Award for contribution to Australian tourism

Leslie Cassar, Tourism Task Force (TTF) Australia chairman and Air Malta's representative down under, has awarded the TTF Australia National Leadership award and TTF life membership to Geoff Dixon, Qantas chief executive officer.

The award went to Mr Dixon, a former deputy chairman of TTF, in recognition of his achievements in such businesses as Qantas, Australian Airlines, and Ansett.

TTF Australia is the peak industry group representing tourism and infrastructure. It includes chief executives of the 200 most prestigious investors, operators, regulators and developers in Australia's tourism, transport and infrastructure industries.

According to Mr Cassar, Mr Dixon richly merited the award for having laboured so long to support an industry which was so vital for Australia's future - Mr Dixon had played a leading role in engaging, promoting and developing the tourism industry, he said.

In the course of his speech Mr Cassar also read out two messages of congratulations to Mr Dixon, one from the prime minister of Australia, John Howard, the other from the premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr.

Previous winners of the award include former deputy prime minister, Tim Fischer, Qantas' James Strong, and Virgin's Richard Branson.

The Sydney Opera House provides the background at the Park Hyatt reception for the presentation of the TTF Australia award to Mr Dixon (right) by Mr Cassar (left).