Vision Hotels and Resorts’ flagship property, The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa, has been named one of the Top 10 places for families to stay in the South Pacific for the second year in a row.

General Manager of Vision Hotels and Resorts Craig Biber said The Lakes was named eighth best family accommodation in the South Pacific in this year’s 2010 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards.

“This is a real testament to the staff at The Lakes who have worked extremely well to overcome our difficult economy and associated challenges of the past 12 months,” he said.

“It is a great honour to be named among the world’s best hotels which have earnt their distinction from those who know them best – real travellers,” he said.

Chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor Christine Petersen said the Travellers' Choice winners were based on millions of real and unbiased opinions about hotels on tripadvisor.com and content from across the web.

“From remarkable bargains to the trendiest hotels, travellers worldwide have recognised more than 700 hotels for their outstanding service, value and quality in the eighth year of the awards.”

Situated only 3km from the Cairns International Airport and 3km from the Cairns CBD, The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa is an award-winning 4.5 star resort situated on 4ha of lush tropical gardens, scenic lakes and large resort style pools.

Ochre Restaurant is one of the very few restaurants that specialises in Australian Native Cuisine and has over 15 years developed knowledge in direct use of these little known ingredients. 

Dining at the Ochre Restaurant is like a virtual tour through the culinary delights of Australia. With a dedication to local produce and experience like no other in crafting Native ingredients into modern exciting cuisine, offering a range of exquisite dishes for tourists and locals alike.

We have long known that Australian Native or ‘Bush Tucker’ foods are very good for you, the Aboriginal People survived traditional in the harshest of environments with great help from the incredible healthy foods they were able to eat. These native foods offer sustainability and a low carbon future.

Recently a new study commissioned by the Australian Government has further documented the amazing super foods that are Australian bush foods, covering 13 different fruits and spices that we at Ochre use regularly. The research covers antioxidant capabilities, vitamin and mineral content. These native foods were benchmarked against the blueberry, widely know as the healthy fruit, and they have blown the blueberry away. This new research has proven that Australian Bush Foods are the new super food, and will go along way to improving human health and fighting chronic disease. Go to  https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/downloads/09-133.pdf   for the full report.

Eating at Ochre provides a dining experience with fantastic flavours and exemplary service showcasing the best of Australian and regional produce. Listed in the top 100 restaurants in Australia by Diners Club for 3 years running Ochre has completed the development of 'bush food' into Modern Australian Cuisine.

Pictured Left: Rodney Harrex, Tourism Australia UK office receiving World Award from Miss World in London. 

Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa has scooped the prestigious World Travel Awards last night, taking out two categories, Australasia's Leading Green Hotel and World's Leading Eco Lodge.

Described by the Wall Street Journal as the 'Oscars' of the global travel and tourism industry, the World Travel Awards is the most prestigious, comprehensive and sought-after awards programme recognising the world’s  best performers.

To win Australasia’s Leading Green Hotel exceeded our expectations but then to come away as the World’s Leading Eco Lodge – it’s simply the absolute highest pinnacle. All associated with the Lodge who believe in its philosophies, principles and its future are thrilled with the news.

Daintree Ecolodge & Spa beat off entries from first-class lodges in Kenya, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mozambique, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. We’re proud that our family-run, close knit team has created the planet’s best eco-lodge, right here in Australia - in our own backyard!

The winning combination is ecotourism, unique spa and Aboriginal culture experiences, nestled in the Daintree Rainforest – an ecosystem that is 135 million years old and one of the earth’s most magical places.

The 16th annual awards are voted by travel professionals from 183,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organisations in over 160 countries across the globe.

The only other Australian winners in the Australasian Regional Awards are Tourism Australia named Australasia’s Leading Tourism Board, Sydney as Australasia’s Leading Destination, Tourism New South Wales named Australia’s Leading Tourism Board, and in the World Category, Bondi Beach recognised as the world’s Best Beach. Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa is the only Australian private enterprise awarded in these categories.

This year the Lodge has been honoured with 10 major awards for excellence in spa, health and wellness, eco, nature, green and travel experiences.

Workers and families in the Mt Isa region are being lured to Tropical North Queensland with discount flights and holiday packages during summer.

Tourism business development company Parker Travel Collection has formed an alliance with Skytrans to present the first of a series of holiday campaigns with special fares on the four weekly air services from Mt Isa to Cairns starting at $99 one way.

Skytrans Queensland Hot Deals accommodation packages are available in Cairns city, at the beaches, Port Douglas, Daintree and Green Island with prices starting at $130 for three nights. Tour packages are also on offer with reef and rainforest trips, plus some of Tropical North Queensland’s iconic attractions on offer.

