March 1, 2010Queensland tourism operators have taken out six of the most coveted categories at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards over the weekend.
One Brisbane, two Tropical North Queensland based and two Townsville based operators took out their categories while tourism industry identity Stephen Gregg, won the award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual.
Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor says the Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre won the Visitor Information Services category as Australia's top visitor information centre while Tropical North Queensland-based Great Barrier Reef tour operator Passions of Paradise took out the Adventure Tourism Award.
Tropical North Queensland's Skyrail Rainforest Cableway took out the Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism while Townsville's Hidden Valley Cabins won for Hosted Accommodation and Noorla Heritage Resort won the Standard Accommodation category.
Few in Australia's tourism industry would be surprised of Gregg’s win, according to Lawlor.
"Stephen Gregg is the CEO of North Queensland Airports, is the Chair of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism, and a director of both the Queensland Events Corporation and Tourism Tropical North Queensland," he says.
"With more than three decades' experience in the tourism industry, including as a former CEO of Tourism Queensland and of Macquarie Leisure Operations Ltd, Stephen Gregg has long been a champion of Queensland's tourism industry.”
Admitting last year was one many businesses would like to forget, Lawlor congratulated the winners on their efforts.
"2009 was a tough year for many operators so it's fantastic to see Queensland take out six of the 27 awards, particularly in what are some of the most hotly contended categories."
The National 2009 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards were held in Tasmania on Friday, February 26 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart.
