Accommodation provider wins silver in national awards

A BALLARAT accommodation provider is celebrating after taking home silver at the nation’s prestigious tourism awards.

Sovereign Park Motor Inn was celebrated as one of Australia’s leading regional accommodation providers, taking out the Silver Award for 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

“We’ve got a spring in our step. It’s an amazing result and we’re really proud of everyone who’s helped us achieve the award,” said Tim Canny, owner and operator of Sovereign Park Motor Inn.

Announced at a gala event held at the historic Fremantle Prison in Western Australia earlier this month, the awards represent the pinnacle of excellence in the Australian visitor economy.

Sovereign Park’s silver win marks a significant milestone for the business, placing it among the top two operators nationally in its category.

The achievement follows an intensive 12-month period of growth and a comprehensive awards submission process that detailed the business’s evolution across marketing strategies, significant environmental sustainability improvements, and major upgrades to the guest experience.

“This award is the culmination of an incredible amount of work behind the scenes,” Mr Canny said.

“The submission process alone is a massive undertaking, but it gave us the opportunity to reflect on the initiatives we’ve rolled out over the last year, from sustainability improvements to elevating our overall guest offering. To have that effort recognized on a national stage is a testament to our team’s dedication.”

Sovereign Park’s award submission also highlighted key collaborations including a partnership with the Ballarat Wildlife Park which was a fellow finalist in the earlier Victorian Tourism Awards at which Sovereign Park Motor Inn had clinched gold to then go on to the national level awards.

“We didn’t get here alone. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Tourism Midwest Victoria,” Mr Canny said.