Parker Travel Collection Managing Director Todd Parker said the campaign was the first of its kind in regional Queensland where an innovative approach was needed to sell holidays during summer.

“A holiday at the beach, a rainforest sojourn or a city getaway is ideal for the Mt Isa market and we already have the advantage of frequent Skytrans connections, so Tropical North Queensland is the perfect place for families and mine company employees to take a break,” he said.

“This is the beginning of a mining and regional strategy for Parker Travel Collection and we are very proud to be working so closely with Skytrans to develop a long-term sales solution for regional Queensland.”

Skytrans Commercial Manager Steve Jones said the Skytrans Queensland Hot Deals campaign between Mt Isa and Tropical North Queensland was the first step in the company’s goal to develop a Skytrans Holidays division satisfying all the ports within the network with accommodation, attractions, touring and holiday packages. 

“This would increase the use of Skytrans flights and establish us as a pioneer in developing Central, Regional and Tropical North Queensland from a tourism perspective while working hand in hand with the growth in the mining and agriculture sectors.

“We are very excited about the long-term development of an airline holiday product range for a very unique market.

“The team at Parker Travel Collection offers the infrastructure, products, experience and skills to develop this range and, as they are already actively involved in developing saleable tourism in central Queensland, we can capitalise on this and then grow further into Cape York Peninsula.”

Mr Jones said the Skytrans Queensland Hot Deals brochure would be distributed on all Skytrans Flights and by travel agencies and companies in the region.

Pictured above: Mike Thinee - General Manager Commerical, Todd Parker - Managing Director, Parker Travel Collection, Steve Jones - Manager Commericial, Muralee Siva - CEO

Parker Travel Collection has launched a new campaign in Hong Kong designed to bring independent Chinese travelers to Queensland.

Managing Director Todd Parker said the campaign was based around China Airlines’ 50th anniversary, using China Airlines flights from Hong Kong to Sydney and Brisbane with special fares that can be used with Qantas internally.

“The China Airlines Vacation promotion is one of the first destination models targeting the Free Independent Traveler (FIT) market in southern China and Hong Kong,” he said.

“The campaign builds on the recent Tourism Australia promotions targeting this market in Hong Kong. “Queensland has proven itself a popular destination for Chinese groups with the successful charters each Chinese New Year, but with this campaign we will see families, couples and single travelers experiencing the holiday of a lifetime in Queensland’s most popular destinations including Cairns, Port Douglas, the Gold Coast and Noosa.”

The China Airlines Vacations campaign which features accommodation and touring packages throughout Queensland will be distributed via the internet and retail agencies in Hong Kong and South China. Parker Travel Collection will make sales calls in the market for the next seven months as the promotion runs through to 31 March, 2010.

Download China Airlines Vacations brochure.

Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, in Tropical North Queensland, has just been voted Australia’ s Best Spa and Health Retreat Experience.

An international panel of  Premier Aussie Specialists voted 20 Best Australian Experiences for the leading global magazine, Travelling In Australia. The 14 finalists in Best Spa and Health Retreat Experience category are an extraordinary collection of bespoke Australian Spas and Health Retreats.

The experiences on offer at Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa are in harmony with nature, in the essence of nurture and combined respectfully with the culture of the local Kuku Yalanji rainforest Aboriginal people.The setting is in a special lush valley, nestled in the world’s oldest rainforest (135 million years old, 65 million years older than the Amazon) and only 40 minutes north of Port Douglas.

Earlier this month Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa added to it’s World Recognition when named by Tatler UK in the World’s Best 101 Spas.

Parker Travel Collection and Sunlover Holidays have released the latest
2009/10 Hot Deals brochure. Focused on inclusive packaged holidays and
general tourist information, the 16 page brochure will make the agent an
instant expert on Queensland holidays, with a focus on TNQ. To see a copy of
the brochure, click here.

For brochure orders, agents can e-mail  hotdeals@trav.com.au

Stunt riding and an Australian BBQ add to the true-blue flavour of the $10 million tourism venture opened near Port Douglas on Thursday (May 28).

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Steve Wettenhall and Member for Cook Jason O’Brien officially opened the spectacular show to a select audience of 180 VIPs.

The Australian Muster experience will provide its visitors with an up close and personal view of daily life on a cattle station – enjoying spectacular entertainment from the sidelines as stockmen deftly muster cattle and brave bucking bulls.

Owned and managed by Mossman-based cattleman Gordon Pringle and marketed by Parker Travel Collection, the Australian Muster Experience is staged at a purpose-built facility backing on to the beautiful rainforest of Daintree National Park at Miallo, a short drive north of Port Douglas.

With seating for 400 people, the $10 million tourist venture is also targeting the lucrative business events tourism market with its unique outback dining experience within easy reach of Cairns and Port Douglas.

