Cairns And Great Barrier Reef Tourism Icons honored At A Golden Anniversary Gala, Celebrating Decades Of Excellence At The Landmark Ttnq Awards

Published on October 26, 2025

The pinnacle of nan tourism almanac successful Tropical North Queensland was reached connected Friday, October 24, 2025, erstwhile nan 2025 Qantas and Jetstar TNQ Tourism Industry Excellence Awards were formally presented. This esteemed yearly occasion, held astatine nan blase Cairns Convention Centre, was elevated by nan concurrent observance of nan 50th day of Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ). A full of 350 distinguished guests were welcomed to nan gala event, wherever nan singular passion, resilience, and innovative tone of nan region’s tourism operators were collectively celebrated.

The gravity of nan juncture was intelligibly felt, arsenic nickname was paid to an manufacture that has meticulously grown complete 5 decades to go an economical engine, presently weighted arsenic a colossal $4.5 cardinal powerhouse. The continuous committedness demonstrated by each individual and business was formally acknowledged, reaffirming their important domiciled successful positioning nan destination connected nan world stage. These awards are not simply a ceremony of existent achievements but are considered a captious humanities marker, underscoring nan trajectory of sustained maturation and exceptional work that has been nan hallmark of Tropical North Queensland tourism since its inception.

A Golden Jubilee of Tropical Tourism Excellence

The value of nan 50th day of Tourism Tropical North Queensland was comprehensively addressed, pinch nan history of nan organisation being honoured arsenic an invaluable blueprint for early success. The origins of nan industry’s occurrence were traced backmost to nan early pioneers, individuals whose foresight and thrust established nan foundations for nan existent economical strength. It was recounted really nan organisation, initially registered successful 1975 arsenic nan Far North Queensland Development Bureau Limited, and later nan Far North Queensland Promotions Bureau Limited, was driven by civic leaders and forward-thinking businessmen. Great tribute was paid to foundational figures specified arsenic George Chapman, nan organisation’s first chairman, and Bill Cummings, its first wide manager. Their first efforts were instrumental successful pushing for cardinal infrastructure, astir notably nan redevelopment that transformed Cairns Airport into an world gateway, a turning constituent that propelled nan region’s tourism building roar and consequent world profile.

Honouring Industry Pillars: The 2025 Recipients

The position of nan individual awards constituted 1 of nan evening’s astir highly anticipated segments, wherever heavy individual and master contributions were formally recognised. Across a scope of categories, individuals were celebrated for demonstrating activity and a level of work that elevates nan full region. The rotation telephone of recipients included figures who person go synonymous pinch nan section tourism landscape, each being acknowledged for their chopped and long-standing impact.

Among nan highly-regarded winners announced were John Morris and Cheryl Kelly, some of whom were lauded for their extended and distinguished careers wrong nan sector. While nan circumstantial quality of their individual awards was varied, nan corporate connection conveyed was 1 of profound appreciation for their sustained committedness to nan region’s tourism fabric.

Further nickname was extended to Tony George, who was celebrated for his domiciled arsenic a highly sought-after entertainer. Tony George has been a important constituent of nan Cairns and Great Barrier Reef business events assemblage for nan past 30 years. His performances person been a cardinal facet successful enhancing nan wide impermanent experience, often serving arsenic a taste ambassador done his extended activity some nationally and internationally. His expertise to present engaging intermezo was acknowledged arsenic a important constituent of nan destination’s entreaty to arena organisers.

Cultivating Sustainability and Customer Dedication

The firm class awards served to item nan operational excellence being demonstrated by businesses dedicated to continuous betterment successful value and sustainable practices. The attraction of these accolades was placed connected enterprises that not only present memorable visitant experiences but besides actively activity to safeguard nan region’s unsocial earthy assets. Various categories were included, specified arsenic nan Customer Service Excellence Award and nan Sustainable Tourism Excellence Award, categories deemed captious for nan semipermanent viability and estimation of nan destination.

The Legacy of Collaboration: The Robbie Bastion Award

A important infinitesimal of nan evening was nan charismatic motorboat of a caller perpetual trophy, nan Robbie Bastion Award for Inbound Marketing. This grant was established to formally recognise and permanently honour nan representation of nan precocious Robbie Bastion. Mr. Bastion was wide known and respected arsenic 1 of nan destination’s cardinal Road Warriors, an manufacture word utilized to picture those dedicated individuals who spent extended periods overseas moving tirelessly to marketplace and waste Tropical North Queensland to world markets. His efforts were instrumental successful securing captious world visitant flows for nan region.

Partnership and Prosperity: The Supporting Entities

The staging of nan awards and nan broader ceremony of nan 50th day were made imaginable done nan generous support of cardinal firm partners and authorities bodies. The naming sponsorship was proudly held by Qantas and Jetstar, airlines pinch a profound and long-standing history of committedness to nan region. The support offered by Qantas and Jetstar was noted arsenic being reflective of their ongoing dedication to location Australia, exemplified by nan cognition of much than 430 flights per week crossed nan Group into and retired of Cairns. This extended web plays a captious domiciled successful ensuring travellers person entree to nan nation’s astir unsocial destinations, including nan World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and nan Tropical Rainforests.