The tourism and travel industry finalists for the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards have been announced, with thousands of entrants culled to just 10 finalist enterprises.

This unique awards program highlights the economic, cultural and social contributions of female-led small businesses across Australia, from cities to small towns. 

The tourism finalists list for the awards, described as the nation’s biggest celebration of women in small business, comprises: Cach Tours and Events (QLD), Travel With CARE (NSW), Golf & Tours (NSW), Roast & Roam (NSW), Pursers Coaches (QLD), Time To Backpack (NSW), Iris Lodge Alpacas (NSW), Adelaide True Crime Tours (SA), Fly Me Now (NSW) and LUCKY LAST ~ MyHoliday2 (QLD)!!! 

Steve Loe, Awards Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, which organises the awards, said the tourism and travel industry category was among the most competitive categories and hardest to judge.

“The quality of entrants in the tourism category in particular this year is truly very impressive,” he said. 

“We received a high volume of submissions in this category and the shortlisting of this year’s finalists was quite the challenge for our judges. 

“When the Champion Judges evaluate entries, they consider all aspects of a business: its strategies, growth, eco-friendliness, innovation, customer service and community support – to name but some of the criteria. 

“The next rounds of judging will be intense as we continue to evaluate the achievements of this year’s 10 tourism finalists to reach one category winner.”

The 2024 event features over 60 categories across retail, services and manufacturing, along with individual awards recognising the year’s most inspiring female small business leaders.

Judged by an independent expert panel, the awards are now in their third year. The winner of last year’s tourism and travel industry category was Emily Elmer, Director of Younique Stays.

“Being selected as a finalist of this prestigious event – from a national entrant pool of thousands – is no easy feat and speaks volumes of the tenacity and leadership at each of these female-led small businesses,” Loe remarked. 

“Despite the myriad challenges associated with small business ownership today, Australian women are simply powering through and showing incredible resilience and drive.”

Australian Government data shows women make up about one-third of the nation’s small business owners, growing three times faster than their male counterparts. Commonwealth Bank (CBA) research also reveals women opened nearly half (43.2 per cent) of all new business accounts in 2023.

Winners will be revealed on 24 August at the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards Gala at The Star, Sydney. 

For the full list of finalists, visit championawards.com.au/womens.

In March, the travel industry finalists for the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards were revealed, with 13 businesses in contention for the travel agency category award. The following month, the travel industry winners of the 2024 awards were announced, with Sonia Jones Travel of Ashgrove in Queensland named winner of the 2024 Travel Agency category.

Link to full article here: https://karryon.com.au/community/travel-industry-womens-small-business/