The University of Queensland's School of Tourism took out top honours in the Tourism Education and Training category at the 2006 Queensland Tourism Awards held on the weekend.
Accepting the award, Head of UQ's School of Tourism Professor Chris Cooper said the award was a reflection on the School's determination to ensure that its programs and services satisfied industry needs as well as being academically rigorous.
"This award demonstrates that not only can we bridge that gap between 'town and gown' but also that it is the key to success," he said.
"We were competing against a number of experienced and quality tourism providers, and to be recognised as Queensland's leading tourism education provider is a great honour.
"I believe UQ is set apart by the strength of its relationships with the tourism sector, most notably as the only Australian university to be an accredited member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the current Chair of the World Tourism Organization's Education Council.
"I am tremendously grateful to all of our partners in industry, particularly Tourism Queensland for their endless support and assistance in facilitating relationships between Queensland's many tourism stakeholders.
"As host of the Queensland Tourism Awards they should be applauded for acknowledging the education and training sector within the Awards and recognising that we are a critical component of Queensland's tourism industry."
Around 1200 tourism leaders and representatives attended the gala awards ceremony to celebrate and commemorate excellence in the industry, held this year at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said the Queensland Tourism Awards recognised the best of the best and it was inspiring to see so many worthy entrants.
"The Tourism Education and Training category - so important for the future of our industry - was won by UQ's School of Tourism for their contribution to the growth and talent in tourism," Mrs Keech said.
"Clearly, if the industry has talented, enthusiastic, well-trained and knowledgeable operators, from the people at the coalface to others in senior management, it will continue to flourish and prosper.
"Professional training and further learning can be just as important for those who have spent many years in the industry, as it is for those people who are just starting out in tourism. "
The Ipswich-based School of Tourism will now progress to the Australian Tourism Awards in Sydney on February 23, 2007.
Media contacts: Sarah Schindeler, 0410 136 147 or s.schindeler@uq.edu.au
