It’s tourism gold for Fun over 50 Holidays with Queensland dominating at the Australian Tourism Awards!
Posted on March 21st, 2023
One of the many Queenslanders receiving gold at the Australian Tourism Awards was Toni Brennan who commenced her business, Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures, in Yeppoon in 2002. Now based in Brisbane, offering tours nationally and working with over 500 suppliers, the multi-award-winning company has taken out gold in the Tour & Transport Operators category for their incredible experiences through immersive tours and adventures with a focus on fun and commitment to the local communities and natural environments in which they operate. With over 140 departures annually, reaching every state and territory in Australia and a selection of international destinations, they employ a passionate and dedicated team of fellow Australians. Congratulations to Toni and her great team!
Queensland businesses dominated the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, winning awards in 16 of the 25 categories, with hundreds of tourism operators and guests gathering last Friday 17 March in Sydney.
Queensland’s national award winners are:
Gold – Wildcat Mackay, New Tourism Business
Gold – Fun Over 50 Holidays, Tour & Transport Operators (Ecotourism Australia certified operator)
Gold – BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Caravan & Holiday Parks (Ecotourism Australia certified operator)
Gold – Bli Bli House, Hosted Accommodation
Gold – Cape York Peninsula Lodge, 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation
Gold – Outback Queensland Masters, Festivals & Events
Gold – Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience, Tourist Attractions
Silver – Spirits of the Red Sand, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Tourism Experience
Silver – Ocean Rafting, Adventure Tourism (Ecotourism Australia certified operator)
Silver – Quilpie Visitor Information Centre, Museum & Gallery, Visitor Information Services
Bronze – Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Major Tourist Attractions (Ecotourism Australia certified operator)
Bronze – Sea World Cruises, Major Tour & Transport Operators (Ecotourism Australia certified operator)
Bronze – Mitchell Grass Retreat, Unique Accommodation
Bronze – Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Ecotourism (Ecotourism Australia certified operator)
Bronze – Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Tourism Marketing & Campaigns
Bronze – Magnums Unique Accommodation Airlie Beach, 3-3.5 Star Accommodation (Ecotourism Australia certified operator)
Queensland has been confirmed as the nation’s leading visitor destination at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. The Awards featured 25 categories with Queensland winning seven prestigious gold awards, the most of any Australian state. Queensland tourism businesses also won three silver and six bronze awards.
The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards celebrate innovation and exceptional standards in visitor experiences.
- 16 Queensland tourism experiences scoop the pool at the Australian Tourism Awards in Sydney
- Queensland takes home the most awards and more gold than any other Australian state
- The 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards recognise the nation’s best visitor experiences.
14 Ecotourism Australia certified businesses awarded national recognition at Qantas Australian Tourism Awards
The Awards also recognised 14 Ecotourism Australia certified operators across all states and territories for tourism excellence in 2022 with seven (7) in Queensland.
Of businesses recognised for their contribution to Australian tourism through winning their state tourism awards, six Ecotourism Australia certified operators were awarded gold, three were awarded silver, and seven awarded bronze, with 27 businesses nominated across 14 diverse categories such as Unique Accommodation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experience, Adventure Tourism, and Major Tourist Attractions.
Ecotourism Australia certified Live Ningaloo in Western Australia won gold for the second year in a row in the Ecotourism Category, followed by Tasmanian Walking Company in Tasmania with silver and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort in Queensland winning bronze.
All three placeholders in the Ecotourism category holding one of Ecotourism Australia’s certifications continues a history of operators meeting international sustainability standards being recognised as the best in ecotourism.
Ecotourism Australia CEO, Ms Elissa Keenan, stated, “Tourism operators in Australia certified at the global best practice sustainability standard are delivering high-quality tourism experiences and it is commendable to see their impact recognised at the national level.
“As their state’s, and now Australia’s, leading businesses of 2022, we look forward to watching their impact continue to inspire tourism sustainability. Congratulations to all Ecotourism Australia certified operators that were nominated and to those that placed at last night’s tourism awards.”
See the full list of award winners: https://www.qualitytourismaustralia.com/australian-tourism-awards/2022-australian-tourism-awards-winners/
Having won gold on a state level at the 2022 Queensland Tourism Awards, our 25 state finalists at this years’ national awards have proven that Queensland is truly a remarkable tourism destination. We’re proud to share the winners with you.
Congratulations to all Queensland Awards winners and finalists on an absolutely magnificent result. The resilience, commitment to success and creativity of Queensland tourism businesses really is second to none.
Queensland Tourism Awards 2023
Now it’s time to come full circle, nominations for the 2023 Queensland Tourism Awards open 6 April.
Whether you’re a past entrant in the Queensland Tourism Awards, or inspired by our state’s success this weekend at the national awards, the tourism awards process is invaluable for your business to review its activities, help drive best practice and of course potentially bring home major accolades for your hard work.
Businesses nominate themselves for the Queensland Tourism Awards then complete a submission against the criteria before state winners are announced later in the year. Queensland winners automatically gain entry to the national awards. The nomination form is simple and businesses then have several months to prepare their submissions.
For more information, visit the QTIC website here.
