Community
13 November, 2023
Simply tourism’s best
TWO life memberships have been awarded and a tourism legend has been celebrated at the 2023 Expedia Group Tropical North Queensland Tourism Industry Excellence Awards at the Cairns Convention Centre.
The life members are Pip Woodward of the CaPTA Group and immediate past Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) chairman Ken Chapman.
TTNQ chief executive officer Mark Olsen said the record number of 30 entries and a new award category highlighted the growing significance of the awards which were attended by more than 180 guests.
“It is fitting that we further acknowledge the hard work of our members with the addition of the outstanding commitment to the industry award recognising businesses, groups or organisations who go above and beyond to contribute to the Tropical North Queensland tourism industry.”
Pip Woodward and her late husband Charlie Woodward pioneered rainforest tourism in Tropical North Queensland with the founding of Rainforestation Nature Park and expanded the family business over 50 years to become one of the largest tourism operators in the region. Mrs Woodward is also well known for her philanthropic work through the charity COUCH founded by the Woodward family.
“I am honoured to receive this award and join the ranks of other tourism trailblazers. This recognition is a reflection and tribute to the incredible legacy my late husband Charlie and I built together over nearly 50 years. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Tourism Tropical North Queensland for this prestigious honour,” she said.
Dr Chapman, is the chairman of Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
He was instrumental in securing a record $10 million in Federal funding through the Recovery for Regional Tourism program for domestic marketing during the pandemic and $15 million under the International Tourism Recovery Program administered by Austrade.
Dr Chapman said he was “honoured to receive the life membership award at the Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards”.
Other awards were: Outstanding commitment to the Industry: Cairns Airport Ambassadors. Outstanding contribution by an individual: AJ Hackett, Skypark by AJ Hackett. Chairman’s award for excellence: Silky Oaks Lodge. Young achiever excellence award: Jamie Binder, marketing and social media executive at Crystalbrook Collection. Customer service excellence award: Cedric Lootvoet, luxury concierge at The Reef House. Sustainable tourism excellence award: Small World Journeys. Best of Queensland experiences program award: FNQ Nature Tours.