“An authentic Australian outback experience on a cattle station is a must on many travel itineraries following the interest generated by the movie Australia,” said Mr Pringle, who runs cattle on several nearby properties.

“The Australian Muster Experience allows visitors to experience the excitement of life on a working cattle station while visiting the twin World Heritage areas of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest in Tropical North Queensland.”

The Stockman’s Lunch Muster and the Grand Outback Experience for dinner operate Wednesdays to Fridays at the 19th century inspired outback cattle station, uniquely framed by rainforest and with spectacular views to Port Douglas.

The Australian Muster Experience is also part of Port Douglas Carnivale with extreme bull riding and some of the best bucking bulls in the country featuring on the Saturday night program (May 30).

Two people can experience the Australian Muster Experience for the price of one as an opening special until the end of June. For more information go to www.australianmusterexperience.com

Left to Right: Sharon Issack - AOT Account Manager Victoria, Emma O’Brien – AOT Account Manager Victoria, Todd Cornford – National Sales Manager, Parker Travel Collection and Jill Lance – AOT Account Manager Victoria.

Always at the forefront of developing innovative ways to market Queensland, Parker Travel Collection steps up to the plate once again with the launch of its biggest ever domestic retail campaign: 2009 QUEENSLAND HOT DEALS TO COOL PLACES.

Kicking off this month with the launch of its eighth season, Hot Deals to Cool Places is a campaign focused on selling Queensland holidays to Australians. Key to its success is capturing the attention of travel agents with a user-friendly brochure or guide to Queensland.

For the coming 2009-2010 travel season, Hot Deals to Cool Places campaign has been built around the launch of its 16 page, full colour brochure of special offers and value-added packages to key destinations within Queensland.

“This brochure is designed to be the travel agents’ quick-sell bible to Queensland. While compelling the agents’ call-to-action with hot deals and packages (strategically aimed at boosting visitation at various times throughout the year), we place high priority on its destination information and content.

“This season, like never before, the brochure is bursting at the seams with tips, tricks and general hints on how to get the most out of each region, city, town or village featured,” he said.

Mr Parker said Australia’s travel industry is now being flooded with 60 000 brochures via brochure distribution and personal mail systems – as well as sales calls on travel agencies throughout Melbourne, Sydney, Country NSW, Brisbane and south east Queensland.

“Our sales call mission has already begun and will continue over the coming months while garnering extra profile through industry advertising campaigns promoting HOT DEALS integrity as an effective sales tool for Queensland.

“This will be our biggest campaign ever with 5000 retails sales calls conducted over the next six months with more campaigns to come. Our message is simple, ‘c'mon Australia, come to Queensland - it really is beautiful one day and perfect the next!

“It’s imperative we remain aggressive in the selling Queensland as a holiday destination - targetting Australia as our most important market,” he said.

While continually striving to bring Queensland - via interesting and exclusive products and packages - to the market, Parker Travel Collection is proud to include several new experiences in this year’s campaign. As follows: 

• Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club; opened in March, the resort is Australia's newest golf course accommodation.
• The Australian Mustering Experience; ‘live’ outback mustering experience operating three days and nights a week out of Port Douglas.
• New DFO shopping tours in Cairns; opening this month.
• Boutique, 84 room Portal Hotel in Brisbane city; opened in March and with the very chic O bar & restaurant.

Parker Travel Collection’s Hot Deals to Cool Places campaign secured its place in the Tropical North Queensland’s Tourism Award’s Hall of Fame in 2007 for Product Marketing.

Todd Parker, Managing Director, Parker Travel Collection celebrates the launch of first ever dedicated QLD campaign in Guam with David Kendall, Director of Micronesia Sales and Marketing, Continental Airlines.

The team at Parker Travel Collection have notched up another first with the launch last week of Guam’s first ever dedicated Queensland campaign.

Entitled Queensland Hot Deals (GUAM), the campaign was created by Parker Travel Collection in conjunction with Continental Airlines to essentially support the carrier’s five flights weekly between Guam and Cairns.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr Parker said the campaign is designed to compel Micronesia’s visitor market with a series of pay/stay offers and packages that are commissionable to travel agencies.

“This campaign is innovative in several respects, not the least of which dictates a percentage of every sale goes back to Continental Airlines to assist with the development of tourism business into Guam.

“These flights are fundamental to the future sustainability of Tropical North Queensland’s tourism industry as they provide a convenient travel option for both Japanese and Micronesians visitors. And I believe this trend will continue with Guam’s US military that is destined to increase significantly with the planned relocation of Japan’s Okinawa US military base,” said Mr Parker.

Queensland Hot Deals with Continental Airlines is just one of many campaigns created by Parker Travel Collection to develop new markets and service them over the long term.