Submissions are judged on their content and scored accordingly to the established criteria. The underlying consideration is what impact does the product have on tourism. For example, an operator might have a great product but the judges really want to know what contribution it is making to the tourism industry and this needs to be evident in the submission.
Don’t forget you are entering for a tourism award.

What the judges are looking for

• A financially sound business
  
• One with a business plan and marketing plan
  
• Demonstrated flair, innovation & passion
  
• A business that knows its customers and has a service culture
  
• Has made a contribution to tourism

The Submission

1. Keep the comments concise and relevant. The last thing judges want to read is pages of irrelevant information. Be passionate about your product but don’t be repetitivie.
   
2. The judges like to see operators who are passionate about their business, that have personality and who are innovative in developing new products that focus on servicing a particular market or segment.
   
3. Support material is important in terms of adding credibility to your submission. It’s not good enough to make a statement designed to impress that cannot be substantiated.
   
4. Ensure you cross-reference the support material and present in a logical way ie in the same sequence and under the same headings as the submission.
   
5. Consider using a graphic designer to help present and communicate your submission in a professional manner.
   

Common Mistakes

1. Answer each question in full. Some submissions either don’t answer a particular question or alternatively the answer is inappropriate for the question asked. If in doubt get someone to read your draft and confirm that all questions have been answered and that the criteria have been met.
2. Lack of any reference to sales or revenue objectives, visitor numbers, etc. Where possible state objectives that can be quantified. Motherhood statements are not measurable. The judges need to see a link between marketing activities and results/outcomes within the qualifying period.
   
3. Most people have no difficulty demonstrating the success of the business, however sales information is often provided when discussing profit, with no reference to costs. Success is more than just room nights and passenger numbers.
   
4. Often graphs are too small to read, have no scale or lack appropriate axis headings and simply do not do communicate the data clearly.
   

More tips from the judges can be found in the Nominees Kit, which you will receive upon receipt of nomination. .