Newly formed peak industry body Accommodation Australia celebrated its first NSW Accommodation Awards for Excellence at The Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on Thursday July 20, in front of a crowd of more than 700 industry and political leaders.
Crown Towers Sydney, Spicers Sangoma Retreat, QT Newcastle and Novotel Wollongong Northbeach were among the big winners on the night.
Crown Towers Sydney took the title of Metropolitan Deluxe Hotel of the Year, while Spicers Sangoma Retreat was awarded sister title, Regional Deluxe Hotel of the Year.
The Star Sydney once again took home the award for Superior Hotel of the Year, as well as Best Environmental/Sustainability Practices, Chef of the Year and Conference and Events Talent of the Year. QT Newcastle claimed Regional Superior Hotel of the Year.
The prestigious Hall of Fame inductee for 2023 was EVT Director of Hotels and Resorts, Norman Arundel, while Hotel Executive of the Year went to The Fullerton Hotel’s General Manager, Rob Weedon, with the hotel also winning awards for Outstanding Community Contribution, and Conference and Events Venue of the Year.
Former NSW members of both Tourism Accommodation Australia and the Accommodation Association of Australia were among the attendees that gathered to recognise more than 300 finalists across 37 categories.
Speaking at the awards, Accommodation Australia NSW Co-Chair Richard Doyle highlighted the importance of the recent amalgamation of the two associations.
“Accommodation Australia is a new beginning. A chance to build something new from the ground up,” he said.
“We have created a single, strong and focused voice for our sector. We have combined our talent and resources to create a united and disciplined body that can represent and advocate for you, your business and your employees at all levels.”
Accommodation Australia NSW Co-Chair Patrick Lonergan spoke of the importance of the $17.8 billion accommodation industry to the NSW economy, employing over 400,000 people.
“I am proud of the contribution NSW hotels make and our members should be too,” he told those gathered.
Redeveloped/Refurbished Hotel of the Year was awarded to the new-look InterContinental Sydney., while Skye Suites once again claimed Apartment/Suite Hotel of the Year for its Green Square property.
Restaurant of the Year (Deluxe Hotels) was awarded to Altitude at Shangri-La Sydney and Restaurant of the Year (Mid-Range-Superior Hotels) was won by The Wintergarden at The Hydro Majestic Hotel Blue Mountains.
The inaugural winner of the Disability Inclusion and Access Award category was Rydges Resort Hunter Valley.
Accommodation Australia NSW Manager, Stacey McBride, congratulated all the winners, highly commended recipients, and finalists, saying the industry is in a strong position.
“The merger was a long and complex process and to finally see everyone gathered under one roof, celebrating the combined achievements of our NSW accommodation industry made all the hard work worthwhile,” she said.
“Never before has our industry been as strong, as agile, and as united as it is right now and will continue to be into the future.”
Relations and Work Health and Safety, the Hon. Sophie Cotsis, MP was a guest
speaker on the night, while Special Minister of State, Minister for Roads, Arts, Night-time
Economy and Music, Jobs and Tourism the Hon. John Graham, MLC made a video appearance.
See the full list of winners below:
BEST INNOVATION PROJECT
WINNER
Hotel Etico
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TRAINING
WINNER
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
WINNER
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES
WINNER
The Star Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Crystalbrook Byron
DISABILITY INCLUSION AND ACCESS AWARD
WINNER
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
CONFERENCE AND EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR
WINNER
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific
BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
WINNER
Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort
HIGHLY COMMENDED
InterContinental Sydney
ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Yi Ding Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Anton Van den Brink Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
FINANCE TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Sandeep Saini View Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Laurencia Diella Hilton Sydney
IT TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Harmeet Charan InterContinental Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mike Waldinger PARKROYAL Darling Harbour
REVENUE/YIELD TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Oliver John Ruf Park Hyatt Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Amy Lembke PARKROYAL Darling Harbour
FOOD & BEVERAGE TALENT OF THE YEAR
JOINT WINNERS
Guillem Padros Puig Crown Towers Sydney
Catrina Toward Rydges Sydney Central
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Olga Kozhevnykova The Langham, Sydney
CONFERENCE & EVENTS TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Chloe Mitchell The Star Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Kim Mundey Rydges Newcastle
Carissa Putland PARKROYAL Parramatta
MARKETING TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Pascale Rocher Crystalbrook Byron
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Marlii Carroll Shangri-La Sydney
SALES TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Narae Park Hilton Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Candy Sharpe Pier One Sydney Harbour
HUMAN RESOURCES TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Vanessa Thompson Crystalbrook Byron
ROOMS DIVISION TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Olivia Blackley Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mitchell Plenge Rydges World Square
EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
WINNER
Jayson Coker Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Vinura de Silva Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort
CONCIERGE OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Nathan Brown Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bradley Maljevac The Darling
HOUSEKEEPER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Vijay Shah Rydges World Square
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Grace Esogon Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific
CHEF OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Martino Pulito The Star Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Patrick Morris Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains
HOTEL INDUSTRY RISING STAR
WINNER
Dyan Suaco The Langham, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Stephanie Perera SKYE Suites Green Square
HOTEL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Rob Weeden The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Joanna Carruthers Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Norman Arundel EVT Hotels and Resorts
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
(MID-RANGE – SUPERIOR HOTELS)
WINNER
The Wintergarden The Hydro Majestic Hotel Blue Mountains
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Manna Loft Rydges Sydney Central
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (DELUXE HOTELS)
WINNER
Altitude Shangri-La Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Alibi Bar and Dining Ovolo Woolloomooloo
BAR OF THE YEAR
(MID-RANGE – SUPERIOR HOTELS)
WINNER
Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Zephyr Hyatt Regency Sydney
BAR OF THE YEAR (DELUXE HOTELS)
WINNER
Aster InterContinental Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Gowings QT Sydney
BRASSERIE/CAFÉ OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Boiler House Restaurant The Hydro Majestic Hotel Blue Mountains
HEALTH CLUB AND SPA FACILITIES OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Crown Spa Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Elysia Wellness Retreat
REDEVELOPED/REFURBISHED HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
InterContinental Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Oaks Casuarina Santai Resort
MOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Best Western Plus All Settlers Motor Inn
APARTMENT/SUITE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
SKYE Suites Green Square
MID-RANGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Novotel Wollongong Northbeach
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rydges Campbelltown
REGIONAL SUPERIOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
QT Newcastle
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Elements of Byron
METROPOLITAN SUPERIOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
The Star Grand Hotel and Residences Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Hyatt Regency Sydney
REGIONAL DELUXE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Spicers Sangoma Retreat
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Crystalbrook Byron
METROPOLITAN DELUXE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Park Hyatt Sydney