A record crowd of 1,000 hotel industry professionals were in attendance at the 20th HM Awards, presented by Sealy Posturepedic, at The Star Event Centre on Friday November 25, where the outstanding properties and people across Australasia were recognised in spectacular fashion.
The 2022 awards were hosted by HM magazine and almost 50 categories were presented on the night to deserving winners across a range of categories, from people and departments to properties and chains.
Amongst the major awards presented at the event, Accor won Accommodation Chain of the Year, while InterContinental Hotels and Resorts and Ovolo Hotels won Hotel Brand of the Year.
On the property front, Cordis Auckland and Crown Towers Sydney were the winners of the Australasian Hotel of the Year category.
The major winners in the People Awards were The Ascott Limited’s David Mansfield, who won Australasian Hotelier, and Barry Robinson from Travel + Leisure, who was awarded Asia-Pacific Hotelier.
Langham Hospitality Group’s Brett Butcher was inducted into the Hall of Fame and Accor’s Sébastien Bazin received the Ashley Spencer Service to the Industry Award for his efforts in supporting his teams during the pandemic.
At the 2022 HM Awards, a silent auction and a Sparkling Bar also helped raise over $10,000 for Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.
“On behalf of the HM magazine team, I’m proud we have been able to recognise the leading people, departments, properties, chains and brands across Australasia in front of our largest ever audience,” said HM Awards Founder and Chief Judge, and HM magazine Editor-In-Chief, James Wilkinson.
“There is some incredible talent in the accommodation industry in Australasia and so many received the recognition they most definitely deserved. Well done to everyone.”
The 2022 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence were presented by Sealy Posturepedic; co-hosted by the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) at Torrens University Australia and Hostplus; sponsored by Foxtel for Business, ahs Hospitality, ARMA, De Beaurepaire Wines, S.PELLEGRINO, FutureLog, HoneyBadger Technologies, Assa Abloy, Comcater, TimeFlyz, and Cvent; and supported by the Accommodation Association (AA), AHICE, Beer Republic, Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA), TravMedia, Watson Farley & Williams and WAYFARER.
Congratulations to all the winners and highly recommended. Here is the full list:
PROPERTY AWARDS – AUSTRALIA
01 – SERVICED APARTMENT PROPERTY
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNER:
-Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Skye Suites Sydney
-The Star Residences Gold Coast
02 – ECONOMY HOTEL
Sponsored by Tourism Accommodation Australia and Accommodation Association
WINNER:
-Brassey Hotel, Barton, ACT
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Adabco Boutique Hotel Adelaide, SA
-Travelodge Hotel Hobart, TAS
03 – MIDSCALE HOTEL
Sponsored by Hostplus
WINNER:
-DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne – Flinders Street, VIC
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Atura Adelaide Airport, SA
-PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, NSW
04 – UPSCALE HOTEL
Sponsored by AHICE
WINNER:
-Quincy Hotel Melbourne
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Little National Hotel Sydney
-The Woolstore 1888 By Ovolo, NSW
05 – UPPER-UPSCALE HOTEL
Sponsored by ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions
WINNERS:
-Hilton Sydney
-Hotel X Fortitude Valley, QLD
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands, VIC
-QT Sydney, NSW
06 – LUXURY HOTEL
Sponsored by HoneyBadger Technologies
WINNERS:
-Crown Towers Sydney, NSW
-Eos by SkyCity, SA
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW
-The Langham, Gold Coast, QLD
07 – AUSTRALIAN LODGE
Sponsored by Tourism Accommodation Australia and Accommodation Association
WINNER:
-Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Sequoia Lodge, Adelaide Hills, SA
-Spicers Peak Lodge, Maryvale, QLD
08 – BUSINESS HOTEL
Sponsored by Timeflyz
WINNER:
-Hyatt Regency Sydney, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Brisbane Marriott Hotel, QLD
-SKYE Suites Parramatta, NSW
09 – RESORT
Sponsored by De Beaurepaire Wines
WINNER:
-InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, QLD
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Crystalbrook Byron, NSW
-The Langham, Gold Coast, QLD
10 – HOTEL INTERIOR DESIGN
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNERS:
-Kimpton Margot Sydney, NSW
-Spicers Tower Lodge, Hunter Valley, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-InterContinental Sydney, NSW
-The Langham, Gold Coast, QLD
11 – BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Sponsored by De Beaurepaire Wines
WINNER:
-QT Sydney, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Islington Hotel, Hobart, TAS
-The Reef House Boutique Hotel and Spa, QLD
12 – NEW HOTEL
Sponsored by Foxtel for Business
WINNERS:
