and inclusive place. Introducing Sensory Hour this year at Seahorse World which is a dedicated tour for people with sensory sensitivities tailored to creating a safe experience. Also investing this year in hearing loops to further elevate accessibility for guests with low or no hearing. She has also partnered with Guide Dogs Tasmania to host regular training opportunities at Seahorse world to advocate for other tourism spaces to open up their doors and to create more spaces that people with low vision and assistance dogs can navigate with confidence. Rexie's passion for accessibility and making effective change in the tourism industry is evident through her actions and innovations like the 3D printed models to showcase during tours to ensure that the tours are elevated and to make a lasting memory for all visitors.

Finalist

Curly Haslam-Coates | Launceston Distillery