Sunnybank Plaza’s Food Discovery Tours Take the Prize
What’s the point of having an outstanding food offering if no one knows about it? Sunnybank Plaza deftly avoided that possibility with its award-winning Food Discovery Tour program.
The tours introduce guests to the center’s international dining offer. For three hours, tour guide and chef Tony Ching shows shoppers the best places to eat and shop for fresh Asian produce. He gives out hints and tips about choosing the best produce, advice on key ingredients to focus on, and sprinkles in a bit of insight about Asian culture, too.
“Sunnybank Plaza is unlike any other shopping centre of our size in that we’re home to over 30 restaurants and take-away outlets,” said marketing manager Lisa Smith.
“I’ve lived in the area all of my life and have worked in the centre for more than 10 years so I’ve been able to get to know the special qualities of the precinct very well. The Food Tours are one way we can encourage the broader community to embrace Sunnybank for what it is – a unique melting pot of food and culture,” she said.
“Throughout my time here I’ve come across a lot of people who love Asian food and want to try something new, but don’t really know where to start. It’s not an easy task deciding where to go and what dishes to order and sometimes you just need someone to point you in the right direction! We’re very lucky to have our tour guide Tony Ching; he’s a great character, extremely knowledgeable and has worked as a chef for over 30 years.”
Not only has the center seen quite a lot of success in its tours, it’s now been recognized with the Australian Property Council’s Excellence in Marketing Award for Regional Shopping Centres. It’s also been nominated as a finalist in the national 2013 Shopping Centre Marketing Awards.
