TWO Tamborine Mountain businesses are celebrating winning awards at the Queensland Tourism Awards.
Tamborine Mountain Glades won the RACQ People’s Choice Award for Accommodation as well as the Best Business Event Venue in the State.
Bob and Judi Minikin bought Tamborine Mountain Glades 25 years ago marking the start of a tourism love affair which changed their lives and the Australian Tourism Industry.
In that time more than five million people from around Australia and the world have experienced the unique destination which offers a range of accommodation options, conference venues, special events facilities, family friendly activities and romantic getaways.
Judi said winning the People’s Choice Award was an absolute surprise.
“To be selected by the people across all 31 categories in Queensland is beyond humbling,” she expressed.
“This award belongs not just to our team but to every guest who has trusted us to deliver memorable experiences. We are deeply grateful for their support and their votes.
“Winning the Business Events category is such an honour and a testament to our dedicated team.
“We strive to create exceptional experiences for our guests and this recognition means the world to us.”
The other big winner was Tamborine Mountain Distillery.
The well-known mountain business took home a bronze award in the Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries category.
The previous two years it won gold.
General manager Gordon Chalmers said it was a “hell of an achievement”.
“It is a monster achievement just to enter it,” he said.
“You can’t just think you are good, you have to have the certification to prove it. They check all the reviews including the things you do for the environment and the community.
“We are up against some big competitors such as Bundaberg Rum, the biggest distillery in Queensland.
“It is incredible we can stand tall against them.”
Tamborine Mountain Distillery is the oldest craft distillery in Queensland, started 31 years ago by Michael and Alla Ward.
Seven years ago, Gordon and Shumei Hou, managing director bought the business and are carrying on the Ward’s legacy.
Gordon joked that it was the result of a retirement gone wrong.
“We are a family business and have the children working in it. We even have the seven-year-old granddaughter helping, spending her holiday time here counting bottles,” he laughed.
“We have some big businesspeople on board with global experience who are just happy to live on this little mountain.
“We have scaled it up and are one of the few with offices in China. We do massive online sales and export.”
He said they have also won more awards than the 900 other distillers in Australia, including top brandy in the world a year ago.
Gordon said gaining certification recently by ECOtourism Australia was another huge achievement.
“We passed first time which is incredible,” he said.
