2018 Australian Tourism Award winners

The gala Australian Tourism Awards was held over the weekend!

We reached out to award winners to congratulate them on the hard work that has gone into both building their business and applying for a tourism award. We were surprised to see many hadn’t acknowledged their award on their social media.

Tips on How to get Maximum Benefit from your Tourism Award

Announce your success on social media

Share photos from the award ceremony, of your team, of your award at your business... Here’s how Red Cat Adventures celebrated - with a bit of humour!

Thank the people that helped your organisation get to this pinnacle – everyone loves a shout out! (Plus, hopefully those you thank will share your post). Congratulate the other finalists too, like Todd Wright’s gracious celebration of Destination Southern Highland’s Destination Marketing win.

Others will enjoy celebrating with you and congratulating you on your post.

Celebrate your win on your profile pic or cover photo by adding an overlay of the logo with the free Canva tool.

Then create a ‘milestone’ on your Facebook page with the details and a photo.

Create a video

Create a short video or live Facebook video about your win (live video gets a lot of engagement). You could make a video of you sharing the news with your team, what you learnt when you applied for the award with its business planning questions that made a positive impact on your business that customers have noticed; footage of your representative collecting the trophy; a thank you on the night holding your trophy; or even a reflective piece after it’s all over with your thanks and congratulations to the other finalists.

Add your win to your collateral

Add the awards logo to your email signature, website, voicemail message, confirmation letter to customers, printed collateral, brochures, letterhead, advertising…

Using the logo is more powerful than just saying ‘award-winning’ - it adds credibility without having to use words.

And write a blog article for your website to tell your story about the hard work that led to the win, then share it on your social media and in your newsletter.

Send out a media release

Write a short media release and send it to local and relevant media and influencers. Travel agents also love to hear about tourism award winners so they can recommend award-winning businesses to their customers.

Then send out the news to your database in an email newsletter. This news might just prompt past visitors to plan a trip to return or share it with their friends.

State Tourism Awards now OPEN FOR 2019 Nominations

QLD Tourism Awards - Nominations open 25 March

NT Tourism Awards - Nominations are open now

NSW Tourism Awards - Nominations open in March

TAS Tourism Awards - Nominations open in March

VIC Tourism Awards - Nominations have already opened!

WA Tourism Awards - Nominations open 3 April

SA Tourism Awards - Register to be notified when nominations open

Canberra Region Tourism Awards - Nominations open in April

Download our free guide on how to write successful tourism award submissions

…with advice from our years of experience both judging awards and providing feedback to award applicants.

If you would like feedback on how to improve last year’s award submission for this year (or your draft submission if you are applying for the first time), we can help you!

2018 Australian Tourism Award Winners!

Australian Tourism Legend

Irwin Family - Australia Zoo - QLD

Major Tourist Attractions

• GOLD – Port Arthur Historic Site – TAS

• SILVER – National Gallery of Australia – ACT

• BRONZE – Busselton Jetty – WA

Tourist Attractions

• GOLD – Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures – WA

• SILVER – Capricorn Caves – QLD

• BRONZE – Katherine Outback Experience – NT

Major Festivals and Events 

• GOLD – Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers  – QLD – Hall of Fame

• SILVER – Formula 1® 2018 Rolex Australian Grand Prix – VIC

• BRONZE – Splendour in the Grass 2017 – NSW

Festivals and Events 

• GOLD – Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo – QLD

• SILVER – CinefestOZ – WA

• BRONZE – Parkes Shire Council – 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival – NSW

Ecotourism

• GOLD – Fun Over Fifty – QLD

• SILVER – Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park – VIC

• BRONZE – Three Capes Track – TAS

Cultural Tourism

• GOLD – Port Arthur Historic Site – TAS

• SILVER – Paronella Park – QLD

• BRONZE – Fremantle Prison – WA

Qantas Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism

• GOLD – Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences – WA

• SILVER – Nitmiluk Tours and Cicada Lodge – NT

• BRONZE – Mossman Gorge Centre – QLD

Specialised Tourism Services

• GOLD – Proud Mary – SA

• SILVER – Small World Journeys – QLD

• BRONZE – Willie Creek Pearls at Elizabeth Quay – WA

Visitor Information Services 

• GOLD – Swan Valley Visitor Centre – WA

• SILVER – Canberra and Region Visitor Centre – ACT

• BRONZE – Tourism Central Australia – NT

Business Event Venues

• GOLD – Adelaide Hills Convention Centre – SA

• SILVER – Holmesglen at Eildon – VIC

• BRONZE – Novotel Twin Waters Resort – QLD

Major Tour and Transport Operators

• GOLD – Red Cat Adventures – QLD

• SILVER – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys – TAS

• BRONZE – SkyBus – VIC

Tour and Transport Operators

• GOLD – Kimberley Quest – WA

• SILVER – Ocean Safari – QLD

• BRONZE – Autopia Tours – Small Group Experiences – VIC

Adventure Tourism

• GOLD – Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures – WA – Hall of Fame

• SILVER – Roaring 40s Kayaking – TAS

• BRONZE – Calypso Star Charters – SA

Destination Marketing

• GOLD – Southern Highlands – Pie Time – ACT

• SILVER – Shoalhaven Tourism – 100 Beach Challenge Campaign – NSW

• BRONZE – Yorke Peninsula Tourism – SA

Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services 

• GOLD – Cicada Lodge Restaurant at Nitmiluk Gorge – NT

• SILVER – Sandalford Wines – WA

• BRONZE – Royal Mail Hotel – VIC

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries 

• GOLD – Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience – QLD

• SILVER – Seppeltsfield Estate Barossa – SA

• BRONZE – Willie Smith’s Apple Shed – TAS

Caravan and Holiday Parks

• GOLD – BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort – QLD

• SILVER – NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park – TAS

• BRONZE – RAC Cervantes Holiday Park – WA

Hosted Accommodation

• GOLD – The Beach House at Bayside – WA – Hall of Fame

• SILVER – Cobbold Village – QLD

• BRONZE – Mulberry Lodge Country Retreat – SA

Unique Accommodation

• GOLD – Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventure – The Horizontal Hotel – WA

• SILVER – Whitsunday Escape – QLD

• BRONZE – Jamala Wildlife Lodge – ACT

Self Contained Accommodation

• GOLD – The Frames Luxury Accommodation – SA

• SILVER – Avalon Coastal Retreat – TAS

• BRONZE – Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages – WA

Standard Accommodation

• GOLD – Cave Hill Creek – VIC

• SILVER – Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville – QLD

• BRONZE – Leumeah Lodge – ACT

Deluxe Accommodation

• GOLD – MACq 01 Hotel – TAS

• SILVER – Wallaroo Marina Apartments – SA

• BRONZE – Kununurra Country Club Resort – WA

Luxury Accommodation

• GOLD – Cicada Lodge at Nitmiluk Gorge – NT

• SILVER – Alkina Lodge – VIC

• BRONZE – RACV Royal Pines Resort – QLD

New Tourism Business

• GOLD – St Andrews Beach Brewery – VIC

• SILVER – Blue Ginger Picnics – NSW

• BRONZE – Vasse Virgin at Seppeltsfield – SA

Excellence in Food Tourism

• GOLD – Two Feet & a Heartbeat – WA

• SILVER – Sarina Sugar Shed – QLD

• BRONZE – Coal River Farm – TAS