Beach and bush strike gold at Queensland Tourism Awards
Sunshine Coast and Outback Queensland sweep the board
The Sunshine Coast and Outback Queensland were the big winners at last Friday’s Queensland Tourism Awards with both regions combined winning a total of 21 of the 81 categories up for grabs, including nine Gold Awards.
And as a perfect prelude to the Sunshine Coast’s hosting of the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards being held at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre next March, two Sunshine Coast tourism operators – Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Montville, and Pelican Boat Hire, Noosaville, will go on to compete for national awards for their wins in the Hosted Accommodation and Tourism Retail & Hire Services categories, respectfully.
The Sunshine Coast’s other gold recipients were Mary Valley Rattler – Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer/Volunteer Group; Simon Thornalley, Saltwater Eco Tours – Young Achievers Award, and Noosa Resort – RACQ People’s Choice Award – Accommodation.
Outback Queensland’s three golden winners were Mitchell Grass Retreat – New Tourism Business; Julia Creek Caravan Park – Caravan & Holiday Parks, and Longreach Visitor Information – Visitor Information Services.
Presented at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, more than 1,100 operators and guests, including Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk were on hand to see a total of 81 Awards, including 32 Gold, 26 Silver and 23 Bronze Awards presented across 31 categories, including two RACQ People’s Choice Awards and a new Judges Award for Innovation and Resilience.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said the 36th annual Queensland Tourism Awards was a celebration of the outstanding success and resilience the state’s tourism operators had displayed and also offered a timely platform to showcase Queensland’s iconic Indigenous tourism experiences.
“After a pause in the Awards program last year, it is time to shake off the gloom, look forward and celebrate this great industry, its people and its future,” Mr Gschwind said.
“Returning in the Year of Indigenous Tourism, the Awards offer a platform to showcase Queensland’s world-class Indigenous tourism experiences, supporting the growth of Indigenous businesses and individuals in our industry.
“This year’s entrants, across the 31 business, event and individual categories, are a demonstration of the strength and calibre of the State’s tourism operators – all of whom have been able to adapt to the circumstances of the pandemic and continue to do great things during ongoing challenges.”
Mr Gschwind said the Awards came at a critical and exciting time, with the industry uniting and joining forces to recover and rebuild – particularly as the nation begins to open up to the world.
In the year ending June 2021, he said, more than 20.75 million intrastate and interstate visitors flocked to the Sunshine State. In Queensland, domestic overnight visitor expenditure increased by 6.7 per cent year-on-year to $16.3 billion, on the back of visitation increasing by 1.6 per cent to 20.8 million.
“Thanks to these visitors, Queensland was one of the fastest states in its domestic recovery from COVID-19, with these results continuing to support more than 234,000 jobs across all regions of Queensland,” Mr Gschwind said.
“There is enormous pent-up demand coming from those southern states and the announcement that Queensland will open its border before Christmas gives us something to celebrate.”
Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel said that the range of winners in the Queensland Tourism Awards reflected the strength and diversity of the Sunshine Coast’s tourism sector.
“The Queensland Tourism Awards were a real triumph for Sunshine Coast tourism, not just for the winners, but for the whole industry, and now the Sunshine Coast will be in the national tourism spotlight when we host the Australian Tourism Awards next March,” Mr Stoeckel said.
“We were meant to host the gala event in 2021, but the pandemic forced a postponement. The 2022 Australian Tourism Awards event will have added importance because it will take place as Australia’s tourism sector is in full-recovery mode and will give the Sunshine Coast an opportunity to showcase our prowess at hosting major events.
“The events sector is a crucial component of the Sunshine Coast tourism economy, attracting over 360,000 visitors in 2019. We hope that hosting the Australian Tourism Awards will lead to a strong revival of the sector and highlight that the Sunshine Coast is a perfect destination for holding major events and conferences.
“Our successful pitch for the national awards was very much a ‘Team Sunshine Coast’ effort, and I’d like to acknowledge the wholehearted support from Sunshine Coast Council, the Queensland Government, Queensland Tourism Industry Council and Sunshine Coast Airport.
“We are looking forward to hosting a memorable ‘night of nights’ for tourism’s elite performers, with some 850 attendees expected to come to the Sunshine Coast for the event. It will provide a huge injection of confidence into the region.”
