AHA 2012 National Awards for Excellence - the winners

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) held its 2012 National Awards for Excellence last night at Wrest Point in Hobart. 

More than 500 AHA members and special guests were on hand to see the announcement of awards covering all aspects of the hotel industry, including Best Overall Hotel – Metropolitan which was taken out by Eatons Hill Hotel in Brisbane, and Best Overall Hotel – Regional which was jointly won by Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel in Cranbourne Victoria and the Parap Tavern in Darwin. 

AHA National CEO Des Crowe said there were many highlights on the night. 

“One of the hotly contested awards was Best Bar Presentation & Service, won jointly by The Breakwater in Perth and Platform 28 in Melbourne in the metro division and by the Parap Tavern in Darwin in the regional division. 

“In the Best Entertainment Venue category we also had joint winners, with judges unable to separate Sydney’s Ivy Bar from the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel in Adelaide.  Both of these hotels are built around their daily music entertainment offerings and succeed in different ways. [continues below]

Dan Dowling and Brian Boyle from Parap in the Northern Territory - winners of best retail liquor outlet,
best bar presentation and service - regional and winner of the overall hotel of the year - regional.

2012 National Awards for Excellence - winners

Best Tourism Initiative
MONA – Berriedale, TAS

Best Gaming Venue - Metro
The Lost City Hotel – Upper Coomera, QLD

Best Bistro - Metro
Robin Hood Hotel – Norwood, SA 

Best Restaurant – Metro
Est. Restaurant at Establishment – Sydney, NSW

Best Bar Presentation & Service - Metro
The Breakwater – Hillarys, WA

Platform 28 – Docklands, VIC
Best Restaurant - Accommodation Division

Glass Brasserie at Hilton Sydney – Sydney, NSW
Echoes Restaurant at Echoes – Katoomba, NSW

Best Redeveloped Hotel - Accommodation Division
Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney – The Rocks, NSW

Best Marketed Hotel - Accommodation Division
Pinctada Cable Beach Resort & Spa – Cable Beach, WA

Best Meetings and Events Venue
Hotel Realm – Barton, ACT
Hilton Sydney – Sydney, NSW

Best Pub-Style Accommodation
Yandina Hotel Yandina QLD [continues below]

Paul Nicolaou – CEO AHA (NSW), Michael Bourne – GM Hilton Sydney, Scott Leach – president AHA (NSW).
Hilton Sydney won four awards including the major award for overall hotel of the year - accommodation division.

Best Mid-Range Accommodation
Crowne Plaza Norwest – Baulkham Hills, NSW

Best Suite/Apartment Hotel
Clifton Suites on Northbourne – Braddon, ACT

Best Resort-Style Accommodation
Saffire – Coles Bay, TAS

Best Superior Accommodation
Fairmont Resort MGallery – Leura, NSW

Best Deluxe Accommodation
Park Hyatt Sydney – The Rocks, NSW

Bartender of the Year
Danni Lee at Mary's Commercial Hotel – Dalby, QLD
Tim Philips at Ivy – Sydney, NSW

Chef of the Year
Joe Pavlovich at Hilton Sydney – Sydney, NSW

Best Front of House Employee
Christy Doherty at The Langham Melbourne – Southbank, VIC

Employee Excellence in Service
Glen Astell at Cradle Mountain Chateau – Cradle Mountain, TAS

Outstanding Achievement in Training
Parmelia Hilton Perth – Perth, WA

Best Environmental Initiative
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa – Wolgan Valley, NSW

Best Stand-Alone Restaurant
Ethos Eat Drink – Hobart, TAS

Best Bistro - Regional
Aqua Restaurant' at Jupiters Townsville – Townsville, QLD
Blue Duck Hotel – Ararat, VIC

Best Restaurant - Regional
Fitzy's on Church' at Fitzy's Fibber Magee – Toowoomba, QLD

Best Bar Presentation & Service - Regional
Pickled Parrot Bar & Lounge at The Parap Tavern Parap NT

Best Gaming Venue - Regional
Kellys Motor Club Hotel Cranbourne VIC

Best Retail Liquor Outlet
The Parap Tavern Cellars – Parap, NT
Stirling Hotel – Stirling, SA

Best Entertainment Venue
Ivy – Sydney, NSW
Governor Hindmarsh Hotel – Hindmarsh, SA

Best Outdoor/Non-Enclosed Facility
Eatons Hill Hotel & Function Centre – Eatons Hill, QLD

Best Sporting Entertainment Venue
5th Quarter Lounge & Sports Bar at The Pineapple Hotel – Kangaroo Point, QLD

Best Marketed Hotel - General Division
Merivale Group – Sydney, NSW
The Highway – Plympton, SA

Best Redeveloped Hotel - General Division|
The Hyde Park Hotel – North Perth, WA

Best Keno Venue
Sugarland Tavern – Bundaberg, QLD

Best TAB Licensed Venue
Churchills Sportsbar – Sydney, NSW

Hotel Industry Rising Star
Kylee Smith at The George Tavern – Greenhills, NSW
Sarah Begbie at Rydges Melbourne – Melbourne, VIC

Outstanding Community Service & Achievement
Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group Ltd (QLD) – Brisbane, QLD
The Cavenagh Hotel – Darwin, NT

Overall Hotel of the Year - Regional Division
Joint Winners – Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel (VIC) & Parap Tavern (NT)

Overall Hotel of the Year - Accommodation Division
Hilton Sydney (NSW)

Overall Hotel of the Year - Metropolitan Division
Eatons Hill Hotel & Function Centre (QLD)

Source: The Shout, 6 September 2012