Published Friday, 24 October, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Sunshine Coast operators vie for top tourism honours
Thirteen operators from the Sunshine Coast will vie for top honours in this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced today.
The 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, will be held in Brisbane on November 14, with the Sunshine Coast entrants among more than 200 tourism enterprises seeking Queensland’s highest tourism accolade.
“The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry while reinforcing the value of tourism to Queensland’s regions,” Ms Boyle said.
“From major tourist attractions and small B&Bs to luxury retreats, quirky regional festivals and indigenous tours, the awards celebrate Queensland’s incredible range of tourism experiences and encourage new product and even higher standards.
“They also acknowledge the outstanding contribution of those working in the engine room of the industry in areas including visitor information services, business tourism, education and training, specialised tourism services and tourism marketing.
“Sunshine Coast operators will compete in 13 of the 28 categories with a variety of operators, attractions, events, accommodation providers and tourism services.”
Ms Boyle said visitor expenditure in Queensland last year surpassed $19 billion.
“More than 200,000 Queenslanders are employed in the tourism industry and over the past few years this has grown at twice the rate of the national average so we cannot underestimate the value of this industry to our state,” she said.
“Encouraging and promoting success and innovation is crucial if Queensland is to maintain its status as a global tourism leader.
“Competition at this year’s awards will be stiff with operators from tourism zones as diverse as Thursday Island and Mt Isa really stepping up!”
Ms Boyle congratulated the Sunshine Coast entrants for taking the time to nominate and wished them luck.
She said Sunshine Coast tourism operators did well at last years’ event, with four businesses winning awards. The 2007 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) and Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services Award). The Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Ms Boyle also thanked the awards’ platinum sponsor - Queensland Airports Limited - and awards organisers Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.
“I encourage Queensland’s tourism industry, whether you have entered or not, to support your friends and colleagues and come along to what is the tourism ‘Oscars’,” she said.
Tickets are available from www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au.
Further information:
Minister’s Office – ph 3225 1005 or 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland – ph 3535 5010
The 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, will be held in Brisbane on November 14, with the Sunshine Coast entrants among more than 200 tourism enterprises seeking Queensland’s highest tourism accolade.
“The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry while reinforcing the value of tourism to Queensland’s regions,” Ms Boyle said.
“From major tourist attractions and small B&Bs to luxury retreats, quirky regional festivals and indigenous tours, the awards celebrate Queensland’s incredible range of tourism experiences and encourage new product and even higher standards.
“They also acknowledge the outstanding contribution of those working in the engine room of the industry in areas including visitor information services, business tourism, education and training, specialised tourism services and tourism marketing.
“Sunshine Coast operators will compete in 13 of the 28 categories with a variety of operators, attractions, events, accommodation providers and tourism services.”
Ms Boyle said visitor expenditure in Queensland last year surpassed $19 billion.
“More than 200,000 Queenslanders are employed in the tourism industry and over the past few years this has grown at twice the rate of the national average so we cannot underestimate the value of this industry to our state,” she said.
“Encouraging and promoting success and innovation is crucial if Queensland is to maintain its status as a global tourism leader.
“Competition at this year’s awards will be stiff with operators from tourism zones as diverse as Thursday Island and Mt Isa really stepping up!”
Ms Boyle congratulated the Sunshine Coast entrants for taking the time to nominate and wished them luck.
She said Sunshine Coast tourism operators did well at last years’ event, with four businesses winning awards. The 2007 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) and Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services Award). The Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Ms Boyle also thanked the awards’ platinum sponsor - Queensland Airports Limited - and awards organisers Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.
“I encourage Queensland’s tourism industry, whether you have entered or not, to support your friends and colleagues and come along to what is the tourism ‘Oscars’,” she said.
Tickets are available from www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au.
Further information:
Minister’s Office – ph 3225 1005 or 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland – ph 3535 5010