The Sunshine Coast has collected 10 honours at Queensland’s premier tourism awards, including six gold medals across a diverse mix of local operators.
Eumundi Markets, Saltwater Eco Tours, RACV Noosa Resort, Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Alsahwa Estate and Maleny Cheese all won gold at the 41st Queensland Tourism Awards on the Gold Coast on Friday.
Gold winners in categories with a national equivalent will represent Queensland at the Australian Tourism Awards in Geelong in February.
For Eumundi Markets, the Major Festivals and Events gold was its first Queensland Tourism Award and will also lead to its first appearance at the national awards.
The markets began with three stalls in 1979 and now host up to 600 stalls each Wednesday and Saturday, attracting about 1.2m visitors a year.
Experience Eumundi general manager Mark Cameron said the recognition belonged to the people who had built and sustained the markets.
“This is a first for Eumundi and it means a great deal to a lot of people. Some of the volunteers behind these markets have given 30 years to them, and last night’s award is as much theirs as anyone’s,” Mr Cameron said.
“Most major events happen once a year. The stallholders, volunteers and market operators here deliver one twice a week, every week, in a small hinterland town. To be named the best in Queensland says a lot about what they’ve built together.”
Saltwater Eco Tours won the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences category, while Montville’s Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat took gold for Hosted Accommodation.
Maleny Cheese won Excellence in Food Tourism and Alsahwa Estate was named Queensland’s best New Tourism Business.
RACV Noosa Resort claimed the Self Contained Accommodation category.
Resort manager Darren McClenaghan said the business had experienced increasing demand for longer stays, with its average stay reaching just under five days this financial year.
“Our villas and apartments are extremely popular – they’re essentially a home away from home, giving guests the space to settle in and the choice to self-cater or enjoy the resort’s dining and facilities,” Mr McClenaghan said.
“We’ve seen the average length of stay steadily increase over the past few years, reaching just under five days this financial year. For families and longer-stay guests in particular, that flexibility makes it easier to holiday in a way that works for them.”
The region’s three silver awards went to Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World in Tourist Attractions, Sunshine Coast Convention Centre in Business Event Venues and Bli Bli House Riverside Retreat in Hosted Accommodation, while Noosa Visitor Information Centre took bronze in Visitor Information Services.
More than 900 tourism industry representatives attended the awards, which recognised winners across 29 categories spanning attractions, events, accommodation, tours and other parts of Queensland’s $45.6b visitor economy.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Natassia Wheeler said the awards followed months of mentoring, benchmarking and independent assessment.
“These businesses have earned their place among the best in the country,” Ms Wheeler said.
“They have looked hard at every part of their operation, invested in their people and lifted the experience for every visitor who walks through their door.”
