North Queensland Tourism and Events Awards - Past Winners

People's Choice Awards

Accommodation - Hotel
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino
*Hall of Fame

Accommodation – Caravan and Holiday Parks
Winner: Charters Towers Tourist Park

Dining: Restaurant
Winner: Shorehouse

Dining: Café and Casual Dining
Winner: Hervey's Range Heritage Rooms

Tours, Attractions and Experiences
Winner: Billabong Sanctuary

Bars, Breweries and Distilleries
Winner: Ardo Rooftop

Business Conferencing Venue
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino

Transport and Hire Services
Winner: SeaLink North Queensland
*Hall of Fame

Best Major Event
Winner: Queensland Country Bank Stadium - P!nk Summer Carnival

Best Destination Event
Winner: Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week

New Tourism Business or Experience
Winner: Ardo

Excellence Awards

Excellence in Accessible Tourism
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Highly Commended: Magnetic Island Tours

Excellence in Sustainability
Winner: Pilgrim Magnetic Island
Highly Commended: Billabong Sanctuary

Best of Queensland

100% Best of Queensland Score

• Aquascene Magnetic Island 
• Big Mama Sailing
• BIG4 Townsville Gateway Holiday Park 
• BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Rowes Bay
• BIG4 Eco Resort Townsville
• Beachside Magnetic Harbour Apartments
• Billabong Sanctuary
• Charters Towers Tourist Park (G'Day Park)
• Orpheus Island Lodge
• SeaLink North Queensland
• Tasman Holiday Parks - Rollingstone
• Yongala Dive 

Individual Awards

Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer
Winner: Robyn Edwards, Townsville Visitor Information Centre

Young Achiever Award
Winner: Kyle Morris

Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution
Winner: Chris Morris and Michael Jones

People's Choice Awards

Accommodation - Hotel
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino

Accommodation - Motel
Winner: Kernow Charters Towers

Accommodation – Caravan and Holiday Parks
Winner: Townsville Eco Resort

Dining: Restaurant
Winner: Shorehouse

Dining: Café and Casual Dining
Winner: Hervey's Range Heritage Rooms

Tours, Attractions and Experiences
Winner: Texas Longhorns Tours

Bars, Breweries and Distilleries
Winner: Townsville Brewing Co.

Business Conferencing Venue
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino

Transport and Hire Services
Winner: SeaLink

Best Major Event
Winner: Women's State of Origin (Townsville 2023)

Best Destination Event
Winner: Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week

New Tourism Business or Experience
Winner: Pilgrim Adventures - Pilgrim Magnetic Island

Excellence Awards

Excellence in Accessible Tourism
Winner: North Australian Festival of Arts

Excellence in Sustainability
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island

Best of Queensland

100% Best of Queensland Score

• Big Mama Sailing
• BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Rowes Bay
• Billabong Sanctuary
• Discovery Parks - Townsville
• Orpheus Island Lodge
• SeaLink
• Tasman Holiday Parks - Rollingstone
• The Ville Resort-Casino
• Townsville Eco Resort

Individual Awards

Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer
Winner: Rini Dallavanzi, Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre

Young Achiever Award
Winner: Georgie Arnold

Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution
Winner: Mick and Lynda Bethel, Texas Longhorn Tours

Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve 'Pricey’ Price

Accommodation
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino
Runner Up: Kernow Charters Towers

Dining
Winner: Cowboys Leagues Club
Runner Up: A Touch Of Salt

Tours and Attraction
Winner: Texas Longhorns Tours
Runner Up: Pilgrim Sailing

Transport
Winner: SeaLink North Queensland
Runner Up: Magnetic Island Ferries

Best Major Event
Winner: North Queensland Toyota Cowboys (Cowboys v Broncos)
Runner Up: North Australia Festival of Arts

Best Destination Event
Winner: North Queensland Toyota Cowboys – Laurie Spina Shield
Runner Up: SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

