Two Outback operators honoured at Queensland Tourism Awards
Published Saturday, 10 November, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
“The Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo won the Festivals and Events category and Outback Aussie Tours won the Tour or Transport Operators Award,” she said.
“Four other Queensland Outback operators were finalists in the awards.
“This is a terrific result. I was very impressed with what I saw of the Outback when I was there last week and am really pleased to see operators being recognised.
“Competition was particularly strong at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, with more than 200 entries received.
“The Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo beat 13 other events to win the Festivals and Events category, one of the Awards’ most popular categories.
“Similarly, the Tour or Transport Operators category is hotly contested with 10 products entered, and Outback Aussie Tours is a worthy winner.
“The success of Queensland’s Outback proves you don’t have to stay on the beach or in the city to enjoy a world-class tourism experience.
“The Queensland Tourism Awards showcase the best of Queensland tourism. All winners and finalists are to be congratulated on their outstanding achievements.”
The four Outback operators named as finalists were:
• Longreach School of Distance Education (School of the Air) (Tourist Attractions)
• Outback at Isa (in three categories: Tourist Attractions, Heritage and Cultural Tourism, and Visitor Information and Services)
• Outback Queensland Tourism Authority (the Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing)
• All Seasons Verona Hotel (Standard Accommodation).
Ms Boyle congratulated Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and staging the Queensland Tourism Awards 2007 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) |