11/17/09

Gold Coast scoops five state tourism gongs

Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
13/11/2009
 

Winners and finalists are not aware of the QTA results until the presentation

The 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon has been named Queensland's top major event at this year's Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced.

The 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon joins four other Gold Coast tourism operators to take out top honours at this year's Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Ltd, during a gala ceremony at Conrad Jupiters this evening.

The Gold Coast's five winners were:
• 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon (Major Festivals and Events)
• Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (Meetings and Business Tourism)
• Griffith University - Department of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel and Sport Management (Tourism Education and Training)
• O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards (Tourism Wineries, Disti lleries and Boutique Breweries)
• Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services)

The Treasure Island Holiday Park also received a Judges' Commendation for the Tourist and Caravan Parks category.

"This is a fantastic result for the Gold Coast tourism industry," Mr Lawlor said.

"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon has gone from strength to strength to become a major event on the international running calendar.

"Last year almost 24,000 runners entered, including 2000 from overseas."

Mr Lawlor also made particular mention of Griffith University's Department of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel and Sport Management, which took out a back-to-back award in their category.

"As a local, I'm excited the Gold Coast region has been honoured in such a range of categories and I warmly congratulate all operators for their efforts in what has been a challenging year."

Mr Lawlor said new and established businesses ha d been recognised, pointing to the region's increasingly diverse portfolio of tourism experiences.

He said it was also encouraging to see a number of first time entrants amongst the 10 finalists, which included:
• O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat (Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award)
• Conrad Jupiters (Meetings and Business Tourism)
• RACV Royal Pines Resort (Meetings and Business Tourism)
• Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services)
• Ruffles Lodge (Hosted Accommodation)
• The Mouses House (Hosted Accommodation)
• Watermark Hotel and Spa (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Radisson Resort Gold Coast (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge (Luxury Accommodation)
• O'Reilly's Mountain Villas and Lost World Spa (New Tourism Development)

"I congratulate Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards in such spectacular fashion," Mr Lawlor said.

"A thank you must also go to our awards' platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support."

QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards' 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants' high degree of professionalism and business acumen.

"In these tough economic times, it becomes more imperative than ever for tourism businesses to employ sound planning and rigorous self-assessment," Mr Gschwind said.

"The awards remain one of the best tools to guide operators through this process, with business planning a key component of every entry.

"Competition was as strong as ever this year and the incredible turn-out at this year's awards ceremony is a great indication of our industry's passion for and confidence in tourism in Queensland."

All Queensland Tourism Award winners will progress to the Qantas Australian Tou rism Awards to be held in Hobart on 26 February, 2010.

A list of winners and finalists is attached and can also be found online at www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au

Further information:
Minister's office - 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland - 3535 5010
QTIC - 3236 1445
(list of winners attached)

2009 QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS - WINNERS & FINALISTS

1. Major Tourist Attractions Winner Australia Zoo
Finalist
Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre

2. Tourist Attractions Winner Daintree Discovery Centre
Finalist
Reef HQ Aquarium
Paronella Park
The Workshops Rail Museum
Undara Experience
Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours
Capricorn Caves
Fantasea Adventure Cruising - Reefworld
UnderWater World

3. Major Festivals & Events Winner 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon
Finalist
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2008 - Silve r Jubilee

4. Festivals & Events Winner Julia Creek Dirt & Dust Festival
Finalist
IGA Coolum Kite Festival
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show
Queensland Home and Garden Expo
Airlie Retreat Food and Wine Festival
Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week 2009
Australian Camp Oven Festival

5. Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award Winner Capricorn Caves
Finalist
O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat
Daintree Discovery Centre
Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises
Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours
Mount Barney Lodge

6. Heritage & Cultural Tourism Winner Paronella Park
Finalist
The Workshops Rail Museum
Birdsville Hotel

7. Indigenous Tourism Winner Riverlife Mirrabooka
Finalist
Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd

8. Specialised Tourism Services Winner Rubyvale Gem Gallery
Finalist
Kinnon & Co Station Store Stradbroke Island Holidays
Australia Zoo

9. Visitor Information & Services Winner Brisbane Visitor Information & Booking Centre
Finalist
Noosa Visitor Information Centres
Tyto Wetlands Information Centre
South Bank Visitor Centre
Cardwell Rainforest & Reef Visitor Information Centre

10. Meetings & Business Tourism Winner Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
Finalist
Conrad Jupiters
RACV Royal Pines Resort

11. Major Tour & / or Transport Operators Winner Passions of Paradise
Finalist
Coral Princess Cruises
Cruise Whitsundays
Sunlover Reef Cruises
Fraser Explorer Tours
Sunferries

12. Tour & / or Transport Operators Winner The Discovery Group
Finalist
Calypso Reef Charters Pty Ltd
Outback Aussie Tours

13. Adventure Tourism Winner Passions of Paradise
Finalist
Equathon Horse Riding Tours
Ju ngle Surfing Canopy Tours
Harry Redford Cattle Drive

14. The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing Winner RACQ - 150 Must-Do's in Queensland
Finalist
Sunferries Travel - Head East Campaign
UnderWater World - TMNT - A Turtley Awesome Shellebration

15. Tourism Education & Training Winner Griffith University - Dept. of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel & Sport Management
Finalist
James Cook University
TRAC Consulting
CaPTA Group

16. Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services Winner Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge
Finalist
Capers at the Beach Bar/Grill
QR Passenger - The Catering Unit
Fishes Café
Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant

17. Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Boutique Breweries Winner O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards
Finalist
Gecko Valley
Murdering Point Winery

18. Tourist & Caravan Parks Winner Brisbane Holiday Village
Finalist
Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort
BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
BIG4 Barney Beach

19. Backpacker Accommodation Winner BUNK Backpackers
Finalist
The Northern Greenhouse

20. Hosted Accommodation Winner Hidden Valley Cabins
Finalist
Ruffles Lodge
The Mouses House
The Narrows Escape
Branell Homestead Bed and Breakfast
Red Mill House
Scenic Rim View Cottages
Mt Cotton Guesthouse

21. Unique Accommodation Winner Fantasea Adventure Cruising - Reefsleep
Finalist
QR Passenger - Queenslander Class on the Sunlander
Kinnon & Co - Clancy's on the Thomson

22. Standard Accommodation Winner Noorla Heritage Resort
Finalist
Long Island Resort

23. Deluxe Accommodation Winner Azjure Studio Retreat
Finalist
Peppers Palm Bay
The Point Brisbane
Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast
Radisson Resort Gold Coast

24. Luxury Ac commodation Winner Emporium Hotel
Finalist
qualia
Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge
Peppers Bale Resort

25. New Tourism Development Winner Brisbane City YHA
Finalist
Hinkler Hall of Aviation
O'Reilly's Mountain Villas and Lost World Spa
Hidden Peaks Walks
Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway

26. Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Winner Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Finalist
Daintree Discovery Centre
Holiday Inn Brisbane
Tangalooma Island Resort

27. Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group Winner Reef HQ Volunteers

28. Young Achievers Award Winner Amanda Jennings, Capricorn Caves

29. The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual Winner Ron Chapman (CEO, Caravanning Queensland)

Ends

 

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