 Most Voted
The Ville Resort-Casino

 100% Best of Queensland Score

• Aquascene Magnetic Island
• Orpheus Island Lodge
• Big Mama Sailing
• Billabong Sanctuary
• The Ville Resort-Casino

Highest Review Score – Tours
Winner: Jetski Hire Magnetic Island
Runner Up: Pilgrim Sailing
Third: Magnetic Islands Best Bus Tour

Highest Review Score – Accommodation
Winner: Orpheus Island Lodge
Runner Up: Kernow Charters Towers
Third: Townsville Tourist and Lifestyle Village

Young Achiever Award
Winner: Izzy Bee

Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution
Winner: Laurie Murphy

Best Major Event 
Winner: Townsville Eats Origin Edition
Runner-up: Professional Bull Riding Townsville

Best Destination Event 
Winner: Magnetic Island Race Week 2019
Runner-up: Beats and Eats

Accommodation
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino
Runner-up: Orpheus Island Lodge

Dining
Winner: A Touch of Salt
Runner-up: Miss Songs

Transport
Winner: Magnetic Island Ferries
Runner-up: Sealink Queensland 

Tours and Attractions
Winner: Texas Longhorn Tours
Runner-up: Pilgrim Sailing & Billabong Sanctuary 

Industry Collaborator Award – Mark & Judy Evans, Paronella Park

Young Achiever Award – Ashleigh and Andrew Eslick, Magnetic Island Jet Ski Hire

Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution – Steph & Adam Hinks, Aquascene Charters Magnetic Island

New Tourism Business
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Runner-up: Sealink Cape Cleveland Tours

Excellence in Customer Experience - Hotel and Resort Accommodation 
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino
Runner-up: Grand Hotel Townsville

Excellence in Customer Experience - Motels, Caravan Parks and Bed and Breakfasts
Winner: Secura Lifestyle Magnetic Gateway
Runner-up: Banjo Patterson Motor Inn

Excellence in Customer Experience - Tours and Attractions 
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Runner-up: Big Mama Sailing

Excellence in Customer Experience - Restaurants 
Winner: A Touch of Salt
Runner-up: Miss Songs Asian Kitchen

Excellence in Customer Experience - Pubs, Clubs and Casual Dining 
Winner: Cowboys Leagues Club
Runner-up: Grill'd Healthy Burgers Townsville

Major Festivals and Events – WATPAC Townsville 400

Festivals and Events
Winner: Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Runner-up: Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week

Travel Associates People's Choice – Sealink Queensland

Richard Power Award - Ross McLennan

Young Achiever Award - Alicia Masters

New Tourism Business - Raven Tours

Excellence in Customer Experience - Tours and Attractions 
Winner: Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive and Tour Townsville 

Excellence in Customer Experience - Accommodation 
Winner: Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville

Excellence in Customer Experience - Restaurants and Cafes 
Winner: JAME

Major Festivals and Events – WATPAC Townsville 400

Festivals and Events
Winner: Deadly Didge N Dance Festival

Richard Power Award
Winner: Johnathan Thurston
Runner-up: Daina Clark

Young Achiever Award
Winner: Alison Crook
Runner-up: Erin Corrigan

New Tourism Business
Winner: Big Mama Sailing

Excellence in Customer Experience - Accommodation 
Winner: Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville

Excellence in Customer Experience - Tours and Attractions 
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island

Excellence in Marketing 
Winner: Sealink Queensland

Festivals and Events
Winner: Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Runner-up: North Queensland Elite Rodeo

Richard Power Award
Winner: Paul Victory
Runner-up: Ben Christie-Johnson

Excellence in Customer Experience
Winner: Grand Hotel and Apartments
Runner-up: Aquascene Charters Magnetic Island

Excellence in Marketing
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino

Festivals and Events
Winner: Australian Festival of Chamber Music

New Tourism Business
Winner: Townsville Watersports

Richard Power Award
Winner: Madonna Simmons