The winners of the 2016 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, presented by Sealy Posturepedic, were named in front of a record 700 attendees last Friday night (Sep 2) at Sydney Town Hall.
Hosted by television personality Larry Emdur, the HM Awards have, for the 14th time, recognised the accommodation industry’s finest staff, properties, brands and chains across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
At the 2016 HM Awards, there were 68 winners on the night and the full list of the winners and highly commended recipients is included below.
“The HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence have once again recognised the finest people, departments and properties across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific,” said HM Awards founder and HM Magazine Editor-In-Chief, James Wilkinson.
“This year we had a record number of entries, attendees and winners and the caliber was again nothing short of world class.
“The accommodation industry in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific is performing very well across the board at present and it was again a privilege to acknowledge and reward some brilliant and talented people, exceptional teams and outstanding properties across the region.
“For the past 14 years, the goal of the HM Awards has been to acknowledge the brightest stars in the hotel industry and that’s what the event did once more at Sydney Town Hall on September 2,” he said.
On the night, around $30,000 was raised for the Garvan Institute of Medical Research through the Connie Johnson Fellowship in Breast Cancer Research.
Once again, the Australasian hotel industry was right behind a major fundraising drive, with funds this year going to help find a cure for a disease that touches an entire nation and over 150 people generously donated personal and corporate funds towards the Fellowship.
The 2016 HM Awards were Presented by Sealy Posturepedic; Hosted by HM magazine; Co-Hosted by AHS, the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School and Intrust Super; Sponsored by A List Guide, AHICE, ARMA, Calabria Family Wines, FCS Computer Systems, Nespresso, Prototype, San Pellegrino, Spice magazine and Spice News, and Time Out Australia; and Supported by the Accommodation Association of Australia, Blissful Events, Coopers Premium Beverages, EY, Tourism Accommodation Australia and TravMedia.
HM AWARDS 2016 WINNERS
AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY CATEGORIES
1. Serviced Apartment Property
Presented by:
AHS Hospitality
Winner:
Fraser Suites Sydney, NSW
Highly Commended:
Wyndham Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, QLD
2. Economy Hotel
Presented by:
Accommodation Association of Australia
Winners:
BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW
ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street, QLD
HC:
Travelodge Hobart, TAS
3. Midscale Hotel
Presented by:
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Winner:
Little National Hotel, Canberra, ACT
HCs:
Holiday Inn Express Sydney Macquarie Park, NSW
Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff, NSW
4. Upscale Hotel
Presented by:
Intrust Super
Winner:
Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne, VIC
HCs:
DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne – Flinders Street, VIC
Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, NT
5. Upper Upscale Hotel
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winner:
Hilton Sydney, NSW
HCs:
Grand Hyatt Melbourne, VIC
Hotel Realm, Canberra, ACT
6. Luxury Hotel
Presented by:
Calabria Family Wines
Winner:
Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW
HC:
Crown Towers Melbourne, VIC
7. Australian Lodge
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winner:
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, NSW
HCs:
qualia, Hamilton Island, QLD
Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, SA
8. Business Hotel
Presented by:
Intrust Super
Winners:
InterContinental Sydney, NSW
The Westin Sydney, NSW
HC:
Hilton Sydney, NSW
9. Resort
Presented by:
Accommodation Association of Australia
Winner:
qualia, Hamilton Island, QLD
HC:
One&Only Hayman Island, QLD
