This category is for attractions which are considered a hallmark destination in their own right. They may be publicly or privately owned and can operate in conjunction with a natural attraction or on their own.
Important note:
Entrants in this category cannot enter Category 2.
This category is open to attractions of state/territory importance which contribute to the tourism experience within their metropolitan or country region. Attractions may be developed in conjunction with a natural attraction or on their own.
Important note:
Entrants in this category cannot enter Category 1.
This category is open to hallmark festivals or events (including major exhibitions) that a) create substantial economic impact, b) attract visitors from interstate and/or overseas, c) generate national or international media profile, and d) positively promote the destination. They may be one-off or recurring.
Important note:
Entrants in this category cannot enter Category 4.
This category is open to festivals or events (including exhibitions) that a) create economic impact within the local community, b) attract visitors from intrastate and/or interstate, c) generate regional media profile, and d) positively promote the destination. They may be one-off or recurring.
Important note:
Entrants in this category cannot enter Category 3.
This category aims to recognise ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
This category aims to recognise tourism operations that foster a greater understanding of history, heritage and/or culture. Entrants should offer visitors an insight into Australia’s history and heritage and its contemporary culture.
This category is open to specialised tourism services, retailers or facilities that enhance the visitor experience and integrate with other tourism products. Entry is open – but not limited to – service providers, shopping precincts, retailers of souvenirs, artefacts and art, airports, computer information systems, member services, money exchange services, language and interpreter services.
This category is open to Visitor Information Centres, Regional Tourist Associations and Regional Tourism Organisations to recognise their integrated focus on the provision of services to the visitor e.g. reservation service, information delivery etc. This category is not designed for specific marketing and promotion campaigns.
This category is open – but not limited to – conference facilities and other meetings industry operators, service providers and suppliers who maximise the tourism experience for meetings and business travellers.
Category 11. MAJOR TOUR AND/OR TRANSPORT OPERATORS
This category is open to tour and/or transport operators with 15 or more annual fulltime equivalent employees. It is not a transport award but does recognise a major contribution to tourism through the provision of tour guiding services and transport services. Entrants must offer a tourism experience as a significant part of their operation.
Important note:
Entrants in this category cannot enter Category 12.
This category is open to tour and/or transport operators with fewer than 15 annual fulltime equivalent employees. It is not a transport award but does recognise a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of tour guiding services and transport services. Entrants must offer a tourism experience as a significant part of their operation.
Important note:
Entrants in this category cannot enter Category 11.
This category is open to operators providing adventure tourism experiences that involve active customer participation. Examples could include – but are not limited to – rafting, ballooning, bushwalking, scuba diving, rock climbing, four-wheel driving, fishing, horse riding and abseiling.
This category recognises excellence in marketing tourism products, regions, destinations, or group projects. Initiatives can include short-term marketing campaigns, ongoing marketing programs or promotional vehicles such as websites etc.
This category is open to individual tourism businesses and tourism education and other registered training providers working to raise professional standards within the tourism industry by delivering tourism training, including online.
This category is open to all restaurants and catering services offering a tourism experience and/or servicing the tourism industry. It is not a food award but does recognise a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of food and beverage. Entry is open – but not limited to – hotel or stand-alone restaurants, event caterers, pubs and cafés.
Category 17. TOURISM WINERIES, DISTILLERIES AND BREWERIES
This category is open to all wineries, distilleries and breweries offering a tourism experience and who make a significant contribution to tourism. Entry is open – but not limited to –cellar door sales, tastings or tours.
This category is open to all tourist and caravan parks offering a tourism experience. Entry is open – but not limited to – cabin, caravan and/or tenting accommodation providers.
This category is open to accommodation providers primarily catering to backpackers. The focus of this award is on facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
This category is open to owner/operator accommodation providers offering a high degree of personal contact with guests. Entry is open – but not limited to – bed & breakfast, farm stay, cottage or other intimate, boutique, colonial or heritage accommodation.
This category is open – but not limited to – motels, hotels, self-catering, cabins and pub accommodation. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
Important note:
As a guide, ‘standard’ should be equated to (up to and including) the AAA Tourism 3½ star rating.
This category is open – but not limited to – apartments, hotels, motels and self-catering accommodation. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
Important note:
As a guide, ‘deluxe’ should be equated to the AAA Tourism 4 – 4 ½ star rating.
This category is open to – but not limited to – luxury hotels or resorts, with a focus on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
Important note:
As a guide, ‘luxury’ should be equated to the AAA Tourism 5 star rating.
