Awards On The Menu!

News release tourism - 1
December 11, 2007

Awards On The Menu!

Kiwi restaurateur cooks up top
Norfolk Island tourism accolade

A fine dining restaurant operated by an ex-pat Kiwi and his Australian partner is the overall winner of the inaugural Norfolk Island Tourism Awards announced on Monday night (Dec. 10, 2007).

Dino’s at Bumboras is a fine dining restaurant in a charming 1880s-built Norfolk Pine farmhouse operated by Auckland-born Dean Bosley and partner Helen Bartholomew.

Bosley trained at the Bronze Goat in Auckland with well-known restaurateur Patrick O’Reilly before refining his talents at Noosa Heads in Queensland. He moved to Norfolk Island 13 years ago.

Dino’s received the Norfolk Air Award for Excellence across all Tourism Categories at a gala dinner on the island. Bosley and Bartholomew grow their own produce for the restaurant which specialises in contemporary dishes with an Italian style.

Co-owner Dean Bosley puts the restaurant’s success down to fresh ingredients, “eclectic” ambiance and a desire to “make the place enjoyable and fun to be in”.

“Our aim is always to ensure that what goes on the plate is freshly grown. We make a point of that - fresh produce that is grown within five kilometres of the restaurant - that’s a secret of success for restaurants internationally and it works very well for us.”

As to the future, Dean and Helen wish to see their establishment becoming more self sufficient in energy such as solar power and encouraging organically-grown food on the island.

“We feel this award gives us the green light to keep doing what we do well for 40 guests every night. It simply feels wonderful to have won this accolade.”

More than 40 businesses submitted entries for the awards, set up by the Norfolk Island Tourism to encourage higher standards and recognise tourism as the island’s major export earner.

Dino’s qualified for the grand award by winning the Formal Dining category, ahead of joint runners up The Garrison Restaurant and Hilli’s Restaurant & Wine Bar in Burnt Pine township. A stylish new Burnt Pine coffee shop, The Olive, took out the casual dining category.

The award for accommodation up to 10 units went to the 5 star-rated Christian’s of Bucks Point, which squeezed in ahead of Forrester Court Cliff Top Cottages, three stylish apartments occupying one of the most stunning sites on the island.

Christian’s of Bucks Point is a charming self-contained, three-bedroom house set in a traditional Norfolk Island garden and operated by a fifth-generation islander descended from Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian and his Tahitian wife.

Other key winners are:
• the island’s first winery, Two Chimneys Wines in the Tourism Support category;
• The Cyclorama, a stunning 360º painting depicting Norfolk Island’s settlement by descendents of the Bounty mutiny from Pitcairn Island in the Environment, History and Heritage segment;
• Tropical Adventures Norfolk, a sea kayaking and mountain bike operator focusing on soft adventure for the adventure and Baby Boomer markets in the Tour and Activities category; and,
• the increasingly popular Norfolk Island Country Music Festival in the Festival and Events section.

Independent judges were flown in from Australia’s main tourism markets of Australia and New Zealand to judge the awards. Norfolk island Tourism Awards Committee Chairman David Buffett described the event as being essential to help the island flourish as a holiday destination.

“The judges were asked not only to award points for operational excellence but also to assess the way each candidate was working with the government’s five year tourism strategy to attract more young people and baby boomers to the island,” Mr Buffett said.

More than 8,000 New Zealanders and 31,000 Australians visit Norfolk Island annually. The island government has produced a five year tourism strategy to build arrivals to a targeted 50,000 per year.

Pic caption: Dino’s Restaurant’s Dean Bosley and Helen Bartholomew receive the Norfolk Island Tourism Award for Excellence Across all Tourism Categories from sponsor Norfolk Air general manager Ewan Wilson.

About Norfolk Island: Discovered by Captain Cook in 1774, Norfolk Island was first settled as a British penal colony in 1788 through to 1856. On June 8, 1856, the island was re-inhabited by a community from Pitcairn Island, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Known today as Norfolk Islanders, they form a majority of the 1,800 resident population. Norfolk Island is renowned for its spectacular coastal scenery, colourful history, sporting and cultural activities, convict heritage and tax-free shopping.

Air New Zealand flies to Norfolk Island on Sundays and Thursdays. For bookings and more information freephone 0800 737 000 or visit www.airnewzealand.co.nz.

For general information contact Norfolk Island Tourism. Phone +67 232 2147, fax +67 232 3109, email info@norfolkisland.com.au or visit www.norfolkisland.nf.

Issued for Norfolk Island Tourism by Pead PR

Contacts:
Tania Anderson marketing Consultant - Norfolk Island Tourism, + 672 3 22147 (Norfolk Island), e-mail: tanderson@nigtb.gov.nf
Bonnie Smail, Pead PR, Tel: +64-9-918 5581, +64-21-722 276, email: bonnie@peadpr.co.nz
NORFOLK ISLAND TOURISM AWARDS RESULTS 2007

CATEGORY WINNER RUNNER-UP SPECIAL MENTION
1. Environment History and Heritage Cyclorama Pitcairn Settlers Village -
2. Tour and Activities Tropical Adventures Norfolk Norfolk Island Museum Norfolk Touring
3. Marketing and Promotion Norfolk Online The Travel Centre -
4. Festival or Event Norfolk Island Country Music Association - -
5. Food and Beverage – Casual Dining The Olive Café Tempo Golden Orb Bookshop and Cafe
6. Food and Beverage – Formal Dining Dino’s at Bumboras Hilli’s Restaurant
The Garrison Restaurant -
7. Accommodation to 10 units Christian’s of Bucks Point Forrester Court -
8. Accommodation 11 to 35 units Daydreamer Holiday Apartments - -
9. Accommodation 35 + units South Pacific Resort Hotel - -
10. Retail Jendi Boutique Norfolk Island Liqueurs Fashion at Beadsley
BJ’s Jewellers
11. New Business or New Owner Eco Escapes Cascade Joinery -

12. Tourism Support Services Two Chimneys Winery NoW Media Norfolk Island Cottage Pottery
13. Transport Services Borry’s Rental Cars Transam Argosy -
Excellence Across All Categories Dino’s at Bumbora Chosen from the above categories
14. Customer Service Award Joint winners - Megan Christian of Bounty Excursions and Sue Buffett of Norfolk Island Tourism
15. Tourism Ministers’ Award for Contribution to Norfolk Island Tourism Marie Bailey

© Scoop Media