MELBOURNE: The Crown Entertainment Complex was named Victoria�s top major tourist attraction at Victorian tourism�s night of night�s recently.

Around 1,000 industry colleagues gathered at the Crown Palladium to hear the announcement.

Crown�s chief executive officer Rowen Craigie accepted the award and was delighted with the win. In addition to winning the award, the complex�s luxurious hotel � Crown Towers � was a finalist in the Luxury Accommodation category.

The Crown Entertainment Complex opened in May 1997 completing the vision for the Southbank arts and tourist precinct in Melbourne by transforming what was formerly a derelict industrial site to a 500-metre river frontage Complex. Covering 510,000 square metres, the Complex is one of the largest and most diverse entertainment resorts of its kind in the world and provides a fully-integrated hotel, casino and entertainment tourist centre in the heart of a major city. The Complex combines gaming, hotel, convention, restaurant, retail and comprehensive entertainment facilities. Positioned as the �World of Entertainment�, the Complex has averaged more than 12 million visits per year to the site since opening. Crown is a strong contributor to the Victorian economy and the tourism industry, through the creation of employment, provision of training, tourism promotion, taxation and support of local industry through the use of local Victorian suppliers. Crown is Victoria�s largest single site employer employing around 7,500 hospitality, gaming and administration employees and also runs its own training facility � Crown College. In November 2003, Crown will open its second hotel � Crown Promenade Hotel � that will combine a purpose built conference facility � the Crown Conference Centre.

For media enquries Trish Palmonari 03 9292 7614