Parkes Elvis Festival Director Cathy Treasure with the top gong adding to the festival’s vast collection of awards.
The fame of the Parkes Elvis Festival keeps on spreading as this major event was named the “Best of the Best” at the inaugural Grey Nomads Awards last week.
Announced at a gala dinner on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the Festival took out the top prize after winning the “Best Grey Nomad Festival or Event” category earlier in the evening.
The Grey Nomad Awards recognise communities, tourism operators and events that provide exemplary products, services or experiences for travellers aged over 55.
The “Best of the Best” was granted to the category winner judged as the most outstanding.
“We have an extremely hard-working team of staff and volunteers who work around the clock to deliver a five-day festival with more than 200 unique events,” said Parkes Elvis Festival Director Cathy Treasure.
“Winning this award is wonderful validation for all the blood, sweat and tears that go into delivering this event to our audiences.”
Grey Nomad Awards Director Kim Morgan, said the win was a significant feather in Parkes’ cap. “Winning a Grey Nomad Award says to these travellers that you offer a superior experience where their needs and enjoyment have been taken into special consideration, providing them with verified information that will guide their decisions on where to travel and what to experience.”
Judging was conducted by mature-age tourism and event professionals from around Australia, some of whom had experienced the grey nomad lifestyle, lending weight to Parkes Elvis Festival’s success.
Parkes Elvis Festival and Parkes Shire Council were praised for the thorough research they had conducted to attract and satisfy grey nomads. The judges were impressed that this inland town in the heart of New South Wales has found such a unique way to attract tens of thousands of visitors when much of Australia is solely focussed on seaside holidays.