australia tourism awards

The National Awards for the Tourism Industry

Darwin, Northern Territory | Friday 15 March 2024

The Australian Tourism Awards are the industry’s national standard of excellence. Finalists are chosen from each state’s Gold winners and are then put to our panel of expert industry judges, where a winner of the nation is then crowned. The winners are all shapes and sizes, serious and fun, and come from all walks of Australian life.

The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards is the pinnacle event of the tourism industry in Australia, recognizing excellence and innovation in tourism businesses and experiences across the nation. 

The inaugural Talking Tourism Forum features a full-day program that will bring together industry leaders as speakers who will facilitate dynamic panel discussions, and offer a valuable opportunity for tourism professionals to acquire, exchange, and broaden their knowledge. The forum will explore key topics such as achieving inclusivity, implementing digital best practices, leveraging success to enter new markets, and attracting more customers.

Get your tickets now!

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Founded in the Queensland outback in 1920, Qantas has grown to be Australia’s largest domestic and international airline.

Across Australia and around the world, millions of people rely on the Qantas Group to take them somewhere each year.

Qantas operates to more than 90 destinations across Australia and the world, and together with its partners, offers flights to more than 1,300 destinations globally.

Event Organisers

AA&P Events  (08) 8942 3388 [email protected]

Australian Tourism Awards

(03) 9046 2339 [email protected]

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Home » News » Qantas Australian Tourism Awards winners revealed

Qantas Australian Tourism Awards winners revealed

Australia’s tourism industry got together to party down and celebrate business excellence on Friday, at the 2021 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

The event, which was hosted at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Convention Centre in QLD, saw Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience inducted into the Australian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame for taking the top honours in Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries for the past three years.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria took home gold for Major Tourist Attraction, as did Saffire Freycinet in 5-Star Luxury Accommodation and Freemantle Prison for Cultural Tourism.

Other winners include Ingenia Holidays South West Rocks for Caravan and Holiday Parks, Beach Huts Middleton for 3-3.5 Star Accommodation, Darwin Convention Centre for Business Event venues and Red Cat Adventures for Adventure Tourism.

Overall there were 75 awards presented across 25 categories.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated the award recipients.

“The Australian Tourism Awards is a celebration of adaptability and creativity across the tourism industry, and we’re proud to have welcomed so many industry leaders and innovators to Queensland’s spectacular Sunshine Coast for the Awards this year,” Palaszczuk said.

“It’s been a joy to celebrate a sector that has shown determination and innovation in the face of a global pandemic.”

Qantas Group chief customer office Stephanie Tully added to the Premier’s sentiments.

“As the national carrier, we’re delighted to be celebrating and championing the best of the industry after a particularly tough two years for Australian tourism.

“We’ve seen travel demand rebound strongly this year and we’re really excited to help travellers from home and abroad rediscover this amazing country and support Australian tourism operators to get back to doing what they do best,” Tully added.

Check out the full list of winners below:

BRONZE WINNERS

SILVER WINNERS

GOLD WINNERS

Email the Travel Weekly team at [email protected]

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All the winners from the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

More than 180 tourism operators gathered over the weekend for the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, held at the Darwin Convention Centre.

“The Australian Tourism Awards are the tourism industry’s most prestigious awards which showcases innovation and business excellence,” chairperson, Australian Tourism Awards, Shaun De Bruyn, said.

“There was an exceptional level of competition across all categories which demonstrates the dedication tourism operators have to developing extraordinary visitor experiences.

“Congratulations to all the tourism businesses for their submissions and a special mention goes to those awarded and recognised this evening for exceptional achievement in their categories.”

This year’s event saw the introduction of the Excellence in Accessible Tourism award, encouraging more tourism businesses to implement inclusive business practices and offer accessible-friendly tourism products, services and experiences.”

“With the introduction of the Excellence in Accessible Tourism category, we hope to see more businesses adapting their products to be inclusive, and to see more visitors enjoy and experience our incredible Australian destinations,” said De Bruyn.

Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism said: “Tourism businesses and their staff are the backbone of our vibrant tourism industry, delivering world class experiences to visitors from across Australia and around the world. The bright future of the sector couldn’t be in better hands.”

