Far North wins the most categories of the Queensland Tourism Awards

Six Far North Queensland tourism operators won their categories at the prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards 2007 – more than any other region - and the Gab Tutui Cultural Centre was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said.

The Queensland Tourism Awards were held in Townsville this evening.

Winners in the Far North were:
• Daintree Discovery Centre (Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award);
• the Quicksilver Group (Major Tour or Transport Operators Award);
• Passions of Paradise (Adventure Tourism Award);
• Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort (Tourist and Caravan Parks Award);
• Tropical North Queensland and Townsville Enterprise for the Great Tropical Drive (New Tourism Development Award) and;
• Gab Titui Cultural Centre (Indigenous Tourism Award).

“This is a terrific result for the Far North. Well done to the winners and the local industry for their hard work,” Ms Boyle said.

“Competition was particularly strong at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, with more than 200 entries received.

“The Daintree Discovery Centre and Passions of Paradise set a high bar for niche operators and lead the way in ecotourism and adventure tourism.

“The Quicksilver Group is an iconic tourism organisation in Far North Queensland and an inspiration to many in the region.

“Similarly, the Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort has been achieving great things in Cairns for many years and it’s great to see it recognised again with an award tonight.

“Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Townsville Enterprise have done an outstanding job developing the Great Tropical Drive which will become a valuable asset to tourism in Queensland’s north.

“Gab Tutui Cultural Centre is widely known for innovation and excellence and won the Indigenous Tourism category for the third year in a row. Congratulations for being inducted into the Hall of Fame – that’s a rare honour.

“The Queensland Tourism Awards showcase the best of Queensland tourism. All winners and finalists are to be congratulated on their outstanding achievements.”

Eleven Far North Queensland operators were named as finalists in their categories:

• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (Major Tourist Attractions)
• Savannah Guides (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Passions of Paradise (Major Tour and/or Transport Operators)
• Billy Tea Bush Safaris (Tour and/or Transport Operators)
• Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours (Adventure Tourism)
• Tourism Tropical North Queensland (The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing)
• Murdering Point Winery (Tourism Wineries)
• Rose Gums Wilderness Resort (Unique Accommodation)
• The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Shangri La Hotel The Marina Cairns (Luxury Accommodation)
• Voyages Bedarra Island (Luxury Accommodation).

Ms Boyle congratulated Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) on organising and staging the Queensland Tourism Awards at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.

“Thank you to the awards’ principal partner, Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support in presenting the Queensland Tourism Awards 2007,” she said.

QTIC Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said the 13-member judging panel had a difficult task selecting winners and finalists in this year’s awards.

“The standards were high and competition was fierce which reveals the maturity and professionalism of Queensland’s tourism industry,” he said.

All Queensland Tourism Awards winners will progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be presented in Canberra on Friday 29 February 2008.

A full list of Queensland Tourism Awards 2007 winners is attached.

Ends

Media contact: 3224 2004 or Danielle Koopman, Tourism Queensland: 0424 151 684
10 November 2007

2007 Queensland Tourism Award Winners

Category	Organisation	Event/Product Entered	Region
1Major Tourist Attractions	Australia Zoo	Australia Zoo	Sunshine Coast
2Tourist Attractions	Wildlife Enterprises	Billabong Sanctuary	Townsville
3Major Festivals & Events	Queensland Events Corporation	2006 Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship	Sunshine Coast
4Festivals & Events	Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo Inc	Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo	Outback
5The Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award	Daintree Discovery Centre	Daintree Discovery Centre	Tropical North Qld
6Heritage & Cultural Tourism	The Workshops Rail Museum	The Workshops Rail Museum	Brisbane
7Indigenous Tourism	Torres Strait Regional Authority	Gab Titui Cultural Centre	Tropical North Qld
8Specialised Tourism Services	Rubyvale Gem Gallery	Rubyvale Gem Gallery	Capricorn
9Visitor Information & Services	Gold Coast Tourism Corporation Ltd	Gold Coast Information & Booking Centre Coolangatta	Gold Coast
10Meetings & Business Tourism	Hamilton Island	Hamilton Island Conventions	Whitsundays
11Major Tour or Transport Operators	Quicksilver Group of Companies	Quicksilver Group of Companies	Tropical North Qld
12Tour or Transport Operators	Outback Aussie Tours	Outback Aussie Tours	Outback
13Adventure Tourism	Passions of Paradise	Passions of Paradise	Tropical North Qld
14The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing	Tourism Noosa	Tourism Noosa	Sunshine Coast
15Tourism Education & Training	James Cook University	James Cook University	Townsville
16Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services	Spirit House Restaurant & Cooking School	Spirit House Restaurant & Cooking School	Sunshine Coast
17Tourism Wineries	Gecko Valley	Gecko Valley	Gladstone
18Tourist & Caravan Parks	Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort	Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort	Tropical North Qld
19Backpacker Accommodation	Wildlife Enterprises	Bungalow Bay Koala Village	Townsville
20Hosted Accommodation	Lillydale Host Farm	Lillydale Host Farm	Gold Coast
21Unique Accommodation	QR’s Traveltrain Holidays	Queenslander Class on the Sunlander	Brisbane
22Standard Accommodation	Noorla Heritage Resort	Noorla Heritage Resort	Townsville
23Deluxe Accommodation	Turtle Beach Resort	Turtle Beach Resort	Gold Coast
24Luxury Accommodation	Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge	Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge	Gold Coast
25New Tourism Development	Tourism Tropical North Queensland & Townsville Enterprise	Great Tropical Drive	Tropical North Qld & Townsville
26The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual	John Menzies Chief Executive Officer Warner Village Theme Parks
27Hall of Fame	Torres Strait Regional Authority – Gab Titui Cultural Centre Spirit House Restaurant & Cooking School

The Directions Awards for encouragement
Tourist Attractions	Bundaberg Rum Bondstore (Bundaberg)
Specialised Tourism Services	Bundaberg Rum Bondstore (Bundaberg)
Tour & Transport Operators	Hervey Bay Whale Watch (Fraser Coast)
Hosted Accommodation	The Mouses House (Gold Coast)
Deluxe Accommodation	The Point Brisbane (Brisbane)
Luxury Accommodation	Royal Woods Resort (Gold Coast)
New Tourism Development	ChannelWhitsunday.com (Whitsundays)