Published Friday, 14 November, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Double win for Central Queensland at QLD Tourism Awards
Rubyvale Gem Gallery and the Capricorn Caves have taken out awards at the prestigious 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced.
The awards were presented in a gala ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this evening.
Ms Boyle congratulated both operators on another successful year.
“Rubyvale Gem Gallery has now won back-to-back Queensland Tourism Awards in the specialised tourism services category, as well as being named Australia’s best in the same category in February,” she said.
“From humble beginnings, the gallery now stands as one of the region’s great drawcards and I congratulate Peter and Eileen Brown for their energy and commitment to excellent service.
“It was also a wonderful night for Capricorn Caves, which won the Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award and was named a finalist in the tourist attraction category.
“The Augusteyns’ vision has seen the caves grow into one of Central Queensland’s premier attractions, and it’s terrific to see this commitment to sustainable tourism and cultural understanding recognised with such an important award.”
Ms Boyle also congratulated three other finalists from the Capricorn region named for their outstanding achievements.
They were:
• 2007/08 Capricorn Holiday Planner (The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing)
• The Waterline at Keppel Bay Marina (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services)
• Champions Brock Experience (New Tourism Development)
The Reef Palms Golf and Leisure Complex also received special mention with a Judges’ commendation in the tourism restaurants and catering services category.
“This is a fantastic result for Central Queensland’s winners and finalists, particularly in view of strong competition from across the state this year with more than 200 entries,” she said.
“It’s wonderful to see newer attractions recognised alongside established enterprises and I commend all operators for their efforts in what has been a challenging economic environment in recent times.
“I congratulate Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards.”
QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards' 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants' business acumen.
"In these tough economic times, it becomes more imperative than ever for tourism businesses to employ sound planning and rigorous self-assessment," Mr Gschwind said.
"The Queensland Tourism Awards remains one of the best tools to guide operators through this process, with business planning a key component of every entry.
"Competition was as strong as ever this year and judges were pleased to see such high standards applied to submissions.”
Mr Gschwind also congratulated Qantas for its involvement in the new Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, which recognises successful businesses whose operations conserve natural resources, respect local cultures and benefit neighbouring communities.
All Queensland Tourism Award winners will progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Melbourne on 27 February 2009.
Ends
Media contact: Minister’s office 0419 025 326, Tourism Queensland 0424 151 684
The awards were presented in a gala ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this evening.
Ms Boyle congratulated both operators on another successful year.
“Rubyvale Gem Gallery has now won back-to-back Queensland Tourism Awards in the specialised tourism services category, as well as being named Australia’s best in the same category in February,” she said.
“From humble beginnings, the gallery now stands as one of the region’s great drawcards and I congratulate Peter and Eileen Brown for their energy and commitment to excellent service.
“It was also a wonderful night for Capricorn Caves, which won the Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award and was named a finalist in the tourist attraction category.
“The Augusteyns’ vision has seen the caves grow into one of Central Queensland’s premier attractions, and it’s terrific to see this commitment to sustainable tourism and cultural understanding recognised with such an important award.”
Ms Boyle also congratulated three other finalists from the Capricorn region named for their outstanding achievements.
They were:
• 2007/08 Capricorn Holiday Planner (The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing)
• The Waterline at Keppel Bay Marina (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services)
• Champions Brock Experience (New Tourism Development)
The Reef Palms Golf and Leisure Complex also received special mention with a Judges’ commendation in the tourism restaurants and catering services category.
“This is a fantastic result for Central Queensland’s winners and finalists, particularly in view of strong competition from across the state this year with more than 200 entries,” she said.
“It’s wonderful to see newer attractions recognised alongside established enterprises and I commend all operators for their efforts in what has been a challenging economic environment in recent times.
“I congratulate Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards.”
QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards' 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants' business acumen.
"In these tough economic times, it becomes more imperative than ever for tourism businesses to employ sound planning and rigorous self-assessment," Mr Gschwind said.
"The Queensland Tourism Awards remains one of the best tools to guide operators through this process, with business planning a key component of every entry.
"Competition was as strong as ever this year and judges were pleased to see such high standards applied to submissions.”
Mr Gschwind also congratulated Qantas for its involvement in the new Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, which recognises successful businesses whose operations conserve natural resources, respect local cultures and benefit neighbouring communities.
All Queensland Tourism Award winners will progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Melbourne on 27 February 2009.
Ends
Media contact: Minister’s office 0419 025 326, Tourism Queensland 0424 151 684