The awards were supported by returning naming rights sponsor, Qantas, as well as Platinum Sponsor, Tourism Australia, and Host Partners, the Northern Territory Government and Tourism NT. The awards were also supported by numerous Partners and Sponsors including GetAboutAble, the Big Red Group, Darwin Convention Centre, the Airport Development Group and Signature Media.

National winners at the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards:

Aboriginal and torres strait islander tourism experience.

• Gold – wukalina Walk TAS
• Silver – Cape York Peninsula Lodge QLD
• Bronze – Ngurrangga Tours WA
• Gold – Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures QLD
• Silver – Sydney by Kayak NSW
• Bronze – National Arboretum Canberra CBR

Self Contained Accommodation

• Gold – The Woods Ocean Grove VIC
• Silver – Tree Chalets WA
• Bronze – The Granary | Richmond Hill TAS

Unique Accommodation

• Gold – Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm WA
• Silver – Jamala Wildlife Lodge CBR
• Bronze – Woodhouse Adventure Park SA

Hosted Accommodation

• Gold – The Dragonfly Inn TAS
• Silver – Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat QLD
• Bronze – Kangaroo Ridge Retreat VIC

Caravan & Holiday Parks

• Gold – BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort QLD
• Silver – Alivio Tourist Park Canberra CBR
• Bronze – NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park VIC

Tourism Marketing & Campaigns

• Gold – The Tweed Tourism Company NSW
• Silver – Rockhampton Regional Council – Explore Rockhampton QLD
• Bronze – BIG Reasons to visit Mandurah – Visit Mandurah WA

New Tourism Business

• Gold – On Board TAS
• Silver – Nexus Airlines WA
• Bronze – Port River Cruises SA

Visitor Information Services

• Gold – Canberra and Region Visitors Centre CBR
• Silver – Mandurah Visitor Centre WA
• Bronze – Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre SA

3 – 3.5 Star Accommodation

• Gold – Urban Camp Melbourne VIC
• Silver – ibis Adelaide SA
• Bronze – Magnums Accommodation Airlie Beach QLD

4 – 4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation

• Gold – Beach Huts Middleton SA
• Silver – Ship Inn Stanley TAS
• Bronze – Cape York Peninsula Lodge QLD

5 Star Luxury Accommodation

• Gold – The Reef House Boutique Hotel and Spa | Adults Tropical Escapes QLD
• Silver – Chocolate Gannets VIC
• Bronze – Pullman Bunker Bay Resort WA

Business Event Venues

• Gold – Darwin Convention Centre NT
• Silver – Peppers Silo Hotel TAS

Tour & Transport Operators

• Gold – Air Adventure Golf TAS
• Silver – Swan River Seaplanes WA
• Bronze – NT Bird Specialists Birding & Photographic Safaris NT

Major Tour & Transport Operators

• Gold – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys TAS
• Silver – Ocean Rafting QLD
• Bronze – Searoad Ferries VIC

Adventure Tourism

• Gold – Ocean Rafting QLD
• Silver – Bendleby Ranges SA
• Bronze – Balloon Aloft Australia NSW

Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services

• Gold – Grain of the Silos TAS
• Silver – Potager NSW
• Bronze – CORE Cider House WA

Tourism Retail, Hire and Services

• Gold – Origins Market WA
• Silver – The Museum Shop at the National Museum of Australia CBR
• Bronze – Go Adventure Nagambie VIC

Excellence in Accessible Tourism

• Gold – Adelaide Fringe SA
• Silver – Accessible Accommodation VIC
• Bronze – Katherine Outback Experience NT

Excellence in Food Tourism

• Gold – Love Lord Howe NSW
• Silver – The Truffle Farm – Home of Australia’s first black Truffle TAS
• Bronze – Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market SA

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries

• Gold – Bangor Vineyard Shed TAS
• Silver – Seppeltsfield Wines SA
• Bronze – Billson’s Brewery VIC

Cultural Tourism

• Gold – Royal Australian Mint CBR
• Silver – Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures QLD
• Bronze – Geelong Gallery VIC

