South Australia ’s Novotel Barossa Valley Resort has bagged multiple awards at the recent South Australian Tourism Awards – reinforcing the world-class resort’s standing as an industry leader, particularly in the arena of conference & business tourism.   

The resort was the category winner for “Meetings & Business Tourism” and also won the Bronze Medal for “New Tourism Development”.  The venue will now contest the Australian Tourism Awards, to be held in Canberra in February 2008.  

Situated on a panoramic hillside, the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort overlooks magnificent views of the Barossa’s renowned vineyards.  It is the only facility of its kind in the Barossa region and sets the benchmark for the growing industry of meetings and business tourism in what is Australia ’s most famous wine region.  

Late 2006 saw the completion of Stage One of a multi-million dollar refurbishment at the resort, incorporating all public space.  The project included a total refurbishment of the venue’s meeting space, with a substantial investment in IT facilities, creating the most state-of-the-art conference venue in the Barossa and increasing the number of meeting rooms from eight to ten.  The refurbishment also included the addition of two outstanding new facilities including the unique Tasting Room – an experiential retail outlet offering complimentary daily wine tastings – and the luxurious endota spa, SA's only resort day spa.   

Stage Two of the refurbishment is now well underway, encompassing all 140 accommodation rooms. The new-look rooms are set to take comfort and in-room technology to a whole new level, with ipod docking stations, VGA laptop desk connections, LED low-energy lighting, chaise lounges, granite bench tops and LCD televisions – all supported by a warm, contemporary interior design concept.   

Novotel Barossa Valley Resort Director of Sales & Marketing Emily Howard accepted the SA Tourism Awards, saying they were a "testament to the strong and strategic leadership of our General Manager Scott Boyes, whose infectious enthusiasm to raise the bar each day has spread to all staff.  As a result we have an entire team dedicated to taking the resort to new levels."  

General Manager Scott Boyes said it was “great for our region to feature so prominently” at the Awards.  “The Barossa Valley is a fantastic place for business and leisure and this is reflected in the diverse nature of awards won by operators in the region.”  

“For us these awards are the result of hard work by many, to develop our conference and business events product to the level it is today.  This area of our business is so pivotal as it underpins future growth in the region,” Mr Boyes said. “We pride ourselves on delivering a professional, inviting, state-of-the-art venue surrounded by Australia 's premier wine region."