Please note: RSVP’s are required by Monday 8th October as spaces are limited.

TUESDAY 9th October 2012
Join us from 6pm onboard Passions of Paradise, departing Marlin Marina.
Please RSVP using the below form.
FREE for members. $5 for non-members.

Congratulations to our customer service award finalists for this month:
Melanie van Haaren, Allumba Pocket Cottages , Yungaburra
Gareth Phillips, Reef Teach
Brett Quinn, Northern Exposure Eco Tours
Joe & Joe Lockyer,Bedrock Village Tourist Park, Mt Surprise

Annual General Meeting Details

• President’s Report
• Treasurer’s Report
• Election of Committee
• Nomination of Auditor

Congratulations to all finalists!

TUESDAY 14th August 2012
Join us from 6pm
at Tropics Restaurant, Tropical North Queensland Institute of Tafe, Hospitality Block, Gatton St, Cairns.
Please RSVP on our website
FREE for members. $5 for non-members.

Congratulations to our customer service award finalists for this month:
Roger Lee, Cairns Discovery Tours
Keryn & Paul O’Neil, Cairns Holiday Resort
Carsten Kutz, Tropical Horizons Tours
Ernest Brim, Tjapukai
Matt Wood, Billy Tea Safaris

Congratulations to all finalists!

Where: Paronella Park, Innisfail

Cairns Region Tourism Association invites you to join us at Paronella Park for a Jazz Picnic and birthday celebrations for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Entertainment includes face painting, children’s treasure hunt, live music by ‘Out of the Blue’, giveaways, and a monster raffle with great prizes.

All tickets include entry and tour of Paronella Park, lunch and entertainment.

$50.00 per adult ticket
$32.00 per child ticket
Family 2 adults 2 children $155.00

Tickets are available from Jan Corcoran:
4054 4794 or 0439 705 798
email: janjan@bigpond.net.au

Our other finalists for the month, selected for their outstanding customer service, were Karen Cappellazzo from Argosy on the Beach and Melissa Speer from On The Beach Holiday Apartments.

Thank you to everyone who attended.  It was our last function with Mike Greasley representing the Royal Flying Doctor Service, he is off to a new role at the Tropical North Queensland Insitute of Tafe and our first with new President John Vickary (JV).  We are sorry to see Joel Tomkinson leave the position but wish him all the best with his work at Ferntrees Resort in Cape Tribulation.  It was also a night to welcome new committee members: Michelle Wild (All Systems Go Bookkeeping) who will be our Treasurer and Laura Morrison (Tropical North Queensland Institute of Tafe) who will be our new Functions Coordinator.

Mike Lacey of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, nominated for the Pride of Australia Medal.

Anyone who has a respect for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) will be aware of the great job Mike Lacey does as Cairns Manager, and as you will be aware the RFDS has been the recipient of the proceeds of our raffles for many years.

“COLLEAGUES of Mike Lacey say he embodies the spirit of compassion at the heart of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

After 23 years at the RFDS base in Cairns the 63-year-old still regularly dedicates his free time to fundraising and awareness for the organisation he loves.

For this reason Mr Lacey’s co-workers have nominated the former base manager for a Pride of Australia Community Spirit Medal.” – Courier Mail 29th June 2012
Please, please, please join us in supporting the recognition of a worthy local hero.  A strong show of support  will go a long way to his being awarded the Medal,and we’re hoping that you will take a little time over the weekend to shoot off a supporting nomination.

You will need to go to the Award website – www.prideofaustralia.com.au and fill in the online nomination form

Time is of the essence as Nominations close at close of business Monday 2 July (OMG that’s next Monday!!!!!)

And as always, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.  JV is happy to help if you have questions specifically about the nomination, call him on 0418183911.

Hosted by Nomads Serpent Hostel.

TUESDAY 10th July 2012
Join us from 6pm
Please RSVP below.
FREE for members. $5 for non-members.

Congratulations to our customer service award finalists for this month: Sharon Coulthard from Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort, Rebecca Chapman from Mandalay Port Douglas Accommodation, Karen Cappellazzo from Argosy on the Beach and Melissa Speer from On The Beach Holiday Apartments.

Hosted by Kuranda Scenic Rail at Freshwater Railway Station

TUESDAY 12th June 2012
Join us from 6pm
Please RSVP below.
FREE for members. $5 for non-members.

Please note it is a CASH ONLY BAR (and of course you need cash for your raffle tickets too!!!)

Drinks offered will be:  The Lone Fig Sparkling Wine, Jacobs Creek Wines, XXXX Gold, orange juice & soft drink.

Congratulations to all finalists!

DATE: Friday 22nd June 2012
COST: $45.00 per ticket
RSVP: Jan Corcoran – janjan@bigpond.net.au or 0439 705 798

Eliza Bordin, Front Office Supervisor, Hides Hotel – Originating from Northern NSW,  Eliza worked in the hospitality industry before moving up to Cairns and taking on her role as Front Office Supervisor with Hides Hotel, a 108 room hotel in the heart of Cairns city. Her nomination stated that the customer felt “nothing was too much trouble for Eliza, who always remained courteous and professional”.

May CRTA customer service in tourism and hospitality award finalists.

Fiona Moloney, Owner/Operator, Blondies Kuts & Kurls Salons – After starting her hairdressing apprenticeship at just 15 years of age, Fiona worked as a hairdresser for some time before having a break and working in tourism, including a period as Resident Unit Manager of the Rainbow Southside.  After deciding to go back into hairdressing, Fiona followed her dream of opening her own salon, Blondies Kuts & Kurls. She has since added another salon, and has 15 staff with 6 apprentices. Her nomination stated that “Fiona’s excellent customer service skills have been passed on to her staff as well, meaning that every time you enter a Blondies salon, you feel like part of the family”.

Scott Smith, Owner/Operator, Down & Dirty Quad Bikes – Originally from Sydney, Scott and his family opened the Down & Dirty Quad Bike Tours 2 years ago, and currently has 4 staff members.  Scott prides himself on his customer service skills, and this certainly shows with his nomination stating that the customer would happily recommend Scott to anyone wanting to do Quad bike riding, as the customer had an absolutely fantastic time, made all the better by Scott’s customer service.  As the customer so succinctly finished their nomination “Scott Rules!”.

Linzi Desmond, Tour Guide, Paronella Park – Linzi is originally from Orange in NSW, and had many years experience in the hospitality industry in both WA and NSW, before following her heart to Mena Creek, and the beautiful Paronella Park. Linzi is one of the senior tour guides at Paronella Park, and conducts both day and night time tours, along with training and development of new staff members. Linzi’s nomination expressed how much she went above and beyond the call of duty for a customer, even staying on after she finished her shift for the day and collecting the customer from the lower gardens of Paronella Park in the 4WD, as the customer was disabled and unable to walk back up the Grand Staircase.