Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Airports Limited
Welcome to the Queensland Tourism Awards
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this year's Queensland Tourism Awards, and a particular honour to mark 20 years of Queensland Airports Limited as Presenting Partner.
This milestone means even more this year, with the Awards returning to the Gold Coast - our home city, and one of Australia’s most sought-after visitor destinations. It’s particularly meaningful to celebrate two decades of partnership here, along with our community and industry friends.
As the owner and operator of Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports, we are committed to connecting our regions to the rest of Australia and the world.
This past year has been one of our strongest yet. Against a backdrop of global uncertainty, our network carried 8.4 million passengers, up 6.2% on the year before, with Gold Coast Airport recording 25% growth in international travellers. It’s a result that speaks to the strength and resilience of our markets, and the enduring appeal of Queensland to visitors.
New services from Fiji Airways strengthened our connections to The Pacific and North America, while the return of Qantas International to Auckland reinforced strong demand to the Tasman region. Capacity growth was also evident across key domestic markets. In October, Gold Coast Airport made history as the first destination serviced from Western Sydney International Airport.
Behind these numbers underpins continued investment in infrastructure and experiences – from a departure lounge expansion, new car parking and expanded retail at Gold Coast Airport, to airfield upgrades in Townsville with the Department of Defence and a new aeromedical precinct at Mount Isa.
These outcomes have been achieved as a result of our collaboration and shared ambition, which is the same approach that has driven our 20-year partnership with these Awards in recognising the organisations that showcase Queensland's reputation as a world-class destination.
We thank all of our partners, especially the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Chair Elsa D'Alessio and CEO Tash Wheeler, for their continued leadership and advocacy.
On behalf of everyone at Queensland Airports Limited, congratulations to all nominees and winners celebrating with us here on the Gold Coast tonight. Your passion, innovation and dedication to exceptional tourism experiences ensure Queensland continues to shine, tonight and into the future.
