Record numbers vote in Golden Backpack Awards
More than 20,000 votes have been cast in this year’s Golden Backpack Awards, with 10 days still to go before voting closes.
Last year, 11,000 backpackers voted for their favourite independent travel suppliers throughout Australia and New Zealand, but 2009 is going to be even bigger.
Organiser Denise Jinks told Thumbrella: “We thought we couldn’t top 2008, but we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from backpackers yet again. Now we’ve got to process the votes, check their authenticity and count them all – I need more staff!”
The Golden Backpacks are the only consumer-voted awards for Australia and New Zealand’s independent travel sector run in association with TNT Magazine.
The winners will be announced by AFL legend Sam Kekovich at a gala dinner at the brand new, six-star Doltone House venue, Darling Island Wharf, Pyrmont following the Adventure & Backpacker Industry Conference on November 5. To book, click here.
By Martin Lane · September 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Comments
10 Sep 09
9:23 pm
My Money is on (name removed by editor for legal reasons) for top travel agent –
They have employed street touts in atleast 4 key locations throughout Australia to capture votes from local residents and commuters – touts are only paid once they register atleast 20 votes each day. The small independant agencies dont stand a chance against these cheats collecting votes people who they have never had any business with. Does anyone else think this shameles behaviour is an abuse of the integity of the award? ….we shall see on the night if winners have blood on their hands.
10 Sep 09
11:03 pm
the whole award is a joke. (Name removed by editor for legal reasons) also give 1/2 hr internet to anyone that votes for them, they even have it advertised on the window!! a few hostels are also giving free internet for a vote….
11 Sep 09
8:30 am
so, how my I wonder of the 20’000 votes were legitimate? – No doubt (names removed by editor for legal reasons) are voting for their ‘preffered partners as well!
TNT take note – if the above is true, then those involved should be thrown out of the competiton in fairness to the other entrants.
11 Sep 09
9:03 am
Hi all
Thanks for your comments. Please be assured the integrity of the Golden Backpack Awards is paramount. We only accept voting forms with verifiable contact details, including mobile phone number, so we can check they are genuine votes from real backpackers.
While we encourage all companies to promote the awards to their customers, clearly some of the behaviour described above falls outside the spirit of the awards. We will investigate and, if proven, those votes will be discounted.
Nameless and Incognito – if you have further details, could you please e-mail denise@focalattractions.com.au so we can look into it.
Thanks again for bringing this to our attention.
Martin Lane, Director, The Golden Backpack Awards
11 Sep 09
12:07 pm
I agree. That kind of behaviour is very disappointing, it saddens me that people would choose to discredit themselves in this way. However, on a more positive note, at least the golden backpack awards are trying to recognise good service in our industry, and those who are genuinely providing a great experience for backpackers!
11 Sep 09
1:36 pm
I have seen it with my own eyes this morning – I wont say who – but another nationally recognised agent.
RE: Martin Lanes comments, ‘We will investigate and, if proven, those votes will be discounted’ – sadly this behaviour IS taking place.. right now! and it seems there are more a few witness’s to it – Can we assume then that those whose “falls outside the spirit of the awards” WILL have their votes discounted?
11 Sep 09
1:57 pm
Hi Martin,
I agree the integrity and credibility of the award is paramount. I’m still in the industry so have no inclination to become the whistleblower. I was just supporting ‘nameless’ statement.
The 2 above mentioned (comments 1. and 2.) travel chains are very open about the ‘buying’ of the votes so I don’t think it would be too hard to prove the rorting of the awards. Despite this, I don’t think you can discount votes when no one can tell which votes are legitimate (if any) and which are not, as they will all have contact details, etc.
It’s unfortunate that small travel agencies may not be recognised despite any improvement on last year or their biggest efforts over a tough year and against some huge competition.
11 Sep 09
2:01 pm
EXHIBIT A…. FOUND IN FACEBOOK:
WIN $1000 WORTH OF FLIGHTS!
All you need to do is vote in TNT’s Golden Backpack Awards. Just make sure you VOTE (Name removed by Editor for libel reasons) as your favourite travel agent (of course)!
A voting form can be downloaded from: http://abic.thumbrella.com.au/voting-form.html
Voting closes on 18 September 2009 & the winners will be announced in November.
11 Sep 09
2:11 pm
thank you incongnito – that says it all for me. I am going to throw away my TNT magazine and brochure rack. disgusting behaviour. As if the industry needed this. thanks to thumbrella (depsite this being bad news) – I am very happy it was brought to my attention.
11 Sep 09
3:30 pm
Thanks again everyone for your comments
This is clearly an important debate. However, as the allegations are unproven, I would ask that you refrain from naming particular companies in your comments, as I will just have to go in and edit them for legal reasons.
