MISS WORLD AUSTRALIA GETS CUDDLY WITH KOALA JOEY OASIS AS OAKS HOTELS & RESORTS SIGNS PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTRALIA ZOO

(TRAVPR.COM) AUSTRALIA - December 15th, 2014 - While the hopes of Australia will be riding on the shoulders of Miss World Australia Courtney Thorpe as she prepares to depart for London on Saturday to compete in the Miss World Final, the Queensland beauty and Oaks Hotels & Resorts ambassador has today paid one last visit to another little Australian whose hopes are riding just as high on her shoulders too.

Oasis is a tiny eight month old Koala joey who, through a recent partnership forged between Australia Zoo’s Wildlife Warriors Program and Courtney’s major sponsor Oaks Hotels & Resorts (a division of Minor Hotel Group), will reap the benefits from a generous donation and awareness campaign supporting critical conservation work over the next five years.

Oasis has been named after Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ popular family-friendly Sunshine Coast resort Oaks Oasis at, best Caloundra accommodation. The partnership will also see Oaks Hotels & Resorts appointed as an official accommodation partner of Australia Zoo and proactive steps taken at the property to increase koala conservation awareness by offering accommodation packages, tickets to Australia Zoo and sneak peek passes to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to its guests.

“We are thrilled to partner with Australia Zoo and their Wildlife Warriors charity and, from a corporate social responsibility level, support a company that is already making a real difference in the world,” said CEO of Oaks Hotels & Resorts, Brett Pointon.

For Courtney, the partnership has already created some memorable moments, too.

“I am in love with Oasis, she is the most precious little creature and spending time with her has enabled me to better understand how fragile and at risk our koalas really are. I am incredibly privileged to be in a position where I can share her message with the world,” she said.  

Courtney also took the opportunity to swap her glamorous evening gowns and sky-high heels for personalized khakis and, for the very first time with the support of Oaks Hotels & Resorts and Australia Zoo, revealed her national costume, which fittingly celebrates the true spirit of Australia, in readiness for her international debut.

With Queensland koalas currently listed in the ‘vulnerable species’ category, (the category prior to endangered), the two Sunshine Coast businesses have joined forces to raise awareness on the importance of wildlife conservation and encourage individuals to participate in developing their own social responsibility through Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors Worldwide Ltd.

“We are thrilled to announce this new partnership with Oaks Hotels & Resorts, which will support both local tourism and Australia Zoo’s crucial conservation work,” said Australia Zoo Tourism Business Development Manager Erina Kilmore.

“We are proud to be celebrating the partnership with two of Australia Zoo’s “natural beauties” – our koala joey, Oasis, and Miss World Australia Courtney Thorpe, and look forward to continuing our work with Oaks over the next five years.”

Established in 2002 by Steve and Terri Irwin, the Wildlife Warriors charity was introduced to create a pathway for caring and passionate individuals to become involved in the zoo and help support the protection of injured, threatened and endangered wildlife.

As its major sponsor, Australia Zoo provides vital support to Wildlife Warriors, providing funding that covers all administration costs for the charity and one of its key conservation projects, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, which is today the largest and busiest wildlife hospital in the world. This allows for 100% of public donations to go directly to the conservation and preservation of wildlife. The Oaks Hotels & Resorts partnership will deliver ongoing funding that is integral to the work of Wildlife Warriors.

For more information and bookings, please visit www.oakshotelsresorts.com

ABOUT OAKS HOTELS & RESORTS
Oaks Hotels & Resorts is one of Australia’s largest self-contained, accommodation providers, currently incorporating a portfolio of 48 properties spanning Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South and Western Australia as well as New Zealand, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

ABOUT MINOR HOTEL GROUP
Minor Hotel Group (MHG) is a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of more than 100 hotels and suites in operation under the Anantara, AVANI, Per AQUUM, Oaks, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis and Minor International brands in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Cambodia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, the UAE, Australia and New Zealand.