Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence: Winners Announcement

Winners of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) 2016 National Awards for Excellence were announced this evening at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast in Queensland. More than 460 attendees were in attendance to celebrate venues and individuals for excellence within the accommodation sector.

Among the highlights of the evening was the induction of the newest member of the AHA’s Johnnie Walker Hall of Fame.

President of the AHA, Peter Burnett, said: “The National AHA Awards provides an opportunity for the National Executive, the Board and in fact the entire AHA family to recognise and honour one amongst us who has provided exceptional service to their community, the AHA and/or the Australian licensed hospitality industry.

“Such is the increasingly complex, demanding and somewhat controversial environment that the hotel and pub industry has operated in over the last 20 or so years, that in considering those who have made and are continuing to make an outstanding contribution, we must also look beyond those who operate pubs and hotels and/or those who are directly involved in the service of the AHA.”

The inductee was Mr. Gordon Broderick, recognised for almost 30 years of service to the Australian licensed hospitality industry. Mr. Broderick has held a number of roles within the industry, including Executive Director for the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia since its inception in 1982.

“Whilst representing a specific sector of the alcohol industry, his efforts and successes continue to advantage all who operate in the Australian hotel and pub business and the licensed hospitality industry,” Mr. Burnett added. “He has been unrelenting in his political advocacy to Government at a national level to protect and advance the alcohol industry to the advantage of all the commercial participants.

“He is “old school” - relationships and trust matter above all, advocacy must be evidence-based and there is nothing that cannot be successfully negotiated over a long lunch!”

 

Among other individuals recognised at the awards was Annabelle Gibney from Accor Hotels & Resorts in Melbourne. Annabelle was named this year’s Hotel Industry Rising Star in the Accommodation Division. In the General Division, joint Rising Stars were Drew Harry from the Western Hotel in Ballarat, Victoria and Michael Strom from The Gate Bar and Bistro in Perth.

“The judges had a tough time determining clear winners from this impressive group of nominees. One thing that is for certain, this sample group clearly indicates that the future of our industry is in good hands,” Mr. Burnett added.

Lee Cleal from the Woolshed Pub in Docklands, Victoria was recognised for Employee Excellence in Service (General Division), while Donna Musarella from Crown Towers in Melbourne, Victoria and Anura Yapa from Shangri-La Hotel Sydney in The Rocks, New South Wales were jointly awarded Employee Excellence in Service in the Accommodation Division.

Best Bar Presentation & Service in the Metropolitan Division was awarded to Hophaus Bier Bar Grill in Southbank, Victoria, while Berry Springs Tavern in the Northern Territory won the accolade in the Regional Division.

Best Entertainment Venue went to The Sheaf in Sydney and Best Hotel Bar in the Accommodation Division went to Zebu Bar + Grill, Rydges Port Macquarie in New South Wales.

The Shoreline Hotel in Howrah, Tasmania won Best Retail Liquor Outlet and Best Sporting Entertainment Venue went to Crown Sports Bar, Crown Perth in Burswood, Western Australia.

A full list of 2016 winners is featured below.

Best Bar Presentation & Service – Metropolitan
Hophaus Bier Bar Grill, Southbank - VIC

Best Bar Presentation & Service – Regional
Berry Springs Tavern, Berry Springs - NT

Best Bistro – Metropolitan
The Moseley Bar & Kitchen, Glenelg - SA

Best Bistro – Regional
Beltana Hotel, Lindisfarne - TAS

Best Deluxe Accommodation
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, Wolgan Valley - NSW

Best Entertainment Venue
The Sheaf, Sydney - NSW

Best Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practice
Quality Hotel Downtowner on Lygon, Carlton - VIC

Best Gaming Venue – Metropolitan
Zagame’s Boronia Hotel, Boronia - VIC

Best Gaming Venue – Regional
Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel, Cranbourne - VIC

Best Hotel Accommodation - General Division
The Lucky Hotel, Newcastle - NSW

Best Hotel Bar - Accommodation Division
Zebu Bar + Grill, Rydges Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie - NSW

Best Hotel Group Operator
Pegasus Leisure Group, Caulfield East - VIC

Best Keno Venue
Porters Plainland Hotel, Plainland - QLD

Best Marketed Hotel - Accommodation Division
Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Melbourne - VIC

Best Marketed Hotel - General Division
The Woodcroft Hotel, Woodcroft - SA

Best Meeting & Events Venue
Sheraton on the Park, Sydney - NSW

Best Mid-Range Accommodation
ibis Adelaide, Adelaide - SA

Best Outdoor/Non Enclosed Area
Mangrove Hotel, Broome - WA

Best Redeveloped Hotel - Accommodation Division
NEXT Hotel Brisbane, Brisbane - QLD

Best Redeveloped Hotel - General Division joint winner
Beach House Hotel, Hervey Bay - QLD
Collaroy Hotel, Collaroy - NSW

Best Restaurant - Accommodation Division
The Playford, Adelaide - SA

Best Restaurant – Metropolitan
The Railway Hotel, Windsor - VIC

Best Restaurant – Regional
Frogmore Creek, Cambridge - TAS

Best Retail Liquor Outlet
Shoreline Hotel, Howrah - TAS

Best Sporting Entertainment Venue
Crown Sports Bar, Crown Perth, Burswood - WA

Best Suite/Apartment Hotel
East Hotel, Canberra - ACT

Best Superior Accommodation
Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Maleny - QLD

Best TAB Licensed Venue
Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff - NSW

Best Tourism Initiative
Curtin Springs, Alice Springs - NT

Chef of the Year
Nikhil Jain, National Convention Centre, Canberra - ACT

Employee Excellence in Service - Accommodation Division          joint winner
Donna Musarella, Crown Towers, Melbourne - VIC
Anura Yapa, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, The Rocks - NSW

Employee Excellence in Service - General Division
Lee Cleal, Woolshed Pub, Docklands - VIC

Front of House Employee of the Year - Accommodation Division
Jonathan Fambart, Park Hyatt Sydney, The Rocks - NSW

Front of House Employee of the Year - General Division
Kurtis Bosley, Collaroy Hotel, Collaroy - NSW

Hotel Industry Rising Star joint winner
Annabelle Gibney, Accor Hotels & Resorts, Melbourne – VIC
Drew Harry, Western Hotel, Ballarat - VIC
Michael Strom, The Gate Bar and Bistro, Perth - WA

Johnnie Walker Hall of Fame
Gordon Broderick, DSICA

Outstanding Achievement in Training
Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara - NT

Outstanding Community Service & Achievement
Belrose Hotel, Belrose - NSW

Outstanding Community Service & Achievement
Treasury Casino & Hotel, Brisbane City - QLD

Overall Hotel of the Year - Accommodation Division
Crown Towers, Melbourne - VIC

Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan
Rosstown Hotel, Carnegie - VIC

Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional
Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point - QLD