Nominations & submissions

Rules for entry

Rules for entry for the Brolga Awards are set at the national level to ensure compliance with the Australian Tourism Awards. 

View the Rules and Regulations 2023 Brolga Awards. 

Nominations

Nomination is made via the Quality Tourism Framework (QTF) online system.

This can be accessed at: https://online.qualitytourismaustralia.com/

A submission for an award category cannot be made unless a nomination has been made.

All entrants must adhere to the nomination rules and guidelines set out throughout these guidelines.

The nomination collects specific contact information, category selection and agreement to the Awards terms and conditions.

Entry fees

The Northern Territory does not charge a fee to enter.

Submissions

An entrant must nominate for an award before they can commence preparing their submission.
Submissions are made via the same system that nominations are made, this can be accessed at: https://online.qualitytourismaustralia.com/

All submissions must include the following:

  • Nomination details.
  • Demonstration of meeting minimum business standards via accreditation with QTF, level two (sustainable tourism accreditation), or as part of the Business Standards question set within their submission.
  • If an entrant does not have QTF level two (sustainable tourism accreditation) they are required to complete the Business Standards section.  This will take approximately 15 - 45 minutes to complete in the online portal. 
  • If an entrant does not have a Star Rating and are entering an accommodation category, they will need to complete the Star Rating Business Standards, this will take approximately 45 minutes.
  • Category question responses including supporting images.
  • Word Count - The submission will be a maximum 10,000 words in length. - Words within a table are included in the submission word count.
  • Images - The submission can include up to 25 images with caption. - Images can include infographics, charts, graphs and pictures. - Any image used must be for the sole purpose of supporting the submission by providing evidence. - Images cannot be used to form part of the written response to a question. - Captions are to be a maximum of 6 words, not included in the overall word count. - Any words within a caption above 6 words will be included in the overall word count. Refer to ‘How to use images properly’ guide.
  • A description of no more than 100 words of your company/product, which will be used by media, for announcements at the presentation ceremony, in promotional material and on website listings. As this will be edited and compiled by people who have not viewed your submission, please remember to include your company/product name and where you are located geographically.
  • An additional ten images (jpeg format only) which illustrate the entrant's operation should accompany each submission in each category entered. These images will be used for exposure at the presentation ceremony and in official advertising and publications. (Note: 500 dpi files in a JPEG format are required). Note: The national awards event production prefers high-resolution images (1920x1080 in dimensions).
  • Late submissions will not be accepted.

Compliance with competition rules

The Licensee, in consultation with the Chair of Judges reserve the right to withdraw submissions if an entry is not compliant with the rules.

All submissions must be reviewed for compliance with the submission guidelines. This must be undertaken initially by the awards coordinator, however the withdrawal of a submission should be reviewed and implemented by the Chair of Judges and the Auditor.

All entrants must clearly demonstrate how they meet the eligibility requirements of each respective category that they choose to enter in Q1. If this is not adequately demonstrated then that entrant may be disqualified.

For example: Tour and Transport and Major Tour and Transport, the two categories are differentiated by the number of full time equivalent employees.

Insolvency of an entrant

At any time, following submission of an entry in the Australian Tourism Awards, but prior to the presentation ceremony, should the business become insolvent or place the business under administration, the entrant is no longer eligible to receive an award.

If prior to the presentation ceremony then the next national finalist shall be elevated to the status of winner.

If, following the presentation ceremony, the business returns to solvency, then the award cannot be reclaimed.

The next state/territory finalist will not be elevated to the status of national finalist.

Verification Meeting

The purpose is for verification of the business, not the awards submission.  The judges have a proforma from which they work which is aligned to the Quality Tourism Framework (QTF).

If a business holds QTF accreditation a verification meeting will not take place.

If a business does not hold QTF accreditation, the NT awards owners may elect to conduct a verification meeting on the details provided in the Business Standards section.  

Note as of 2023 The Business and Accommodation Standards (Standards) need to be verified and accepted prior to finalising your submission in the portal. The Standards must be submitted no later than Monday 14 August 2023. 

The verification meeting, if required may be conducted by a member of the judging panel OR an assessor for QTF. All meetings will be conducted via phone, MS Teams (or similar) at a mutually agreeable time.

Exceptions to the verification meeting requirements are:

  • Categories: 3. Major Festivals and Events / 4. Festivals and Events – Due to the seasonal nature of entrants.
  • Categories: 14. Tourism Marketing and Campaigns /25. Excellence in Food Tourism – No mandatory visitation.

Meetings are not undertaken for national judging.

Criteria

Judges or the QTF assessor will ask to see the following documentation to verify details provided in the Business Standards section:

  • HR
  • Business and Marketing Planning
  • Customer Service
  • Business Operations
  • Risk Management
  • Environmental Management

Scoring

No scores are applicable to the Business Standards section or any verification meetings. The submission review judges do not review the verification meeting notes.
For further details on the verification meetings please refer to the Rules and Regulations 2023 Brolga Awards. 

Disclaimer

By entering the 2023 Brolga Awards you authorise the use and/or reproduction of images and the 100-word description provided in relation to any editorial/advertising purposes initiated in conjunction with the Brolga Awards and the Australian Tourism Awards.

Your contact details may also be supplied to agencies engaged on behalf of award organisers/committees for promotional purposes.

Under no circumstances will judges be held responsible for any comment, viewpoint or expression, whether expressed or implied, concerning the standard or quality of an entrant’s submission. By ticking the terms and conditions box, you agree not to bring a claim against any judge, or Tourism NT in relation to feedback on your submission.

Judging decisions

All submissions are independently scored by three members of the judging panel. Results are correlated by an Independent Auditor and Chair of Judges and an agreement reached on the winner with the judging panel.

Judging is conducted by a panel of independent judges overseen by a Chair of Judges and Auditor.

In 2023, the pass mark for the Northern Territory is 75% in line with other states and territories.

A single entry category does not guarantee the entrant as a winning entry.

In the event that a category does not have an entrant with a score over 75%, all entrants in that category will be advised prior to tickets for the gala event going on sale to advise that no winner will be awarded in that category and the category will not be announced at the gala event.

Our assurance

All information submitted is strictly confidential. All persons, for example Brolga Awards Coordinators and judges, who may come into contact with your submission, are each required to sign a confidentiality agreement and at no time will your submission be downloaded or shared with anyone outside of the awards team.

Lodgement

Please ensure your submission is lodged electronically to the portal by 11.59pm Wednesday 30 August 2023.

Page last updated on 29 August 2023