And the gold goes to …. Winners announced in 38th annual Queensland Tourism Awards in Cairns

Winners of the 2023 Queensland Tourism Awards have been announced as part of the prestigious line up of events during Tourism Week in Cairns last week.

The 38^th annual awards, held last Friday, named the best operators and experiences across 31 categories including the inaugural Excellence in Accessible Tourism category sponsored by the Queensland Government in recognition of 2023 as The Year of Accessible Tourism.

The award recognises the provision of services that go above and beyond to accommodate people with disabilities or specific needs and was awarded to BIG4Adventure Whitsunday Resort for its leadership in the category.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Brett Fraser said BIG4Adventure Whitsunday Resort was an exemplary family business committed to improving the accessibility and inclusivity of its visitor offerings.

“The Whitsundays team have taken great steps over the past five years to progress the accessibility of their products, making a big difference for countless guests,” Mr Fraser said.

Some 78 operators were awarded for their endeavours across the year including 31 Gold, 26 Silver and 20 Bronze awards.

Four new businesses entered the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s Hall of Fame including Fun Over 50 Holidays, Immersive Tours and Adventures, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Paronella Park and Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience.

Brisbane’s Hailey Brown was awarded the Stephen Greg Award for Young Achiever of the Year for the development of a tour guide app that is fully audio supporting people with vision impairment.

Hosted by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Mr Fraser said the awards had come at the end of a “ground-breaking year for Queensland tourism operators”.

“QTIC takes pride in advocating for this industry by using these awards to showcase the achievements of our operators,” Mr Fraser said.

Tourism Research Australia data shows 25.3 million domestic and 1.6 million international holiday makers chose to travel to Queensland in the 12 months to June 2023.

Select category winners will gain automatic entry into the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in the Northern Territory on March 15, 2024.

The 2024 Queensland Tourism Awards will be held at The Star in Brisbane.

Queensland Tourism Awards Winners 2023

Major Tourism Attraction

1. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. (Hall of Fame)
2. Sea World.
3. QC Aqua Park

Tourist Attractions

1. Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience. (Hall of Fame)
2. Historic Village Herberton
3. Daintree Discovery Centre

Major Events and Festivals

1. Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
2. Isa Rodeo Limited 2022 Mount Isa Rodeo
3. Rare Spares Rockynats 03

Festivals and Events

1. Isa Rodeo Limited, 2022 Mount Isa Rodeo
2. Outback Queensland Masters
3. Crankworx Cairns

The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism

1. Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures
2. Barefoot Tours
3. Daintree Discovery Centre

Cultural Tourism

1. Fun Over 50 Holidays. (Hall of Fame)
2. Paronella Park
3. Queensland Music Trails – The Outback Trail

Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism

1. Cape York Peninsula Lodge
2. Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
3. Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre

Tourism Retail & Hire Services

1. Whitsunday Coast Airport
2. Shut Harbour Marine Terminal
3. Pelican Boat Hire

Visitor Information and Services

1. Ipswich Visitor Information Centre
2. Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre
3. Bowen Visitor Information Centre

Business Event Venues

1. Sofitel Brisbane Centre
2. Empire Apartment Hotel Conference Centre
3. Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre

Major Tour and Transport Operators

1. Ocean Rafting
2. Tropic Wings Cairns Tours & Charters
3. Cruise Whitsundays

Tour and Transport Operators

1. Creative Tours
2. 1770 LARC Tours
3. SeaLink Whitsundays

(Highly Commended) Hopo Gold Coast Ferry

Adventure Tourism

1. Ocean Rafting
2. Aquascene Magnetic Island
3. Cape York Motorcycle Adventures

The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing and Campaigns

1. Rockhampton Regional Council – Explore Rockhampton
2. Visit Sunshine Coast – Australia’s Craft Beer Central
3. Tourism Noosa – Find Your Inner Noosa – Winter Campaign

(Highly Commended) Townsville North Queensland – Up for the unexpected.

Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services

1. Sea World Cruises – Sightseeing and Dining
2. The FLACKYARD

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries

1. Tamborine Mountain Distillery

Caravan and Holiday Parks

1. Big4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
2. Esk Caravan Park & Brisbane Valley Trail Motel
3. Cape York Camping Punsad Bay

(Highly Commended) Queens Beach Tourist Village

Hosted Accommodation              

1. Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat
2. Bli Bli House Riverside Retreat
3. Glass on Glasshouse

Unique Accommodation

1. Mitchell Grass Retreat
2. Lady Musgrave Experience
3. Cruise Whitsundays – Reefstays

Self Contained Accommodation

1. Pinnacles, Airlie Beach
2. RACV Noosa Resort
3. Mirage Whitsundays

3-3.5 Star Accommodation

1. Magnums Accommodation Airlie Beach
2. Great Keppel Island Hideaway

4-4.5 Star Accommodation

1. Cape York Peninsula Lodge
2. Empire Apartment Hotel
3. Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

5 Star Accommodation

1. The Reef House Boutique Hotel and Spa – Adult Tropical Escapes
2. InterContinental Hayman Island Resort
3. Emporium Hotel Southbank

New Tourism Business

1. Kokomo Cruises
2. qtQT Gold Coast
3. ULTIQA Signature at Broadbeach

Excellence in Food Tourism

1. Creative Tours
2. Sarina Sugar Shed
3. Scenic Rim Regional Council – Scenic Rim Eat Local Movement

Excellence in Accessible Tourism

1. BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
2. Hopo Gold Coast Ferry
3. Aquascene Magnetic Island

Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group

1. Moreton Bay Region Volunteer Program

Young Achievers Award

1. Hailey Brown

The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual

1. Michael L. Hackett

RACQ People’s Choice Award – Experience & Services

1. Paronella Park (Hall of Fame)

RACQ People’s Choice Award – Accommodation

1. Esk Caravan Park and Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Motel