Tourist Attractions

• Gold – Katherine Outback Experience NT
• Silver – Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience QLD
• Bronze – d’Arenberg SA

Major Tourist Attractions

• Gold – Australian Reptile Park NSW
• Silver – Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary QLD
• Bronze – Zoos Victoria – Melbourne Zoo VIC

Festivals and Events

• Gold – National Capital Authority – Lights on the Lake CBR
• Silver – 2023 Ord Valley Muster WA
• Bronze – Tumbafest Inc NSW

Major Festivals and Events

• Gold – Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers QLD
• Silver – Tesselaar KaBloom VIC
• Bronze – Darwin Festival NT

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These are the winners of the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

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The 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards have been announced. We congratulate all the winners of these prestigious awards that Signature Media has been sponsoring since 2015.

Qantas Australian Tourism Awards  is Australia’s biggest annual celebration of tourism business excellence, recognising and elevating the best tourism Australia has to offer. It celebrates innovation and exceptional standards in tourism, and Signature Media is proud to support the initiative as a sponsor of the awards. Read on for the full list of winners.

Overall, 78 awards were presented across 26 categories, with a Gold, Silver and Bronze winner announced for each category with the most coveted award, Major Tourist Attraction, won by the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales for Gold, with the Gold for Tourist Attraction category being awarded to Katherine Outback Experience in the Northern Territory. 

In the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Tourism Experience, the Gold was awarded to wukalina Walk in Tasmania. In the Ecotourism category, Gold went to Fun Over 50 Holidays. The Cultural Tourism award went to the Royal Australian Mint in the Australian Capital Territory, and in the Major Festivals & Events category, Gold was awarded to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers in Queensland.

In the accommodation sector, Western Australia’s Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm won Gold in the Unique Accommodation category, whilst The Reef House Boutique Hotel & Spa took Gold for 5 Star Luxury Accommodation. 

The full list of winners is listed below:

Major Tourist Attractions

GOLD – Australian Reptile Park, New South Wales SILVER – Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Queensland BRONZE – Zoos Victoria – Melbourne Zoo, Victoria

Tourist Attractions

GOLD – Katherine Outback Experience, Northern Territory SILVER – Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience, Queensland BRONZE – d’Arenberg, South Australia

Major Festivals & Events

GOLD – Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Queensland SILVER – Tesselaar KaBloom, Victoria BRONZE – Darwin Festival, Northern Territory

Festivals & Events

GOLD – Lights on the Lake, Australian Capital Territory SILVER – 2023 Ord Valley Muster, Western Australia BRONZE – Tumbafest Inc, Victoria

GOLD – Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures SILVER – Sydney by Kayak, New South Wales BRONZE – National Arboretum Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Cultural Tourism

GOLD – Royal Australian Mint, Australian Capital Territory SILVER – Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures BRONZE – Geelong Gallery, Victoria

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Tourism Experience

GOLD – wukalina Walk, Tasmania SILVER – Cape York Peninsula Lodge, Queensland BRONZE – Ngurranga Tours, Western Australia

Tourism Retail and Hire Services

GOLD – Origins Market, Western Australia SILVER – The Museum Shop at the National Museum of Australia, Australian Capital Territory BRONZE – Go Adventure Nagambie, Victoria

Visitor Information Services

GOLD – Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, Australian Capital Territory SILVER – Mandurah Visitor Centre, Western Australia BRONZE – Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre, South Australia

Business Event Venues

GOLD – Darwin Convention Centre, Northern Territory SILVER – Peppers Silo Hotel, Tasmania BRONZE – Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, Western Australia

Major Tour & Transport Operators

GOLD – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, Tasmania SILVER – Ocean Rafting, Queensland BRONZE – Searoad Ferries, Victoria

Tour & Transport Operators

GOLD – Air Adventure Golf, Victoria SILVER – Swan River Seaplanes, Western Australia BRONZE – NT Bird Specialists Birding & Photographic Safaris, Northern Territory

Adventure Tourism

GOLD – Ocean Rafting, Queensland SILVER – Bendleby Ranges, South Australia BRONZE – Balloon Aloft Australia

