BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort wins Qld Tourism Award
Published Friday, 14 November, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Airlie Beach’s BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort has won the tourist and caravan parks category 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.
“With its range of accommodation options, unrivalled resort facilities ideal for families and gorgeous Whitsunday setting, it’s easy to see why the BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is a deserved winner of this award,” Ms Boyle said.
“A further 17 Whitsundays operators were named as finalists across a range of categories.”
They were:
• Fantasea on the Esplanade (New Tourism Development)
• I do events Whitsundays (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Ocean Rafting (Adventure Tourism)
• Queensland Yacht Charters (Adventure Tourism)
• Fantasea Adventure Cruising – Reefworld (Tourist Attractions)
• Cruise Whitsundays (Major Tour & Transport Operators)
• Ocean Dynamics Charter Pty Ltd (Tour & Transport Operators)
• Aviation Adventures (Tour & Transport Operators)
• Fish D'Vine Café & Rum Bar (Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services)
• Capers at the Beach Bar and Grill (Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services)
• Fantasea Adventure Cruising – Reefsleep (Unique Accommodation)
• Whitsunday Escape (Unique Accommodation)
• Long Island Resort (Standard Accommodation)
• Daydream Island Resort and Spa (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Coral Sea Resort (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Rose Bay Resort (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Qualia (New Tourism Development)
“Proserpine Historical Museum Society Inc. was also honoured with a Judges’ Commendation in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism category,” Ms Boyle said.
“Whitsunday operators are industry leaders when it comes to taking advantage of the region’s stunning natural attractions with truly imaginative products that add great depth to Queensland’s portfolio of tourism experiences.
“I commend all Whitsundays tourism operators for their efforts in what has been a challenging economic environment in recent times.”
Ms Boyle also congratulated Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards.
“Thank you to our awards’ platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support in presenting the 2008 awards,” she said.
QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards' 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants' high degree of professionalism and 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.
"Sustainability will continue to be a key concern for any tourism business, particularly for those Queensland destinations whose trade relies on credibility for environmental responsibility," he said.
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.
“With its range of accommodation options, unrivalled resort facilities ideal for families and gorgeous Whitsunday setting, it’s easy to see why the BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is a deserved winner of this award,” Ms Boyle said.
“A further 17 Whitsundays operators were named as finalists across a range of categories.”
They were:
• Fantasea on the Esplanade (New Tourism Development)
• I do events Whitsundays (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Ocean Rafting (Adventure Tourism)
• Queensland Yacht Charters (Adventure Tourism)
• Fantasea Adventure Cruising – Reefworld (Tourist Attractions)
• Cruise Whitsundays (Major Tour & Transport Operators)
• Ocean Dynamics Charter Pty Ltd (Tour & Transport Operators)
• Aviation Adventures (Tour & Transport Operators)
• Fish D'Vine Café & Rum Bar (Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services)
• Capers at the Beach Bar and Grill (Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services)
• Fantasea Adventure Cruising – Reefsleep (Unique Accommodation)
• Whitsunday Escape (Unique Accommodation)
• Long Island Resort (Standard Accommodation)
• Daydream Island Resort and Spa (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Coral Sea Resort (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Rose Bay Resort (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Qualia (New Tourism Development)
“Proserpine Historical Museum Society Inc. was also honoured with a Judges’ Commendation in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism category,” Ms Boyle said.
“Whitsunday operators are industry leaders when it comes to taking advantage of the region’s stunning natural attractions with truly imaginative products that add great depth to Queensland’s portfolio of tourism experiences.
“I commend all Whitsundays tourism operators for their efforts in what has been a challenging economic environment in recent times.”
Ms Boyle also congratulated Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards.
“Thank you to our awards’ platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support in presenting the 2008 awards,” she said.
QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards' 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants' high degree of professionalism and 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.
"Sustainability will continue to be a key concern for any tourism business, particularly for those Queensland destinations whose trade relies on credibility for environmental responsibility," he said.
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