2015 Douglas Business & Tourism Awards finalists announced
Published Monday 16 November 2015
Voting is now closed for the 2015 Douglas Business & Tourism Awards and the finalists are now announced and set out below. Newsport would like to say a huge, ‘well done,’ from the whole team to all of the finalists of 2015. It’s been another record breaking year. What makes these awards so special is the knowledge that your customers have voted for you and we think that’s very special.
Winners of the 2015 Douglas Business & Tourism Awards will be announced during our glittering Gala Dinner at the Sheraton Mirage Hotel on Friday 27th November. Don't forget to book your tickets here Purchase Tickets to share and enjoy another wonderful evening of celebrations.
This year the voting covered an even wider base of nominations and again more votes cast than ever before. Having now advised all the companies and individuals that have made the finals, we have had in return more surprised and amazed finalists than ever before. Many finalists didn’t even know they were in the running for the awards. That is the uniqueness of this awards program. The companies and individuals themselves really don’t have to take any action to reach the finals. They simply have to ensure their clients and guests receive the best service and products available while they are in their care. It is these organisations and individuals who have positively influenced their visitors to such an extent that they took the time to send in their vote throughout the year.
The online voting system has seen the biggest increase in votes cast with triple the votes from 2014. And the diversity of 25 countries from Europe, USA, South America, Asia and New Zealand from which votes have been received is the highest it’s ever been including a massive 17 states just from USA.
The online voting demonstrates how many of the finalists advised and encouraged their clients both past and present to support them in their striving for top honours.
The Newsport would like to thank their major sponsors including Port Douglas Magazine, Mackay Sugar, Blue Star Web, Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort and Staging Connections and all the category sponsors, Barbarella & Swan, Bolt Burchill Tranter Lawyers, Central Tyre Services, Exemplar Coaches and Limousines, Macrossan House Boutique Apartments, Mossman Port Douglas Treelopping, Palmer Sea Reef Golf, Raine & Horne Real Estate, tourismportdouglas.com.au and Wildlife Habitat Sanctuary, without whom this annual program and wonderful gala event could not happen.
So, in no particular order, the finalists are:
Corrections
As the votes are collated directly from customer and colleague entry forms, we apologise that some names may be spelt incorrectly. If your name is spelt incorrectly, please contact Irene on 4099 5122 as soon as possible so we can correct the information prior the awards night on the 27 November.
Restaurants & Food - Sponsored by Raine & Horne
Best Restaurant
Bazaar at QT Port Douglas
Zinc Restaurant and Lounge Bar
Harrison’s Restaurant
On The Inlet
Seabean
Salsa Bar and Grill
Watergate Lounge and Bar
Nautilus Restaurant
Best Take-away
Betty's Bohemian Beach Cafe
Chilly's Pizza & Trattoria
Dave’s Takeaway