Tourism Marketing & Campaigns

GOLD – The Tweed Tourism Company, New South Wales SILVER – Rockhampton Regional Council – Explore Rockhampton, Queensland BRONZE – BIG Reasons to visit Mandurah – Visit Mandurah, Western Australia

Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services

GOLD – Grain of the Silos, Tasmania SILVER – Potager, New South Wales BRONZE – CORE Cider House, Western Australia

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries

GOLD – Bangor Vineyard Shed, Tasmania SILVER – Seppeltsfield Wines, South Australia BRONZE – Billson’s Brewery, Victoria

Caravan & Holiday Parks

GOLD – BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Queensland SILVER – Alivio Tourist Park Canberra, Australian Capital Territory BRONZE – NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park Hosted Accommodation, Victoria

Hosted Accommodation

GOLD – The Dragonfly Inn, Tasmania SILVER – Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Queensland BRONZE – Kangaroo Ridge Retreat, Victoria

Unique Accommodation

GOLD – Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, Western Australia SILVER – Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Australian Capital Territory BRONZE – Woodhouse Adventure Park, South Australia

Self-Contained Accommodation

GOLD – The Woods Ocean Grove, Victoria SILVER – Tree Chalets, Western Australia BRONZE – The Granary | Richmond Hill, Tasmania

3-3.5 Star Accommodation

GOLD – Urban Camp Melbourne, Victoria SILVER – ibis Adelaide, South Australia BRONZE – Magnums Unique Accommodation Airlie Beach, Queensland

4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation

GOLD – Beach Huts Middleton, Victoria SILVER – Ship Inn Stanley, Tasmania BRONZE – Cape York Peninsula Lodge, Queensland

5 Star Luxury Accommodation

GOLD – The Reef House Boutique Hotel & Spa, Queensland SILVER – Chocolate Gannets, Victoria BRONZE – Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, Western Australia

New Tourism Business

GOLD – On Board, Tasmania SILVER – NEXUS Airlines, Western Australia BRONZE – Port River Cruises, South Australia

Excellence in Food Tourism

GOLD – Love Lord Howe, New South Wales SILVER – The Truffle Farm – Home of Australia’s first black Truffle, Tasmania BRONZE – Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market, South Australia

Excellence in Accessible Tourism

GOLD – Adelaide Fringe, South Australia SILVER – Accessible Accommodation BRONZE – Katherine Outback Experience, Northern Territory

Looking for more inspiring  Vacations & Travel  stories? Try these…

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Australia's Top Tourism Town Awards 2024 Purchase tickets to the 2024 Awards

Celebrate the regions.

The awards are the chance for the regions to claim the spotlight and showcase their communities and all they have to offer tourism.

Each category is measured by population size along with attractions, amenities, and the infrastructure designed to host guests. Every town has something wonderful to offer - why not get your community involved and tell us what’s yours...

Winners can enjoy state recognition, increased visitation, free publicity and the pride of living in one of Australia’s best towns!

You must first enter your state/territory Top Tourism Town Awards, win Gold in your category (determined by population) and then you will automatically be put forward to the National Awards in September at Parliament House. Winners are determined by a state and national level voting process combining review scores and an industry judging panel.

It's not just the town but the people we want to celebrate too. We also have a category for Top Tour Guide to recognise the most charismatic and entertaining guides in the industry. You can put your choice forward and tell us who you think deserves to be the best Guide in the business.

2024 Top Tourism Town Awards

Australia's Top Tourism Town Awards

You must first enter your state/territory Top Tourism Town Awards, win Gold in your category and then you will automatically be put forward to the National Awards in September at Parliament House. Winners are determined by a state and national level voting process combining review scores and an industry judging panel.

To enter, you must be:

• An Accredited visitor centre
• Local council

How to Enter:

• Enter your state/territory Top Tourism Town Awards (choose below)
• They will assess your eligibility and grant you admittance to the awards
• Read all selection criteria carefully and enter a top submission!
• Win Gold in your category
• Your entry will automatically be entered into the national awards where a national judging panel will choose the winners

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2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards recognise the best of the industry

The best of the best in the tourism industry have been recognised at the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, with Gold, Silver and Bronze national winners presented at a black tie gala event in Sydney last night.

