13 November 2009
Australia Zoo has joined the lauded ranks of tourism's Hall of Fame after winning a third back-to-back award at this year's Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced.
The Sunshine Coast-based Australia Zoo took out the award for the state's best Major Tourist Attraction for the third year running, automatically placing the zoo into the ranks of Queensland's Tourism Hall of Fame.
The zoo was also named a finalist in the Specialised Tourism Services Category.
"Australia Zoo is one of Australia's, if not the world's, best loved tourist attractions and brings thousands of visitors through its gates each year," Mr Lawlor said.
"In addition to being a first-class tourist attraction, Australia Zoo's excellent work in the areas of conservation and in raising en vironmental awareness means it is well-deserved to be inducted into Queensland's Tourism Hall of Fame."
Mr Lawlor said Noosa-based The Discovery Group also took out the award for Tour and/or Transport Operator for the second year running.
"The Discovery Group is a fantastic family-owned tourism business that has grown from strength-to-strength and offers a fabulous range of personalised tours into some of the Sunshine Coast's most beautiful natural areas," he said.
Mr Lawlor said eight Sunshine Coast operators also made the finalist list including:
• UnderWater World (Tourist Attractions)
• Queensland Home and Garden Expo (Festivals and Events)
• Australia Zoo (Specialised Tourism Services)
• Noosa Visitor Information Centre (Visitor Information and Services)
• Equathon Horseriding Tours (Adventure Tourism)
• UnderWater World - TMNT - A Turtley Awesome Shellebration (The Richard Power Awa rd for Tourism Marketing)
• The Narrows Escape (Hosted Accommodation)
• IGA Coolum Kite Festival (Festivals and Events)
• TRAC Consulting (Tourism Education and Training)
"I congratulate Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards in such spectacular fashion," Mr Lawlor said.
"A thank you must also go to our awards' platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support."
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 com ponent 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
Further 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 Whitsunday 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 Touris m 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 Visitor 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
S unlover 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
Sunferries 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 Tho mson
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. You ng 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)
