Best in the hotel industry honoured - AHA (NSW) Awards for Excellence
Establishment (Sydney) and The George Tavern (East Maitland) have taken out the top awards at the hospitality industry’s premier awards night – the 2012 AHA (NSW) Awards for Excellence.
Establishment won the hotly contested Best Overall Hotel (City) category and also picked up an award for Best Fine Dining Establishment for Est restaurant; while The George Tavern won Best Overall Hotel (Country) and Best Liquor Retail Outlet.
More than 1000 hoteliers, business and community leaders – including NSW Hospitality Minister George Souris and AHA (NSW) President Scott Leach - attended tonight’s ceremony at the Westin, Sydney.
There were a record 277 finalists across 32 categories.
Winners included:
Slip Inn (Sydney) Best Entertainment Venue
Australian Hotel and Brewery (Rouse Hill) Best Traditional Hotel Bar
Camden Valley Inn (Camden) Best Family Friendly Hotel
Hotel Steyne (Manly) Outstanding Community Service and Achievement
Coogee Bay Hotel (Coogee) Best Sports Bar
Willow Tree Inn (Willow Tree) Best Steak Venue
Bar Petite (Newcastle) Best Small Bar
Royal Oak Hotel (Cessnock) Best Restaurant – Country
Union Hotel/CBD Hotel (Sydney) – joint winners of Best Restaurant – City
The Loft (Sydney) – Best Contemporary Cocktail Lounge/Bar
2012 Chef of the Year was Brad Sloane of The Riverview Hotel, while Jason Williams of The Loft received the award for cocktail bartender of the year.
AHA (NSW) CEO Paul Nicolaou said hotels were the mainstay of the NSW tourism and hospitality sector.
“Our 1800 plus premises employ more than 75,000 people across NSW,” he said.
“Whether in the bush, the suburbs or the city hotels are the backbones of their local communities and tonight we come together to honour the best in the business.
“Our hotels really are world-class – that is on display here tonight. I congratulate not only the winners but all hoteliers for their dedication and community spirit.”
Mr Leach used his speech to attack the Federal Government’s ill-conceived gaming legislation, claiming it would cost the industry a billion dollars while doing nothing to help problem gamblers.
He also praised the dedication and community spirit of hoteliers noting that the hotel industry gave up to $50 million in donations to charities and sporting groups annually.
*Full list of winners - Click here*
Source: Australian Hotels Association NSW, 26 November 2012
