Tropical North honoured with six Qld Tourism Awards
Published Friday, 14 November, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Tropical North Queensland operators have won six categories at the prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards including two for Hall of Fame inductee the Quicksilver Group, Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle announced.
The 2008 awards were presented in a gala ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this evening.
Tropical North Queensland winners were:
• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism)
• Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours (Tourist Attractions Award)
• Quicksilver Group (Hall of Fame) (Major Tour & Transport Operators Award and the Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing)
• Passions of Paradise (Adventure Tourism Award)
• Murdering Point Winery (Tourism Wineries Award)
“This is a fantastic result for the local industry here in the Tropical North and I commend all operators for their efforts in what has been a challenging economic environment in recent times,” Ms Boyle said.
“What a wonderful night for reef tour operators the Quicksilver Group, who not only won two awards but were admitted into the Hall of Fame with a win in the major tour operator category for the third year running.
“I congratulate managing director Tony Baker and his team for their continued commitment to quality service, product innovation and sustainable practices. They are real ambassadors not only for our region, but for the industry as a whole here in Queensland.
“Skyrail continues to set the pace for operator excellence, winning the inaugural Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism. Its success is a shining example of how a tourism business can minimise environmental impact, respect local cultures and benefit local communities while delivering a world-class experience for visitors.
“It was also a great night for Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours, winning the popular tourist attraction category and being named a finalist in both the Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award and adventure tourism categories.
“Murdering Point Winery backed up its 2006 win in the tourism wineries category with another award tonight while reef tour operator Passions of Paradise has now won back to back Queensland Tourism Awards in the adventure tourism category.
“It’s terrific to see these operators take advantage of our region’s stunning natural attractions with really imaginative products that add great depth to Queensland’s portfolio of tourism experiences.”
Ms Boyle also congratulated 14 other finalists from the Tropical North named for their outstanding achievements.
They were:
• Undara Experience (Tourist Attractions)
• Tourism Naturally - Mareeba Wetlands, Jabiru Safari Lodge (Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism & The Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award)
• Festival Cairns (Festivals & Events)
• Mt. Uncle Distillery (Specialised Tourism Services)
• The Cairns Post - Cairns.com.au (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Savannah Guides (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Cairns and Region Convention Bureau (Meetings and Business Tourism)
• Reef Magic Cruises (Major Tour &/or Transport Operators)
• Coral Princess Cruises (Major Tour &/or Transport Operators)
• CaPTA Group (Tourism Education & Training)
• Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort (Tourist & Caravan Parks)
• The Northern Greenhouse (Backpacker Accommodation)
• Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat (Unique Accommodation)
• Cape Tribulation Resort & Spa (Deluxe Accommodation)
Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve’s Dinner on the Edge and Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Tours were also honoured with a Judges’ commendation in the new tourism development and indigenous tourism categories, respectively.
“I congratulate Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards in such spectacular fashion,” Ms Boyle said.
“Thank you to our awards’ platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support in presenting the 2008 awards.”
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 with more than 200 entries 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 2008 awards were presented in a gala ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this evening.
Tropical North Queensland winners were:
• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism)
• Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours (Tourist Attractions Award)
• Quicksilver Group (Hall of Fame) (Major Tour & Transport Operators Award and the Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing)
• Passions of Paradise (Adventure Tourism Award)
• Murdering Point Winery (Tourism Wineries Award)
“This is a fantastic result for the local industry here in the Tropical North and I commend all operators for their efforts in what has been a challenging economic environment in recent times,” Ms Boyle said.
“What a wonderful night for reef tour operators the Quicksilver Group, who not only won two awards but were admitted into the Hall of Fame with a win in the major tour operator category for the third year running.
“I congratulate managing director Tony Baker and his team for their continued commitment to quality service, product innovation and sustainable practices. They are real ambassadors not only for our region, but for the industry as a whole here in Queensland.
“Skyrail continues to set the pace for operator excellence, winning the inaugural Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism. Its success is a shining example of how a tourism business can minimise environmental impact, respect local cultures and benefit local communities while delivering a world-class experience for visitors.
“It was also a great night for Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours, winning the popular tourist attraction category and being named a finalist in both the Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award and adventure tourism categories.
“Murdering Point Winery backed up its 2006 win in the tourism wineries category with another award tonight while reef tour operator Passions of Paradise has now won back to back Queensland Tourism Awards in the adventure tourism category.
“It’s terrific to see these operators take advantage of our region’s stunning natural attractions with really imaginative products that add great depth to Queensland’s portfolio of tourism experiences.”
Ms Boyle also congratulated 14 other finalists from the Tropical North named for their outstanding achievements.
They were:
• Undara Experience (Tourist Attractions)
• Tourism Naturally - Mareeba Wetlands, Jabiru Safari Lodge (Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism & The Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award)
• Festival Cairns (Festivals & Events)
• Mt. Uncle Distillery (Specialised Tourism Services)
• The Cairns Post - Cairns.com.au (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Savannah Guides (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Cairns and Region Convention Bureau (Meetings and Business Tourism)
• Reef Magic Cruises (Major Tour &/or Transport Operators)
• Coral Princess Cruises (Major Tour &/or Transport Operators)
• CaPTA Group (Tourism Education & Training)
• Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort (Tourist & Caravan Parks)
• The Northern Greenhouse (Backpacker Accommodation)
• Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat (Unique Accommodation)
• Cape Tribulation Resort & Spa (Deluxe Accommodation)
Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve’s Dinner on the Edge and Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Tours were also honoured with a Judges’ commendation in the new tourism development and indigenous tourism categories, respectively.
“I congratulate Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards in such spectacular fashion,” Ms Boyle said.
“Thank you to our awards’ platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support in presenting the 2008 awards.”
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 with more than 200 entries 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