Commenting on the 2022 program, Shaun de Bruyn, Chairperson of the Australian Tourism Awards, stated “this is the biggest annual celebration of tourism business excellence in Australia. And we have much to celebrate recognising and elevating the very best of what tourism has to offer in this great country of ours.

“Each of our award nominees have reached the status of absolute excellence in tourism and business to be here tonight - a night of reflection, triumph and solidarity for the industry. Australia’s tourism operators and products are truly outstanding across the board, and we’re seeing this with all states and territories represented in the winner’s pool.

“As an industry we are susceptible to many external factors, which has been highlighted over the past several years, but we continue to innovate, collaborate and come back strong. Many of our tourism operators are going from strength to strength, bouncing back after the worst of the pandemic.”

Overall, there were 75 awards presented across 25 categories with a Gold, Silver and Bronze winner announced for each category. The awards were once again supported by major sponsor, Qantas, with Tourism Australia and Destination NSW supporting sponsors.

Bundaberg Rum Distillery

Last night the most coveted award, for Major Tourist Attraction, saw Adelaide Zoo take Gold, with the Gold for Tourist Attraction category being awarded to Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience in Queensland.

In the Aboriginal &Torres Strait Island Tourism Experience category, the Gold was awarded to wukalina Walk in Tasmania, and in the Ecotourism category, Gold went to Live Ningaloo in Western Australia. The Cultural Tourism award went to Geelong Gallery in Victoria, and in the Major Festivals & Events category, Gold was awarded to The Darwin Festival in the Northern Territory.

In the accommodation sector, Canberra’s Jamala Wildlife Lodge won Gold in the Unique Accommodation category, whilst Mt Hay Retreat in NSW took Gold for 5 Star Luxury Accommodation.

de Bruyn added “we congratulate all tourism businesses who have entered, and particularly those who leave with awards which truly demonstrates excellence in their individual categories. Australia continues to deliver exceptional tourism experiences across all states and tourism continues to remain an important industry for the economy.”

The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards celebrates innovation and exceptional standards in tourism; and is made possible through the generosity of sponsors, in particular Qantas, Tourism Australia, and the NSW Government through Destination NSW.

The award event was held at Sydney’s Doltone House in Pyrmont.

Winners at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2022. 

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Tourism Experience

Cultural Tourism Gold - Geelong Gallery, Victoria Silver - The Cedars Hahndorf, South Australia Bronze - Venture North, Safaris, Northern Territory

Adventure Tourism Gold - The Hike Collective, Western Australia Silver- Ocean Rafting, Queensland Bronze - Bendleby Ranges, South Australia

New Tourism Business

Tour & Transport Operators Gold - Fun Over 50 Holidays, Queensland Silver - The Hike Collective, Western Australia Bronze - Air Adventure Golf, Tasmania

Major Tour & Transport Operators Gold - SeaLink, Western Australia Silver - Searoad Ferries, Victoria Bronze - Sea World Cruises, Queensland

Caravan & Holiday Parks Gold - BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Queensland Silver - BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park, Tasmania Bronze - Oasis Tourist Park, Northern Territory

Hosted Accommodation Gold - Bli Bli House, Queensland Silver - Tallawarra Homestead, Victoria Bronze - Redwing Farm, South Australia

Unique Accommodation

Self Contained Accommodation Gold - The Woods Ocean Grove, Victoria Silver - Tree Chalets, Western Australia Bronze - Villa Talia, Tasmania

Tourism Retail and Hire Services Gold - Willie Creek Pearls, Western Australia Silver - Sydney Harbour Kayaks, NSW Bronze - Uluru Audio Guide, Northern Territory

Visitor Information Services Gold - Mudgee Region Tourism, NSW Silver - Quilpie Visitor Information Centre, Museum & Gallery, Queensland Bronze - Bendigo Visitor Centre, Victoria

Business Event Venues Gold - Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, Western Australia Silver - Darwin Convention Centre, Northern Territory Bronze - Peppers Silo Hotel, Tasmania

Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services Gold - Char Restaurant and The Darwin Club at Admiralty House, Northern Territory Silver - Potager, NSW Bronze - Mures Tasmania