Cooya Beach Takeaway
Off the Track
Rattle n Hum
Under Wraps
Beach Shack
Best Breakfast
Café Fresq
Bazaar at QT Port Douglas
Beaches Café
Betty's Bohemian Beach Cafe
Hi Tide Bistro
Lure Restaurant
Little Larder
Taste on Macrossan
Best Coffee
Betty's Bohemian Beach Cafe
Sparrow
Whileaway Café
Café Fresq
Little Larder
Origin Espresso
Taste on Macrossan
Lure Restaurant
Best Overall Service
On the Inlet
Bettys Bohemian Beach Cafe
Whileaway Café and Book Shop
Nautilus Restaurant
Salsa Bar and Grill
Watergate Lounge and Bar
Zinc Restaurant and Lounge Bar
Café Fresq
Tourism Products - Sponsored by Exemplar Coaches & Limousines
Best Reef / Sailing Tour
Wavelength
Aquarius
Indigo
Calypso Reef Charters
Reef Sprinter
Poseidon
Sailaway
Quicksilver Cruises
Best Rainforest / River Tour
Tropical Journeys
Bruce Belchers River Tours
Mossman Gorge Dreamtime Walks
Daintree Discovery Tours
Daintree Wonder Tours
Lady Douglas
Tony’s Tropical Tours
Walkabout Cultural Adventures
Best Tourist Attraction (commercial venue)
Lady Douglas
On The Inlet Grouper Feeding
St Mary’s by the Sea
Wildlife Habitat
Daintree Discovery Centre
Mossman Gorge Centre
Hartley’s Croc Adventures
Jungle Surfing
Best Tour Guide
Nicholas Fox – Daintree Safaris
Ross Sheehan – Tony’s Tropical Tours
Tony Burke – Tony’s Tropical Tours
Rob – Tony’s Tropical Tours
Juan Walker - Walkabout Cultural Adventures
Grub Hewitt – Grub's Trike Tours
Lucas Agrums – Lady Douglas
Dave Mainwaring – Daintree Wonder Tours
Best Fishing Charters
Trinity Sport Fishing
Outrageous Fishing Charters
Dragon Lady
Norseman
Port Douglas Fishing
Strikezone
Out n About
Jamie Bietzel Fishing Daintree
Tourism Services - sponsored by Palmer Sea Reef Golf Club
Best Transport / Airport Transfer Operator
Eclipse Transport
Grub’s Trike Tours
Port Douglas Bus
Exemplar Coaches and Limousines
Coral Reef Coaches
Krystal Transport
Port to Port
Sun Palm Transport
Best Transport – Local Transfers
Adrenalin Shuttle
SR Transport Shuttle
Sun Palm Buses and Taxis
Ballyhooley Steam Railway
Grub's Trike Tours
Coral Sea Coaches
Best Transport - Hire Service (including car, bike, moped, boat)
Port Douglas Bike Hire
Thrifty Car Hire
Budget Car Hire
AVIS Car HIre
Hertz Car Hire
KStar Electric Bikes
Port Douglas Car Hire
Best Visitor Information Service
By The Sea Apartments
BTS TOURS
Port Douglas Village Info Centre
tourismPORTDOUGLAS.com.au
Reef Adventure Centre
Coral Beach Lodge
Wildlife Habitat
Port Tour Specialists
Visitor Accommodation - sponsored by tourismPORTDOUGLAS.com.au
Best Apartment Accommodation (under 40 rooms)
Nautilus Holiday Apartments
By The Sea
The White House
Macrossan House Boutique Apartments
Villa San Michele
Coral Sea Villas
Peninsula Boutique Hotel
Best Resort Accommodation (over 40 rooms)
Ramada Port Douglas
Mantra Portsea
Mantra Aqueous
Peppers Beach Club
Sheraton Mirage Resort Port Douglas
Paradise Links
Pullman Sea Temple
QT Port Douglas
Best Luxury Accommodation
Silky Oaks
Sheraton Mirage Resort Port Douglas
Niramaya Villas & Spa
Peppers Beach Club
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Pullman Sea Temple
QT Port Douglas
Shantara Resort Port Douglas
Best Low Cost Accommodation
BIG 4 Glengarry Caravan Park
Dougies Backpackers
Nimrod Apartments
United Backpackers
Coral Beach Lodge
