Queensland tourism operators win big at Australian Tourism Awards

18 Mar 2024

Queensland tourism operators dominate the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards with five Gold winners and numerous Silver and Bronze awardees across various categories.

Five Queensland tourism operators have claimed Gold awards, while nine have received Silver or Bronze awards at the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards held at the Darwin Convention Centre on Friday 15 March.

A total of 21 Queensland tourism operators were nominated in 26 categories as they competed for the nation’s highest industry accolades, after they all took home Gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards in Cairns last November.

A new Accessible Tourism category made its debut at the Australian Awards, after being introduced to the Queensland Tourism Awards in November.

The Queensland Gold winners at the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards were:

  • Fun Over 50 Holidays – Ecotourism
  • BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort – Caravan & Holiday Parks
  • Ocean Rafting – Adventure Tourism
  • Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers – Major Festivals and Events
  • The Reef House Boutique Hotel and Spa | Adults Tropical Escape – 5 Star Luxury Accommodation

Other Queensland winners at the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards include:

Silver

  • Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat - Hosted Accommodation
  • Rockhampton Regional Council - Tourism Marketing & Campaigns
  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary - Major Tourist Attractions
  • Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience - Tourist Attractions
  • Fun Over 50 Holidays - Cultural Tourism
  • Ocean Rafting - Major Tour & Transport Operators
  • Cape York Peninsula Lodge - Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism

Bronze

  • Cape York Peninsula Lodge - 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation
  • Magnums Accommodation Airlie Beach - 3-3.5 Star Accommodation

The full list of Queensland nominees was:

  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – (Major Tourist Attractions)
  • Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience – (Tourist Attractions)
  • Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers – (Major Festivals and Events)
  • Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships – (Festivals and Events)
  • Fun Over 50 Holidays: Immersive Tours and Adventures – (The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism. And The Cultural Tourism award)
  • Cape York Peninsula Lodge – (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism. And 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation)
  • Whitsunday Coast Airport – (Tourism Retail and Hire Services)
  • Ipswich Visitor Information Centre – (Visitor Information Services)
  • Sofitel Brisbane Central – (Business Event Venues)
  • Ocean Rafting – (Major Tour and Transport Operators. And Adventure Tourism)
  • Creative Tours – (Tour and Transport Operators. And Excellence in Food Tourism)
  • Rockhampton Regional Council: Explore Rockhampton campaign – (Destination Marketing)
  • Sea World Cruises – (Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services)
  • Tamborine Mountain Distillery – (Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries)
  • BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort – (Caravan and Holiday Parks And Excellence in Accessible Tourism)
  • Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat – (Hosted Accommodation)
  • Mitchell Grass Retreat – (Unique Accommodation)
  • Pinnacles Resort Airlie Beach – (Self Contained Accommodation)
  • Magnums Accommodation Airlie Beach – (3-3.5 Star Standard Accommodation)
  • The Reef House Boutique Hotel and Spa – (5 Star Luxury Accommodation)
  • Kokomo Cruises – (New Tourism Business)