This category recognises excellence in the planning of tourism infrastructure and/or services with a focus on entrepreneurial vision, harmonious integration with the environment, design and functionality and uniqueness of the service.
Important note:
Visitation and/or service delivery must have commenced during the qualifying period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.
Category 26. QANTAS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
This category is open to tourism operators that exemplify a strong commitment to sustainable and innovative business practices. The award will recognise and showcase successful tourism businesses that set out to minimise their environmental impact, conserve natural resources, respect local cultures and benefit local communities.
This category is open to specialised tourism services or facilities whose primary purpose is to provide health, wellbeing and/or restorative services to enhance the visitor experience. Entry is open – but not limited to – health and day spas, resorts, retreats and wellbeing centres.
Important note:
This category is being piloted for the Australian Tourism Awards. However, the winner of this category will not go on to compete in the Australian Tourism Awards this year.
This category is open to tourism attractions or tourism businesses that deliver an education program/s to schools or groups to enhance the visitor experience and successfully interpret the vision of the attraction or business. An individual program or suite of programs can be entered. The program/s should be fully or partly facilitated by the organisation.
Important note:
This category is awarded at Territory level only and the recipient will not proceed to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards judging process.
Category 29. OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL
This award recognises the extraordinary personal and professional achievement and contribution by an individual over many years to the Australian, and particularly the Canberra and Capital Region, tourism industry.
Important note:
Nominations are acceptable from any party except the nominee.
This award recognises an individual, 30 years of age or under, involved in the tourism industry and their contribution to the development of a vibrant and professional tourism industry.
Important note:
Nominations are acceptable from any party except the nominee (this can include employers, lecturers, tutors, colleagues, etc).
This award recognises quality visitor experiences and is awarded to the three top scoring tourism operators/businesses based on the visitor experience survey program conducted as part of the tourism award program. The survey assesses the visitor experience for each entrant.
Important notes:
Entrants can directly enter this category.
Entrants in categories 1–2, 5–9, 11–13, and 16–27 will automatically be entered in this category.
Entry Categories
View the 2012 entry information
2012 categories and questions:
Category 1. MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Download the questions for this category
This category is for attractions which are considered a hallmark destination in their own right. They may be publicly or privately owned and can operate in conjunction with a natural attraction or on their own.
Important note:
Category 2. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to attractions of state/territory importance which contribute to the tourism experience within their metropolitan or country region. Attractions may be developed in conjunction with a natural attraction or on their own.
Important note:
Category 3. MAJOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to hallmark festivals or events (including major exhibitions) that a) create substantial economic impact, b) attract visitors from interstate and/or overseas, c) generate national or international media profile, and d) positively promote the destination. They may be one-off or recurring.
Important note:
Category 4. FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to festivals or events (including exhibitions) that a) create economic impact within the local community, b) attract visitors from intrastate and/or interstate, c) generate regional media profile, and d) positively promote the destination. They may be one-off or recurring.
Important note:
Category 5. ECOTOURISM
Download the questions for this category
This category aims to recognise ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
Category 6. HERITAGE AND CULTURAL TOURISM
Download the questions for this category
This category aims to recognise tourism operations that foster a greater understanding of history, heritage and/or culture. Entrants should offer visitors an insight into Australia’s history and heritage and its contemporary culture.
Category 7. INDIGENOUS TOURISM
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This category recognises tourism operations that foster a greater understanding of Indigenous culture, history and traditions.
Category 8. SPECIALISED TOURISM SERVICES
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to specialised tourism services, retailers or facilities that enhance the visitor experience and integrate with other tourism products. Entry is open – but not limited to – service providers, shopping precincts, retailers of souvenirs, artefacts and art, airports, computer information systems, member services, money exchange services, language and interpreter services.
Category 9. VISITOR INFORMATION AND SERVICES
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to Visitor Information Centres, Regional Tourist Associations and Regional Tourism Organisations to recognise their integrated focus on the provision of services to the visitor e.g. reservation service, information delivery etc. This category is not designed for specific marketing and promotion campaigns.
Category 10. BUSINESS TOURISM
Download the questions for this category
This category is open – but not limited to – conference facilities and other meetings industry operators, service providers and suppliers who maximise the tourism experience for meetings and business travellers.
Category 11. MAJOR TOUR AND/OR TRANSPORT OPERATORS
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to tour and/or transport operators with 15 or more annual fulltime equivalent employees. It is not a transport award but does recognise a major contribution to tourism through the provision of tour guiding services and transport services. Entrants must offer a tourism experience as a significant part of their operation.