Happy for the debate to continue but if the comment stream is libellous I will have to shut it down.
Thanks for your understanding.
Cheers
Martin – Thumbrella
11 Sep 09
3:38 pm
Adam, you sound well worked up. Just wondering why TNT Magazine is the one copping your wrath. TNT is supporting an awards program that is designed to encourage best practice in the industry, it’s not the company responsible for behaviour deemed inappropriate by you or anybody else.
As for Incognito’s Facebook ‘evidence’ of corrupt goings on with regards to winning $1000 of flights, that is an incentive provided by TNT to all backpackers who choose to vote in the awards. It is not an offering unique to any particular travel agent or backpacker operator. It seems to me the company you’ve mentioned is simply spruiking the fact backpackers can win a very good prize by voting. The readers have been directed to the voting form and it is purely their choice who they vote for.
It would be very disappointing if people were looking to rort the awards, but it’s hard to understand how TNT Magazine can be held responsibIe for actions entirely out of its control.
Ian Wakeling
Managing Director
TNT Magazine
11 Sep 09
3:41 pm
Hi guys-thanks for your comments.
The $1000 of flights are an incentive from our sponsor Tiger Airways, to encourage backpackers to vote in the Golden Backpack Awards. TNT who run the Golden Backpack Awards, promote the awards through the magazine and online, but in no way favour any particular company. The incentive is purely for backpackers voting across all categories.
All votes are counted and verified and if we suspect that cheating has occurred, they are discounted. We cannot however stop a company from promoting the awards and encouraging their customers to vote through direct marketing and social media.
We launched the awards 2 years ago, because we felt it was important to recognise the excellent contribution backpacking makes to inbound tourism to Australia, and our intention is to support the industry. We certainly will not tolerate behaviour that could undermine the awards credibility.
Denise Jinks
Events Manager
Golden Backpack Awards
11 Sep 09
3:57 pm
Thank you Martin, Ian and Denise for addressing this issue.
I don’t think anyone really thinks the entities you work for are in any way implicated in this. But the fact remains and it has now been brought to your attention…. some businesses are putting their weight behind this award in ways which are not the most ethical (free internet, touts, etc) to obtain votes. In order, of course, to advertise the fact they’ve won it and gain one way or another.
12 Sep 09
10:19 am
Hello – this certainly is interesting reading and has captured something of a ‘buzz’ in the office.
I dont think anyone blames or wants to discredit TNT. I certainly dont. The award is a good thing. Thumbrella is also due credit for letting people be heard.
To the business end of things. Let us not loose the initial point which started this topic. An ‘unnamed’ travel agency is collecting votes from people on the street/facebook. The problem here is that some of these votes will be from people whom the agency had no prior relationship with. They could be from a commuter passing by or anyone. Unless this person was or has a previous/active relationship or dealings with the agency, they are NOT in a position to cast votes for them – acknowledging their ‘great service’.
If this agency wishes to submit these votes, then that is unfair. pure and simple.
100% fraudulent.
The second problem is that is happening.
I would like to know what happens next? I dont want to ‘rort’ the awards but clearly there is some wrong doing and that must be dealt with otherwise the event and the industry will be brought into disrepute.
12 Sep 09
10:29 am
*sorry – mean to say;
‘the second poblem is that, it is happening.’
12 Sep 09
4:40 pm
Perhaps this agency should be stripped of any fraudulently obtained award in the past. As well as be kicked out of the comp for 3 years.
Who am I kidding? we all know they’ll be standing in front of the crowd, receiving the award again this year because 10 to 1 says nothing will be done about this.
12 Sep 09
7:54 pm
And how are we supposed to prove that awards in previous years were “obtained fraudulently”?
We have said we will investigate these allegations and discount votes if they are proven to be true.
And that’s what we will do.
Martin Lane, Director, The Golden Backpack Awards
15 Sep 09
8:03 pm
Hello – I have a small agency in QLD and I have collected a few votes for the TNT awards for my shop. Having read this feed and subsequently checked out my competition (i.e. last years winners) and seen first hand that they are asking anyone/everyone for votes on the street. I have decided not to submit the votes I have (total of 18). I know the number is small but the votes were collected from real customers, not passers-by. Somehow It does not seem worth entering now if my competitors are bulk-billing votes for themselves.
-thank you for the anonymous email linking me to this feed, from ..whoever!
15 Sep 09
10:54 pm
Tony, having just spent the last two days personally checking every vote received so far, I can assure you and everyone else we are rigorous in ensuring all votes are genuine. If not, they are discarded.
