For the third year in a row, the Whitsunday Tourism Awards are featuring the Whitsunday Business Awards, with nine categories for businesses that are not necessarily tourism relevant.
A partnership between Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Whitsundays, and Bowen Tourism and Business, the Business Awards recognise and celebrate the greater business community in the wider Whitsundays.
The nine categories include Excellence in Customer Service, Most Outstanding Retailer, Most Outstanding Booking Service, Most Outstanding Hospitality Venue, and Most Outstanding Services Provider, as well as the four Bowen, Collinsville, Proserpine, and Whitsundays Business of the Year.
Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce President Allan Milostic believes in the benefit of these awards.
“The Chamber recognises and values the vital contribution tourism and hospitality makes to the region’s economy and our way of life,” he said.
“However, it is equally important to recognise the significant number and economic contribution of the professional services, retail businesses, trades, and other industries that also contribute to our region.
“These awards celebrate a range of businesses and shine a light on the diversity and strength of the Whitsundays business community.
“The Chamber offers its congratulations to the award winners and nominees and encourages the community to support all local traders.”
Leanne Abernethy, Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business is proud that they sponsored the Bowen and Collinsville Business Awards.
“We believe that tourism is everyone’s business, so we wanted to include non-tourism businesses in the awards,” she said.
“For example, in Bowen, the grey nomads come from the Southern states and stay for three months, this means they support tourism and business in the region; they get their car serviced by locals, buy their groceries, get haircuts, and support our retail businesses.”
The Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce is excited to be launching the Whitsunday Business Awards this Friday. Photo credit: Rachael Smith
