The Discovery Group is top 2009 tour operator
By Rama Gaind
Being a part of the travel industry has many challenges, but there’s one tour operator – The Discovery Group, in Noosa – which continues to win against all odds.
For the second successive year, the group’s enthusiasm could not be contained after being named the ‘Tour Operator of the Year’ at the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards last month.
The Noosa-based eco-tourism operator The Discovery Group claimed the best tour and/or transport category – one of the most prestigious and highly contested awards.
Naturally, the group’s managing director Wade Batty, is delighted and overwhelmed at his company’s success – in the face of a very challenging 12 months.
“It has been an extremely difficult 12 months for The Discovery Group,” Mr Batty said.
“2009 has seen a complete revitalisation of the business structure in order to ensure its on-going sustainability,” he said.
“We’ve implemented new business systems and procedures, introduced two new t20-seater Mitsubishi 4WD vehicles affectionately known as ‘The Warrior’ and ‘Xena’, three new touring packages and also a totally revamped website – all this through a global economic downturn, a cyclone, an oil spill and two 1-in-100 year floods.”
The Discovery Group has flourished over six years and today comprises of Fraser Island Discovery and Noosa Everglades Discovery brands.
Proprietors Wade and Kelly Batty relocated from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast in 2003 leaving behind their respective careers in the construction and beauty industries to pursue their dream – which is slowly being overwhelmingly realised.
The Discovery Group’s passion for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Listed Fraser Island, coupled with a strong desire to showcase the very best of the region’s natural and cultural assets to visitors from around the world, has paved the way to their resounding success.
Winning the Queensland and Australian Tourism Awards in 2008 for Tour and/or Transport Operator inspired Wade and Kelly to maintain their focus on excellence and continuous improvement in spite of a difficult 12 months.
More than 17,000 people have travelled with The Discovery Group over the past 12 months, including about 7,650 guests from overseas primarily arriving from Germany, UK, North America and New Zealand.
Mr Batty is justifiably proud when he says: “This award is a true reflection of our amazing team who continue to deliver tourism excellence and offer our guests uniquely Australian experiences through some of the most magnificent landscapes and waterways in Australia”.
