In the space of four months the Fraser Coast's most prominent whale and adventure operator, Tasman Venture, has won two major tourism wards, on Friday evening taking bronze in the national tour and transport operator category at the Australian Tourism Awards in Canberra.
The Tasman operation, which offers whale watching, Fraser island tours and Great Barrier Reef fishing trips, won gold as the best tour and transport operator in the State at the Queensland Tourism Awards in November last year and was an automatic entry into the Australian awards.
In a first-time placing in the national competition in the a highly competitive field, Tasman was third to Tasmania's gold winner Gordon River Cruises, with Kimberly Quest Cruises of Western Australia taking silver.
Tasman was up against six quality tour and transport operators and in a Facebook post immediately after the announcement, congratulated the first and second place-getters and said they felt “extremely humbled with third place amongst a field of exception tourism operators”.
Principals Robyn and Lloyd Burgess were in Canberra to accept their national award.
Fraser Coast Tourism & Events general manager Martin Simons said the Tasman win was a tremendous reward from 30 years of effort by a very professional Fraser Coast business up against multi-million boats, one offering international ocean cruises.
“It's the people that makes the difference at the top end of tourism experiences and quality of the Tasman team enables this business to compete at this elite level,” he said.
Robyn and Lloyd Burgess began operating the business in 1991 and have consistently been one of the best marketed tour operators delivering hero experiences on the Fraser Coast.
The company was one of the first whale watching business focusing on year-round product, with Western Fraser tours part of the business since 1995. The company purchased a second boat, Island Venture, in 2017 offering half-day whale watching and swimming with whales when available, coupled with the western Fraser experience.
The family said it was very proud to be recognised for its contribution to showcasing Queensland and in particular Fraser Coast hero experiences at the Australian awards.
“We strive to offer a trip of a lifetime to each and every guest we meet and believe this emphasis on offering quality and authentic experiences sets Tasman Venture apart”, said the Mr and Mrs Burgess.
The win came on top of Tasman's highly commended recommendation achieved at the 2018 Queensland awards.
AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS
TOUR AND TRANSPORT OPERATOR
Gold: Gordon River Cruises
Silver: Kimberly Quest Cruises
Bronze: Tasman Venture
Finalists: Port Stephen 4WD Tours, NT Bird Specialists, Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari
Murray Offroad Adventures.
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