For information on the Brolga Awards, download the 2012 Factsheet (PDF  92KB)

Site Verifications 

The purpose of the site verification is to assess the business being nominated and for verification of claims that may be made within the submission.  Operations are under no obligation to offer a free experience of their product. The site verification will be prearranged at a mutually convenient time and the judges have a proforma from which they work.

Site visit judges will ask to see the following:

• Customer Service Policies
• OH&S policies
• Human Resources Policies
• Sustainability Policies

The absence of these documents will be reflected in the score.

The site inspection is worth 20% of the total score being added to the submissions score.  The exceptions to this are:

• Categories 3 / 4/ 8/ 25 –The site visit is for verification purposes only and therefore no points will be awarded.
• Category 14 – No visitation.

Scores from the site visit will not apply at the Australian Tourism Awards.

Categories

For information on changes to categories, criteria and rules for 2012, download the Summary of changes 2012. (PDF  93KB)

Download the criteria for each category, by clicking on the category heading.

1 - Major Tourist Attractions (PDF  90KB)
This category is for attractions which a) market primarily to a national and/or international audience and b) are considered a hallmark destination in their own right. They may be publicly or privately owned and can operate in conjunction with a natural attraction or on their own.

2 - Tourist Attractions (PDF  89KB)
This category is open to attractions of state/territory importance which, a) market primarily to intrastate and/or interstate visitors and b) significantly contribute to the tourism experience within their metropolitan or country region. Attractions may be developed in conjunction with a natural attraction or on their own.

3 - Major Festivals and Events (PDF  93KB)
This category is open to hallmark festivals or events that a) create substantial economic impact, b) attract visitors from interstate and/or overseas, c) generate national or international media profile, and d) positively promote the destination. They may be one-off or recurring.

4 - Festivals and Events (PDF  89KB)
This category is open to festivals or events that a) create substantial economic impact within the local community, b) attract visitors from intrastate and/or interstate, c) generate regional media profile, and d) positively promote the destination. They may be one-off or recurring.

5 - Ecotourism (PDF  87KB)
This category aims to recognise ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary  focus on experiencing natural areas that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

6 - Heritage and Cultural Tourism (PDF  92KB)
This category aims to recognise tourism operations that foster a greater understanding of history, heritage and/or culture. Entrants should offer visitors an insight into Australia’s history and heritage and its contemporary culture.

7 - Indigenous Tourism (PDF  91KB)
This category recognises tourism operations that foster a greater understanding of Indigenous culture, history and traditions.

8 - Specialised Tourism Services (PDF  90KB)
This category is open to specialised tourism services, retailers or facilities that enhance the visitor experience and integrate with other tourism products. Entry is open – but not limited to – service providers, shopping precincts, retailers of souvenirs, artefacts and art, airports, computer information systems, member services, money exchange services, language and interpreter services.

9 - Visitor Information and Services (PDF  90KB)
This category is open to Visitor Information Centres, Regional Tourist Associations and Regional Tourism Organisations to recognise their integrated focus on the provision of services to the visitor e.g. reservation service, information delivery etc. This category is not designed for specific marketing and promotion campaigns.

10 - Meetings and Business Tourism (PDF  89KB)
This category is open – but not limited to – conference facilities and other meetings industry operators, service providers and suppliers who maximise the tourism experience for meetings and business travellers.

11 - Major Tour and/or Transport Operators (PDF  88KB)
This category is open to tour and/or transport operators with 15 or more annual fulltime equivalent employees. It is not a transport award but does recognise a major contribution to tourism through the provision of tour guiding services and transport services. Entrants must offer a tourism experience as a significant part of their operation.

12 - Tour and/or Transport Operators (PDF  89KB)
This category is open to tour and/or transport operators with fewer than 15 annual fulltime equivalent employees. It is not a transport award but does recognise a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of tour guiding services and transport services. Entrants must offer a tourism experience as a significant part of their operation.

