KINGFISHER BAY LANDS THREE STRAIGHT

Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village won its third consecutive award for ecotourism and secured its place in the prestigious Hall of Fame at tonight’s 2006 Queensland Tourism Awards.

Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said the Fraser Coast South Burnett region produced a further six finalists on the evening, three more than last year.

“The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise the best of the best and it was inspiring to see so many worthy entrants and so many delighted and enthusiastic winners and finalists in a diverse range of 28 award categories,” Mrs Keech said.

“This was a very special year for ecotourism with Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village accepting the newly-named Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award in honour of the late conservation and tourism champion.

“Steve passionately championed ecologically sustainable tourism so we were very proud to name this award after him and I know that Kingfisher Bay Resort was very proud to accept it.

“The resort’s entry into the Hall of Fame requires outstanding commitment and an ongoing delivery of the highest standard in service and product provision – no mean feat in such a competitive and valued industry.

”Special mention must also go to MI Helicopters who achieved finalist status in two categories - Significant Tour and Transport Operators and Adventure Tourism, an impressive result.

“Other finalists were Hervey Bay Whale Watch (Significant Tour and Transport Operators), Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism (Destination Promotion), Career Training Institute of Australia (Tourism Education and Training) and Bethany Cottages (Hosted Accommodation).”

Around 1,200 tourism leaders and representatives attended the gala awards ceremony to celebrate and commemorate excellence in the industry, held this year at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mrs Keech paid tribute to the organisers of the event – Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council – as well as the 13-member Judging Panel and the sponsors for ensuring the gala evening was a huge success.

“This is the 10^th year that QR’s Traveltrain Holidays has provided its support and

backing to the awards and we were delighted that they joined as our principal partner this year,” she said.

All the winners will now automatically progress to the Australian Tourism Awards on 23 February 2007.

“There they will fly the Queensland flag and hopefully continue our proud record at the national level and showcase Queensland as the number one destination of choice.”

For further information, visit www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au.

Media contacts: David Smith 3225 1005 / 0409 496 534 or Louise Yates 3535 5349 / 0419 713 176 (Tourism Queensland)

2006 Queensland Tourism Awards

Hall of Fame: From 2005: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (Brisbane); Fantasea Cruises (Whitsundays); AlbertRiver Wines (Gold Coast); AshmorePalmsHolidayVillage (Gold Coast).

Hall of Fame: For 2006: Dreamworld (Gold Coast); HahnPremiumHamiltonIsland Race Week (Whitsundays); KingfisherBay Resort & Village (FraserCoast); and RACQ (Brisbane).