Elementa Wins Prestigious Tourism And Leisure Award

The spectacular Whitsunday venue Elementa Whitsundays has been honoured with a prestigious award for Tourism and Leisure Facilities at the Master Builders Mackay and Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards. It has cemented the venue as one of Airlie Beach’s most exciting destinations for visitors and locals alike.

The award recognises the vision and dedication behind the hilltop development overlooking the Coral Sea, a project that began as a bold idea more than a decade ago and has since grown into a landmark attraction.

Glenn Hitch said the award was a testament to the craftsmanship and teamwork of all involved in bringing the project to life.

Elementa Whitsundays Highlights The Very Best
Of Airlie Beach And The Whitsundays

Although the vision was clear from the outset, turning it into reality required persistence and collaboration.

“The challenge was getting the idea in my head to be just as clear for everyone else,” Glenn explained. “But I had a lot of help and input from other people. It wasn’t just me, it was a real team effort.”

Among those acknowledged were Cumberland Homes as the principal contractor, along with Gangemi Cabinet Makers, Coastal Brush Painters, Holly Gardner Interior Design, Adfab Industries, Shellco, Andy Manners, and George and Bare Tiling. Each played a role in shaping the award-winning venue into what it is today.

The development first began in 2006 with the purchase of the land, which sat untouched for a decade before the first stage of accommodation was built in 2017.

From the beginning, the goal was to create more than just a place to stay; it was about building something that would be a primary reason for visitors to choose Airlie Beach for weddings, corporate events, and unique Whitsunday experiences.

“We're really proud to win this award, because this is what this building is for, it’s to bring tourists into the town, and that's what it's about,” exclaimed Glenn.

“We're not bringing Melbourne or Sydney to Airlie Beach; we are about showcasing the Whitsundays. So hence the view, hence the gin, hence our menu. Everything is reflecting what the Whitsundays has to offer, and we're doing it in an elevated way.”

In addition to its event spaces, the venue has expanded its offerings to include a distillery, with spirits crafted using locally sourced ingredients, including Whitsunday rainwater. The unique addition, which came during the build, required changes to the original plans but has since become a defining feature.

Glenn said the idea was to capture the Whitsundays not just in the venue, but in their spirits too.

“And we’re having a lot of fun with it,” he said.

Community has also been at the heart of the business, with the venue sponsoring local events such as Race Week and the Airlie Beach Festival of Music.

Glenn said supporting locals is vital to their business. “We’re a community-based business, and we want to see the community do well.”

“Our local clientele are also very important. The second part of that is, if you start to bring in weddings or events from out of town, that will also employ more local businesses, because they're subsidiary to what we do.

Essentially, we're a venue, a distillery, and we're accommodation. But wedding planning, and all these types of events, the more active we are, the better it's going to be for other local businesses

“The more people that come through the doors, everyone wins.”

While originally operating solely as an event venue, the team has gradually opened its doors to the public for ticketed experiences, with 74 Islands Cocktail Club on Friday evenings and an exciting new signature dining series in development.

From award-winning design to a growing reputation as a premier Whitsunday destination, Elementa Whitsundays' future is bright.

And with this latest accolade, the team behind it can take pride in knowing they’ve not only created a world-class facility but also a place that will continue to bring new energy and visitors to Airlie Beach for years to come.

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