North Queensland’s Tourism and Events Awards return to honour industry excellence 

The North Queensland tourism and events industry puts our region on the map – and Townsville Enterprise is calling on local tourism operators, events, individuals and businesses to nominate in the 2025 North Queensland Tourism and Events Awards.  

As one of the country's fastest growing tourism destinations, the sector supports more than 9,000 local jobs, injects over one billion into the local economy each year, and plays a pivotal role in shaping how the visitors experience North Queensland.  

The Awards provide the ultimate platform to honour the operators, event organisers, and individuals who have gone above and beyond to deliver unforgettable – and unexpected – visitor experiences. 

Townsville Enterprise Director of Visitor Economy and Marketing Lisa Woolfe said the Awards are an opportunity to celebrate not just the economic impact of the industry, but the people who bring it to life. 

“Tourism operators have always been the unsung heroes and the welcoming faces for our region – it's an industry that supports thousands of local jobs and plays a vital role in positioning Townsville North Queensland as a must-visit destination, but also a great place to live,” Ms Woolfe said. 

“Last year, we saw an 11.7 per cent increase in domestic visitation, which is the highest growth across all Queensland, and something this sector and region should be incredibly proud of.” 

“The North Queensland Tourism and Events Awards allow us to recognise the talent, hard work and creativity that keeps our region’s visitor economy thriving, proudly one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the country.” 

“This is the industry’s night to stand proud and share its achievements with the community.” 

For the first time, the North Queensland Tourism and Events Awards will be held in conjunction with the Tourism Futures Forum, giving the industry a chance to look ahead before coming together the following evening to celebrate its collective and individual achievements.  

Nominations are open across over 17 categories, from individual recognitions such as the Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to Excellence awards in areas including Sustainability and Accessible Tourism. 

This includes two new categories: the People’s Choice Award – Accommodation: Short Stay, and the Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer, Host or Guide, both of which help further recognise the vital contributions of everyone involved in the tourism industry. 

Title holders of the 2024 Tours, Attractions and Experiences Award, and Highly Commended Excellence in Sustainability winner, Billabong Sanctuary General Manager Cameron Griffiths said the awards highlight to the team that what they do truly matters by helping build brand awareness, celebrate successes, and provide valuable feedback.  

“For us, the awards were all about the team - winning People’s Choice for Tours, Attractions, and Experiences shows that our visitors genuinely value the experiences we deliver and the dedication of our staff,” Mr Griffiths said.  

“Knowing that our community has acknowledged their efforts is incredibly motivating and reinforces that every role within Billabong contributes to something special,” he said. 

Mr Griffiths also acknowledged that the awards were a powerful tool for raising regional awareness.  

“The more people who hear about the incredible operators in North Queensland, the more we can attract visitors to our region,” he said.  

“Tourism is strongest when we work together as a community, and celebrating excellence across the industry helps position North Queensland as a must-visit destination.”  

Ms Woolfe encourages the business community to join in celebrating the outstanding work being done across North Queensland. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for operators to share their successes, and we look forward to helping highlight the people and businesses making our region truly special,” she said.  

Nominations close on 18 September, with public voting to open in October. 

The 2025 North Queensland Tourism and Events Awards will be held on Friday 21 November, with tickets now on sale.