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries Gold - Bangor Vineyard Shed, Tasmania  Silver - Courabyra Wines, NSW Bronze - Billson's Brewery, Victoria

Tourism Marketing & Campaigns Gold - ‘Viva Bendigo’ by City of Greater Bendigo, Victoria  Silver - MidCoast Council - Destination Barrington Coast, NSW Bronze - Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Queensland

Excellence in Food Tourism

3-3.5 Star Accommodation Gold - Urban Camp Melbourne, Victoria Silver - Broadwater Resort Busselton, Western Australia Bronze - Magnums Unique Accommodation Airlie Beach, Queensland

4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation Gold - Cape York Peninsula Lodge, Queensland Silver - Ship Inn Stanley, Tasmania Bronze - The Byng Street Boutique Hotel, NSW

5 Star Luxury Accommodation Gold - Mt Hay Retreat, NSW (pictured top) Silver - COMO The Treasury, Western Australia Bronze - Eos by SkyCity Adelaide, South Australia

Major Festivals & Events

Festivals & Events Gold - Outback Queensland Masters, Queensland Silver - Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, Victoria Bronze - Tumbafest Inc, NSW

Tourist Attractions Gold - Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience, Queensland Silver - Katherine Outback Experience, Northern Territory Bronze - Willie Creek Pearl Farm, Western Australia

Major Tourist Attractions Gold - Adelaide Zoo, South Australia Silver - National Zoo & Aquarium, Canberra Bronze - Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Queensland

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19th March 2022 - Red Cat Adventures celebrates double win at Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

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27th January 2022 - Tourism Industry Council South Australia data shows plummeting business outlook 

26th January 2022 - Australian Tourism Industry Council calls for border restrictions to end

13th November 2021 - Outback operators secure nine awards at 2021 QTIC Queensland Tourism Awards

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1st November 2021 - Qantas readies aircraft for reopening of international travel

25th August 2021 - Perth’s Optus Stadium to host 2021 AFL Grand Final if fixture moved from MCG

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5th August 2021 - NRMA Parks and Resorts welcomes BIG4 Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park

13th March 2020 - BIG4 Hahndorf Resort wins tourism award

9th March 2020 - Sunshine Coast secures hosting rights for next Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

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4th August 2019 - Australia’s tourism accreditation program reveals new branding

6th March 2019 - NSW music festivals get recognition at Australian Tourism Awards

3rd March 2019 - Prominence of Quality Tourism Accredited Businesses at the 2018 Australian Tourism Awards

2nd March 2019 - Industry welcomes commitment to the Quality Tourism Framework

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Welcome to the Top Tourism Town & Australian Tourism Awards 2024 Portal

We are working on integrating this portal into the new, updated business dashboard that you were just on. In the meantime you need to login again from here using your same credentials. You can use this portal to:

• Make a nomination for Top Tourism Town 2024.
• Make a nomination for the Australian Tourism Awards 2024 (selected states are now open).
• Access previous years' judges feedback.

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State / territory award information.

Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards

Canberra & Region Tourism Awards

NSW Tourism Awards

Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards

Queensland Tourism Awards

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Brisbane has been named as Australia’s happiest city, but here’s what the locals think

Queensland’s capital was one of five Australian cities to make the Happy City Index in 2024

Want to start your week with a smile? A fresh ranking of the happiest cities on the planet has been released, and five Australian capital cities made the cut. We were pretty stoked to see our friends in Brisbane having their time in the spotlight, ranking as the happiest city in Australia and the 21st most cheerful in the entire world – but it seems like the locals aren’t fully on board with the hype.

Curious about how Brisbane snagged such a high spot? Every year, the Happy City Index reviews 250 locations worldwide, assessing them on thousands of quality of life factors across five categories: citizens, governance, environment, economy and mobility. Cities are then ranked by their total score and awarded gold, silver or bronze status. 

This year, 37 cities earned the prestigious title of 'Golden Happiness Cities', with Europe claiming the entire top 15. The happiest of them all was Aarhus in Denmark, followed by Zurich in Switzerland and Berlin in Germany. Minneapolis in the US was the only non-European city to crack the top 20, with Brisbane landing just outside in 21st place. 