I hope you decide to send your votes in as all genuine votes will be counted – the deadline is this Friday (September 18).
Martin Lane, Director, The Golden Backpack Awards
16 Sep 09
2:05 pm
Martin,
Instead of checkin every vote, why don’t you just call the businesses in question and ask them straight out if they are in fact doing what they’re accused of doing? It’s exactly what I asked my daughter to do on saturday and guess what they said?
16 Sep 09
2:22 pm
As I have said – repeatedly – we are investigating and will take appropriate action.
17 Sep 09
7:48 pm
This is mindless nonsense. The Golden Backpacker Awards aren’t being “supported” by TNT magazine as Ian suggests, they are both owned by the same people, as of course is this very website. Three brands, all owned by the same people, all vehemently arguing that the awards are run with due diligence and probity. This is a commercial exercise plain and simple, and as long as you get the votes please don’t insult our intelligence by suggesting you care how they are garnered.
Oh and to save you some time your response is this: “As I have said – repeatedly – we are investigating and will take appropriate action.”
Hilarious
18 Sep 09
9:51 am
Thanks for that Not Relevant
We have never hidden the fact that we have a portfolio of products – on the contrary, we are quite proud of our little family, which includes this site, its sister http://www.mumbrella.com.au plus ABiC and the Golden Backpacks.
If you want to know more, visit http://www.focalattractions.com.au.
Cheers
Martin – Thumbrella etc
18 Sep 09
3:53 pm
So what if the GB’s are a commercial exercise? I don’t go to work for free, and I suspect that Martin and his team aren’t volunteers.
Look at the GB’s for what they are: a chance to get your name in lights for bugger-all input, and damn fine pissup at the end of it. Throw in a bit of scandal about vote rigging for the naysayers and you have something for everyone!
18 Sep 09
4:14 pm
i think greg missed the point on all counts…
18 Sep 09
10:19 pm
I think Greg should go to work for free
21 Sep 09
9:24 am
Incognito and not relevant took the bait – hook, line, and sinker and most of the boat…
21 Sep 09
12:55 pm
HMMMM….RRRRIGHT
22 Sep 09
10:22 pm
Lets all go on the Rooter and sort it out!!! When was the last time you girls actually talked to some backpackers anyway…
23 Sep 09
1:27 pm
what’s with all these childish comments in the last few days? this is a grown up convo between people with genuine concerns. Just stick to MySpace if this is not your cup of tea.
24 Sep 09
7:17 pm
absolutely – lets not forget how or why this whole thing started – companies are cheating in order win. A few wise words from the organisers, managed to detract from this fact.
less talk more action! – we have all seen the ‘cheats’ in action – and when this conversation, began – the cheats quickly retracted their touts off the street..
‘we are investigating and will take appropriate action’ – if this were any other industry, the cheats would be thrown out.. for (wait for it..) cheating!
27 Sep 09
6:01 am
The Golden backpack website quotes the following ” The awards are consumer voted following a national campaign in TNT Magazine and online, with the voting process monitored by an independent panel of judges.” The public and entrants need to know who the independent panel of judges are and how they are selected.
Just the same as the The regional and State Tourism awards process. When this information is supplied these accusations be cleared up..
28 Sep 09
9:00 am
That’s a fair question Keith.
We ask the sponsoring state tourism bodies to help us scrutinise the awards – usually the person responsible for the backpacking sector.
This year, that means Tourism WA, Tourism Victoria, the South Australia Tourism Commission, Tourism NSW and Backpacking Queensland.
In the case of Tasmania and NT, we will refer to our contacts at the tourism bodies there, who have sponsored the event in previous years. Similarly with New Zealand.
Thanks
Martin Lane, Director, Golden Backpack Awards
28 Sep 09
12:16 pm
As a customer service provider I actually find it arrogant to pressure my guests into voting… we have no chance against those who “launch a campaign” to win, has everybody just woken up to the “campaigns” this year? there are some very reputable operators that launch a campaign and pester their clients to vote, my beds are reasonably full all year, I will not succumb to such desperate measures that are almost offensive to pester the guests with… I give up… the business I operate will survive without the free advertising and award and nice to see people have opened their eyes or taken the liberty to complain, the fact that you judge our business for excellence via the votes and not by secret review has always had me rolling my eyes…
30 Sep 09
9:47 am
Good point operator. Good to see your business will survive regardless of this.
However, spare a thought for those that struggle as is against bigger fish. And to think that this award may influence some people into buying more from them makes everyone’s stomach turn if it was won illegitimately.
