Queensland Tourism Awards 2018 – Capricorn Caves Wins GOLD!
The 2018 Queensland Tourism Awards (QTA), the industry’s annual recognition program hosted by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) was held at the prestigious Gold Coast Star Casino on Friday 16th December and the presenters for the evening were Mark Beretta, Jillian Whiting and Rod Young.
Almost 1000 tour operators, accommodation owners, general managers and staff members packed out the event room. Attendees were treated to performances by Marina Prior, Naomi Price and Luke Kennedy and the welcome to country was given by Shannon Ruska.
The vibe in the room was electric, buzzing with hope and anticipation that their submission would take home the prize in one of the 28 categories, and the table of 9 representing the Capricorn caves were no exception to this. Best tourist attraction was the second last award for the evening, so it was a long wait to hear the result that we had worked so very hard for.
Vale Ann Augusteyn had worked tirelessly on the Queensland tourism award submission for the Capricorn Caves, she quite often was up until the early hours of the morning working on and refining the submission. With Ann’s sudden and unexpected passing only 4 weeks earlier, the Capricorn Caves submission could not have been possible without the passion and drive that Ann contributed not only to this submission but over the last 30 years in operation.
When the award result was finally read, Capricorn Caves members jumped to their feet in total elation. A mixture of emotions. So happy to have won Gold, and so bittersweet as Ann couldn’t be with us to share in what she had worked for months towards.
The entire table walked up the isle to accept the award, fists in the air, arm in arm, with tears rolling down our cheeks. It was a very special moment.
Our general manager Amanda Hinton gave her heartwarming speech then handed over to Helen Harmsworth (Anns daughter) both paying tribute to Ann and the staff and family of the Capricorn Caves
Ann was sadly missed by all the members of the Capricorn Caves on the night, none of it would have been possible without her.
This award is in her loving memory.
The Southern Great Barrier Reef Operators alongside (center) Hon Kate Jones Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development.
Capricorn Caves staff would like to extend a huge congratulations to all the winners on the night. The comprehensive list of winners in each categories are as follows ;-
Tourist Attractions
Gold: Capricorn Caves
Silver: Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience
Bronze: Paronella Park
Major Tourist Attractions
Gold: Australia Zoo
Silver: Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Bronze: Qantas Founders Museum
Major Festivals and Events
Gold: Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
Silver: Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival
Bronze: Beef Australia 2018
Festivals and Events
Gold: Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo
Silver: Broadbeach Country Music Festival
Bronze:Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival
The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism
Gold: Fun Over Fifty
Silver: Tall Ship Adventures – Derwent Hunter
Bronze:Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
Cultural Tourism
Gold: Paronella Park
Bronze: Outback Pioneers
Highly Commended: Qantas Founders Museum
Qantas Award for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism
Gold: Mossman Gorge Centre
Silver: Tjapukai
Bronze: Dreamworld Corrobee
Highly Commended: Minjerribah Camping
Specialised Tourism Services
Gold: Small World Journeys
Silver: Brisbane Airport Corporation
Bronze: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
Visitor Information and Services
Gold: Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre
Silver: Ipswich Visitor Information Centre
Bronze: At the Creek – Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre
Business Event Venues
Gold: Novotel Twin Waters Resort
Silver: Empire Conference Centre
Bronze: Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Major Tour and Transport Operators
Gold: Red Cat Adventures
Silver: Ocean Rafting
Bronze: Passions of Paradise
Tour and Transport Operators
Gold: Ocean Safari
Silver: Fun Over Fifty
Bronze: Whitsunday Jetski Tours
Highly Commended: Tasman Venture
Adventure Tourism
Gold: Red Cat Adventures
Silver: Whitsunday Jet Ski Tours
Bronze: Ocean Rafting
Highly Commended: TreeTop Challenge
The Richard Power Award for Destination Marketing
Gold: The Ultimate Guide to Driving the Great Barrier Reef
Silver: Destination Gold Coast, Keys to the Coast
Bronze: Sunshine Coast Leveraging Campaign of GC2018
Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Gold: Vintage Restaurant, O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards
Silver: Noosa Beach House, Peter Kuruvita
Bronze: Hemmingway’s
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
Gold: Bundaberg Rum Distillery
Silver: Sarina Sugar Shed
Bronze: O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards
Caravan and Holiday Parks
Gold: BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
Silver: Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
Bronze: Big4 Ingenia Holiday Cairns Coconut
Highly Commended: Rivershore Resort
Hosted Accommodation
Gold: Cobbold Village
Silver: Bli Bli House
Bronze: The Country House at Hunchy
Unique Accommodation
Gold: Whitsunday Escape
Silver: Cumberland Charter Yachts
Bronze: Gilberton Outback Retreat
Self Contained Accommodation
Gold: RACV Noosa Resort
Silver: Holiday Holiday – H Residences Surfers Paradise
Bronze: Dorchester on the Beach
Standard Accommodation
Gold: Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville
Silver: Ibis Mackay
Brone: Kellys Beach Resort
Deluxe Accommodation
Gold: Empire Apartment Hotel Rockhampton
Silver: Mirage Whitsundays
Bronze: Q1 Resort and Spa
Luxury Accommodation
Gold: RACV Royal Pines Resort
Silver: Heart Hotel & Gallery Whitsundays
New Tourism Business
Gold: Waltzing Matilda Centre
Silver: Cairns Aquarium
Excellence in Food Tourism
Gold: Sarina Sugar Shed
Silver: Bundy Food Tours
Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group
Gold: Mon Repos Turtle Volunteers
Silver: Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism Events volunteers
Bronze: GC Games Shapers
Young Achiever Award
Winner: Hannah Statham
Highly Comnended: Chris Spielmann
Highly Commended: Lauryn Johansen
The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Winner: Mark and Judy Evans – Paronella Park
RACQ People’s Choice Awards:
Experiences and services: Paronella Park
Accommodation: RACV Noosa Resort
All the gold award winners progress to the national tourism awards ceremony which is being held on the 1st March in Launceston Tasmania, let’s hope it’s a great night for Queensland operators on the national platform
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