Despite everything from traffic snarls to monsoon weather delaying some attendees, the stars were shining inside Sydney’s International Convention Centre at the 2018 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence presented by Sealy Posturepedic. More than 730 of the industry’s elite performers gathered to be celebrated for a year of outstanding achievement and representation, with nearly four-dozen categories recognising its best.
The evening was co-hosted by AHS Hospitality, Intrust Super and the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School.
Gold Sponsors included the Accommodation Association of Australia, Nespresso and Perrier.
Silver Sponsors were ARMA, Calabria Family Wines, Lion, TravMedia, Withers Worldwide, A-List Guide, AHICE, Spice News, Time Out and Wayfarer.
The event was supported further by Blissful Events, Botanica, Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) and Tovaritch, with Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation as the charity partner.
Entering the room to the mesmerising Miss Bird singing on her perch high above the stage, the HM Awards’ new venue at the ICC Ballroom looked spellbinding in its 1920’s theming as guests took their seats and were welcomed by the night’s emcee, Aussie TV luminary Larry Emdur.
A special moment took place midway through the event, with Accommodation Association of Australia CEO Richard Munro taking to the stage to emotionally recount his personal tragedy of one year earlier and implore the room to support the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation (SCHF), which worked so hard to support his family and does so for countless others.
The room dug deep, raising tens of thousands which takes the hospital about halfway to its goal of funding the purchase of a new stereotactic frame to scan, predict, diagnose and treat brain cancer in children. Over the last two years, attendees at the HM Awards have raised close to $90,000 – a huge achievement.
SCHF Community Fundraising Manager Tanya Sarina praised the industry’s efforts on the night, saying: “We were overwhelmed by the generosity shown at the Hotel Management Awards to help families affected by childhood cancer, like Richard Munro’s.
“On behalf of the staff, children and families at the Hospital, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Intermedia (HM Magazine’s parent firm), Richard Munro and everyone who made a donation, bid or donated a prize for the Hotel Management Awards appeal this year. I look forward to updating everyone once we have purchased the new equipment and it’s fully operational.”
Once formalities were said and done, The Players hit the stage along with much of the room to let their hair down and celebrate the success of the evening. Plans are already underway for the 2019 edition of the event, currently scheduled to take place on Friday 7 September 2019.
Here is the complete list of WINNERS and Highly Commended accolade recipients from the 2018 HM Awards:
SERVICED APARTMENT PROPERTY
Presented by AHS Hospitality
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Skye Suites Parramatta, NSW & Veriu Broadway Hotel, Sydney NSW
WINNER: Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach Sydney, NSW
ECONOMY HOTEL
Presented by the Accommodation Association of Australia
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Brassey Hotel, Canberra, ACT & Travelodge Melbourne Docklands, VIC
WINNER: ibis Adelaide, SA
MIDSCALE HOTEL
Presented by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Tank Stream Hotel, Sydney, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Holiday Inn Express Sydney Macquarie Park, NSW & Little National Hotel, Barton, ACT
UPSCALE HOTEL
Presented by Intrust Super
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hyatt Place Melbourne, Essendon Fields, VIC & Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne, VIC
WINNER: PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW
UPPER-UPSCALE HOTEL
Presented by Calabria Family Wines
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa, Byron Bay, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Grand Hyatt Melbourne, VIC & Sydney Harbour Marriott, NSW
LUXURY HOTEL
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, NSW & Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW
WINNER: Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW
AUSTRALIAN LODGE
Presented by Intrust Super
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, Cradle Mountain, TAS & Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Blue Mountains, NSW
WINNER: qualia, Hamilton Island, QLD
BUSINESS HOTEL
Presented by the Accommodation Association of Australia
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mantra South Bank, Brisbane, QLD
