13 November 2009
Australia Zoo has taken out its third back-to-back award as Queensland's top Major Tourist Attraction, elevating the Sunshine Coast property into the Tourism Hall of Fame, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced tonight.
Mr Lawlor said Australia Zoo, along with 28 other tourism operators, received top honours at the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards at a sell-out gala ceremony on the Gold Coast this evening.
"Australia Zoo is one of Australia's, if not the world's, best loved tourist attractions and brings thousands of visitors to the Sunshine Coast each year," Mr Lawlor said.
"In addition to being a first-class tourist attraction, Australia Zoo's conservation work and commitment to raising environmental awareness means it is well-deserved to be induct ed into Queensland's Tourism Hall of Fame."
Mr Lawlor said other tourism operators to be inducted into the Hall of Fame included Capricorn region's Rubyvale Gem Gallery (Specialised Tourism Services), Tropical North Queensland reef tour operator Passions of Paradise (Adventure Tourism) and Townsville region's Noorla Heritage Resort (Standard Accommodation).
"To be inducted into the tourism Hall of Fame, an operator needs to win their category for three consecutive years, which is quite a feat given the high standard of entrants from throughout the state," he said.
"It's fantastic to see this year's Hall of Fame inductees come from all parts of the state and a variety of categories, and range from small, family-owned businesses to major operations."
Mr Lawlor said the Brisbane region received the most awards this year, taking out seven gongs, followed by the Gold Coast and Tropical North Queensland with five, Capricorn and Townsville regions wi th three each, the Sunshine Coast with two and the Whitsundays and Southern Downs each with one award.
"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon was awarded the best Major Festival and Event, which is a real feather in its cap," Mr Lawlor said.
"The marathon has grown to become one of the world's top running events.
"This year more than 24,000 runners participated, including 2000 from overseas.
"Outback Queensland's Julia Creek Dirt and Dust Festival received the Festivals and Events award, great news for their team as it was a finalist last year."
Mr Lawlor also made special mention of a number of two-time winners including Capricorn Caves, which won the Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award and whose General Manager, 24 year-old Amanda Jennings, was named Tourism's Young Achiever of the Year; and Brisbane's Riverlife Mirrabooka, Emporium Hotel and Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre, all of which took out the award for their respective cat egories of Indigenous Tourism, Luxury Accommodation and Visitor Information and Services.
The Sunshine Coast's The Discovery Group also won its Tour and Transport Operator category for the second consecutive year, as did Griffith University Gold Coast campus' Department of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel and Sport Management (Tourism Education and Training); and Tropical North Queensland's Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism).
"This year's New Tourism Development Award was won by the Brisbane YHA, which is also a great achievement," Mr Lawlor said.
"I would also like to congratulate Southern Downs' Azjure Studio Retreat which won the Deluxe Accommodation category after being a finalist last year.
"The fact that this family-owned and run small business took out one of the most popular categories is an inspiration to tourism operators throughout the state."
Mr Lawlor also paid tribute to Caravanning Au stralia CEO Ron Chapman, who was awarded the Marie Watson-Blake Outstanding Contribution by an Individual prize, which recognises individuals for their extraordinary personal and professional achievement and contribution to tourism over many years.
"Mr Chapman's career spans 43 years promoting camping and caravanning," Mr Lawlor said.
"He has played a pivotal role in building the now-iconic Australian caravanning club culture and increasing the profile of Queensland caravan parks through his expertise in tourism marketing."
A total 161 nominations were received for the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards, sponsored by Queensland Airports Ltd.
Mr Lawlor congratulated Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards in such spectacular fashion.
"A thank you must also go to our awards' platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support," he sa id.
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 awards remain 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 the incredible turn-out at this year's awards ceremony is a great indication of our industry's passion for and confidence in tourism in Queensland."
All Queensland Tourism Award winners will progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Hobart on 26 February, 2010.