13 - Adventure Tourism (PDF  90KB)
This category is open to operators providing adventure tourism experiences that involve active customer participation. Examples could include – but are not limited to – rafting, ballooning, bushwalking, scuba diving, rock climbing, four-wheel driving, fishing, horse riding and abseiling.

14 - Tourism Marketing (PDF  99KB)
This category recognises excellence in marketing tourism products, regions, destinations, or group projects. Initiatives can include short-term marketing campaigns, ongoing marketing programs or promotional vehicles such as websites etc.

15 - Tourism Education and Training (PDF 94KB)
This category is open to individual tourism businesses and tourism education and other registered training providers working to raise professional standards within the tourism industry by delivering tourism training, including online.

16 - Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services (PDF  88KB)
This category is open to all restaurants and catering services offering a tourism experience and/or servicing the tourism industry. It is not a food award but does recognise a significant contribution to tourism through the provision of food and beverage. Entry is open – but not limited to – hotel or stand-alone restaurants,event caterers, pubs and cafés.

17 - Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Boutique Breweries (PDF  87KB)
This category is open to all wineries, distilleries and boutique breweries offering a tourism experience and who make a significant contribution to tourism. Entry is open – but not limited to –cellar door sales, tastings or tours.

18 - Tourist and Caravan Parks (PDF  87KB)
This category is open to all tourist and caravan parks offering a tourism experience. Entry is open – but not limited to – cabin, caravan and/or tenting accommodation providers.

19 - Backpacker Accommodation (PDF  87KB)
This category is open to accommodation providers primarily catering to backpackers. The focus of this award is on facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.

20 - Hosted Accommodation (PDF  87KB)
This category is open to owner/operator accommodation providers offering a high degree of personal contact with guests. Entry is open – but not limited to – bed & breakfast, farm stay, cottage or other intimate, boutique, colonial or heritage accommodation.

21 - Unique Accommodation (PDF  86KB)
This category is open to properties developed around unconventional accommodation infrastructure. The focus of this award is on the way in which the nature of the accommodation and services enhance the tourism experience. Entry is open – but not limited to – tented holidays, houseboats, tree houses, underground accommodation and yacht charters.

22 - Standard Accommodation (PDF  87KB)
This category is open – but not limited to – motels, hotels, self-catering, cabins and pub accommodation. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.

23 - Deluxe Accommodation (PDF  87KB)
This category is open – but not limited to – apartments, hotels, motels and self-catering accommodation. The focus of this award is on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.

24 - Luxury Accommodation (PDF  88KB)
This category is open to – but not limited to – luxury hotels or resorts, with a focus on both the facilities and services that enhance the tourism experience.

25 - New Tourism Development (PDF  91KB)
This category recognises excellence in the planning of tourism infrastructure and/or services with a focus on entrepreneurial vision, harmonious integration with the environment, design and functionality and uniqueness of the service.

26 - QANTAS Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism (PDF  91KB)
This category is open to tourism operators that exemplify a strong commitment to sustainable and innovative business practices. The award will recognise and  showcase successful tourism businesses that set out to minimise their environmental impact, conserve natural resources, respect local cultures and benefit local communities.

27 - Outstanding Contribution by an Individual (PDF  82KB)
This award recognises the extraordinary personal and professional achievement and contribution by an individual over many years to the Australian, and particularly the Northern Territory tourism industry. Judges consider in particular the activities and contribution of the nominee outside the expectations of normal employment.

28 - Outstanding Interpretive Guide (PDF  80KB)
This award recognises the personal and professional contribution, throughout their career, of a person employed in the tourism industry as a guide enhancing client experience of the tourism product. This can include site guides, tour driver / guides, multi-lingual guides, activity guides (eg fishing or canoeing) etc. They must have consistently contributed to the positive image of Northern Territory tourism.

29 - Young Achiever Award (PDF  78KB)
This award recognises an individual, under 35 years of age, working in the tourism industry and their contribution to the development of a vibrant and professional tourism industry in the Northern Territory.