The Inland Tourism Awards presentation dinner was held in Broken Hill on Saturday, July 25.

Girragirra Retreat was one of three Forbes finalists, including Forbes Shire Council’s Forbes in the Heart of the Country campaign and Apex Riverside Tourist Park.

Wendy Muffet said they were thrilled with the unexpected accolade.

“We were really delighted,” she said.

“It was our first crack at that particular award, which involved a 30 page submission...we learnt a lot about our business because the application was so detailed it forced you to examine it from every angle.”

Considering the in-depth application process, Mrs Muffet said the recognition is quite significant for their business.

“We got pages of feedback which is very valuable to us in terms of improving what we offer our guests,” she said.

“It means recognition in the industry which is nice, plus the opportunity to network and we’ve now got a platform to improve on the business.”

Girragirra Retreat been opened for less than two years and has already seen plenty of success in the industry. Mrs Muffet said they couldn’t have done it without the support of the people of Forbes.

“It’s been very nice - kind of humbling,” she said.

“It feels like we’ve got a long way to go but we’ve had a lot of support from council and the people around town.”

Mrs Muffet said the gala dinner in Broken Hill was a lot of fun with the theme of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

“So many people got right into it,” she said. “It was a really good opportunity to network and learn from others.”

Parkes Elvis Festival also had success on the night, winning the Festivals and Events category.

The Inland Tourism Awards are held annually to acknowledge excellence in tourism in the four regional tourism areas of Central, Inland, Murray and Riverina.