Michael Ward as Santa greats some of his Chinese guests who had come from Guangzhou
In a great week for Tamborine Mountain Distillery, the local company won "Best in the World" in its category for its Eucalyptus Gumleaf Vodka. The special flavoured Vodka achieved 94 points out of 100 at the Beverage Testing Institute Chicago.
Meanwhile, Tourism Queensland chose the Distillery as a destination to bring tour of senior tourism executives from Guangzhou. The tour was a VIP group who were a on the inaugural flight for China Southern Airlines into Brisbane from Guangzhou.
Over 30 senior executives and members of the Chinese press came to look over the tourist facilities in SE Queensland.
This direct Guangzhou and Brisbane flight will operate 3 times a week, connecting with China Southern's domestic network out of Guangzhou to key Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing. This is first time that Queensland has had a direct flight from mainland China since 1997-98.
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Michael Ward in the grounds of the Distillery with a VIP group consisting of Senior Executive Management from
China Southern Airlines, Government Officials from Guangzhou, Chinese Travel Trade and members of the Chinese Media
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China is now Queensland 5th most important tourist market and the 3rd largest source for Gold Coast tourists. The market has grown significantly over the past five years and is growing rapidly as the prosperous middle class in China looks to the world for its holidays.
Michael greeted his international guests dressed in an iridescent red Santa costume. It must have been a severe culture shock but everyone enjoyed show with smiles all round. The Ward family had prepared a gift package for each of the guests and as the cameras were clicking so were the ideas for new markets for the Tamborine Mountain Distillery products.
The award winning Eucalyptus Gumleaf Vodka
Michael and Alla are planning to extend their national and international marketing and distribution network with the establishment of a Melbourne sales operation and they are looking at rapidly expanding markets like China where their speciality Vodkas, Liqueurs, Schnapps and Spirits could command a premium.
Michael Ward is a tireless promoter of the world class business he and his wife Alla operate from a property in North Tamborine. They compete against all of the major distillers around the world. With just a tiny fraction of their R&D and marketing budgets, Michael and Alla still manage to come up with products that have the quality and originality to take awards from these marketing giants in toe to toe competitions.
As ever, there was some late breaking news from America where it was announced that once again Tamborine Mountain Distillery won yet a further gold and silver medal - making a total of three medals - creating history for three of its world class products.
The Chicago Beverage Testing Institute gave a considered 94 points out of 100 for the Eucalyptus Gumleaf Vodka, 91 points for the Lemon Myrtle Vodka and 89 points for the Tamborine Mountain Distillery Forest Peppermint Vodka.