Important note:
Category 12. TOUR AND/OR TRANSPORT OPERATORS
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to tour and/or transport operators with fewer than 15 annual fulltime equivalent employees. It is not a transport award but does recognise a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of tour guiding services and transport services. Entrants must offer a tourism experience as a significant part of their operation.
Important note:
Category 13. ADVENTURE TOURISM
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to operators providing adventure tourism experiences that involve active customer participation. Examples could include – but are not limited to – rafting, ballooning, bushwalking, scuba diving, rock climbing, four-wheel driving, fishing, horse riding and abseiling.
Category 14. TOURISM MARKETING
Download the questions for this category
This category recognises excellence in marketing tourism products, regions, destinations, or group projects. Initiatives can include short-term marketing campaigns, ongoing marketing programs or promotional vehicles such as websites etc.
Category 15. TOURISM EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to individual tourism businesses and tourism education and other registered training providers working to raise professional standards within the tourism industry by delivering tourism training, including online.
Category 16. TOURISM RESTAURANTS & CATERING SERVICES
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to all restaurants and catering services offering a tourism experience and/or servicing the tourism industry. It is not a food award but does recognise a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of food and beverage. Entry is open – but not limited to – hotel or stand-alone restaurants, event caterers, pubs and cafés.
Category 17. TOURISM WINERIES, DISTILLERIES AND BREWERIES
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to all wineries, distilleries and breweries offering a tourism experience and who make a significant contribution to tourism. Entry is open – but not limited to –cellar door sales, tastings or tours.
Category 18. TOURIST AND CARAVAN PARKS
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to all tourist and caravan parks offering a tourism experience. Entry is open – but not limited to – cabin, caravan and/or tenting accommodation providers.
Category 19. BACKPACKER ACCOMMODATION
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to accommodation providers primarily catering to backpackers. The focus of this award is on facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
Category 20. HOSTED ACCOMMODATION
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This category is open to owner/operator accommodation providers offering a high degree of personal contact with guests. Entry is open – but not limited to – bed & breakfast, farm stay, cottage or other intimate, boutique, colonial or heritage accommodation.
Category 21. UNIQUE ACCOMMODATION
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The focus of this award is on the way in which the nature of the accommodation and services enhance the tourism experience.
Category 22. STANDARD ACCOMMODATION
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This category is open – but not limited to – motels, hotels, self-catering, cabins and pub accommodation. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
Important note:
Category 23. DELUXE ACCOMMODATION
Download the questions for this category
This category is open – but not limited to – apartments, hotels, motels and self-catering accommodation. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
Important note:
Category 24. LUXURY ACCOMMODATION
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This category is open to – but not limited to – luxury hotels or resorts, with a focus on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.
Important note:
Category 25. NEW TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Download the questions for this category
This category recognises excellence in the planning of tourism infrastructure and/or services with a focus on entrepreneurial vision, harmonious integration with the environment, design and functionality and uniqueness of the service.
Important note:
Category 26. QANTAS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to tourism operators that exemplify a strong commitment to sustainable and innovative business practices. The award will recognise and showcase successful tourism businesses that set out to minimise their environmental impact, conserve natural resources, respect local cultures and benefit local communities.
Category 27. HEALTH AND WELLBEING TOURISM
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to specialised tourism services or facilities whose primary purpose is to provide health, wellbeing and/or restorative services to enhance the visitor experience. Entry is open – but not limited to – health and day spas, resorts, retreats and wellbeing centres.
Important note:
Category 28. TOURISM EDUCATION PROGRAM
Download the questions for this category
This category is open to tourism attractions or tourism businesses that deliver an education program/s to schools or groups to enhance the visitor experience and successfully interpret the vision of the attraction or business. An individual program or suite of programs can be entered. The program/s should be fully or partly facilitated by the organisation.
Important note:
Category 29. OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL
Download the questions for this category
This award recognises the extraordinary personal and professional achievement and contribution by an individual over many years to the Australian, and particularly the Canberra and Capital Region, tourism industry.
Important note:
Category 30. YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD
Download the questions for this category
This award recognises an individual, 30 years of age or under, involved in the tourism industry and their contribution to the development of a vibrant and professional tourism industry.
Important note:
Category 31. VISITOR EXPERIENCE AWARD
Download the questions for this category
This award recognises quality visitor experiences and is awarded to the three top scoring tourism operators/businesses based on the visitor experience survey program conducted as part of the tourism award program. The survey assesses the visitor experience for each entrant.
Important notes: