All the winners from Whitsundays Tourism Awards night 2023

It was the night of nights for Whitsunday tourism operators as teams gathered to celebrate the best in the business. FULL LIST OF WINNERS.

Reef protection is a major focus for the Ocean Rafting crew, especially environmental manager and skipper James Unsworth.

And with passion like that, it’s no wonder the ocean lover was named this year’s young achieve at the 2023 Whitsundays Tourism Awards.

It was the night of nights for Whitsunday tourism operators as teams gathered to celebrated the best in the business.

Ocean Rafting came away on top winning four different categories including the Young Achiever award for Mr Unsworth, who helps educate visitors on how they can help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

“With the way tourism is going, we focus on education and environment and reef protection,” he said.

James Unsworth received the Young Achiever award at the 2023 Whitsundays Tourism Awards for his work in photography. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

“That’s why I moved to the area and it’s really really exciting to me.”

Magnums Accommodation Airlie Beach, Big4 Adventure Whitsundays and Three Little Birds Espresso each snagged three awards.

“It’s not complicated, my people are just the best people. I have the best team,” Magnums Backpackers chair Elizabeth Hackett said.

Magnums Accommodation Airlie Beach snagged the Whitsunday Business of the Year award.

“I feel so honoured to be part of that team.”

More than 300 guests attended the star-studded gala awards event, the first of its kind to be held at the new Proserpine Entertainment Centre on Friday night.

Beyond celebrating excellence, it was a night to pay homage to the extraordinary contributions that the tourism sector makes to the Whitsundays region.

A nice night time atmosphere at the outdoors scene for the 2023 Whitsundays Tourism Awards. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

 Jade Richardson, of Whitsunday Creatives,which took home the award for Proserpine Business of the Year, said, “What matters is definitely the community connection.”

“In the two years that we’ve been running, I’ve offered a platform for over 54 businesses to be able to showcase their products and their work,” he said

“And I feel like I’ve really achieved that community connection by doing that and it’s been a really good time so, thank you.”

Tourism Whitsundays chief executive Rick Hamilton described the awards as the region’s most anticipated event.

“Crafting an award submission isn’t for the faint of heart,” Mr Hamilton said.

“It is an intentional journey that encourages operators to delve deep into their businesses, reflecting on how their efforts rippled through to benefit not only customers but also the local community and the region at large.

“We are the most tourism-reliant region in Queensland, with one in three jobs dependant on tourism.

“This evening’s event is a tribute to the region’s reliance on tourism, with everyone gathered to applaud their own achievements, their competitors’ feats and most importantly the collective triumphs of the tourism industry.”