Passions Wins Australian Tourism Award for Adventure Tourism

Passions is extremely proud to have represented Cairns and Tropical North Queensland in two categories at the Australian Tourism Awards held in Hobart last Friday night. In a humbling experience Passions won the Australian Tourism award for Adventure Tourism and was named a finalist in the Major Tour and/or Transport Operator category.

After 21 years of dedication the entire Passions Team is extremely honored to receive this award. Passions of Paradise was recognised for innovation, excellence and above all, outstanding achievement and commitment to the Australian tourism industry.

Passions Director Roger Cumming and wife Sybil are pictured here accepting the coveted award

Mini Passions Is Launched

Passions is proud to support NQ Sailing Last week our Passions Sponsored J24 Keelboat was officially launched at the Cairns Cruising Yacht Club.
NQ Sailing Inc is a non profit charity body that has a purpose of providing sailing boats, equipment and training to the community. The fleet of 6 boats, including mini Passions, are used to conduct Introductory Sailing Courses for Adults, with an organized curriculum that exposes students in a hands on experience. The rudiments of boat management and safety issues are a focal point.
Passions of Paradise is proud to be a corporate sponsor of the J24 program. We believe sailing is a fantastic sport and appeals to everyone. Passions of Paradise is committed to giving something back to our local community in return for many years of wonderful support. These particular boats provide amazing thrills and excitement and we encourage anyone who has a passion to sail to come and join the team.

Dive Instructors Emma and Dirk say: YES I DO
	It was on Passions of Paradise, that Kiwi Emma and Aussie Dirk met... and fell in love with each other. Now they have confirmed their passion for each other by tying the knot during a romantic ceremony in New Zealand, supported by a number of Passions of Paradise crew members.

Bon Voyage Michael.

Our Sales and Marketing Manager Michael flys out of Cairns today (14/09/09) bound for the World Youth and Student Travel Conference in Manchester. He is joined by eight other Far Northern tourism operators and representatives from Tourism Tropical North Queensland. Thier aim while in England is to stir up interest and boost the regions vital youth, backpacker and adventure tourism markets.

We wish Michael all the best for his travels.

Michael is pictured here on the top row second from the left.

Passions Save A Shark Conservation Program Donates Five Thousand Dollars To Shark Research

Passions has been running an on-board shark conservation awareness program for the past 3 years. Proceeds from the sale of t-shirts and other merchandise is donated to the Oceania Chondrichthyan Society to fund student awards and research grants

This year Passions distributed five thousand dollars for a total of 11,800.

Passions want to thank each and every one of its passengers who has contributed to this amazing accomplishment.

Rianna Wins Cairns Tourism Award For Outstanding Customer Service

Passions of Paradise was once again recognised for outstanding crew at the Cairns Tourism Awards. Tourism staff members are nominated anonymously by happy customers for going above and beyond the call of duty and providing excellence in customer service. Our fabulous photographer/dive instructor Rianna is the proud winner of the month of February.

Rianna has been nominated a number of times and is a very deserving winner of this award.

Passions is very proud of the level of customer service provided by each of our staff members.

Congratulations Rianna

Passions Marine Biologist takes the message to the world

Robin Aiello, Passions marine biologist and Environmental Manager, is taking a few months away from the tropics of Cairns to spread the marine conservation message farther a field. She is currently working in Antarctica onboard a world-class, 6 star Expedition Cruiseship called the Prince Albert II.

The Prince Albert II is owned by Silversea Cruises- an Italian company reknowned for its high class service and spectacular itineraries. The Prince Albert II is the newest member of their fleet, it was only launched in May of this year, and is the companys only expedition ship. She carries up to 135 passengers.

Robin was invited to join a hand picked Expedition Team to lead the ships inaugural journey to Antarctica.

Robins duties include lecturing on a range of environmental topics, leading shoreside excursions to look for penguins, seals and other wildlife, as well as driving the zodiacs. Zodiacs are rubber inflatable boats that are used to transport passengers to and from the shoreside. These zodiacs are also used to conduct cruises amongst the huge icebergs and glaciers that Antarctica is so well known for.

Robin joined the Prince Albert II in Mexico and sailed down the entire western coastline of South America to Ushuaia, Argentina the disembarkation point for Antarctica. She has just completed the inaugural trip from Ushuaia, to the Falklands, to South Georgia, to the Antarctic Peninsula and across the Drake Passage back to Ushuaia. She is currently in the middle of her second voyage back down to Antarctica. Robin will remain in Antarctica until early Jan when she will return to Cairns for a brief stop over before joining a similar ship in the Indian Ocean to take the same message of environmental and marine conservation to the islands around the Seychelles, Madagascar and East Africa.

Passions wins 4th consecutive Queensland Tourism Award
	Passions recently won it's fourth consecutive Queensland Tourism Award. Alan, Meran and Scotty were on hand in Brisbane to collect the award for Adventure Toursim Many thanks must go to all of wonderful crew members who ensure that each of our passengers experience a truly special day tour to the Great Barrier Reef.

Passions won Hall of Fame

Passions won Hall of Fame (3 consecutive wins in Adventure tourism) at the Queensland Tourism awards, a glittering affair held at Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast in November.

We are now proudly representing Queensland at the Australian Tourism Awards in Hobart, February 2010.