Sunshine Coast Lightning has been recognised at the coveted Sunshine Coast Business Awards, named winner of the Festivals and Events (Tourism) Category during Saturday evening’s ceremony.
The accolades are a strong endorsement of what Lightning has been able to successfully deliver, despite the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on sport and major events in recent seasons.
This is the second time in the Club’s five seasons that it has won this category at the Awards ceremony – the first being the inaugural 2017 Premiership season.
Lightning CEO Danielle Smith is proud of the Club’s ongoing positive contribution to the Sunshine Coast region and said recognition such as this award recognises the magnificent contributions of everyone involved in the Club.
“Firstly, I’d like to thank the Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance & the team at Whitehouse International for putting on such an incredible event and recognising the amazing businesses on the Sunshine Coast,” Smith said.
“To be recognised at the Sunshine Coast Business Awards amongst such illustrious company, with finalists The Ironman Group and Noosa Alive, is a privilege and acknowledgement that we at Lightning don’t take for granted.
“Whether it’s our athletes and staff engaging with the community, our elite match day at USC Stadium, the international broadcast of Suncorp Super Netball, our volunteers and Members, or B2B connections within our partner network, we strive to represent the region with passion, excellence and integrity.
“From day one, the Sunshine Coast community has been a key pillar and one of our main priorities when building this Club and that has become increasingly important throughout the global pandemic.”
Lightning’s submission highlighted the various ways in which the Club positively contributes to the Sunshine Coast region from an economical, social and environmental viewpoint, and the ways in which Lightning overcame a multitude of challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presented.
With matches broadcast around Australia and into New Zealand, the UK and South Africa, Lightning has attracted around 8 million viewers and been able to showcase the Coast to a national and international audience, and highlight its strength in hosting elite sporting teams and events.
The Club’s multi-million dollar partnership portfolio combined with recent initiatives with Sunshine Coast Council, Visit Sunshine Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland throughout the Suncorp Super Netball state-based hubs only further emphasises what Lightning have been able to achieve for the region in the past 12 months.
The Sunshine Coast Business Awards were this year sponsored by major partners Sunshine Coast Council and LPE.