Tropical Breeze Caravan Park
Driftwood Mantaray
Best Holiday Home or Private Villa (Individual Property)
Jelly Bean Villa On The Beach
17 Murphy Street
Villa 48 Niramaya
No.1 Villa On The Beach
6 Hill Apartments (48 Murphy Street)
Artists Cottage
Mali Mali
Bali Hai
Best Holiday Letting Agency (company)
The Boutique Collection
Executive Retreats
Port Douglas Accommodation
Seascape Holidays
Ulysses Getaways
Port Douglas Getaways
Retail - sponsored by Macrossan House Boutique Apartments
Best Fashion Retailer
Tshinta
Josephines
Witchery
Tzusk
Barbarella & Swan
Rose & Boy
Tommy Bahama
Jungle Road
Best Giftware Retailer
Floral Edge
With Sugar
Bellissimo
Pebble
Wicked Willies
Serendipity
Ahoy Traders
Mossman Print
Best Food Store
Taste on Macrossan
Coles Supermarket
IGA Cornetts
Malones Butchers
Deep Whole Foods
Coffee Works
Woolworths
Yum Yums
Best Overall Service
Jungle Road
Barbarella & Swan
With Sugar
Australian Outback Store
Tommy Bahama
Target Country
Floral Edge
Livelife Pharmacy
Weddings - sponsored by Tony’s Tropical Tours
Best Wedding / Commercial Photographer
Shaun Guest – Shaun Guest Photography
Matthew Evans – Matthew Evans Photography
Alison George - Catseye Photography
Ben Keating - Sass Studios
Rob Cooke – Port Douglas Visibility Video
Jacqui Cooke – Port Douglas Weddings
Jessie Goetze – Port Douglas Wedding Photography
Perrin Clarke – Perrin Clarke Photography
Best Wedding Celebrant
Anna Soltwedel
Darlene Woodward
Natasha Kollosche
Rosina Santarosa
Sarah Woods
Anne Spragg
Stephanie Milne
Eloise Barker Re
Best Wedding Planner (company)
Port Douglas Weddings & Hire
Dragonfly Weddings and Events
The Wedding Lounge Port Douglas
Sheraton Mirage Resort Port Douglas
Lure Restaurant
Port Douglas Catering & Events
QT Port Douglas
Harrisons Restaurant
Best Wedding Coordinator (individual)
Amanda Dalgleish – Pullman Sea Temple
Jade Harold – Port Douglas Weddings & Hire
Shobha - Port Douglas Weddings
Emma Farrell – Sheraton Mirage Resort Port Douglas
Reina Patrick – Harrisons Restaurant
Brittany Herbert – Port Douglas Catering & Events
Vicki Kurth – Port Douglas Wedding & Hire
Bec McLean – Dragonfly Weddings and Events
Beauty Health and Fitness - sponsored by Barbarella & Swan
Best Spa Experience (company)
Sunbird Centre
Wellness @ Port
Shantara Spa
Port Douglas Day Spa
Exclusive Spas at Peppers
Niramaya Spa
Pullman Sea Temple
Spa Q at QT Port Douglas
Best Masseur / Masseuse (individual)
Violaine - Wellness@Port
Ayoka - Wellness@Port
Renee Allert - Wellness@Port
Birgit – Wellness@Port
Kate Lynn Moloney – Exclusive Spas
Lisa Watt - QT Port Douglas
Manon – Niramaya Spa
Luke Murray – Somadhi Soul
Best Beauty Therapist (individual)
Michaela Sands - Niramaya Spa
Violaine – Wellness@Port
Lisa Wall - Spa Q
Renee Allert – Wellness@Port
Swan Nguyen
Ayoka – Wellness@Port
Kate Lynn Moloney – Exclusive Spas
Birgit – Wellness@Port
Best Health Treatment Experience (company)
Deep Massage
Sunbird Spa Centre
Exclusive Spa at Peppers
John Mason – Acupuncture
QT Port Douglas
Port Douglas Day Spa
Wellness @ Port
Niramaya Spa
Best Hair and Makeup (company)
The Hair Shop
Salon Z
Savvy Hair
Port Douglas Hair and Make Up
Hair by Julia
Lea Bella Hair
Jennifer Campbell Hair
Just Jase Hair
Events & Entertainment - sponsored by Bolt Burchill Tranter