-The Langham, Gold Coast, QLD
-The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart, TAS
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-QT Newcastle, NSW
-Sofitel Adelaide, SA
13 – MEETINGS AND CONFERENCING PROPERTY
Sponsored by cvent
WINNER:
-Shangri-La Sydney, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach, NSW
-JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa, QLD
14 – REGIONAL PROPERTY
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNERS:
-Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill, VIC
-Spicers Hidden Vale, Grandchester, QLD
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Crystalbrook Byron, NSW
-Ladybay Resort, SA
15 – DAY SPA
Sponsored by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
WINNER:
-Crown Sydney Spa, Crown Towers Sydney, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Eos Spa + Wellness, Eos by SkyCity, SA
-The Darling Spa, The Darling Hotel, Sydney, NSW
16 – HOTEL BAR
Sponsored by De Beaurepaire Wines
WINNER:
-The Bar, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Dean & Nancy on 22 at A by Adina Sydney, NSW
-Mary Mary, The Tasman, TAS
17 – HOTEL RESTAURANT
Sponsored by Comcater
WINNERS:
-Alibi Bar and Kitchen, Ovolo Woolloomooloo, NSW
-Nineteen at The Star, The Star Gold Coast, QLD
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Luke’s Kitchen, Kimpton Margot Sydney, NSW
-Tesoro, Movenpick Hotel Hobart, TAS
18 – TECH HOTEL
Sponsored by Foxtel for Business
WINNER:
-Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Aiden Darling Harbour, NSW
-Eos by SkyCity, Adelaide SA
PROPERTY AWARDS – NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH PACIFIC
19 – NEW ZEALAND HOTEL
Sponsored by ahs hospitality
WINNER:
-Cordis Auckland
-Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-QT Auckland
-The Rees Hotel Queenstown
20 – NEW ZEALAND REGIONAL PROPERTY
Sponsored by Watson Farley & Williams
WINNER:
-Pullman Rotorua
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Fable Dunedin
-Swiss-Belboutique Napier
21 – NEW ZEALAND LODGE
Sponsored by AHICE Aotearoa
WINNER:
-Wharekauhau Country Estate, Featherston
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Delamore Lodge, Hauraki Gulf
-Owen River Lodge, Murchison
22 – FIJIAN PROPERTY
Sponsored by De Beaurepaire Wines
WINNERS:
-Castaway Island Resort
-Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
-Vomo Island Fiji
23 – SOUTH PACIFIC PROPERTY
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNER:
-Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-The Stanley Hotel and Suites, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
-Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, French Polynesia
DEPARTMENT AWARDS – AUSTRALIA, NZ & SOUTH PACIFIC
24 – MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Sponsored by WAYFARER
WINNERS:
-Little National Hotel Sydney
-Quest Apartment Hotels (As local as you like it)
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Cordis Auckland (Heart of It All: Pinnacle Tower Campaign)
-QT Hotels & Resorts
25 – INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION
Sponsored by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
WINNERS:
-Ovolo Hotels (Ride Here. Ride Now)
-The Rees Hotel Queenstown x The Helicopter Line (Heli-Crayfish Experience)
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Marriott Bonvoy partners with Tennis Australia
-The Hotel Britomart, Auckland x Mavis and Osborne
26 – ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNERS:
-Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Fiji
-Wildlife Retreat at Taronga, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
-Spicers Retreats, Hotels, Lodges (Green Hornets Program)
-The Hotel Britomart, Auckland, NZ
PEOPLE AWARDS
27 – CONCIERGE
Sponsored by Hostplus
WINNER:
Kevin Tautau, DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka, NZ
Leticia Waechter, Crown Towers Sydney, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Nikolas Adams, Park Hyatt Auckland, NZ
Siddhartha Kaul, Eos by SkyCity, Adelaide, SA
28 – HOTEL CHEF
Sponsored by S.PELLEGRINO
WINNER:
Corey Hume, The Rees Hotel, Queenstown, NZ
Harold Hurtada, Nobu Sydney, Crown Sydney, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
James Laird, QT Auckland, NZ
Fiona Weir, PepperBerry, Hilton Darwin, NT
29 – FOOD AND BEVERAGE ASSOCIATE
Sponsored by FutureLog Oceania
WINNER:
Abhishek Kurade, Rydges Christchurch Latimer, NZ
Jarod Senior, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Jack Johnson, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Fiji
Melissa Ward, Lancemore Macedon Ranges, VIC
30 – HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATE
Sponsored by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
WINNER:
Katherine Ireland, Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific
Kimberly Ford, Cordis Auckland, NZ (in memoriam)
O’Shaye Lunn, Accor New Zealand
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Kim Garner, TFE Hotels
Petru Domingues, EVT New Zealand