The future Olympic host city is loved for its laid-back charm, beautiful beaches , year-round sunshine and lively music scene. However, some locals were surprised at the high ranking, with users quick to share their thoughts on a post made by the Brisbane Facebook page . One user commented, “The weather is great in Brisbane, but the city is boring, so much more to do in Melbourne or Sydney.”

Another added, “What a joke, how can someone be happy after spending 80 per cent of their wages [on] housing.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @BRISBANE (@brisbane)

Facebook users also called out Brisbane’s high rates of youth crime and the homelessness crisis. However, these issues aren’t exclusive to the Sunshine State, with one person defending the study, stating, “All [these] nonsense comments about housing, crime, price of living is everywhere in the world!”

So sure, Australia has a rep for being expensive , but there is still plenty to be happy about if you live here. Speaking of which, here are the best free things to do in Brisbane right now .

Want to see how Australia’s other capital cities ranked? 

Here are the happiest cities in Australia in 2024, according to the Happy City Index:

21. Brisbane

41. Melbourne

116. Sydney

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WEBINAR: Introduction to the Tourism Awards - What you need to know

Guidance from past winners, judges and from the Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council

Date and time

About this event.

• Event lasts 1 hour

Are you entering the Canberra Region Tourism Awards?! We hope so, there are so many reasons your business will benefit.

Reasons why your business should enter:

• An opportunity to review business goals and record successes
• Raise your profile by receiving public recognition of your achievements
• Ensure business growth and development
• Benchmark against industry competitors
• Examine the productivity of marketing activities
• The opportunity to represent the Canberra Region at the Australian Tourism Awards

Further details can be found on our website https://canberratourismawards.com.au/how-to-enter/

As we move from the nomination to writing period, we will be conducting our first workshop.

For anyone new to the process and even those that have done it before we highly recommend you attend. There is a new category Excellence in Accessible Tourism along with updated information for 2024 . We will be going through all the ‘must do’s’ for putting together a submission along with providing the details of what support we will be offering. Lot’s to help you through the process.

The workshop will be run by Debra Beetham, Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council and Avon Dissanayake, Chair of Judges.

Don’t forget nominations are still open until the end of July so register now so that you can get up to date information and support for your Awards submission.

You can nominate here. !!

If you or any of your team are interested, we would love for you to join our informative workshop, everyone welcome!

Details are:

Date: Wednesday 3rd July

Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm

Where: Online

Please register to receive a link to the webinar.

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2024 ARIA Awards Announce Date, Venue

The Australian record industry's flagship awards ceremony, now entering its 38 th edition, is set for November.

• By Lars Brandle

Lars Brandle

The 2024 ARIA Awards will be staged at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion for a third successive year, and is set for Nov. 20.

The Australian record industry’s flagship awards ceremony, now entering its 38 th edition, also welcomes the return of streaming partner YouTube and live-to-air broadcaster Channel 9, which will beam out a “special presentation” on the night.

Taylor Swift Reigns Over U.K. Chart With 'Tortured Poets'

“Since 1987,” comments ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd, “the ARIA Awards have represented the pinnacle of achievement in Australian music. The past year has seen a huge number of homegrown Aussie talent making their mark locally and globally and we’re very excited to celebrate these achievements,” she continues.

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From its grand opening in 1924 until 1983 (when the now demolished Sydney Entertainment Centre first opened its doors), the Hordern, with its 5,500-capacity, was the largest indoor venue in the country’s biggest city. Its reputation for hosting top-shelf concerts remains very much intact, with the likes of David Bowie, AC/DC, INXS and many others filling the room.

“NSW is already the nation’s capital for recorded music but we want to elevate the industry’s role in our state’s story, which the ARIA Awards do each year by showcasing our world-class talent,” explains minister for the arts, minister for music and the night-time economy and minister for jobs and tourism, John Graham.

“I want to thank ARIA for their advocacy for the industry and for allowing our state to be part of that work.”

Destination NSW, the agency that supports the growth of tourism and events across the state, has struck a renewed partnership as strategic sponsor for the ARIAs.

