Resort Awards

Since it's opening in September 1998 Couran Cove Island Resort has won numerous awards and commendations internationally and nationally including:

Food & Beverage:

• Finalist for 2008 Restaurant & Catering National Awards – Best Corporate Caterer
• Winner of 2008 Restaurant & Catering Awards Queensland – Best Corporate Caterer (2 years consecutively) 
• Winner of 2008 Restaurant & Catering Awards Gold Coast – Best Corporate Caterer (4 years consecutively) 
• Finalist for 2007 Restaurant & Catering National Awards – Best Corporate Caterer
• Winner of 2007 Restaurant & Catering State Awards – Best Corporate Caterer
• Winner of 2007 Restaurant & Catering Awards Gold Coast – Best Corporate Caterer
• Winner of 2006 Restaurant & Catering Awards Gold Coast – Best Corporate Caterer
• Finalist for 2006 Restaurant & Catering Awards Gold Coast for Best Family Restaurant for Spa Island and Best Wedding Venue
• Murray Joubert winner of the “Gold Coast & Australian Concours International des Jeunes Commis Rostisseurs”, 2006
• Black Box Competition Melbourne Food & Wine Exhibition, “Silver Medallists (Glenn Bacon & Kyle Tyler)” September 2006
• Winner of 2005 Restaurant & Catering Awards Gold Coast – Best Corporate Catering
• Winner of 2005 Alsco Table Décor Challenge – Best Formal Presentation
• Gold Award 2005 The Lifestyle Channel Australian Regional Culinary Competition – Best Entrée
• Silver Award 2005 The Lifestyle Channel Australian Regional Culinary Competition – Best Region
• Winner of 2005 Salon Culinaire - Apprentice of the Year
• Won silver in the Tasting Australia Competition for overall entry 2005
• Won Gold in the Tasting Australia Competition for Entrée dish 2005
• AHA Awards for Excellence – Finalist for Best Restaurant 2004
• Tasting Australia Chef Competition in Adelaide – Finalist October 2003 Nationally positioned 8th out of 25 finalists from around the country 2003
• Queensland Hotels Association Awards for Excellence – Finalist in Best Casual Dining,
• Coast Charter “Salon Culinaire’ held at Gold Coast show. The awards achieved were:
  • Chris Bernhagen (Chef) received a Silver and a Bronze medal in 2nd/3rd year knife skills
  • Ray Fowler (Chef) received a bronze medal 2nd/3rd year knife skills
  • Sean Chapman (Chef) was given a merit award for a regional meat dish
  • Ryan Smith (Chef) received a participation award for his regional meat dish
  • Jason Mumford (Chef) received a bronze medal for his regional meat dish
  • Jason Mumford (Chef) was the highest scoring competitor in his category
• Winner 2004 Restaurant & Catering Queensland – Best Modern Australian Restaurant
• Winner 2004 Restaurant & Catering Gold Coast – Best Modern Australian Restaurant
• Winner 2004 Restaurant & Catering Gold Coast – Best Function / Convention Catering
• Winner 2004 Restaurant & Catering Gold Coast – Corporate Caterer 
• 2004 Alsco Table Décor Challenge – Best Formal Presentation
• 2004 Salon Culinaire Awards Gold Coast – Gold Medal & Overall winner (Seafood) Chris Bernhagen
• 2003 Queensland Hotels Assoc Awards - Voted Best Workplace Health & Safety
• 2003 Supreme Staff Excellence Awards – Winner Jason Mumford (Food & Beverage)
• 2003 Queensland Hotels Assoc Awards - Voted Best Restaurant Accommodation Hotel / Resort 

Accommodation: 

• British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow” Awards 2001, “Accommodation”, Winner, South West Pacific Region
• British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow” Awards 2000, “Accommodation”, Highly Commended, Global
• Australian Tourism Awards, Accommodation 3 to 4 Star winner, 2001
• Nominated provider for The Mayor’s Lunch Function at the Australian Culinary Federation Gold Queensland Tourism Awards, ‘Accommodation - 3½ to 4½ star”’ 2001
• 2000 Brisbane Tourism Awards – Best Deluxe Accommodation.  

  Ecotourism:

  • Accreditation through Ecotourism Australia as ECO Certified Advanced Ecotourism.
  • Accreditation through AAA Tourism Green STAR
  • Conde Nast Traveller’s 2000 Ecotourism Award, Honourable Mention
  • South Stradbroke Island Eastern Beach picked up the Protection of the Environment Award in the Clean Beach Awards 2005
  • Ray Evans – Outstanding Accomplishment Award in the Clean Beach competition 2005
  • EPA Clean Beach Award – Gold Coast North Region 2003
  • Banksia Environmental Awards, ‘Resource Conservation and Waste Minimisation’ 1999
  • Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence, “Environmental Initiative Award” 1999
  • Institute of Engineers Australia “Excellence in Energy Smart Engineering” 1999
  • SEDA Award, “Institute of Engineers Australia: Excellence in Sustainable Energy” 1999
  • Institute of Engineers Australia ‘Excellence in Environmental Management’ 1999
  • Australian Federation of Travel Agents National “Environmental Achievement Award” 1998

  General Resort:

  • HotelClub Hotel Awards – Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Islands – Finalist in the Best Hotels and Resorts in Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Island Hotel Awards 2007
  • Travel And Leisure Magazine nomination as one of the top 50 Most Affordable Island Resorts in the world March 2004
  • Phillip Couvaras (GM) was nominated as a finalist in the 2004 HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence for the Best Australian Hotel Manager 2004
  • Honeymoon destinations winner at the Gold Coast Wedding Awards 2004
  • HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence – Finalist for the best Australian Hotel Manager
  • HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence – Finalist for Best Regional Property 2004
  • Restaurant Marketing Accommodation Hotel/Resort, Training Initiative, workplace Health & Safety, Employee of the Year – Michael Boyd
  • Queensland Training Awards Gold Coast Final, “Large Employer of the Year” 2001
  • National Landcare Awards, “Fuji Xerox Landcare Business Award” 2000
  • Queensland Landcare Awards, "Fuji Xerox Landcare Business Award" 1999
  • Australian Federation of Travel Agents, "Best Resort for 1999"

  Architecture: 

  • Queensland Tourism Awards for Excellence, "Tourist Development Project" 1999
  • Institute of Architects Gold Coast and North Rivers, "Building of the Year" 1999
  • Institute of Engineers, "Environmental Engineering Excellence" 1999
  • Royal Australian Institute of Architects, "Beatrice Hutton Award" (Commercial) 1999
  • National Trust Queensland, Awards for Excellence, "Heritage Conservation Works" 1999
  • Urban Development Institute Queensland, "Environmental Planning & Design"1999
  • Gold Coast Urban Design Awards, "Commerce by Design", 1998 

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