The full list of award winners is as follows:
31 | Judges Award for Innovation and Resilience (BRISBANE REGION) | |
| Gold | Fun Over Fifty |
30 | RACQ People’s Choice Award – Accommodation (SUNSHINE COAST REGION) | |
| Gold | RACV Noosa Resort |
29 | RACQ People’s Choice Award – Experiences & Services (TROPICAL NORTH QLD REGION) | |
| Gold | Paronella Park |
28 | The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual (SUNSHINE COAST REGION & TROPICAL NORTH QLD REGIONS) | |
| Gold | Bindi Irwin, Australia Zoo |
| Gold Posthumous Award | John Courtenay, Tourism Tropical North Queensland |
27 | Young Achievers Award (SUNSHINE COAST REGION) | |
| Gold | Simon Thonalley, Saltwater Eco Tours |
26 | Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or a Volunteer Group (SUNSHINE COAST REGION) | |
| Gold | Mary Valley Rattler |
| Silver | Australia Zoo |
| Bronze | Goondiwindi Region – Rebecca Cover |
25 | Excellence in Food Tourism (ROCKHAMPTON REGION) | |
| Gold | Beef 2021 |
| Silver | The Ginger Factory |
| Bronze | Sarina Sugar Shed |
24 | New Tourism Business (OUTBACK QLD REGION) | |
| Gold | Mitchell Grass Retreat |
| Silver | Hopo Gold Coast Ferry |
| Bronze | O’Reilly’s Campground |
23 | 5 Star Accommodation (WHITSUNDAYS REGION) | |
| Gold | InterContinental Hayman Island Resort |
| Silver | The Reef House Boutique Hotel and Spa |
| Bronze | Emporium Hotel South Bank |
22 | 4-4.5 Star Accommodation (ROCKHAMPTON REGION) | |
| Gold | Empire Apartment Hotel (Hall of Fame) |
| Silver | Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort |
| Bronze | Novotel Brisbane South Bank |
21 | 3-3.5 Star Accommodation (SOUTHERN QLD COUNTRY REGION) | |
| Gold | Oaks Toowoomba Hotel |
| Silver | ibis Styles Mount Isa |
20 | Self-Contained Accommodation (WHITSUNDAYS REGION) | |
| Gold | Pinnacles Resort |
| Silver | RACV Noosa Resort |
| Bronze | Bella Casa Noosa |
19 | Unique Accommodation (GOLD COAST REGION) | |
| Gold | Paradise Resort Gold Coast |
| Silver | Cruise Whitsundays |
| Bronze | Whitsunday Escape |
18 | Hosted Accommodation (SUNSHINE COAST REGION) | |
| Gold | Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat |
| Silver | Bli Bli House Riverside Retreat |
| Bronze | The Country House at Hunchy |
17 | Caravan and Holiday Parks (OUTBACK QLD REGION) | |
| Gold | Julia Creek Caravan Park |
| Silver | BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort |
| Bronze | Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut |
16 | Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries (BUNDABERG REGION) | |
| Gold | Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience (Hall of Fame) |
| Silver | O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards |
| Bronze | Sarina Sugar Shed |
15 | Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services (BUNDABERG REGION) | |
| Gold | The Windmill Café Bargara |
| Silver | Dracula’s Cabaret Gold Coast |
| Bronze | JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa |
14 | The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing and Campaigns (SCENIC RIM REGION) | |
|
Gold | Scenic Rim Regional Council ‘Welcome to the Richest Place on Earth, In Australia’ Campaign |
|
Silver | Tourism Tropical North Queensland ‘Summer in the Tropics’ Campaign |
|
Bronze | Tourism Whitsundays ‘Wonders of the Whitsundays’ Campaign |
13 | Adventure Tourism (WHITSUNDAYS REGION) | |
| Gold | Red Cat Adventures (Hall of Fame) |
| Silver | See Moreton |
| Bronze | Skypark Cairns |
12 | Tour and/or Transport Operators (TROPICAL NORTH QLD REGION) | |
| Gold | Sailaway |
| Silver | Lady Musgrave Experience |
| Bronze | 1770 LARC! Tours |
11 | Major Tour and/or Transport Operators (WHITSUNDAYS REGION) | |
| Gold | Red Cat Adventures (Hall of Fame) |
| Silver | Ocean Rafting |
| Bronze | Sea World Cruises |
10 | Business Event Venues (ROCKHAMPTON REGION) | |
| Gold | Empire Apartment Hotel Conference Centre |
| Silver | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre |
9 | Visitor Information Services (OUTBACK QLD REGION) | |
| Gold | Longreach Visitor Information Centre |
| Silver | Balonne Shire Visitor Information Centre |
| Bronze | Mackay Region Visitor Information Centre |
8 | Tourism Retail & Hire Services (SUNSHINE COAST REGION) | |
| Gold | Pelican Boat Hire |
| Silver | Whitsunday Coast Airport |
7 | Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism (BRISBANE REGION) | |
| Gold | Spirits of the Red Sand |
| Silver | Rainforestation Nature Park |
| Bronze | Bamaga Enterprise Ltd & Cape York Peninsula Lodge |
6 | Cultural Tourism (BRISBANE REGION) | |
| Gold | Fun Over Fifty |
| Silver | Paronella Park |
| Bronze | Qantas Founders Museum |
5 | The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism (SOUTHERN GREAT BARRIER REEF REGION) | |
| Gold | Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort |
| Silver | Small World Journeys |
| Bronze | Sailaway |
4 | Festivals and Events (MACKAY REGION) | |
| Gold | Isaac Regional Council – St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend |
| Silver | Rare Spares Rockynats Car Festival |
| Bronze | Birdsville Big Red Bash |
3 | Major Festivals and Events (ROCKHAMPTON REGION) | |
| Gold | Beef 2021 |
| Silver | Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers |
| Bronze | Blues on Broadbeach |
2 | Tourist Attractions (BUNDABERG REGION) | |
| Gold | Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience |
| Silver | Mary Valley Rattler |
| Bronze | Hinkler Hall of Aviation |
1 | Major Tourist Attractions (GOLD COAST REGION) | |
| Gold | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Silver | Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History |
| Bronze | Qantas Founders Museum |
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.