![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/2H3A0988-scaled-e1679453715957-554x320.jpg?_t=1679453719\")
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With more than 8,200 annual crossings and carrying 950,000 passengers, Searoad Ferries is currently regarded as Australia\u2019s busiest ferry service.<\/p>\n
In celebrating their commitment to business excellence, Searoad Ferries CEO Matt McDonald said winning the award was a credit to the Searoad Ferries team’s tireless work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are honoured to win this award and to be recognised among prestigious company,\u201d McDonald said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve worked hard to turn the journey across Port Phillip Bay into more than just a ferry trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to the hard work and creativity of our entire team, Searoad Ferries is now a unique and unforgettable tourism experience in its own right.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the Bellarine, fourth generation business The Woods Ocean Grove were praised for their passion to providing the best experience and service to their guests at their slice of outdoor paradise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With a vision to be \u201cOcean Grove\u2019s exclusive accommodation experience that is characterised by inspiring spaces, connection to place, people and community\u201d, owners Stephanie and Jason King and their little helpers Frankie and Maggie said they couldn\u2019t be happier with securing the accolade.<\/p>\n \u201cIn our particular category we were up against businesses like the RACV Noosa Resort, an amazing retreat in South Australia and cottages in the Blue Mountains\u2026 it definitely felt like we were rubbing shoulders with the big players,\u201d co-owner Stephanie King said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt also reaffirmed to me that it doesn\u2019t matter how big you are or what your budgets are\u2026 if you\u2019re just working on what you\u2019re doing and doing it really well, then that\u2019s the important part of it\u2026 you can be crowned the best!<\/p>\n \u201cFor us in our seven years of operation, it\u2019s just been a really beautiful slow project and we keep adding layers to the experience and asking people what they love about it and what they want\u2026 we listen and keep building The Woods from that.\u201d<\/p>\n Geelong Gallery were also cited as winners at the prestigious awards, taking home a Gold in the Cultural Tourism category.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SEAROAD Ferries and The Woods Ocean Grove have been recognised nationally for their tourism and business excellence, both bringing home medals at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Sydney. The Queenscliff based passenger ferry institution secured a silver medal in the Major Tour and Transport Operators category, while The Woods Ocean Grove bushland accommodation was […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/2022-QATA_428-640x320.jpg?_t=1679453472\")