10. Hotel Interior Design
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winner:
The Old Clare Hotel, Sydney, NSW
HCs:
Elements of Byron, Byron Bay, NSW
QT Bondi, Bondi Beach, NSW
11. Boutique Hotel
Presented by:
Time Out Sydney & Time Out Melbourne
Winner:
QT Sydney, NSW
HC:
The Old Clare Hotel, Sydney, NSW
12. New Property
Presented by:
Prototype Commercial Furniture
Winner:
COMO The Treasury, Perth, WA
HC:
QT Bondi, Bondi Beach, NSW
13. Meetings and Conferencing Property
Presented by:
Spice magazine
Winner:
Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel, Leura, NSW
HCs:
Hilton Sydney, NSW
Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, NSW
Sofitel Brisbane Central, QLD
14. Regional Property
Presented by:
Tourism Accommodation Australia
Winner:
Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, NSW
HC:
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, NSW
15. Day Spa
Presented by:
AHS Hospitality
Winner:
CHI, The Spa, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, NSW
HCs:
Chuan Spa, The Langham Sydney, NSW
Salus Spa, Lake House, Daylesford, VIC
16. Hotel Bar
Presented by:
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Winners:
Gilt Lounge, QT Sydney, NSW
The Clare Bar, The Old Clare Hotel, Sydney, NSW
HC:
Emporium Hotel Cocktail Bar, Emporium Hotel, Brisbane, QLD
17. Hotel Restaurant
Presented by:
San Pellegrino
Winner:
Kensington Street Social, The Old Clare Hotel, Sydney, NSW
HCs:
Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Long Pavilion, qualia, Hamilton Island, QLD
18. Tech Hotel
Presented by:
FCS
Winner:
Crown Towers Melbourne, VIC
HC:
NEXT Hotel Brisbane, QLD
NEW ZEALAND & SOUTH PACIFIC PROPERTY CATEGORIES
19. New Zealand Hotel
Presented by:
AHS Hospitality
Winner:
The Langham, Auckland
HC:
Eichardt’s Private Hotel, Queenstown
20. New Zealand Regional Property
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winner:
Hilton Lake Taupo
HC:
Novotel New Plymouth Hobson
21. New Zealand Lodge
Presented by:
AHS Hospitality
Winner:
The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Hawke’s Bay
HC:
Huka Lodge, Taupo
22. Fijian Property
Presented by:
Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE)
Winner:
Likuliku Lagoon Resort
HC:
Laucala Island
23. South Pacific Property
Presented by:
EY
Winner:
Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands
HC:
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, French Polynesia
DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS
(Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific)
24. Marketing Campaign
Presented by:
A-LIST Guide
Winners:
Best Western Australasia (Become a BWR Points Millionaire)
Pan Pacific Perth, WA (Pacific Escape)
HC:
TFE Hotels (Stay and Play in Canberra)
25. Service to the Community
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winners:
AccorHotels (Race to Survive 2015: Kokoda Trail)
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific (Wishes by Wyndham)
HC:
Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, NSW (Service to the Community)
PEOPLE AWARDS
26. Concierge
Presented by:
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Winners:
Pericles Yiannakis, Sofitel Brisbane Central, QLD
Randolph Huerto, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW
HC:
Peter Brown, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, NSW
27. Hotel Chef
Presented by:
Nespresso
Winners:
Anna Polyviou, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Laurent Xavier, Pan Pacific Perth, WA
HC:
Vanessa Grace, Sails in the Desert, Yulura, NT
28. Food and Beverage Associate
Presented by:
AHS Hospitality
Winners:
Matthew Swinson, NEXT Hotel Brisbane, QLD
Sam Rawlinson, Peppers Gallery Hotel, Canberra, ACT
HC:
Kelsie Gannan, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport, VIC
29. Human Resources Associate
Presented by:
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Winners:
Andrew Baggaley, Stamford Plaza Adelaide, SA
Carol Nazha, Meriton Serviced Apartments Australia
HC:
Aliesha Dickon, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains, NSW
30. Sales and Marketing Associate
Presented by:
Intrust Super
Winners:
Kelly Russell, Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, NSW
