Tourism Wollongong won two major categories at this week's South Coast Tourism Awards, taking out gold for Tourism Marketing with its innovative We Love The Gong campaign and New Tourism Development for its $11m Southern Gateway Centre.

Tourism Wollongong also picked up a Silver Award in the Visitor Information and Services category and saw four of its members also take home a Gold Award.

Winning members on the night at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre in Nowra were:

• Dolphin Watch Cruises at Jervis Bay in the Eco Tourism and Tour Operator categories;
• Novotel Wollongong Northbeach in the Meetings and Business Tourism and Sustainable Tourism categories;
• Coolangatta Estate in the Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Boutique Breweries category, and
• Ibis Wollongong for Standard Accommodation.

Tourism Wollongong General Manager Greg Binskin said the gold and silver tally was an "outstanding result that reflected huge advances made in the way the region was developing as an exciting holiday and lifestyle destination."

Photo: Tourism Wollongong attendees celebrate their win at the South Coast Tourism Awards proudly sporting their 'I Love the Gong' badges