Reefsleep wins Queensland Tourism Awards top gong
Posted by editor (editor) on Nov 19 2009
2009 >>

Fantasea Cruises’ Reefsleep, which enables guests to spend the night on the Great Barrier Reef, has won the Unique Accommodation award at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced.

The Whitsundays tour operator, which offers a select few guests the chance to stay overnight on Fantasea Cruises’ Reefworld pontoon, won its category after being a finalist in 2008.

The award was announced at a gala ceremony on the Gold Coast tonight.

“Reefsleep is a unique product where guests can travel out to the Great Barrier Reef, spend their day snorkelling and diving and then stay overnight after the daytrippers have gone home,” Mr Lawlor said.

“There can be nothing more amazing than having the Great Barrier Reef all to yourself, dining under the stars with your own personal steward, and seeing the marine environment by night.

“This is a fantastic experience that creates life-long memories.”

Mr Lawlor said Fantasea Cruises’ Reefworld was also named a finalist in the Tourist Attractions category.

He said it was encouraging to see a number of other Whitsundays operators amongst the finalists including:

• Audi Hamilton Island Raceweek 2008 – Silver Jubilee (Major Festivals and Events)
• Oceanic Whitsunday Boat and Leisure (Festivals and Events)
• Airlie Retreat Food and Wine Festival (Festivals and Events)
• Cruise Whitsundays (Major Tour and/or Transport Operators)
• Capers at the Beach Bar/Grill (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services)
• BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort (Tourist and Caravan Parks)
• Long Island Resort (Standard Accommodation)
• Peppers Palm Bay (Deluxe Accommodation)
• qualia (Luxury Accommodation)
• Fantasea Adventure Cruising – Reefworld (Tourist Attraction)

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said it was fantastic to see so many Whitsundays events excelling at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards.


“Regional events bring visitors to a destination, inject money into the local economy and create jobs for the locals,” Ms Jarratt said.

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.”

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 can also be found online at www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au

Last changed: Nov 19 2009 at 9:49 AM