Adds Melanie Silva, VP at Google Australia: “There’s never been a more important time to spotlight Australian artists and their impact on the global stage.”

The 2024 ARIA Awards event team is led by Roving Enterprises (production), and includes executive producer Craig Campbell and event producers Second Sunday. Twofold Media handles PR and red carpet, and White Noise Agency is tasked with sponsorship. That behind-the-scenes team presented last year’s show , widely credited as one of the best in recent memory.

Performers, nominations, hosts and presenters for the 2024 edition will be announced in due course.

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NT Training Awards 2024 finalists

Congratulations to this year’s finalists.

Winners will be announced at the gala awards dinner in Darwin on Saturday 31 August.

Purchase tickets now.

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Aboriginal and torres strait islander student of the year.

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School-based Apprentice of the Year

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• “An integrated, education-to-aquaculture industry pathway, for Territorians” a collaboration between Humpty Doo Barramundi Pty Ltd, Charles Darwin University and Taminmin College
• “IAHA NT Aboriginal Health Academy” a collaboration between Indigenous Allied Health Australia, IAHA Group Training and Fox Education and Consultancy
• “NT Mental Health Skills Build” a collaboration between Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition, Star College Australian and Menzies School of Health Research

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Queensland government pumps $10m into regional tourism as outback operators report 'very quiet' season

Outback Queensland tourism operators have raised concerns over a lacklustre tourism season that has them asking visitors: "Where the bloody hell are you?" 

Businesses are "cautiously concerned to pessimistic" about whether the usual midyear influx of caravanners and grey nomads is coming at all.

"If we compare it to pre-COVID visitation, it's way down," cafe owner Yvonne Tunney said.

Ms Tunney runs a cafe and accommodation in Karumba in the Gulf of Carpentaria, a small coastal town that relies heavily on tourism.

"It's been perfect weather and fishing's been great … but like everywhere else is reporting, it's very quiet as far as tourism numbers and activity goes," she said.

"For those who come out here regularly, they just can't believe it."

Alan Smith, owner of Outback Aussie Tours, was concerned about the financial impact on small, tourism-dependent towns.

"When you get a stinger like this when it's slow to start, it's really going to put them under a lot of pressure," he said.

"You can only make so much money out of two or three months."

"I think we're going to lose people out of the communities and out of the business if this stuff continues much longer."

Mr Smith said after "two of the best years of tourism" during the pandemic, the pendulum was now swinging the other way.

"The economy's been tightened and it's time to pay back that COVID debt," he said.

To the west, the Birdsville Big Red Bash is one of the outback's biggest, most iconic music events, and draws thousands to the desert dunes every year.

It kicks off in less than two weeks, but it too has been hit by reduced patronage.

Organiser Greg Donovan said ticket sales were down compared to previous years " like all other festivals at the moment."

"A lot of people are now moving back to overseas travel … particularly the demographic that comes out to the bash," he said.

So where are the tourists?

It's the Macquarie Dictionary 2023 Word of the Year: "Cozzie livs".

The cost of living — fuel, groceries, and travel have all skyrocketed, meaning for many it is cheaper to travel overseas than it is to travel within their own state.

The state government is stepping in and investing $10 million to fund 57 regional tourism projects.

The hope is these projects, which range from installing accessible footpaths to building an equine healing therapy centre in Chinchilla, will entice tourists to travel in Queensland, rather than go abroad.

Minister for Tourism Michael Healy said the money will bring nearly 300,000 additional visitors to the regions.

"We want to encourage as many people as possible to experience the wonders of Outback Queensland," he said.

Can Queenslanders afford to travel right now?

On an ABC North West Queensland Facebook post describing the slow tourism season out west, hundreds of people weighed in.

"Airports and planes are packed … cheaper to head overseas than holiday at home unfortunately," Leanne Seaton said. 

"Maybe the cost of caravan parks on top of increased fuel costs and grocery costs are making it out of reach for tourists," another commented.

"This will be a trend over the next 20+ years as the level of retirees fall due to the need to work longer just to live. The 2010-COVID days probably saw the peak in retirees and grey nomads for our era," commented Davis Walshe.

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