Lisa Rangitutia, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Lovedale, NSW
HC:
Chris Vale, Quest Caroline Springs, VIC
31. Communications Associate
Presented by:
Travmedia.com
Winners:
Karena Noble, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia
Nicole Crowley, InterContinental Sydney, NSW
HC:
Bria Lamberton, Event Hospitality and Entertainment
32. Front Office Associate
Presented by:
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Winners:
Ryan Ennis, Wyndham Hotel Melbourne, VIC
Sam Loader, Mantra on Russell, Melbourne, VIC
HC:
Marie Lee, PARKROYAL Parramatta, Sydney, NSW
33. Finance Associate
Presented by:
Intrust Super
Winners:
Fungai Mutamba, Crowne Plaza Terrigal, NSW
Marissa Zhang, Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne, VIC
HC:
Benjamin Blasset, AccorHotels Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW
34. Revenue Management Associate
Presented by:
ARMA
Winners:
Alice Vannini, AccorHotels Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW
Harris Ratnawardana, Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel, NSW
HC:
Cameron Mead, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport, VIC
35. Housekeeper
Presented by:
AHS Hospitality
Winners:
Ann-Maree Knowles, Hotel Kurrajong, Canberra, ACT
Meili Maerdan, ibis Adelaide, SA
HC:
Imelda Te, Travelodge Wynyard, Sydney, NSW
36. Hotel Engineer
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winners:
Mark Mason, Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, NT
Matthew Worth, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW
HC:
Alan Bettridge, The York by Swiss-Belhotel, Sydney, NSW
37. Rising Star
Presented by:
Intrust Super
Winners:
Amol Kasaju, Quest Caroline Springs, VIC
Mitchell Cole, AccorHotels Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW
HC:
Jessica Leek, InterContinental Sydney, NSW
MAJOR AWARDS
38. South Pacific General Manager
Presented by:
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Winner:
Mark Leslie, Vomo Island Fiji
HC:
Christoph G. Ganster, Laucala Island, Fiji
Marcus Niszow, Pacific Resort Hotel Group, Cook Islands
39. New Zealand General Manager
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winner:
Roger Brantsma, Hilton Auckland and Hilton Lake Taupo
HC:
Graeme Back, Breakfree Cashel Street, Christchurch
Franz Mascarenhas, The Langham, Auckland
40. Australian General Manager
Presented by:
Intrust Super
Winner:
Adam Taloni, Ovolo Woolloomooloo, Sydney, NSW
HC:
Jodi Brown, Atura Albury, NSW
Manfred Pieper, Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, NT
41. Environmental Program
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winner:
Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, NT (Tintu Solar Field)
HCs:
The Observatory, Port Macquarie, NSW (Green Futures Sustainability Program)
The Sebel Melbourne Docklands, VIC (I Chose to be Green)
42. Hotel Brand of the Year
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winner:
Hilton Hotels and Resorts
HCs:
Ovolo Hotels
QT Hotels and Resorts
43. Accommodation Chain of the Year
Presented by:
AHS Hospitality
Winner:
AccorHotels
HCs:
Mantra Group
Quest Apartment Hotels
44. Australasian Hotel of the Year
Presented by:
Sealy Posturepedic
Winners:
Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, NSW
Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW
HC:
Crown Towers, Melbourne, VIC
45. HM Magazine Australasian Hotelier
Presented by:
HM Magazine
Winner:
David Seargeant, Event Hospitality and Entertainment
HCs:
Bob East, Mantra Group
Julian Clark, Lancemore Group
46. HM Magazine Asia-Pacific Hotelier
Presented by:
HM Magazine
Winner:
Loh Lik Peng, Unlisted Collection
HCs:
Choe Peng Sum, Frasers Hospitality
Girish Jhunjhnuwala, Ovolo Hotels
Michael Issenberg, AccorHotels
The Ashley Spencer Service to the Industry Award
Presented by:
HM Magazine
Recipient:
Peter Hopgood, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Fiji
HM Awards Hall of Fame Inductees
Presented by:
HM Magazine
Inductees:
The Carlson Nelson Family (Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group)
The Kelley Family (Outrigger Enterprises Group)
The Schwartz Family (Schwartz Family Hotels)