Gold Coast scoops five state tourism gongs
Posted by editor (editor) on Nov 19 2009
2009 >>

The 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon has been named Queensland’s top major event at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced.

The 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon joins four other Gold Coast tourism operators to take out top honours at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Ltd, during a gala ceremony at Conrad Jupiters this evening.

The Gold Coast’s five winners were:
• 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon (Major Festivals and Events)
• Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (Meetings and Business Tourism)
• Griffith University – Department of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel and Sport Management (Tourism Education and Training)
• O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards (Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Boutique Breweries)
• Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services)

The Treasure Island Holiday Park also received a Judges’ Commendation for the Tourist and Caravan Parks category.

“This is a fantastic result for the Gold Coast tourism industry,” Mr Lawlor said.

“The Gold Coast Airport Marathon has gone from strength to strength to become a major event on the international running calendar.

“Last year almost 24,000 runners entered, including 2000 from overseas.”

Mr Lawlor also made particular mention of Griffith University’s Department of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel and Sport Management, which took out a back-to-back award in their category.

“As a local, I’m excited the Gold Coast region has been honoured in such a range of categories and I warmly congratulate all operators for their efforts in what has been a challenging year.”

Mr Lawlor said new and established businesses had been recognised, pointing to the region’s increasingly diverse portfolio of tourism experiences.


He said it was also encouraging to see a number of first time entrants amongst the 10 finalists, which included:
• O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award)
• Conrad Jupiters (Meetings and Business Tourism)
• RACV Royal Pines Resort (Meetings and Business Tourism)
• Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services)
• Ruffles Lodge (Hosted Accommodation)
• The Mouses House (Hosted Accommodation)
• Watermark Hotel and Spa (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Radisson Resort Gold Coast (Deluxe Accommodation)
• Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge (Luxury Accommodation)
• O’Reilly’s Mountain Villas and Lost World Spa (New Tourism Development)

“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 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 list of winners and finalists is attached and can also be found online at www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au

Last changed: Nov 19 2009 at 9:57 AM