JOINT WINNERS: Hilton Sydney, NSW & Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, NSW
RESORT
Presented by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, NSW & Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, QLD
WINNER: qualia, Hamilton Island, QLD
INTERIOR DESIGN
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Felix by 8Hotels, Mascot, NSW & Novotel Sydney Darling Square, NSW
WINNER: Ovolo Inchcolm, Brisbane, QLD
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Presented by AHS Hospitality
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lake House, Daylesford, VIC & Ovolo Inchcolm, Brisbane, QLD
WINNER: QT Sydney, NSW
NEW HOTEL
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Holiday Inn Express Adelaide City Centre, SA & InterContinental Perth City Centre, WA
WINNER: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW
MEETINGS & CONFERENCING PROPERTY
Presented by Spice Magazine
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Lovedale, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Hilton Sydney, NSW & Uluru Meeting Place at Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, NT
REGIONAL PROPERTY
Presented by Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Elements of Byron, Byron Bay, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel, NSW & Lindenderry Red Hill by Lancemore, VIC
DAY SPA
Presented by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: One Spa, RACV Torquay Resort, VIC
JOINT WINNERS: One&Only Spa, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, NSW & Waldheim Alpine Spa, Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, TAS
HOTEL BAR
Presented by Lion
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hacienda Sydney, Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, NSW & Sokyo, The Star Sydney, NSW
WINNER: Zephyr Sky Bar, Hyatt Regency Sydney, NSW
HOTEL RESTAURANT
Presented by Perrier
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, Mount Lofty House, MGallery by Sofitel, Crafers, SA
JOINT WINNERS: Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar, Hotel Realm, Canberra, ACT & Sokyo, The Star Sydney, NSW
TECH HOTEL
Presented by Wayfarer
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Darling Hotel, Sydney, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Next Hotel Brisbane, QLD & Skye Suites Parramatta, NSW
NEW ZEALAND HOTEL
Presented by Lion
HIGHLY COMMENDED: QT Museum Wellington & Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour
WINNER: The Rees Hotel, Queenstown
NEW ZEALAND REGIONAL PROPERTY
Presented by AHICE
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hilton Lake Taupo & Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Joseph Glacier
WINNER: Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim
NEW ZEALAND LODGE
Presented by AHS Hospitality
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Blanket Bay, Glenorchy & Huka Lodge, Taupo
WINNER: Wharekauhau Country Estate, Featherston
FIJIAN PROPERTY
Presented by Withers Worldwide
HIGHLY COMMENDED: VOMO Island Fiji
JOINT WINNERS: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa & Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort
SOUTH PACIFIC PROPERTY
Presented by Time Out
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, French Polynesia & InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa, French Polynesia
WINNER: Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands
MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Presented by A-LIST GUIDE
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Pullman Melbourne on the Park, VIC (The Cliveden launch)
JOINT WINNERS: AccorHotels Australia (MGallery by Sofitel ‘Inspired by Her’) & West Hotel Sydney, Curio Collection by Hilton (launch campaign)
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sudima Lake Rotorua, New Zealand (Ngati Whakaue partnership)
JOINT WINNERS: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW (pre-opening charity event) & Wyndham Destinations Asia-Pacific (Wishes by Wyndham)
CONCIERGE
Presented by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Aaron Hutchins, SKYCITY Grand Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand & Rick Karsten, SKYCITY Hotel Auckland, New Zealand
JOINT WINNERS: Joe Coorey, Pullman Sydney Olympic Park, NSW & Sunny Togiavalu, Sheraton on the Park Sydney, NSW
HOTEL CHEF
Presented by Nespresso
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Greg Benny, QT Gold Coast, QLD
JOINT WINNERS: Anna Polyviou, Shangri-La Sydney, NSW & Dana Chantler, Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific, NSW
FOOD AND BEVERAGE ASSOCIATE
Presented by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Maya Kusumoto, Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Chris O’Connor, Mantra on Russell, Melbourne, VIC & Thomas Holliday, Atura Albury, NSW
HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATE
Presented by AHS Hospitality
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Catherine Monaghan, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, New Zealand
JOINT WINNERS: Jane Law, Ovolo Group Australia & Natalie McCarthy, Wyndham Destinations Asia-Pacific
SALES AND MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Presented by Intrust Super
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Adam Leonard, Sydney Harbour Marriott, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Michael Reece, Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW & Susan Griffiths, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, QLD
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
Presented by TravMedia.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Chris Logan, Wyndham Destinations Asia-Pacific
JOINT WINNERS: Camilla Cooper, Hyatt Regency Sydney, NSW & Yasmin Formica, Hilton Australasia
FRONT OFFICE ASSOCIATE
Presented by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Losalini Manono, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Jake Guilfoyle, QT Sydney, NSW & Tamara Fischer, Holiday Inn Express Brisbane Central, QLD
FINANCE ASSOCIATE
Presented by Intrust Super
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Francis Silveira, NEXT Hotel Brisbane, QLD
JOINT WINNERS: Barbara Liu, Pullman Sydney Airport, NSW & Leanne Robertson, Spicers Retreats, Australia
REVENUE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATE
Presented by ARMA
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Heath Delfos, Strata Portfolio Accor Luxury Apartment Hotels, Australia
JOINT WINNERS: Ainsley Baldwin, Resort Management by Wyndham, Australia & Meagan Sor, Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, NSW
HOUSEKEEPER
Presented by AHS Hospitality
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Rodrigo Nishihara da Silva, Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour, NSW
JOINT WINNERS: Miriam Cano-Smith, Harbourview North Sydney, NSW & Suranga Hewagamage, RACV Torquay Resort, VIC
HOTEL ENGINEER
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Craig Sykes, Wyndham Hotel Melbourne, VIC
WINNER: Andy Goonesekera, InterContinental Sydney, NSW & Anura Yapa, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, NSW
RISING STAR
Presented by Intrust Super
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Kate Pooley, Holiday Inn Express Adelaide City Centre, SA
JOINT WINNERS: Aditi Sood, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, NSW, Jade Miller, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, NSW & Kate Milross, Mercure Sydney International Airport, NSW
SOUTH PACIFIC GENERAL MANAGER
Presented by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Marcus Niszow, Pacific Resort Hotel Group, Cook Islands & Neeraj Chadha, Marriott International Fiji & Samoa hotels
WINNER: Mark Leslie, VOMO Island Fiji
NEW ZEALAND GENERAL MANAGER
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Brad Burnett, SKYCITY Auckland & Jo Finnegan, Hotel St Moritz, Queenstown
WINNER: Jeremy Healy, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour
AUSTRALIAN GENERAL MANAGER
Presented by Intrust Super
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jesse Kornoff, Mount Lofty House MGallery by Sofitel, SA & Sandra Bellamy, The York Swiss-Belhotel, Sydney, NSW
WINNER: Lorraine Mercuri, Mercure Sydney International Airport, NSW
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, QLD & Sudima Auckland Airport, New Zealand
WINNER: Little National Hotel, Canberra, ACT
HOTEL BRAND OF THE YEAR
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Holiday Inn Express Hotels & Ovolo Hotels
WINNER: Hilton Hotels and Resorts
ACCOMMODATION CHAIN OF THE YEAR
Presented by AHS Hospitality
HIGHLY COMMENDED: AccorHotels
JOINT WINNERS: InterContinental Hotels Group & Marriott International
AUSTRALASIAN HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Presented by Sealy Posturepedic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW & qualia, Hamilton Island, QLD
WINNER: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW
HM MAGAZINE AUSTRALASIAN HOTELIER OF THE YEAR
Presented by HM Magazine
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Julian Clark, Lancemore Group & Sean Hunt, Marriott International
WINNER: Simon McGrath, AccorHotels
HM MAGAZINE ASIA-PACIFIC HOTELIER OF THE YEAR
Presented by HM Magazine
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Craig S. Smith, Marriott International & Michael Issenberg, AccorHotels Asia-Pacific
WINNER: Girish Jhunjhnuwala, Ovolo Group
ASHLEY SPENCER SERVICE TO THE INDUSTRY AWARD
Presented by HM Magazine
RECIPIENT: Christopher J. Nassetta, Hilton