10 Oct 09
12:27 pm
In the interests of keeping alive and fair an award program that I personally like… Perhaps the categories could be attached to some sort of proportional representation system based on the size of the organisation? I’m the first to admit that companies like ours have an unfair advantage simply due to the fact we carry 20,000 + people a year (although not so many in the voting period!) I’m not sure how a small, but high quality operator could compete with us nationally on getting votes in. If we’re doing everything right we will – for the most part – get favourable votes. As will they, but we’ll just get more. On the other hand if a small operator got 2000 votes in the voting period one might be a little curious as to how. Anyway, perhaps further definition based on the size of your company may remove any need or urge to “lobby” the public or votes.
10 Oct 09
3:17 pm
Thanks for the constructive feedback Greg.
With the accommodation sector, we divide the number of beds by the number of votes so the smaller hostels can compete on a level playing field with the big guns. This year, we have also split the travel agency category into large and small for the same reason.
Happy to consider something similar – or any other suggestions – for operators next year.
Our aim is to make the awards as fair as possible, but without creating so many categories that the presentation night stretches into Christmas!
Cheers
Martin
14 Oct 09
2:15 pm
So…ahem…what about tour operators that carry 5000 international students every year? Guess I need to start my own awards!
17 Oct 09
9:05 am
Brett has a point: International Students are a different category, and its a huge market.
26 Oct 09
4:55 pm
I am very intrigued and interested in the flow of conversation that has come across this topic. I am a non-believer of awards due to the secrecy behind them. We dont know if what is said is indeed correct – oh they have been verified, checked and double checked? By who? How many why not display how many votes people are getting or what the winner got for a comparison to our own votes?
So you divide the number of votes by beds…
So if Wake up gets 500 votes that counts as one. if Central YHA gets 500 votes, also one, and if Funkhouse get 200 votes they get two votes and win? So why not prove this by showing the data after the awards?
26 Oct 09
5:55 pm
And they reckon Afghanistan`s voting woes are newsworthy! I mean, let`s be fair-dinkum here, folks.
I fully understand folks frustration with cheating. But the Golden Backpack awards are voter-based. So are our federal and state elections. Australia`s government is decided by having one`s name ticked off an electoral roll, no questions asked ( no ID card, drivers license, rates notice, etc required ). A blog on this absurd situation would surely be more deserving the energy being expended here on the GP`s!
In all seriousness,The Golden Backpack`s are a more frivolous event than our political elections and nicely cap off the annual Backpacker Conference that I`ve attended these past 5 years: as I`ve never really attempted get involved in the past, believing it was impossible for a small venue like ours to compete with the big boys, our nomination as a finalist this year floored me! (Your smaller hostel system must work, Martin!)
I`ll be there, as usual, enjoying the company of other tourism folks, eating tasty food and drinking local wines, with the added bonus of having my company`s name called out in it`s relevant category!! What could be nicer than that?
PS and all for very little pestering and absolutely NO free internet time!!! SWEET!!!!!!!!
Boyd Scott
Scotty`s Beach House
9 Nov 09
10:30 am
I am very confused by so much consternation over voting campaigns – as everyone here would know – backpackers are the laziest breed of travellers ever and without active participation from suppliers to encourage voting we would not have seen such a resounding number of voters this year – surely it can only be a good thing that we as an industry are getting bigger exposure? Also you can lead a horse to water as the saying goes but voters have minds of their own and are not going to vote for a bad operator for the sake of 30mins free internet use! The Golden Backpack Awards are the most highly sought after accoldae in our industry and it is surely no surprise that suppliers would fight for their chance to be recognised. Other industry awards provide literature to disply around your business for customers to see – posters and fliers that say ‘Vote For Us’ and also they give tips on how to successfully promote people to vote for you. They recognise the benefit of promoting the awards as a whole and that people will only vote if they are duly impressed with the business.
What might be worth considering for future years if the integrity of votes continues to be a point of contention is that TNT could assemble a panel of expert judges who could independently assess the finalist – this could then be counted in conjunction with votes and a mystery visit to fairly decide the rightful winner.
9 Nov 09
7:25 pm
Hi ANON,
While I hear what you’re trying to say, it does sound quite naive. YES, backpackers will vote for anyone that gives them 1/2 hr internet, and if on doesn’t, the next one will. and there are thousands of them. One of the winners gave 1/2 hr internet to anyone that votes for them, and there they are now, with a crown on its head.
My own sister voted for a certain winner and she also received the 1/2 internet, even though she’s never done business with them. and who can blame her? she needed internet and they gave it to her for free.
Anon, the buying of votes is wrong, even for an industry competition like this one. This has nothing to do with the promoting of the awards, it is cheating.
I wasn’t going to say anything else on this thread, as I didn’t want to take away from the ‘real’ winners. But after seeing ANON’s post I had to.
Have your say