Paradise Resort skates away with award win

Written on the 1 September 2021 by Marshall Hall

One of the Gold Coast’s favourite resorts has skated away with a major award.

Paradise Resort Gold Coast, the 409-room family resort owned by Australia's largest private hotel owner, Dr Jerry Schwartz, has been named the winner of the Tourism Hospitality and Events Award at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards for August.

The resort, which features a waterpark, ice-rink and a kids club, has consistently been a favourite with families visiting the Gold Coast.

Paradise Resort Gold Coast General Manager David Brook was both elated and philosophical about being awarded the Gold Coast’s Business Excellence Award.

“Winning the Award in August has provided a fantastic lift for the team because the month before we went from thrive to dive in just a few weeks as lockdown and border closures turned what was going to be a really strong winter into a blizzard of cancellations,” said Mr Brook.

“It wasn’t easy for anyone at the hotel, but what the team does brilliantly is survive.

“We used the Covid border-closures in 2020 to totally revamp and upgrade the hotel, including refurbished rooms, a new lobby and reception area, upgraded water park and ice rink, and even a new ride-on miniature train that showcases the resort’s extensive grounds.

“We had a very good summer holiday season and we were adding even more facilities in the first half of 2021 when the NSW border closures hit in June, then Queensland lockdown happened in July, and now the team is completely rebuilding our marketing strategies in August. Who would resort to running a resort?

“We know the rest of the year is going to be problematic, but I think that is why this award means so much to the team because while we can’t change the politics of lockdowns and border closures, we can keep our incredibly supportive guests up to date with all the positive things that are happening, and I have no doubt that when the situation stabilises we will benefit from an immediate upsurge in bookings.

“To stay at the top it is imperative to continually invest in the product, and our owner – Dr Jerry Schwartz – has completely refreshed the hotel, meaning even better facilities and entertainment value for families.

“He is launching the first Gold Coast Beer & Cider Festival in October because he believes in the destination and tourism’s role in supporting all of the Gold Coast community.”

The August winners in the other Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards categories were:

• Mayor’s Innovation GC Award: Enviroswim
• Student Engagement Award: FurTastic Friends by Bocchetta
• Family Business Award: Petway Petcare
• Health and Wellbeing Award: Medical Rescue
• Professions and Services Award: Burchills Engineering Solutions
• Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award: Totally WorkWear Gold Coast
• Construction and Trades Award: Skyline Landscape Services
• Manufacturing Award: Granddad Jack’s Craft Distillery
• IT and Digital Business Award: Clarity IT for Business
• Emerging and Micro Business Award: Axon Property Group

The awards, now in their 26th year, aim to foster pride in the city’s business community and highlight its important as a business hub. Some of the city’s best-known companies can claim to have been winners.