Best Local Live Entertainer/s
Los Caracoles
Sonny Boy Forbes
Nick Gibson Tropica Entertainment
Bodies in Motion
The Kroovs
Miss Te Ketu
Shannon Clarke
The Walker Brothers
Best Live Entertainment Venue
Dougies Backpackers
Paddys Bar and Grill
Estilo @QT
Iron Bar
The Clink Theatre
Central Hotel
Court House Hotel
Combined Club (Tin Shed)
Best Annual Event (once a year)
Port Douglas Carnivale
Bodies in Motion End of Year Concert
Mossman Show
Picnic Races on Four Mile Beach
Seafood Extravaganza
Taste Port Douglas
Yabusame / Japanese Horse archery on Family Beach Day
Porttoberfest
Best Regular Local Event (daily/weekly/monthly)
Cane Toad Racing – Iron Bar
Rock the Yacht
Mossman Saturday Market
Marina Wednesday Market
Port Douglas Sunday Markets
KStar Trivia Nights
Moonlight Cinema
Bally Hooley Steam Railway
Favourite Local Sporting Team
AFL Crocs Seniors
Young Guns I Netball Team
Douglas Cricket Association Inc – Muddies
Douglas Dragons FC
Port Douglas Mossman Raiders RU
Mossman Port Douglas Sharks RL
Real Estate - sponsored by Mossman Port Douglas Treelopping (MPDT)
Best Real Estate Sales Agent (individual)
Alan Crossman – Ray White
Callum Jones – Pink / McGraph
Travis Schumacher - Raine & Horne
Steve Doble – LJ Hooker
Phil Holloway – Century 21
David Cotton – Raine & Horne
Matt Scott – LJ Hooker
Grant Law – Pink
Best Real Estate Business (company)
Century 21
LJ Hooker
Raine & Horne
The Pink Company Real Estate
Ray White Real Estate
Vista Real Estate (not operating anymore)
Best Rental Property Agent (individual)
Alicia Rowe – Raine & Horne
Jocelyn Schumacher - Raine & Horne
Lars Pederson – Ray White
William Devlin - Century 21
Sam McLaughlin – Raine & Horne
Jessica Lea - Century 21
Narelle Johnson – Century 21
Best Rental Property Business (company)
Century 21
LJ Hooker
Raine & Horne
Ray White
Vista Real Estate (not operating anymore)
Trades & Services - sponsored by Wildlife Habitat
Best Tradesman (individual)
Geoff Ward – Geoff Ward Plumbing
Ditch Vladitch – TNQ Services
Peter Murphy – Papillon Landscapes
Sy Dolphin – Sy Dolphin Electrical
Colin Plumbe – Electrician
Rob Hart – Hart Electricial
Gary Cunningham – Local Maintenance
John Hutton – Great North Tilers
Best Trade Service (company)
Mossman Print
BHE - Blake Henning Electrical
Sy Dolphin Electrical
Papillon Landscapes
TNQ Services
Aerials Up North
Great Northern Tilers
Geoff Ward Plumbing
Best Trade Supplier - Products & Equipment (company)
Reece Plumbing
H2O Warehouse
Mossman Hardware
Port Douglas Pool Supplies
Port Douglas Electrical Supplies
Oakdare Holdings
Port Irrigation
Kennards Hire
Professional Services - sponsored by Central Tyre Service
Best Qualified Practitioner (individual)
Martin Tranter – Bolt Burchill Tranter Lawyers
Dr Mark Colbridge - Port Village Medical Centre
Dr John Mason – Port Douglas Acupuncture
Dr Rose Arentz – Niramaya Spa and Villas
Brooke Rigby – Far North Training
Dr Liz Stringer – New Horizons Medical Centre
Leanne Rake - Ozcare
Brian Hoult – MGI Far North Accountants
Best Qualified Practice - Company
Bolt Burchill Tranter Lawyers
MGI Accountants
New Horizons Medical Centre
Port Village Medical Centre
Astute Financial Services
Port Douglas Dentist
Far North Training
Body Corporate Services (Saltwater Building)
