Four Sunshine Coast operators win Queensland Tourism Awards

Four Sunshine Coast tourism operators won their categories at the prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards 2007 held in Townsville this evening, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced.

Sunshine Coast winners were:
• Australia Zoo (Major Tourist Attractions Award);
• 2006 Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championships ( Major Festivals and Events Award);
• Tourism Noosa (Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing);
• Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services Award). It was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“Australia Zoo has become an iconic attraction that has always looked to the future by incorporating new attractions. It’s a popular winner and an inspiration to everyone in the industry,” Ms Boyle said.

“The importance of events and festivals in building a vibrant local tourism industry is reflected in the 2006 Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championships which has become one of Queensland’s premier sporting events.

“Marketing is the lifeblood of tourism and Tourism Noosa’s achievements in effective promotion makes the organisation a worthy winner of the Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing.

“Tourism operators that win their categories for three years in a row are inducted into the Hall of Fame. This is a rare honour and one much deserved by the Spirit House which has established an enviable reputation for innovation and excellence.”

At the Awards, Ms Boyle also announced Sunshine Coast-based travel writer Jane E Fraser won the inaugural Special Award for Travel Writing.

"This is a new annual award to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of travel writing. Travel writers play an important role in communicating with potential visitors to Queensland,” she said.

"Jane is managing editor of Voyages magazine and a regular contributor to a wide range of other publications including The Sun Herald, Sydney Morning Herald and travelBulletin. A judging panel of her peers selected her story on the Gold Coast's Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat published in the Sun Herald."

Ms Boyle said nine Sunshine Coast operators were also finalists in their categories.

“This is a terrific result for the Sunshine Coast and reveals the depth of quality and diversity in the region’s tourism products, events and services,” she said.

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

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

The nine Sunshine Coast operators named as finalists were:
• The 2006 Coolum Kite Festival (Festivals and Events)
• Cruise Maroochy Eco Cultural Bush Tucker Experience Cruise (Indigenous Tourism)
• Australia Zoo Retail (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Tourism Noosa Visitor Information and Booking Services (Visitor Information and Services)
• Fraser Island Discovery (Tour and/or Transport Operators)
• Caloundra Tourism (The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing)
• Buderim White House Grand Manor (Hosted Accommodation)
• Oceans Mooloolaba (Luxury Accommodation)
• Catalina Cruises Eco Cruise (New Tourism Development).

Ms Boyle congratulated Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for 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)