Launceston has capacity to host Australian Tourism Awards industry experts say

The event will encourage investors, sponsors and partners to take a second look at the city which could lead to “legacy outcomes”.

Cataract Gorge is tentatively poised to host the gala dinner in February 2019.

“We will inevitability get all the key Tourism Australia people and the key politicians, the ministers, the key sponsors and the best operators in the country being exposed to what Tasmania has to offer,” Mr Martin said.

While many visitors were aware of the icons like Hobart, Freycinet and Cradle Mountain, the local tourism industry see the awards as a chance to showcase Launceston and the North.

Mr Martin said the timing of the event needed to hit the sweet spot between the end of school holidays and the start of the Launceston event calendar.

“I think Launceston is capable of doing it, obviously this is going to be a large group of people and we are going to have to time the event well,” he said.

“There will obviously be a bit of overflow into the region and we can manage this, the Master Games on the North-West Coast is an example of when we can do this right.

“We will have to work with hotel operators around the city to make sure there are blocks of rooms and encourage people to get in early but it’s a challenge I think we can rise up to.”

Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said it will be the largest tourism event ever held in Launceston and would put the city in the forefront of people’s minds.

“Tourism is such an important industry not only for Tasmania, but for Launceston, and to be granted the 2018 awards ceremony is a huge feather in our city's cap,” he said.

“We know that the Cataract Gorge is one of the most significant tourism attractions in this state. We believe there's no better location in our beautiful city to host an event of this magnitude, giving it a truly unique backdrop.”

He said experiencing what a night in the Gorge would be like, just 10 minutes from the centre of the city, would put Launceston on the map.

Tourism Tasmania chief executive John Fitzgerald said it was well known that word of mouth kept people coming to Tasmania.

“I think having 800 of the most influential people in the Australian tourism sector in Launceston will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.

“They will go away and talk about Launceston and we know that will convert to visitation.”

The state government will contribute $200,000 to support the event.