Salute to Excellence Awards

                                                                       

                                                                                                              

Nominations for the 25th Annual Salute to Excellence Awards will shortly open. The Awards recognises outstanding secondary students, employers, schools and registered training organisations for their participation in and contribution to the tourism, food and beverage and cookery qualifications through VETiS, and School Based Apprenticeships or Traineeships.

 

Congratulations to the 2021 winners:

 
Cookery Category
Winner: Abbey Kuhnell – Mount Saint Patrick College
Runner Up: Erik Brown – Rochedale State High School

Food & Beverage Category
Winner: Paris Foody – Riverside Christian College
Runner Up: Jay Lyblác – Brisbane State High School 

Tourism Category
Winner: Linh Nguyen – Albany Creek State High School 
Runner Up: Georgia Newell – Albany Creek State High School 

Teacher/Trainer of the Year Category
Winner: Leah Cremen – Calamvale Community College
Runner Up: Donna Jenkin – James Nash State High School 

Employer of the Year
Industry Leader: The Star Entertainment Group
 

Who can enter the Awards?

 
Simply download the applicable nomination kit below and review the entry requirements before processing your nomination. All eligible entrants are encouraged to nominate. Nominations for the 2022 Salute to Excellence Awards open from 1 March and close 31 May.
  • Secondary student - Tourism
  • Secondary student - Food and Beverage
  • Secondary student - Cookery
  • Teacher/Trainer of the Year
  • Employer of the Year
     

Why enter the Awards?

 
  • Receive industry and state recognition of achievements
  • Create important industry contacts and networks
  • Gain assistance with career goals and aspirations
  • Hear success stories from industry leaders
  • Meet other like-minded students, teachers, trainers and employers
  • Gain access to quality work experience opportunities and great prizes!
     

How to enter the Awards?

 
Step 1: Download the applicable nomination kit below
  • Student nomination kit
  • Teacher/Trainer of the Year nomination kit
  • Employer of the Year nomination kit
Step 2: Review the entry requirements and sign the terms and condition and consent forms
Step 3: Click the Nominate Now button to submit your entry


Benefits of participating


Secondary students
  • Receive industry and state recognition of achievements, 
  • Create important industry contacts and networks, 
  • Gain assistance with career goals and aspirations, 
  • Hear success stories from industry leaders, 
  • Meet other like-minded students, teachers, trainers and employers, 
  • Gain access to quality work experience opportunities and great prizes. 
Teacher/Trainer
  • Highlights the importance of VET and secondary students across Queensland, and  
  • Recognises your school or RTOs contribution to the future Hospitality and Tourism workforce,  
  • demonstrates your school or RTO’ commitment to its workforce and aspiring future leaders, 
  • Provide valuable business and networking opportunities.
Employer
  • Increase your brand profile, 
  • Recognition as an Employer of Choice 
  • Recognise your organisation's contribution to the future Hospitality and Tourism workforce,  
  • Demonstrates your organisation’s commitment to its workforce and aspiring future leaders, 
  • Provide valuable business and networking opportunities. 
Marketing Kit
We encourage you to promote the Salute to Excellence Awards program through your networks, simply download and utilise the artwork from this marketing kit.
 
More Information
For more information please email QTIC: workforcedevelopment@qtic.com.au or phone: 07 3236 1445.
 

2022 Key Dates 

 
  • 8 February - Judging Panel Introduction,
    • Review of judging criteria by judges commences,
  • 17 February - Judging Criteria Review Closes,
  • 1 March - Nominations Open,
  • 31 May - Nominations Close,
  • 1 June - Judging Opens,
  • 10 June - Judging Closes,
  • 14 June - Notification of Judging Outcome,
  • 27 June - Skills Test Day for Secondary Students and virtual interviews with Employer and Trainer/Teacher of the year nominees,
  • 8 July - Skills Test Judging closes,
  • 25 July - Formal Awards Dinner
 

2021 Judges

 
Secondary Student - Cookery
Douglas Innes-Will
Executive Chef, Queensland Art Gallery - Gallery of Modern Art
Secondary Student - Cookery
Rahul Raj
Director of Food & Beverage, Accor - Mercure and IBIS Brisbane
Secondary Student - Food & Beverage
Adrienne Putelli
Human Resource Manager, Hilton Hotel Brisbane
Secondary Student - Food & Beverage
Michelle Christoe
Director, NightQuarter and Malt Shovel Taphouse
Secondary Student - Tourism
Karen Hellsten
Managing Director, Mountain Wine Tours
Secondary Student - Tourism
Abbey Filko
Marketing and Sales Manager, Airtrain
Teacher/Trainer of the Year
Arwen McGregor
Director, Devon Pixies
Teacher/Trainer of the Year
TBC
Employer of the Year
Helen Shoubridge
Manager, Hinchinbrook Resort
Employer of the Year
Dr Natasha Montesalvo
Prinicipal Consultant, Destinations, Strategy and Insights - Earthcheck


 

QTIC Salute to Excellence Sponsors




 

Contributes to the following SDG:




Use of Photographs and Personal Information

Award entrants, nominees and ticket purchasers are advised that we will collect your personal information for the purpose of communicating with you about the awards and associated events. This information may be kept on file (hard copy and/or electronic) for future reference.  
The Salute to Excellence Skills Test Day and Awards Dinner will be filmed and photographed for publicity and marketing purposes in printed publications and the Internet (websites and social media). If you do not give consent for your voice and/or image to be used in our printed or electronic publications, you must advise photographers in attendance that you do not want your image captured for publicity purposes.

For more information, view our Privacy Policy or request a hard copy by contacting us on 07 3236 1445 or info@qtic.com.au, or write to Queensland Tourism Industry Council, C/- Office Manager, PO Box 13162, George Street QLD 4003.