This year, for the first time, the Whitsunday Tourism Awards will be introducing two new region-specific categories into the mix.
This follows the recent announcement that the Bowen Best Business Award and Collinsville Business of the Year Award will be featuring in the upcoming 2023 event which is due to be held at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre in October.
Backed by sponsorship from Bowen Tourism and Business, these awards celebrate businesses that are not necessarily tourism related but interact with the tourism industry.
Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery, said the organisation was proud to sponsor the business awards as part of the Whitsunday Tourism Whitsundays awards this year.
“We have more than 200 members and many of those are non-tourism businesses,” she said.
“We believe that tourism is everybody’s business.”
Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said this was about including all types of businesses.
“We encourage all Bowen and Collinsville businesses to nominate for these awards, even if the business is not directly involved with the tourism industry,” she said.
“Some of our visitors come to Bowen for the entire winter every year. They get their haircut, go out for dinner, buy new clothes, get their car serviced, their caravan fixed, and their pet groomed.
“The businesses providing these goods and services are complimenting the tourism industry.”
Rick Hamilton, CEO of Tourism Whitsundays said the Whitsunday Tourism Awards shine a light on the whole region.
“The addition of a Bowen, Collinsville and Proserpine Business of the Year Award presents a remarkable opportunity for all businesses in these townships to be spotlighted at the region’s biggest awards night.”
Submissions for these categories close August 21, so Bowen and Collinsville businesses are urged to put their applications in soon.
The link for the submissions can be found on the Bowen Tourism and Business Facebook page.
Bowen Tourism and Business wins big at the 2022 Whitsunday Tourism awards, and the team encourage all businesses to apply. Photo supplied
