OM4Tourism Hidden Jewel Awards
The 2008 OM4Tourism Hidden Jewel Award Winners have been chosen. To find out more, go to our Winners Page.
About the Awards
The OM4Tourism Hidden Jewel Awards are for small Australian tourism businesses that offer a fascinating or unusual visitor experience - but remain relatively undiscovered.
Our 2007 Hidden Jewel winners have enjoyed some fantastic publicity, and our national winner, Ningaloo Blue, now have their own online marketing website which debuted at an amazing PageRank 4 within just two months of going live.
The prizes
This year’s prizes focus on the best ways for small tourism businesses to get attention.
A winner is chosen from each state and territory in Australia, with an overall national winner - all taking home prizes to help boost their business.
Each state/territory winner will receive a free website, complete with design package, keyword research and free hosting & support. Our national winner will get all this, plus a national publicity campaign with global internet distribution.
For full details, go to our Prizes page.
The judging panel
Our judging panel consists of influential representatives of the tourism industry and media, giving all entrants an opportunity to come to their attention.
Quentin Long is publisher of Australian Traveller magazine, which prides itself on supporting independent tourism businesses with editorial that doesn’t depend on advertising or hosted famils.
For the first time, we welcome John Walsh, Executive Producer of Channel 9’s Getaway. As Australia’s longest running travel programme, with more than 2 million viewers each week, the show uncovers the best in Australian and overseas travel for a wide-ranging audience.
Finally, Les Cox, CEO of one of Australia’s largest tour companies, AAT Kings, joins us once again. AAT Kings is known for supporting small, independent tourism businesses, and Les looks forward to discovering more ‘hidden jewels’.
The judging panel is chaired by Jane Hammond Foster, former travel magazine editor and now manager of PublicityShip and OM4Tourism.
The entry and judging process takes place entirely online, and focuses on key criteria, without the need for time-consuming presentations and portfolios. Judges make their decisions based on entrants’ answers to key questions, and links to significant sections of your website, pdf brochure and/or images.
Competition Terms and Conditions govern the judging process.
Entries for the 2008 Awards are now closed. Winners will be announced on 20 March. Register your interest for the 2009 Awards now by filling in the form below.
