White on Whitehaven attendees escalate complaints after ‘appalling’ response from lunch organisers

Customers have escalated complaints about a government-supported event on one of Qld’s most beautiful beaches after an “appalling” response from the organisers.

Unsatisfied attendees of the White On Whitehaven Long Lunch shared this image showing marquees damaged by torrential rain and extreme winds and men going to the toilet in view of diners. Picture: Supplied.

Guests of last month's White on Whitehaven luxury lunch have turned to a government agency in an attempt to claim back hundreds of dollars in ticket purchases after the event's organiser refused to issue refunds.

An attendee of the Sunday, May 30 Whitehaven Beach lunch has lodged an official complaint with the Office of Fair Trading, asking for a refund of the $822.14 she paid for tickets for herself and her partner, claiming that terms and conditions were not honoured.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, stated in documents lodged on June 8, that a refund would be "very fair" given "the cost spent to attend the event (flights, accommodation, etc) and the conditions [guests] were subjected to", including "dangerous" ferry transfers from the mainland, marquees collapsing in extreme winds and torrential rains, and male guests urinating "right where you were meant to eat".

The woman was not satisfied with the organisers' response that anyone attending an outdoor event should be aware of risks such as bad weather, calling this an "appalling" response to aggrieved guests' concerns.

"The organiser wants to compare an expensive, exclusive event to a rock concert," the woman said.

"Unfortunately, I don't agree with comparing a $400 (plus booking fee) per head lunch - advertised on Tourism and Events Queensland website as a 'spectacular new event' - to a rock concert."

The woman said she was unable to eat any of the lunch because of a lack of shelter, and therefore did not receive the service or goods she paid for.

Torrential rain disrupted day two of the White on Whitehaven luxury lunch.

She argued the event should have been cancelled, and refunds issued in accordance with conditions printed on the tickets.

"The weather was clearly showing on Friday, May 28 that Sunday, May 30 would not be good," she said.

"The ticket clearly states 'In the event of cancellation due to bad weather, 100% refund of the ticket price will be given to the purchaser'."

The woman is yet to receive a response from the OFT.

A spokesperson for the OFT was unable to comment on the number of complaints submitted in relation to the White on Whitehaven event or its organisers, but said the OFT would "look into" every complaint it received.

Organiser Kevin Collins of Airlie Beach seafood restaurant Fish D'Vine said he was aware of one attendee's intentions to lodge a Fair Trading complaint, but had not received any official correspondence from the office as of June 17.

He said he had issued a number of refunds since the event but only to people that "couldn't make it" on the day.

With regards to any other complaints, he would wait to hear from the OFT and respond accordingly.

"If they ask for an official response, we'll give them an official response, through the appropriate channels," Mr Collins said.

Originally published as Luxury lunch organiser taken to Fair Trading over 'appalling' response

Originally published as White on Whitehaven attendees escalate complaints after ‘appalling’ response from lunch organisers