The best of the best in Australia’s tourism industry have been recognised for their efforts in promoting and building the country’s appeal to international and domestic travellers.
Qantas’ Australian Tourism Awards are the tourism industry’s most prestigious awards event, respected for its commitment towards recognising and celebrating the Australian tourism operators that have demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievement.
This year, the gala awards ceremony was held in Adelaide with hundreds of industry professionals waiting to find out who would walk away a winner.
Thankyou Adelaide! Another brilliant QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards over! Congrats to the winners! #QATA2014 pic.twitter.com/O03Y1hdngp
— Chatterbox Marketing (@chatterboxmktng) April 11, 2015
Operators in Tasmania cleaned up this year, winning 10 gold awards on the night. Among them was Robert Pennicott, TAS from Pennicott Wilderness Journeys who was named ‘Australian Tourism Legend’.
Port Arthur Historic Site took out the title for ‘Major Tourist Attraction’ and ‘Best for Heritage and Cultural Tourism’, while Bruny Island Cruises won ‘Best for Ecotourism’.
[ L-R]: Ray Stone, Voyages Executive General Manager Sales Marketing and Distribution; Karena Noble, Voyages Director of Public Relations, Andrew Williams, Voyages CEO; John O’Sullivan, Tourism Australia Managing Director.
The state was also recognised for its tourism education efforts, with Kingthing Marketing winning gold in ‘Tourism Education and Training’.
“With so many of this year’s Australian Tourism Award winners coming from Tasmania, it only confirms the quality of our operators and their ability to create and deliver uniquely Tasmanian holiday experiences that their guests will want to talk about long afterwards.”
John Fitzgerald, Tourism Tasmania CEO
In accommodation, Queensland’s Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort took the gold award from ‘Tourist Caravan and Parks’, while the Drift House in Victoria won for being the best ‘Luxury Accommodation’ Down Under.
For clients looking for out-of-the-ordinary hotels, Riviera Nautic in Victoria was named the most ‘Unique Accommodation’ provider, while Railway Square YHA in NSW is tops for backpacker accommodation.
Ayers Rock Resort is the WINNER of the @QATAINFO Australian Tourism Award for Indigenous Tourism! #NTaustralia #Uluru pic.twitter.com/zBuMiQgfOk — Northern Territory (@AusOutbackNT) April 10, 2015
For the best indigenous tourism experiences, Ayers Rock Resort in the Northern Territory was named the best, and Canberra Airport was recognised for its ‘Specialised Tourism Services’.
Top Drop Tours in Western Australia took out gold for ‘Tour and Transport Operators and Enchanted Adventure Garden & Tree Surfing in Victoria was named Australia’s best ‘Adventure Tourism’ operator.
Click here for the full list of Gold, Silver and Bronze winners.