A full list of winners and finalists is attached and will be online from early next week at www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au
Fu rther information:
Minister's office - 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland - 3535 5010
QTIC - 3236 1445
(List of winners attached)
2009 QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS - WINNERS & FINALISTS
1. Major Tourist Attractions Winner Australia Zoo
Finalist
Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre
2. Tourist Attractions Winner Daintree Discovery Centre
Finalist
Reef HQ Aquarium
Paronella Park
The Workshops Rail Museum
Undara Experience
Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours
Capricorn Caves
Fantasea Adventure Cruising - Reefworld
UnderWater World
3. Major Festivals & Events Winner 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon
Finalist
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2008 - Silver Jubilee
4. Festivals & Events Winner Julia Creek Dirt & Dust Festival
Finalist
IGA Coolum Kite Festival
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
Oceanic W hitsunday Boat & Leisure Show
Queensland Home and Garden Expo
Airlie Retreat Food and Wine Festival
Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week 2009
Australian Camp Oven Festival
5. Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award Winner Capricorn Caves
Finalist
O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat
Daintree Discovery Centre
Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises
Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours
Mount Barney Lodge
6. Heritage & Cultural Tourism Winner Paronella Park
Finalist
The Workshops Rail Museum
Birdsville Hotel
7. Indigenous Tourism Winner Riverlife Mirrabooka
Finalist
Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd
8. Specialised Tourism Services Winner Rubyvale Gem Gallery
Finalist
Kinnon & Co Station Store
Stradbroke Island Holidays
Australia Zoo
9. Visitor Information & Services Winner Brisbane Visitor Information & Booking Centre
Finalist
Noosa Visi tor Information Centres
Tyto Wetlands Information Centre
South Bank Visitor Centre
Cardwell Rainforest & Reef Visitor Information Centre
10. Meetings & Business Tourism Winner Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
Finalist
Conrad Jupiters
RACV Royal Pines Resort
11. Major Tour & / or Transport Operators Winner Passions of Paradise
Finalist
Coral Princess Cruises
Cruise Whitsundays
Sunlover Reef Cruises
Fraser Explorer Tours
Sunferries
12. Tour & / or Transport Operators Winner The Discovery Group
Finalist
Calypso Reef Charters Pty Ltd
Outback Aussie Tours
13. Adventure Tourism Winner Passions of Paradise
Finalist
Equathon Horse Riding Tours
Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours
Harry Redford Cattle Drive
14. The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing Winner RACQ - 150 Must-Do's in Queensland
Finalist
Sun ferries Travel - Head East Campaign
UnderWater World - TMNT - A Turtley Awesome Shellebration
15. Tourism Education & Training Winner Griffith University - Dept. of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel & Sport Management
Finalist
James Cook University
TRAC Consulting
CaPTA Group
16. Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services Winner Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge
Finalist
Capers at the Beach Bar/Grill
QR Passenger - The Catering Unit
Fishes Café
Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant
17. Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Boutique Breweries Winner O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards
Finalist
Gecko Valley
Murdering Point Winery
18. Tourist & Caravan Parks Winner Brisbane Holiday Village
Finalist
Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort
BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
BIG4 Barney Beach
19. Backpacker Accommodation Winner BUNK Backpackers
Finalist
The Northern Greenhouse
20. Hosted Accommodation Winner Hidden Valley Cabins
Finalist
Ruffles Lodge
The Mouses House
The Narrows Escape
Branell Homestead Bed and Breakfast
Red Mill House
Scenic Rim View Cottages
Mt Cotton Guesthouse
21. Unique Accommodation Winner Fantasea Adventure Cruising - Reefsleep
Finalist
QR Passenger - Queenslander Class on the Sunlander
Kinnon & Co - Clancy's on the Thomson
22. Standard Accommodation Winner Noorla Heritage Resort
Finalist
Long Island Resort
23. Deluxe Accommodation Winner Azjure Studio Retreat
Finalist
Peppers Palm Bay
The Point Brisbane
Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast
Radisson Resort Gold Coast
24. Luxury Accommodation Winner Emporium Hotel
Finalist
qualia
Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge
Peppers Bale Resort
25. New Tourism Development Winner Brisbane City YHA
Finalist
Hinkler Hall of Aviation
O'Reilly's Mountain Villas and Lost World Spa
Hidden Peaks Walks
Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway
26. Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Winner Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Finalist
Daintree Discovery Centre
Holiday Inn Brisbane
Tangalooma Island Resort
27. Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group Winner Reef HQ Volunteers
28. Young Achievers Award Winner Amanda Jennings, Capricorn Caves
29. The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual Winner Ron Chapman (CEO, Caravanning Queensland)
