Shining at tourism awards

1770 LARC! Tours team received the Silver Tourism Award for Business Event Venues. Picture: Contributed.

Out of 31 categories at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, Capricorn Enterprise Members placed seven times out of 11 awards received across the greater Southern Great Barrier Reef destination.

In a highly competitive event, Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards reflect exceptional achievement and a lengthy nomination process amongst 184 entries (a 25 per cent increase on last year’s entries) across the State.

Congratulations to Qld Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) on their 38th event and a huge congratulations to our regional winners including:

Beverley (Gillo) Gilligan (Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre)

BRONZE – Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group

Great Keppel Island Hideaway

SILVER – 3-3.5 star Accommodation

Empire Apartment Hotel

SILVER – 4-4.5 star Deluxe Accommodation

SILVER – Business Event Venues

1770 LARC! Tours –

SILVER – Tour and Transport Operators

Fun Over 50 Holidays –

GOLD – The Steve Irwin Award for Eco-Tourism

GOLD – Cultural Tourism (Hall of Fame)

Rockhampton Regional Council/Advance Rockhampton

GOLD – The Richard Power Award for Tourism, Marketing & Campaigns (“Ultimate Mates Trip” video campaign)

BRONZE – Rare Spares Rockynats – Major Events and Festivals

Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience

GOLD – Tourist Attraction (Hall of Fame)

Lady Musgrave Experience HQ Pontoon

SILVER – Unique Accommodation

We are so very proud of our beautiful volunteers with Bev Gilligan acknowledged for her incredible 35 years of voluntary service to the Capricorn Coast community.

First time Qld Tourism Award entrant Great Keppel Island Hideaway should be very proud of their efforts and I encourage them to enter the awards annually as they continue to grow and improve their business.

We are so proud of multi award winner Empire Apartment Hotel, an exceptional operator in Rockhampton which continues to raise the bar in tourism and hospitality for our entire destination with years of consecutive award wins, which requires consistent standards of excellence.

Fun Over 50 Holidays which commenced operations in Yeppoon over twenty years ago (now based in Brisbane) is a long time Member of Capricorn Enterprise and continues to bring regular coach tours to the Capricorn Coast and Rockhampton. To enter the Hall of Fame after three consecutive wins in Cultural Tourism is a huge achievement along with winning the coveted Steve Irwin Award for Eco-Tourism.

Until next time…..