31 – SALES AND MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNER:
Clare Read, Eos by SkyCity, Adelaide, SA
Julie Lumsden, Accor New Zealand
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Lisa Breckon, Fable Hotels and Resorts New Zealand
Michael Fletcher, W Melbourne, VIC
32 – COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
Sponsored by Travmedia
WINNER:
Chris Lee, QT Hotels & Resorts
Chris Waite, IHG Hotels & Resorts
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Angela Cowley, Eight Communications
Sally Yuen, Marriott International Fiji & Samoa
33 – FRONT OFFICE ASSOCIATE
Sponsored by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
WINNER:
Bjorn van Ginkel, QT Auckland, NZ
Diandra Noble, Ovolo The Valley, Brisbane, QLD
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Janani Munasinghe, The Sebel Auckland Manukau, NZ
Van Nguyen, Rydges Sydney Airport, NSW
34 – FINANCE ASSOCIATE
Sponsored by Hostplus
WINNER:
Rajnesh Kumar, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort
Umesh Pathak, Nesuto
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Helen Ip, IHG Hotels & Resorts
Sumeet Raj, Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
35 – REVENUE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATE
Sponsored by ARMA
WINNER:
Greg Campbell, Accor Queenstown properties, New Zealand
Suzette Gunn, Accor Hotels (CapitaLand Portfolio)
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Lilia Player, Nesuto New Zealand
Max Houri, Hilton Surfers Paradise, QLD
36 – HOUSEKEEPER
Sponsored by ahs hospitality
WINNER:
Cherie Mackay, The Wildlife Retreat at Taronga, NSW
Kim Haynes, QT Queenstown & Rydges Queenstown, NZ
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Carla Acosta, Pier One Sydney Harbour Autograph Collection, NSW
Rose Tubuitamana, Club Wyndham Denarau Island, Fiji
37 – HOTEL ENGINEER
Sponsored by Foxtel for Business
WINNER:
Aldo Sousa, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, NSW
Alvyn Chandra, Club Wyndham Denarau Island, Fiji
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Andrew Porgas, DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka, NZ
Steve Luxford, Crown Sydney, NSW
38 – RISING STAR
Sponsored byHostplus
WINNER:
Chris Lee, QT Hotels & Resorts
Chris Purdy, Accor Apartments & Realty
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Jason Piper, Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, NSW
Ruby Trafford, The Rees Hotel Queenstown, NZ
MAJOR AWARDS
39 – ASHLEY SPENCER SERVICE TO THE INDUSTRY AWARD
Sponsored by HM Magazine
RECIPIENT:
Sébastien Bazin, Accor
40 – SOUTH PACIFIC GENERAL MANAGER
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNER:
Justin King, Vomo Island Fiji
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Darren Shaw, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Fiji
Neeraj Chadha, Multi Property Vice President Pacific Islands, Marriott International
41 – NEW ZEALAND GENERAL MANAGER
Sponsored by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
WINNER:
Jeremy Samuels, Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa
Mark Rose, The Rees Hotel, Queenstown
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Doron Whaite, QT Auckland
Franz Mascarenhas, Cordis Auckland
42 – AUSTRALIAN GENERAL MANAGER
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNER:
Jodi Brown, EOS by SkyCity, Adelaide, SA
Mark Hodge, The Star Gold Coast, QLD
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Ajay Vaid, Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach & Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, NSW
Jane Lyons, Hyatt Regency Sydney, NSW
43 – SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNER:
Coogee Bay Boutique Hotel, Sydney NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Crystalbrook Bailey, QLD
The Langham, Sydney, NSW
44 – HM AWARDS HALL OF FAME
Sponsored by HM Magazine
INDUCTEE:
-Brett Butcher, Langham Hospitality Group
45 – HOTEL BRAND
Sponsored by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
WINNER:
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Ovolo Hotels
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Crystalbrook
QT Hotels & Resorts
46 – ACCOMMODATION CHAIN
Sponsored by Hostplus
WINNER: Accor
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
IHG Hotels & Resorts
Hilton
47 – AUSTRALASIAN HOTEL
Sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic
WINNER:
Cordis Auckland
Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Park Hyatt Auckland, New Zealand
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW
48 – AUSTRALASIAN HOTELIER
Sponsored by HM Magazine
WINNER: David Mansfield, The Ascott Limited
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Leanne Harwood, IHG Hotels & Resorts
Sarah Derry, Accor
49 – ASIA-PACIFIC HOTELIER
Sponsored by HM Magazine
WINNER
Barry Robinson, Travel + Leisure
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Jeff Wagoner, Outrigger Hospitality Group
Rajeev Menon, Marriott International